Only then did the guard notice the crest sewn onto the cloaks of the knights standing behind them: a blue wolf baring its fangs — the symbol of the Lester ducal house, one of the Empire’s three great prince-elector families.

It depicted a blue wolf baring its fangs — the symbol of the Lester ducal house, one of the Empire’s three great prince-elector families.

Stunned, the guard simply stared at the crest, forgetting to run and summon his master.

Meanwhile, Shed didn’t wait for the guard’s permission. He strode right past the guard, pushed open the main gate, and entered the mansion.

Finally coming out of his daze, the guard hurried after him.

“E-excuse me…! I was supposed to fetch the master…”

He stammered, shuffling behind Shed, unable to stop him or even protest properly.

Shed reached the entrance hall and stretched out his hand to knock—when the door creaked open.

“Oh my—!”

A middle-aged woman in a refined feathered hat recoiled at the sight of the imposing man before her.
Shed recognized her at once as the Baroness Godwin.

“Wh-who are you?”

She eyed the large intruder warily, but then spotted the figure slung over his shoulder and her brows knitted together.

She couldn’t see the woman’s face, but the torn, soiled maid’s uniform was unmistakably Godwin property.

That alone seemed enough for her to realize who it was; a flicker of dismay crossed the baroness’s eyes.

“Y-you’re…!”

“I happened to find something belonging to the Godwin house along the way.”

Shed set Liana down in the hall of the Godwin estate. As soon as her feet touched the ground, Liana quickly straightened herself and bowed her head.

At that, a tremor flickered through the baroness’s gaze.

“My lady, this is Duke Shed Lester.”

The guard quickly whispered as he hurried to the baroness’s side.

The baroness studied the man standing before her.

‘So this is the so-called god of war… that Lupus…?’

She’d heard countless rumors about Shed Lester, but this was her first time seeing him in person. There wasn’t a soul in the empire who didn’t know his name. They said he had the blood of the black wolves, the Lupus tribe—and he certainly didn’t look like an ordinary imperial citizen.

Still, a Lupus was a Lupus—a slave by birth, no matter what else.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Duke Lester.”

The baroness said, offering a formal greeting as she weighed him up.

“But may I ask—where did you find this child…?”

Lowering her long lashes, she glanced over Liana.

Liana stood with her hands folded and head bowed, not daring to meet her eyes.

Shed, observing the tension between the two women, finally spoke.

“I found her in the woods nearby, but it doesn’t seem you’re too pleased to have her back.”

Shed remarked, studying the stiff expression on the baroness’s face.

At that, the baroness forced a graceful smile and shook her head.

“No, I was just curious, that’s all. I was wondering where she’d gone, but to think she’d be with Your Grace… She really was born to captivate men, that one…”

“To captivate men, you say…?”

“In any case, thank you for the trouble of bringing her home. I’m sure she’s been a nuisance to you, Duke. I’ll be sure to punish her thoroughly.”

The baroness seized Liana by the wrist and tried to pull her forward. But in that instant, Shed blocked her, holding Liana back.

“The thing I came to return isn’t this girl, but this.”

He unfolded the dog tag he’d been holding in his hand all along.

“Your hound was out hunting people.”

“…!”

“I thought it was a wild animal and killed it, only to find a name tag on its collar.”

“T-this is…”

The baroness’s gaze flickered, unable to settle anywhere after spotting the tag.

“We do sometimes use beasts on the battlefield.”

Shed said, idly rolling his wrist as he spoke.

“But was this girl perhaps a spy from an enemy nation…?”

The baroness swiftly composed herself and replied,

“No, nothing like that. She must have taken the hunting dogs out by mistake, that’s all.”

“Took them out by mistake?”

“Yes, that girl is such a troublemaker. She’s always making mistakes.”

“A troublemaker, is she…”

Shed’s gaze shifted to Liana at the baroness’s words. Liana simply listened in silence, not opening her mouth once.

For some reason, her quiet acceptance of the accusations grated on his nerves.

Just then—

“Duke Lester?”

Upon hearing that his guest had arrived, Baron Godwin descended the staircase. He was renowned among scholars for his intellect and culture. His neatly groomed moustache and gold-rimmed glasses lent him an air of refinement.

However, the mood among the baroness and the servants turned cold at his arrival. A fleeting look of dismay crossed the baroness’s face.

“Liana, what on earth happened to you?”

The Baron hurried over, shocked by what he saw. Her clothes were torn, and blood covered her body. Liana limped backwards, dragging her injured leg behind her.

His gaze moved to her hunched shoulders.

“Who could have done something so barbaric…!”

The baron exclaimed, glancing around the central hall in outrage.

The baroness and all the servants fell silent, unable to look at him.

She, her eyes narrowed, took in the strange mood within the Godwin household.

“Oh, Liana. Come here. You must wash and get that wound treated right away.”

Baron Godwin strode up to Liana and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Liana squirmed, uncertain what to do.

“My lord, I’m fine.”

“How can you say that when you’re hurt like this? My heart is breaking for you. Hm? Come here.”

“My lord, please…”

Liana squeezed her eyes shut, enduring the baron’s hands as they roamed over her body. She glanced at Shed’s shadow beside her, that pitch-black silhouette seemed to drag her down into a deeper abyss.

What kind of look was he giving her? Was he mocking the fallen noblewoman and revelling in her disgrace? Or did he simply feel nothing, not even enough to look down on her?

Liana clenched her filthy skirt. As the baron’s hand slid down her back, she felt as though insects were crawling along her skin.

At that moment—

“That’s enough, Baron Godwin.”

The baron’s hand, which had slid down toward her waist, was forcibly wrenched away.

Baron Godwin scowled up at Shed, caught off guard.

“What is the meaning of this, Duke Lester?”

He tried to free his wrist, but Shed’s grip was unyielding.

His eyes swept coldly over the people in the hall. There was the baron, who had groped his maid right in front of his wife; the baroness, who could not hide her dismay and distaste at the returned maid; Finally, there was the maid herself, who had just escaped the jaws of a hound.

‘So this is what you meant by ‘cherished,’ Luise Ideana. You really have become the heroine of a disgustingly elegant romance in this world.’

With a bitter sneer, Shed’s hand tightened around the baron’s wrist.

A sharp crack echoed through the hall.

“Argh! Aaah!”

Baron Godwin’s uncivilized scream rang out. Shed released his grip irritably, and the baron curled in on himself, clutching his reddened wrist and groaning for a long moment.

“Grr… Duke Lester…!”

Baron Godwin glared through his glasses, eyes burning with indignation.

Just because he held a lower title didn’t mean he would simply accept such humiliation. After all, he was a nobleman from a respected, old family, as well as a renowned scholar whose reputation stretched back through the history of the empire. The Godwin family was not one to be trifled with.

‘For him to storm into my manor and behave so outrageously—just because he’s a duke… and of slave blood, no less!’

Baron Godwin could not forgive the insolence of a nouveau riche like Shed Lester.

“You’ll have to apologize for this. If you don’t…”

“If I don’t?”

Shed, having drifted into unpleasant thoughts, flicked his gaze toward the baron.

“And what will you do if I don’t?”

“I—!”

The Baron was left speechless by the Countess’s shameless, brazen question. He truly looked the part of a learned man, standing there speechless.

Ignoring the dumbfounded baron, Shed turned his gaze to the baroness.

“I’d like to take care of this ‘troublemaker’ you mentioned, madam.”

“T-take care of her?”

“I’ll pay the proper price. How much do you want?”

At Shed’s words, Liana looked at him in shock. The object of his proposed transaction was none other than Liana herself. Yet, caught between them, she had no power to object to anything. Both she and Shed Lester understood all too well—those without power could be bought and sold like mere possessions.

Liana pressed down on the dull ache in her chest.

“How much do you want? Liana is clearly my property!”

Baron Godwin would not simply stand by. Reaching for his maid again, he insisted on his claim.

But Shed stepped between the baron and Liana.

“Do you really think we’re negotiating as equals, Baron Godwin?”

“…!”

At those quiet, chilling words, the baron’s hair stood on end.

“I’m giving you a chance. Out of respect for your wretched barony.”

“Respect? That’s what I should be saying! Just because you have a title, I let you speak—but in the end, you’re just a beast… a filthy Lupus—!”

For a moment, Shed’s brow hardened. Realising too late that he had crossed a line he should never have crossed, the baron’s face turned white.

“…It seems there’s nothing more to discuss.”

He’d thought he might at least show a little courtesy since he’d killed the baron’s hound, but he’d changed his mind. Without another word, Shed scooped Liana into his arms.

“D-duke! What is the meaning of this outrage?”

“Outrage. That’s a good word…”

A crooked smile twisted Shed’s lips. With one arm around Liana, he drew his sword.

Everyone around them sucked in a breath, unable to say a word.

In the chilling silence, Shed swept his gaze over the household.

“If you have a problem with my ‘outrage,’ then feel free to bring your men to the ducal estate. I’ll welcome you warmly.”

At that very moment, he drew his sword and split open the seam of the baron’s trousers.

“Eeek!”

“M-my lord…!”

The Baron collapsed to the floor, his legs giving way beneath him. His expensive trousers had ripped open at the groin, revealing an unpleasant sight beneath. For a moment, it looked as though he had lost something very precious indeed.

Speechless, the baron could only flap his lips.

“This should be reason enough, don’t you think?”

Sheathing his sword, Shed carried the woman out of the Godwin manor.