Chapter 1.7

As Joseph urged her again, Aness jumped up from her seat. She had no reason to refuse such an offer.  

If someone would just help, she’d try anything. She knew full well that if she broke this appointment with Knight Commander Caron, she’d never get another chance like this.  

“All right! I’ll give it a try. But what if he notices? What if he’s heard rumors about Miss Strauss’s beauty?”  

“……”  

Joseph barely stifled another laugh, then snapped his fingers as if struck by a brilliant idea.  

“Ah, I’ve just thought of a perfect way—would you like to hear it?”  

“A perfect way? Is there really a way to fool the Duke completely?”  

Unaware that this was all Joseph’s scheme, Aness was deeply grateful. He not only came up with a great plan, but even considered how to avoid being found out.  

‘I could never repay this with money…’  

Aness, her eyes shining, studied Joseph’s appearance, already thinking of finding a good match for him.  

“So, how about this method?”  

Just as he was about to reveal his idea, Aness suddenly asked,  

“Um, Guildmaster, are you still single? What kind of women do you like? Could you tell me?”  

Her professional instincts had kicked in again.  

***

Knight Commander Caron Perschtman sat on the second floor of the tavern, looking out over the bustling street. Among the city’s taverns, this one was the most popular, and its second floor was a very special space.  

At the time, most large taverns in the Empire also served as inns, and this one was no exception. The second floor was reserved for special guests, furnished so they could drink and even sleep if they wished, with a bed tucked away in the corner.  

“Quite improper.”

Caron sipped his tea, looking around the space with clear disapproval. The presence of a bed in a drinking establishment could only mean one thing. A filthy place meant for pleasure.

“Joseph, that b*stard, what on earth was he thinking choosing a place like this? He’s begging to be killed.”

Already displeased with that man, Caron muttered a quiet curse. Occupying the highest rank after the Emperor, he had lived his life hiding all his true nature.  

Suppressing his desires was part of his daily routine. Living in his mid-twenties, with all the fire of youth, it wasn’t easy to keep his urges in check. Yet Caron had managed well so far.

He loved his House of Perschtmann deeply and took great pride in being one of its members.  

Upholding the family’s rules, staying loyal, and preserving its honor—these were the principles he valued most.  

Therefore, desires for women were, compared to his willpower, nothing more than trivial, worthless emotions.

Just as he was finishing his second cup of tea, someone rushed breathlessly into the tavern. Aness, delayed by her efforts to look like Miss Strauss, had finally hurried to the meeting place.

***

She entered the upscale tavern, her eyes wide with wonder. She had never set foot in such a place before and was completely bewildered.  

On the first floor, young noblemen lounged at tables, drinking and chatting loudly. And, to her surprise, some of them were women.  

It was impossible to tell whether they were courtesans working there or young ladies, as they were all dressed up and wearing eye masks, laughing and talking excitedly.

‘Wow, this is another world. Young people these days, it’s really the end of times. Even if free romance is all the rage, men and women meeting in a tavern like this? If my mother saw this, she’d faint.’

Her mother, who constantly preached the importance of chastity, would be shocked to learn such a place existed.

Aness checked to make sure her white cat mask wasn’t crooked, then went upstairs to the second floor—and was surprised once again.  

There were three entrances on the second floor, and the one on the far right was the meeting place. But when she opened the door, she found it was a completely closed-off space. It was a private room where no one could come and go freely, which astonished her even more.  

But what surprised her the most was something else.

“You’re here at last. It’s a pleasure to meet you, My Lady.”

Knight Commander Caron, who had been waiting alone, drinking two cups of tea in boredom, stood and greeted her first. Only then did Aness meet his gaze.

“!!!”

The afternoon sunlight shone through the window behind him, illuminating him like a halo. His already handsome face looked even more mysterious.

“Ah… um…”

Aness tried to return his greeting and introduce herself, but her mouth froze. In fact, her whole mind seemed frozen, her thoughts stopped cold.  

A breathtakingly handsome man with dazzling blond hair and eyes as blue as the sea, as blue as jewels, stood before her like a painting.  

On top of that, his broad, powerful build was so impressive that it almost defied description. She’d seen him from a distance before, but up close, she was left speechless.

‘Ah, he’s really handsome! Incredible. No wonder everyone calls him the Empire’s top bachelor. It’s not just his looks—his family is amazing too. He’s the Knight Commander, the youngest minister in the Imperial Council, and the Emperor’s favorite. What could this man possibly lack?’

At that moment, Aness felt envious of the other young ladies who could formally send him a marriage proposal. After all, they were qualified to do so.  

Who in the world would refuse such a handsome man with all that power? For the first time, she envied Miss Strauss. Lost in her own thoughts, a cold voice came from above her head.

“Is standing there with your mouth open your way of greeting someone?”

Snapping out of it, Aness looked up at the much taller man. And she realized something else. This man had a very arrogant and cold gaze. Beyond those beautiful, ocean-blue eyes, there was a chilling sharpness that sent shivers down her spine.

‘Everyone has their flaws. I almost forgot—this Knight Commander is known for being arrogant and cold.’

Recovering her professional composure, Aness quickly bowed her head and gave a polite greeting.

“Hello. It’s an honor to meet the renowned Knight Commander. I am Abel of the Strauss family.”

She lowered her face as much as possible, trying to meet his eyes at an angle. Even with the mask, she had to be careful not to give herself away.

Caron carefully observed the small-framed young lady before him. Light blond hair, a slender build. Through the mask, her violet eyes looked rather clever.  

She wore a simple violet dress, matching her eyes, with a cape. Aside from a ruby necklace, she wore few accessories, quite different from the vain young ladies of the time.  

However, he didn’t like the fact that she wore a mask. Since her identity was already revealed, there was no good reason to hide her face.

‘Hmm, the eldest daughter of the Strauss family, Abel. She looks quiet, so she probably won’t pester me afterward. If any scandal comes from this meeting, it’ll be her loss anyway—but she’s the one who asked for it, so she’ll just have to take responsibility.’

As cold and heartless as ever, Caron firmly drew a line in his mind and decided to endure this tedious meeting just a little longer.

Meanwhile, Aness, sitting in front of the handsome but arrogant Knight Commander, started thinking hard. With someone so perfect, what if she was rejected for the next meeting?  

She had to somehow make him satisfied enough today to secure another appointment, but the more she thought about it, the more daunting it seemed.

‘For now, let’s just do what Joseph told me to do.’

To make a good impression before he could cut the meeting short, Aness beamed and placed something she’d brought onto the table.

“Commander, I’ve prepared a special tea for you. Do you like apple black tea?”

As soon as she mentioned tea, the Duke reacted, just as expected.

“Apple black tea? I’ve never heard of it. Did you make it yourself?”

Clearly a tea lover, the Duke watched her movements closely. Aness took out the tea leaves she’d prepared and put them into his cup, and then into her own.

She poured hot water and let it steep slowly. The bitter tea leaves mixed with the sweet and tart scent of apples, filling the room with a rich aroma.

“It’s fascinating how the tea has a hint of apple.”

The Duke, a true tea enthusiast, seemed to like the fragrance and quickly finished his cup.

“The aftertaste is quite bitter. Where do these tea leaves come from?”

He had no idea the tea leaves came from Joseph. If he’d known they were from the master of schemes, he never would have drunk it.

“They’re from our own garden. It’s a hybrid, so the taste is unique. If you’d like more, I can always provide some, Your Grace.”

The tea leaves Joseph had given her held a touch of magic. They were, in fact, a subtle aphrodisiac. Outwardly, it just seemed fragrant, but the real ingredient was meant to stir desire—though neither of them knew this. Aness believed, as Joseph said, that it was simply a tea to inspire affection in the other person.

‘Please, let him drink this and feel attracted to me, and agree to another meeting!’

When Caron praised the flavor, Aness grew curious and sipped her own tea as well.

“Wow, it’s so fragrant. The aroma is wonderful.”

She, too, soon finished her cup. If it made people like each other, it couldn’t hurt to drink it herself.

Caron, also finishing his warm apple tea, went to pour himself another cup—but suddenly paused, setting the cup down with a start.

He realized belatedly that something felt strange, and began to glare at Aness from across the table.

“…What is it?”

Caron stared at her with those striking eyes, making Aness’s heart race so much she lowered her gaze and asked quietly.

“Why is your face so red?”

Suddenly, Caron asked bluntly, dropping all formal speech.

“Huh? Is it? Really?”

In fact, Aness had already begun to feel a heat spreading through her body. Her head felt dizzy, and the already handsome man before her looked even more attractive.

‘Oh no, why is my heart pounding like this?’

She stared at him blankly, feeling that something was wrong. Caron, sensing that things were seriously amiss, immediately stood up from his seat.

“D*mn it!”

He staggered as he tried to walk toward the exit. He looked extremely flustered. Only then did he realize there had been something suspicious in the tea he’d drunk, and he was now desperately trying to get away.

“Ah, wait a moment!”

As he tried to leave, a panicked Aness quickly stood up to follow him.

This couldn’t happen. She couldn’t let him leave without making another appointment. This meeting was just a fake—she absolutely had to secure a real meeting.  

That was the whole purpose of today: she had to make sure he promised to meet Miss Strauss. But now, the Knight Commander was trying to leave.

“Commander, please wait! You can’t leave now.”

Growing desperate, Aness stumbled after him as if she were drunk. She quickly blocked his hand as he reached for the doorknob and, in her haste, wrapped her arms around his waist. It was the manifestation of her determination—not to let him leave this place without making a promise.

She had no idea at that moment just how dangerous this act was, nor what kind of danger she herself was in.