He had dismissed it as just another piece of baseless gossip from that talkative back-alley bastard, but it turned out to be true!

For a man like His Highness—who wouldn’t bleed even if pierced, whose very essence was like a winter of unyielding steel—spring?

It was unbelievable even as he witnessed it firsthand. He had pinched his thigh so hard in disbelief that it still throbbed.

By this time a few hours later, it would surely be bruised black and blue.

And when this was all over, forget about enjoying the casino—he would rush back and show his fellow comrades this bruise as proof. He would excitedly proclaim, “I saw it! I saw His Highness’s spring with my own eyes!”

The scarred man didn’t get the chance to finish that thought.

Because the very person who had brought spring to His Highness was now staring straight at him.

Feeling an instinctive jolt of fear, he hesitated and fidgeted with his large, shovel-like hands.

He hadn’t formally introduced himself, but he had bowed with the utmost respect the moment their eyes first met—surely that was enough to keep him from being marked.

Unless… had he already been marked for interrupting their good atmosphere?

Of all times, why did the damn target have to show up now?!

Frustrated, he mentally cursed the target, who had simply arrived according to schedule, and then thought of Kertan, who had conveniently slipped away.

“I’ll tail him from behind.”

“Oh? Then I’ll go ahead and report.”

‘I shouldn’t have said that back then.’

Kertan—despite not looking the type—was sharp, perceptive, and had a keen instinct for these things.

As that realization hit, the scarred man’s face slowly turned pale. Meanwhile, Raylin, who had been watching his emotions shift wildly beside him, gave up trying to make sense of it.

Confusion, unease, shock, anticipation, surprise, fear, frustration—the extreme contrast between his hardened, expressionless face and his constantly fluctuating emotions was so intense that she wondered if he might collapse from it.

Lost in his spiraling thoughts, the man completely forgot his back-alley comrade’s firm warning.

“If you ever meet her, do not—under any circumstances—speak to her. Don’t even look at her. Treat her as if she doesn’t exist. Huh? Am I saying to ignore her? Don’t be stupid! You need to focus all your attention on her!”

He had followed that baffling piece of advice quite well—until now.

The moment his unease got the better of him and he began to turn toward Raylin—

Aiger rose to his feet and blocked her from view, speaking at the same time.

“Watch where you put your eyes.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

Aiger’s low voice pierced through the air with an icy sharpness.

The man, without a peep, redirected his gaze in the exact opposite direction from Raylin.

Watching Aiger’s broad back as he stood protectively in front of her, Raylin swallowed a chuckle.

Just like in the back alley last time.

As if looking at her or even acknowledging her presence would cause some great disaster.

Well, considering the circumstances, now wasn’t exactly the time or place for the “Lady of Greuga” to proudly declare her presence.

Finding his behavior somewhat understandable, Raylin stopped observing the scarred man.

She had only been watching out of curiosity, fascinated by the rapid shifts in his emotions—but when Aiger’s single command erased all of them in an instant, it was so bizarre that she decided she had seen enough.

Turning to the man, who was now staring fixedly in the wrong direction, Aiger asked,

“Is Kertan tailing him?”

“Yes. I had him leave a marker.”

“We’ll need to take that bastard in.”

With that, Aiger coolly decided the target’s abduction.

“Go follow him now.”

Like a bear with its tail on fire, the man bolted out of the room.

Leaving only the two of them behind once more.

“Can I come along?”

“Are you asking to come along?”

They had spoken at the same time, meaning the same thing.

A moment later, both of them smiled slightly at the coincidence.

Aiger extended a hand toward Raylin and asked,

“You don’t regret missing out on the casino’s entertainment?”

“It doesn’t matter. I didn’t come here to play.”

Taking his hand and rising to her feet, Raylin continued.

“I came to find someone. I’ve already checked the main hall, but I haven’t been able to see the inner section, which is restricted to those with special credentials.”

She didn’t say more, instead letting her gaze pose the question.

Aiger gave a short, amused scoff before answering.

“Then I suppose I’ll have to tear through the inner sections of the casino to meet your expectations.”

“If you insist, I won’t stop you.”

With her chin lifted in exaggerated nonchalance, Raylin met his gaze with an impish glint.

Aiger furrowed his brow slightly, then let out a brief chuckle.

As if indulging her, he gracefully offered his arm.

“Then I shall escort you properly. Let’s move.”

***

As Aiger had promised, Raylin was able to explore every last corner of the casino under the guise of anonymity.

“More! Give me more! Hahaha! Is this my lucky day?!”

“I’ll contact my family immediately—just give me a loan!”

The chaos of the gambling hall continued to spiral as they moved forward.

Amidst the high-stakes games that could not be played in the main hall, the desires of those losing or winning money tangled together.

Perhaps because they felt secure in the privacy of the room, most of them had taken off their masks, making it much easier for Raylin to identify them.

Of course, even if Catherine were wearing a mask, she would still recognize her.

That thought made Raylin scowl.

It was irritating to realize, once again, that she had come to know Catherine so well—not as a dear friend, but as an unwitting benefactor who played the role of her wealthy fool.

Out of the countless people here, whether masked or disguised, she could recognize Catherine Sillion at a glance.

She wasn’t even the protagonist of some grand story, yet here she was.

Her insides twisted, and the corner of her mouth curled in displeasure.

With a cold gaze, Raylin observed the gamblers teetering between heaven and hell, swiftly continuing her steps.

Aiger seemed to check on her from time to time, but he, too, crossed the casino without a word.

Eventually, they reached the top floor of the casino.

“This is the place.”

From the shadow behind a massive mirror that hardly looked like a door, Kertan appeared.

“Open it.”

At Aiger’s command, Kertan immediately used the method he had prepared in advance to open the hidden space behind the mirror.

Walking toward the light spilling from within, the four soon faced a gaunt, stern-looking man.

Upon seeing the scarred man for the first time, he lowered his glasses to the bridge of his nose and furrowed his brows before his eyes widened in shock.

“Wh-Who? Gasp! Your Highness, the Crown Prince!”

He shot to his feet at once, hurriedly gathering the ledger in front of him and darting his eyes around, contemplating escape. However, Aiger merely gave a leisurely nod of his chin.

“Seize him.”

“N-No!”

“Oh, but yes.”

At the man’s desperate, wailing protest, the scarred man grabbed his shoulder with an air of disdain, and Kertan swiftly kicked the back of his knees, forcing him to kneel.

As Aiger sat on the edge of the desk and looked down at him, Raylin, who had stayed near the entrance to avoid interfering, scanned the room.

Even if she had openly declared her status as the Lady of Greuga, she wouldn’t have been allowed entry here.

Like the room Kertan had led her to earlier, this place was secretive to the extent that she doubted even the casino owner knew of its existence.

Recalling the face of the casino’s so-called owner—a nobleman plastered with meanness and greed—Raylin scoffed.

Well, it hardly mattered.

It would be better if such a man went bankrupt or was dismissed.

She picked up a few scattered documents from the desk.

Papers filled with complicated numbers and names written in secret codes were left untouched.

Her goal wasn’t to uncover the casino’s hidden funds, but rather to confirm Catherine’s presence.

Even after sifting through every document, including those bearing the aliases Catherine often used, Raylin found nothing and lifted her head.

At the same time, Aiger had finished reviewing the ledger he had taken from the man.

Though trembling violently, the gaunt man kept his mouth tightly shut. Aiger, unsurprised, gave a casual order.

“Take him.”

“Understood. Come on now, let’s go. No need to waste your energy struggling; just behave yourself.”

The scarred man gripped his shoulder firmly, half-warning, half-advising, though it seemed their captive had no intention of listening.

His eyes darted around, and the moment he saw an opening, he bolted toward the entrance.

But his attempt lasted only two steps before Kertan intercepted him, crushing his plan instantly.

“Oh dear, caught you.”

“You let him go on purpose.”

Kertan, having struck the man unconscious with a blow to the nape, responded to the scarred man’s remark with a grin.

“You never know. People tend to grab what’s most precious to them when desperate. But seeing how he ran straight for the exit, I guess there’s nothing valuable in this room. Seems like aside from the ledger we seized, there’s nothing else of worth here, Your Highness.”

Aiger nodded and carelessly set the ledger down.

“His knowledge might still be useful. Send him to the old woman.”

“Ugh, that old woman is terrifying.”

Grumbling with his mouth but moving without hesitation, the scarred man hoisted the unconscious captive onto his shoulder and exited first.

Aiger then waved a hand at the silently standing Kertan, who vanished without a sound.

“Did you see everything you needed to?”