“Ventus, I have a question.”

“I will answer with all sincerity.”

“Why are you being so kind to me? I know well that there’s no kindness without reason.”

At Jean’s cold gaze, Ventus was silent for a moment, as if contemplating.

Then, as if having made up his mind, he answered honestly.

“I received a request. So you need not feel burdened by my kindness.”

“You won’t tell me who made the request.”

“I can only say that it was one of Ranke’s patrons. Now, please enjoy your time, Your Grace.”

Ventus bowed again before leaving.

“Do you have any idea who it might be?”

“No.”

“And you don’t have any personal acquaintances here?”

“I was on the battlefield for five years. Even after returning, I haven’t shown my face in social circles. How could I possibly have personal acquaintances?”

“That’s true.”

“Wait, so in other words, Boss has no friends?”

Sage, who had been listening to Jean and Laurel’s conversation, asked incredulously.

“And you do?”

At Laurel’s pointed remark, Sage made a sour face.

“Of course I don’t. With my terrible personality, it would be strange if I had friends. But the Boss is a noble. And not just any noble—one of the top five in the Adrian Empire. Right?”

“I don’t need friends. I prefer being alone. I absolutely hate anything that gets in my way.”

“As I thought, the Boss is truly a solitary predator.”

Sage nodded as if he had expected this answer.

Jean silently raised his gaze to survey the interior of Ranke. He was annoyed by the persistent stares of nobles since he had entered.

‘They’re staring to the point of disgust.’

Jean frowned, displeased with the situation.

When he was younger, he had avoided people for fear they might discover his secret, but now he simply found it all bothersome.

Above all, he hated becoming entangled in political friction with other nobles.

But as long as he remained next in line to the Emperor in the succession order, the various gazes of vigilance and jealousy directed at him would continue regardless of his wishes.

“Huh? What’s going on? Why are the lights going out? Is there a power outage?”

No sooner had Sage finished speaking than the chandeliers illuminating Ranke’s interior dimmed.

Then, as music began to play, the curtain in the center disappeared, revealing enchanting dancers.

“It seems they’re about to perform.”

At Laurel’s words, Sage’s eyes changed dramatically.

“This is Ranke’s pride. If you see a Peirasmos you like during the performance, just let me know.”

Ventus was suddenly standing beside their table with a proud expression.

“Put the drinks here.”

At Ventus’s command, a female server placed glasses on the table.

She glanced sideways at Jean, then left with a face that had turned bright red.

Seeing this, Sage burst into laughter.

“It’s always the same. Women lose their minds just looking at our Boss’s face. Meanwhile, our Boss lives a life more ascetic than a monk from Farel Monastery.”

“Shut that mouth, Sage.”

When Jean issued a low warning, Sage flashed a grin.

“If the dancers are not to your liking, please say so, Your Grace. Ranke’s Peirasmos are the pride of the Taran continent.”

Ventus added, apparently interpreting Jean’s reaction as displeasure with the performers on stage.

“That won’t be necessary, Ventus.”

Ventus’s face tensed at Jean’s cold tone.

“Then, I apologize for the intrusion.”

As Ventus quickly left, Jean drank the liquor placed before him.

As the cool, tingling alcohol slid down his throat, he felt his tense nerves relax a little.

“Are you alright? You don’t look well.”

Jean took another sip of his drink and then shrugged as if nothing was wrong.

Laurel was worried about what might have happened when Jean met with the Emperor.

“The Emperor asked about the public marriage proposal. I told him it was the first I’d heard of it.”

His tone suggested that was all there was to it.

“That’s a relief, then.”

When Laurel’s expression darkened, Jean nudged his shoulder. It meant there was nothing to worry about.

“What about the movements of the knights?”

“They’re coming to Carlisle as inconspicuously as possible. They’ll be at today’s match as well.”

Jean nodded.

By Emperor Edwin’s order, the Black Knights belonging to the Reushden duchy had been officially disbanded.

However, the Black Knights, who had served the Reushden duchy for 200 years, were merely scattered and hidden throughout the Taran continent, waiting for their master’s command.

In that sense, Laurel, who was also the captain of the Black Knights, had joined the Imperial Knights to observe the Emperor’s movements from the closest possible position.

“This is really troublesome. What a mess because of that greedy Emperor.”

Sage complained without taking his eyes off the dancers.

“Watch your tongue. There are many eyes here.”

“Tch! No matter how I think about it, the battlefield was better. There, I could just kill enemies without thinking. Why are there so many things I can’t do here and so many things I need to be careful about?”

In truth, Sage’s biggest complaint was that he couldn’t participate in the gladiatorial matches held at Ranke.

“Sage, please, that mouth of yours…”

Just as Laurel was about to warn him while looking around, the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed.

The dancers on stage could be seen descending toward the guests’ tables in time with the languid music.

“So these are the famous Peirasmos I’ve heard about?”

Sage’s expression was full of excitement.

The dancers in their elaborate costumes appeared incredibly sensual in the magical light.

Like legendary sirens trying to steal men’s souls.

“Peirasmos, I don’t understand what all the fuss is about.”

Jean frowned as he watched the dancers who were directing particularly blatant gazes toward their table.

“I knew this would happen. To think you don’t know about the famous Peirasmos. This is purely out of curiosity, but Boss, do you perhaps have a problem with… Ack!”

Sage, who had been speaking smoothly, suddenly bent over and swallowed his words.

“I told you to shut that mouth, Sage. I apologize, Your Grace.”

Laurel struck Sage in the solar plexus as if he couldn’t tolerate it anymore. Then he quickly bowed his head to Jean.

Jean looked at Laurel with an expression that seemed to say this wasn’t the first time Sage had been so impertinent.

“Laurel, don’t do that. Tell me what Peirasmos means.”

At his master’s request, Laurel began to readily share what he knew.

“It seems they call Ranke’s dancers and high-class courtesans ‘Peirasmos.'”

“Is that why they’re famous among nobles? Don’t all social clubs have them?”

“That’s true, but the Peirasmos here are somewhat different. They have the privilege of choosing their clients. In other words, even the most distinguished noble can be rejected if they don’t find him appealing. That’s the pride of the Peirasmos here at Ranke, and it gives nobles a sense of superiority to be chosen by them.”

“What an elaborate way to package a night’s greed.”

Jean spoke coldly, clearly displeased.

The Peirasmos matched all too well with the vanity and pretentiousness of the nobles.

“Nobles always want justification. They even create such crazy rules for bedding women.”

Sage snorted derisively.

“But Boss, what are you going to do? All the women here seem to be targeting you. Is your chastity in danger tonight?”

Sage laughed as if he found the situation hilarious.

“D*mn it!”

Jean swallowed a curse with a displeased expression. Then he glared coldly at the dancers.

As Sage had said, the dancers who were teasing the nobles with seductive movements couldn’t take their greedy eyes off Jean.

“How unpleasant.”

He felt his skin crawl at the sticky gazes flying toward him.

“Boss, are you serious? You don’t feel any tingling or heat throughout your body—you genuinely dislike it?”

Sage spoke as if he couldn’t believe it.

“It feels like snakes crawling over my body. Disgusting.”

Both Sage and Laurel seemed somewhat surprised by Jean’s resolute tone.

“Be honest, Boss. Is it always like that? I mean, have you always felt this way when women look at you?”

At Sage’s question, Jean wore a serious expression.

He hadn’t specifically taken time to think about it.

To make an excuse, he hadn’t had the leisure to think. After swallowing the dragon’s heart and surviving, he had been preoccupied with hiding that secret.

Occasionally, he had made eye contact with ladies who were entranced by his appearance, but he felt nothing special.

Rather, what stirred him was the thick scent of blood and the persistent, terrible urge to kill.

“I don’t think I’ve felt anything in particular.”

“Really?”

“Is this such a serious issue that you need to make those faces?”

Jean looked at the two with an expression of incomprehension.

“Of course it’s serious. A man not feeling those emotions toward women? Are you really a man?”

Sage wore a serious expression. He genuinely seemed concerned.

“Boss, think carefully. Is there really not a single woman who interests you even slightly? Like remembering her smile, or feeling a tingling sensation when your eyes meet. You know, things like that.”

Sage rubbed his heart with his hand as if urging Jean to think carefully.

Remembering someone’s smile?

Suddenly, those emerald eyes that had glared at him came to mind.

And that bold expression as she raised her chin despite trembling with fear.

“It wasn’t a smile, but I think there was someone who got angry at me.”

Jean spoke with an awkward expression, unlike his usual self.

Laurel and Sage exchanged meaningful glances.

“Who was it? Why was she angry at you?”

“Because I choked her.”

“What? You’re saying you didn’t treat her well, but actually choked a woman?”

Sage shouted in disbelief.

His voice was so loud that it drew the attention of those around them.

“Please lower your voice.”

At Laurel’s warning, Sage nodded and hunched closer to Jean.

“Are you crazy? Why did you choke a woman? This isn’t the battlefield. Women hate that kind of thing. Tsk, tsk, forget marriage—you can’t even date now. It’s over.”

Sage wore a despairing expression as if the nation had fallen.

“I’m not interested in marriage or romance.”

“What are you going to do if you’re not interested? Someone even made a public marriage proposal to you in the newspaper. Instead of dismissing it, why not take this opportunity to catch that lady? Get married! I heard she’s from a good family and is wealthy. What reason is there to hesitate? You should grab her quickly.”

Sage spoke as if there was nothing to think twice about.

Laurel shook his head at Sage.

For Sage, who didn’t know much about the Duchess of Roxburgh who had made the public proposal, it was easy to say.

“Or you could talk about that lady you keep thinking about. Do you know her name? She still likes you even though you choked her? Stop keeping us in suspense and tell us quickly. I need to know so I can give you advice.”