Chapter 11

“The friction isn’t between siblings, but with the nobles. Three months after the King’s coronation, more than eighty percent of the nobles still wish the Princess had become the Monarch. Her popularity among the people remains… Oh! Wait, could it be—”

Only then did Shutal realize something.

“If you can’t raise the King’s popularity, you have to drag down the popular one’s reputation.”

“Sure, but would she really ruin herself in the mud just to secure her brother’s place? That’s crazy.”

There was no case in history where someone destroyed themselves for their rival’s sake, only to drag the other down.

Especially since the scandal Adela was about to create would be fatal for an unmarried woman.

“Whatever the reason, it’s all the same—crazy for a man. The only difference is that I’m not the one.”

He wasn’t sure if her brother counted as a man, though.

“Now I see why people call the Princess a Saintess.”

Shutal clicked his tongue.

“A Saintess? More like a fool.”

“Come to think of it, I forgot there was a Saint in front of me. You two really suit each other. Saintess and Saint.”

Shutal’s gaze at Braden was very meaningful.

“I’m not like her.”

Braden frowned and shook his head immediately.

“What’s different? That you’re not a fool? To me, you look just as foolish.”

“Are you toying me with your words?”

“You haven’t fallen in love, have you? Or do you just feel camaraderie, so you’re joining her play out of solidarity?”

Shutal probed.

“That’s not it. I just met a woman who actually arouses me.”

It sounded like a crude joke, but Braden’s voice was so dry it didn’t feel that way.

“You’re aroused? Really?”

Shutal looked genuinely surprised. Braden had always treated women as invisible. It was the first time he’d heard such words from him.

“That the woman who stirred you happened to be Princess Adela….”

Shutal sighed. As a friend, he was glad Braden finally showed interest in women. But the choice of partner was terrible.

“Exactly. Of all people, it’s that Princess.”

Braden’s voice sounded wistful.

Why did he want to see her so much?

“Now I understand why you rejected all those beauties. You just have unique tastes.”

“What’s unique about it?”

“The fact that you react to Princess Adela is proof. She’s a goddess from head to toe—just looking at her could kill any desire.”

Adela was beautiful, of course. But having desire for her felt like committing a sin—at least, that’s how Shutal felt.

“For you, it’s a very desirable attitude.”

Feeling a strange chill, Shutal shivered.

“Even if you’re not dysfunctional, you should’ve refused this deal. It’s too dangerous.”

“When was my life ever not dangerous?”

Braden sneered.

“The moment the scandal spreads, they’ll try to assassinate you.”

“Who?”

“Marquis Adamante. He’s the Princess’s maternal grandfather. He’s the one who most wants her to become the Monarch.”

“Why? The current King is also the former Queen’s son.”

“The Princess is more capable, and personally, Marquis Adamante cherished Adela more. Except for the royal family’s signature black hair, she resembles his daughter a lot—in looks and character.”

“He equates his daughter and granddaughter?”

“The former King was incompetent. After marriage, the Queen led the government. After the Queen, Princess Adela took over. Marquis Adamante was very proud of her.”

“For such a granddaughter to be embroiled in scandal—it must be hard to accept.”

“He’s the type to erase anything he doesn’t like. He’s the one who killed all the former King’s illegitimate children except those born to the Queen.”

“Interesting.”

“You find it interesting, even though your life’s at stake?”

“It’s a chance to test my luck again. See if I can survive among people, not just monsters.”

Braden’s voice held not a trace of tension.

“If it’s an assassin sent by the Marquis, you shouldn’t underestimate him. He’s not the type to just send challengers to the arena.”

“If he sends weaklings, I’ll be disappointed.”

Though he warned him, Shutal wasn’t too worried about Braden. He just didn’t want to get caught up in trouble.

He’d just escaped monsters, and now assassins?

Braden’s life was truly tumultuous.

“Braden, what will you do when this is over? You might not be my gladiator slave anymore.”

“Good. The host’s chatter was getting on my nerves anyway.”

“Will you go back to the Empire?”

Shutal asked, hopeful.

“I don’t know.”

“After all I’ve done for you, couldn’t you at least think about my position a little?”

Shutal grumbled, full of disappointment at the answer he didn’t like.

“If not for me, you wouldn’t even have gotten the chance to do all this. Without guards, you couldn’t take a single step, pampered young Duke.”

Braden spoke as if amused.

“Pampered? That was ages ago. Not anymore. You’ve seen how many artifacts I wear.”

Shutal flared up, pointing to the necklace, bracelets, and other ornaments on his clothes. There were more than ten in total.

“They’re all top-grade artifacts made by Liber. Even if a horde of monsters attacks, I’d be fine. Got it?”

“I’m going out.”

Braden ignored Shutal’s whining.

“Where are you going?”

Shutal’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Duke, do I need your permission to go out?”

Braden raised his eyes, his voice intimidating, and Shutal immediately backed down.

“No, it’s just surprising since it’s been so long since you went out.”

***

“Red. It’ll go well with black hair.”

Braden spoke.

“Ah, does the lady have black hair? Pink also suits black hair well.”

The manager of the Total Dress Shop, wearing a sales smile thick with flattery, brought out a string of new l*ngerie.

Shutal rolled his eyes as he looked at the provocative women’s underwear lined up before him, then finally glanced at Braden.

Braden was selecting l*ngerie with the serious expression of someone appraising a rare painting. It looked like a scene straight out of a comedy.

Sending expensive dresses as gifts or accompanying a lover while she chose clothes was common enough. But to come to a shop and personally buy women’s underwear—one would have to be crazy.

Even Shutal, who was famous as a playboy before marriage, had never done such a thing.

Is craziness contagious?

It seemed Braden was going mad too after interacting with that crazy Princess.

“No, pink doesn’t match her image.”

Braden shook his head.

“Ah, so she has a mature aura. In that case, I recommend this purple.”

Braden bought a huge number of l*ngerie in various designs, colors, and textures.

When did he plan to dress her in all those? More importantly, how many times did he intend to spend the night with her to use them all?

Shutal couldn’t calculate.

“Do you have men’s underwear too?”

“But of course! We have plenty that will highlight your magnificent physique, Sir.”

Soon, the manager brought out men’s underwear.

Shutal gasped. The city of pleasure was also known as the city of indulgence. The decadent underwear suited its reputation and exceeded Shutal’s imagination.

From mesh, to designs that only covered the tip—

Shutal nearly blurted out, ‘Are you really going to wear that?’

No, it was more that he couldn’t imagine Braden wearing such underwear at all.

“Would you care to buy sleepwear as well?”

The manager rubbed his palms together, eyes sparkling.

“If we’ll be in bed the whole time, why would we need sleepwear?”

“Of course, of course. Quite right.”

Without changing expression, the manager nodded and quickly changed tactics. He was truly the best in the business.

“In that case, how about wearing a scent instead of clothes?”

“Wearing a scent?”

“Yes. A famous opera singer said she wears perfume instead of pajamas, so lately perfumes to spray before sleep have become popular among ladies.”

“That sounds good.”

“What kind of feeling do you prefer? Refreshing, feminine, elegant, or sensual—we have them all.”

Braden recalled Adela, who exuded a subtle lily-of-the-valley fragrance. But her first impression was cold elegance.

Yet she would soon change—by his touch.

“Something hot.”

“Pardon?”

“Is there nothing with a burning sensation?”

“Ah, something just came to mind.”

Though his request was unusual, the sly manager quickly thought and brought two bottles of perfume.

“This is a new fragrance by the top perfumer. There’s nothing like it on the market. It’s a couple’s perfume, usable by both men and women.”

The manager dabbed the perfume on paper and handed it over.

“It starts with a fresh woody scent, then blooms into floral notes of bergamot and geranium over time. Finally, it finishes with a musky aroma—luxurious and s*xy, perfect for the bedroom.”

The manager finished his explanation and watched Braden’s expressionless face.

There was no such thing as a burning fragrance. It was simply a new, alluring scent that both men and women would like. The story could be spun however needed.

“Couple’s perfume, hm. Not bad. I’ll buy the recipe. And from now on, you sell it to no one else but me.”

“The perfumer will be overwhelmed with gratitude to earn your favor.”

Braden finally stood up.

“Just a moment.”

The manager stopped Braden as he tried to leave.

“Is there something else?”

“Since you’ve bought the recipe, would you like to name the perfume?”

“Doesn’t the perfumer already have a name for it?”

Shutal asked the manager.

“There is, but wouldn’t a name given by the perfume’s owner be better?”

A name for the perfume.

Braden paused to think. Naming things was a bother, so he considered just using the perfumer’s name.

Then he recalled Adela’s face after their kiss, her noble mask stripped away.

“Glacies Flamma.”

The words slipped from Braden’s lips.

Ice Flame.

He would draw out the hot blaze hidden beneath the solid ice.

“That’s the name. Glacies Flamma.”

Braden turned away.

“Bring the carriage.”

Shutal quickly ordered a servant.

“No. We’re going to the next shop.”

Braden said to Shutal.

The next shop was a jewelry store.

“Are you buying jewelry too?”

“When they’re handing me such a costly mine, I can’t just walk away empty-handed.”

“True.”

With a magic stone mine like that, they could buy dozens of jewelry stores and still have plenty left.

Shutal nodded and followed Braden.

That day, he realized for the first time how large Braden’s hands really were.