* * *
“If a mere beast dares to bite its master, it needs to be disciplined.”
Melody’s calm words made Eren turn to her in shock.
Helid stood, face contorted in fury—yet Melody was frighteningly calm, devoid of any visible emotion.
Looking at their appearances and demeanor, anyone would assume Helid was the more intimidating one.
But Eren had never been more afraid of anyone than Melody in that moment. Her presence closed in around him like invisible pressure, tightening slowly but steadily.
“In a few days, you’ll be granted the rank of Viscount. I suggest you start acting like a noble.”
“Sorry, but you’d best not expect anything so refined from me. I’ve been filthy since birth.”
“Perhaps that kind of wild behavior was tolerated back in Epentel. But this is Trovien. Control yourself.”
Her commanding tone made Helid’s brow furrow.
“A mere noblewoman dares…”
It was just a mutter, but loud enough to hear.
Judging by the way both Melody and Ashard turned to him, he seemed to have mistaken Melody for Ashard’s daughter, given their eerily similar looks.
“A mere woman, is it…? Seems no one’s informed you yet.”
She continued with a calm expression.
“The fiefdom granted to you, General, lies in the southern part of the kingdom of Latilan, south of Trovien. And the person overseeing both the southern and western territories… is me.”
“…What?”
“You seemed a bit lacking in understanding, so I’ll put it simply: Without my approval, you can’t do anything in that territory. Perhaps you’ll find it easier to understand if I say I’m your direct superior?”
Helid let out a small, incredulous laugh, as if wondering what the problem was.
“The Emperor already promised I’d—”
“Be allowed to live in the capital, yes. But in return, isn’t there a duty you were assigned?”
“What are you talking about?”
“The position of commander of the Third Imperial Knight Order, the Black Knights. Isn’t that right?”
“Yeah. And what’s that got to do with you?”
“It has everything to do with me. The Black Knights are directly under the First Princess.”
At that, Eren’s eyes widened.
So that meant Helid was… Melody’s?
He turned to Ashard in surprise, but the man watched them with a composed expression, as if he’d known all along.
Realizing that Helid still hadn’t fully grasped the situation, Melody picked up a wine glass and walked toward him.
Neither she nor Helid showed even a hint of intimidation as their gazes met.
“You seem confused, so I suppose I should introduce myself. Since I resemble my uncle more than my father, it seems there was some misunderstanding. I am Melody Trovien, General.”
“Trovien…?”
“The First Princess of this Empire, and your new commanding officer. General Helid Yulta.”
Uncharacteristically, Helid’s expression hardened into a sharp grimace.
Seeing that flicker of panic, Eren silently cheered.
That arrogant Helid, finally cornered!
‘Yes! Go, Princess!’
That alone was satisfying. But what happened next made Eren stare at Melody in disbelief.
“And one more thing.”
Her golden eyes flickered crimson, the energy growing fierce enough to dominate the room.
Anyone of Helid’s caliber—or people like Carlyle or Julius—would have felt it clearly.
This was no ordinary aura.
A red force surged forth and wrapped around Helid, pressing in.
Moments later, he collapsed to one knee.
It wasn’t just a single knee bent in deference—it looked almost like a knight’s oath of fealty.
“I’ll overlook your bratty behavior today, but this is your last warning. If you ever again insult Count Nefendis—my teacher—you won’t get away so easily. Do you understand?”
“……”
Her voice was soft, yet firm, and as a final flourish, she dropped the wine glass she was holding right beside him.
Unlike before, the glass was full, and the red wine spilled like blood onto Helid’s clothes.
Because he was kneeling, the shattered glass even grazed his cheek, as if to repay him for his earlier arrogance.
A thin line of red trailed down Helid’s cheek.
Melody had utterly crushed him.
Having trampled Helid’s pride, she ended with a warning not to lay a finger on Eren, and turned to leave.
As she disappeared, Eren looked at her with shining eyes full of admiration.
“…What was that just now?”
Eren turned to Ashard.
Though he had no physical aptitude himself, he could tell that Helid wouldn’t have dropped to his knees voluntarily.
If someone had done something, it had to be Melody—but she hadn’t even lifted a finger.
“Magic,” Ashard said simply.
“…Magic?”
You mean—actual magic?
Ashard didn’t confirm it out loud, but his expression said enough.
Eren instantly felt a pang of inferiority.
‘The world really isn’t fair.’
While some people run in circles trying to solve problems, others just go bam, and it’s over.
No wonder Melody was ridiculously overpowered—it was beyond jealousy at this point.
‘I wish I had powers like that…’
The thought passed, but reality soon brought him back.
If he had been given a setup like that, this whole story wouldn’t be spiraling into such a chaotic high-stakes mess.
Right now, with everyone’s attention fixed on Helid and the aftermath of the wine glass drop, this was his chance.
And luckily, Helid, still seething over Melody, didn’t seem to be paying him any mind.
“Your Grace, will you be staying in the banquet hall?”
“Seems like the entertainment’s over, so let’s go.”
Perhaps catching on to Eren’s hidden intent, Ashard pointed toward the rear door.
The banquet had only just begun, so sneaking back to the mansion outright was risky—but disappearing for a little while wouldn’t hurt.
Besides, the one to watch out for tonight wasn’t Helid.
As the story’s main lead, the first one who would try to claim him after the victory banquet would be Carlyle.
For now, Eren’s agents seemed to have him properly stalled—so if they moved quickly, he wouldn’t notice their absence.
Being alone didn’t feel safe.
The best choice was to stay close to Ashard, who at least felt trustworthy.
Eren tiptoed ahead toward the terrace doors.
The soft moonlight stretched endlessly.
A gentle breeze greeted them as they stepped onto the quietly glowing terrace.
“You haven’t forgotten the deal we made, right?”
“Do you think I’m someone who goes back on his word?”
“You did with the Duke of Firentium.”
“That was a different matter. Our agreement is one worth keeping.”
Ashard’s tone, implying why even ask something so obvious, put Eren a little at ease.
But unlike Eren, Ashard’s expression remained unreadable.
‘…The Duke of Firentium, huh.’
No wonder he kept avoiding the man.
There was something there.
Ashard studied Eren silently.
A flicker of displeasure crossed his golden eyes.
“Do you call him ‘Your Grace’ too?”
“…Huh?”
Eren blinked at the random question. Calling Carlyle “Your Grace”?
“Well, he is a duke. I can’t just go around saying ‘hey, you’ to him.”
Ashard’s face twisted ever so slightly, displeased.
Why the sour expression?
There hadn’t been anything in the conversation that should’ve upset him.
Completely unaware of what Ashard was thinking, Eren tilted his head in confusion.
“And what about the one always grinning at his side?”
“Who…? Oh, you mean Marquess Lenon?”
Ashard raised a single brow. Just hearing those names left a bitter taste in his mouth.
It felt as though, simply by association, he’d been lumped in with those two—those very people Eren had been so eager to avoid.
“And that one… Helid Yulta, was it?”
“…Why are you even asking this…?”
“Just answer the question.”
Because he kept asking strange questions without giving any explanations, Eren found it a bit odd—but he answered obediently.
Honestly, it wasn’t even a question worth pondering.
* * *
