~Chapter 6~
Seeing Kaire’s deeply furrowed brows, Pico opened his mouth and rolled his eyes sideways, nervously gauging the situation.
‘H-he’s pissed! His Highness is pissed!’
Creak—
The chair slowly slid back as Kaire’s large frame rose like a mountain.
For some reason, Lorienne felt as if a dark shadow—one that didn’t even exist—was looming over her.
‘W-was speaking informally too much?’
She swallowed hard.
Knock, knock, knock.
At the sudden sound of someone knocking on the door of Loftis, all three turned their heads at once.
It was an oddly irritated knock.
As if seizing the opportunity, Pico quickly pulled Kaire’s hood down low over his head.
“We’ll be going now, Mage!”
Pico hurried forward and flung the door open.
The person outside glanced at the two men stepping out.
Even in the darkness, it was obvious from his attire that he was a noble. A young man dressed head to toe in expensive fabrics.
He was tall and fairly handsome—but the way his eyes slowly scanned Lorienne from top to bottom was filled with unmistakable lewdness.
As soon as Kaire and Pico stepped out, the man slipped inside without Lorienne’s permission.
“Come back in three days. I might not finish everything, but I can have at least half ready.”
Lorienne switched back to polite speech since another customer had arrived—though her gaze was still fixed on Pico.
After speaking, she turned toward the new visitor.
The man, already inside, glanced around Loftis with an unimpressed expression, as if thinking, ‘Nothing special.’
“What kind of potion do you need?”
“I did come for a potion… but can you provide something else too? I was actually looking for a woman with glasses.”
The man flopped into a chair and spoke casually.
Lorienne, who had been about to close the door, froze.
His words were clearly heard by Kaire and Pico, who had just stepped outside. Both men stopped walking.
Lorienne was flustered—this situation was new to her.
And worse, this was happening right in front of the fake archduke she had been arguing with earlier, making it even more irritating.
With her hand still on the door, she said:
“If you’re here looking for a woman, you’ve come to the wrong place. Leave.”
“I said I came for a potion. But you’re exactly my type—small, skinny, wearing glasses.”
“….”
Lorienne tightened her grip on the door.
‘Should I send real iron spikes instead of illusions? And why are those two still standing there instead of leaving?!’
She honestly wished Kaire and Pico would just ignore this and go.
That unpleasant bastard could easily be chased away with her iron-spike illusion.
But instead, they stood there stiffly, as if they themselves had been insulted.
“I heard you’ll make anything as long as you’re paid. You’re famous for loving money. If there’s something you can sell for more than a potion, wouldn’t it be better to sell that too? Easy, convenient, and more profitable.”
The man raised his hand and rubbed his fingers together, mimicking money.
Then he stuck out his tongue and slowly licked his lower lip.
It was blatant sexual harassment.
Unaware that Kaire and Pico were still outside, the man grinned at Lorienne.
“What? You don’t sell your body?”
“Nope. I don’t. So leave.”
The man stood and slowly approached her.
Despite his size and height closing in, Lorienne stood her ground, chin raised, not avoiding his gaze.
“So the rumors were true—you’re really arrogant.”
“Haven’t you heard the rumors about iron spikes chasing people out?”
“Heh, those spikes? If you tried to stab me with those, do you think you’d survive? Only poor, naive fools fear that kind of thing. I’ve got too much to lose. You wouldn’t dare attack me—unless you want to die today.”
Lorienne hesitated.
Usually, people either didn’t know about the iron spikes or didn’t believe in them.
But this man clearly knew—and was certain she wouldn’t actually use them.
And it was true: they were illusions, incapable of causing real harm.
If that secret were exposed, the consequences would be severe.
“What? Reality finally sinking in?”
The man stared at her trembling pale violet eyes behind her glasses and smirked.
“Wow, even your eye color is my type. Up close… your lips look delicious too. You’re really… perfect.”
Just as his hand slowly reached toward her lips—
Creeeak.
The door Lorienne had been holding swung wide open.
Behind her stood a large figure cloaked in a hood.
The man, not expecting anyone outside, flinched slightly at the larger presence.
“What the—? I thought you left.”
Trying to hide his unease, he frowned.
Lorienne quickly turned to Kaire.
“I’ll handle this. Please leave.”
A fight between customers inside Loftis would bring her nothing but trouble.
Worse, if rumors spread about two men causing a scene here, they would twist in an ugly direction.
Kaire let out a dry laugh at her attempt to stop him.
Then he spoke quietly to the man in front of him:
“Seems we share the same taste. Unfortunately.”
‘W-what do you mean the same taste?!’
Lorienne’s eyes widened.
Just moments ago, he had been glaring at her, clearly irritated—and now this nonsense?!
She whipped her head toward him.
Though his hood concealed most of his face, she could clearly see his beautifully shaped lips curled into a smile.
“Heh, you’ve got quite the talent for attracting men—ghk!”
Before the man could finish speaking, Kaire’s large hand shot out and gripped his throat.
The man’s eyes bulged as he choked.
Kaire spoke in a low voice:
“You said you’re rich. I’m richer—and stronger. Maybe I should make a few holes in your body. Pico, give me a knife.”
Pico smoothly pulled a dagger from his chest and handed it over with both hands, smiling brightly as if this were perfectly normal.
As the knife settled into Kaire’s other hand, the man struggled desperately, clawing at Kaire’s grip—but it didn’t budge.
It only tightened.
“I-I’m sorry—ghk!”
“Choose. Where should I make the hole? Your eye? Or… here?”
Kaire traced the blade over the man’s eye, then slowly dragged it downward across his body.
The blade stopped meaningfully below his waist.
“H-hi—! I’m sorry!”
“Since you didn’t see my face, remember my voice. If you ever—”
Kaire briefly looked up at Lorienne, who was staring in shock.
Then he lowered his gaze again.
“…I don’t share what’s mine. If you come looking for my kind of mage again, I’ll cut this off.”
“AAAGH!!”
The blade flashed.
A single drop of blood fell.
Clutching himself, the man bolted out of Loftis.
Lorienne stood frozen, mouth slightly open.
The knife appearing so naturally from the gentle-looking servant, and the fake archduke stabbing someone without hesitation—
It was clear this wasn’t their first time using violence.
Only she was shocked.
“Guys like that only learn after getting beaten like this.”
Clicking his tongue, Pico turned his head.
Meanwhile, Kaire had already removed his hood and was meeting Lorienne’s gaze.
To someone like Kaire, who had walked battlefields, this level of bloodshed was trivial.
He didn’t even consider that Lorienne’s expression might be fear.
Instead—
He assumed she had fallen for him.
“Heh, looks like you’ve misunderstood quite a bit.”
