Chapter 83

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

The bustling noise had quieted down. The presence of people on the main street had thinned, and the secluded pleasure district, which was lively during the day, now buzzed with even more activity. Women in revealing attire lured men with their alluring gazes. These beautiful flowers, they traded their beauty for a night of pleasure and comfort, or passion, providing fleeting enjoyment like ephemeral flowers, indulging in spring day and night. Their rosy lips curved into seductive smiles, their gentle gazes, and their singing-like invitations. The limbs floating in the dim light were unmistakably feminine. This was the town's daily routine.

In a secluded alley, a man and a woman were entwined. They were kissing, pecking at each other's lips. The man whispered the cliché words, "Only you." After a while, they reluctantly parted.

The man who disappeared into the alley probably didn't know how many other men the woman had said the same thing to.

From behind a glass, he looked down at the scene that was commonplace here. Perched on the window frame, he gazed down at the street lit by cheap magic stones with a cold eye.

This place was a gathering spot for all kinds of people. Those with dark pasts, those who wanted to forget the day's troubles, those who wanted to peek into unknown worlds, those who aspired to rise, and those who had been dragged down—there was no end to the variety of people from top to bottom.

This place was a melting pot of various people, and thus, information gathered here as well.

There was a high-class courtesan who could earn more in one night than a commoner's annual income, adorned with dazzling jewels and a luxurious dress. Right next to her, in a narrow alley, there was a low-class prostitute who sold herself for a pittance that wouldn't even cover a meal.

This brothel, one of the most exclusive in the pleasure district, had furnishings that could rival a noble's room. The rooms were clean, and the bedding was decent. However, it still fell short of a duke's residence.

"Hey, Shurs. What are you looking at?"

A white arm slid around the man's body. From the sea of sheets, a woman with a voluptuous figure leaned in, her cheeks slightly flushed. Her rich, curly brown hair was scattered about. The white sheets and the woman's pale skin complemented each other.

"It's been a while since you came. I was lonely, you know?"

The sweet scent of Lilium musk enveloped him. This perfume, which could be considered her trademark, wafted through the air. She leaned into him, coiling around him like a vine. Shurs, the man called by that name, finally turned to her as she reached for his open shirt.

"Hey, Shurs—"

The man stuffed a piece of chocolate from the bedside table into the woman's mouth. She made a displeased face for a moment but then smiled at its deliciousness.

She glanced at him with her eyes, which were often praised as being like beryl. He understood. The packaging of a popular store, though disheveled, was recognizable. The taste and quality were top-notch, and the logo of a high-end store indicated that it was something the man had intended to give to someone else that day. However, the woman seemed happy, thinking it was a gift for her.

The woman looked at the man as if trying to etch him into her memory. Her entranced gaze held a passion that was not just seduction.

He was a beautiful man. His hair, which appeared coppery in certain light, and his amber eyes, his slender yet well-toned body, his sharp gaze, and his smooth, slightly low voice were all captivating.

An elusive man. His impeccable demeanor exuded a certain elegance.

Though a popular high-class courtesan, this woman found this man special among her many clients. He was cool and smart, always looking somewhere far away. But when they were intimate, the heat that enveloped him was irresistible.

"I'll do it."

With those words, the man stood up and quickly changed his clothes. He then left the room without a word.

With a cat-like grace, he slipped through the alley. Despite his tall, handsome appearance, no one noticed him. He blended into the crowd like milk in water.

After passing through several streets, the man entered a dark house. He gently touched his wrist. In that instant, his copper hair turned pitch black, and his amber eyes transformed into vivid amethyst. He quickly combed his disheveled hair and put on thin-framed glasses. He buttoned up his disheveled shirt and threw the nobleman's coat he had been wearing into the fireplace, then took out a cotton shirt and a slightly worn vest from a drawer. However, he decided to take a shower first because he could still smell the woman's perfume. It was a bit chilly, but a coat would suffice.

The courtesan was popular. She had many noble patrons, some of whom had even gone bankrupt from their excessive contributions. She was a good source of information, but she had become too persistent recently.

In her attempts to seduce, she had started seeking a relationship beyond that of a client and a courtesan.

He had liked her to some extent, but it was time to cut ties.

"Hey, you're back late, aren't you? As expected, a noble's servant can't be satisfied with a low-class woman, right?"

"Cut the crap. Did you find anything out?"

"Sure, sure, I got it. Hey, don't look at me like that. It's scary."

A man who looked exhausted but not to be underestimated emerged from the back of the room. He motioned for Julius to come over with a lazy gesture.

The man called Shurs by the courtesan—Julius Fran—followed the man as he disappeared through a cheap door.

---

Kishtaria, working in a townhouse in the capital, continued to write despite the mountain of documents that had piled up late at night. He had recently received a fountain pen from a trusted merchant, who claimed it was from Albertina.

As expected, the aqua-blue fountain pen matched the color of Kishtaria's eyes. It was slightly slimmer and more playful in design compared to the one given by Grail. The handle was inlaid with mother-of-pearl, depicting the crest of the ducal family. A latticed rose design emerged at certain angles. The nib was silver and elegantly curved.

Clearly a one-of-a-kind, valuable item.

He tried it immediately. The design was comfortable to hold, and the ink flowed smoothly. He also received a cartridge of ink to go with the pen, which would last for a while.

As the acting head of the family, Kishtaria had always had a mountain of work. However, with Grail's passing, the sudden inheritance of the ducal title and the accompanying miscellaneous tasks had increased. Most of these tasks involved dealing with the collateral line, which was considered inappropriate for the prestigious Latitche ducal family.

The decision to adopt Kishtaria was made by his adoptive father, Grail, and he had been thoroughly educated for this role. Grail must have taken Kishtaria, who was from a distant branch, because there were no suitable candidates. It was easy to imagine that the closer branches had been dismissed as having no value to approach Albertina.

They might loudly proclaim their noble blue blood, but they lacked the corresponding ability. They relied solely on the halo of their lineage and blood.

At that moment, a servant brought in a cup of tea to keep him awake. He quickly collected the processed documents and organized the scattered papers. Kishtaria, who had moved away from the writing desk, stretched his stiff body and moved to a seat where the tea was steaming.

The cookies served with the tea had a unique texture and mouthfeel. They were soy milk cookies, to be precise.

Despite being light on the stomach, they were filling.

These were also a creation of Albertina.

"Master Kishtaria, may I have a moment?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"Regarding the attack on the ducal residence, four servants have disappeared. Two are dead, and the other two are missing.

"We haven't traced their movements yet, but we have information that they took several days off and met someone in the city before they disappeared."

"Who were they meeting?"

"…We don't know their official names, but they are known as the 'Merchants of Death.'"

"Merchants of Death? The arms dealers known as war merchants?"

The Merchants of Death were traders who operated in the shadows, spanning multiple countries. Arms dealers were just one aspect of their operations.

They were often referred to as the negative inheritors of history, who changed their names and forms to survive.

They generally dealt with items that could not be openly circulated, most of which were inhumane. However, they were also known for the large amounts of money involved.

Just as countries couldn't function on idealism alone, the same applied to nations. While all countries regulated these activities, they did not suppress them. They often had close ties with powerful figures who had skeletons in their closets, making it difficult to apprehend them.

If the surface rulers were the nations, the underground rulers were these merchants. There was a mutual dependency.

If a major criminal organization collapsed, the remnants would fight for dominance, potentially involving the surface society. To some extent, this was tacitly accepted.

"Yes, recently they have been more actively selling drugs… The neighboring country of Goyuran is suffering greatly.

"Originally, they dealt with many inhumane drugs. Recently, a strange drug popular among Goyuran's nobility is similar to the 'candy' you mentioned."

"Candy… from Renaria?"

He heard a name he didn't like.

Cain Druitt, who had been turned into a cursed vessel, had called out this name even in his final moments.

Cain, who should have been under the surveillance of the royal court magicians, had likely fled with Renaria.

The monsters in the attack were identified as Cain Druitt based on the residual magic left behind.

"Yes, it has various names like 'Smile of the Goddess,' 'Seduction of the Fairy,' 'Call of the Angel,' and so on. They primarily have pleasurable and aphrodisiac effects, but they share a common trait."

"Common trait?"

"They are extremely addictive. When used, they cause a person to become extremely devoted and worship a specific individual—sound familiar?

In fact, in that country, a beautiful but poor girl was made queen, and her faction quickly dominated the royal palace, expelling the original nobles and rewriting the power structure.

However, she was just a commoner. Overwhelmed by her position, she indulged in pleasure and power, nearly depleting the national treasury."

It reminded him of something he had seen up close.

In the academy, a weak baron's daughter, who was barely a commoner, had tried to manipulate the two crown prince candidates and other promising young men. Kishtaria and Mikaelis found her attempts disturbing and repulsive, and they had pushed her away.

Renaria, in particular, had tried to ensnare the most important person in the country, only to be destroyed by the demon king.

Her dream of being a queen had turned into a distant memory. Now, Renaria, a commoner, was said to be abandoned by her parents and was known as a wicked woman who had deceived princes. Moreover, her methods involved drug-induced addiction, which only increased the fear and anger towards her.

In Goyuran, unlike the limited environment of the academy, a woman was taken by the king, and the drug spread directly into the upper echelons.

"Wow… I had noticed the increase in immigrants from there, but it's that dangerous.

I had heard the king had become a tyrant after ascending the throne, but I thought he could last a few more years. It happened sooner than expected."

"Yes, the queen is said to be addicted to the drug. The king is rumored to be a vegetable already.

Officially, politics are conducted in the king's name, but no one has seen the king at ceremonies in recent years."

This was troublesome. If the neighboring country's power declined and collapsed, other countries would target Goyuran's land.

It was a dry, desert-like region, not as fertile and water-rich as the Kingdom of Sandis. However, the creatures, animals, and plants unique to that land were highly valued.

Spices, honey from desert bees, and desert roses were typical examples.

Ideally, he wanted to catch the fugitives as soon as possible.

"Right. Is that possible?"

"It's difficult. They may have been abandoned, or if not, they could be high-ranking members of the Merchants of Death.

Currently, Sandis is in turmoil due to the ducal lord's passing."

"Didn't you say you could expose them initially?"

"Most of those exposed were already finished or drugged. They were executed at the point of no return.

It seems they acted at the moment when they were about to become useless. Even severe addicts can function with the drug."

"What a troublesome drug."

"Yes, once the drug wears off, they become vegetables or madmen. Fortunately, Prince Lucas and Prince Leold have developed resistance to various poisons, including this one…

As for the fools who followed that scoundrel, I'm not sure."

The sons of noble families, as potential successors, were often targeted. They were trained to build resistance by consuming small amounts of poisons. Kishtaria, who was adopted by the Latitche family, one of the four great ducal families, had also undergone such training.

"Right… So, Renaria is likely connected to the Merchants of Death?

That stupid woman doesn't seem capable of such a strategic move. She would approach good-looking, wealthy men and rely on their power to act superior.

If she had been a bit smarter, she could have become a concubine, if not a queen, given the prince's infatuation. She could have expanded her network through social connections… She was too incompetent.

If she was going to target someone, she should have thought it through more. Maybe she was reckless?"

"It could have been a lucky break. That woman actively used the 'candy' on men she was interested in.

However, she couldn't have had a detailed plan. She lacked patience and foresight.

If she had focused on one person, it might have been overlooked, but she was involved with many men in the academy. Her lack of understanding of the prince's position and the shadow following him is evident. The number of men she ensnared… even focusing on deep relationships, it's more than a handful based on my investigation."

Kishtaria frowned. He had suspected as much, but hearing the raw report from Julius made him feel a renewed sense of disgust towards Renaria.

Renaria's gaze on Kishtaria was not one of admiration or love, but a sticky, heated look. She saw Kishtaria as a sexual object.

As he grew taller and more masculine, with a noble and handsome appearance, he received more flirtatious glances. Some women approached him for casual flings.

Renaria's gaze was that of a woman who knew men. He shuddered in disgust, rubbing his neck. It was not a look a student should have. It was a heated, pleasure-seeking gaze.

Renaria had often called Albertina a wicked and promiscuous woman, but this was a boomerang of the worst kind.

"Renaria was just a customer of the Merchants of Death, not a member?"

"At least, I wouldn't use a woman with such loose lips, loose morals, and a loose head."

"Agreed. Or… perhaps she was approached by the Merchants of Death after they learned she was close to the princes.

If things had gone well, she might have been a minor asset."

Renaria had spread rumors about her affairs with various men in the academy. Most of her targets were good-looking, wealthy men, regardless of their engagement status. Her behavior as a lady was questionable, and she often acted recklessly due to Prince Lucas's favor.

The academy was a microcosm of society, where adults allowed a certain degree of freedom. However, excessive behavior was reprimanded. The relationships formed there could lead to future business partnerships or marriages.

Renaria's intelligence was questionable. Despite being from a minor noble family, her lack of common sense was severe. As a noble, she should have adapted to the noble society she experienced in the academy.

While strict discipline was applied to students lacking in etiquette, it was part of living as a noble.

Renaria, in a sense, was a warrior who never compromised, but she was an exception.

"Of course, the food and drink offered by the princes would be tested for poison. A simple gift from a common student, even if she was engaged, would have a low chance of being consumed."

"I remember that when I and Mikaelis were invited to tea parties, we ate without any poison testing.

Well, that was after we had been seduced."

"Perhaps it was just regular candy at first… Graham Daren or Joshua von Dampere might know more."

"What about Sir Carreras? He would remember, wouldn't he?"

"Sir Carreras only started serving after Armandine was severely reprimanded. Before that, Joshua was the bodyguard."

"However, Joshua was infatuated with Renaria and allowed her to get close to Prince Lucas. If he was the first to be seduced, he can't be trusted. There's a possibility he was using the 'candy' on Joshua first."

"I've heard he was sent to a remote border area. If the candy contained drugs, he should be mostly clean by now. If we can determine when the taste of the candy changed, we can pinpoint when Renaria obtained the drugs."

"Deliberately delaying it… No, that woman is overly confident and lacks patience. She would use it immediately if she had it."

"Yes, I agree."

"I'll ask Sir Carreras. As a precaution, I'll also look into Joshua."

"Understood."

Julius bowed respectfully. His courteous and impeccable manners reflected his nature.

Taking a sip of the tea, the pleasant bitterness and sweetness delighted his