The degree of excitement during the mating season varied greatly from person to person.

While there were those who were hardly affected by the mating season, those who were severely affected were unable to carry out their daily lives or even committed crimes.

This was the very reason why people despised and abhorred the Lupus.

However, Sched was one of the Lupus who was not affected by the mating season. In fact, there were even rumors that he was impotent, beyond the level of not being affected.

Thanks to that, Sched was able to gain an opportunity to set foot in noble society, despite being a Lupus.

Joseph, the previous Duke Lester, must have carefully considered that point when adopting Sched as his foster son.

If it were known that such a person was seeking a sedative, it would cause quite a stir even in noble society.

“In exchange for giving Bitel Company a monopoly on several businesses, I’d like you to take care of some personal matters for me.”

Knowing him, Sched had come to propose a deal with Bitel.

Regarding business rights in Ideana.

‘Although I managed to get enough in exchange for confidentiality and the deal…’

Eclas quietly rubbed the gold coin he habitually held in his hand.

It was strange that he was suddenly seeking a sedative that he had never looked for in his entire life.

Of course, Eclas was a shrewd and quick-witted person. He could sufficiently guess the cause of this peculiar change.

It must be that woman.

Indeed, after Riana Serpens appeared, Sched Lester began to act more impulsively. It seemed like he was getting excited more easily.

‘Even if it’s different from the excitement of the mating season.’

It was a proven fact to some extent that environmental changes affected the mating season.

Sched was feeling it intuitively, as he always had. That some change he couldn’t control was happening to him.

‘If that’s really the case, it would be troublesome…’

Eclas wanted to find out in detail what kind of change was happening to that rock-like man.

However, it was forbidden to pry into a nobleman’s secrets carelessly. He couldn’t risk ruining an important deal by meddling unnecessarily.

Therefore, instead of rushing to intervene, Eclas subtly brought up a few worrying points.

“As you know, although sedatives have developed a lot, they are not without side effects.”

He pointed out the things Sched Lester should be aware of if he did end up using sedatives.

It was true that after the invention of sedatives, the perception of Lupus had improved and their treatment had gotten better.

The fact that Sched was able to obtain the duke title was also thanks to such social changes.

However, it had only been a little over ten years since the invention of sedatives. Reports and incidents related to side effects were still constantly being heard.

“Be sure to avoid taking them before going into battle.”

“I know.”

Sched nodded his head indifferently, as if he already knew everything.

As a Lupus, he had already seen other Lupus die or get hurt because of sedatives.

Sedatives were originally a drug to suppress intense excitement. Therefore, when taking sedatives, the body naturally loses strength and there are restrictions on movement.

If one went into battle after taking sedatives, it was certain that they would have their head cut off by the enemy’s sword without even being able to draw their own sword.

For that reason, military studies already treated it as a principle to prohibit Lupus who were being deployed in battle from taking sedatives starting three days prior.

He, who even had the nickname of the undefeated hero, was not stupid enough to forget such basic knowledge.

“Of course, you would know better than me.”

Eclas nodded his head.

“Just one more thing.”

Eclas added with a grin.

“I do engage in many high-risk businesses. But I don’t prefer fickle and unpredictable business partners.”

Eclas rolled the coin over the back of his hand and then gripped it in his palm.

At that, Sched’s eyes narrowed. Eclas’s intention was clear, without even trying to hide it.

“There will be nothing to worry about.”

Sched stated indifferently.

He had never experienced a mating season even once in his life so far.

It was just a precautionary drug, in case.

As she stepped out of the tent, the air was chilly.

Riana exhaled deeply, then inhaled deeply again.

The cold air penetrating her lungs in early spring only felt refreshing.

While with Sched, she couldn’t even breathe as she wished.

Of course, going outside didn’t mean she could do anything else.

She had to stand quietly next to the knights and wait for Sched to call her back in.

But at least it felt like she had escaped for a moment from the prison created by his gaze.

“You.”

At that moment, when she was smelling the scent of trivial freedom, a low voice was heard from nearby.

Turning her head, she saw a tall man among the knights.

His stubborn eyes, directed at Riana, sparkled purple.

Purple eyes, like Sched’s.

In other words, he was of Lupus descent.

“Did you call for me, Sir Carlyle?”

Carlyle was Sched’s closest aide and had been assisting him from a close distance. Even when discussing military matters, Sched exchanged opinions with Carlyle the most.

As close as he was to Sched, Riana had brushed past Carlyle several times recently.

However, this was the first time he directly spoke to ‘Riana’.

He often frowned whenever his eyes met Riana’s. It was the same now.

While it was a face that an ordinary person might find threatening, Riana waited calmly for his words with unwavering eyes.

Then, after a moment of silence, Carlyle spat out words with thorns.

“Don’t expect anything from His Lordship. Don’t misunderstand either.”

Riana froze, not knowing how to answer the unexpected advice.

“What do you mean…”

“You’d better not have any delusions of greatly extorting a rise in status or money.”

Carlyle warned.

In an instant, heat surged from her solar plexus and her face felt hot.

Rather than embarrassment, she was angry.

She roughly knew what people thought of her and Sched.

Those who occasionally brought food or documents from outside would cast sharp glances at Riana standing in a corner of the room.

Riana could understand the glares they sent her.

There was also the incident with the head maid Caroline, and because she had run away, the Ideana procession was delayed by two days.

Nevertheless, being closest to the master, there was no way they would view her favorably.

However, she had ignored the gossip among themselves, not wanting to interfere.

But it was different to receive a blatant warning from Sched’s close aide.

“His Lordship is different from the low-quality Baron Godwin. No matter how hard you try, it’s useless.”

It was an insult disguised as advice.

The contempt towards her was clear in his voice.

Knowing the background of why Sched had brought Riana, he roughly knew about the incident at the Baron Godwin’s household. And he thought that the Baron Godwin’s actions were something she had brought upon herself, no, something she had wanted.

Riana bit her lip.

‘I wanted Baron Godwin first? That terrible and filthy human?’

There was only one reason why she had decided to work at the Baron Godwin’s household.

To see if she could find a way to break the curse placed on her.

All knowledge of forbidden sorcery had been burned and lost, but she heard that in one place, somewhere in the Grand Temple, they kept forbidden books in case of emergency.

So Riana sought employment at the Baron Godwin’s household, who had been the director of the Grand Temple’s library.

But all she learned from Baron Godwin was that he was a vain and vulgar person.

Moreover, his knowledge of doctrine was even worse than Riana’s. His words were flowery but the content was empty.

What the baron wanted was pretentious fame and a pretty, young woman he could do as he pleased with.

As a mere maid who had to hide her identity and live in fear, Riana could do nothing in front of him.

When the master tells you to bring tea at night, which maid can refuse?

All Riana could do was express refusal in a way that would be considered ‘playing hard to get’ or ‘acting expensive’ in Baron Godwin’s eyes.

Riana couldn’t bear the increasingly blatant filthy touches. She even wished the baroness would properly interfere so she could run away.

However, the baroness also lacked wise intellect.

Instead of stopping her husband, she chose to unleash the hunting dogs.

But why, even after seeing Riana being bitten by the hunting dogs, could they only think in such a way?

“For your own sake, it would be better to keep your distance.”

Carlyle warned again.

At that, Riana swallowed a scornful laugh.

“Then will you help me keep my distance, Sir Carlyle?”

Riana looked up at Sir Carlyle with narrowed eyes.

Carlyle’s brow slightly furrowed at the defiant gaze.

Riana took a deep breath to calm herself and lowered her voice calmly once more.

“If you transfer me to another department, it would put your mind at ease as well.”

She requested Carlyle in her usual soft-spoken manner.

At that, Carlyle frowned.

“I am a knight serving His Lordship, and I have no authority to intervene in decisions within the Lester family.”

“Then what about me?”

Riana asked, tilting her head slightly.

“…What?”

“If you, Sir Carlyle, a strong and excellent knight called the right-hand man of His Grace the Duke, cannot do it, how do you expect me, a mere powerless maid, to be able to do so?”

She looked up at him calmly with a composed voice.

Carlyle’s face contorted at Riana’s brazen attitude.

He seemed to be trying to find words to refute, but unable to come up with a logical answer, he opened his mouth roughly.

“You insolent…”

“Sir Carlyle.”

Just as Carlyle was about to spew curses, the door of the tent opened.

Both of their heads turned simultaneously.