Ivy was somewhat excited at the thought of pulling down that guy who had always been difficult.

Ivy thought Cassel would be at Tienda’s mansion, but the expectation was pleasantly wrong.

Unexpectedly, Cassel was venting his anger not at Tienda but at Viss.

“Jegiral! Why is the road in such a state?”

“Sorry, sir. The road is not good as we entered the ruins. We’re almost there, so please bear with it a little longer.”

As Cassel got upset by the shaking of the carriage, his coachman pleaded with him. But when Cassel heard the word ‘ruins,’ his arrogant expression became even more disgruntled.

Ruins in the south, and Cassel had come all the way here personally. He was incredibly uncomfortable.

The south is the most destitute region even on the lower continent.

The west has beautiful landscapes, the north has ancient relics, and even in the east where Amaneser sleeps, there is the Tarde’s Sanctuary.

However, the south is half ruins, half rural areas, and the rest is just cities overflowing with beggars, making it the lowest-tier region.
Originally, the south was a fertile agricultural area, but 40 years ago, a massive earthquake turned it into a desolate wasteland.

The earthquake occurred when a typhoon, not yet broken by the Tarde’s Sanctuary, swept over the underside of Viss.

Due to this futile tragedy, 20% of the southern territory was lost to the sea, and the shapes of mountains and valleys changed. Human-made castles naturally turned into dust.

Failing to rebuild, the south became the ruins it is now.

Cassel, dragged to this lazy and incompetent lair, erupted in anger once again.

In fact, he had no intention of coming down to the lower continent. The only reason he moved was because of Miel Sedro.

Five days ago, at that time, Ivy’s predictions were still accurate.

“Ariate’s mansion has burned down.”

“Just the house?”

“Yeah, everyone evacuated immediately since it was noon. We set fire to the study and bedroom first, so we couldn’t salvage anything.”

“I see. You can go now.”

Cassel quickly dismissed the friend who had set fire for his sake.

Then, sinking into the comfortable chair, he let out a long sigh.

‘Okay, there’s no evidence now.’

Whatever that audacious guy was planning, at least he wouldn’t be able to play around with salt.

Cassel tried to suppress his anxiety about Ivy with such thoughts.

However, a little Sedro from the Mianya Tower came and unexpectedly harassed him.

“Hey, I think Ivy’s housekeeper is up to something in Viss. It would be great if the viscount could personally confirm what it is.”

The girl, resembling the Tower Lord, spoke with a mischievous smile.

Cassel was somewhat taken aback but politely responded, unable to resist the troublesome guest.

“I see. Thank you for letting me know. I’ll send someone right away.”

Upon hearing this, Miel suddenly burst into laughter.

The girl, as gorgeous as a rose and as cute as a doll, covered her mouth with gloved hands, then gracefully lifted the teapot on the table with those hands.

Cassel quickly rolled his eyes, thinking that Miel’s teacup might be empty. However, the elegant teacup still held the rising steam of black tea.

In the meantime, Miel got up from her seat and approached Cassel. Then, with a graceful laugh, she covered her mouth with a hand wearing white gloves and picked up the teapot herself.

“Sir Sedro?”

Perplexed, Cassel looked down at Miel, who had climbed onto his knee like a cat.

With a gentle smile, Miel looked down at Cassel, then tilted the teapot over his head.

“Ugh…!”

Hot tea streamed down Cassel’s forehead, and the heat seared his forehead and neck. However, Cassel couldn’t move a muscle because of Miel, who was sitting on his lap.

“Why ask twice? I told you to confirm it yourself.”

As tea poured out completely, and the teapot became empty, Miel delicately placed it on Cassel’s head.

“It’s specially informed by Miel. Do well. If you act like a fool, I’ll kill you.”

Cassel gritted his teeth against the heat covering his face and the whispers tickling his ears.
No matter how much the successor of the Tower may be, this is unacceptable to the owner of Montla.

Cassel, driven by evil, roughly wiped his wet hair, whether the teapot broke or not. Then he glared at that foolish girl with fierce eyes.

But his sharpness was brutally broken the moment his eyes met Miel’s.

Miel Sedro’s pupils were a brilliant emerald green.

However, for some reason, the thought that it was beautiful did not cross his mind. It was just creepy, cruel, and somewhat eerie.

Cassel, staring at those bright pupils with bated breath, snapped out of it when Miel smiled again. Then, he hastily shook his head, gasping for breath.

“Yeah, don’t collapse.”

Mocking Cassel like that, Miel giggled.

“I’m the only one Miel lets off, so the viscount should be careful. Got it?”

In response to Miel’s advice, Cassel nodded without realizing the shame, as if his throat was dry.

Only later did he remember the shock when he first met Tower Lord Rohika Sedro. The majesty and authority, the moment he kneeled before her.

Cassel had thought until now that it was the radiance unique to Rohika Sedro.

But it wasn’t. The small Sedro was a monster no less than the big Sedro.

Sedro itself was an innate ruler, and all this ordinary man could do was kneel before it.

Recalling Miel’s pupils, Cassel gritted his teeth to dispel the fear.

“Darn it, why am I in this situation…!”

It was all because of Ivy Ariate. From one to ten!

“We have arrived, my lord viscount.”

“If you’re going to mock me like that, shut up!”

“S-sorry. My lord duke.”

In response to Cassel’s grumbling, the attendant quickly changed the form of address.

Originally, Cassel was a gentleman with a charm like a snake. But in Viss, he continued to act like a hasty child.

It’s almost the Harvest Festival. Cassel, who arrived at Viss at such a time, couldn’t help but become nervous.

Thirty guards followed the carriage, and a hundred guards were already waiting at the arena, but despite having more purification salt than necessary, he couldn’t relax.

What was somewhat fortunate for him was that he had to wear a mask now.

Cassel, now called the lord instead of the viscount, put on an asymmetrical mask covering his eyes and one cheek on his face. Then, he slowly stepped out of the carriage.

However, his dignified attitude broke before he even looked around the arena.

It was because of the woman with cone-colored hair he saw as soon as he got off the carriage.

Cassel was scared because of that woman with rare hair color but managed to regain his composure.

Thinking that it was a Sedro due to the unusual hair color, he shook his shoulders. However, upon closer inspection, the woman was slender for Rohika and mature for Miel.

Because of the mask on the other side, her face couldn’t be seen, but even from her height, she was clearly not one of those terrifying empresses.
Just looking at the orange color, it’s amazing to stir up such a commotion.

Cassel shivered and turned away from the woman.

Then, the woman with the orange hair, who had been pretending not to notice Cassel’s gaze, whispered to her partner.

“Isn’t that Cassel Montra?”

That woman had a peculiar trait that seemed unnecessary to Ivy.

Crossing the bridge when it comes to it, a truly cunning trait that meets enemies only when it is necessary.