Count Ermeints openly expressed his displeasure at the unexpected intruder’s appearance.

“This is not a place for you to interfere. How dare a young upstart like you meddle in my affairs? You have no manners.”

“Why is this not a place for me? This is my ‘magic tower’, and this is my personal resting space.”

“Ah, then would you mind stepping aside? I’ll move to another place that’s not your ‘magic tower’ to continue our conversation.”

Instead of answering, Givnen glanced at Riley standing behind him.

She was crouching down, trembling in fear. Her already pale skin had turned even more ashen, looking as if she might faint at the slightest touch.

Moreover, this was their first meeting. Despite frequenting social circles to the point of nausea and becoming familiar with most faces at various gatherings, this woman was clearly unfamiliar to Givnen.

They had never met before. He didn’t even know her name.

So he briefly considered if there was any need to intervene. On an already tiring day with many concerns, he didn’t want to add another issue to worry about beyond his official duties.

However,

“I’m afraid that won’t work. I have some personal business with this lady.”

“What business could you have with someone you’ve never met? I have a very special relationship with her. So if you have any business, postpone it and yield to me now.”

“A special relationship? It doesn’t look that way at all.”

To anyone watching, it looked like a terrified herbivore and a disgusting beast.

Regardless, Count Ermeints confidently stroked his beard and said,

“That young lady and I are engaged to be married.”

Marriage?

Givnen, who had been indifferently watching the trembling Riley, now smiled as if finally understanding the situation.

Givnen was well aware of the rumors circulating about Count Ermeints, to the point of being sick of hearing them.

His vile habit of choosing a wife younger than his own children and replacing her with a new one after a short time was a famous anecdote known throughout the country.

The families who married off their daughters as his wives were mostly those whose fortunes had severely declined, families in ambiguous positions, or those with many daughters.

No normal parent would want to send their child to a perverted old man who was just waiting for death.

This was marriage in name only; in reality, it was closer to a transaction where one was sold off for the family business.

“Is what Count Ermeints says true?”

“…It’s just a one-sided engagement.”

“It appears so.”

If they were really engaged to be married, there was no real reason for Givnen to interfere further between these two.

However, Givnen did not back down. No, he couldn’t back down. Because Riley was clutching his arm tightly. Her gesture was so desperate that it would have been embarrassing to push her away.

Moreover, the opponent happened to be Count Ermeints. For some reason, Givnen had no inclination to quietly back down. Thanks to the rude remarks he had just endured, Givnen’s mood was also quite displeased.

Amidst all this, an interesting thought suddenly occurred to Givnen.

“Since the marriage hasn’t been officially announced yet, can you really say you’re engaged?”

“The agreement has already been finalized. The announcement is next week.”

“Even a day before, a marriage can fall apart.”

“What?”

“I’m saying don’t be too assertive. No one knows how situations might change. Isn’t that what you’ve repeatedly told me, Count? Saying I should engrave it in my bones.”

Givnen smiled pleasantly and turned to gently grasp Riley’s hand.

“Then let the lady choose for herself.”

“…Pardon?”

“Please choose.”

“…Choose what?”

“Who you want to spend tonight with.”

At this explosive statement, Count Ermeints shouted with a flushed face.

“What are you trying to do!”

“Can’t you see? I’m formally proposing an after-party invitation to this beautiful lady.”

“That woman is my fiancée!”

“A marriage not even officially announced yet, just talking about it now won’t make it valid.”

“…Y-you! Where are your manners! To do such an uncivilized thing, you’re nothing but a complete scoundrel!”

“What’s uncivilized about proposing an after-party invitation to a beautiful lady at a party? It’s a common custom.”

Givnen was clearly toying with the heated Count Ermeints.

Riley, who had been watching this situation in bewilderment, felt a sense of satisfaction at seeing Count Ermeints in such a state.

Givnen signaled to Riley with his eyes. It was a urging look for her to quickly choose someone. Understanding this precisely, Riley extended her hand to Givnen, and he gently kissed the back of her hand.

“Oh my. Regrettably, it seems the lady has chosen me.”

“…You’ll regret insulting me like this.”

Givnen just smirked.

Seeing his deliberate provocation, Count Ermeints exhaled roughly while grabbing his neck.

“Well, it seems my scandal will spread faster than the marriage announcement.”

“Y-you scoundrel! I never knew you had such a vile hobby.”

“Then you can realize it now. That I have the vile hobby of stealing other men’s women.”

Ignoring Count Ermeints’ violent outburst, Givnen cheerfully said as he led Riley away,

“Well then, let’s go do some scoundrel things.”

***

How did things end up like this?

Both the woman who had decided to end her life by jumping from the tower top and the man who had gone to the tower top for a brief rest only to end up leading out a woman whose name he didn’t even know were thinking the same thing.

Meanwhile, Riley, who had been silently following Givnen’s lead, couldn’t bear the frustration anymore and asked,

“…Um, where are we going?”

Without even looking at Riley’s face, Givnen indifferently answered her question.

“A hotel.”

“…Pardon?”

“After making such bold claims to Count Ermeints, it would be strange to stay here, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s true, but… the reception isn’t over yet. Is it alright to leave?”

“It’s rather fortunate that an excuse to escape has come up. Wait here for a moment, I’ll bring some clothes.”

Givnen left Riley briefly in front of his office and went inside to put on his outer clothes and grab another coat. Then he picked up a quill pen and started writing something on paper before placing it on the desk.

It was a message he was leaving for Sack, who would soon be frantically searching for him.

Coming out of the room, he draped the coat he had brought over Riley’s bare shoulders.

“It’s cold outside, please wear this for now. It’s better than going out naked.”

Then he went to the teleportation device, extended his hand to the mana injection port, and in an instant, they descended to the central hall on the first floor. Then he began to walk across the hall very boldly.

Riley was at a loss for words and could only stare blankly at the back of his head at this very blatant and bold behavior.

‘What on earth is he thinking?’

Numerous gazes were fixed on his actions as he openly held her hand and led her out.

There would be no fool who didn’t understand what it meant for the protagonist of this reception to openly lead out an unknown woman by the hand.

Riley, afraid of the many gazes pouring down, kept her head bowed and only looked at the floor. The attention she had never experienced before was too burdensome.

If he had wanted to make a show for Count Ermeints, he could have left discreetly without catching people’s eyes like this. Yet he deliberately! Deliberately chose to leave in a way that caught people’s attention.

Why?

His movements were unwavering until they boarded the latest model of floating stone carriage outside the party venue.

“Where shall I take you, Master?”

As they boarded the floating stone carriage, the driver casually asked. Givnen, who was glancing out the window at the commotion in the party venue, calmly said,

“Let’s go to Insignia.”

“Understood.”

This was clearly a major incident. A major incident worthy of making headlines. Yet the man who had caused this major incident was excessively relaxed.

Riley was at a loss for words at his expression, which showed not even a trace of concern, as if this were someone else’s business entirely. Though she wanted to ask many things, the words caught in her throat and she couldn’t voice them.

Whether it was because the situation was too absurd to speak, or because she felt uncomfortable with the man’s gentle yet strangely chilling atmosphere, she couldn’t even open her mouth.

Not until the floating stone carriage carrying them arrived at the entrance of ‘Insignia’, the most luxurious hotel in Blestige.

***

Hotel Insignia.

Built as part of the business expansion of Magic Tower Horizon, this hotel was staffed entirely by magicians capable of using magic, and was equipped with the latest magical devices produced by Magic Tower Horizon and other magical device developers, making it the most modern and luxurious hotel.

Riley felt dizzy from the overwhelming grandeur of the hotel from the entrance.

‘How did I end up here…’

Just an hour ago, she had been thinking about jumping from the top of the magic tower, but how did she end up entering such a luxurious hotel? And with such an incredible man as the magic tower master, no less.

“Welcome, Master. It’s been a while since we’ve seen you.”

“Is everything prepared?”

“It’s ready for you to use right away. Please come this way.”

The middle-aged man leading the way had a name tag indicating his position as manager. Behind him, staff members lined up to welcome Givnen’s visit.

It was a very burdensome display, but Givnen seemed quite accustomed to such situations and moved without hesitation.

After taking the latest teleportation device to the royal room on the top floor, he entered, taking off his coat as if it were his own home.

The coat he took off floated just before hitting the ground, then flew to the coat rack and was neatly displayed. At the same time, a basket with feet containing bathrobes and towels moved to stop on the display stand in front of the bathroom, and the sound of water filling the bathtub could be heard.

Riley was so surprised by the scene unfolding automatically without Givnen doing anything special that her eyes widened, but she tried hard to compose herself and not show it. There was no need to unnecessarily show that she came from a rural backwater.

“Ladies first?”

He gestured towards the bathroom. Realizing what he meant, Riley felt her head grow hot and quickly shook her head.

“Ah, no, you go ahead and wash first.”

“Alright then.”

He was about to enter the bathroom when he paused briefly. Then he spoke to the air.

“Please help our esteemed guest change clothes comfortably.”

Was he talking to himself? Or was someone around?

As Riley looked around, the closed door opened and staff members approached from outside.

“We’ve brought clothes for you to change into, miss. Could you please raise your arms to make it easier to undress?”

“What? Oh, yes…”

There must have been some communication device connected to the outside somewhere in this room, or magic was used. He was, after all, a magician skilled in magic.

Dresses, whether putting them on or taking them off, require a lot of hands. There might be dresses that can be worn alone, but not the kind of dress one would wear to a party.

Thanks to Givnen’s thoughtfulness, Riley was able to comfortably take off her dress, receive a bathrobe, and change into temporary clothes.

“Then we’ll take our leave. Have a good time.”

The sound of water could be heard. Being left alone to listen to someone else washing was stranger than expected. Her whole body felt flushed. For some reason, she felt nervous.

At that moment, Givnen came out wearing only a shower gown after finishing his shower. Riley blankly watched as he approached her.

‘Ah.’

The chest visible through the slightly open shower gown looked firm at a glance. It was a moment that completely shattered the prejudice that magicians who neglect physical activities are generally thin and weak.

In reality, most magicians focus on mental training rather than physical training, and due to the convenience provided by magic, they are far from dynamic movements, resulting in many having small and thin builds.

However, despite being a magician, Givnen had a body as excellent as a knight’s.

A firm body that can only be achieved through long-term physical training. The fact that he had just finished showering and his body was still moist made it particularly stimulating.

Riley, who had been staring at the water droplets on his firm chest muscles, unknowingly swallowed and became flustered.

“Go wash.”

“…Yes.”

As she entered the bathroom, her mind went blank. The part where she had been contemplating what this situation was and what she should do flew away, turning white.

Her thought processes were paralyzed. The crazy act of bristling with tension and then relaxing, which came intermittently throughout her shower, continued even after she finished and came out of the bathroom.

When she came out of the bathroom, wine and desserts to accompany it were placed on the table. Givnen had taken his seat, and soon gestured for Riley to sit down.

Riley awkwardly took a seat across from him.

An awkward atmosphere lingered. No, only Riley was particularly awkward, unlike the relaxed Givnen.

Just as she thought the silence with no conversation was suffocating, Givnen spoke first.

“Since things have come to this, please stay comfortably until tomorrow morning.”

“Ah, yes…”

“And it’s best to refrain from going out as much as possible. It’s likely to be quite noisy for a while.”

There’s no better gossip material than the private life of a young magic tower master. It was obvious that by tomorrow, numerous speculative articles would pour out, turning the country upside down.

“Why did you deliberately cross the hall to leave? There must have been ways to move without being noticed by people…”

“Since things have come to this, if I don’t make it clear, you might stage another suicide attempt in my magic tower.”

“Suicide attempt…”

“Didn’t you say you’d rather die than marry Count Ermeints?”

“…”

“One death at Horizon is enough with my master.”

He frowned slightly, recalling his master’s death. Riley finally realized how inconsiderate her plan had been.

“I’m sorry. And… thank you for helping me.”

“Once the scandal articles spread, Count Ermeints’ side will decline to announce the marriage. It would be quite awkward to present a woman embroiled in rumors with another man as his fiancée, and since he has some pride, it will likely lead to breaking off the engagement with a high probability. I can’t handle the aftermath for you. That’s entirely your responsibility.”

“Really, really thank you… But when the scandal breaks, won’t you also be in a difficult situation, Lord?”

“It’s fine. Such troublesome matters are quite common for me.”

While the pestering of journalists would be annoying, in fact, this kind of situation was very frequent for Givnen.

Givnen had been embroiled in all sorts of scandals over the years. He seemed to have been linked with most noble ladies. Whether meeting for business, chance encounters, dining together for family harmony, or even brief relationships that ended.

Having been entangled in all kinds of scandals, there was nothing particularly new about this. Just one more unnamed woman added to the list of scandals.

“I’ve incurred a great debt to you, how should I repay this…”

“It’s fine, thanks to you I got to witness an amusing sight that money can’t buy.”

Givnen drank his wine pleasantly, recalling Count Ermeints’ heated face.

In fact, just turning that old man’s stomach with this deception was quite a satisfactory situation.

“Besides, anyone would have stepped in in that situation.”

“…”

“Because you really looked like you were going to die if I ignored and turned away. If that happened, the unpleasant feeling would be entirely my burden, wouldn’t it?”

Riley couldn’t say anything.

How did things end up like this? Belatedly, she started to worry. What would her uncle be doing now? And Count Ermeints… He would probably be in an uproar.

Although afraid of the consequences, right now she had no time to think of anything else because of the man in front of her.

‘…To help me to this extent.’

It was a problem he could have ignored.

If he was concerned about suicide in the magic tower, rather than going to this troublesome length, he could have just kicked her out of the tower…

To voluntarily create a scandal to help her. His confident demeanor, as if he had nothing to fear, was incredibly cool.

‘Like a savior… If it weren’t for him, I would be…’

Already dead.

Wouldn’t my name have been splashed across the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper?

With a headline about an unnamed noblewoman from the borderlands dying after jumping from Horizon.

Only the sound of alcohol going down the throat occasionally broke the silence. Having never met before, they had nothing particular to talk about.

Maybe that’s why the alcohol went down so well. Sitting quietly, all they could do was drink, using the awkwardness as a side dish.

So they kept drinking. It wasn’t like sleep would come even if they wanted it to, and after some time passed, as the alcohol’s warmth rose pleasantly, they couldn’t help but reach for more drinks.

‘Feels good.’

Was it because of forcibly drinking alcohol with awkwardness as a side dish?

The intoxication had risen considerably.

A hot sensation enveloping the whole body, a heartbeat beating a little faster than usual. A bitter feeling spreading throughout the mouth, an esophagus feeling like it’s on fire. A dizzy feeling as if about to lose consciousness.

As intoxication rose, tension eased.

It felt like, how could one feel this good? That a person could smile and giggle for no reason at all.

Whatever happened from now on, with the current mood, it seemed like it would be okay. It felt like all the worries, concerns, and stress so far had been blown away.

Riley, immersed in such a pleasant mood, looked at the man in front of her. His slightly flushed red cheeks suggested that he too was quite drunk.

Riley blinked and looked at the man before her.

With the soft room lighting behind him, leisurely drinking his alcohol, that figure was beautiful enough to evoke a work of art.

An appearance so different it made one wonder if he was the same person.

The man wearing just a robe, slightly swirling his glass with long white fingers showing veins, was more visually stimulating than anything else.

As Riley stared at that sight in a daze, a very reckless question arose in her mind.

“Um…”

“?”

“May I ask you one thing?”

“Go ahead.”

At Givnen’s words, Riley threw out the reckless question she had crumpled inside.

“…Are you going to do it with me?”

It was an audacious question that couldn’t possibly be uttered unless drunk. It was a question that could only be asked because she was half out of her mind, literally drunk.

At this bomb-like question, Givnen put down the glass he was holding and stared at Riley.

“Well, what shall we do?”

Givnen’s gaze fell on Riley’s sensual figure.

The pale flesh visible through the white shower gown, the luscious hair still slightly damp with moisture. The flush sitting on her snow-white cheeks. The soap scent that stimulated his nose every time she moved.

Minute details that would have been ignored if he were in his right mind now stimulated his gaze one by one and etched into his mind.

Expensive alcohol, a hotel room, and an intoxicated man and woman. Even until the dim moonlit dawn hours.

It was a rather, no, a very bad combination.

In fact, he hadn’t brought her here to do anything with her right away. Even just thirty minutes ago, he hadn’t even considered the situation of sharing a bed with this woman.

But was the intoxication from excessive drinking the problem?

It would have been better if she hadn’t said anything, but to throw out such an audacious question…

“Want to?”

It might be natural for feelings that weren’t there before to arise.

Alcohol has killed many people throughout human history, but at the same time, it has led to many births. What people often call unexpected accidents, one-time mistakes, life that comes that way. Isn’t it a common accident that anyone might experience once in their life?

Unfortunately, the man and woman staying in a hotel room for their respective reasons were now in a ‘drunken’ state, and very young. In other words, at an age when passions run high.

For various reasons, regrettably, an ‘accident’ was about to happen here and now.

The intoxication dominating their brains whispered to the man and woman precariously standing on a thin line.

To forget everything complicating their minds today, to focus only on the current pleasant feeling, the current sensation! To be faithful only to the current instinct and excitement.

“Okay.”

The impulse to escape, even momentarily, from the insufferable reality.

Ironically, this impulse moved both Riley and Givnen. An opportunity for release from the stifling feelings that had tormented them in their controlled daily lives.

A deviation given without any control device. It was enough to become an unbridled horse.

Lips met lips simultaneously. Embracing each other, they moved to the soft bed with no clear initiator. Swish, the robes covering their bodies flowed down to the floor, and Givnen’s firm chest muscles were revealed under the soft lighting.

Feeling the bed sink, Riley felt the soft sensation against her back and the heavy weight pressing down from above simultaneously as she gazed at the dazzling face of the man mounting her.

Wherever his fingertips and lips touched, she felt a tingling electric sensation. A pleasure never felt before in her life. A thrilling shiver. A warm heat that eased her mind.

Her mind became hazy with passionate excitement.

Snap, reason broke.