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Chapter 25
The Crimson Merchant Guild was one of the most renowned trade guilds in the Southern Allied Nations.
A colossal enterprise that had swiftly expanded its reach by boldly traversing multiple continents, using the grand port city of Pluera as its base. It was no exaggeration to say that every exotic artwork in fashion within the Empire had passed through the hands of the Crimson Merchant Guild.
‘But I was under the impression they didn’t operate directly within the Empire.’
Focusing on trade between the South and other continents, they mostly relied on their affiliated merchant groups to distribute goods within the Imperial capital.
Even Aveline, who had purchased a fair share of miscellaneous information, had only ever heard one thing about the Crimson Merchant Guild—an utterly useless piece of trivia stating that “the guild master is as beautiful as an angel.”
‘And yet, he’s been running an illegal information trade? And the guild master himself, no less.’
Aveline recalled the tavern owner who had guided her here—likely a member of the Black Tail.
The tavern’s interior, showing signs of age and wear, and the regulars who had gathered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
This was not the mere hideout of a temporary visitor; it was a place embedded in the underworld’s operations.
‘And if the claim that the guild’s name, Crimson, comes from its master’s red eyes was merely a lie spread to mislead people…’
Then it meant that, while pretending to stay out of the Empire, he had secretly been maneuvering beneath the surface all along.
Aveline’s gaze sharpened as she studied the man before her—one who not only had the makings of a dangerous deviant but also concealed such insidious ambitions.
Her glare demanded a full confession, warning that the slightest falsehood would be met with immediate consequences.
Luen, caught under her piercing eyes, let out a helpless chuckle and ran a hand through his hair. His neatly arranged silver locks became tousled in an instant.
“Well, it seems I underestimated you, my lady.”
For someone who had been caught off guard, his expression was oddly pleased. As if resigning himself to the inevitable, he began to confess with surprising ease.
“As you can see, I tend to stand out. If I were to openly act as the guild master of Crimson, it would make moving around rather inconvenient. Keeping up appearances for the high-minded Imperial nobles is a nuisance, too.”
“And so, you decided to run an underground information network? Why?”
“Well, because it’s profitable.”
He gave a playful wink, flashing a grin that, for the first time, felt truly fitting for a merchant.
The only issue was that what he seemed to be selling wasn’t goods—but himself.
“Isn’t it the famous saying of the Morbe shopping district? ‘There’s nothing money can’t buy.’ I happen to like that phrase quite a lot.”
In truth, by that logic, he was the man who best embodied the Morbe shopping district itself.
To have control over the grandest main streets and the darkest alleys—just how much influence did he wield within the Empire? The thought was almost frightening.
‘His face may look innocent, but he’s as materialistic as they come.’
But Aveline had no interest in his motivations. She didn’t care what madness he pursued in his hunger for wealth.
In fact, if his only goal was money, that was reassuring. It meant she didn’t have to worry about him harboring more insidious intentions.
“Didn’t you expect me to find out the moment you told me your real name?”
“There was a small possibility. But it’s not an uncommon name, and very few people in the Empire actually know the truth about our guild. Besides, I’ve deliberately spread misleading information.”
“If you had just thrown out a random name, I might not have noticed.”
“That would be rather rude, wouldn’t it? To lie about my name to a lady who asked?”
For someone who carried himself like the most shameless rogue in existence, he had an oddly gentlemanly way with words.
Aveline let out a quiet scoff, finding his brazen, smooth-talking ridiculous.
“What if I were to carelessly let your identity slip?”
“Well, if a noble lady of your standing were to have a momentary slip of the tongue, what’s to stop a man like me from having one as well?”
He made his threat with a smile as polished and effortless as ever.
Aveline clicked her tongue in open disapproval.
Yet, oddly enough, now that she had uncovered his true identity, the uneasy feeling—like wading into filth—eased ever so slightly.
When it came down to it, they now held each other’s secrets. In a way, they were bound by a mutual liability.
It wasn’t an entirely unappealing arrangement for someone like Aveline, who had always wielded others’ weaknesses to her advantage.
She gave a slight nod to signal her reluctant acceptance. Then, at last, she addressed something that had been irritating her from the corner of her vision.
“In that case, as a sign of good faith, why don’t you put that sword away?”
“Sword?”
Following her gaze, Luen turned his head.
The sword he had carelessly propped against a chair while sitting was now standing there alone, conspicuously out of place.
“Do you dislike swords?”
“Yeah. If you want to meet me in the future, it’d be best not to bring that crude piece of metal along. Otherwise, you’ll just be making a wasted trip.”
“If you dislike it, I won’t insist on carrying it…”
Luen trailed off, sounding somewhat surprised.
He seemed more taken aback than when she had called him by his full name.
Then, all of a sudden, he asked,
“What about a bow?”
“What?”
“Do you dislike bows as well?”
It was an absurd question.
Aveline furrowed her brows as if trying to decipher his intent, then replied indifferently,
“I can shoot you with one if that’s what you mean.”
At that, Luen chuckled as if he found something amusing.
He liked the idea of being shot? He was definitely not just any ordinary pervert.
Aveline openly regarded him with suspicion and leaned her upper body slightly away.
Fortunately, Luen simply returned to his place, grabbed his sword, and tossed it into the curtained-off area. Then, he immediately returned to the negotiation table.
“Anything else you need?”
“You’re acting quite generous.”
“It’s a major deal, after all.”
“Is that so? Then perhaps I should make sure I get my vassal back in one piece.”
Her tone was relaxed and indifferent, as if she had only just remembered something unimportant.
“I hate nuisances. If I get tired of searching for another errand-runner and decide to scrap the deal, that wouldn’t be ideal for either of us, would it?”
Aveline smiled slightly.
She had been quietly observing and gauging her opponent until now, but she was second to none if it was about making threats.
As if seeing right through her, Luen grinned and answered without hesitation.
“Of course, my lady’s errand-runner will be returned safely, without a single hair harmed, as soon as he wakes up.”
“Good.”
With that, Aveline rose without hesitation.
As she prepared to leave, Luen, who had been whispering with someone behind the curtain, approached her again.
“May I escort you to the door?”
Aveline stared directly at the man’s elegantly shaped eyes before taking the hand he offered without resistance.
Judging by height alone, he was similar to Kazerre. However, while Kazerre’s body was honed through rigorous training, Luen’s lean and lithe frame gave off an entirely different impression.
And with that sly, playful smile added in, he looked exactly like the kind of scoundrel who toyed with women and abandoned them.
In Aveline’s world, the only beautiful man was Kazerre Evuteren. But if she had to pick a second, this man might take the spot.
Of course, that didn’t change the fact that, unlike Kazerre, Luen was a deranged pervert and a swindler.
“Be careful. It’s dark ahead.”
Luen, now playing the gentleman, escorted Aveline as she walked.
The way back was different from the path she had taken before. Instead of retracing her steps, they continued down the corridor in the opposite direction, turned left, and ascended a staircase. At the top, another long hallway stretched out before them.
After walking for some time, Luen finally stopped.
They stood before a door that seemed utterly out of place in the back alleys—carved with intricate floral and vine patterns.
“Then, I’ll be watching to see if you handle things as perfectly as you boasted.”
As Aveline released his hand and was about to turn away, Luen suddenly grabbed her wrist again.
The sudden pull made her body tilt toward him. In that brief moment, he wrapped an arm around her waist and whispered in her ear.
“As a token of appreciation for becoming a regular, I’ll give you some information.”
“What…?”
“I heard that a few days ago, Duke Evuteren gifted Lady Huster a bouquet of flowers.”
Aveline’s pupils shook violently.
It was the first time she had shown such an unguarded reaction—even when her own life was at risk.
In the darkness, Luen smirked wickedly.
“And yesterday, they even met in person. Aren’t you curious about what they talked about?”
His whispered words clung to her ear like the insidious temptation of the devil.
As Aveline stood momentarily dazed, Luen smoothly opened the door and gently pushed her forward.
She stumbled slightly as she stepped outside.
“Until we meet again.”
With those parting words, Luen vanished into the darkness, and the door slid shut behind her.
As if everything that had just transpired had been nothing more than a dream, the dark corridor disappeared from sight.
Aveline blankly glanced around her surroundings. The small room, furnished with a wooden bed, a wardrobe, and a desk, was so cozy and ordinary that it made her forget where she had just been.
Slowly, she approached the dimming window.
The grand plaza of the Morbe shopping district stretched wide before her. The shops preparing for their evening trade lit their lamps one by one, and the lively chatter never ceased.
But what occupied Aveline’s mind was not the mysterious structure of the back alleys, the dreamlike encounter with a beautiful man, or even the sly threats dripping from his lips.
‘Duke Evuteren… and Lady Huster…’
Recalling that vividly lingering voice, Aveline gripped the windowsill tightly.
The veins on her pale hands stood out, blue and stark against her skin.
