Chapter 3
In the capital there were streets formed by clusters of similar shops.
What Altperia was looking for was one of the streets packed with restaurants.
“Wow, this place has developed a lot.”
When she’d come before there hadn’t been many eateries. But after the war turned in their favor, the restaurant business boomed. It had become a profitable industry and even noble families had jumped in. Stalls popped up and shops lined the streets tightly.
“Come to think of it, Allen’s family also made a fortune in food.”
Altperia thought of the shop that had taken off after she poured in the money. The memory of feeding that philanderer made her feel sour.
The smell of skewered chicken roasting at a nearby stall drifted over. At the spicy-sweet-salty scent, Seirun, drawn in, spoke up.
“Mmm, it smells amazing!”
“I know, right — want to try one?”
“Yes! I’ll go buy it. Wait here!”
Seirun hurried off to the stall in excitement and began ordering skewers. Altperia glanced at Seirun’s departing figure. To meet Luke she had to lose Seirun — but the Baltre household maids had been given special training to assist their heir; their skill surpassed most knights, so they weren’t easy to shake. Now, while Seirun was distracted by the skewers, was her chance.
“Sorry, Seirun. I’ll be right back.”
While Seirun was looking elsewhere, Altperia slid away.
Being alone was good — up to a point.
“What shop did Luke like again? I can’t remember at all!”
She had thought she remembered the original story perfectly, but apparently not. Having spent too long forgetting her past life, her memories were a little hazy and she couldn’t recall the name of Luke’s regular bar.
“It was named after some kind of plant.”
She couldn’t remember the exact name, but she had one clue. Many people were out for dinner or drinks. Not wanting to waste time, Altperia stopped a passerby at random.
“What?”
She felt like she’d chosen a dud. The man had a rough appearance that startled her, but she kept her composure and asked.
“Excuse me. Do you know which place on this street has the worst-tasting alcohol?”
“Oh — that place? The sausages there are great, but the booze they serve is terrible.”
A companion chimed in. “It’s so bad you’ll be mad you paid for it. You going there? I’ll show you a good place.”
“Thanks, but I just want to know — I’m curious about the sausage.”
“Well, can’t help it then. The sausages are actually tasty. The place you’re looking for is at the end of that alley.”
“……”
“And one more thing: if you’re only going for the sausages, better to take them away. If you sit down they’ll force you to order that awful drink.”
They looked scary, but seemed kind at heart.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks for telling me.”
Altperia went down the alley the passerby had pointed out, unaware someone had slipped into following her.
There were no street lamps inside the alley, so it was dark, but every shop had its own lamp, so it wasn’t pitch black. As she walked slowly she spotted a large sign painted with a split broad green leaf. Then the shop’s name came back to her.
“Right — Monstera!”
Luke often said the place’s liquor tasted like soju. People of the Empire apparently didn’t like that taste. In the original, anyone who accompanied Luke to Monstera had the same reaction.
“What is this, it tastes like rubbing alcohol!”
“Did they make this for people to drink?”
They complained that the alcohol was awful.
Altperia pushed open the door and entered. The bar was quiet with few customers. Scanning the room, she soon found Luke. Even in a dim tavern, his striking looks drew glances — a handsome man with drooping black hair that revealed red eyes, very tall, long limbs, and a languid hand propping his chin as he slowly tipped his cup — almost decadent. In the original he usually covered his face with a black helmet, so few knew his true appearance.
“If he’d shown his face, he might’ve been notorious for other reasons.”
They said he was the most handsome man in the world here. Seeing him in person, Altperia thought he was like a work of art.
“Not my type, though.”
Though the story praised Luke’s looks many times, Altperia preferred the Second Prince. Smiling to herself, she approached him.
“Are you drinking alone? May I join you?”
Luke glanced up at her with a bored look and said flatly, “I’m drinking alone. Do not disturb me.” His tone was polite but carried a warning.
“He must be troubled.”
As soon as Luke arrived in the capital he’d heard shocking news from the Second Prince.
“It’s not finalized yet, but… the Emperor seems to want to marry his youngest to you, Luke.”
The Emperor might marry his daughter to Luke. It wasn’t confirmed yet, but if it were pushed through, Luke — a bastard whose lineage wasn’t properly recognized — wouldn’t be able to refuse easily. Troubled, he nursed a drink that tasted similar to soju.
“That means you came alone. I’ll take this seat since it’s empty.”
Altperia ignored Luke’s warning and sat opposite him. Luke stared at her who ignored him.
“My face feels like it’s being pierced.”
Altperia felt her cheeks warm under his gaze.
“Please don’t start shooting beams of light or something.”
Luke was one of the Empire’s few swordmasters. Those who reached a certain level could control their ki. A normal person could collapse simply from being exposed to the murderous aura of a swordmaster. She worried, but smiled widely.
“Drinking alone isn’t fun, hero.”
Thud — he put down his cup. The sound of wood cups clinking echoed in the nearly empty bar.
“It seems you know who I am. Speak your business, plainly.”
“I…”
“Your introduction is done. I know you’re the Baltre noblewoman.”
“How do you know that? I haven’t formally appeared in society yet.”
How did he know? “The accessory peeking from under your robe is a white hawk. A family that uses the white hawk as its symbol is obvious.”
Altperia fell silent. “And there’s only one family with the Baltre name, right?” The duke and duchess who had been the great lords of the North had died long ago, and no one had officially inherited the title. So Luke naturally deduced that Altperia must be Baltre’s heir.
“You deduced just from hair color and circumstance?”
He was sharper and more perceptive than she expected — not easy to persuade with ordinary arguments.
He glanced at her and refilled his cup as he muttered, “For a noble young lady to come to a place like this alone.”
“……”
“You must’ve heard rumors about me.”
“Like that you devoured hundreds of people and became a monster? Seeing you in person, you’ve got a face and everything — the rumors were false.”
Luke chuckled slightly at Altperia’s boldness. The corners of his mouth twitched; it made her heart flutter a bit — even if he wasn’t her type, she admitted he was handsome.
“The rumors aren’t entirely false.”
Did that mean he had really killed hundreds of people? His tone was light but sharp — polite, but the underlying message was to get lost.
“That doesn’t scare me. I’d make a deal with the devil to stay alive.”
Luke’s red eyes fixed on Altperia. Just being looked at by him felt like a sharp aura. Altperia felt choked. Perhaps, since words alone didn’t make her leave, he wanted to intimidate her a little.
“I’m not scared.”
She was, actually. Luke moderated his strength because he didn’t want her hurt. Still, his aura was so acute she wanted to bolt out of the tavern. “My family’s maids are scarier!” Altperia gripped her trembling fingertips together and withstood his killing intent.
In the original Luke, the protagonist, didn’t kill people recklessly. “He’d only give scares.” If he wasn’t a villain, the threat would end there and she could tolerate it.
“Phew.”
He let out a low sigh and the heavy atmosphere lightened. The oppressive murderous intent dissipated.
“What kind of wish would a Baltic noblewoman make to a demon of the Empire?”
Perhaps as a reward for enduring his glare, he seemed inclined to talk. Altperia composed herself.
“I didn’t come to beg. I came to make a deal.”
“And the details?”
“I want my fiancé taken away.”
“Are you asking me to assassinate him?”
Come to think of it, that would be an effective method. If her fiancé Allen would be killed by the Second Prince’s hand, that would be fine — he was a scoundrel who made many women cry; if he had to disappear, sooner would be better. Luke’s skill was certain.
Luke, instead of letting Altperia speak, opened his mouth.
“I don’t take assassination requests.”
Darn — that option had appealed to her.
“I’m thinking of another way.”
“What way?”
“Hero, you’ll propose to me, saying you fell head over heels at first sight.”
