"I told you to change clothes and you wouldn’t listen. When we get there, Theodore, you can just stay outside!"

  Hol tugged at his clean but rough linen shirt, then stomped his feet in his newly bought wooden clogs. Hmm, they pinched a bit—not nearly as comfortable as straw sandals.

  "And you think you’re going inside?" Theodore stared at him like he was a lunatic. "You think your outfit is any better than mine? You look like a runaway serf who wandered into the city!"

  Hol adjusted his lopsided collar casually. "Still better than you flashing your thighs."

  Theodore’s eyes bulged, and he snarled furiously, "Just you wait—tonight I’m going to rip your pants off!"

  Nearby students whipped their heads around, their eyes gleaming with scandalous interest.

  Did they just hear that right?

  Ripping pants off? That intense?

  "Theodore," Laura hissed, poking him in the ribs. "Keep your voice down! Everyone’s staring at you!"

  Theodore immediately turned and glared at the onlookers, his expression feral. "What are you looking at? Keep staring and I’ll rip all your pants off and leave you bare-assed!"

  That one sentence sent the crowd into a frenzy. Faces turned pale as they fled, clutching their backsides like their lives depended on it.

  So scary, so scary! The violent maniac from the intermediate division wasn’t just violent—he was a pervert!

  A pervert who ripped pants off, regardless of gender!

  This news had to spread fast. If anyone encountered the violent maniac, they’d better steer clear, or risk being stripped and humiliated!

  Watching the students scatter like frightened chickens, Laura covered her face in shame. Hol looked up at the sky, Hessel’s expression screamed disgust, and Gladys just blinked in confusion.

  Sebastian sighed, exasperated, and suggested, "Let’s not stand here. Let’s head to the ballroom. The night is long—we’ll have plenty of chances to approach Junior Luo Wei."

  Among the three men in the Death Penalty Squad, Sebastian was the only one dressed decently.

  Tonight he wore a fitted linen undershirt, a sleek black coat, a belt adorned with silver chains, and polished black leather shoes. He looked every bit the dashing young master from a wealthy family.

  Unlike Theodore and Hol, Sebastian cared about his image. He wasn’t the type to show up in ripped pants or farmer’s clothes. He’d even gone out of his way to commission this outfit from a tailor.

  Good thing he did—otherwise, standing next to Luo Wei later, he’d look like a beggar begging for charity.

  The night was enchanting. Inside and out, the cathedral blazed with lights. High-spirited youths walked together in groups, striding into the grand ballroom.

  A young woman in a flowing purple ball gown arrived gracefully. Under the amazed gazes of the crowd, she looked around, gathered her skirts, and walked straight toward the lounge area.

  Some of the young men immediately showed disappointment. They’d been working up the courage to invite her to dance, never expecting this noble and beautiful princess from the Misty Plains wouldn’t even give them the chance to ask.

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  Luo Wei had no interest in entering the dance floor. She wasn’t interested in dancing.

  Never mind how glamorous these noble youths looked—before coming here, they’d probably just wiped themselves down with urine, rubbed chicken droppings on their scalps, and were wearing clothes that hadn’t been washed in months, with active fleas crawling all over them.

  This wasn’t a joke. Medieval people really were this filthy. They believed chicken droppings could cure hair loss and that urine could beautify the skin, preserve things, and cure diseases.

  When their body odor got too strong, they’d just mask it with flowers or scented pomanders.

  Luo Wei feared these "refined" noble youths, which was why she’d had Belial prepare her an insect-repelling, refreshing sachet—to prevent fleas from crawling on her or from vomiting at foul smells, which would be extremely rude.

  The lounge area was still mostly empty. Luo Wei found a corner and sat down. She’d barely warmed the seat when Vina, dressed like a little yellow chick, popped out from behind a pillar.

  Tonight Vina wore a plain yellow gown with almost no decorations. The embroidery on the belt was ordinary. If not for the orange-to-red gradient Aurora Shawl draped over her shoulders, the dignity of a count’s daughter would have been completely lost.

  "Your, your dress is really beautiful," Vina approached awkwardly. "Which tailor made it for you?"

  Luo Wei looked up. "You snuck over here just to ask that?"

  Vina was dissatisfied with the description "snuck," but only dared to keep it inside. Like a wronged little wife, she shook her head. "No, I just came to see you."

  "Um," she twisted her fingers together, "it’s just... my father, has he sent you another letter?"

  "No," Luo Wei said, propping her chin and examining Vina’s outfit. "No letter, but soon you’ll be able to dress up happily every day and wear pretty new dresses again."

  Vina’s air-filled head took several seconds to process the meaning. "You mean my father is all right now!"

  "Mm," Luo Wei said lazily. "In another couple days, you should hear news that the Sebanli Duchy has withdrawn and Gelu City is at peace again."

  Vina was overjoyed. She even forgot her fear of Luo Wei and threw herself forward to hug her. "Waaah, Luo Wei, thank you, thank you for helping me, thank you for saving my father and Gelu City, waaah..."

  Hot tears fell on Luo Wei’s neck. She reached out and gently but firmly pushed her away. "No need to thank me. Just remember your promise."

  Even after being pushed away, Vina kept wiping tears, crying her heart out. Who would have thought this seemingly fragile and helpless girl had once been as proud as an arrogant rooster?

  Luo Wei still remembered how she’d called her "commoner" with every breath, shouting about teaching her a lesson. Back then she’d been so haughty and willful—nothing like this humble version.

  Fortunes change. People really shouldn’t get too cocky.

  After all, you couldn’t find a second person as kind as her in this world. Luo Wei took out her handkerchief and methodically wiped the tears from her neck.

  Another commotion came from the entrance. A white figure arrived fashionably late to the lively ball.

  Axina wore a white velvet gown with a long train. Long, pleated bell sleeves hung down to her ankles, and the skirt was designed with wide ruffled hems trailing behind. A long shawl with a satin sheen draped over her arms.

  The velvet bodice was embroidered with gold and silver thread in intricate patterns. The wide belt at her waist was studded with brilliant honey-yellow cat’s eye stones and pale pink crystals. The tight corset had a very low neckline, revealing half of her full, ample bosom.

  Her golden hair was more dazzling than the candlelight reflected by the crystal chandeliers. Her deep blue eyes were like a sunlit lake with rippling waves. Her enchanting, gorgeous face could make nearly every man present fall for her, regardless of age.

  Axina possessed a quality where the sacred and the sensual intertwined, giving her a fatally attractive sexual magnetism.

  The moment she appeared, every male in the hall was drawn to her. The noble ladies waiting to be asked to dance immediately showed jealous expressions.

  Ever since Axina had stolen her fiancé, Vina had looked at her with nothing but disdain. "Hmph, dressed like that, here to seduce men again!"

  Luo Wei put away her handkerchief. "Should everyone dress like you—like a little yellow chick?"

  "Hmph, you, you just wait," Vina stamped her foot. "I’m going back to change right now!"

  She grabbed her skirts and ran off. Luo Wei watched her conspicuous yellow figure and increasingly thought she looked like a yellow chick scurrying through the crowd.

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