Chapter 72 : Wasteful extravagance

“Where is it?”

“What is?”

“I’m sure I put it away properly…”

Amitere had been bustling around since morning, looking for something. Enough already! No matter how many times you stick your hand in

your pocket, lost things don’t just reappear.

She asked me several times if I had seen what she was looking for, but only gave vague answers and never properly explained.

Could it be she’s looking for that junk that was in her pocket? I threw it out while cleaning the room—some rolled-up, used bandages.

It’s not like she’s seriously looking for disposable bandages. Especially not ones she already used.

In the end, she gave up searching, tail drooping, and followed me outside. She didn’t show it, but she seemed pretty bothered.

“So what are we doing today?”

Morning in Lienz was as quiet as the last time. I stayed still all day yesterday like she told me, but with the match tomorrow, I need to move

around today. My body feels stiff.

“How about we check out the arena for tomorrow’s match first?”

“Let’s eat first.”

“Sure.”

I kept thinking—how is this any different from a date? But I forced myself to ignore it. After thinking about it all day yesterday, I figure Amee

wants something more than just friendship with me.

I may have been slow to catch on, but based on her behavior so far, it’s hard to believe she only wants to be friends. She’d deny it if I asked,

but still.

Well, I get it. I know a bit about the kind of environment she grew up in. And I don’t dislike her, either.

The problem is figuring out what “more than friends” really means.

If she wants to be best friends who share everything, I could understand. But if it goes beyond that—like lovers—then I need to give it serious

thought.

It’s not just about people gossiping. I need to think about whether I even want that kind of relationship.

Romance is something to think carefully about, right? Especially for someone of high status like me. Let alone with someone of the same

gender—it could be exhausting if I’m not fully committed.

Ugh, this is complicated. I never imagined I’d be thinking about something like this. If only I could be straightforward like Teferi.

I figured if I acted strange about it, things would just get awkward, so I decided to treat her like I normally would. My head hurts.

“Let’s eat here…”

We were about to go into a nice, spacious place, but Amitere suddenly stopped and fell silent.

“What are you doing? Let’s go in…”

“Well, look who it is—mongrel.”

A distinctly hostile voice came from inside. Behind her stood a red-haired man with spiky hair. One of his arms was a mechanical prosthetic,

and he stood there, arms crossed, glaring at Amitere. What a filthy expression. Amee muttered quietly.

“Rozheni.”

“Even a traitor needs to eat, huh? Crawling back in here…”

From his appearance, Rozheni seemed like a skilled fighter. Broad shoulders, a face full of scars—clearly someone dangerous. It looked like

they knew each other from before.

At the word “traitor,” Amitere’s expression briefly hardened.

“You’re calling me a traitor?”

“You left the city and the cartel on your own. That makes you a traitor. I don’t know what the Matron was thinking, taking in trash like you

again.”

I didn’t know the whole story, but one thing was clear—this wasn’t a pleasant situation.

Rozheni, encouraged by our silence, pointed at me and added,

“And you even brought some girl along, huh?”

“Girl?”

That last word came from me. Seriously? I’d heard similar things a few weeks ago, but to hear it from a thug from some crime-ridden city, not

even the heir of the Northern Duke?

Whether I was shocked or not, the bastard started smacking his fingers together in a rude gesture.

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re that kind of pair? You’ve been glued together for days…”

“Say that again, you lowlife.”

BOOM! The bastard, who had been strutting around, was suddenly slammed into the ground.

Lesson learned: you don’t talk to people like that. If something like the Pontego incident happens again, I’ll just smash them like this.

Magical threads were coiled tightly around Rozheni’s arm as he lay on the ground.

“W-What…!”

“You’re the real mongrel here. With a mechanical arm like that, your father must’ve planted you into a hunk of metal. A shame—there’s no

one left to ask about him.”

“Grrr… my arm!”

“You’re wriggling like a bug.”

He might be strong, but unless he’s a magic-resistant beastman, he can’t take me on.

The magic threads were pressing down on his arm, and with a bit more pressure, it looked like it might snap.

Amitere finally stepped in and grabbed my shoulder to stop me.

“Enough. He has a match tomorrow. It’ll be a problem if he’s injured now…”

“Ami, what did I say about how to speak in public?”

“Please stop. You’re lowering yourself.”

“Be thankful to my fiancé for letting you leave in one piece, scum.”

Snap. I snapped my fingers and released the spell. He didn’t seem to have a broken arm but disappeared with a string of curses.

He muttered something about revenge, but if I were afraid of that, I wouldn’t have started in the first place.

I should’ve done this to Pontego, too! The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I just came here to eat! And he’s in tomorrow’s match

too?

“Don’t tell me you’re going to lose to that guy?”

“Of course not. He’s all talk. He’s not the real problem.”

According to her, the match will likely be three against one. They’ll come after her first, using the excuse that she’s a traitor.

She might technically be an outsider now, but with a record of undefeated matches over the years, the name of the “fighting dog” still scared

them.

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

“A little.”

She’s strong, but the other three are also the cartel’s top fighters. To be honest, I can’t guarantee her safety either.

She promised she wouldn’t die or be in danger, but she lied to me.

“Isn’t there something I can do to help?”

“Just cheer me on.”

Since it’s an event held once every four years, if I were to use magic to intervene, even as a duke’s daughter, I might not walk away unscathed.

It’s not that I couldn’t make it out safely, but since I came here to settle things with Amee, I want to avoid that path if I can.

When I sat there with a sulky look on my face, she gave a little chuckle and pulled me inside.

“Just eat something.”

Our conversation ended vaguely, but I still had one idea left.

Something very me.

This tournament, hosted by the four ruling cartels of Lienz, is a major event, and so the role of referee is crucial.

To prevent bribery or interference, the person chosen as referee must remain anonymous and secluded until just before the match.

That included Begus, who had been selected as the chief referee.

It should’ve been a secret—but someone was already in his room.

“Finally found you. You were hiding a bit too well, don’t you think?”

“Who are you?”

The voice behind the mask was female. Not that of a cheap prostitute, or a noblewoman—but a young girl’s voice.

Begus tensed, anticipating trouble. Referees being killed before matches wasn’t unheard of.

“I have a proposal.”

Fortunately, what she said was something not entirely unexpected—a bribe, just before a match.

In summary: she wanted to buy him. Said there was someone she had to make win.

“Not just overlook fouls, but sabotage the opponent’s gear too?”

“Good. You understood it all at once.”

“I-I can’t accept that.”

Whether it worked or not, Begus was still a resident of Lienz. Even if it was a friendly match, he couldn’t stomach ruining such an important

event.

But the masked woman, as if expecting this, pulled out a wad of cash and placed it before him.

“Even with money, I can’t possibly…!”

Thud. That wasn’t the only bundle. She kept stacking more and more in front of him.

“I heard something when I came here.”

‘Everything can be bought—’

Thud. The continuous stacks of cash were more than enough to sway Begus’ gaze. In a blink, the bed was covered in banknotes.

They say, if there’s something money can’t buy, maybe you just didn’t offer enough.

Thud. Stacks well over billions sat before him. Who could stay calm in front of that?

Being a Lienz resident himself, money took priority over honor.

“I’ll do my best.”

“Good.”

Since tomorrow’s match was mostly friendly and didn’t affect rankings, Begus rationalized it to himself.

But then he wondered—why would someone spend this much on something so trivial?

“Just felt like wasting some money.”

She muttered with a faint smile, saying it was all money she would’ve lost anyway if not for this.