“Sigh.”

Watching Pink Bear, who was clearly already in high spirits, Marquis Angus could only let out a rather helpless sigh.

The war between the Empire and the Kingdom was still ongoing, and it had already reached its most difficult stage. Her Majesty the Empress had personally gone to the front lines, leaving Pink Bear, a member of the imperial family, to hold the rear in Belrand. The intention had been to stabilize the situation. After all, the imperial family had grown terribly thin in recent years. Aside from Pink Bear, there was practically no one else qualified to sit in Belrand and represent the throne.

But now the Empress was away, and that former Saintess had also left to deal with her own matters.

Who, then, could restrain this imperial grand-uncle who loved stirring up fun—no, loved helping others?

Obviously no one.

Although the Empress had left Marquis Angus behind in the capital under the name of supervision, this wasn’t some major state affair. What was he supposed to do—knock Pink Bear unconscious and forcibly stop him?

On second thought... in a certain sense, this did count as state affairs.

If Her Majesty the Empress were to find out that Pink Bear had actually helped her future husband court another woman, the storm that would follow would likely be unimaginable.

At that thought, Marquis Angus unconsciously tightened his collar. When that storm came, with his old and frail body, he probably wouldn’t even be able to withstand the aftershocks.

But then again...

What did any of that have to do with an ordinary old man like him?

Imperial minister? Nonsense. Right now he was simply a grandfather concerned about his grandson’s love life.

“I’ve already tried to talk you out of it. Just try not to make too big a scene.”

Even so, Marquis Angus still spoke with the tone of someone earnestly persuading a stubborn child. With decades of experience navigating political storms, he knew that at moments like this it was best to distance oneself as much as possible—lest the blood start splashing later.

“Relax, relax. I know my limits.”

Pink Bear waved his hand impatiently.

“That boy Muen has already built the stage himself. I’m just giving him a little push from behind the scenes. As long as I keep it subtle, who would ever know it was me?”

“The stage?”

Marquis Angus blinked.

“What stage?”

“Huh? You don’t know?”

Pink Bear chuckled.

“I have to say, your good grandson really spared no expense trying to court this girl. Something like that rising from the ground in just three days—it’s attracted quite a lot of attention.”

With a flick of his finger, a newspaper floated into Marquis Angus’s hands. The old man raised his monocle and carefully read the bold headline printed in vivid lettering.

“...What?”

Half a minute later, Marquis Angus looked up in shock.

“That brat is spending money like this and his father didn’t beat him half to death? And Longen allowed it too? If I remember correctly, aside from the two estates that were hidden particularly well, most of his manors have already been sold off.”

“Latest news says even the two estates Duke Campbell hid the deepest have been temporarily mortgaged to the Imperial Bank,” Pink Bear said faintly. “Most of the money probably went into this.”

Marquis Angus nearly choked on his own phlegm.

How strange. Back when his grandson had been reckless and foolish, the Campbell family fortune had seemed endless. Now that he had grown sensible, the family’s wealth was visibly shrinking by the day.

He even felt sorry for his son-in-law. At this rate, he had the uneasy feeling that before long the man wouldn’t even have enough left to buy his own coffin.

“All right, all right, don’t get angry. Everyone’s been young once. Who hasn’t done something impulsive for a beautiful girl?”

Pink Bear patted Marquis Angus on the shoulder earnestly.

“Now do you see how important I am? Just imagine—if that boy Muen invested so much and still failed, wouldn’t that be humiliating for the entire Campbell family?”

“I feel like if you interfere, the chances of failure will increase dramatically.”

Marquis Angus rubbed his forehead.

“Nonsense.”

Pink Bear immediately straightened up with great seriousness.

“This time I’ve made thorough preparations. When it comes to creating fun—no, helping that boy Muen—I’m absolutely serious. This time I even invited a professional!”

“A professional again...”

“This time it’s a real professional, trust me.”

Pink Bear clapped his hands.

“Come in.”

The meeting room door opened, and a gust of wind swept inside, as though even the breeze had slightly eased the worry in Marquis Angus’s heart.

He adjusted his monocle and looked toward the newcomer.

It was a well-dressed middle-aged man.

Handsome, upright, and refined—by any standard a strikingly attractive man.

Every detail of his appearance, from the tie at his collar to the cuffs at his sleeves, had been arranged with meticulous care. There was not a single flaw to be found. Only the faint shadow of stubble remained, as if together with his deep-set eyes it hinted at stories that would make people stop and listen in the quiet of midnight.

“Good afternoon, Lord Oranriel, Lord Angus.”

The man bowed politely. His noble etiquette was impeccable, though Marquis Angus noticed that the cufflinks on his sleeves bore no family crest.

Which meant he was not a noble.

“Allow me to introduce him—the famous relationship consultant throughout Belrand, the savior of countless single men and women and the mentor of love to many who suffer in romance. The Godfather of Love himself—Mr. Pars Eden!”

Pink Bear enthusiastically introduced the man’s glorious achievements. Then he leaned close to Marquis Angus and whispered with obvious gossiping excitement:

“They say he used to be a devoted romantic himself, but after being dumped by the woman he loved, he awakened to the truth and began grinding experience like crazy. By now he’s dated at least several hundred women—noble ladies, wealthy daughters, even powerful women in politics. Every night he sleeps in a different woman’s bedroom, and he still maintains relationships with dozens of them! His romantic exploits are ten times those of that boy Muen! And most importantly, he hasn’t been stabbed to death by a jealous lover yet—that alone proves how deep his skills are!”

“I see...”

Marquis Angus was speechless.

Though the man did look experienced, and the number of romantic entanglements he had clearly exceeded Muen’s, quantity was just quantity.

Did any of those women compare in quality to even one of the people Muen had tangled with?

Just look at the people Muen had provoked. The Empress of the Empire alone could slaughter those so-called noble ladies, rich daughters, and political elites in rivers of blood. And the others were hardly simple figures either.

“Can he really do it?”

“Relax, he definitely can!” Pink Bear declared, thumping his chest.

“You flatter me, Lord Oranriel.”

Pars maintained an unshakable smile.

“The title ‘Godfather of Love’ is far too grand. I simply devote myself to bringing blessings to women suffering in matters of the heart. Of course, assisting others in their romance also falls within the scope of my services.”

“Excellent, excellent.”

Pink Bear nodded in satisfaction.

“All the information about the girl is here. Once the objective is accomplished, I’ll pay every coin of your reward.”

“I will do my utmost.”

Pars bowed slightly.

In truth, being financially supported by noble ladies, wealthy daughters, and even a sixty-year-old political powerhouse meant he lacked absolutely nothing in terms of money.

But the chance to advise the legendary Muen Campbell on how to conquer someone even he himself could not conquer—

That stirred his competitive spirit immensely.

Of course, there was another reason he had accepted the assignment...

“Then I’ll begin.”

Without further delay, Pars immediately entered work mode and began flipping through Ariel’s file.

Although Pink Bear had gathered as much information as he could, Ariel’s behavior had always been extremely low-profile. She rarely left traces behind—much like many of the things Muen had done that still remained unknown to the public.

As a result, many of Ariel’s deeds remained blank in the report.

But for someone like Pars, even a publicly visible life trajectory was enough to analyze a great deal.

“She lost her mother in childhood. A woman named Ariel like this must be extremely independent and strong. Such women have their own set of principles, and it is very difficult for outsiders to truly enter their hearts.”

“Exactly.”

Pink Bear nodded vigorously.

“Her mother was a maid in a count’s household, abandoned by her biological father. She must despise nobles and distrust love!”

Pars frowned slightly.

“That’s right!”

Pink Bear slapped his palm.

“That girl obviously hates nobles. She even gnaws on black bread regularly to remind herself to stay disciplined, and she personally brought down her father’s entire family. Iron-willed to the bone.”

“I see... this is difficult.”

After finishing the file, even Pars—the so-called Godfather of Love—could not help but sigh.

“A woman like this... even from my perspective, conquering her would be hell-level difficulty. Especially with the labels attached to Young Master Muen—noble’s son, notorious playboy. That’s basically dancing right inside her strike zone. If he approaches casually and she doesn’t stab him on the spot, that would already be merciful.”

“Then...?”

“Don’t worry. Hell-level difficulty doesn’t mean there’s no solution. I specialize in hell-level challenges.”

Pars’s deep eyes sharpened.

“I’ve already seen through it. This woman named Ariel has a very obvious weakness.”

“Oh?”

“She lacks love.”

He spoke with confidence.

“Yes. From the information available, she lacked emotional nourishment from childhood. Her mother died early. She grew up alone and endured countless hardships. Experiences like that create a hard outer shell—it’s a defense mechanism.”

Pars paused before continuing.

“However... the harder the shell, the softer the interior. If we can break through that shell, Young Master Campbell will surely win her heart.”

“See that? See that!”

Pink Bear waved his cigar triumphantly at Marquis Angus.

“That’s what you call professionalism!”

“I already said it’s nothing remarkable.”

Pars remained modest.

“To me, women are pearls hidden within shells. With the right approach, their soft inner brilliance will shine. Of course, different women require different displays of masculine charm. Only by prescribing the correct remedy can one achieve results. Otherwise, the opposite effect will occur, and the woman will close her shell even tighter.”

“Exactly!”

Pink Bear slapped his knee.

“What a brilliant theory! If I had possessed your wisdom back then, I wouldn’t have ended up sneaking around just to read dirty novels in secret. After this is over, you must teach me everything. I will listen with the utmost attention.”

“You flatter me...”

“You’re too kind...”

“You exaggerate...”

“Not at all...”

While the two of them enthusiastically praised each other, Marquis Angus finally finished reading the intelligence report Pink Bear had provided.

It was identical to the one Pars had been studying.

But after closing it, the old marquis suddenly seemed to notice something.

He adjusted his monocle.

“Masculine charm?”

“Hm?”

Pars looked puzzled.

“What do you mean, Lord Angus? If not masculine charm, would it be feminine charm instead?”

“I actually think feminine charm might have a higher success rate...”

Marquis Angus closed the incomplete report and sighed.

“I knew this fellow was unreliable. When he invited you here, didn’t he mention the most important thing?”

“The most important thing... what?”

Pars asked in confusion.

“Nothing. Just...”

Marquis Angus tapped the photograph on the report’s cover.

It was Ariel’s enrollment photo from Saint Maria Academy. Wearing her academy uniform, she looked no different from the bright, youthful girls standing beside her.

But if one looked closely, it became clear that her gaze was not focused on the camera spell at all.

It was fixed on the passing uniformed girls around her.

The look was not particularly obscene—but it certainly was not the friendly appraisal one woman gives another.

If it had to be described...

It was more like a starving wolf searching for prey.

“If my information is correct,” Marquis Angus said calmly, “that girl doesn’t like men.”

He paused.

“In simpler terms, as you young people would say... she’s gay.”

“...Huh?”

Pars’s confident expression froze instantly.

...

...

The carriage creaked as it rolled forward.

Ariel watched the scenery outside the window. Her gaze occasionally followed the beautiful girls walking along the street.

But when the wind lifted the hems of their skirts and those pleasant sights shimmered in the sunlight...

She suddenly lost interest again.

“Where exactly are we going?”

Ariel turned impatiently toward Muen across from her.

The wind drifted through the carriage window, but it revealed nothing particularly interesting. Ariel rarely wore skirts, especially soft dresses like this one. The moment she sat down in the carriage she pressed the hem firmly beneath her hands, afraid Muen might take advantage of even the slightest opening.

What she didn’t realize was that the movement only emphasized the strong curves of her thighs. The mysterious gap between the skirt’s edge and her pale skin was far more suggestive than anything the wind might have revealed.

“Guess.”

Muen smiled with the dignified composure of a gentleman.

“Why would I guess?”

Ariel curled her lips in annoyance.

She had no interest in this kind of childish romantic teasing.

“Just tell me.”

“We’re almost there.”

Instead of answering, Muen produced a black silk scarf.

“A surprise should feel like a surprise. Would you mind letting me cover your eyes with this?”

“Cover my eyes? What are you planning?”

Ariel immediately became suspicious.

“You’re not trying to sneak me off to some questionable place, are you?”

Like some romantic hotel. Or a couples’ inn. Or a hot spring resort with mixed bathing...

“I have no idea what’s going on in that head of yours,” Muen said dryly. “But if I wanted to do something questionable to you, wouldn’t the duke’s estate have been the perfect place?”

His mouth twitched slightly.

He had spent three full days with Ariel there. If he had truly wanted to do something, she would already have been molded into his shape.

Even the most powerful heroine chosen by destiny [N O V E L I G H T] wouldn’t survive being locked in a dark room and thoroughly “educated” for three days and nights.

“True.”

Ariel thought about it and nodded.

“All right then. I’ll trust you this once and see what kind of trick you’re up to.”

“Thank you.”

Muen stepped forward and tied the black silk scarf over her eyes.

The world plunged into darkness.

Ariel’s body tensed instinctively.

Normally, being blindfolded would not trouble her at all.

But now all her power was sealed. Her body held no strength whatsoever—she was no different from an ordinary person.

So when the darkness descended, she felt a rare sense of helplessness.

It was like drifting in the middle of a vast ocean—alone, surrounded by nothing, waiting to sink.

“Do you want me to hold your hand?”

Then a voice cut through the waves.

“No.”

Ariel shook her head.

“Just let me hold your sleeve.”

“All right.”

She felt his familiar presence approach. Reaching out, she groped forward until her fingers caught the fabric of his sleeve.

Like someone who had finally found land after drifting at sea, she quietly exhaled in relief.

“Let’s go.”

“Mm.”

Though Ariel had insisted on holding only his sleeve, when they stepped down from the carriage Muen still reached out to steady her.

She did not refuse.

“This way.”

He guided her forward.

The wind still rustled around them, and the faint sound of leaves brushing together suggested they had already left the busy city behind. This place seemed quiet and remote.

Ariel walked carefully, step by step.

Muen moved slowly as well, occasionally supporting her arm so she could step over obstacles.

She did not know whether she was stepping over fallen branches or small stones.

But she could feel the road gradually becoming smoother, easier to walk.

Until—

“We’re here.”

Muen stopped and removed the scarf.

Light flooded back into the world.

Ariel instinctively narrowed her eyes.

Not because of the sudden brightness. Even with her powers sealed, her body was still strong enough to adjust instantly.

What truly made her vision waver was something else.

Before her stood a massive structure shaped like a castle.

It was crystal clear and dazzling beyond words. Sunlight refracted through countless surfaces, scattering gemlike brilliance in every direction.

“What is this...?”

“A crystal palace.”

Muen looked at her.

Behind him, the magnificent structure gleamed.

“I built it... just for you.”

“My crystal palace.”