Taking advantage of the sunset before it fully faded, Charlotte smoothly pulled Bella along to a formalwear shop in the Empire Capital, wanting her to change into a new outfit.
After all, Bella was still wearing her eldest sister’s clothes from home.
If Bella tried to tempt him while wearing those, Charlotte dared not imagine what might happen; if the clothes got dirty, it would leave a knot in his heart.
Might as well just buy Bella a new set. Even though most noble formalwear was custom-made, there clearly wasn’t time for that now.
“Charlotte, are you sure this really won’t affect you in any way?”
Walking down the road, Bella asked Charlotte.
“What do you mean?” Charlotte didn’t quite understand why Bella would ask that.
“I’ve been in the Empire Capital for a few days now. Do you know what people are saying about you outside?”
Charlotte stopped in his tracks. “Tell me.”
“They say you can have seven Misses accompany you in a single week.”
Bella stopped beside Charlotte, looking up at him.
“I feel like if rumors like that reach the ears of the Imperial Majesty, it wouldn’t be very good, right?”
“That’s nothing. I’m already used to it.”
Charlotte continued toward the most luxurious formalwear shop in the Empire Capital.
“In fact, it’s a sort of camouflage for myself. I should thank them. For someone as outstanding as me, if I had no flaws, I’d probably die even quicker. Better to smear a little mud on myself—besides, they’re not entirely wrong anyway.”
Bella looked at Charlotte. “I think, if they saw me walking with you, they’d have even more to say.”
“So, you mean, you really mind walking with me?” Charlotte forcibly pulled Bella into his arms and asked.
Bella naturally pressed against Charlotte’s chest. “How could I! I wouldn’t mind…”
If she dared say she was unwilling, Charlotte would probably punish her again.
Charlotte was just that type of extremely controlling person—always prone to giving her obedience tests at unexpected times. Bella was growing a bit nervous, thinking if she accidentally said the wrong thing, how could her petite body bear the consequences?
Charlotte let go, his fingertip lightly brushing her reddened earlobe, his tone calm: “Relax, I have no plans to marry you, so don’t feel any pressure. All those rumors are directed at me—you, at most, are a ‘victim.’ No one will blame you.”
“Huh?”
Bella jerked her head up, her mind feeling like it had been struck by a heavy hammer, instantly freezing. Not marrying her—what did that mean?
Her innocence had already been taken by Charlotte, and now he simply said he wouldn’t marry her—was this the truth, or another obedience test?
Her mind whirled, growing ever more confused. By status, she truly had no right to demand Charlotte give her a title; yet if she truly received none, she felt unwilling—being treated as a mere plaything, that sense of disparity pierced her heart like a needle.
Of course, Charlotte was only teasing Bella. Women of the Mistmoon Family could never marry out—they were followers of an evil god, some of the most dangerous beings in the world. The fewer who knew, the better.
Charlotte watched her wide-eyed, flustered expression and suddenly curled his lips: “Just teasing you. It’s quite amusing.”
Especially seeing a fourth-tier swordswoman showing the panicked face of a young girl—it was very entertaining. In this good mood, he decided to tease his “little pet” a bit more.
“Women of the Mistmoon Family never marry outside. My three elder sisters barely appear at any social occasions these days.”
“If you want to marry me, then what about my father?” Bella brought up a very real concern. Her father might not let her marry Charlotte.
Charlotte shrugged. “Doesn’t he not care about whether you live or die?”
“He probably just wants to use me for some political gain…” Bella’s gaze lowered; to be honest, she knew her cold-blooded father all too well.
Charlotte casually spoke a rather domineering line: “Then give him some benefits. If he refuses, the Mistmoon Family Head will go to propose to the Duchess Ennis herself.”
Bella suddenly froze in place, staring blankly at Charlotte’s retreating back.
If someone else had said this, she would have thought them a fool dreaming out loud. But coming from Charlotte’s mouth, she believed it one hundred percent—this youth could do far more than she had ever imagined.
“Why aren’t you coming?” Charlotte turned around and raised an eyebrow at her.
“N-nothing.” Bella hastily bowed her head, hurried to catch up, her fingertips quietly curling. Even she couldn’t tell what emotion was on her face: excitement? Delight? Or… comfort that someone finally took her “existence” seriously?
Charlotte watched her trailing behind with lowered head, and actually felt a sense of satisfaction.
Bella’s talent in battle aura was entirely inherited from her cold-blooded father. Although cultivating battle aura was much easier than magic in the early stages, reaching fourth-tier at twenty-two was extremely rare throughout history. Yet such a genius could only bow and scrape before Charlotte, which gave him quite a sense of conquest.
Charlotte led Bella through the doors of the formalwear shop.
The moment they stepped inside, an attendant in an exquisitely tailored maid’s dress quickly approached, her face wearing a flawless smile: “Honored Marquis Charlotte, is there anything I can help you with?”
As the most talked-about noble in the Empire Capital lately, Charlotte’s face was already well memorized by all attendants at such high-end shops—after all, recognizing nobles was a basic job requirement.
“Pick out a dress for this young lady.” Charlotte gestured at Bella beside him, his tone succinct.
The attendant was just about to make a “please” gesture when a male voice full of anger suddenly erupted at the entrance: “Miss Bella! Why are you with him?”
Charlotte turned to the source—a blue-haired youth stood at the door, dressed in fancy clothes trimmed with silver, a gem-encrusted sword at his waist, flanked by two men in guard uniforms. He looked just over twenty, his face full of arrogance.
Charlotte lowered his voice and asked Bella beside him, “Do you know him?”
Bella nodded, then leaned in closer and whispered, “A minor noble from the East Territory, used to pester me relentlessly. If I remember, his name was… Simon, I think? His father is a Count, maybe. I didn’t really care enough to find out.”
Seeing Charlotte and Bella whispering to each other, looking as if they might kiss any second, Simon felt even more stifled and couldn’t help but curse out loud: “Miss Bella, do you not know the crimes of the man beside you? He’s a disgrace to nobility!”
Charlotte was a bit startled by such blunt abuse. In terms of title, he was a real Marquis. How could a man with no title himself, relying on his father’s Count status, dare speak this way to him?
Charlotte felt a bit helpless. Why was everyone so reckless these days? Like calves unafraid of tigers.
“And you have the nerve to accuse me of harming noble interests? Isn’t it proper manners to introduce yourself when we meet?” Charlotte wasn’t intimidated by Simon’s aggressive manner at all.
Charlotte’s calm tone made him seem even more infuriating in Simon’s eyes. Not wanting to lose the upper hand, Simon answered anyway, “I’m Simon. My father is a famous Count from the East Territory.”
Simon had come here today to buy a suitable outfit for the Emperor’s banquet. If he could catch the eye of a Miss and arrange a marriage, he’d be able to smoothly inherit his father’s title.
However, he’d always had a dream girl—Bella. After only a few meetings, she had left a deep impression on his heart. Now, seeing Bella with another man—especially the infamously notorious Charlotte—made him resentful.
“So, looks like you already know my identity. So, as someone with no status, what do you think you can say to a noble Marquis of the Kalishi Empire?” Charlotte narrowed his eyes, his words devoid of emotion. To others, it sounded like he was simply showing off.
“You think I need a reason to curse you? You’re a disgrace to nobility! Miss Bella, please leave his side immediately. That man is vicious—his favorite thing is to seduce young noble Misses with sweet words. Don’t be fooled by him!”
Charlotte found it a bit funny. He didn’t care about the rumors because they were a shield for him. Let people gossip behind his back—normally, people would still respectfully call him Marquis Charlotte to his face. But this guy in front of him clearly wasn’t right in the head, to insult him so directly.
Bella truly couldn’t help but laugh, defending Charlotte: “Who I walk with is none of your business, is it?”
The atmosphere was getting rather odd. Simon indeed had no right to say such things—he really couldn’t control others’ business.
The guards beside him looked completely at a loss. They knew Young Master Simon was being unreasonable, but if they tried to stop him while he was angry, they might get scolded even worse back home.
Simon was tongue-tied and anxious.
Charlotte didn’t spare Simon a glance; instead, he turned to the maid and gently instructed, “Take this young lady to try on some dresses—let her pick what she likes.”
“Yes, Marquis.” The maid quickly bowed and gestured to Bella to follow.
Bella was about to go, but Charlotte gently caught her wrist. Lowering his head in Simon’s suddenly dark gaze, he squeezed her hand and bent down to kiss it lightly. “Go try your new clothes and wait for me. I’ll take care of this quickly.”
Bella’s cheeks instantly burned. This was the first time Charlotte treated her like this in front of others—though it felt like a command, it carried a tenderness bordering on respect. She nodded in panic, her voice barely a whisper: “Mm…”
After the maid led Bella away, Charlotte finally turned to face the blue-haired youth.
“This is Princess Kresia’s formalwear shop—it’s not a good place to cause trouble. If you have something to say, let’s talk outside, all right?” Charlotte’s genteel attitude only made Simon see him as a refined brute.
“Fine!” Simon gritted his teeth in agreement, cursing Charlotte a thousand times in his heart. “Just as well, I don’t want to dirty my hands in a place like this!”
He’d never liked Charlotte. Why did this kid get to be a Marquis at such a young age? All because of good birth! If he were born to a Marquis family and had all their resources poured into him, he might be even better than Charlotte!
Charlotte only found it odd—why did this young man, whom he’d never met, seem to harbor such long-standing resentment toward him?
Still, he was prepared for routine trouble. He’d faced plenty of doubts at the magic academy; one more or less made no difference.
Even though his reputation as a magical genius was widespread, there were always arrogant fools wanting to challenge him.
Charlotte purposely led them out to the courtyard surrounding the formalwear shop.
“Looks like you want to duel me?” Simon said, lifting his chin.
He’d already done the math: he was a second-tier warrior, with two third-tier warrior guards behind him. Together, that was “2+3+3” power.
Even if Charlotte was a third-tier mage, he’d never beat them alone—today he’d make sure this guy couldn’t get back up, so Bella would see who the real strong man was!
Charlotte glanced at the rose bushes in the courtyard and gently shook his head. “No need for a duel.”
“These flowers were planted by Senior herself. If they get messed up, she’ll be angry.”
Before Simon could react, Charlotte’s fingertip had already started glowing with a faint green light.
His lips moved, a string of obscure incantations flowing through the air.
Instantly, a palm-sized green magic circle appeared on the ground—there was no thunderous noise, but a formless pressure exploded out, like an invisible hand striking Simon hard.
Simon didn’t even have a chance to draw his sword before he was blown away by the force, slamming into the courtyard’s iron gate with a dull thud, then rolling out onto the street.
The two guards were pale with fright, not daring to move forward.
They could only shout “Young Master!” and stumble out to help Simon up.
Charlotte dusted off his sleeves as if brushing away nonexistent dirt, not sparing a glance at the commotion outside, and strolled leisurely back into the formalwear shop.
Such small fry were nothing but roadside obstacles to Charlotte.