Roline felt like smashing her head against a wall. Fortunately, Du Wei had finally looked at her. Biting her lip, she continued her act in a soft, delicate voice. “W-what are you going to do to me?” She gave him a suitably pitiful glance.

Du Wei smiled. His gaze passed over her body, and its faintly mocking quality made Roline uneasy. When he looked at her, there was only amusement in his eyes, not the slightest desire.

Then a shadow flew toward her. She struggled, poked her head out, and discovered that Du Wei had tossed a bedsheet over her. It covered her half-naked, alluring body.

“When I am doing serious work, a half-dressed woman beside me would distract me,” Du Wei said calmly, as if stating a simple fact. He glanced at her. “Whatever you are trying to do, your performance just now was dreadful. I have other things to handle. If you want to seduce me, take this time to think of a better method.”

It was like a bucket of cold water over Roline’s head.

This half-grown boy—his eyes, his tone... He was no child. His calm, unhurried gaze made it clear that he had far more experience than she did.

Du Wei settled comfortably into a chair and took out a small magnifying glass. He carefully examined the patterns on the leather armor, copied the magical designs onto paper, then even closed his eyes to think for a while.

Roline said nothing. She tried to guess his purpose while studying him. The young noble had a pale, delicate face, but his manner of speaking and the look in his eyes made him seem far too experienced with women.

“I am curious about all three of your weapons,” Du Wei said without looking up from the enchanted armor. “The designs on this cuirass are magical patterns. They grant strength and agility. Judging by the age of the hide, this piece is quite old. Its value lies more in being an antique than in being a weapon.

“And it bears a family crest. If I remember correctly, it belongs to a family within the Stuttgart line in the north. The Stuttgarts originated from an ancient house and flourished during the Empire’s restoration three hundred years ago. They declined more than a century ago, splitting into seven or eight middling houses. This armor must have come from a northern noble family.”

Roline was stunned by his calm, confident explanation.

“And your curved blade...” Du Wei went on. “Curved blades are not really suitable for women; using one requires considerable wrist strength. Only the northwestern tribes favor such weapons. Yet you have brown hair and blue eyes, the blood of the central and southern peoples of the Roland Empire. You have no northwestern blood. I do not know how good your martial arts are, but from that fight, you are probably better suited to a sword.

“Fortunately, the strength enchantment on this armor lets you barely use the curved blade, though it is wasted on you. There is a magic crystal beneath its hilt to store magical power, and wind-magic patterns on the blade. A highly skilled fighter can release wind blades with it. At your present level, I doubt you can do that.”

Roline stared at him. Every word was correct. The cuirass had indeed come from a lecherous northern baron, while the curved blade had been given by a mercenary captain obsessed with her beauty—a man from the northwestern tribes.

Du Wei rubbed his brow and looked at her. “What intrigues me most is your spellbreaking bow.”

He slowly placed the silver bow on the table. “Its upright, slanting markings represent moon power in heraldry: the power of the moon. According to the books I have read, that was the totem of an ancient family on this continent, the Moon Family. Seven hundred years ago, they were glorious. At their height, they ruled half the continent and worshipped the Goddess of the Moon. But their kingdom was destroyed in the continental wars centuries ago. The unified Roland Empire rose afterward, and the Moon Family vanished with it. They are said to have... well, how should I put it? Died out.”

His fingers stroked the smooth silver bow, amusement in his eyes. “I find it odd. You are the leader of a small adventuring party, with third-rate martial skill, yet you own three valuable enchanted weapons. One comes from the north, one from the northwest, and one comes from an ancient family supposedly extinct. Who exactly are you?”

If Master Rossiat, Du Wei’s learned tutor, had heard this, he would have been proud of his student—and furious that anyone called him an idiot. Those seemingly simple remarks showed command of heraldry, insignia, totems, continental history, and more. Even the old scholar might not have identified the origins of all three weapons at a glance. Du Wei had done so without consulting any reference, as if all that knowledge were fixed in his mind.

Roline could only feel shocked. “H-how do you know all that?”

“Books.” Du Wei put down the bow and smiled. “Books record all human knowledge. Knowledge is the beacon of human progress. I have been reading them since I was six.”

“Six?” Roline sighed. “You must be a genius. Have you read many books?”

“Quite a few,” Du Wei said. “But I am no genius. Long ago, I did not like books or knowledge at all.”

“Then you...” Roline began, but realized that this was hardly the time for conversation.

Du Wei did not mind. In a low voice, almost speaking to himself, he said, “There is a story. The owner of a fine porcelain shop carefully made a new piece, but an outsider who suddenly entered accidentally broke it. Feeling guilty, the outsider resolved to make a better piece to compensate the owner. Yes. That is it: compensation.”

“Compensation?” Roline looked confused.

Du Wei smiled at his prisoner. “You seem more interested in others’ affairs. If I were you, I would be more concerned with my own situation.”

“But you do not seem to mind telling me.”

“That is because you are beautiful, and you have beautiful legs.” Du Wei shrugged carelessly. “Men tend to say more in front of pretty girls. It is in most men’s nature.”

Roline clenched her teeth. Before this young noble, she suddenly felt like a child. Every word, smile, and look seemed unfathomable, as though his calm eyes could see through her.

“What do you intend to do with me?” Her tone had become resigned.

Du Wei smiled. “Were you not trying to seduce me? You may try again.”

Roline’s heart stirred. What did he mean? His smile and gaze made something within her move again.

Du Wei rose and approached her slowly. His fingers lightly stroked her cheek, feeling the soft skin there, then slid down her slender neck. They passed under the sheet and rested lightly on her shoulder. His fingers were slim and soft, nothing like the coarse touch of other men. They carried a composed... teasing quality.

Yes, teasing—like a cat playing with a mouse it had already caught.

Roline began to tremble beneath his touch. She could not help closing her eyes and letting out a quiet sound through her nose. Then Du Wei abruptly lifted the sheet. Roline shut her eyes, prepared for what came next, but—

Swish!

Her bound hands suddenly came free. The ox sinew had been cut.

Du Wei stood a step away with a gleaming little knife, smiling. “All right. You may leave whenever you wish. My men will not stop you. Your companions may go with you, but your mage must stay.”

Roline opened her eyes in astonishment. “You are letting me go?”

“Yes.” Du Wei’s smile was casual. “I am interested only in your mage companion. I have studied your three magical weapons, so I have no need for them. You may take them with you.”

She understood this young noble even less. “But you... attacked us in the tavern...”

“I told you. I am interested in magic, not in you,” Du Wei said evenly. “I am busy and tired. Leave now; do not disturb my rest. I do not like people watching me sleep.”

He stepped back and pointed toward the door. The dismissal could not have been clearer.

Feeling as though she were dreaming, Roline accepted the knife, cut the sinew around her feet, and moved her stiff limbs. She reached the doorway, yet still had not recovered her senses.

“Oh, one more thing. Our paths crossed for a reason. If you do not mind, I have a piece of advice for you,” Du Wei said behind her.

“W-what advice?” Without realizing it, Roline’s tone had become respectful.

“You should find a good man and marry soon,” Du Wei said lightly. “Find a quiet country place, marry an honest minor noble, and live properly. A friend from far away once told me something: the world is dangerous; if you live by it, sooner or later you pay the price. A girl enduring it alone has a hard time. If you do not want marriage, consider another choice. Women are vines; it is best to find a great tree to lean against. There cannot be many living members of the Moon people left in this world.”

Roline stiffened. “What did you say? The Moon people?”

“Yes, the Moon people who worship the Goddess of the Moon.” Du Wei smiled. “I examined your hands. Your ring finger is noticeably longer than your index finger. There is also a slightly protruding bone at the back of your head. Books list both as standard marks of Moon blood. Either one alone proves nothing, but you also carry a weapon bearing the Moon totem. Do you still mean to deny it?”

For the first time in her life, Roline felt that she had run into an iron wall. Not before greedy nobles nor savage mercenary leaders had she felt such helplessness. Could this little noble truly see into the secrets inside a person’s heart?

And his smile—on that pale, handsome face, so indifferent, as though he cared about nothing...

It was like a demon’s smile.

Watching the long-legged girl leave in a daze, Du Wei sighed and began arranging the books he had brought along.

Then Ma De knocked and came in, looking hesitant. “Master, are you going to rest? Do you need anything? You did not eat much tonight.”

Du Wei smiled at his servant’s knowing look. Ma De had surely been waiting outside and had come in the moment he saw the girl leave. Apart from his mother, this servant was probably the person in this world who cared most about him.

“Nothing. Oh, Ma De, how much is in my private purse?”

“Exactly one thousand gold coins.” At the mention of money, Ma De brightened. “The honored Countess gave it to you privately before you left, Master. I have kept it safe.”

Du Wei thought for a moment. “I hear Cote Province produces aquamarine orchid diamonds. When we arrive, buy some for me. I will have them sent back to Mother.”

“The Countess will be delighted.” Ma De smiled, then lowered his voice. “Young Master, you are so clever. Others do not know it, but I do. If the Countess and Count knew, they would be proud. But why...”

“Why do I like being thought an idiot?” Du Wei finished with a smile.

Ma De immediately looked frightened and lowered his head, but he continued. “Young Master Gabriel is called a genius, yet... If it were not for you—hmph, his tutor is not so skilled. I know you often visited Young Master Gabriel. I saw you teach him how to write. Genius? Hmph.”

“All right, Ma De. I am tired. Go out. We travel tomorrow.”

His loyal servant left reluctantly. Du Wei sat down slowly and stretched.

An idiot? Let them call him one.

But he did not belong to this world.

The beautiful Countess, that admirable woman, did not know that he had taken over the body of her first son. It was theft—naked theft—even if he had never wished for it.

In that sense, he owed the Rowling Family. Above all, he owed that beautiful, kind mother a good son. And he owed the Count, the man who was supposed to be his father.

So he had secretly used a few methods to give the family a “genius” son, then quietly left. Perhaps that repaid some of his debt.

Gabriel had better work hard. Du Wei would no longer slip into his room at night to tell him stories, nor turn awkward martial formulas into songs for him to memorize.

The first time young Gabriel had accidentally displayed those sung martial formulas before adults, Count Raymond had been ecstatic, praising the child as a genius. He could never have guessed that it was the work of his idiot elder son.

Du Wei had stolen one son from them. He had done everything he could to return a “genius” son in his place.

Rowling Family, this is the small compensation I can offer you.