They slowly descended to the first floor.

Evening at 6 PM, the time previously advertised, was drawing near.

“Ah! As I speak, the magician specially invited for the magic demonstration is coming down now!”

…That recreation tone.

It was a voice she had heard before – the host of the secret auction.

‘He had a side job?’

Woooah!

The crowd gathered like clouds erupted in thunderous cheers.

She had worried not many would come due to insufficient promotion, but contrary to her concerns, a vast number awaited her.

The inn’s spacious lobby was already packed without any seats left, and those spilling outside peered through the windows to observe the interior.

Since the magic demonstration would only last about 5 minutes, Rosha planned to make a strong, brief impression as she gradually raised her mana.

It was at that very moment.

“Stop right there!”

At the lion-like roar, the heated atmosphere instantly froze.

Simultaneously, a group of knights forced their way through the crowd to the front.

“We’ve heard there will be an unauthorized magic demonstration here. Unsanctioned magic displays are prohibited.”

“Stop what you’re doing immediately and disperse!”

Judging by the emblems on their armor, they were knights of the Marquisate Lycaon.

If they had been imperial knights, she could have understood, but unfortunately, they were merely knights of a noble family with no authority to control affairs in the capital.

However, from their demeanor, they didn’t seem inclined to back down easily.

“…I suppose we have no choice.”

Froy, who had originally intended to conceal his identity, removed his mask to reveal his face.

“This is the first I’m hearing that magic demonstrations require permission. What’s the meaning of this sudden intrusion and disturbance?”

His displeasure-filled violet eyes dangerously flickered.

People gasped upon seeing his beautiful face. Even with the mask, his presence had naturally drawn attention, but without it, he exuded an incomparably overwhelming aura.

The knights felt it too, freezing stiffly like mice before a snake upon meeting his gaze.

However, one of them soon mustered the courage to speak.

“…Duke Echerzen! No matter your status, we cannot allow such outrageous conduct.”

“That’s right! To demonstrate the noble art of magic before commoners, are you some kind of court jester?!”

As they spoke, the knights gradually regained their composure.

The Lycaon family was an ancient magic family.

Marquis Lycaon, the family head and a magician himself, had firmly held the center even after the trials, not leaving the capital. And the knights serving such a lord banded together with immense pride as members of a prestigious magic household.

But from the perspective of the commoners listening, it was understandably unpleasant.

“Boooo!”

“We gathered for a magic demonstration, so why are you trying to stop it?!”

“Begone, you meddlers! Begone!”

The confrontation between the Duke and knights had momentarily frozen the people, but one by one, they began to protest.

The knights gripped their sword hilts but couldn’t bring themselves to draw their blades. No matter what, such rudeness before a noble was unacceptable.

Seeing this, Froy muttered coolly:

“Perhaps I’ve been living too quietly all this time.”

“…”

“For knights of another household to tell me this is intolerable. Don’t you worry about being held accountable for such impudence?”

He was in a foul mood.

Not only had individual knights dared to defy an imperial Duke with firm conviction in their justification, but more importantly, they were ruining what Rosha had requested of him.

Moreover, they had even glared at her with disrespectful eyes.

‘…Maybe I should gouge those eyes out.’

The chilling temperament he had inherited from his father would occasionally surface, and while he consciously suppressed it at other times, he felt no such inclination this time.

Woooong-

Space slowly began to tremble around him. Despite no wind, a fierce vortex-like flow could be felt swirling.

“This is…!”

Instinctively sensing the crisis, the knights hastily retreated.

They were aware that Duke Echerzen possessed an innate ability, but experiencing it firsthand made it feel even more threatening.

However, since the Duke hadn’t made a move, the knights hesitated to draw their swords.

At that moment.

Riding the breeze, something small fluttered between them.

It was a petal made of light.

Simultaneously, more light petals appeared, carried by an unfelt wind, scattering beautifully in midair.

“But we’re indoors…?”

Brushing aside their windswept hair, they one by one turned to the ‘magician.’

It wasn’t their first time seeing magic. Moreover, as members of the Lycaon household, they had more opportunities to witness magic than most.

Yet none of the magic they had seen could compare to the beauty unfolding before their eyes.

For in front of them stood a grand, luminous flower tree.

“Good heavens…”

“Is this really magic…?”

As the masked magician moved her hands, the wind blew. The flower tree’s branches swayed gracefully as dozens of petals whirled about in disarray.

The petals drifted lightly before falling like snow, only to rise again, adorning the space in ethereal beauty.

It seemed as if time itself flowed slowly.

Utterly transfixed by the surreal sight, everyone gazed into the air, entranced.

That too was momentary, as one of the knights soon muttered softly:

“That magician… isn’t she the one who sold magic stones at the secret auction?”

The silver feathered mask and jet-black hair did seem familiar.

She had gained some fame for inscribing defensive magic formulas onto magic stones, prompting Marquis Lycaon to insist on securing her services.

“…Seize the woman.”

“Leave the Duke alone. Just capture the woman.”

Unable to stop the magic demonstration, they couldn’t return empty-handed either.

Exchanging glances, the knights took their stances in unison.

However, their movements were impeded.

Grab-

“What’s this?”

The surrounding commoners began clutching at the knights’ clothes one by one. Too afraid of repercussions to directly obstruct them, they still created an atmosphere of resistance.

“Quickly escape while you can, Magician!”

“Hurry!”

“Eek!”

Roughly shoving the people aside, the knights charged towards Rosha.

But Froy reacted faster.

“Pardon me for a moment.”

Pulling her by the shoulder to keep her out of their reach, the man immediately used his ability.

With a sensation of space folding and rising, they instantaneously returned to the top floor room.

Though floors and walls blocked their view, the commotion from below could still be faintly perceived.

Regardless, Froy swiftly scanned Rosha and asked:

“Are you alright?”

“What wouldn’t I be alright about?”

Of course, it had been taxing to provide the harmless flower petal spectacle while suppressing her offensive magic.

But seeing the dumbfounded looks of the Lycaon knights as she vanished gave her a sense of satisfaction.

‘I must have really built up some resentment towards that Marquisate.’

With a small laugh, Rosha removed her mask and continued:

“It was rather entertaining, in fact. The magic demonstration was shorter than expected, but this should suffice, yes?”

“Perhaps.”

“But why did you let the misunderstanding persist, Froy? The ominous rumors seem to have made the knights even more wary. The ones about you being a patricide and the mastermind behind the rebels – those aren’t true, are they?”

As her hair gradually lightened, Froy watched silently before replying:

“There are times when it’s convenient. That’s why I don’t bother correcting them.”

Thanks to that, he could relatively freely avoid being bound by rules. Moreover…

‘Come to think of it, it’s not entirely untrue.’

The reason he didn’t bother explaining away the patricide accusation was because had his father not died first, he might have killed him himself.

It was then that Rosha gazed at him intently and said:

“Still… if there’s another way, please don’t take lives unnecessarily. It becomes too difficult later on.”

She seemed to roughly guess what he had been about to do.

Froy met her gaze.

Her eyes gradually grew distant, as if reminiscing about the distant past.

There were times when she would grow faint, as if straddling two worlds, and this was one of them.

And at such times, for some reason, he felt an urge to hold her back no matter what.

“…I understand.”

Stopping the arm that had unconsciously moved, the man slowly nodded.

Not necessarily in agreement, but at least he didn’t want to worry her.