"Oi…"

Billy thought he heard a sound behind him, but the sound of his heart shattering was loud enough to drown all external noise.

"Hey, big man!"

Billy jerked forward as a hand slapped his back and a friendly smile greeted him.

He found a stranger looking at him with a casual expression.

The stranger had a black eyepatch on one eye, with long black hair flowing down his shoulders.

He had strands of beards protruding from his chin, and he was outfitted in a high-quality black robe.

Billy had initially wanted to smack the man for hitting him so suddenly, but he chose not to after contemplating a little.

'I wouldn't want to accidentally kill him…' His thoughts trailed.

The man had a stupid grin on his face which made Billy angrier. He didn't realize when he was frowning at the total stranger.

"What do you want?" He asked in mild annoyance.

If this guy was here to comfort him, then Billy could already see himself clenching gist and getting ready for what would come next.

"Hey… hey man, relax! I saw everything that happened, and you know what…?"

Billy was ready to throw his punch the moment he heard anything unnecessary.

It was bad enough that Alicia had disgraced him in public, but now he was about to be pitied by an absolute stranger like this?

It was unacceptable.

"… I think that lady is just confused."

'H-huh?' Billy's brows shot up in surprise.

He had expected many words from the man, but nothing like what he just heard.

"Confused…?"

"Yes, my guy! Girls are like that when they're that age! My daughters were also the same way."

Billy found his brows raised even further. He was still confused, but more than that, he found himself resonating with the stranger.

"What she needs is something to prompt her certainty. If you're up for it, I have just the thing."

Billy felt his heart racing as he stared at the grinning eyepatch man.

Something about the whole thing felt sketchy, but he couldn't resist the allure.

Especially if it meant Alicia would be his.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Let's not discuss here. It's a very important matter to talk about, so why don't we come to my office?"

Billy felt a bit skeptical about following a stranger anywhere, but since he was all alone and he had to spend the next two hours with something, he decided that he might as well hear the man out.

'If it's a waste of time, I can just leave.'

And if the stranger ended up being some shady individual, he could just easily defeat him.

'I'm among the strongest in this world, after all…'

After training for this long, Billy was confident in his strength.

No random stranger could get the jump on him.

"I can see your skeptical look, young man. But don't worry! Once I'm done, you'll see it's an offer you can't resist!"

Billy squinted his eyes as his heart raced in further curiosity.

"Alright. Take me to your office."

********

Billy's eyes were wide open as he looked at the man opposite him.

He had just heard the unbelievable, and he was still recoiling in shock as he sat on a very comfortable sofa in the vast room.

First and foremost, this stranger's name was Evals Redart, and his office was quite a fanciful place.

It was well-decorated and very spacious. There was a chair and desk close to the very vast window, and a pair of couches opposite each other, with an exquisite table at the center.

The ambiance of the room was lovely, thanks to the lights that radiated within it, and the chandelier that hung in the ceiling was pretty fancy as well.

'It's nothing compared to the Royal Estate, but this place looks really nice.'

Billy had known he was a man of means when he saw his clothes, but he didn't think it was to this extent.

Despite the surprising display of wealth, however, what stunned Billy most was the man's proposal.

"T-that is a little…"

"Yeah. Unethical … right?" The man's smile widened as Billy nodded.

"Well, it's up to you, big man. If you want some things in life, you have to get your hands dirty. You feel me?"

Billy clenched his fist as he contemplated all that the man had just said.

He had never tried something like that in his life.

"It won't work. You wouldn't even be able to restrain her."

"That's where you come in. Just give her this…" Evals Redart placed a potion on the table that separated the two of them.

As he pushed the bottle towards Billy, the pinkish-red liquid inside sloshed around

"… And she'll be susceptible to the plan. She won't resist in the slightest."

"Alicia would never trust me enough to drink that!" Billy protested.

"Then place it inside her food or drink or something."

"W-well… that is…"

Billy knew Alicia was confused about what she wanted, but he also knew that she currently didn't want to have anything to do with him.

There was no way he would have access to her now.

"Okay, okay. I see. How about this…"

The generous Evals brought out something else. It was a special ring, with numerous writings carved on its black-iron surface.

It had a gleaming red gem affixed at the top, and something about the ring radiated something… forbidden.

"Use this Enchanted Item."

"I told you she won't accept anything for—"

"No, you won't give her. You will wear it. It'll allow you to alter your appearance."

This was the 'Ring Of Deceit'. It allowed the user to take on the form of the one whom their target trusted most.

"All you need to do is place the ring's gem on… Alicia's skin, and you'll be able to turn into the person she trusts most around her."

Once that was done, Billy could then coax her into drinking the red potion.

It was the perfect plan!

"I… I see…"

Billy gulped down saliva as he considered the plan, as well as the choices that stood before him.

'If I do this… am I really guaranteed to win her love and affection?'

Sure, the plan was a cliche winner! If he pulled it off well, he would be able to get under Alicia's good graces.

Billy just wondered if there was something safer.

… Something easier.

"W-what about something… like a Love Potion. Don't you have that?"

Billy had a Gold Coin in his pocket. If something like that existed, he wouldn't hesitate to buy it.

'If it's more expensive, I'll find a way to gather the money somehow!'

He could even flash his Royal Badge to show he was trustworthy.

Right now, Billy was just desperate.

"Worthwhile things never come easy, my man. Love Potions are only temporary. If you want something with a more permanent effect, this is your best shot."

As he heard those words, Billy felt like he was confronted with a choice.

'I… I don't want to lose Alicia. I don't want to lose to Rey…'

He clenched his teeth as he looked at the red potion and gleaming ring.

They beckoned to him.

"So… what will it be, lover boy?"

"I… I…" Billy stuttered as he considered all his options.

Right here and now, he had to make his choice.

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Thanks for reading!

What choice do you think he'll make?