Wenwu turned toward the door and saw a man dressed in finery, like a noble young master, holding a rose at the entrance.

"Who is this guy? So gross," Wenwu muttered unconsciously.

"Harvey, the only son of Sor City's lord," Phyllis said.

So he really was a noble's son.

Harvey approached Phyllis. "My beloved goddess seems troubled. How may I assist you?"

"If you truly want to help, just pay for this meal," Phyllis replied bluntly.

"How much?"

"Five hundred thirty gold coins total."

Seeing the lord's son arrive, the restaurant owner personally greeted him.

"Heh heh heh... Hahaha..."

Pay up and be done—why laugh? Is this guy insane? Wenwu thought to himself.

"I expected more, but it's so little." Harvey snapped his fingers. A servant handed the owner a bag of coins. "Here's six hundred gold. The extra is thanks for hosting my beloved."

"Harvey, you're not needed here. Leave."

"My dear lady, won't you share this lovely afternoon tea with me?"

"Sorry, I'm busy. I'm shopping with my boyfriend." Phyllis hooked her arm around Wenwu's.

Hey, what's this about? Wenwu froze. He was wanted; such attention would get him killed. He tried to pull away to explain to Harvey.

"Hey, you do that kind of work. Faking a boyfriend isn't hard. I'll pay you," Phyllis whispered, hugging his arm tighter to stop him.

This misunderstanding was deepening. Wenwu wanted to refuse, but the soft warmth on his arm overruled his reason.

"Right. Phyllis is with me this afternoon. No time for tea," he said.

Only then did Harvey notice Wenwu beside her. "Boy... boyfriend..." He eyed Wenwu's plain clothes. "Phyllis, how could you like someone like him?"

Hey, what's wrong with me? Ugly? Missing limbs? Wenwu bristled. Only Phyllis stopped him from punching Harvey.

"I like him. None of your business."

"Then... what do you like about him?"

"Like... like..."

Honestly, Phyllis barely knew Wenwu—just one meeting at a noble banquet. Her only "knowledge" was his job, a misunderstanding itself.

"See? You can't even say what you like. How is this true love?" Harvey finally had an argument.

"He... he's amazing in bed!"

This was Phyllis's sole "insight." Her words stunned both Wenwu and Harvey.

You're throwing me to the wolves! This teammate is a disaster. Wenwu's mind nearly broke.

"You... you've... already... slept together... I'll tell Uncle Alexandra! Wah..."

Wenwu never expected the grown man Harvey to sob and flee the restaurant.

"Phyllis, shouldn't we explain? Ignoring him feels wrong."

"Hmph. Ignore him. Let's shop."

"Huh? For real? Wasn't that just to ditch Harvey?" Wenwu hadn't expected actual shopping.

"Of course. We started acting—finish it. If Harvey exposes us, it's worse trouble. Besides, I'm paying you." Phyllis sounded convincing.

Wenwu felt trapped enough already. Who'd believe she'd pay when she couldn't cover a meal?

"Let's go!" Phyllis dragged him out. Silver followed Wenwu, but Bai, the white-haired girl, trailed behind Silver, staring intently.

"Master... I feel like she really wants to eat me..." Silver shivered under Bai's gaze.

"She's still following. Relax, Silver. She's curious—you're a rare man-eating monster," Wenwu comforted.

Still, constant staring was unsettling.

"By the way, Phyllis, why are you in Sor City?"

"Sor City's lord is close to my father. Harvey invited me using his name. I didn't want to come, but Father insisted."

Wenwu pieced it together: Harvey admired Phyllis, "inviting" her here. She disliked him, so she'd fled alone with little money or servants.

Wenwu had planned a quick meal, a horse purchase, and a swift exit from Sor City. Now he'd wasted time and tangled with nobles.

Meanwhile, Harvey sobbed back to his castle room, locked the door, and smashed decorations wildly. The blow hit hard.

"Tsk tsk. A noble loses his beloved to a nobody, yet rages alone instead of fighting. Pathetic."

A voice suddenly filled Harvey's empty room, startling him.

"Who's there?"

"Someone who can help you."

Harvey saw a petite girl on his windowsill.

"What can you do?"

"Win Phyllis back for you."

"Really?" Harvey perked up, then slumped. "But they've slept together."

"Sigh. So naive. Believe everything she says? I could claim you murdered someone—would it be true?"

Harvey nodded thoughtfully, agreeing.

"What should I do?"

"Doesn't Phyllis's boyfriend look familiar?"

"Now that you mention it... he does... Ah! Wenwu—the Empire's most wanted! I'll report to Father!"

"Don't rush." The petite girl blocked Harvey at the door. "Let's cooperate. Each gets what they want."