"I will marry Felice!"

Felice and Duke Alessandro stared at Harvey in shock. Felice never expected him to say such a thing at this moment.

"Harvey, are you serious?" Duke Alessandro asked. "Even though Felice has lost her virginity, she’s still my daughter. I want her to be happy."

"Uncle Alessandro, every word I say comes from my heart. My love for Felice is as true as the heavens and earth."

Duke Alessandro’s furious expression softened slightly at Harvey’s words.

"Does your father know about this?" the duke asked.

"He already knows."

"What does he think?"

"My father has always known I love Felice. He’ll support me no matter what."

"Good. I’ll go settle this engagement with him right now."

"Father, I disagree! This is my life—don’t you care about my opinion?" Felice protested immediately.

"After disgracing our family name, how dare you talk about willingness? It’s a miracle Harvey still loves you. This is settled. No discussion. No asking you." Duke Alessandro turned to leave.

"Uncle Alessandro, wait!" Harvey called. "Tomorrow, I duel that commoner. I’ll prove I’m stronger, show Felice the gap between us. I want her to marry me willingly, not by your command. Announce our engagement publicly then."

After a pause, Duke Alessandro nodded. "Fine. But I’ll still settle this with your father first."

When the duke left, only Harvey and Felice remained in the hall.

"My dear fiancée," Harvey said smoothly, "lonely tonight? I’ll keep you company till dawn."

"Keep me company? Wenwu can satisfy me till dawn. Can you? If yes, come to my room. If not, get lost, you shameless bastard!" Felice snapped. She was furious, her words crude. The Wenwu part was a lie—they all believed she’d been with him anyway. She stormed off, not noticing Harvey’s ashen face.

The next day.

"Haa..." Silver yawned, opening the door.

"Ah!" He screamed.

"What’s wrong, Silver?" Wenwu rushed over.

"Master..." Silver pointed at the white-haired girl sleeping on the floor by the door. *What obsession drives someone to this?*

The girl woke at Silver’s scream, rubbing sleepy eyes and smiling. Though she smiled, Silver shuddered. He dropped to his knees. "Sister, please! Just leave me alone!"

She tilted her head. "Let me take one bite. Just one."

"Master, you lied! She wants to eat me!" Silver wailed, tears welling.

"Uh... well..." Wenwu hesitated. This couldn’t continue. He ushered the girl inside. "What’s your name?"

"Bai."

Wenwu glanced at trembling Silver behind him. *Silver’s named after his silver fox clan. Is she called Bai just ’cause of her white hair? Lazy parents.* "No home?"

"I have one."

"Why not go back?"

"I ran away."

"Why?"

"My family says I can’t do anything but eat. Every day. I got tired of it." *If she hadn’t met Felice yesterday, she’d have starved on the road,* Wenwu thought dryly. "Why eat Silver?"

"I’ve had silver fox meat before—non-beastkin ones. So delicious. I still crave it." Bai sighed dreamily, drool dripping.

"Wah..." Silver burst into tears. Mental pressure was truly terrifying.

"Silver, don’t fear. I won’t let her eat you. She meant non-beastkin foxes," Wenwu soothed, stroking his head. "If you don’t eat beastkin, why target him?"

"I said I haven’t eaten beastkin. Not that I won’t. I’d love to try."

"Wah..." Silver sobbed harder.

"Stop following us. I won’t let you eat Silver. Keep this up, and I’ll get rough," Wenwu warned.

Outside, noise erupted. Wenwu peered out the window, catching words like "duel." He’d planned to leave Sor City early—he’d bought a horse and a cloak yesterday to hide his face. But Bai delayed him.

Citizens crowded toward the central square, the only exit route. Cloaked, Wenwu led his horse and Silver through the throng. On the plaza platform stood two men: one resembling Felice—likely Duke Alessandro—and another, probably Harvey’s father, Sor City’s lord.

"Today, I duel for my beloved," Harvey declared, "but my opponent ignores this honor. His love isn’t genuine. Witness this: my love for her is as true as the heavens and earth!"

Cheers erupted. *Lie all you want,* Wenwu thought. *Felice and I were just acquaintances. I don’t care.*

Duke Alessandro stepped forward. "I thank Harvey for loving my daughter. But Felice shamed her noble blood. Even princes face commoner’s justice. I punish her publicly: to honor Harvey’s devotion, and to remind her of her duty."

The crowd murmured, guessing Felice’s crime. Wenwu paused to watch.

"Bring her out!"

Guards dragged Felice to the center—hands bound behind her back, mouth gagged, eyes wide with shock.