The award ceremony was solemn enough.

Just as Jetri had expected.

Vya was showered with a string of hollow titles—privileges without real power.

After all, she was the crown princess of a neighboring kingdom.

*Wait, why would a crown princess be short on cash?*

Jetri suddenly fell into deep thought.

He had no desire to attend the banquet following the ceremony either. But since he’d come all this way, he’d just slip out midway to hide somewhere, then head home after the event ended.

Held in the imperial palace, the banquet drew nearly every human dignitary and noble from across the continent.

The ballroom buzzed with chatter. Only the palace’s vast size kept it from bursting at the seams.

Beyond politicians and nobles, unmarried noblewomen flitted between eligible young men like butterflies.

Vya was their primary target. Jetri came a close second.

Part of his escape was to avoid these marriage-minded noble girls.

And noblewomen.

In less than half an hour, double-digit noblewomen had hinted at sharing his bed tonight.

Jetri knew it wasn’t his charm.

They probably just wanted to "taste" a young Sage.

Collecting experiences, he supposed.

His germaphobia made him queasy.

Sighing again, he walked down the empty corridor.

*After I quit the team, I’ll live a simple, happy life.*

*Waking up every day to adorable, alluring, mature, or aloof maids calling my name…*

The thought lifted his mood instantly.

"Mr. Jetri doesn’t enjoy such gatherings either?"

A soft, familiar voice—yet unplaceable—sounded behind him.

He turned. Bathed in moonlight, a holy woman stood in the quiet corridor. The stillness of the courtyard deepened her serene beauty.

"Your Holiness." Jetri’s face slipped into a polite social smile as he bowed in a mage’s greeting.

"Heh," the Holy Maiden chuckled softly. "If you call me that, I’ll have to address you by your full, cumbersome titles too."

"How would you prefer I address you?"

"Violette. Or Vivi." Her smile was gentle, radiating quiet comfort just by looking at it.

*But—*

Jetri frowned inwardly. *Is the Holy Maiden being too familiar?*

"Then call me Richard. Or Chad," he parried with the same phrasing.

"So Chad’s first impression of me isn’t favorable." Her full, glistening lips parted slightly. Her smile remained serene, betraying no emotion.

Her pushiness unsettled him.

This unnatural warmth made him almost believe *she liked him*.

But after being made a fool twice, Jetri trusted no such feelings.

*Know your place.*

"Walk with me, Chad?" Her voice flowed like a calm stream—peaceful yet persistent.

"My pleasure." He had no reason to refuse. Besides, strolling with the continent’s holiest woman beat the social butterflies back in the ballroom.

Violette glided to his side.

"Does Chad dislike crowded places?" she asked.

Moonlight spilled over them. A gentle breeze rustled the courtyard trees.

People are drawn to beauty.

Jetri was no exception.

His gaze lingered on Violette’s soft profile until she turned, her warm smile meeting his eyes.

Golden strands caught the moon’s glow. Her sapphire eyes—still as a lake—held his.

*Breathtakingly beautiful.*

Her gaze didn’t snap him back to answer. It only deepened his trance.

Unlike Vya’s sharp features, Violette’s face was softly sculpted.

Yet her figure was flawless. Even beneath conservative robes, the curves beneath the fabric were undeniable.

*—Why am I comparing Vya to the Holy Maiden?*

A fresh wave of dread washed over him.

But that fear cleared his head.

Violette was like the moonlight around them—like a lullaby hummed by a mother on a starry night.

He’d nearly drowned in it.

"What?" Jetri blurted, caught red-handed admiring her.

"I asked," she repeated without a flicker of annoyance—not ignorance, but deliberate grace—"does Chad dislike crowded places?"

"A bit. I’m just bad at socializing." He answered honestly.

"But I find Chad quite skilled at it." Violette’s lips curved.

"You make me feel too comfortable. Less tense."

"Perhaps it’s not that."

"Hm?"

"Nothing." She lowered her gaze, smiling mysteriously.

"But I often skip banquets. What about you, Violette? Won’t it matter if you’re absent?" Jetri asked.

Undeniably, time with her was soothing.

Her voice. Her tone. Her holy aura. Her gentle eyes.

He liked it all.

"Mm…" Violette’s expression tightened slightly. "Perhaps it will."

"Then why step out?" He’d never heard the Holy Maiden disliked banquets.

"Because something more important called." Violette’s smile returned, her lake-blue eyes locking onto his.

Jetri nearly confessed his feelings on the spot.

He held back.

*Calm down! Something’s off! We just met!*

*This makes no sense…*

After crushing the thought, his mind steadied.

Just as he wondered what "important thing" she meant, another familiar voice cut in.

"There you are, Jetri."

"Vya? Why’d you leave?"

"I got worried when you vanished—Your Holiness, good evening."

"Valiant Hero, good evening."

Or was it Jetri’s imagination? Violette’s warmth seemed to cool instantly.

"Your Holiness."

"Violette."

Victoria and Lilith arrived almost on cue.

*These three really are inseparable…*

Jetri noted Victoria avoiding his eyes while Lilith’s glare sharpened with disdain.

*What did I even do?*

He had no clue.

But it didn’t matter. Their opinions of him were already negative. Let them drop further.

"Why have all our heroes stepped out?" Violette’s smile stayed soft, but her tone felt… off to Jetri.

"Victoria, Lilith, good evening."

*Huh…*

*Why do I feel normal talking to them but not Violette?*

*Weird.*

*Unless—!*

*Ah. I get it.*

Jetri connected the dots.

Violette disliked Vya. But why?

She claimed she had "important business" outside. Then Vya appeared right after.

He didn’t buy the coincidence.

Unless… they’d all followed *him* out?

*Hmph!*

*Case solved!*

Jetri’s face stayed neutral while his mind raced.

He watched the trio—and Vya disguised as a man.

*Showtime.*

He couldn’t help but feel smug. *Enjoy your harem troubles, Vya. Your paradise is burning.*

"Has the Sword Hero read that popular novel lately?" Violette asked abruptly.

Jetri blinked in surprise.

Victoria and Lilith exchanged confused glances.

"What about the Hero character in it?" Violette’s voice remained gentle, yet edged with steel. "Deceitful. Selfish. Hypocritical. Can such a person truly be a Hero?"

*Yep. Not my imagination.*

The Holy Maiden was attacking Vya—and Vya had no defense.

*Tsk tsk. No guilt, no fear of ghosts knocking at midnight, right Vya?*

Jetri almost grinned.

Victoria and Lilith stared, stunned.

*Why would Violette say this?*

*When did Vya offend her?*

"Indeed." Vya’s voice was slightly low as she admitted it.

"Violette…" Victoria hesitated, clueless but sensing trouble from Vya’s reaction. Her desperate gaze landed on Jetri.

Jetri’s eyes widened.

*What do you want from me?!*

*BA-GE-YA-LU!*

*You remember me NOW?*

He felt suffocated.

"Ahem. Violette," Jetri dropped his gentleman act instantly, "shall we take another stroll? Forget about Vya."

He knew how to throw a tantrum.

He didn’t notice Victoria and Lilith’s complex stares when he called her "Violette."

It might ease the tension—but his impression score with Violette would plummet.

*Worthless hopes anyway.*

"Chad, don’t be so formal. Call me Vivi." Her tone melted back to honey.

Jetri forced a polite-but-awkward smile. "Of course, Vivi. Shall we leave them and walk elsewhere?"

"I’d love to, but my time is limited." Violette shot Vya a sharp glance. "I must go."