Night fell again, and Sophia was awakened.

But this time, it wasn’t the little boy—it was the fearsome bandit leader.

*Clang—*

The wooden cage door rattled violently under his two-handed shaking. The grating noise jolted the sleeping villagers awake.

Murmurs died instantly the moment they recognized him. No one dared breathe.

Slowly, Sophia lifted her head. Beneath her hood, her aquamarine eyes settled on the bandit leader.

“Miss Mage,” he leered, “have you made your decision?”

Sophia’s gaze darkened slightly. A trace of disgust stirred within her at his revolting tone.

At that moment, An stirred too—or rather, it had never slept. It had been waiting.

“Sir Bandit,” Sophia replied coolly, “I cannot agree.”

“Hss! You—!”

Rejected again—*in front of these captives*—the bandit leader’s face flushed with humiliation and rage.

Though draped in an oversized black robe, Sophia’s slender, shapely figure remained unmistakable.

His greedy eyes roamed over her before reluctantly pulling away.

*He still wanted this little beauty to submit willingly.*

But Sophia had reignited his lust.

Bandits didn’t believe in celibacy.

Even if he couldn’t have *her* yet… the cell held other women.

Their “quality” might be lower, but usable.

His revolting gaze swept toward the huddled women.

They knew that look.

Some buried their faces in the crowd. Others frantically smeared filth-mixed dirt across their cheeks.

“You! Yes, *you*!”

His eyes locked on a woman in the farthest corner.

“The wench clutching that brat—come here. Hehe.” Vulgar taunts spilled from his lips.

Sophia tilted her head slightly—and froze.

*The little boy’s mother?!*

The woman clutched her son tighter, shoving her face deeper into shadow.

*Denial only enraged him more.*

*That noble girl refused me? Fine. But you—a peasant—dare defy me?!*

He yanked the door open, strode over, and seized her throat.

“Ugh… p-please… l-let…"

Her pleas choked off. Breathing became a luxury.

“Let go of my mom!”

A small, filthy boy clamped onto the bandit’s calf, biting with all his might.

“Get off!”

A flick of the leg—*thud*—the boy landed at Sophia’s feet.

“If you weren’t worth coins, I’d have killed you already. It’s just your mom. Shut up, bastard! Pah!”

He spat on the boy’s ragged shirt.

The mother kicked and punched weakly. Starved. Frail. Useless.

“Let go of my child!”

Her struggle only tightened his grip. Darkness swam before her eyes.

Sophia watched, unmoved.

*“Look at these weak, sinful humans. Truly nauseating.”* An’s voice echoed coldly in her mind.

Sophia’s eyes darkened. She said nothing. Her gaze shifted to the boy—struggling up again, charging once more.

*Brave.*

*…Foolish.*

*Thud.*

Kicked aside. Again.

The bandit finally loosened his grip.

“Hah—huh—” The woman gasped like she’d been reborn.

He smirked, glanced at Sophia—*still unmoved*—snorted, and dragged the woman toward the door.

Blood trickled from fresh cuts on the boy’s back.

“Mom!”

“Wait.”

The bandit’s lips curled slowly. *Of course. Noble girls are soft.*

He turned. Lust burned in his eyes.

Sophia rose. Steadied the boy. Then met the bandit’s gaze.

“I’ll go with you. Release them.”

“Hehe… naturally. I’ll even let them leave camp. *For you.* On one condition—”

“I know. One night with you. Release them, and I’ll go.”

Overjoyed, he tossed the woman onto the filthy ground.

The boy scrambled free and rushed to his mother.

Sophia’s cool gaze held the bandit leader. Within her aquamarine eyes, a blizzard raged anew.

She did not look at the reunited mother and son.

Not at his burning lust.

Not at the trembling villagers in the shadows.

She simply turned—and walked out of the cell.