By the time Alte snapped back to reality, he fumbled to cover Favna’s mouth and blurted out,

“Just—just let me explain first!”

“Mmm! Mmmph!!”

Trapped under his hand, Favna struggled desperately to escape the perverted captain’s grip.

Of course it looked like he was up to no good!

Seeing her teary-eyed, flustered expression, Alte realized—he’d grabbed the wrong person.

Intel said the Terras caravan leader was a scruffy old man, not this trembling, wide-eyed girl.

But why was she out here alone at night?

“Uh… how about we both calm down first? Then I’ll explain?”

Alte gently draped his cloak over her, shielding her exposed skin, and softened his voice to soothe the frightened girl.

Yet the more he tried to calm her, the more panicked she became.

Faced with her mix of shyness and sheer terror, Alte felt an old stir in his chest—dangerously close to losing control.

Only his decency held the beast within at bay.

He took a deep breath, steadying his racing heart as he studied her.

He’d guessed she was pretty—but wow. Conservative didn’t even cover it. Perfect score, no question.

Especially that silvery-white hair flowing under the moonlight… No wonder the Fallen Empire’s prince was obsessed with silver-haired girls.

Only when Alte loosened his grip did Favna whisper pitifully,

“At least… could we find somewhere… flatter?”

“Huh?”

Flustered by her delicate plea, Alte stammered,

“I really didn’t mean *that*—”

Before he could finish, a crowd of curious Dragon Knights rushed onto the scene.

They froze.

Their respected captain had his hands on a Dragonkin girl’s shoulders, leaning forward slightly—as if about to overpower her.

Combined with her tear-streaked face and the earlier scream echoing through the woods… the implication was hard to ignore.

Thankfully, justice arrived.

Philo stepped forward from the group and shouted,

“Captain! What are you *doing*?!”

Bolstered by Vice-Captain Philo, the others chimed in boldly:

“Yeah! Even if you’re desperate, Captain—you can’t lay hands on an innocent girl! She looks sixteen!”

“Just let me explain!”

Seeing his subordinates and little sister glaring at him like he was a criminal, Alte flustered, utterly wronged.

While he scrambled to clarify, Favna snatched the torn black robe and bolted like a startled rabbit.

“Favna?! Say *something*! I didn’t mean it!”

But as a socially anxious girl surrounded by onlookers? She wouldn’t stay a second longer.

Alte was left alone, sweating to explain the whole mess to the Dragon Knights Order.

————

Meanwhile, after running who-knows-how-long, Favna spotted a white-haired catgirl waiting ahead.

She hastily wrapped the cloak and tattered robe tighter and marched up to confront the shady feline.

“Miss Liko! How could you leave me there alone?!”

“Ahaha~” Liko giggled innocently. “Sorry! Special circumstances—I couldn’t let the Dragon Knights catch *me*. So… you stalled them~”

“That’s not stalling—that’s selling out your teammate!”

Favna fumed, too angry to even notice her voice changer was off.

“Who said I sold you out?” Liko placed a solemn hand on Favna’s shoulder. “I *lured* them to their captain! That helped you, right? And the Dragon Knights Order are good people—they wouldn’t hurt you.”

“Like hell they wouldn’t!”

Still, Liko’s apology softened Favna’s anger just a little.

“But still…” Liko grinned, eyes twinkling at Favna’s tightly wrapped figure. “I never imagined Miss Phantom could be this… adorable.”

*She noticed?!*

Before Favna could react, Liko continued lightly,

“Anyway, glad you’re safe, Miss Phantom. The kids are at the East City Charity Orphanage. Visit them sometime~”

With a wave, she vanished into the night.

As Favna turned to leave, a glint caught her eye—a shiny emblem on the ground.

“This is… the Fallen Empire’s royal crest?”

*So that’s why Liko dodged the Dragon Knights.*

That little thief must’ve swiped it from some noble… and was being hunted.

No wonder she made *me* stay behind.

————

Only back in her dim, comforting dragon’s den did Favna finally shed the day’s exhaustion.

She changed into an oversized T-shirt, buried her face in the pillow, and sighed.

Beep beep beep~

Her bedside phone lit up.

The sender? None other than *that* perverted captain.

“Home safe? If you got lost, I can walk you back.”

Warm words. From anyone else, she might’ve softened.

But *him*—the Dragon Knight who tore her robe in half?

Rage flared. Teeth gritted, fingers flew across the screen.

Under three seconds later, a sarcastic reply shot out:

“Oh? You meant *your* place? Perverted Captain—if you’ve got *needs*, I suggest you handle it with your hand. After all… you *do* have hands, right? Or is someone missing theirs?”

She tossed the phone aside, done with him.

Across town, Alte read the reply, scratched his head sheepishly, and turned to Philo.

“Sis… what now?”