Saint Louis was far larger than it looked on the map.

In truth, the city could be divided into an upper and a lower layer.

That was because countless underground palaces existed beneath it, and those underground structures varied in size and purpose.

The ones taken over by the Inquisition Bureau and the Black Knights Order had once been built for the Demon God's followers, protected by natural magic circles.

As for the underground palaces beneath the understreets, they had been training grounds or passageways back in the age of the Demon God.

This place had originally been abandoned. But as Saint Louis's population kept growing, low, cramped buildings were gradually put up for the poor and for those without local Saint Louis residency.

Even so, there still wasn't enough room.

It felt terribly crowded.

On top of that, much of the surface city's household waste was specially processed in some of these underground palaces.

That made the environment here truly awful. Compared to the surface districts, public safety was worse as well.

So this place often became a hiding spot for foreign spies and wanted fugitives.

At this very moment, on the second floor of a remote inn in the Understreet of District Six—

an old wooden window was pushed open.

Behind the rag-like curtain, a slender, jade-pale hand could be seen. At the same time, a pair of black eyes swept across the street outside, packed with peddlers and travelers.

"Mandala, the place you brought me to is no good at all. According to the original plan, we were supposed to kidnap the little princess of House Childe and force them to hand over the Black Knights Order's current roster, along with intelligence on the Papal Dominion's military projects they fund. But now..."

Inside the room—

the owner of that delicate hand wore a black veil and a tight outfit clearly suited for movement. Her graceful, well-proportioned figure was almost fully outlined. She was a young girl of striking elegance.

At her waist hung a sword sheath the color of cold jade, and from the sword tassel dangled a blue-gold token.

That alone was enough to show her noble status.

"Your Highness Phoenix Fledgling, Duchess Letitia is in District Six today. She didn't even bring the female knight order with her for Theology Day. Only Vice Commander Moyel is following her. If we move now, it'll be easy."

The one who spoke was another girl seated on an old sofa.

Like Phoenix Fledgling, she wore a veil. But her posture was even straighter than the other's. The sheath at Mandala's waist looked plain and unremarkable.

And yet, Phoenix Fledgling was deeply wary of this mysterious girl assisting her.

The other girl's strength was greater than hers, even though she, a princess, had studied under the Thousand Blade Sword Ghost three years ago.

But if the intelligence was correct, the other girl was almost the same age as her.

When her master taught her swordsmanship, he had said that what mattered most to a swordsman was bearing—presence.

And this mysterious Western girl helping her seemed to carry that very presence through every inch of her body.

That's right. Mandala was a Westerner.

And yet, in her spy operation within the Papal Dominion, the person who had given her the most help was this unknown Western girl.

"But why do you know Letitia would attend Theology Day today? I remember she doesn't like crowded places. More importantly, how can you be sure Moyel is the only one with her, and no other knights are around?"

"Because of love, of course."

Mandala gave a light laugh, as if something amusing had come to mind.

"...?"

"Because she's in love. The person she likes is there. So even if she hates that kind of occasion, she'll definitely go."

Mandala crossed her long legs, resting her left over her right.

"She snuck out through a secret passage only she knows in House Childe. Moyel should be the only one who's noticed by now, so he found her at Sanctum University."

Phoenix Fledgling was practically furious when she heard that.

She demanded, "If you knew Letitia went out alone, why didn't you let me make my move then?"

"Don't be so hasty. Before that, I was only guessing. I wasn't sure. Who knew that young lady would really do it? Looks like she really does like him."

"How can I not be hasty? I'm the one with the marriage contract, not you. Do you know what kind of man I'm supposed to marry in a few months? The second son of some Western duke. A thug. A hooligan. And there are even people who think I'm marrying above my station. I'm a princess of an entire kingdom—"

Phoenix Fledgling stamped her foot on the spot.

Why had she come to do spy work in the first place?

To prove to her father, and to the court, that she was useful.

Three years ago, she had taken the Thousand Blade Sword Ghost as her master for the sake of this very day.

If she could accomplish something major for her country before the marriage contract was formally enacted, before she was sent to her fiancé's household in the Papal Dominion, then she would have leverage.

Then she could negotiate.

Then she could break off the engagement.

The rest of Ye Wangxue's life could not be ruined by this.

Her husband should be a young man in white, someone who could warm wine with her, admire the snow with her, discuss the sword with her, paint her brows, and journey with her into the green mountains.

Or perhaps a brilliant young statesman, someone who could discuss the affairs of the world with her and plan strategy from afar.

How could it be some spoiled Western noble brat, in one woman's bed today and another's tomorrow?

Just thinking about it shattered her illusions.

Her life absolutely could not be destroyed by him.

She would resist.

She would prove herself.

She would break off the engagement!

"Princess Ye the Seventh, aren't you curious who Duchess Letitia likes?"

"Why the hell should I care who she likes? Right now, all I want is to break off my engagement! And you made me miss such an important chance. Are you really helping me or not?"

Ye Wangxue was on the verge of turning into a full-on rage machine.

Because just moments ago, she had already spotted several suspicious figures on the street below. They were most likely plainclothes investigators from the Inquisition Bureau.

They were probably close to being exposed.

Mandala's negligence had cost her the best opportunity.

"Hehe... the person she likes is your fiancé."

"...What?"

Ye Wangxue froze for a moment.

Was this woman messing with her?

Did she not know what kind of man her fiancé was?

Ever since learning about the engagement, she had sent trusted people all the way to the Papal Dominion to investigate Hale in secret.

At first, she had thought that since Hale's father was a famous general of the Papal Dominion, Hale himself shouldn't be too bad.

The result was that he was nothing like her ideal type.

Not even close.

She also knew very well what kind of person Letitia was.

In terms of status, the girl's standing in the Papal Dominion might even be higher than Ye Wangxue's in the Xia Kingdom.

Whoever married that girl would be marrying a princess in all but name.

Letitia would have to be blind to fall for Hale.

"The person she likes is Hall Fasius. Because Hall will attend Theology Day today, she came too."

Mandala sounded thoroughly amused. Though she couldn't see Ye Wangxue's expression, the constant flicker in the other girl's eyes was enough to tell her several question marks had already popped up.

"Why are you stressing that? That's even better. If Letitia's family names Hale as her fiancé, then from a political standpoint, the ministers at court should take the initiative and let me break off my engagement."

"Princess Ye the Seventh, don't you think it's outrageous for another woman to steal your fiancé?"

"What's outrageous about it? Are you joking? I was never going to like him. Even if I really did become his wife someday, I still wouldn't like him. I'd love for another woman to take him away. Then I'd even have proof he cheated during the marriage."

It would be embarrassing, yes, but Ye Wangxue thought the happiness of the rest of her life mattered more.

"Hehe... Princess Ye the Seventh had better not like him."

Mandala rose to her feet and suddenly reached out, touching Ye Wangxue's cheek.

Her tone changed in an instant.

"Otherwise, I'll kill you."