As if trying to get away from something, Kain and Roy left the tavern without hesitation, leaving behind a crowd of bewildered soldiers and the baron and his companions, who’d noticed something was off after watching the room.

“Whew. Good thing the young master didn’t really lose his temper.”

Todd patted his chest in relief, then suddenly paused. “But who was that woman? She looks so familiar…”

“Give it a rest, Captain. If a woman’s pretty, you think you’ve seen her before.” Todd’s deputy captain couldn’t resist ribbing him.

“If you ask me, the young master’s finally come around. He’s twenty now—how could he still be avoiding women like he did when he was a kid?” one soldier joked. The others burst into laughter, as if they’d just discovered a whole new world.

“All right, all right. Quit making things up. The young master might hear you, and then he’ll make you run laps around the castle.” His men’s chatter had scattered Todd’s thoughts, and that faint clue slipped away. He could only laugh and curse at them before letting it go.

Only then did the baron cautiously speak up. “Captain Todd, is the young master you’re talking about the young man from earlier? Who exactly is he…?”

Todd remembered there was still this nuisance to deal with. He glared at the baron and demanded, “You think you have the right to ask about the young master’s identity? Weren’t you trying to give his companion a hard time just now, huh?”

The baron shrank back in fright. He’d inherited a noble title from his father, and his own father was an earl who governed a province in the south of the Empire. Even so, he couldn’t muster much authority in front of the soldier captain standing before him.

The military was fiercely protective of its own—that was how they earned their subordinates’ loyalty. The baron wasn’t afraid of the major Todd answered to, but he held the major’s former lord in great awe: Naren, the powerful governor of the Empire, and the Howard Family he represented.

Poor baron. He had no idea that the person he’d offended earlier was a direct descendant of the Howard Family.

Todd looked at him as if he were an idiot, then waved to his men. “Tie them all up and take them back for the major to deal with.”

The moment the baron heard that the major was involved, he knew he’d landed himself in serious trouble. He could only plead in a low voice, “Please, Captain, don’t! If the major finds out, he’ll definitely tell my father. I’ll be beaten to death!”

The baron’s brothers, who’d been scowling just moments ago, stood up and put on ingratiating smiles. “Captain, you and your men don’t get to come to the tavern often. You came here to enjoy yourselves, right? How about this: put the tab for all twenty-odd of your men on us, and let this one slide.”

If something like this had happened on an ordinary day, and no serious harm had been done, Todd might really have taken the offer and let it go. After all, it would’ve meant his men could drink their fill. But this involved the young master, and no matter how the baron’s brother tried to work the angles, his plans were doomed to fail.

“You all heard that. Bribing soldiers is an extra charge. Seize them!”

Todd gave the order with a cold laugh. His fierce-looking soldiers surged forward and bound the ashen-faced baron, his brother, and their attendants. Once he was sure everything was under control, Todd swept his gaze across the tavern again.

The troublemakers who’d been enjoying the spectacle whistled and looked away. The bartenders, meanwhile, wore ingratiating smiles.

“Listen up. Not one of you is to spread a word about what happened here. Otherwise, you can forget about making a living on Fran Island.”

After leaving them with that threat, the squad of soldiers that had barged in suddenly finally departed.

The tavern fell quiet for a moment, but soon returned to its usual bustle. For these pleasure-seekers, who lived only for the present, brawls and arrests were nothing more than familiar seasonings.

Only the two people seated in a secluded corner remained quiet. They didn’t lift their eyes from their drinks to the wooden door until the soldiers had left.

“Any idea who that young man was?” the one dressed as a merchant asked in a low voice.

“What’s there to figure out? The Empire’s military may be tight-lipped with outsiders, but what secrets could there possibly be in this world that we don’t know about?” The other man, dressed like a slave trader, took a sip of cheap rum and smiled ominously.

“Admiral of the Navy. Commander of the First Fleet. Lion of the Empire.”

The man gently set his glass on the table. Gazing at his reflection in the drink, he murmured in admiration, “Cain Howard.”

“The Howard Family’s Little Lion?” The merchant frowned, worry creeping into his voice. “Wasn’t he at sea with the First Fleet? If he’s here, does that mean the fleet is somewhere off the island?”

“Impossible.”

The slave trader shook his head firmly. “None of our sources have reported any warning that the fleet is approaching. That means the admiral is here without a fleet to command.”

The merchant sighed in relief. “If that’s the case, it shouldn’t affect Viper’s plan. But since we’ve got such a good opportunity, why not include him too…”

“No. Don’t make trouble for ourselves. If the Empire lost both a governor and a rising star in the military, how can you be sure the Emperor wouldn’t go mad?” The slave trader shot him a glance, then continued, “Besides, he had nothing to do with what happened more than ten years ago.”

“Fair enough. Then we won’t add him to the list.” The merchant nodded, then changed tack. “What about the girl traveling with him? When she looked over just now, she was just like a leopard.”

“She’s a pirate. A very dangerous one.” Remembering how warily she’d watched them when she entered the tavern, the slave trader frowned as he gave his assessment.

“I think she’s a little like the Golden-Eyed Devil,” the merchant said hesitantly, unsure of his own conclusion.

“Captain Roy is a man. There’s no doubt about that. To me, she looks more like the little girl who died in the blaze all those years ago, but…” The slave trader paused, then smiled and shook his head. “But that’s impossible. I watched her burn to blackened bone alongside that woman. In the end, they couldn’t even find their bodies.”

“In any case, have someone keep an eye on them. If they look like they’re going to get involved, tell our people to be thorough. Don’t leave the Empire anything it can use against us—not even evidence in plain sight.” The slave trader set the tone for what was to come without changing his expression.

The island night wasn’t very warm. A cool breeze swept through the narrow streets, dispelling the heat in Roy and Kain’s bodies.

Once Roy was sure the soldiers hadn’t followed them—not even sending scouts to keep watch—her tense body finally began to relax. The violent impulses surging through her blood subsided, and she let out a complicated sigh.

Kain led her this way and that until they soon found an inn that was still open. He booked a room with the owner and took a seat wherever he pleased. Only then did Kain release Roy’s wrist, which he’d been gripping tightly. Her snow-white skin was already bright red where he’d squeezed it.

That showed just how hard he’d been gripping her. Even if Roy had tried to pull away, it would’ve taken a great deal of effort.

The two of them sat down, and the owner soon brought over a bottle of red wine, a few pieces of white bread, and two steaks smothered in thick, dark sauce.

Roy didn’t even look at the steaming steak in front of her. She simply gazed at her second-in-command and said in a tone that gave no hint whether she was angry or disappointed, “Looks like your former comrades still matter more to you. If that’s the case…”

“Why are you still following me?”