’Well, this is a hassle.’

December 8th, 6:30 PM.

The next day arrived, and all Cassien could think about was his little sister’s reaction to him having a fiancée.

She was far more confused than he was. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Cassien only pretended to seem slightly shaken, but him having a fiancée had already been introduced in the novel at a very early stage.

She was also a third-rate noble, but unlike Cassien, she had real promise and expectations surrounding her.

Aiysha Moon.

That was the name she had been given at birth. Ever since then, she continued progressing, eventually climbing into the top-ranking charts of not only the academy, but Htrae itself.

Though that happened much later in the story, for now, Cassien simply had to wait and watch it all unfold around him.

While Cassien didn’t question the engagement whatsoever, Alexandria absolutely did.

She demanded to meet Aiysha personally and decide for herself whether she was a good fit for her ’older brother.’

Of course, their father refused, stating that Aiysha was far too busy with international affairs.

Though Aiysha and Cassien had once been childhood friends, attending the same elementary school for several years.

Even then, Cassien never felt particularly close to her.

This entire engagement arrangement was simply another advancement nobles used to secure political gains.

Back to the current situation...

The royal banquet was about to begin in thirty minutes, and Cassien was still stuck in the royal capital, far from home, bargaining with a random street vendor.

"No, 30 silver won’t cut it. That’s too cheap," he said.

The vendor leaned forward over his rusted wooden stall, which was cluttered with oddly taped-on trinkets and suspicious merchandise.

"Come on, you won’t find a better price anywhere else," the vendor replied.

His short, round, plump appearance already had Cassien on edge.

’He does have a point. A legal pawn shop wouldn’t take this for much either. But 30 silver?’

"I suppose I’ll just have to take this..." Cassien widened his eyes and stepped back dramatically from the stall. "A regenerative worm’s core, specialized at D-Rank, shattered by a mana-infused bullet, away from you now. Not to mention, I obtained this deep inside the terrifying Thieving Forest."

The vendor burst into laughter.

"You’ve got to be joking, kid! In what world is the Thieving Forest terrifying—"

He suddenly stopped, processing what Cassien had just said.

Then he leaned much closer, a grimy and opportunistic look appearing on his face.

"You said it was hit by mana-infused bullets?" He winked.

Cassien smiled back. "Yes."

"Ohhh!" the vendor exclaimed excitedly. "You should’ve said that earlier. State your price, and I’ll follow your command."

The vendor laughed internally.

’This stupid kid clearly has no idea how valuable beast cores become when shot cleanly with mana-infused bullets.’

’I’ll scam him blind, relocate afterward just in case he realizes, and call it a day.’

Cassien leaned in.

"One gold coin or nothing."

The vendor scoffed. "Shoo, kid. Never."

Cassien’s smug grin widened as the shop owner’s expression shifted into confusion.

"Mana Battery..."

"Barrier Breach Assault..."

"Weaponized Spellcasting in Public..."

"Forced Mana Drain..."

"Artifact Smuggling..."

"Oh, and how could I ever forget..."

Cassien leaned closer and whispered into the man’s right ear.

"Royal Information Leakage."

"It would be a real shame if I told the guard waiting for me in the carriage behind us about every crime you’ve committed, wouldn’t it, Distefano Harbor?"

The vendor immediately stiffened.

"State your price. I’ll pay it."

Cassien chuckled lightly.

"One gold coin will do just fine. Thanks a lot."

...

Distefano Harbor.

A dangerous man who would do anything for spare change, practically.

That was the only reason Cassien had come here.

Because by pure luck, he had found the exact man who would later sell vital information to the third-rate villain shortly after the royal banquet.

Cassien stared down at the gold coin in his hand as he stepped back into the carriage that had been patiently waiting behind him.

He checked the time.

The royal banquet was beginning in ten minutes.

The original plan was for his father and sister to arrive together, while he met them there separately due to some ’business’ he had to attend to.

That business was simply selling the D-Rank Beast Core.

As the carriage rolled forward, Cassien gazed out through the windows at the royal capital.

The banquet hall wasn’t very far from his current location.

So it was more of a relaxing ride than a stressful rush.

...

Twenty-five minutes later, Cassien was finally dropped off at the entrance of the massive, beautifully illuminated banquet hall.

By now, the sun had completely disappeared.

The night sky shimmered above as cold winds swept through the capital.

It was already 7:00 PM.

At this point, he was going to be late regardless.

Cassien had only just begun walking inside when another carriage came to a stop nearby.

His gaze shifted toward it.

He watched as a beautiful young woman stepped out gracefully.

She looked around his age.

She lifted the bottom of her elegant dress slightly and began walking forward, climbing the polished smoothstone stairs toward the banquet doors.

During that moment, Cassien could only stare silently.

Once she reached the same level as him, she turned and looked directly at him, clearly unamused by his attention.

"What exactly are you staring at?" she asked. "My beauty? My face? Or perhaps my curves?"

Cassien smiled and extended one hand toward her while keeping the other behind his back.

"It’s very nice to see you again..."

"Again?" She raised a brow. "I don’t recall knowing who you are."

Cassien lowered his hand, then calmly stated her full name.

"Aiysha Moon. You truly are one of a kind."

She turned her body away from him completely, brushing him off.

"Am I supposed to be surprised?" she asked. "Everyone recognizes me by both face and name."

She sighed, then continued walking up the stairs with elegant composure.

’What a coincidence.’

Cassien smiled to himself.

’To meet the woman destined to fall into ruin right here and now.’

’My own fiancée.’