"Dare you meddle in the affairs of the Kurze family?" Marcus widened his eyes and turned his head, only to see a female swordsman clad in a white battle skirt grasping his whip with a single hand. The formidable force was like a pair of vice-like pincers, rendering him utterly immobile.

  "I fear Duke Kurze will not look favorably upon your current conduct, Captain," Roland said indifferently.

  "Marcus! What's the commotion now?" Just then, Fox poked his head out of the carriage, muttering curses.

  However, his expression instantly froze, as if struck by a petrification spell, and his gaze fixed intently upon Roland. Fox, who had consorted with countless beautiful women, was immediately captivated by this female swordsman, who exuded both dignity and an air of refinement.

  He quickly pulled up his trousers and, with a swift motion, alighted from the carriage without a care for his appearance, oblivious even to the resentful glance of the maid beside him.

  "Master, this woman is interfering. She won't let me teach that bumpkin a lesson," Marcus promptly reported.

  Yet, all traces of anger vanished from Fox's countenance, and he approached with a lecherous leer. "My dear lady, I am Fox·Kurze, the second son of the Kurze family. You may address me as Fox."

  "Fox?" Roland arched an eyebrow. She had heard rumors about Fox, and judging by the behavior of his servant today, those rumors seemed to hold true.

  "Indeed. My fair lady, may I inquire about your name?" Fox attempted to assume the demeanor of a gentleman, but his lascivious gaze remained fixed on the area between Roland's skirt, the alluring expanse of her "absolute territory" holding him in thrall.

  A flicker of coldness flashed in Roland's eyes. How could she fail to discern Fox's base intentions? His behavior was nothing short of revolting.

  "Roland," she said icily, uttering the name with a hint of disdain.

  "Roland. Such a beautiful name. Miss Roland, I dare say you are the most exquisite flower on a midsummer's day, beyond compare," Fox said, his words lacking substance and bordering on the blatant.

  In the face of Fox's crassness, Roland remained expressionless and then said, "Mr. Fox, surely whipping an unarmed commoner under the pretense of enlightenment is not the mark of a nobleman, is it?"

  At this moment, Fox had yet to make the connection between the Roland before him and the renowned Sword Saint Roland. He was still lost in his own fantasies. However, Marcus, standing nearby, sensed that something was amiss, though for now, it was merely a suspicion. (Note: These two individuals had never met the Sword Saint Roland in person but were aware of her existence.)

  "Marcus!" Fox immediately turned his attention to Marcus.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "At your service!" Marcus had an ominous premonition.

  "Who gave you the authority to whip that peasant? Doesn't this besmirch our family's reputation? Quickly, help him up at once!" Fox said menacingly.

  "Yes, master! Right away!" Marcus nodded vigorously, like a chicken pecking at rice, but inwardly, he grumbled, "It was you who told me to drive him away. Now, at the sight of a beautiful woman, you're like a lovesick bull. I'm truly out of luck."

  Marcus hastily assisted the peasant to his feet and, with a forced smile, said, "Sir, are you unharmed? Did you suffer any injuries from the fall?" As he spoke, he also brushed the dust from the peasant's clothes, feigning an air of extreme "kindness."

  "Lady Roland, you see? As the second son of the Kurze family, this is a matter of basic courtesy and integrity," Fox said, his face plastered with a sickly sweet smile.

  Roland nodded in satisfaction. "Very well. As a noble of the Kurze family, one should possess such awareness. It seems I was mistaken about you."

  "You are quite right, Lady Roland." Then, he turned to Marcus and said, "Offer him some compensation. Always bear in mind the Kurze family's code of conduct, understood?"

  "Yes, master!" With that, Marcus rummaged through his pockets and stuffed a gold coin into the peasant's hand.

  The peasant immediately expressed his gratitude to Roland and then took his leave.

  "Mr. Fox, your performance is passable. Well, if there's nothing else, I shall take my leave," Roland said, turning to depart.

  "Wait, Lady Roland," Fox said in a panic as he saw her about to leave.

  "What is it, Mr. Fox? Is there something else?" Roland asked, turning her head slightly.

  "Today is the Kulsmatlin Festival. I would like to extend an invitation for you to accompany me to Rose Castle, where you can savor the finest wines and partake in a sumptuous banquet," Fox said, making a gesture of chivalry that, nonetheless, carried an air of lechery.

  "No, thank you, Mr. Fox. I already have prior engagements today. Perhaps another time," Roland said.

  "What a pity. But Lady Roland, I..." He was about to continue when, to his surprise, Roland had vanished without a trace when he looked up.

  "Marcus, where is she?" Fox immediately turned to ask.

  "She's gone."

  "Gone?"

  "Yes, master."

  "Why didn't you stop her? Such a beautiful woman, and you let her slip through your fingers?" Fox roared in anger.

  "Master, she moved so swiftly that I couldn't even catch a clear glimpse of her," Marcus said with a rueful expression.

  "Damn it!" Fox stared in the direction where Roland had disappeared and licked his lips, clearly reluctant to accept her departure.

  "Just you wait. I will make you mine."

  ...

  Kenley's Castle

  "Teacher Roland?! What brings you here?" Kenley exclaimed in surprise as he opened the door and saw Roland.

  "What, aren't you glad to see me?" Roland said with a faint smile playing on her lips, a smile that made Kenley feel as if he were bathed in the warm spring breeze.

  "Of course I am! Please come in, teacher!"

  No sooner had they entered than Roland was greeted by a blur of pink.

  "Miss Normani, please stop running around! Put on your clothes this instant!" A maid chased after her, holding a garment in her hand.

  "No way! I'm not putting them on!" Normani stuck out her tongue at the maid and then dashed towards Kenley without looking back, crashing into his back with a thud.

  "My lord!" The maid covered her mouth in shock.

  At that moment, Normani was stark naked. She threw her arms around Kenley, and Kenley's brows twitched. This Normani...

  Roland smiled and said, "I didn't expect you to have such an unusual preference."

  "It's not what you think, teacher," Kenley said, feeling utterly exasperated.

  Since Kenley had been practicing dragoon techniques earlier, Normani had just transformed back. In theory, she could use magic to conjure up clothes, but for some reason, she had developed a penchant for running around the house in the nude.

  Before Kenley had a chance to admonish her, Roland had arrived.