Chapter 10 — Masks Beneath the Moon

A month had passed in the blink of an eye.

While Ren worked tirelessly maintaining the mansion, Ada was busy taking on missions, scouting potential recruits for Opera, and gathering intel.

During those days, several nobles came by to offer their congratulations on her new title. Many others… arrived with far less diplomatic intentions.

Word had spread across Cegris: a young, stunningly beautiful paladin had achieved SSS rank.

Some came with formal proposals. Others brought promises of power and prestige. But Ada received them all with the same level of warmth as an unsigned letter.

Ren, meanwhile, stuck to tending the garden and restoring the mansion.

From time to time, he accepted low-rank missions to maintain his activity in the guild—but his status remained unchanged…

Rank E, bronze-tier adventurer.

That very afternoon, the two of them met inside the secret operations room. A hidden chamber within the mansion, accessible only through a dimensional rift.

Ren spread a map across the old wooden table and pointed to a marked location.

“Our first target is Roman Valieri—the slaver.”

“I know who you mean,” Ada replied in a dark tone. “He’s a shameless merchant who never shows himself in public.”

“Exactly. But if there’s one thing corrupt people have in common… it’s that money draws them in like flies.”

He placed a coin pouch on the table.

“With this, you’ll purchase two slave girls. It’ll be your cover—posing as a new noblewoman in need of ‘staff.’”

“That’ll get you into his circles. To hunt your prey, you have to get close.”

“Got it. If we act directly, we’d draw too much attention.”

“Right,” Ren nodded. “Also… there’s a new member of Opera I want you to meet tonight.”

“…Huh? And when exactly did you meet another woman?” Ada asked, somewhere between jealous and confused.

“Hey now, don’t be like that. You’ll meet her tonight. You’ll like her—trust me,” he said with a grin, rising from his chair.

Ada remained seated, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed.

“Wear your best dress tonight. We’re attending an important dinner.”

Her expression shifted immediately.

“…Is this some kind of date?”

“More like… a formal banquet,” Ren replied, handing her a wax-sealed envelope.

“Count Nestor Monteverde’s Evening Gala,”

Ada read aloud, frowning.

“Ugh. I know this man. He tried to ‘charm’ me more than once.”

“I know. I’ll be going as your assistant,” Ren added quickly. “I mean… it’d be weird for a twenty-five-year-old noblewoman to show up with a fifteen-year-old boy as her date. You could get arrested.”

Ada sighed in resignation.

“…You’re not wrong.”

“Showing up in public will boost your social standing. It’ll give us access to his inner circle. Monteverde is the noble shielding Valieri.”

“And if we’re lucky, my contact can set up a meeting with Valieri… under the pretense of ‘buying goods.’”

“I see. Then we’d better get ready.”

“Exactly. Let’s move,” Ren said, activating the rift back to the mansion.

The red dress she wore accentuated her slender, elegant figure. Long white gloves traced her arms, and a brilliant gemstone pendant rested against her chest.

Every step she took was poetry in motion. And Ren followed close behind, like a loyal vassal shadowing his queen.

The nobles weren’t sure whether they were in the presence of a hero… or an empress.

“Welcome, Ada Schubert,” the Count announced from atop the grand staircase.

“I see you’ve stolen every gaze in the room tonight.”

He took her hand with practiced grace and kissed her glove, exactly as noble etiquette dictated.

“I’m honored you’ve chosen to grace us with your presence.”

“A pleasure to be here, Count Monteverde. It’s good to unwind from our obligations now and then,” Ada replied with calm elegance.

“Of course, of course. Please, come in,” he said with a smile polished by years of politics.

Then his gaze fell on Ren.

He looked at him with a flicker of disdain. Perhaps it was the simple attire. Perhaps it was intuition—sensing the boy’s lowborn roots.

Ren simply bowed and followed Ada without reacting in the slightest.

Inside the main hall, they were met with a tide of whispers.

Hundreds of nobles gathered in tight circles, wine glasses in hand. The buzz of whispered conversation blurred into a single, invisible current of noise.

Except for those who turned to watch her entrance.

Several men approached at once.
Some bearing drinks.
Others with rehearsed smiles.
All with transparent intentions.

“Ma’am, I’ll go find you a seat. I’ll let you know once I’ve secured a suitable one,” Ren said, bowing slightly before slipping away through the crowd.

“Traitor… don’t you dare leave me with this pack of inbred mongrels!” Ada thought, outraged behind her polite smile.

Ren weaved through the gathering with care.

He observed faces.
Listened in on conversations.
Took mental notes of everything—who ate what, who drank too much, who smoked, who avoided whom.

To him, it was all data.

Ranks. Alliances. Tensions.
Possible points of infiltration.

“Good to know some things haven’t changed…”

Then his eyes landed on a side table.
Where a lone red-haired woman sat quietly.

He approached, cautiously.

“Good evening, son of Baron Sinclair… or should I say Ren Sinclair?” she said, without even glancing his way.

Just as I suspected. She reads the room well.

“Good evening, Miss Fourchette. I appreciate you accepting my request,” Ren replied, giving a subtle bow.

“Such refined manners… for a commoner. No need for formality. Call me Diana—we’re among friends.”

Ren nodded once more and took a seat across from her.

The woman held a glass of red wine that perfectly complemented her dark rose dress—
Elegant, with just a touch of provocation.

Her hair flowed freely—long, perfectly styled—cascading over the right side of her face.
It wasn’t out of neglect.
It was a choice.
She was hiding something.
But even with half her face veiled in shadow, her beauty was undeniable—almost dangerous.

Ada approached the table, slightly flushed.

“Never thought these social gatherings could be so exhausting…” she sighed.

Diana stood and gave a slight bow.

“You’ll get used to it, in time. Though if I were in your shoes… I’d use that fresh promotion to snag a high-ranking noble while you still have the spotlight,” she added, her voice laced with playful teasing.

“…Huh? Who is this woman, Ren?”

He stepped forward and bowed to both of them.

“This is Diana Fourchette. The one I mentioned this morning. She’ll be assisting with the arrangements for the mansion staff.”

“I see,” Ada said, eyeing her up and down. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“The pleasure is mine, Lady Schubert. It will be an honor doing business together.”

“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you two to talk. I have some matters to attend to,” Ren said, bowing again before slipping away.

“What ‘matters’ could he possibly have?” Ada muttered, crossing her arms as she watched him walk away.

Ren navigated through the crowd, dodging wine glasses, forced laughter, and inflated egos.
His eyes remained sharp—studying expressions, subtle gestures, carelessly spoken words.

Eventually, he reached a balcony overlooking the gardens.

There, sitting alone with a half-finished plate and a wine glass on the table, was Yura Aseina, gazing up at the moon.

“Good evening, Yura. Looks like the moon’s beautiful tonight,” Ren said with a calm smile.

“Oh, it’s you, Ren,” she replied, cheeks slightly puffed as she finished chewing.

“I didn’t expect to find you in a place like this. Mind if I sit?”

“Go ahead. I told you, you don’t need to be so formal.”

Ren sat down like it was the most natural thing in the world. For a while, neither of them said anything.

“You’re an SSS-ranked adventurer… shouldn’t you be surrounded by people?”

“You think so? Nah. I just come for the free food,” she said with a shrug.

“…Don’t you feel lonely?”

Yura smiled—but her eyes held a quiet sadness.

“You’re sweet, Ren. But let me tell you a little secret,” she said, gently wiping her mouth with a napkin.

“I’ve always been alone.”

“This continent hates the Yuki. Honestly… you’re pretty much the only person who ever talks to me.”

“I don’t think that’s true. You’re a lovely girl. I’m sure my master would be happy to meet you.”

“You mean Lady Ada Schubert? I bet she’s scared of me too. After all… she’s human.”

“You probably shouldn’t let her hear you call her lady,” Ren added with a nervous chuckle.

“Ada’s a good person. She just has trouble connecting with people, that’s all.”

“I see… you really admire her, huh? Looks like she’s already won you over.”

“What do you mean?”

“The day I went to fight that S-Class dragon… I thought maybe—just maybe—I’d ask you to be my squire.”

“There’s something about you that feels strangely familiar.”

“And the fact that you’re here now, talking to me… that alone sets you apart from the rest.”

“Did you know I’ve been sitting on this balcony for three hours… and not a single soul has come near me?”

Ren gave her a gentle smile.

“Maybe they’re just afraid they can’t manipulate you. You’ve got a strong personality.”

He stood up and extended his hand to her.

“Well, since we’re at a party… and you’re wearing that beautiful white dress, it’d be a waste to just sit here all night.”

Yura looked at him seriously for a moment.

“Yura Aseina… would you honor me with this dance?”

“…Huh?”