Chapter 13: Flirting with Other Girls

"Alright."

Blayn accepted Aria's invitation.

"Then let's go! Next, we'll check out that shop!"

Aria looked adorable, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"My lady, wait for us!"

The two escorts hurriedly chased after them after placing all of Aria's purchases in the carriage.

"Blayn, is there anything you want? I can buy it for you," Aria asked.

"Not for now. I'll just have a look," Blayn replied.

As they continued, Aria entered store after store, buying an absurd amount of goods. It was as if she bought anything that caught her eye, like she was stocking up rather than shopping casually. With her family's wealth, she had no reason to hold back.

The ones suffering, however, were her two escorts, who were struggling to carry all the purchases back and forth.

Blayn, as a bystander, said nothing but was undoubtedly surprised by Aria's excessive shopping habits.

"Hmm, I think that's everything. Let me see if there's anything else I need to do..." Aria pondered for a moment before exclaiming, "Oh, right! I just need to get my hair done."

"Your hair?" Blayn asked curiously.

"Yeah, I go every so often to straighten my curls. Unfortunately, natural curls never stay straight, and it's such a hassle," Aria sighed.

"...You don't like your natural curls?" Blayn questioned.

"Of course not! They're so ugly. Can't you tell?" Aria frowned in frustration.

Whether it was her previous dissatisfaction with her eyes or now her discontent with her naturally curly hair, this was the real her—so real that she could easily torment and kill out of jealousy.

In the original story, Tatsumi's childhood friends, Ieyasu and Sayo, fell victim to Aria and her family's deception.

Ieyasu was poisoned with the Lubora virus by Aria's mother, who had a habit of observing infected individuals and documenting their conditions. Ultimately, he died from the illness.As for Sayo, Aria tortured her to death simply because she envied her long, straight black hair.

However, Blayn knew none of this. If he had, he wouldn't still be interacting with Aria.

"I really can't tell," Blayn said sincerely. "I think you look great just as you are."

"You're just trying to make me feel better," Aria muttered, though she did feel a bit comforted.

To her, outsiders from the countryside were no different from livestock, and she hardly took a "farm animal's" words seriously.

"I'm being honest. Blonde hair with natural curls isn't ugly at all," Blayn said matter-of-factly. "Miss Aria, you really don't have enough confidence in your own beauty. You're already so cute."

"Hmph..."

Even though Aria viewed Blayn as a mere outsider, she couldn't deny that being called cute pleased her a little.

For some reason, she suddenly felt no desire to torment or kill him.

Maybe... she should just let this guy go?

Just then, Blayn felt a chilling gaze on his back, making his spine tingle.

Instinctively, he turned around—only to meet Esdeath's icy stare.

Her beautiful face was cold and slightly shadowed with displeasure, as if something had upset her.

"Blayn, what's wrong?" Aria asked, noticing his sudden reaction.

Following his gaze, she turned around and locked eyes with Esdeath.

Instantly, Aria felt suffocated. Terror drained the color from her face as she quickly looked away.

She recognized the woman immediately—General Esdeath. But why was she here? And why was she looking at her with such a terrifying expression?

"You seem to be enjoying yourself, flirting with other girls," Esdeath remarked as she approached, her voice carrying a strange undertone.

She had just received her Imperial Arms, the ice-based Teigu, Demon God Manifestation: Demon's Extract, from the Prime Minister.

Teigu were incredibly powerful weapons, but they required compatibility with their users. If the affinity was lacking, they couldn't be wielded properly.

Esdeath's Teigu, created from the blood of a legendary Super-Class Danger Beast from the northern lands, was a blood-based weapon. Many had tried using it before her, but even a small sip of the blood drove them insane with bloodlust.

Esdeath, however, not only resisted the Teigu's madness but also drank the entire container of blood without hesitation. It was a perfect match—because she was already consumed by an inherent thirst for slaughter.

Demon God Manifestation: Demon's Extract was hailed as one of the strongest Teigu, though much of that reputation stemmed from Esdeath's own overwhelming power and mastery over it.

At this moment, the mark on her chest symbolized her bond with the Teigu.

Having secured her new power and taken care of other matters, she had gone looking for Blayn.

It didn't take long—she had merely asked the Imperial guards patrolling the city streets where he was.

And then, she had seen him.

Shopping.

Walking side by side with some blonde girl.

The sight inexplicably irritated her.

"I'm just showing her around while familiarizing myself with the capital," Blayn said calmly.

Aria suddenly realized that Blayn actually knew General Esdeath—and their relationship was clearly unusual.

Otherwise, why would Esdeath look at her that way?

Wait... if he knew General Esdeath, then was he really just some random foreigner? Would a mere "stupid outsider" have the chance to associate with someone of her stature?

But at this point, she no longer cared about Blayn's origins.

Esdeath was now standing before her.

Even though Esdeath had approached for Blayn, Aria was still terrified. She knew she wasn't entirely uninvolved in whatever was happening.

Under the sheer weight of Esdeath's presence, Aria's body froze. She couldn't even bring herself to breathe properly.

No matter how wealthy her family was, they were still just merchants. They had no power to stand against the overwhelming might of General Esdeath.

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