Chapter 31: The Lord of Moon Isle Revealed

Cassina’s tone remained polite. No one could discern any hint of impropriety in her words.

Yet, I knew better. As the eldest daughter of the Viper family, she possessed an innate desire for control, utterly unwilling to permit anything to slip from her grasp.

Not even a mere maid.

“That’s enough, kind sir,” I whispered to the man behind me. “Thank you for your assistance just now, but regardless, I must return to my mistress’s side.”

“Hah—I heard that right, didn’t I? You actually intend to go back?”

The man behind me draped his other arm over my right shoulder, pointing towards Cassina. His voice was laced with teasing.

“A woman with such a terrible temperament would be pure suffering even as a wife. You’re still willing to be her maid? Your legs must be awfully nimble!”

“You… what did you say!”

Cassina’s face tightened, veins bulging visibly on her forehead from sheer anger.

“Sir…”

Fearing that he would provoke the young mistress further, I urgently nudged the arm resting on my shoulder. “Please, don’t say such things…”

“Don’t say such things? Fine, how about this then…”

As if deliberately, the gentleman suddenly leaned close to my ear. “I know a rather decent fellow. Though he’s also a noble, he’s courteous and kind-hearted. He’d make a very suitable new master for you.”

My body trembled, instantly stiffening with tension.

At this almost intimate proximity, I found my ears to be inexplicably sensitive. What was happening?

His normal breathing felt like scorching feathers brushing against my skin, leaving a tingling, itchy sensation. This feeling didn’t dissipate naturally; instead, it spread little by little, from my earlobe to my cheek, then to the back of my neck, blossoming into a flush. I could even feel my heart thrumming with increasing prominence.

‘No… shameless!’

I inwardly cursed my own disgraceful body. To feel anything simply because a strange man was close was utterly absurd!

The primal instincts of a woman’s body clashed briefly with my remaining rationality. The former, like a phantom, urged me to savor the warmth, while the latter warned me not to lose my dignity or composure.

Ultimately, rationality prevailed.

‘Alright, calm down!’

‘Couldn’t I simply and directly refuse him?’

‘I’m an adult; don’t I know what to do?’

‘Don’t actually think of yourself as some loose woman!’

Taking a deep breath, I steeled my resolve. Yet, at that very moment, the arm on my right shoulder suddenly retracted, then firmly pressed against my shoulder, pulling me forcefully behind a tall physique.

“Don’t worry, I’ll give him a reason he can’t refuse.”

Upon hearing that somewhat familiar voice, I finally got a clear look at the gentleman’s appearance.

He was a handsome man, tall and robust, with steady, powerful strides. His tanned skin shimmered with a healthy glow in the sunlight, revealing that he was not an idle person who preferred to stay indoors.

His hair was dark and thick, naturally parted on either side of his forehead, hinting at a touch of untamed casualness. His nose was high and distinct, unlike the hooked noses common in this world. It was neither overly sharp nor weak, perfectly showcasing his fortitude and heroic spirit.

When his gaze met mine, his brown eyes sparkled with the youthful vigor and confidence characteristic of his age. A faint smile held both humility and strength, like a spring breeze caressing one’s face.

He walked before Cassina, standing tall and straight as a pine.

Thanks to his handsome face, even in simple ranger attire, he exuded more nobility than the richly dressed aristocrats around him.

“Uh…”

Faced with the gentleman’s imposing presence, Cassina seemed to shrink back. When her own eyes met his brown gaze, the usually haughty young mistress, for the first time, revealed a blush.

“You… what exactly do you want to do?”

In response to her question, the handsome gentleman raised his left hand towards her. In it, he still held the sharp, blood-stained leather whip.

“Protect the young mistress!”

The male guards behind her reacted swiftly, surrounding the gentleman, their eyes fixed on his every move.

“Miss Cassina, are you aware of the current laws in Clearwater Port regarding assault?”

The handsome gentleman looked calmly at the young mistress.

“Ah? Assault?” Cassina stammered, a hint of embarrassment in her voice. “No, I didn’t mean to, I merely…”

“It doesn’t matter. There’s no distinction between accidental or intentional, for Governor Sherlock’s administration adhered to only one principle when drafting criminal law—”

The gentleman articulated each word distinctly.

“‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.'”

Cassina’s face paled, her brows knitting tightly. She nervously glanced at Bena beside her, who then looked blankly at the guards behind her. The male guards exchanged uneasy glances, until one, more familiar with the local situation, pondered for a moment before awkwardly nodding in agreement.

“Miss Cassina, I trust that as the daughter of the Lord of Coldwind, you are certainly not an ill-mannered individual who disregards the law.”

Maintaining a humble smile, the gentleman raised his bleeding hand, gesturing towards Cassina. “Presently, I have suffered such an injury due to your oversight. According to the law here, it is only fair that you should also suffer an injury of the same degree. So, if you are willing to endure one lash from my whip, our conflict can be easily resolved. How does that sound?”

As he spoke, the gentleman lightly flicked the whip in his hand, producing sharp, firecracker-like cracks in the air.

“Endure… your lash?”

Cassina’s face instantly drained of color. Her hands waved wildly in front of her chest, showing extreme resistance. “No, don’t joke around! How could I possibly!”

“Oh, indeed, you couldn’t…”

The gentleman seemed to recall something. “After all, I am a man, and my strength is somewhat greater. It would be fairer to find a woman like yourself to wield the whip.”

“Perhaps your own maid could whip you?”

The handsome gentleman smiled as he offered the whip to me, making the young mistress’s expression even more distressed.

“Ah? Me?”

Startled, I quickly took a step back, shaking my hands repeatedly just like Cassina. “No… I can’t. How could I… how could I strike…”

“Oh? You’re unwilling, then…”

The gentleman revealed a cunning smile, then called out to the surrounding crowd. “Is there any lady here willing to lend a hand? Just to help this young mistress who has traveled so far save face~”

Upon hearing his voice, the crowd, which had begun to disperse, gradually gathered again, eager to watch the unfolding drama. Spectating others’ misfortune is an eternal aspect of human nature, no matter the world.

I saw excitement glinting in the eyes of some women in the crowd, as if they were tempted to try.

Cassina’s face grew increasingly pale, her legs unsteady, swaying as if she might faint at any moment.

Just as everyone wondered what would happen next, Bena, the head maid beside the young mistress, suddenly shouted loudly: “Enough! Stop spouting such nonsensical laws! Laws are for those petty merchants, artisans, and farmers! They have no place being applied to nobles! Who the hell are you to talk about laws with us? Do you even qualify!?”

“Don’t look, don’t look! What’s so interesting around here? Everyone, leave!”

“And you lot, quickly get rid of this oblivious man! Don’t forget the important business of our journey!”

Bena, while rudely dispersing the onlookers, directly issued orders to the male guards. She then hurriedly pulled the young mistress towards the carriage, not forgetting to glare at me. “Lilian, what are you dawdling for!? Do you really dare to think about striking her?”

That fierce glare sent a shiver through my heart. She truly deserved her position as head maid. Though not beautiful, Bena was undeniably the most astute and ruthless among the maids.

In times of difficulty for her superiors, she could indeed pounce like a hound, baring her fangs on behalf of her mistress.

I looked with some pity at the gentleman who had stood up for me. While grateful for his intervention, I also regretted his rashness.

He was still young, after all, too impulsive… It was good to right a wrong when encountered, but how could one reason with wolves?

‘He should quickly withdraw and leave…’

Just as I was lamenting for the gentleman, a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the air beside me, like the urgent cry of a titmouse!

The cry was like a signal for a wolf pack to gather. The next moment, countless gray shadows emerged from various hidden corners. From street corners, alleyways, behind walls, inside houses… from all directions!

Their sole commonality was their lightning speed, converging like a pack of wolves. In just a few breaths, Cassina, Bena, the male guards, and their entire party were completely surrounded, unable to take another step.

The onlookers, utterly bewildered, scattered like startled birds. I, too, was at a loss, watching the sudden appearance of these strangers with bated breath.

Assassins? Bandits? Vicious thugs?

I didn’t know their identities. I only saw countless sharp blades glinting coldly in the sunlight, saw the smooth edges reflecting Bena’s panicked and helpless expression, and saw the gentleman, who had maintained a humble smile moments ago, walking calmly to the front of these strangers.

His steps remained steady and natural, like a lead wolf returning to its pack, standing in a position of command. His posture was still straight as a pine, but gone was his earlier courtesy; only a chilling, formidable aura remained, sending shivers down one’s spine.

“In numbers, I have more than you.”

“In malice, I am crueler than you.”

“As for nobility…”

He coldly swept his gaze over everyone who had just tried to offend him, his eyes revealing a wolf’s ferocity, a king’s chilling dominance.

With a sharp *clang*, the longsword at his waist was suddenly drawn, pointing directly at the head maid who had just been barking. She instantly collapsed to the ground, her face ashen, nearly wetting herself.

“Open your dog eyes wide, look closely at the words on the sword, and read them aloud!”

Under this stern reprimand, Bena forgot her trembling and read in a panicked voice, “‘The… Messenger of Dawn… Guardian of Eternal Night… Moonlight… The one blessed by moonlight… The long-enduring glory of the Moon… Lord of Moon Isle… Moen Ro… Rodd… ha ha… nothing else… ha ha…’

As if realizing something, she subconsciously repeated, “Lord of Moon Isle… Rodd? Ah? What?”

Her eyes widened to their absolute limit, and she shrieked, almost unable to suppress it, “You… you are the Lord of Moon Isle!!!”

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