Green Forest Castle, Leech’s room.

"What do you think?"

The one dressing Leech was Bode’s personal valet. Leech had his own formal attire, but it was considered too plain; attending the ball in it would be a grave insult. So, Bode had sent his valet over.

Leech stood before the mirror, gazing at the courting peacock staring back at him.

"You will be the most dazzling gentleman at the entire ball," the valet said earnestly.

"No, I think this makes me look like one of the girls from a brothel," Leech said, reaching up to remove the flamboyant tail feather of some unknown bird tucked into his shoulder. It was still fresh, and even the perfume couldn’t mask the smell. "I want something more understated. It can be a bit colorful, but without all this random junk."

’He suspected he wasn’t going to a ball, but to a night market to sell trinkets. Otherwise, why would he be wearing so many clanking odds and ends?’

’A ring on every finger? Am I supposed to use them as brass knuckles on some noble lady who looks at me wrong? One punch would definitely knock out a tooth!’

The valet was in a difficult position. "But, Lord Bode’s orders were to make you the most eye-catching gentleman tonight."

’So he wants me dressed up like a human diamond? That would certainly be eye-catching.’

"I’ll talk to my cousin," Leech said seriously. "Besides, he wants me to be the most eye-catching gentleman, not a circus clown, right?"

"Yes!" The valet had no choice but to assemble an outfit according to Leech’s instructions.

Gemstone rings?

Leech would tolerate one, at most!

His chest only needed to be adorned with his family crest.

A white shirt underneath, with a long robe over it.

When the valet finished dressing Leech according to his requests, he found that Leech actually looked rather refreshing, not garishly ornate. A handsome man didn’t need to be dressed up like a pheasant covered in colorful feathers; a simple white elegance, like a swan, could be just as eye-catching.

Besides, Leech was just a country Baron. Was it really that important to stand out? The most important thing was to get through this ball and go home.

The ball was held in the grand hall of Green Forest Castle.

Nobles were already gathered in twos and threes, chatting and drinking. A long table was laden with food.

The ball hadn’t officially begun, but the young noblemen had already locked onto their targets. Many charming ladies were already surrounded by gentlemen.

Here, "charming" referred to single female Counts or Baronesses. After all, a nobleman’s son was a noble, but he didn’t necessarily have a title of his own. Like Leo, they would have to start from scratch. So why not just latch onto a titled lady with status and position? That way, they could continue their lives of debauchery.

The star of tonight’s ball was Stacy. Even if she was already a twenty-year-old "old maid," it was her birthday ball, after all. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Moreover, the ball was a signal. A large-scale birthday ball with Stacy as the guest of honor meant she was very likely to choose a husband from among the attendees.

This was Linta Bay they were talking about. Wealth, authority, power. As long as they could form a connection, a minor noble could turn their fortunes around completely.

Already, many nobles could be seen swarming around Stacy, wagging their tails like dogs.

"Not going over?" Bode came up and said, "You should go take a shot."

"I think Cousin Stacy is busy enough as it is," Leech said, picking up a glass of wine.

He took a sip of wine, looked at Bode, and asked, "Did you give her the sword?"

Bode’s lips twitched, and he gave Leech a cold smirk.

Even knowing what Bode was like, Leech couldn’t help but shiver at the sight.

’Are you being shy? Or are you gloating? Cousin Bode, you’re terrifying!’

"Congratulations," Leech said.

"Do you have the Mind Reading Skill?" Bode asked, astonished.

Leech feigned surprise. "Looks like things are moving fast. Did she kiss you? Or... go further?"

Bode’s chilly expression froze slightly, a rare sight on his face. "You really do have the Mind Reading Skill."

"No, you just don’t understand women well enough," Leech said, shaking his head.

He was putting it delicately.

His seemingly cruel and eccentric cousin, Bode, had no ladies willing to get close to him because of his personality. Everyone was afraid he’d skin them alive.

He was just a virgin with some awkward hobbies—the kind of guy who’d never even sat next to a girl in class.

Bode was the future heir of Green Forest Castle! Accepting his gift was a tacit acceptance of his affection. Wasn’t that just common sense? How much nerve would a woman need to string along a powerful future lord? Did she have a death wish?

Even a son of the King, upon learning that a woman was the object of Bode’s affection, would seriously consider whether to give up his own pursuit.

Regardless of Bode’s fearsome reputation, as the future heir of Green Forest Castle, he was guaranteed to receive the favor of many ladies.

The ball officially began.

In the time it took for them to speak, a young noblewoman had already approached. It was clear she was trembling, a little afraid of the man known to the world as the "Fishman Butcher" and "The Skinner." But for reasons known only to her, she forced a smile and drew near to Bode.

"A beautiful lady has come to see you," Leech told Bode.

Bode whipped his head around to look at the noblewoman, who was so startled she took a step back.

Leech: "..."

He wasn’t optimistic about the two of them.

Bode squeezed out a grim, terrifying smile. It might have been his attempt at a friendly grin, but in the lady’s eyes... Oh, Leech saw her raise a trembling hand.

She was giving the gentleman a chance to ask her to dance.

Only the Four Gods knew how badly she wanted to turn and flee right now.

Bode raised his hand, took her fingertips, and asked, "May I have this dance?"

"I would be honored," she said.

Leech watched them leave, giving the noblewoman an encouraging look.

’They’ll probably never become a couple, but... but if she gets to know him, she’ll find that Cousin Bode is actually very loyal and always keeps his word. Aside from his hobby of dissecting corpses, he’s actually pretty easy to get along with.’

She gave him a grateful look before starting to dance gracefully with Bode.

’No, wait.’ Leech suddenly noticed something was off. ’The lady seems to be a master actress. Was faking that pitiful look a way to stir a man’s protective instincts? She’s smiling and chatting with Bode now, a complete reversal from moments before.’

’Oh well. At a noble’s ball, everyone’s an actor.’

’Not my problem.’

Leech couldn’t be bothered with it. Anyway, there was no way she could win over Bode. A pure-hearted virgin would be more resolute in his affections.

He leisurely drank his wine and even ate some berries.

He even tried a piece of honey cake. The honey was from Porcupine Castle, and it gave him a taste of home... Actually, he couldn’t tell at all. He just felt the chefs here were far worse than the ones at Porcupine Castle. It was a complete waste of ingredients.

He had no intention of asking any other ladies to dance. He would just relax here until the ball ended, treating it like a buffet.

"Sir Clarence?" A plain-looking young nobleman approached him.

Among nobles, a plain appearance indicated a lack of family heritage, of superior genes. In the Magic World, they would call it "bloodline."

Leech glanced at the family crest on his chest.

A crutch.

The man was from Red Heart Castle.

From what Leech knew, the Aix Clan of Red Heart Castle were old nobility. They guarded the Red Heart Forest, which could be used to make potions, and the current Baroness of Red Heart Castle was the King’s sister.

That was just how the Aix Clan was. If you looked into the stories of the Aix Clan, you’d find that what every generation did was: marry up, marry up, and marry up.