Hearing that, Bisce froze for a second—then realization hit her.
"I get it! So that's why you put on that 'keep your distance' aura? Because the moment noble girls see you're hard to approach, they think, 'Well, I'm already here,' and end up trying to accept invitations from other noble sons instead?"
"Exactly. The host's ball is a huge success, I earn gold coins, the nobles get chances to get close to the girls, and the girls learn how to settle for second best. That makes it a four-way win—winning four times over. Everyone's happy, isn't that great?"
Leon shrugged.
Bisce protested indignantly, "But isn't that you cooperating with the host to deceive the feelings of girls like us who came here with romantic hopes?"
"First, you're a wandering spirit, not a girl. Second, anyone who comes purely for a pretty face is shallow to begin with. And before this, they've definitely interacted with more than one noble son already. Who knows—maybe they'll turn around and deceive other noble sons' feelings instead."
Bisce's ramming-and-rubbing at Leon's waist froze mid-motion. She muttered,
"Fine, fine. I'm shallow. Happy?"
Leon smiled, reached out, and gently stroked Bisce's translucent cheek.
"You're not shallow. You were just suppressed too hard back when you were a priestess—so after you died, your true nature finally came out."
Bisce had been a little nervous and excited when Leon suddenly touched her face.
But the moment she heard that, she huffed and snapped her teeth at Leon—only to bite right through him.
"Hmph! It's not my 'true nature' showing! I'm just… unable to control myself when I'm around you!"
"Alright, enough being horny," Leon said. "I'm going to collect tonight's appearance fee, then head to Iris's estate. If I can wrap things up tonight, then the tier-advancement item I actually want will be within reach."
…
"Interesting. So you care about Leon Bellron too?"
As Iris stepped out through the ballroom's west side door, a soft voice with crisp diction suddenly came from behind her.
You too?
Iris glanced to the side and saw a beautiful woman standing by the doorway, dressed in a luxurious crimson religious robe and wearing a feathered coronet.
Brellita von Hestia—the Holy Maiden of the church, whose surname bore the name of a god—was watching Iris with a teasing smile.
"You saw that just now?" Iris narrowed her eyes.
Brellita nodded with a smile.
"Of course. The prettiest elf at the ball suddenly goes to talk to the most handsome man—anyone would be curious."
Iris's tone stayed calm.
"Then that's on me. The truth is, I already regret talking to him."
"What—up close he didn't match your taste?"
"No. His looks are fine—too fine, if anything. The problem is he talks too lightly, and he tossed out a 'bet' he thinks is profound."
"Even though he handed you the stake in advance to hold onto, and didn't even require you to form a binding wager contract?"
Brellita pointedly highlighted what Iris had left out.
"I admit that part was… seductive," Iris said. "But that just makes me even less willing to have anything to do with him. It's obvious he's a battle-hardened womanizer."
Iris shook her head.
"Then why did you agree to the bet?"
"That's not the same as having a relationship with him. Also, I'm short on money—and I don't think I'll lose."
"If you truly think you won't lose," Brellita said, "that only proves you're underestimating him."
Snap. She flicked open a palm-sized bamboo fan printed with foreign script, covered her mouth, and chuckled.
Iris said, "Then enlighten me. What's so outstanding about him besides his face?"
Brellita replied flatly, "He's not merely 'outstanding.' It's said that when Leon was born, he was a fool—he didn't learn to walk until he was three, and he couldn't speak until he was seven. He was infamous far and wide as a mentally deficient idiot. Then at twelve, he nearly drowned, was saved—and afterward he seemed reborn. At home, through self-study, he rapidly learned first-tier magic without chanting."
"I see. So his soul-separation illness was resolved, and his talent returned?" Iris's expression shifted. "With an ordinary background, without receiving a god's blessing, reaching first tier in five years—and with chantless casting? That's… truly unusual."
"Not only that," Brellita continued. "What he can cast without chanting isn't a single school—it's wind, earth, water, and fire. And earlier this year, he even hunted down a juvenile wyvern alone, achieving the same feat you did."
"Four elements at chantless level? A human doing what only some pure-blood elves can do? And he killed a juvenile wyvern?" Iris was visibly moved. "But he's first tier—did he invent some new magical technique?"
"No one knows," Brellita said. "But he's certainly someone who defies expectation. As someone who knows him, I suggest you don't take him lightly."
"You waited here just to tell me all that?"
"Of course. I witnessed something very entertaining tonight, so I'm looking forward to how your wager plays out."
Brellita wore a detached, spectator's smile—like someone enjoying drama that had nothing to do with her.
"Oh, and by the way, Iris," Brellita added. "Leon may be a genius, and his future may be bright. But—"
She deliberately drew out the last word, and the mischievous, needling look in her eyes made Iris want to punch her right in the face and teach her what respecting elders actually meant.
"But what? Spit it out!"
"His beauty is rare even in this world," Brellita said. "In the royal capital, quite a few powerful old noblewomen have set their sights on him. His situation isn't exactly… comfortable right now."
"Targeted by old noblewomen?" Iris blinked. That did sound like exactly the sort of farce that could happen in this kingdom.
Brellita smiled.
"Isn't your Elven Holy Land urging you diplomats to marry humans soon? I think Leon would be an excellent candidate. You could consider it—solve his problem of being stalked by old noblewomen, and also fulfill your requirements from above. Two birds with one stone, isn't it?"
"Hmph! Why do I have to marry a womanizer like that?" Iris snapped. "And what do you mean, 'also fulfills my requirements'? Am I just an afterthought? What exactly is your relationship with Leon Bellron?"
Iris glared at Brellita, clearly displeased.
"As for our relationship…" Brellita said lightly. "Why don't you guess?"
"I get it," Iris said coldly. "You're the one pushing this wager behind the scenes. You waited here on purpose to stall me so I can't get home before midnight."
"No. I'm an uninvolved third party," Brellita said. "I'm simply curious about this newly famous figure—purely personal interest."
"I don't believe you!"
The moment she finished speaking, Iris vanished in a blur. Even in a long ballroom gown, she lifted the skirt with her slender arms and vaulted out of the marquis's estate where the ball was being held.
Under the moonlit sky, a graceful silhouette skimmed across the high walls and disappeared into the night.
Brellita shook her head. Unexpected—this girl was oddly wary of her.
"Leon Bellron," she called, "come out. No need to hide anymore."
"Worthy of the Holy Maiden," Leon replied. "Keen-eyed and discerning—my disguise didn't fool you for a second."
Leon's figure slowly emerged from the shadows in a corner.
"Heh," Brellita said, turning to face him. "I'd say you deliberately leaked your presence. How long have you been here?"
She turned fully, meeting Leon's gaze.