Chapter 11: Knocking on His Wife’s Door at Night

Victor sat in the carriage, waiting for the servant’s notification, while Vega’s low, chattering voice echoed in his ears.

“Are you interested in that extinct volcano?”

The one-eyed crow was preening its glossy feathers again. Perhaps it had gotten too fat—its beak could no longer reach certain spots on its back.

Victor glanced at Vega. “How did you figure that out?”

Vega tilted its head proudly. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have come to see this fiancée of yours.”

Victor didn’t respond, which was as good as an admission.

Before long, Victor was still patiently waiting, but Vega was the first to lose patience.

“Why hasn’t anyone come to invite us in yet?”

The sound of flipping book pages came to a halt. Victor closed the magic book and said flatly, “Imagine this: if you were a very beautiful woman, alone at home, and someone wanted to see you in the middle of the night—and that person was your fiancé—what would you do?”

Vega tilted its head and thought for a moment before croaking, “Dress up beautifully and meet them in the most exquisite state?”

“I get it now! She saw you coming, so she deliberately took time to put on makeup! And you’re patiently waiting for her.”

“Wrong. She would just think such a person is crazy and find him annoying.”

Victor denied it expressionlessly, but clearly, the crow was not convinced.

“Why? The novels I’ve read all say that’s how it works. Maybe you don’t understand women?”

“No, you don’t understand Gawain.”

Victor turned his gaze toward the Delrin estate’s main gate.

That holy knight had never once considered herself a ‘woman.’

Well, in truth, Victor didn’t quite understand the current Gawain either.

But he figured that, at this point, she probably disliked him.

After all, no woman would like a man who always wore a cold expression, was petty, and had done countless bad deeds.

This engagement must have been a stain on Gawain the Knight’s life.

That’s why, even after Victor’s death, she never remarried.

“Get ready. We should go in now.”

He lowered his head and reminded the crow on his shoulder. Vega immediately adjusted its posture, adopting the demeanor of a well-behaved pet, lazily perching on his shoulder without moving.

A while later, a maid arrived at the carriage and respectfully informed him that Miss Gawain was ready and invited him inside.

Victor stepped out of the carriage and followed the maid through the gate into the estate’s reception hall.

As soon as he entered, he saw Gawain.

She was sitting on a plush sofa, not dressed up for the occasion but instead wrapped tightly in a bathrobe, revealing no skin whatsoever.

It seemed she had just finished bathing.

But she didn’t need to dress up. In Victor’s eyes, even without makeup, her exquisitely perfect face was enough to captivate any man.

“It’s late. What are you here for?”

Gawain’s tone was neutral, with a hint of distance.

Victor sat down across from her without hesitation, speaking just as flatly and getting straight to the point.

“I heard you’re going on a mission and won’t be back for half a month.”

Gawain didn’t ask how he knew, simply nodding.

“Yes. I leave in a week.”

“Can you take me with you?”

Gawain: “…”

Upon hearing this, her reaction was… peculiar.

First, she looked puzzled, then frowned as if trying to confirm what she just heard.

Finally, she leaned back, and an incredulous expression slowly emerged on her face.

She reached up to massage her temples, lowered her head, and asked again, “Repeat what you just said.”

“Can you take me with you?”

Without hesitation, Victor repeated himself.

“Hah…”

Gawain exhaled softly. She was starting to suspect he had hit his head.

“Give me a reason.”

“Without a proper reason, I won’t take you.”

Victor replied, “I know the surrounding mountain terrain well, including the distribution and weaknesses of the magical creatures. If you take me along, you’ll be able to complete the mission and return in just seven days.”

Hearing his words, Gawain didn’t lift her eyes. It was unclear whether she was considering his value or simply uninterested.

Victor wanted to say more to increase his worth in her eyes, but Gawain cut him off first.

“I want the truth.”

Victor’s gaze turned cold. He looked at Gawain and slowly said, “…You used your ability on me.”

As a knight born with an innate sense of justice, Gawain Delrin had displayed her unique talent from a young age.

She possessed the Heart of Justice.

If she wished, she could clearly distinguish whether someone was lying or not.

This ability was entirely under her control, and she wouldn’t use it unless necessary.

However, she didn’t trust him.

Victor wasn’t particularly angry about it. In fact, he found it unsurprising.

Because this just proved how much Gawain disliked him.

She distrusted him so much that she had to use her Heart of Justice just to determine whether he was lying.

“I don’t trust you.”

Gawain spoke bluntly and gave no further explanation.

Suddenly, Victor smiled in understanding.

After thinking for a moment, he rephrased his words.

“There’s a type of magical creature near Mount Vesuvius that produces a unique crystal. I need it to craft a magical tool.”

His eyes gleamed with strong desire.

First-Tier Magic: Self-Suggestion

Effect: Hypnotize oneself and increase any one ability by one level for a certain period.

Dealing with Gawain’s Heart of Justice was simple—he just needed to tell the truth.

Even if the truth was fabricated on the spot, as long as Victor believed it, it was the truth.

Mages had their own methods: flexible morals and sharp minds.

Gawain finally lifted her gaze to look at Victor.

“It seems you do know that volcano. Otherwise, you wouldn’t say something so specific.”

“To achieve your goal, you’re even using the Royal Knights as your escort team.”

“As expected of you, selfish Victor.”

For once, Victor did not wear his poker face. Instead, he smiled and nodded.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Gawain had no doubt about Victor’s selfishness—because he was that kind of person.

And she knew that if she refused, Victor would only keep pestering her.

Since that was the case, she might as well agree.

“I will request a mage to accompany the mission. Come find me on the departure day.”

Seeing her agreement, Victor smiled and replied, “Thank you, Gawain the Knight, for selflessly helping someone as selfish as me.”

“I’ll have everything arranged within the week. No need to see me out.”

With that, Victor stood and left.

Gawain nodded slightly and watched him go.

But for some reason, the image of his smiling face lingered in her mind for a long time.

Had Victor… ever smiled like that before?