Translator and Editor: Maru and Aki

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Chapter 6

Contrary to its name, [His and Her Spring] revolved around underworld characters. That was the highlight of this dark romance novel.

Since the male lead, the second male lead, and even the female supporting character were involved in a criminal syndicate and the underworld, it was obvious how ruthless they would be throughout the novel.

Among them was Ravia’s target.

The mildest among them all and also the second male lead, Herod.

Even if he was the boss of a large criminal syndicate, he didn’t commit anything like kidnapping, imprisonment, or intimidation just because of a personal grudge.

In other words, Tidwell did such things. It was the main reason why Ravia had to run away from him quickly.

‘Where the hell are you?’

Ravia was walking around the party trying not to look awkward.

Given that all the underworld people here were as brutal as Tidwell, it was obvious how she would end up if people found out that Ravia was an outsider.

In addition, Ravia had another dangerous person who shouldn’t know about her identity.

‘I’m glad that I can’t see Tidwell anywhere.’

The host of this party. Tidwell.

Since the millionaire who owned this villa was him, she simply walked right into the tiger’s den right now.

But she couldn’t help it. If it wasn’t now, the underworld masquerade ball would never be held again.

Tidwell became an influential figure of the underworld not only because of his outstanding martial arts. If that was the case, Tidwell would have been an underling of a criminal gang somewhere.

He was a drug dealer who controlled the underworld as a whole.

Tidwell’s nickname in the underworld was ‘dark flower’. It symbolized the drugs he distributed, or referred to Tidwell, himself, as the person who held the distribution rights.

Tidwell took advantage of the money he earned from drug sales to form a syndicate and took over the criminal world.

His influence was so powerful that even the existing syndicate who monopolized the underworld was wary of him.

‘And the boss of that syndicate is Herod.’

Herod, he was a wise man.

Rather than struggling to destroy Tidwell, he chose to solidify his power by forming an alliance.

Of course, that alliance would be broken later. Because of one woman.

But that happened later, and it was still in the very early stages of their alliance.

Today’s ball was held in order to establish the alliance between the two syndicates and the drug trade.

It was still an early phase, and because of the possibility that the alliance might be broken in the near future, the two syndicates decided to hide their alliance and open their first social gathering in a form of a masquerade ball.

According to the novel, the alliance between the two syndicates would be successful tonight, so there would be no such opportunity again.

‘So I have to find Herod today.’

Ravia fixed her fluttering peacock mask and pulled herself together.

But she couldn’t easily find Herod among the crowds, and at the same time, she tried to not be caught by Tidwell. Her shoulders were tensed up.

At least, she confirmed that Tidwell wasn’t in the hall, so she was relieved.

Herod had a striking appearance, so she’d probably find him soon.

After relaxing her shoulder a little, Ravia was about to continue her walk.

“You there.”

A hoarse voice was heard.

‘No way. You’re not calling me, are you?’

Ravia, who paused for a moment, tried to walk away, but that voice was heard again.

“Come here. Let’s drink together. Why are you just carrying it around?”

That crude voice made her extremely embarrassed.

He must be drunk. It was highly possible that the drink was not just alcohol and was mixed with psychotropic drugs.

So Ravia refused moderately and tried to go her own way. The problem was, she forgot the fact that nothing was as persistent as drunken city thugs.

“Why don’t you take my glass? We’re part of the family now, and I’d be sad if we can’t even do this!”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Just one glass. One glass!”

“Let go of this first…!”

Ravia, who couldn’t bear it anymore, tried to twist her opponent’s wrist.

A low voice slipped in the middle of the ruckus.

“What are you doing here?”

Shatter-!

The glass fell from the man who was about to force the drink on Ravia, and the next moment, Ravia was pulled into someone’s chest.

A man wearing a wolf mask.

* * *

A raucous social gathering in the form of a masquerade ball.

Tidwell was watching the event that he hosted with a very persistent gaze.

Next to him, stood a blond man holding a cocktail. His beautiful lips were exposed below his lion mask, and he put a smile as if truly enjoyed himself.

“Today’s social gathering is a success. This feels good, too.”

“You’re always like that, Herod.”

“What do you mean? I’m a little sad. There are days when I feel bad, too.”

“I’ve never seen that, so that doesn’t count.”

“You’re so mean, Tidwell.”

The blond man grumbled and brushed his nape backwards.

Then the red hair under his blond hair was briefly exposed and disappeared immediately after his hand slipped. It was a wig.

“Are you being so bitter now because I asked you to wear a wig?”

“It’s not like that. I don’t want to brag about my hair color anyway.”

“I’m wearing a blond wig, though? What does that make me then?”

“I’m sure it’s not worth my consideration.”

At Tidwell’s reply, Herod smiled relaxedly.

“I’m not very comfortable wearing a wig, too. But my adviser told me to do this, so I thought it won’t hurt to listen. These incomers still don’t know about us, so we need to hide ourselves to a certain extent.”

Herod said as he glanced at his colleague. It was quite an easy-going gesture for someone who was the head of a big syndicate.

Hmm. Herod’s eyes shone beneath his mask as he smiled mildly.

“Still, even if you don’t say it, you’re having a lot of fun, aren’t you?”

“Not at all.”

“Why? Is entering the ducal family and getting yourself a glorious future mean nothing for you?”

“Watch your mouth, Herod. Before I rip that mouth.”

Tidwell growled and warned him, but Herod didn’t even blink. He just pretended to be relaxed as he always was.

“Then I’d like you to explain why you’re looking at the hall so persistently and grumbling that you’re not having fun at all?”

“I’m in a bad mood.”

“Hmm?”

Herod blinked as if he heard it wrong. Each time, his long eyelashes cast a shadow under his eyes.

And he burst out laughing.

“Is there anything that makes you feel bad? No one’s been more successful than you these days.”

He wasn’t being sarcastic.

Herod was secretly thinking that he had done a great job by joining hands with Tidwell.

Tidwell was able to become the master who controlled the entire underworld by selling drugs. And somehow, he managed to be adopted into the Leontine family.

No matter how much authority and wealth those who dwelled in the underworld had, their foundation was in jeopardy.

It was always essential for them to have a close connection with real high-ranking people (Aristocrats). But instead of making connections with real high-ranking people, this bastard, Tidwell, somehow climbed his way to become one.

Leontine’s Young Duke.

The first time Herod heard the news, he pinched his cheek to see if he was dreaming.

Tidwell’s recent movement was very extraordinary and deserved to be applauded.

Still, it was strange.

He wondered why such an unstoppable guy like Tidwell was very sensitive today.

But Tidwell just brushed aside Herod’s confused gaze and opened his mouth.

“There’s a butterfly.”

“What are you saying now?”

“There’s… something like that.”

Herod whined on how frustrating Tidwell was, but Tidwell just dismissed him.

Even if his new partner was unhappy, he couldn’t help it.

Because there was something that he couldn’t say.

‘My sister can’t be here.’

Tidwell scowled without him knowing. At the end of his gaze, there was always a blonde woman with a peacock mask.

She was doing the same thing as other people, such as saying hello to passers-by and grabbing a cocktail or two.

However, something strangely disturbed Tidwell’s nerves.

For example, that straight waist. The gesture of picking up the cocktail glass effortlessly like the gesture of a butterfly’s wings.

There was only one such woman in Tidwell’s memory.

His sister, Ravia Leontine.

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