Wolf and his party returned to Silver City a week before Matilda’s birthday. Just like last time, he split from his party to pay South a visit.

The two shared a meal and Wolf restocked on his wine. The young man was amazed by his gains over the course of the past dozen weeks. In such a short period of time he’d gone from fifteen to nineteen columns, and he’d finished carving the ninth column to boot.

“You settled down a bit,” South said as Wolf was about to leave.

The young man turned around and looked at his big brother, thinking for a moment. Then he nodded.

“You’re right,” he said and smiled. “I guess I’m happy I’m growing quickly again.”

With those words the young man left, leaving the bum behind.

South sighed and looked at the sky, taking a long drink from his wineskin.

“Little Brother,” he said aloud, while observing a dying roach. “If you don’t hurry up, we’re all dead meat.”

***

In a blink a week passed. Wayde and the once more height-enhanced Wolf just got off the carriage, and a well dressed butler who seemed somewhat familiar to Wolf greeted them.

“Young Master Wolf, Young Master Wayde, thank you for attending Young Miss’ ball this year,” the man said with a bow.

Wolf had an odd feeling the greeting was an accusation for not attending the party last year. But I wasn’t even invited last year. Right?

While Wolf tried to figure out what’s what, Wayde answered with a smile, feigning obliviousness which appeared innate to high nobility.

“We wouldn’t miss Lady Matilda’s birthday for the world,” the young Duke said. “Haha. Wolf, let us go in. I bet the others are already here.”

Wolf silently followed inside. The ballroom, while not as grandly decorated as the one at Anna’s place, had a much more refined and less tacky feel to it. After a moment he realized Anna’s father was showcasing his wealth. Matilda’s family, however, had no need for something as base. They were who they were. A powerful old family, with an unshakeable foundation.

That was why Matilda had such a carefree life compared to Anna or Barbara. Her family had little need for political ties through marriage.

Politics was something her brothers worried about. Matilda’s job was to use her genius to help the family once she grows powerful enough.

For others, having a rival in Wolf was a nightmare. For Matilda, who was born with a silver spoon in hand, the rival had become a private tutor. Thanks to Wolf, she grew much faster than she would’ve on her own.

She was grateful to Anna for this opportunity. To return the favor she’d done everything in her power for Anna and Wolf to be happy together. This included a serious private conversation she had with Barbara behind everyone’s back.

While everything really was fair in love and war, the same went the other way. And Matilda owed favors to Anna, while she owed nothing to Barbara.

And so, Barbara admitted defeat and started behaving properly, even though she thought Wolf was stupid and irrational and had poor taste in women. To showcase her opinion, the woman wore a fiery red dress of a provocative cut, which bordered on being immodest.

A step away from her stood Anna, wearing a dark, royal blue dress of conservative design. Most men feasted their eyes on Barbara, but Wolf didn’t seem to notice her. His gaze was fixed on Anna, causing the young woman to giggle in a pleased manner.

After seeing so many women without any clothes, it was only natural for Barbara not to attract Wolf’s attention. As for the dress, which accented Anna’s curves, Wolf barely suppressed a chortle.

She’s padded her bra again, he thought, but simply winked at his girlfriend playfully as he approached.

Wayde greeted the girls formally, with a slight bow, while Wolf was up for some mischief.

“Lady Annabelle, you look beautiful tonight,” Wolf said with a straight face and a twinkle in his eye.

He wanted to say something even cornier about stars and the bright moon, but he was afraid he’d burst into laughter. He really did think Anna looked beautiful, and regretted her figure didn’t quite measure up with the padded dress.

For a moment, Anna just stood there stupidly, then giggled in a way that was both happy and nervous at the same time.

Barbara couldn’t help snorting.

“And me? How do I look? I’m all natural here you know,” she said, immediately regretting her statement.

Anna’s smile froze as she snapped her head to the side to face Barbara.

“What did you say?” she said, gritting her teeth.

Barbara knew she shouldn’t, but still couldn’t control herself. She raised an eyebrow and disdainfully checked out Anna’s chest.

“What? I was just highlighting my strong points in front of a free, unmarried man.” As she said this Barbara straightened her posture even more, folded her arms and pushed her breasts up proudly. “I didn’t say anything about you. Why? Did you think I was talking about you?”

Anna’s eye twitched. She was quiet for a long moment and Wolf thought she might be casting a Subtle Magic Dart. He couldn’t help but feel the room had gotten colder.

“If you want Wayde, that’s your own matter, but Wolf is not free.” Anna finally hissed with a sweet smile and murder in her eyes.

“Hmph, everyone is free until they are married. As for later, that’s up to their capacity.” Barbara covered her lips with a fan and giggled.

“Wolf, I want to dance.” Anna stomped her foot angrily, while Barbara still giggled fakely.

“Um, sure?” Wolf said, glancing from one woman to another and wondering how things escalated so quickly.

He’d done nothing, and yet ended up caught in the middle of a fight.

He didn’t like Barbara at all. Deep down she was a good person, but she kept acting spoiled all the time, and Wolf didn’t have the time to do all the digging to find the good person.

As for the body she so proudly displayed, she really was superior to Anna, but she was inferior to most girls from Sweet Dream. At least the ones Wolf got to know so far.

Based on Anna’s triumphant smile, Wolf guessed she was satisfied with his performance and the way he refused Barbara’s blatant advance yet again.

Barbara and Wayde were left alone. Barbara frowned at being rejected yet again, while Wayde maintained that neutral expression, from which nobody could tell the young handsome Duke was treated as a leftover just a couple of moments ago.

While the two of them, along with other main ballroom guests, waited for Matilda to arrive, Anna led Wolf to a side chamber for dancing.

“Wolf, you’ve been really good lately. If we were at my place I would treat you to something nice after the party,” Anna gently whispered into Wolf’s ear as the pair began swaying to the rhythm.

She half-expected half-feared Wolf would say something about renting a room in a high class tavern, but he didn’t say anything. He just smiled warmly for some reason Anna didn’t really understand.

Are the words enough to make him happy now, she wondered.

“You know,” she started hesitantly. “If there was a way nobody could figure it out, I’d go someplace with you tonight.”

As Anna whispered those words Wolf actually tripped a bit.

Good, he still likes me, she thought and smiled lightly.

Should I skip my reservation tonight? Wolf wondered. If Anna had known what he was thinking she would’ve tried to throttle him on the spot.

“I recently learned a spell that opens up a folded space,” Wolf said slowly. “It’s not as stable as a Ring of Holding or a Portable Mansion, but it’s absolutely safe for a day or so. Once we’re in nobody could see or hear us…”

Suddenly Wolf dropped a bomb. This time, it was Anna’s turn to stumble. Feeling pretty smug, Wolf emulated Lola and lightly blew into Anna’s ear. “… so how about it?”

“I…” everyone is free until they are married. As those words rang inside Anna’s mind she tightened her resolve. “Sure. If you promise me not to cross the line, I’ll do anything you want.”

Her voice was shaky, her face crimson under a layer of makeup. If not for her bright red ears it would’ve been difficult for Wolf to tell just how embarrassed she was.

Two young people danced and lost track of time.

Wolf whispered sweet nothings, sometimes hitting, sometimes missing. Anna felt happy when she heard him say the right words and giggled when he uttered pure nonsense.

Then the music abruptly stopped.

“Ladies and gentlemen please gather round in the main room to greet the lady of the hour,” the violinist said as the dancing came to a halt.

Anna and Wolf followed the crowd, and in a couple of moments found themselves in the main ballroom. The lights were dimmed and a spotlight shone on a closed door. The situation was identical to Anna’s and Barbara’s birthdays. The only difference was that the crowd was bigger.

“Look.” Anna pointed to the side with her eyes. Following with his gaze Wolf saw two young men wearing expensive suits which practically screamed ‘I’m rich’.

“They are Duke Silverhound’s children,” Anna said. “The two of them don’t stand much chance of becoming the head of a noble family. That’s why they are pursuing Matilda. House Thonburi is the most powerful after the Duke’s. So, if they could bind them to their side through marriage, they might have a shot at becoming the next Duke.”

As she explained the situation Anna carefully observed Wolf. She was glad to see that his face didn’t twitch one bit and he didn’t seem jealous.

“And what does Matilda think about the whole thing?” Wolf asked, curious about his friend’s situation.

“She told me those guys are annoying. Their elder brothers gave it a shot, but they acted like gentlemen and didn’t pester her after she refused their advances. These two however… They seem desperate and won’t give up. She told me it’s come to the point where the Duke personally apologized to her father—” Before Anna could say more the door on the gallery opened theatrically.

Matilda appeared with a benevolent smile on her face. Unlike Anna and Barbara and any other unmarried birthday girl in Silver City, Matilda wore a pristine white dress.

She looked like a holy priestess, stunning the world with her unearthly beauty. Wolf’s mouth was gaping open, but then again, so was Anna’s.

The whole crowd seemed entranced, but after a moment, the spell was broken by one man’s resounding clapping.

After taking a second to collect themselves, everyone followed suit and joined in on the clapping.

Wolf inspected the man who clapped first. He was two meters tall, and looked like he could strangle a bear with his bare hands. His eyes were on fire and his smile beamed with pride.

“That’s Matilda’s dad, Marquess Daniel Thonburi.” Anna whispered while everyone’s gaze followed Matilda as she regally walked down the stairs.

For the first time Wolf actually realized how beautiful Matilda was. It wasn’t just her face, which was lovely, rather it was her whole bearing. She looked like she was above the mortals surrounding her.

Yet, the moment she became a part of the crowd that inviolable divine impression was gone.

The first person to approach her was her father, who wore a toothy grin and loudly said his congratulations.

Looking at them as they stood next to each other, Wolf never would’ve made the connection between the timid Matilda and the loud giant.

Matilda mingled through the crowd, greeting everyone as she slowly made her way towards her friends. The young lady completely skipped the whole gift-giving ceremony and did as she pleased. Yet nobody even thought about complaining.

As if by utilizing an arcane art, she maneuvered through the crowd in such a way that the Duke’s sons couldn’t reach her no matter how much they pushed through the mass of people. Finally, she approached her friends from the Mage Academy.

Matilda slightly nodded and she once again looked untouchable. The impression lasted only for an instant, yet Wolf clearly felt his heart flutter and his throat run dry.

“I hope you’re enjoying the party,” Matilda said with a beautiful smile.

“We’re having a wonderful time. You look beautiful,” Anna said excitedly.

“This? Papa does so many things for my sake, so I have to make him feel proud at least once a year. I let him do everything and play the perfect little daughter he adores so much.” Matilda smiled mischievously and rolled her eyes.

“If you ask me, the man’s got a fine taste. If I ever have a daughter, I think your father is the role model on how to treat her,” Wolf blurted out without thinking, causing an awkward silence.

“Thank you? I guess?” Matilda smiled courteously and said before Anna could flare, or Barbara could taunt.

Then she rolled her eyes again and sighed. “The pests are here again.”

A moment later the two youths from the house Silverhound made their way to the Mage Academy gang.

“Lady Matilda, you’re as beautiful as the morning dew on a celestial flower,” the elder of the two said through a flourishing bow.

“I think you’re also—” the younger one tried to chime in, but Matilda cut him off without a hint of respect.

“Why thank you Lord Silverhound. It’s been a long time since anyone wished me to be gone by the time the sun fully rose.” Matilda had a courteous bearing and voice, yet her words stabbed sharply as she turned the compliment into a curse.

Boreas Silverhound wanted to say something, but a moment later he smiled awkwardly. “Apparently my tongue can’t compare with Lady Matilda’s.”

“I have no wish to compare tongues with you, my lord. Why must you persist in your… pursuit?” Matilda asked, exasperated.

If her father wasn’t around she’d directly chase away the pair of opportunists who wished to leech off of her house.

For a moment she glanced at Wolf and Wayde, wishing to use them as an excuse, but immediately gave up on the thought.

One was a commoner with no backing, while the other was an exiled noble. Neither could handle these two good-for-nothings.

After considering things for a moment Matilda excused herself and sought shelter under the biggest tree around. “Papa, let’s dance!”

As Matilda skillfully navigated the crowd to reach her father, the Duke’s sons stared blankly. Then they looked at Wolf and Wayde, committing their faces to memory before leaving. Apparently they took them for love rivals.

“This could be troublesome,” Anna whispered in Wolf’s ear as she watched the two of them leave.