The loud voice coming from outside the door.
It was expected that Baron Romero would be angry, but the problem was that the punishment given to Roman was too harsh.
That's why Roman couldn't understand it even more.
If he had revealed that the other party had proposed the annulment first, it would have been easier for him, but Roman never mentioned Flora's name.
"Are you really out of your mind?"
"Well, I'm perfectly fine."
Roman's reaction was calm.
Even as Flora looked up at him, he simply wiped the blood flowing from his head with his sleeve.
The wound on his head wasn't serious.
Baron Romero didn't intend to inflict a major injury on Roman, and it was just a scratch where the skin had peeled off, with a few drops of blood forming.
"Do you even know what kind of task you're dealing with now? It's the Blood Fang, the Blood Fang. A group notorious for their heinous acts in the area. How on earth do you plan to handle them without the help of your family?"
The Blood Fang.
Their infamy isn't limited to Dmitry.
There have been many incidents in Lawrence as well, and especially the cases where they targeted nobles have only increased their notoriety.
"The reason the Blood Fang is terrifying is because they have nothing to lose. They won't encroach on the nobles' territory unless the nobles interfere with their interests, but if they believe they've been harmed, they will retaliate without hesitation, even at the cost of their lives. They're not normal. They're the kind of people who strap magic bombs to themselves and carry out suicide attacks. Do you really think you can handle such people? Just tell the truth and go kneel before the Baron to beg for mercy."
"Why should I do that?"
"Why? I've explained the reasons enough..."
"You're a funny person."
Roman chuckled.
Even as he looked into Flora's eyes, which could melt the hearts of most men, Roman showed no sign of wavering.
"I understand what you're saying. When you proposed the annulment, you didn't consider my situation at all, but now that I'm taking full responsibility and saying I'll solve the problem, you're worried. But here's the thing. From the moment you mentioned 'annulment' on the day we first met, you lost the right to worry about my situation. That's the relationship between you and me."
Flora.
From the moment he met her, Roman had fulfilled his duties as a fiancé.
To get rid of the smell of blood on his body, he doused himself with a pungent perfume to the point where his expression twisted, and he wore the stifling formal attire without complaint.
It was to show the minimum courtesy to the other party.
Roman, like Flora, had also thought about annulment, but he didn't want to ruin things by hurting the feelings of a woman who had done him no harm from the very first meeting.
But Flora was different.
The first day they met.
The first words they exchanged.
It was about annulment.
Looking at Flora's cold face, Roman realized there was no need to show her any consideration.
So he accepted the annulment.
The reason he said he would take full responsibility was because he no longer wanted to be entangled with Flora.
"......"
Flora was flustered.
This was a situation she had never experienced before.
Most men would take her goodwill positively, but Roman was excessively prickly.
Flora, at a loss for words.
Looking down at her, Roman spoke coldly.
"We are strangers now. So, I'll handle my own affairs."
He drew the line.
Even if she was a flower admired by many men, her value differed depending on the person.
Roman turned his gaze away as if Flora was nothing and left her behind.
After the commotion settled.
Baron Romero, left alone in his office, drank until the sun set.
"You're drinking too much."
Lihanna Dmitry.
Roman's mother and Baron Romero's wife, she checked the surroundings and spoke in a soft voice.
The surroundings were a mess.
Items thrown by Baron Romero were scattered on the floor, and the table was filled with empty bottles.
The smell of alcohol from the bottles alone was enough to make one's expression twist.
Baron Romero, his face flushed red from intoxication, looked at Lihanna with a pained expression.
"Lihanna. Today, I resorted to violence against Roman. I know better than anyone how wrong that action was, but when I came to my senses, I saw blood flowing from Roman's head. What a terrible father I am. Just because my child isn't growing up the way I want, I tried to correct things with violence."
He clutched his head in pain.
Baron Romero wasn't born noble.
Born a commoner, he spent his difficult childhood being beaten daily by his blacksmith father.
Perhaps that's why.
The moment Baron Romero obtained the noble title, he vowed not to pass on such experiences to his own children.
Indeed, his three sons lived without knowing hardship.
The problem was that blind love wasn't the right method either, and Roman, who had experienced the commoner life with him, had gone astray.
A sore thumb.
That was Roman.
Even though Roman had gone astray, Baron Romero had never resorted to violence before, but this time, he couldn't hold back.
Lihanna approached Baron Romero, hugged him, and stroked his head.
"I don't think violence is the right action. But when a child goes astray, the only ones who can correct it are the parents. So don't crumble under guilt. The Romero Dmitry I know is a strong man who wouldn't stand idly by while his son goes astray."
"I'm not as great as you think. Seeing that Roman mentioned annulment right after the young lady of Lawrence visited, he must have been unilaterally informed of the annulment. Yet, I vented my anger on Roman. Even though I know there's nothing the child can do, instead of blaming Lawrence, I chose the easier target."
"I know your heart. But there's still a chance to set things right."
Lihanna.
She knew what she was talking about.
From the time Baron Romero was a commoner, Lihanna had always offered him wise methods.
"...... Are you talking about the Blood Fang?"
"Yes. Roman is a child with strong pride. That's why he must have said he would handle the Blood Fang alone out of anger. But if we leave it like this, who knows what might happen. So, you must protect Roman."
"You're right."
Baron Romero nodded.
The Blood Fang.
He didn't think Roman could handle a group notorious for their heinous acts.
Not knowing what might happen if they stirred the hornet's nest, they needed a contingency plan for Roman's safety.
Lihanna said, "How about calling Commander Jonathan? Roman won't be able to handle it alone, so he'll surely try to persuade the commander. Then Commander Jonathan can pretend to be persuaded and handle things as Roman wishes."
"You're right."
Jonathan.
The commander of the Dmitry Knights and a master of three-star aura.
He could be trusted.
Baron Romero called a servant.
"Call Commander Jonathan immediately."
"Understood."
But there was something they were overlooking.
Roman Dmitry.
He wasn't the son they used to know.
The words he spoke, he would uphold even at the cost of his life.
That was the new Roman they would come to know.
A few days later.
Roman left the inner city.
Accompanied only by Hans, without any guards, Hans couldn't hide his worry as he followed Roman.
"Young master. It's really dangerous to go out like this. The Blood Fang is a heinous group that has even targeted nobles. After the last incident, they must be planning to retaliate against you. If you walk around the streets openly without guards, who knows what might happen. Please, please return to the inner city."
Hans was right.
Over the past few days.
Roman had learned about the Blood Fang and realized they were as dangerous as the rumors said.
Roman said, "You're right. The Blood Fang is a dangerous group. A shadowy organization with an unknown base and scale of power, and you never know when or where they might attempt a terrorist attack. So it's natural for people to fear them. But tell me, when do you think this Blood Fang group gained this level of power?"
"...... I don't know."
"The incidents started by chance. The Blood Fang once waged war against a loan shark group they were in conflict with, and they gained notoriety by killing them cruelly. That was the beginning. Notoriety breeds fear, and they realized how efficiently they could handle things by utilizing that fear."
It was a strange statement.
Hans looked at Roman with a puzzled expression.
"But they're still dangerous, right?"
"That's right."
Roman chuckled.
It was true.
The Blood Fang was indeed dangerous.
Their notoriety had inflated their power, and to maintain that notoriety, they had to act accordingly.
Even in the martial world, those with nothing to lose needed to be cautious, but the problem was that Roman was the Heavenly Demon.
The Heavenly Demon.
The pinnacle of the demonic sect.
What kind of events must have occurred to rise to the top from the muddy waters? Suicide attacks? That was routine.
Assassins targeting Roman numbered in the dozens every day, and the venomous glares of those who cursed him even in death were so common that he couldn't even remember them all.
Roman was someone who overcame such adversities to reach the pinnacle.
If someone looked him straight in the eye, he would gouge it out.
If someone cursed him, he would rip out their tongue.
That was Roman.
The Blood Fang's notoriety didn't instill even a hint of fear in him.
"Let's go in there first."
"Huh?"
Roman stopped walking.
Suddenly heading into a restaurant, Hans was flustered but hurriedly followed Roman.
The food came out quickly.
The table was filled with a variety of dishes emitting a fragrant aroma, but Roman spoke to Hans in a calm voice.
"I'll step out for a moment while you eat."
"What do you mean?"
Hans, who had been drooling, was startled.
Going out alone.
That meant becoming prey for the Blood Fang.
"From now on, it's something I need to handle. There's no need for you to take the risk."
"I absolutely can't do that. Even if I were to be in danger, I can't let you go alone."
Hans was resolute.
He was ready to grab a knife and rush out at any moment.
Roman laughed.
Hans.
He was a good person.
Beyond the wall of master and servant, at least he genuinely worried about Roman's safety.
Roman said, "You're my person. Right?"
"Of course, I'm your person."
"Then do what you can for me. I don't want meaningless sacrifices. Doing what you can't is not for me, but for your own desires. So, just sit here and enjoy the food as I ordered. Your role is already fulfilled just by coming out with me."
Roman.
In his new life, he had built a fence.
And for the first time, he had placed someone named Hans within that fence.
Status didn't matter.
Roman had accepted Hans as his person, and from now on, he wouldn't take his life lightly.
"I'll be back soon."
With that, Roman got up from his seat.
Left alone, Hans.
He repeated Roman's words with a shocked expression.
"My person."
Young master Roman.
In all the time he had followed him, he had never heard such words before.
Seeing Roman genuinely accept him, a mere lowly servant, Hans felt an overwhelming emotion he couldn't explain.
"I have to inform them."
He couldn't let young master Roman die like this.
He didn't know what Roman was thinking, but if he wandered outside alone, something was bound to happen.
Hans quickly got up and left.
The Dmitry Knights.
It was time to inform them that the young master of Dmitry was in danger.
Even after Hans left.
The food, now without its master, grew cold.