Marquess of Bailey left the disposal of Demian to the solvers who would dispose of just anything as long as money is involved. Though they were neither professional assassins nor were they war mercenaries, they did live on dirty commissions from the nobles. So as long as they were crazy about money, they would keep their mouths shut.
An arena slave that lived like a parasite who was buttering up the young noblewomen was nothing to them.
That was how it should be.
The first one to find Demian was a gangster who was disguised as an arena worker, but his throat ended up getting cut with the knife that he brought. The second time, there were three visitors disguised as errand boys. They were going to surround Demian, spray him with anesthetic, and then cleanly take his life. But they were the ones who ended up swallowing the anesthetic and passed away without knowing when or how they died.
The third one was an expert.
He hid in the shadows of the arena building in the middle of the night and secretly launched an assault. He prepared poisoned weapons and crossbows, and even nets to be on the safe side. As Demian easily defeated the previous two attacks, he took his move carefully. He did not look down on his opponent, nor did he lose his concentration.
And yet, he still failed to kill Demian. As soon as he went inside Demian's room through the window, what he faced was a black shadow moving at an invisible speed. After the three attacks failed in vain and losing five solvers, they finally sent a message to Marquess of Bailey, informing him that they would forgo his commission.
Just in time, the warden of the arena, who could not afford to lose a popular slave in vain, deployed guards day and night at Demian's lodging. It was a wonder for soldiers to risk their lives and be on sentry duty to protect a slave. Of course, Demian only snorted at such things.
"I was unscathed, just as I assured you. But, why are you wounded?"
"Demian, about this…"
"Who did it?"
He was not up for a long conversation with Lara. After coming in with her and sitting her down on the sofa, Demian walked and grabbed a knife.
"Tell me."
"What's with the knife? If I tell you who did it, are you going to stab him?"
"No, I will kill him."
"Are you out of your mind?"
"Did your father do it?"
He hit the nail on the head.
Lara could not deny him. Shortly after, she saw Demian burst into laughter with a face full of a murderous spirit, similar to that of a demon.
"Don't think that I wouldn't kill him just because he's your father."
"I don't think like that."
"Lara."
"It's my problem."
Lara could not figure out why he was so angry.
Demian was her slave, but it just happened because the two met that way.
"I mean, it's none of your business."
"Lara."
"Worry about you before you worry about me. My father will not give up on both of us."
"Then, what do you want me to do?"
He asked.
Before Lara knew it, Demian had already put the knife on the table.
"Are you really going to be my mighty warrior for six months?"
"Yeah."
"Even for things other than fighting in the arena?"
"Anything."
"Why?"
"I can't tell you now."
"But I want to know the reason."
"It's because I can't explain it well to you. I promise I'll let you know when I can give you a proper answer."
"…Fine."
"Okay."
Just until a little while ago Demian was filled with so much bloodlust that it had made Lara's skin sting, but he had capriciously changed his attitude and gave a long yawn like a lion in the daytime. He was so defenseless that even Lara, who was looking at him, ended up releasing the tension on her shoulders.
Lara was determined to correct all her mistakes in this life. If she keeps Demian by her side for six months, there will be many things she can do for him, from getting a good weapon to finding someone who will become his comrade. And after six months, she will send him to wherever he wants to go.
After organizing her thoughts, Lara talked to Demian about her purpose in coming to the arena.
"I want you to go outside with me."
"Outside?"
"We will go to the Night Ball."
As Lara's rumors had blown up big time in the arena, her next place was the ball. She should not stop here just because she had managed to leave her father's house with the help of her mother. Marquess of Bailey is cunning and persistent. He would do anything to get his daughter back and dedicate her to the prince.
"We'll have a flashy dance in the ballroom. Then, I'll have you accompany me to the entrance of the hotel downtown."
"Why?"
"I'm going to be the most reckless woman in Hautean."
"Okay."
Demian nodded casually.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
Demian was very cooperative. He did everything Lara asked him to do, not even asking for a reason.
"Let's go."
"Yeah."
To go to the ball, Lara needed clothes that would look good on Demian. So she took Demian to a boutique in a luxury shopping mall.
"Welcome!"
Lara's choice was the most popular banquet dress boutique nearby. Of course, there were many customers. Demian was dressed in shabby clothes, but he was more attractive than any other man in the boutique. Lara had already become a well-known person in Hautean, so as the two entered the boutique, they immediately drew the attention of the customers and the owner.
"We are going to the Night Ball."
Lara deliberately said so while standing in the middle of the boutique.
She was the first noblewoman to be so confident, saying that she would take her slave to the Night Ball with a grin and daring gaze. Moreover, what she ordered was not a normal dress.
"Take this."
Lara put three bills on the table.
It was a 100 gold check.
"Don't think of me as a noble. Show me a special and striking dress."
Unless it was a big event, such as a royal ball, coming-of-age ceremony, or engagement ceremony, no noble of high degree could fit a new, expensive dress for every banquet. Especially since the Night Ball was a common occasion held anywhere every night, the young noblewomen who were reluctant to expose their identity deliberately bought and dressed in plain, appropriate dresses.
But Laviore Ria Bailey, the only daughter of the House of Bailey, suddenly appeared, put down the check, and asked for an extreme dress to be worn with her slave.
The staff became busy.
They took Lara and Demian to the VIP drawing-room inside the boutique and set up several large full-length mirrors. Then, they chose the fanciest and most striking ready-to-wear outfits and spread them out for Lara to see.
Konny was more excited than Lara.
"My lady hates white. Besides, it looks too hot."
"Oh! No. Look at this, It is white but this is all lace."
"No one would know if it's lace or not in the dark, please show something else other than this."
Konny stepped up to choose the dress instead of Lara, who sat on the long sofa and ate the welcome fruit with Demian.
"This looks too cute, it's too childlike. My lady is mature and charming."
"Should I decorate it with real flowers instead of ribbon?"
"What if it falls off and my lady steps on it while she is dancing? I'm sorry, but please show us something else."
"Hmm… Then, how about this?"
The boutique owner, who had been rejected by Konny a couple of times, pulled out a dress very cautiously. The other dresses had long and heavy skirts, but this one looks exceptionally light.
"Konny."
Lara, who had left everything to Konny without saying anything, finally opened her mouth.
"I want to have a good look at the dress."
"Milady, do you like this one? I will hold it, so please come in front of the mirror."
The dress that the boutique owner pulled out with a nervous feeling was something that no noblewoman in Hautean would ever wear. It was sleeveless, but it had long gloves that came up to the elbow. With revealing shoulders and loosely slipping chest line, its style was very tempting. There was no need for a corset. The part that tightened the waist had good elasticity, so even though it was tight, it did not look uncomfortable.
Recently, dresses that puffed up the hips with layers of underpants were trending in the society of Hautean. But what Konny was holding was a thigh-length skirt that followed the silhouette of the body without any puffing up. And below it, there were thin strips of fringes, and whenever the wearer moved her legs, the fringes would shake and bare skin could be seen through it.
In short, it was a dress perfect for dancing.
Although the fabric and decoration were so luxurious that the price was expensive, it was something that no noble would wear. The boutique owner was anxious because she did not think it was right to hand a dress too extreme to Young Lady Bailey, no matter how controversial she was.
Konny also thought the dress was a bit too much.
But then, Demian, who was just sitting on the sofa and having finished all the welcome fruits, suddenly opened his mouth.
"Wear that."
"Wear this?"
"You said we're going to dance? The other dresses were heavy. I don't think you can even move properly in them."
That's a very practical reason.
He was right. Lara's goal today was dancing. Lara nodded and asked Demian.
"Demian, can you dance?"
"I can follow it once I see it."
Of course, a genius is also a good dancer.
Can he really copy it once he sees it? Social dancing is not that easy.
"I will choose your clothes."
"Have it your way."
Lara did not take long to choose Demian's clothes.
Lara said exactly and firmly what she wanted.
"Show me shirts with low necklines down to the chest and tight-fitting leather pants. I want the boots to come up to the shin, a tie that can be tied loosely, and I want the lining to be red. And a coat that can be hung on the shoulders…"
"Lara, it's hot."
"I will buy the coat next time."
"Just tell me to strip off."
"I will strip you off in the middle."
The boutique owner who was listening to her with concentration looked up in surprise.
The same went for Konny.
You want to strip whom off in the middle of where?
Lara talked indifferently to them as they asked her with their eyes.
"Just look at his muscles, it'd be nice to brag about it. Demian is more attractive with his clothes taken off rather than when it was worn. All the women will envy me and all the men will envy Demian's body."
"Thanks, Lara."
Demian giggled.