Chapter 213: A Minor Interlude

Li En and Sallyman stayed in the room for over an hour.

Don't misunderstand—they didn't do anything; mostly they just waited for Sallyman to wake up, and he gave her an unconvincing explanation.

On the other hand, Li En also didn't want to spread the reputation of being a quick-draw artist, especially after learning this shop was also Sudar's property.

At this point, after Sallyman's careful planning, Li En realized some things could never be undone.

Since they had already entered the room and stayed this long, there was no defense left; feeling the softness of the girl in his arms, he could no longer treat her as usual.

"You, really…"

Looking at the dazed, foolish girl in his arms and the snake hair continuously biting her own cheeks, Li En was speechless—even tempted to laugh.

Li En had gradually regained physical mobility, but his mind grew sharper.

He didn't know whether Sallyman used snake venom or mental ability, but he probably needed to boost resistance in both areas.

"Don't pass out again—I've already dressed. If you faint now, today's wasted. You don't want rumors spreading that Sudar's family and your fiancé spent the whole day in their own hotel suite, do you?"

Li En sighed, increasingly exasperated.

He recalled how just earlier he'd seen acquaintances in the hotel lobby—clearly, "Sallyman" had already decided to make everything official.

Sallyman, just waking up, blinked with a dazed look.

But upon hearing Li En's words, she rolled her eyes, tilted her head, and prepared to faint again.

"Ah, don't pinch—it hurts!"

Li En reluctantly let go of the pinched little nose, then stroked the biting snake head, calming the other Sallyman.

Actually, both Sallymans were good girls.

"We have other plans today. Hurry up, get dressed, and get up."

The girl, still smiling stupidly while touching her nose, suddenly noticed she wasn't wearing a top. She tilted her head—about to faint again, this time probably for real.

Li En sighed; it would still take some time.

By the time Li En finished everything and they stepped out dressed, it was unclear what time it was—but the bright sun outside suggested it was already noon.

At this hour, the lobby of the city's top hotel was already filled with nobles and acquaintances.

Walking down the stairs, facing the many astonished or enlightened stares in the lobby, Sallyman shyly hid behind Li En. He couldn't refuse—he knew from today on, he could never again treat this foolish girl as ordinary.

Perhaps it wasn't as direct as the Purple Rose, but now that she'd gone this far, following him without seeking fame or fortune, Li En couldn't just walk away.

A noblewoman's reputation in this era was extremely important; foolish Sallyman had unhesitatingly staked everything.

"Idiot." He rubbed her smooth cheek, while the dangerous snake hair merely licked his palm.

Compared to the awkward, unsettling betrothal, the girls' sincere and genuine feelings were far more precious. Though Li En didn't know if he deserved such emotion, this awareness—he could no longer ignore.

"Don't get lost."

In full view of everyone, Li En reversed his grip and held Sallyman's hand, smiling.

Glancing left and right, he nodded slightly to nobles and knights he vaguely recognized, and the two left directly.

From now on, Li En would no longer be seen merely as Sudar's fiancé—he'd be treated as Sudar family household!

Perhaps Li En had seen through it all, so he simply stopped resisting.

Compared to wild rumors, this outcome seemed more acceptable.

Yet both unconsciously forgot something.

"Wow, I never thought Li En Knight had such tastes—Miss Sallyman's face is covered in bite marks."

"Many Holy Knights conceal beastly instincts; once freed from their vows, they explode violently—that's why they're so popular with noble ladies. Who doesn't love a knight who's polite by day but a wild beast at night? If her face looks like that, who knows what's underneath? Luckily, Lady Sallyman is a practitioner, or she couldn't have endured his rough treatment."

"Truly, the most brilliant rose now has a master—she can't even stand straight. How wild was it?"

"Looks like she wouldn't have come down unless she couldn't hold on. What a beast—he made a Snake Woman unable to stand."

Gossip and scandal always spread fastest, especially when it involves high-profile figures with a hint of salaciousness.

Perhaps Li En didn't feel it, but Sallyman was indeed a major figure in this city—with real power, reputation, and connections; even new nobles like Labol dared not provoke her.

What happened here today would likely be exaggerated, distorted, and amplified tenfold, then spread throughout the noble circles—perhaps that was Sallyman's main reason for choosing this hotel.

Li En probably hadn't anticipated it, but from today on, his reputation would become strangely peculiar—and perhaps attract some strange ladies.

"So… what else is on the agenda today?"

Li En himself was unaware of all this nonsense; he simply reviewed his own plans and realized he had nothing pressing to do.

His current state wasn't suitable for acting as a "detective," nor for visiting old acquaintances or a new mentor—those non-urgent matters could wait.

"Buy things—I want to buy a ring!"

The girl snapped her head up—this time, both her body and snake hair were in complete agreement.

Clearly, the rumor about Li En giving a ring to Dainya—already spreading subtly—had deeply upset her; in every way, it had pushed her toward this recklessness.

"Uh…" Li En hesitated—not because he refused to buy, but because the situation was now utterly unclear.

"You—you don't want to take responsibility?" Sallyman's face showed shock. After all this, you won't even buy me a ring?

"It's not that—we bought over a dozen this morning!"

Li En pointed to Sallyman's small bag, filled with wooden, metal, and gemstone rings worth over a dozen.

All bought that morning—the other Sallyman had probably been thinking the same thing.

Frantically opening her small bag, Sallyman saw the colorful rings—but she wasn't happy.

Instead, her cheeks, covered in bite marks, puffed up in anger.

She punched her own head, then yanked her hair violently—as if punishing someone who still didn't realize the other self existed; how stupid could he be?

"Ow!"

But clearly, only she herself felt the pain.

"Sssss (Idiot.)"

Watching the girl rub her head and keep blowing on it in pain, Li En sighed.

This girl always came up with new tricks—he was genuinely worried that if left unchecked, she'd accidentally kill herself.

"I—I want one too. And more rings."

Clearly, foolish Sallyman rejected those rings—she wanted one that was truly hers.

"Yes, my lady." What else could he say? She followed him and asked for nothing but a few copper coins' worth of trinkets—just do it.

Rarely, this date was limited to just the two of them, with no messy interruptions.

They strolled, chatted, bought small things—though both the girl and Li En seemed to have forgotten that Sallyman wasn't just a celebrity; her bite-marked cheeks were even more obvious now, and certain rumors were inevitably unavoidable.

(End of Chapter)