•?••? ? ?••?•

“Gasp!”

“Oh my, oh my god!”

The people around took two steps back upon seeing the white tiger’s bare face.

Standing behind him, Iva felt sorry for him, for receiving the blow instead of her.

“You dare hit a person?! This is truly outrageous-“

As the white tiger remained still after being hit, Iva attempted to strike the wolf instead.

“Uh, uh, I’m s-sorry. No, Lord, I committed a s-sin.”

However, the wolf’s attitude completely changed.

His drunken behavior and aggressive demeanor disappeared, replaced by a pale face trembling with fear.

What’s going on? Who on earth is he, making them so scared?

Iva became curious about the white tiger’s face and tried to get a glimpse from the side.

But the white tiger smoothly turned his body and brushed his hair, preventing Iva from seeing it.

“…Will you pick it up for me?”

“Yes, yes!”

Contrary to the pleading question, the voice was an immediate command to pick it up.

The wolf-masked person knelt almost before the white tiger, holding out the mask.

Even the hand handing it over trembled like a leaf on a tree.

White tiger accepted the mask immediately, covering his face. Until then, Iva hadn’t seen his face.

“Get up.”

White tiger told the wolf who continued to sit on the ground.

“N-No, I will stay like this.”

“If that’s what you want.”

White tiger gently broke the wolf’s spirit, pressing it down. Judging by his posture and how he treated his opponent, he was clearly a nobleman.

Looking at the blond hair that reached the white tiger’s shoulders, Iva wondered who this influential person could be.

“Not only causing a commotion, but also threatening a lady weaker than yourself.”

“I’m s-sorry.”

“Is the lady okay?”

White tiger turned his head to check on Iva’s condition. When their eyes suddenly met, she nodded almost imperceptibly.

“Yeah, thanks to you, I’m fine.”

At Iva’s response, the surroundings froze, as if someone poured cold water on them.

Feeling like she made a mistake, she quickly tried to gauge the white tiger’s reaction.

“I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”

Ironically, he seemed more confused than anything.

“Lady, can you forgive this wolf?”

He gestured toward the wolf who was kneeling.

The wolf-masked person was startled, but it was actually a response to the white tiger’s cue, not toward Iva’s gaze.

“Forgive?”

“S-Sorry. I was wrong.”

“What did you do wrong?”

“Uh, what?”

“Tell me what you did wrong.”

“Just let it go…”

The wolf, who was about to get angry, hastily mumbled at the white tiger’s gaze fixed on him from beside Iva.

“Uh, sorry for speaking out of turn.”

Seeing his deeply furrowed brow and clenched teeth, Iva didn’t want to forgive him.

But because they had caused such a commotion, and all eyes were on them, Iva had to withdraw to a certain extent.

“Don’t ever speak disrespectfully to anyone again and live your life honestly, understand?”

“…Understood.”

In the slightly softened atmosphere, the white tiger also smiled warmly.

“It’s good to see both of you solving the problem with each other. You can get up now.”

“Yes, yes. Thank you.”

The wolf glared at Iva as if his eyes were about to burst, but at the white tiger’s words, he quickly stood up and even bowed down to his waist.

It was impossible to tell who he was apologizing to at the moment.

“I won’t inquire about today’s events either. It’s an implicit rule here.”

“Thank you very much for showing mercy.”

“However.”

White tiger approached the wolf and whispered something in a way that Iva couldn’t hear.

“When my friend finds out about today’s events, it seems like they won’t stop themselves from coming after you.”

It was a clear warning to be careful outside and to live quietly.

The wolf, who knew white tiger’s friend well, vigorously nodded his head under the overwhelming fear.

“I-I’ll keep it a secret for life!”

“That’s a good attitude. Then, continue enjoying the party.”

It was a message directed not only to the wolf, but to everyone present, in order to calm down the commotion.

However, the atmosphere had become too frozen to let the excitement rise again. It seemed unreasonable to have fun in this atmosphere, so Iva tried to leave the party.

“I’m really grateful for your help today. I’ll go ahead.”

“Lady, wait…”

After briefly thanking the white tiger, Iva headed toward the back garden.

“Whew-“

As she stepped outside and felt the chilly wind, the tension eased, and her spirit rose sharply.

In front of the wolf, she pretended not to be scared at all, but it was natural to be afraid when facing someone much larger than oneself.

Moreover, if it weren’t for white tiger stepping in, she would have received a severe beating.

In that case, not only would the mask have been removed, but she might have even fainted.

“Should I take this opportunity to learn some self-defense? Become the Fist King of this empire?”

“Lady.”

Muttering to herself, she heard a male voice from behind.

Thinking that the wolf had followed her all the way here, she turned around, fully on guard.

“Oh, it’s you.”

•?••? ? ?••?•