Instead of replying, Nolan laughed dryly, a bitter laugh that didn't sound convincing at all. In the end, he ended up looking like a dog being dragged around by Selena, clutching two large paper bags in his hands.
"I told you to get your stuff out of this store immediately. I have the legal title deeds."
Nolan stopped in his tracks. He turned his head toward the source of the commotion. They were on the third floor of a designer handbag store.
His gaze fell on a beautiful woman with purple-brown hair that fell to her waist. A transparent hood covered her head, and the fine fabric accentuated her figure gracefully.
It was clear that the woman was in trouble.
Three arrogant-looking men in suits stood in front of her, blocking the exit.
Amidst the bustle of the third floor, customers stopped walking and formed a small circle to watch the commotion unfold. A beautiful woman stood facing three men in suits. One of them—a man in a white suit adorned with flashy gold accessories—was the most striking. He had an arrogant demeanor and a lopsided smile. His hand repeatedly patted the woman's shoulder in a condescending manner.
The woman crossed her arms over her chest. Her face was calm, almost cold, as if she were holding back her emotions. Her gaze was bold, without a hint of fear.
Nolan watched her without blinking.
For some reason, her face felt familiar. Like an old memory shrouded in mist. He tried to dig through the remnants of Caelthorn's memory that lingered in his mind but couldn't find anything clear.
The commotion escalated when the man in the white suit suddenly became impudent. He moved his hand lewdly to caress the woman's shoulder.
A harsh slap immediately thwarted his intentions.
"You slut!" he snapped in a high-pitched voice, his face flushed with anger and embarrassment. "Acting all arrogant. Even if a man asked you to make out with her, she'd definitely want to!"
The man's hand rose, ready to strike.
But before he could touch her, the woman moved swiftly. Her hand gripped the man's wrist and twisted it in one sharp motion. A scream of pain ripped through the air.
"Wow," Selena murmured beside Nolan, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "She's a classy woman. And brave."
Nolan agreed. The woman had handled the insult elegantly—calmly and without panic.
But the man in the white suit seemed completely humiliated. His face turned red, and his voice rose as he shouted orders at the other two men in suits who were clearly bodyguards.
"Finish him!"
"Nolan, we have to help him," Selena said quickly.
Nolan nodded faintly. While the woman could easily handle the man in the white coat, the two large men were in a different situation altogether.
He was about to take a step—
—when a violent tremor shook the floor.
A purple light flashed. In an instant, the two large men were thrown two meters away and smashed into the display case.
The beautiful woman now held a curved, bright purple sword. A thick, sharp mana aura overflowed from her body. She threw a round token bearing the symbol of a crescent moon into the air from her other hand. The token floated, spinning slowly before her.
The whispers of the visitors echoed.
"Oh my... Sir Timothy is truly impudent."
"Princess Melody was treated like that?"
"He's insulting King Antares. Princess Melody is his second brother's daughter."
Nolan froze.
"Melody...?" he muttered softly.
The memories finally came together clearly. The beautiful woman before him was no ordinary person.
"I didn't expect to meet her here," he whispered, his gaze fixed intently on Melody.
"If I hadn't shown up, trash like you would've continued bothering Narcissa, who runs my shop."
Melody's voice was cold and commanding. Her gaze bore down on the three men, devoid of emotion. She stood tall, and her aura was distinctly different—not just that of a noble, but of someone accustomed to giving orders and being obeyed.
Beside her stood Narcissa, a beautiful girl with jet-black hair. Nolan got the impression that she was the one who had been running the shop in Dominiq City.
The round, crescent-moon-engraved token floating in the air was terrifying. The three men's faces immediately paled, especially the man in the white suit, who had seemed the most arrogant previously.
"How could you not investigate first?" the man asked, his voice trembling. "Princess Melody is Prince Maven's daughter. You really want me dead, don't you?"
Melody reached out, and the token returned to her palm. Then, the small, purple, curved sword was stored in her storage bracelet. Her gaze remained cold and contemptuous.
"Forgive me, Princess Melody!" The man in the white suit prostrated himself on the floor. "Please, have mercy. Spare us."
Melody let out a low, unwarranted laugh. "I don't care."
She clapped her hands once.
Four figures in glamorous purple robes emerged from the side of the room. Their auras were clearly powerful. Without another word, they immediately dragged the three men out. The man in the white coat screamed and pleaded, but his voice was lost in the crowd.
Melody then turned to face the visitors. Her tone had softened to perfection.
"We apologize for the commotion and inconvenience. As an apology, the store is offering a special discount today."
Several customers seemed captivated by her beauty and the contrast between her subtle demeanor and her display of absolute power.
The crowd slowly thinned. Nolan watched Melody have a brief conversation with Narcissa. Then, the raven-haired girl left them.
"Nolan," Melody said, turning to him. A faint smile played across her lips. "It's been a while since I've seen your beautiful cousin. And yet you're standing there like a statue."
Nolan snapped out of his reverie.
Melody stepped closer. She was tall and well-proportioned, and her bold outfit exuded confidence rather than cheapness. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared Selena down with sharp eyes, assessing her from top to bottom.
Nolan noticed the subtle change in Selena's expression—a hint of discomfort as if she felt judged.
"Nolan, is your taste in friends really this poor?" Melody said condescendingly, her gaze unwaveringly on Selena. "I thought you'd made at least some progress after you woke up from your coma."
Nolan could see the veins in Selena's temples tense. The short-haired girl's face flushed and her jaw clenched as if her patience were stretched to its limit. His brief admiration for Melody's courage vanished in an instant. All that was left was the image of an arrogant aristocrat.
"Are you going to continue to belittle my friends?" Nolan asked. His tone was calm but clearly tinged with irritation.
Melody glanced at him briefly, then looked Selena up and down. "Perhaps Elizabeth is much more beautiful and dignified as a noblewoman than this girl."
"Nolan," Selena said breathlessly, her voice trembling with anger. "I really can't stand it anymore. I want to hit her."
"If you want to start a fight, go ahead," Nolan replied with a heavy sigh. "But bear the consequences."
He then looked Melody straight in the eye. "Who I'm friends with is none of your business. And don't bring Elizabeth into this. You've always been like this."
Melody paused for a moment, then exhaled slowly. A faint smile spread across her face, making it hard to tell if it was genuine or just a formality.
"Okay, okay. I won't bother you," she said lightly. "You've changed a lot, Nolan. You even dared to talk back to me. I'm impressed."
She turned to Selena. "I'm sorry, Nolan's friend."
Was her apology genuine, or was she faking it?" Selena muttered, still annoyed.
Melody only smiled softly and continued in a gentle tone, patting Selena lightly on the back. "But it's impossible for your friend to attend the Death God Guild Master's welcoming ceremony looking like this, isn't it?"
"Huh? What welcoming?" Selena asked, puzzled.
Melody giggled, a light, teasing laugh typical of a noblewoman. "Uncle Vincent—I mean, Master Vincent—has returned from exile. Of course, the Death God Guild members want to welcome him back. The event was delayed due to the mission to raid the Snake Goddess Organization headquarters."
"Does the nobility really have to be so complicated?" Selena interjected, her tone softening though still harboring annoyance. "I thought the Death God Guild refused to be controlled, not that it was an arrogant guild of nobles."
"The Death God Guild is certainly different from the other eight guilds," Melody replied calmly.
She then turned to Nolan, who was standing beside her. "Nolan, you should dress more sophisticatedly as the crown prince."
Melody's gaze fell on Selena again, and her smile widened slightly.
"Before that," she continued, "I'd be happy to dress up your...rustic female friend. Just a little—to make her look classy."
Melody's words made Selena's jaw tighten. The short-haired girl clenched her fists, clearly restraining herself from scratching the beautiful face in front of her.
Nolan could sense the tension. He glanced at Selena, then returned to Melody with a flat stare.
"Because of Master Vincent's welcoming ceremony," Melody continued lightly, "I don't know if he'll come either."
Nolan frowned faintly.
"Who is he?"
Melody giggled, as usual—a laugh that sounded sweet but always felt like it was hiding something.
"I forgot. You've never met him before. Maybe you'll meet him in person at the upcoming Sentinel Guild Competition. After all, he's your senior in the Death God Guild, too."