Keep Your Poise

Her companion beside her nodded.

She was a tall, thin woman wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

"That kind of bearing—there isn't a second one like it in Grey Gull Port."

"Like some rare piece of porcelain."

"One look at it makes you want to... smash it."

The tall, thin woman licked her lips.

A greed that made one's skin crawl gleamed in her eyes.

"But..."

The Purple-Skirted Lady's gaze lowered slightly.

It moved away from Su Li's breathtaking face.

And settled on Old Jack across from him.

More precisely.

It settled on Old Jack's wrist, the one holding his knife and fork.

There.

Was a very thin red string.

It had been tied into a special knot.

Faintly visible beneath the cuff of his velvet coat.

The Purple-Skirted Lady's pupils contracted.

Then.

An amused smile appeared on her face.

"Do you see that?"

She nudged her companion's arm with her fan.

"That's Old Jack."

"The rat from Dark Alley."

Her companion narrowed her eyes.

And took a closer look.

Then she gave a soft laugh.

"So that's how it is."

"A red string around the wrist."

"It means 'for sale.'"

"And it's premium merchandise guaranteed by a broker."

Only seasoned veterans like them, who had spent years in this circle, understood such signals.

Those red strings were not decorations.

They were price tags.

Tickets for some special service.

They meant that the "prince" sitting there, seemingly out of reach.

Could actually be taken away.

As long as one could afford the price.

"How interesting."

The Purple-Skirted Lady folded her fan.

Under the table, she lightly kicked her companion's foot.

"Such fine merchandise."

"Where did Old Jack dig him up?"

"The previous ones were either down-and-out knights or gamblers drowning in debt."

"They all reeked of dirt."

"But this one..."

She looked at Su Li.

At his long, slender fingers.

At his lowered lashes.

At the cool, detached air he had even while eating grass as though savoring a gourmet feast.

The Purple-Skirted Lady felt her throat grow a little dry.

She picked up her glass and took a sip of red wine.

The wine slid down her throat.

But it did not extinguish the fire in her heart.

Instead, it burned even hotter.

"I'm going to the kitchen."

The Purple-Skirted Lady suddenly stood up.

She smoothed her skirt.

"You're going now?"

Her companion looked surprised.

"You're not having a servant fetch it?"

Normally.

If one wanted extra dishes or had special requests for a meal, one only needed to ring for a servant.

Going to the kitchen personally?

There was only one reason.

Some things.

Could not be said openly.

Some transactions.

Could not be conducted in broad daylight.

"What would a servant know about my tastes?"

The Purple-Skirted Lady smiled.

That smile carried the confidence of someone certain of victory.

"With ingredients this exquisite."

"If I don't make a move early."

"By tonight."

"I'm afraid I won't even get any soup."

With that.

She turned and headed toward the kitchen.

As she passed Su Li's table.

Her steps slowed slightly.

A rich scent of rose perfume drifted over.

Su Li smelled it.

But he did not look up.

He remained focused on battling the last few strips of potato on his plate.

The Purple-Skirted Lady gave him a deep look.

Then.

She swayed her hips and left.

Just then.

A small interruption broke Su Li's meal.

A girl in a goose-yellow dress, perhaps fifteen or sixteen.

Her face was red as an apple.

She clutched an embroidered handkerchief.

Gathering her courage, she walked up to Su Li's table.

"Um... um..."

The girl's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

Her hands twisted together.

"Sir, may I... may I ask your name?"

"I'm... I'm from the Baron of South City's family..."

Su Li stopped his chopsticks.

He looked up.

At the little girl who was so nervous she seemed about to faint.

He had just been about to say something.

Something like, "Hello," or "I'm eating potatoes."

But before he could make a sound.

Old Jack, who had been silently cutting his meat, suddenly threw his knife and fork onto the plate.

Clang.

The sound was loud.

It startled the girl.

Old Jack looked up.

There was no emotion in that one-eyed face.

He wiped his mouth with the filthy napkin.

Then, in an exceedingly arrogant and rude tone, he said:

"Young lady."

"My master is dining."

"This is also his only moment of meditation each day."

"Please do not disturb him."

"And."

Old Jack looked the girl up and down.

His eyes held undisguised contempt.

"A baron?"

"Such a lowly title."

"Is not qualified to know my master's name."

"Please leave."

Every word was harsh and inflexible.

It was practically as if the words "looking down on others" had been carved onto his forehead.

The girl's face instantly went pale.

Tears welled in her eyes.

In all her life.

She had never suffered such humiliation.

"You... you..."

She stamped her foot.

Then covered her face and ran away.

When dealing with little girls like that, who had little money and were likely to cause trouble, one had to be this heartless.

It not only avoided unnecessary trouble.

It also established that "aloof and difficult" persona.

The more one rejected others.

The higher one's value became.

Old Jack knew how to play that game better than anyone.

"That little brat."

Old Jack picked up his knife and fork again.

He muttered under his breath.

"She probably couldn't even pull out ten Gold Coins."

"And she still wanted to strike up a conversation."

"What a waste of time."

Su Li said nothing.

He took a sip of water.

Just then.

A crisp bell suddenly rang from the direction of the kitchen.

Ding—

The sound was brief.

Urgent.

As if urging the dishes to be served.

Or as if conveying some kind of signal.

Old Jack paused mid-chew over his beef.

His single eye flashed brightly.

He quickly swallowed the meat in his mouth.

Then he picked up the napkin and roughly wiped his mouth.

"Don't wander off."

Old Jack rose to his feet.

He adjusted his slightly tight coat.

He shot Su Li a meaningful look.

"I need to take care of something."

"I'll be right back."

"Remember."

"No matter who comes to talk to you."

"Don't respond."

"Keep your composure."

With that, Old Jack turned and left.

His steps were more than twice as fast as when he had come in.

He was in such a rush that he nearly collided with a waiter carrying a tray.