Inside Councilman Macht's mansion, in an exquisitely furnished bedroom brimming with a young girl's charm.
"What do I do... what do I do..."
Hazel paced anxiously back and forth.
Earlier, when her mother had asked after her with concern, she had claimed she felt unwell and needed rest, then locked herself in her room.
As a sheltered young heiress who had grown up knowing little of the world, this was the first time anyone had gained such devastating leverage over her. All the pride and confidence that had sustained her vanished in that instant.
"Judging by his tone, he's definitely not going to let me off that easily..."
She muttered to herself, her voice trembling slightly. "He might keep blackmailing me. He might even..." She instinctively curled in on herself, an inexplicable wave of nausea rising within her.
"No..."
Affairs and promiscuity were commonplace among the upper classes. As a precocious girl, Hazel had been exposed to such things since childhood and understood men's filthy intentions quite well. She was also exceptionally confident in her own looks and bearing.
And as a Beyonder, she looked down on ordinary mortals. The mere thought of what that man named James Scott might do to her made her tremble all over.
No. That's disgusting. I don't want to lie naked in his arms! She abruptly stopped pacing and wrapped her arms around herself, sinking into imaginings tangled with fear, shame, and indignation.
Just then, a faint squeaking suddenly came from the balcony.
She quickly turned to look at one corner of it.
At some point, a Gray-White Rat with filthy water soaking its fur had appeared there.
"What urgent matter made you summon me in such a hurry?"
The rat actually vibrated the surrounding air to produce human speech.
Hazel was not surprised.