Chapter 2

The next morning, I was woken by footsteps.

I opened my eyes. At the head of the bed sat a few old sketchboards.

The steward stood by the door, his tone dismissive.

"The young master used to like painting. No time now. Old stuff, nowhere to put it. So it's in here."

"Besides, this room was converted from a storage closet anyway."

I said nothing. I just ran my fingers gently along the edge of the paper.

A man who ran an arms empire, living on the edge of a blade every day, still kept these brushes.

That was a far cry from the Kevin I'd heard about.

"Catherine. Put this on. Come to the dining hall with me. We have guests."

Kevin had appeared behind the steward without warning.

He tossed a dress onto the bed and left without expression.

I unfolded it. The fabric was especially soft.

The sleeves were exactly the right length. Just enough to cover the burn marks from the tea.

For a moment, I felt dazed.

Once I was ready, I followed Kevin toward the hall.

We'd just turned the corridor when we ran straight into Sophia and Lorenzo.

Sophia wore a formal gown, the short blade Father had given her at her waist. Her expression was arrogant.

In my last life, I fought alone on the front lines. I never bowed to anyone.

Sophia took over, and the first thing she did was come running to beg for aid.

I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

Sophia looked at me, scanned my dress, and sneered.

"Catherine, covered up so tight in this heat. Must've been tortured by Kevin all night, huh?"

"Looks like life in the arms dynasty isn't so easy after all."

I smiled and said coldly,

"Sophia, I'm Kevin's wife. You're a guest."

"By the rules, you address me as Mrs. Voss."

Sophia frowned. A flicker of disgust crossed her eyes.

She turned to Kevin.

"Kevin, I heard you hate people who throw their weight around. She's this arrogant. Aren't you going to teach her a lesson?"

Kevin's face went dark in an instant.

"A lesson? Since when does an outsider get to discipline my wife in front of me?"

The air froze. No one spoke.

Lorenzo, experienced as he was, went pale.

He understood. The arms dynasty's etiquette was even stricter than the mafia's. Kevin was clearly furious.

Smack!

A sharp slap rang through the hall.

Lorenzo snapped.

"Watch your mouth! Greet my wife properly!"

Sophia clutched her reddened cheek, staring at Lorenzo in disbelief.

But under everyone's eyes, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and say, aggrieved,

"Mrs. Voss... good morning."

Kevin's brows eased slightly. He turned and walked toward the room.

Lorenzo stood where he was, muttering under his breath.

"Miss, don't forget. We came here to ask for aid."

"You embarrassed Kevin to his face. What about our weapons?"

Sophia said nothing. She just shot me a venomous glare, then walked on.

At the negotiation table, Sophia seemed to remember her last life. She was trembling all over.

To hide her panic, she pulled out the short blade and kept fidgeting with it.

An elder saw it. His face went cold immediately.

"Bringing a blade to the negotiation table. Is this the mafia's idea of manners?"

"No basic courtesy at all. This is an insult to us!"

Lorenzo's face went paper white. He hurried to apologize.

"Sir, she's young and foolish. I'll deal with her strictly when we return."

"No need."

Kevin leaned back in his chair and said coldly.

"Since you don't know how to behave, I have the right to refuse you aid."

"See yourselves out."

Several bodyguards stepped forward to escort them out. Sophia and Lorenzo stumbled out the door.