''I wonder what''s taking Keith so long?''

    Nathalie was all ready after a few minutes of retouching and smoothened the fabric on the sleeves and hem of the mauve with floral prints on the maxi dress.

    ''Hmm? Do I look good? Let me see… Let me take a look.''

    In the meantime, she stood in front of the mirror, turning around, most especially her back if it was that much revealing, especially that she only put on a high ponytail. Facing it, she nudged the underside of her bosoms up, pushing them up a tad bit to be more comfortable.

    ''Goodness, he is still not back. Where did he even go—?!''

    Nathalie rushed out of the door, brisking her way as she looked around the interior of the alley she was in— the small fairies and fireflies hovered onto different blooms of flowers and vines that crept throughout every stone and wood planks

    Suddenly, she was then reminded of the time where Keith took time to come back, which happened rarely, and only to find out he got knocked out from Jonathan, with the help of the twins, and she didn''t want it to happen a second time around.

    For she didn''t know who might be capable of doing so and unto him.

    Nathalie was at loss for how long she brisked but her feet, more so her soles were in quite a numb after all that with white stiletto heels on her.

    ''I''ve never thought about it that much but Braewood Keep is bigger than I thought it would be…''

    Panting out loud, she propped her palms on her thighs as she lowered out of tiredness. When her breathing went calmer than earlier alongside the palpitations, she then scooted back to where she needed to go.

    "What''s all the fuss?"

    Ashtra''s muse rang inside her head, which she almost forgot that he was there the whole time. Although, she didn''t respond as she went to scour around and then moved to the Great Hall.

    With how calm he was, she pondered perhaps Keith was beyond fine than she ever thought then.

    "If you''re looking for him; you''re almost there…"

    Nathalie creased her eyebrows, as though she couldn''t understand a word that came from his mouth.

    However, he was rather serious at this point; so she didn''t want to be an ass any further about his responses.

    ''I only sense his vague presence, passing here… But, what do you mean?''

    Ashtra added, "Take the downstairs, then turn right, you''d see the second chamber from the corner."

    ''Got it.''

    She then reached for her hands onto the rails, and when she did, a part of her didn''t sit that well and didn''t dilly-dally with her steps.

    ''Right, where is it… Hmm, there!''

    It wasn''t any special room, like it was no different from hers: the door interior and the alley she was in but as soon as she stood in front of it, about a few inches apart, something wasn''t right behind the closed doors.

    It didn''t fail to amaze her, with the reek of the drugs and liquor, the heavy bodily stench wafted her nose, churning her gut enough to make her feel so unwell.

    Nevertheless, she knocked on the door.

    Three times, like the lady that she was then.

    But not a scream or any utterance for a reply.

    So she repeated.

    None.

    This time, she twisted the knob; surprisingly, it wasn''t locked, to begin with.

    But even when it was slightly ajar, the putrid smell got stronger.

    Nathalie didn''t hesitate as she slammed the door and barged in.

    While she might''ve kept a straight face, her heart dropped from what she saw so far.

    With the only brilliance that came from the outside, casting the room with enough light, she gawked at naked men and women: doing so many of those lustful deeds be it on the floor or the furniture.

    Meanwhile, they also stopped doing what they were into, gaping at her presence for a hot second before they scrambled out of the light with a few waves of panic. From myriad yelps and screams with a bunch of curses spoken out loud.

    With haste, they grabbed onto spare clothes on the ground, a bare minimum to cover themselves from the filthy acts, which she never mind at this point.

    Taking a glance, they might''ve hidden their faces now but she remembered almost everyone.

    This malicious room filled with several male leads, introduced in the novel, appeared here like it was some sort of a gathering or taking a quick vacation, alongside the potential side characters.

    If anything, it was but a party to get themselves laid, with the high-quality women and men dressed erotically in sheer fabric and dripping with ornaments— these weren''t some cheap prostitutes.

    "Ugh, who dares intrude the—"

    But that didn''t shock her the most, when Athan''s groan erupted the room, turning her head towards the direction.

    He was on the bed, now sitting upright, and few of the voluptuous women and fair men were clasping onto him so dearly.

    Noticing her, he flinched and stared at her with utter shock— even with the disheveled fringes, his crimson eyes gleamed as bright as the embers on the ashtrays.

    However, she maintained her composure; giving a side glance at everyone around her, including him.

    Going further into the room, as it was rather spacious, more and more people became familiar to her eyes.

    ''It looks like he had gathered such an ensemble cast…''

    While most of them were reputable nobles and knights, which had a good standing in the Western Territory, there were also foreign guests from the different places within the Dysnomia Empire.

    ''Sylvester… Mark… Oh, even Charles is in here…''

    Taking notice of Charles, who was nearby the couch, curbed away from her like he was hiding from such shame.

    But it''s not her issue that she needed to tackle for now.

    Everyone went quiet; no one dared to move or act in her presence. Which then served her steps clacking onto the polished wooden floor.

    Because towards the closet, she opened it.

    Her heart became troubled from the sudden boil in her blood.

    Keith wasn''t harmed and was beyond healthy, but he got his wrists and feet all tied up with such bindings as well as the blindfold in him.

    He had been panting the whole time with his cheeks flushed red.

    This time, Nathalie raised her eyebrow at Athan, muttering, "What is the meaning of this?"