The manager froze,pletely thrown off. He had called for Mister Saint-ire-


    yet the other man stepped forward like the name belonged to him.


    It was so shameless it made the air tighten.


    "Excuse me," the manager began, ready to correct the mistake.


    But Alex lifted a hand, calm and steady. "It''s okay."


    Since Alex didn''t mind, the manager let it slide.


    Gerhard, however, was glowing.


    For a moment he looked stunned, then stunned turned into pride-especially with Renata standing beside him. Being greeted by the head manager himself? That was enough to inte any ego.


    Conrad stared at him, jaw dropped.


    "Gerhard, you''re unbelievable. That guy''s the branch head. He treated you like royalty. Since when did you know people like that? You never mentioned any of this-such a low-profile man!"


    Gerhard burst into self-satisfiedughter.


    "Hahaha! No need to brag about my connections. I keep things quiet. Low-key is better!"


    Renata blinked in surprise. For once, Gerhard didn''t seem like empty talk. Maybe he really was capable.


    Perhaps this man was genuinely dependable-unlike Alex, who seemed to survive on the faint afterglow of a legacy that had already burned out.


    It seemed that remaining near Gerhard would bring a good deal of convenience to her daily life.


    The manager personally escorted the group to the entrance of the tinum Suite, bowing them in with full respect.


    But before Alex could step past the door, Gerhard''s shrill voice cut through the hallway.


    "Damn it! Who gave you permission to enter?! You haven''t even thanked me— you didn''t ask, you didn''t bow, nothing!"


    Conrad snapped at Alex, "You shameless rat! Do you have any idea who booked this room? You think you can just walk in before asking permission? Do you seriously believe you''re the one who reserved this ce?!"


    Alex frowned. "Yes."


    Silence then an explosion ofughter. Hard, cruel, mocking.


    Gerhard nearly doubled over.


    "You are unbelievably shameless, Alex. I''ve had enough. Get out. You don''t deserve to be here. You have no right to join us. You''re an ungrateful bastard."


    The room vibrated with his anger, ego, and the poisonous satisfaction of humiliating someone he thought was beneath him.


    The manager stiffened, startled by Gerhard''s loud, rude interruption.


    His eyes shifted to Alex, silently asking if he should step in-if he should put this bastard in his ce right now.


    Alex gave a small shake of his head. "Never mind. Let them use the room. I''m not that petty."


    Beatrix burst outughing.


    "Let them use the room,'' he says. Look at him-acting like he''s the one who made the reservation."


    Alex didn''t care enough to fight. Renata was his wife''s best friend he would show her some respect, but he had no desire topete with Gerhard for the privilege of serving her.


    If Gerhard wanted to y the perfect gentleman, if he wanted to unt, to impress -fine. Let him.


    Alex could still tell his wife he reserved the tinum Suite for her. That was enough.


    Alex turned to leave.


    Then Renata spoke.


    "Hey, Gerhard... Alex is my best friend''s husband. At least give him a seat, don''t you think?"


    Gerhard''s face brightened instantly. He shed Renata the warmest smile he had. "Since you asked, I''ll give him a corner seat."


    Annabe sneered.


    "Alex, you should thank Gerhard. He''s giving you a chance to eat here."


    "Truly ungrateful bastard," Conrad added as they walked into the room.


    Alex sighed quietly.


    ''The arrogant rise high with empty pride, But soon one strike reveals how hollow they truly are.''


    Gerhard guided Renata to the main seat at the long, gleaming table.


    Everyone crowded around her immediately-chatting, ttering, bending their words to entertain her.


    Alex sat alone in the far corner, invisible.


    Soon, the meal began.


    Drone-operated robot waiters glided in, serving each course with mechanical precision.


    The dishes were stunning-every te crafted from the rarest, finest ingredients. Premium cuts of meat and top-grade seafood appeared only as side dishes.


    Even the wine was an aged masterpiece-century-old bottles worth a hundred thousand dors each.


    Renata, born into a duke''s family and no stranger to luxury, had visited this restaurant several times.


    Yet she still found herself stunned.


    The extravagance of this spread-this feast-surpassed anything she had seen.


    And Alex sat quietly in the corner, forgotten.


    Conrad let out a long, jealous sigh as he scanned the table.


    "Gerhard, what budget could possibly cover this? Every dish here is rare, highest-


    grade, impossibly fresh. Nothing about this feast is ordinary."


    Gerhard puffed out his chest, trying to look rxed.


    "I already told you. I prepared five hundred thousand dors."


    Conrad''s eyes flew wide open.


    "Are you serious? One bottle of this wine alone costs a hundred thousand dors. And we''ve opened five. That''s not even counting the food. This whole thing already blew past your budget. Are you sure you didn''t screw something up?" Gerhard kept a casual smile stered on his face, but inside, his heart hammered hard.


    Something wasn''t right.


    He recalled the manager at the entrance, treating him as if he carried genuine authority.


    Did he truly mention the tinum Room? Not the Golden Room with its half- million ceiling?


    Before panic could settle, Renata''s soft voice cut through his spiraling thoughts.


    "Thank you, Gerhard," she said, her eyes shimmering with genuine admiration. "You really put effort into this meal."


    Her warmth swept away every doubt in him.


    Gerhard straightened, basking in her praise.


    "You''re wee," he said proudly. "It''s my pleasure."


    Then he turned to Alex, a smug smirk curling on his lips.


    "Alex, I bet you''ve never eaten food this good in your entire life, right?"


    Alex shed a sharp, sarcastic smile.


    "I wouldn''t know. I''m only drinking this tea-the only free thing in this ce. I''m just wondering... once


    all done eating, can you even he bill? Because I''m sure as hett not helping."


    Gerhard''s face twisted in disgust.


    "You''re sitting at my table and drinking my tea, and now you''re taunting me? I''m


    not like you—I actually have the money to pay."


    "That''sforting," Alex sneered. "I''d hate to watch a man identallymit financial suicide over this simple lunch."


    Gerhard mmed a fist against the table, outrage boiling over.


    "That rotten mouth of yours never shuts up! Damn it—if you''ve ever eaten food


    like this before, then I''m a goddamn bastard!"


    Alex only smiled, calm and unreadable.


    If they knew the truth-if they knew what he once was-they''d choke on their


    words.


    Back when he lived as a king, these dishes were mere scraps served to servants. None of this impressed him.


    Beatrix saw Alex''s quiet confidence and exploded.


    "Alex! What is that attitude, you pathetic loser!" Beatrix snapped. "Believe it or not, I''ll throw you out right now! We''re giving you a free meal and this is how you act? You fucking useless loser!"


    Alex didn''t flinch.


    He lifted his teacup slightly.


    "The free tea is the only thing this restaurant gave me and the only thing I''m


    taking. And honestly? This table looks like thest supper before Gerhard''s wallet


    dies."


    Gerhard hissed through his teeth, face tightening. "Stop talking nonsense. Everything is under control."


    Alexzily stirred his tea, not even looking up.


    "Good to hear," he said calmly. "Because from here... it looks like the only thing under control is your ability to pretend."


    Before Gerhard or the others had a chance to explode, the suite door flew open under a brutal kick, mming into the wall and rattling the whole room.


    A stocky man stood in the doorway—thick shoulders, heavy boots, and a ck motorcycle-style leather jacket that matched the fury in his eyes.


    Beside him stood the front-staff woman from earlier, trembling.


    "Excuse me, gentlemen," the man growled, voice low and dangerous. "I''m looking


    for the bastard who pped my sister."


    The staff woman stepped forward and shakily pointed at Gerhard.


    “That man... he pped me. I didn''t even do anything wrong."


    "So you''re the one whoid a hand on my sister," the leather-jacketed man said


    as he walked toward Gerhard, each step echoing like a threat.


    "Mind exining why you hit her? She''s just working hard to help support our


    family."


    Gerhard sneered, arrogance dripping from every word.


    "I''m a Baron. Why should I need a reason to hit amoner like her? If you don''t


    like it, call the police."


    The man smiled coldly.


    "Great. Sister, step outside. We''ve found our man."


    The staff woman hurried out.


    In the next second, the doorframe


    shook again as over a dozen huge, tattoo-covered men stormed inside. They didn''t speak they simply lined up around the table, forming a wal


    of muscle and scars.


    Everyone went pale. Renata. Beatrix. Annabe. Even Conrad sucked in a breath,


    terrified.


    The man in the leather jacket approached Gerhard and swung.


    Gerhard barely managed to lift his arms to block, staggering from the force.


    But the second hit cracked through his guard, and the third mmed straight into


    his nose.


    Then came two more punches-fast, brutal, precise.


    Gerhard crashed to the floor, clutching his face.


    "How dare you hit me?!" he shouted, voice shaking with rage and fear.


    The man stepped over him.


    "I''m a Viscount—one rank above you. If you can hit my sister, why can''t I hit you?"


    Gerhard''s eyes flew wide.


    "Your sister? That''s impossible! A viscount''s family wouldn''t work as staff. You''re


    just picking a fight!"


    The man''s smile sharpened.


    "What''s the problem? If I say she''s my sister, then she''s my sister."


    Gerhard trembled.


    "Do you know who I am?! How dare you strike me?"


    The man grabbed Gerhard by the cor and yanked him up. "You? Do you even


    know who I am? I am Viscount Leopold. Right-hand man to Count Oskar."


    Conrad''s face turned ghost-white.


    Beatrix''s lips trembled.


    Annabe''s knees nearly buckled.


    Count Oskar.


    The name alone was enough to freeze blood.


    The king of the underworld.


    A man evenw enforcement didn''t dare touch.


    And he had just assaulted his right-hand man''s sister.