Pretext
Pretext (?; 277) , noun
[French prétexte, Latin praetextum, from praetextus, past participle of praetexere to weave before, allege as an excuse; prae before + texere to weave. See Text.]
Ostensible reason or motive assigned or assumed as a color or cover for the real reason or motive; pretense; disguise.
They suck the blood of those they depend on, under a pretext of service and kindness.
With how much or how little pretext of reason.