“Milly… sister…”
Simona looked back at the kind-hearted goddess priestess and softly called her name, then bowed her head slightly.
Milly reached out to adjust Simona’s headscarf and said,
“The Great Fog should be just an ordinary water mist. What they encountered was a demon attack. Demons affect a person’s thoughts and soul.”
“I understand, Milly sister.”
“Let’s go first. We’re not needed here for the time being. You can go back and rest a bit.”
“Okay.”
The nun Simona and Goddess Priestess Milly headed toward the Goddess Cult Abbey.
East Red Pine City, inside a territory’s village.
A young boy who had gone out to release water spotted a layer of mist billowing from afar and was filled with surprise—Red Pine City never had fog all year round.
What’s going on today?
He saw the mist rapidly spreading, like a flood engulfing the trees and land. The boy saw that the family of his sworn enemy at the village entrance was swallowed by the fog.
While still in shock, a scream made the boy’s heart tremble.
“Ahhhhhhh!!!”
More and more screams grew louder and closer, accompanied by the relentless advance of the pale, eerie fog.
Only when the fog was just a few meters away did the boy see its true form—faces made entirely of smoke, grinning wildly.
They were endless, rushing forward with unstoppable force. After being swallowed by the fog, the boy shivered but managed to crawl up, intending to run away.
But at that moment, a strange white humanoid figure pounced on him.
A scream was cut abruptly short.
Red Pine City, Asades Castle, Lord’s Manor.
Henna gazed at the painting of the Silver-haired Sword Maiden hanging on the wall. After a long moment, she stepped forward and took it down.
She rolled it up and placed it into a box prepared in advance, then carried the box and an iron shovel up to the back hill.
Finding a secluded spot, she dug a pit and buried the box containing the painting.
After finishing this, Henna returned to the manor and had a maid help her change into her evening attire.
But as a lord, and a rare female lord at that, she naturally would not wear a fancy gown to the banquet. Instead, she chose a tailored shirt and long pants.
Her wine-red hair was neatly pinned up by the deft hands of the maid.
Putting on white gloves and a tailcoat, a strikingly handsome female lord appeared.
The maid was about to apply makeup to Henna’s face, but was stopped by her voice.
“Enough. I’m not attending as a lady for socializing, but as someone with authority here.”
The maid responded with a respectful “Yes,” and then stepped back.
Henna studied her reflection, clenched her fist, and lightly tapped her chest.
She did not think she would fail—after all, she had plenty of intelligence advantages. What she worried about was Phil’s safety.
Henna knew she had special feelings for Phil.
At first, her admiration for the Ordinary-blood Sword Saint was transferred onto Phil.
But after spending time together, Henna realized she had truly fallen for a mother who already had a daughter, which she found shameful.
She craved Phil’s gentle yet strong maternal aura, wanting to hold her close, shelter her from the wind and rain, and be her partner in life.
Henna was skilled with weapons, calligraphy, and magic, and had some business knowledge.
Her family controlled a territory with nearly a million residents, collecting close to one hundred thousand gold coins in taxes yearly.
Yet she still did not know how to properly express her feelings to a lady.
That time when she took Yelena along, her forward attempt was rejected, and every time she thought back, she felt clumsy beyond words.
“I wonder how Princess Vivienne gets along with that person. Someone like her must be very skilled at it. I wonder where Enya went.”
“Sigh, why am I still thinking about her…”
Henna laughed at herself bitterly.
She had already decided to give up that nearly impossible option and seriously pursue the good things right before her.
“I should find someone to ask for advice.”
She pushed aside her wandering thoughts and stood up, heading to the grand hall where the banquet was about to begin.
When she arrived, all eyes turned to her.
Henna walked confidently to the main seat, cleared her throat, and delivered a formal opening speech to the many attending nobles and celebrities.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this event. First of all…”
“…I hope everyone enjoys themselves here.”
The speech ended to thunderous applause. As she stepped down from the stage, soothing music began to play in the brightly lit hall.
Henna mingled and conversed with many noble dignitaries.
“My lord, it’s good to see you…”
“You’re still as beautiful as ever, Lady XX.”
“And this little princess, where is she from? Oh, the daughter of Sir XXX. She’s grown so lovely.”
“Sorry, madam, I can’t dance with you…”
“Hello…”
This scene made Yelena, crouched in the corner, sweat profusely and feel parched.
If she were to inherit the lordship in the future, would she also have to do such things?
No! This is terrifying!
I… I want to run away… I want to escape from this family!
“Yelena.”
“Ugh… Elqi?”
Dressed in a bright red dress, Yelena looked at the elegant woman in white holding a glass of juice. They were two completely different types of women.
Elqi handed Yelena the glass of orange juice and glanced around the venue.
“I thought she would come…”
“She?”
Yelena showed a hint of confusion but quickly guessed who was meant.
Whenever she thought of her, Yelena couldn’t help but lower her head.
Since that time, the proud mask she had put on was shattered, unrecoverable and unwearable. She should hate that person.
But deep inside, she felt something else.
Sometimes lately, she even dreamed about being bullied by her.
Hmm, am I strange?
Yelena hugged a pair of sizeable white rabbits to her chest. Elqi squinted at her until Yelena turned to look, then she averted her gaze and straightened her chest.
Although Elqi had tried hard, talent still mattered. Her own talent in this area was mediocre at best.
As the banquet entered the dance segment, Henna stepped out of the crowd and began talking with the Ophield family’s representative, Elqi’s young uncle.
The details of their cooperation had long been finalized. This was just a formal meeting to get acquainted or symbolically discuss matters.
At that moment, Baron Garnard approached and introduced himself to the Ophield family, exchanging cold pleasantries with Henna.
Just then, a soldier appeared from the side door.
Henna saw him and, after excusing herself to those around her, quickly walked over. The soldier reported gravely,
“Lord, a fog has appeared outside the city.”
“Hm, I know.”
Henna nodded and waved him off. The soldier turned and quickly left.
She returned to the stage and stopped the music abruptly, causing a stir among the crowd.
Standing on the stage, she amplified her voice with magic.
“Everyone, I have urgent matters to attend to. I will return soon. Please wait patiently. The ball will continue.”
Without waiting for a response, she headed toward the side door. The female lord’s presence was overwhelming, and everyone stepped aside to clear a path.
The oppressive aura of a Sixth Rank expert!
As she left, the music resumed, but the guests exchanged glances. Those who knew the situation quietly left, while others sensed shifting winds and clouds.
Yet some oblivious revelers continued their flirtations, hoping for a dance. The young ladies chatted on, unaware.
Elqi and Yelena slipped out of the hall unnoticed. They followed quickly but found Henna had already vanished—well prepared!
Inside the carriage, Phil opened her eyes and sensed many presences approaching.
Alvin, sitting in the co-driver seat, also noticed the change. He suppressed the gloom on his face and gripped the longsword in his arms.
Even Rosily felt something was wrong.
She looked up at her mother, preparing to step outside and face possible enemies.
But Phil held her tightly, refusing to let go.
Rosily wiggled and whispered softly,
“Mom…”
“Be good. Stay in Mom’s arms. You’re not allowed to go anywhere!”
Phil pulled Rosily closer as if to protect her from harm during the coming conflict. The hold wasn’t very strong—Rosily’s natural strength was enough to easily break free—but the girl chose to comply.
She felt she had learned a lot and was starting to be less dependent, which made her mother anxious.
The daughter did not want to lose her mother, and how could the mother bear to lose her daughter?
“Mom, I’ll protect you. I promised.”
“Mm, but not now. You’re still too young and not strong enough.”
“But I really am strong.”
“No means no!”
“Mom~”
“Good girl. Listen to Mom. Stay right here. Sister Henna’s people will come protect us. You don’t need to go outside.”
“…”
Rosily pouted but obediently nestled into Phil’s arms.
Above in the sky, Enya spread her black-boned, red-membraned dragon wings and hovered. Her golden-red dragon eyes glanced toward the east’s wave of fog.
A faint smile curved her lips, full of delight.
She looked down at the carriage where Rosily sat. What she had said earlier about gathering her things was actually to separate Phil out.
Now accompanying Rosily was the false “her” born of lies—that is, Madam Phil.
Watching Phil and Rosily’s little tug-of-war, Enya felt a strange sensation, as if seeing her daughter pouting in someone else’s arms…
Damn it! Why am I stuck up here playing spy in the sky, while she gets to sit below in the carriage playing with my daughter? Even if it’s me, I’m still jealous!
The carriage had just reached the end of the wealthy district’s street when several figures cloaked in black capes, wielding strange weapons, swarmed forward.
Their numbers were large enough to spook the horses.
Enya smiled playfully.
“Heh, they’ve finally come. Tonight, we can have some fun~”
The carriage rocked violently. Phil’s fragile yet mature figure fell to the floor.
Even in this state, she still held Rosily close by the door and stroked her hair gently, soothing her.
Outside, Alvin’s expression turned icy as he murmured,
“Black Sand Gang… these guys really are a pack of trained dogs.”
He drew his simple longsword. Instantly, the clash of steel filled the air around the carriage. Several knights calmed their horses and drew longswords to face the enemy.
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