Madam Margaret was currently seated in the carriage, waiting for her little Maid to return.
Seeing her Maid’s sullen expression, she already knew the discussion hadn’t gone well, yet Madam Margaret was not displeased.
She gazed through the carriage window at the Inn.
After boarding the carriage, the Maid knelt at her lady’s feet, head slightly bowed.
She said nothing negative, simply remaining silent.
Madam Margaret waited until she finally asked,
“How did that girl named Ain respond?”
“She….”
The Maid took a few seconds to recall, then summarized her conversation with Enya and Enya’s state at that time, leaving out any personal bias.
After hearing the Maid’s report, Madam Margaret nodded, glanced once out the window, then reached out and drew the curtain closed.
She lifted her leg, the high-heeled shoe resting upon the Maid’s thigh.
The Maid placed both hands on her lady’s leg, gently massaging the shapely calf wrapped in elegant black stockings.
Madam Margaret smiled and said,
“I wonder how powerful she really is, whether she can go up against that Eugene. If she actually manages to win… hehe, it won’t matter to me in the end, after all, I never lose.”
How can one lose when standing on the sidelines?
Since the other party didn’t need her charity, she’d just watch as a bystander for now.
When the key moment arrived, stepping in would best highlight her own necessity!
A bright, confident smile blossomed on Madam Margaret’s mature and beautiful face.
She placed a hand on her Maid’s cheek, stroking that soft, delicate skin as she said,
“My little darling, you’ve worked so hard~”
“It’s not hard at all. Being able to serve you, Madam, is my greatest honor!” The Maid’s eyes brimmed with affection, shining with emotion.
Outside the carriage, the sky above had turned a pale gray.
The long-absent rainy weather had finally arrived on this land.
As the sky grew dim, the air became heavy and oppressive, as if a torrential downpour could come crashing down at any moment to wash some of the filth from White Stone City.
Figures darted through the streets and alleys, all seeking shelter from the impending rain.
Every household called their children in from play, closed their doors and latched their windows, fearing that the rain would fall on their heads.
As the number of people in sight dwindled rapidly, the busiest Commoner District in White Stone City began to feel unusually quiet and cold.
In a tavern, a blond-haired man swept his gaze over the people seated below him, an air of arrogance on his face.
“You move only when I say so. Remember, don’t injure the bodies of those two women. The goods are mine, and they must be mine too!”
Ronald clenched his fist.
He’d already had this idea back at the Auction—those two women of unknown origin, since they were outsiders, as long as he kept them here…
Then, whether it was the goods or the people, wouldn’t everything become his? If he could just take them by force, why bother paying to buy them?
How foolish he’d been, only now realizing this!
Ronald had already spent money to get information about those two from Golden Town.
Golden Town was a place where, as long as you had money, you could even find out about your own wife’s affairs—who she was with, how many times, how many minutes each time.
Even which position they used, and what pillow talk was said during the act.
They could investigate every detail for you!
With just a thousand gold coins, Ronald had received all the information on those two outsiders from Miss Sharon.
From where they came, to where they were going, what they intended to do, down to their identities, appearances, physical measurements—every detail was meticulously listed!
Forgery?
No, absolutely impossible!
What Golden Town valued most was its reputation, which was the foundation of their business.
Besides, for a thousand gold coin report, how could it be fake? It even filled nearly ten pages!
Ronald trusted Miss Sharon implicitly.
After reading the report, Ronald sneered.
He’d thought they might be someone important, but they were just women from merchant families in the West Wind Empire, not even nobility, just blessed with a bit of beauty at best.
And their strength? Barely at the Fifth Magicka Stage!
Just two insignificant Fifth Magicka Stage mages dared to slap Ronald’s face?
Ronald’s sneer only deepened.
He glanced at those below—there were several Fifth Magicka Stage experts, and to be sure, he’d even hired a Sixth-Order Mage Knight.
With such an entourage, he wasn’t afraid those two women wouldn’t submit!
“Let’s go!”
At Ronald’s shout, the people at the table all stood up and followed him out of the tavern.
It was only after a long while that the tavern’s owner nervously emerged, worry written all over his face as he cleaned up the Wolfish Chaos left behind.
By now, night had fully fallen over White Stone City.
The heavy atmosphere pressed down, as if rain could pour down any moment—yet it continued to hang in suspense, lingering overhead.
Almost as if waiting for a specific moment?
Enya sat by the window, gazing silently at the sky, lost in thought. But her pale gold eyes narrowed slightly.
Her gaze sharpened, focusing on the windowsill. The next instant, a petite figure appeared there in a flash.
The newcomer gripped two short swords.
One of the short swords came dangerously close to Enya’s neck, but was stopped by the fingernail of a slender, jade-like finger.
Beneath a gray hood, a pair of blue eyes narrowed.
Enya brushed the blade away with her fingernail.
“Nina!”
Sophia stood from her chair and took two steps forward. She addressed Nina, who stood on the windowsill with swords pointed at Enya.
“Don’t be so rude to your elder.”
“….”
Nina’s face beneath her hood was frosted over, but at Sophia’s words, she eased up a little.
The Little Elf sheathed both swords, then in a flash appeared before Sophia, diving into her arms and patting her all over with her small hands.
“Sophia, are you alright? Did that stinky mother dragon hurt you? Wuwu, Nina really missed you, Sophia!”
Clinging to Sophia, Nina instantly dropped her icy facade, showing the adorable side befitting a little girl.
Sophia stroked Nina’s head. “Thanks to my elder, I’m perfectly fine now.” She did have safeguards in place, but if she didn’t have to trigger them, she’d rather not.
They weren’t without their own costs, after all.
Leaning down, she hugged Nina—whom she regarded as a younger sister—tightly. Though they hadn’t been separated for long, Sophia and Enya were nearly inseparable before this; to Nina, even a short absence felt like a long time.
Moreover, Nina was Sophia’s guardian.
Bearing the responsibility of protecting her “big sister,” she had to fulfill her duty with all her heart.
During the half day away from her, Nina had blamed herself, regretting that she’d listened to her sister and let that hateful stinky mother dragon follow.
I have to drive the stinky mother dragon away!
Sophia held Nina’s hand, assuring her she really wasn’t hurt, and told her not to worry. In fact, she’d eaten quite a lot of delicious food.
After a while, Sophia and Nina finally separated. Once apart, Nina glared at Enya by the window with her large, watery eyes.
“Hey, you’re the stinky mother dragon, aren’t you? So this is what you look like?”
“Nina!”
Before Enya could react, Sophia landed a fist on Nina’s head and glared at the Little Elf.
“Uwah!”
Nina clutched her head where she’d been struck, crouching on the ground and gazing up at Sophia, face full of grievance.
Sophia shook her little pink fist, her chest heaving in anger.
“Don’t be so disrespectful to our elder. And for attacking her earlier, hurry up and apologize!”
“But…”
Nina grew even more aggrieved at Sophia’s words.
What elder? She’s just a stinky mother dragon!
I was only trying to scare her—I didn’t really hurt her. Why should I apologize to a stinky mother dragon?
I just won’t! I just won’t!
Sophia was so infuriated by Nina’s pouting little face, she was about to knock some sense into her when Enya said,
“It’s fine. I don’t mind at all.”
Sophia’s raised hand froze. She looked at Enya, saw that indulgent, doting gaze, and grew even angrier.
She was angry because Enya was too lenient with Nina.
If she herself were called a “stinky elf,” she’d have immediately smacked Nina’s bottom.
So why did her elder just smile indulgently? Even the Saintess, when Nina crashed into her, didn’t get angry—instead, she changed her tune and praised Nina’s character?
I…I’m so jealous!
Sophia looked at Nina, and her fists clenched.
But after a while, her hands relaxed, and she let out a helpless sigh.
“Nina, get up.”
“Hmm?”
Nina had already closed her eyes, waiting for Sophia’s fist to land on her head.
But with just a word from the “stinky mother dragon,” was it all over just like that?
Nina opened her eyes, pouting, and glared fiercely at Enya. In her eyes, Enya might take Sophia away from her.
Enya rose from her chair and walked to Sophia’s side.
Right in front of Nina, she gently patted Sophia’s back and softly said,
“Sophia, go keep Wendy company. There’s something I’d like to discuss with Nina in private.”
“This… alright.”
Sophia hesitated, but ultimately agreed. She turned to head to the next room, but Nina grew dissatisfied.
Nina quickly stood, ran to Sophia, and grabbed her arm.
“Wendy? Who’s Wendy? There’s the rotten scent of a forest elf here. I want to see who it is. Sophia needs my personal protection right now!”
“Heh….”
Sophia forced a smile and pinched Nina’s ear.
“You stay here.”
Nina clearly didn’t want to be alone with Enya, but since Sophia truly seemed angry, she had no choice but to obediently stay in this room.