In the corridor, a waitress led the way ahead.
Enya walked with an unhurried pace. The floor here was paved with large square tiles, their patterns exquisite and ornate. Hard-soled shoes made a soft clicking sound when stepping on them, and at this moment, there were four sets of footsteps. Only four people were in the passageway. Without the noisy conversations from outside, the sound of footsteps seemed especially prominent.
Lucia lifted her head slightly, glancing at Enya ahead.
Enya wore a dark purple dress, the kind that closely followed the curves of her body. The hem wasn’t the fluffy petal style but resembled a mermaid tail, with a slit on one side. From there, legs clad in black silk stockings could be seen beneath the skirt. The stockings were very black, and embroidered roses climbed upward along the side, delving into an inviolable realm of mystery. Below were a pair of black high heels, forming a triangle on the ground, adding an alluring arc to her feet.
Enya turned her head slightly but didn’t look back.
Lucia noticed. She quickly withdrew her gaze, then secretly stole another glance at Enya’s back.
On Enya’s lady’s hat rested a black decorative fake flower adorned with white pearls. The wide brim and black lace veil concealed her face and silver-white hair. The delicate curves of her upper body were also well highlighted by the dress.
Lucia sneaked a look at Enya’s chest. She silently lowered her head, then glanced at Wendy beside her.
Wendy also looked at Lucia.
“…?”
“…..”
Lucia averted her gaze and pursed her lips. Her hands, folded over her lower abdomen, had her slender, fair fingers intertwined — a gesture revealing her inner turmoil, though Wendy couldn’t read it.
Wendy leaned in a little, blinking her beautiful dark green eyes, wearing an expression that clearly said she wanted to know why Lucia had been staring at her. Pressured, Lucia turned her face away.
“Cough, cough.”
Enya cleared her throat lightly. The two maids immediately returned to their positions, no longer engaging in their little antics behind her back.
The waitress remained silent the entire time until they reached the door at the end of the corridor. She hurried over and pushed it open.
“Noble Lady Einfil, please enter.”
The path Enya and her party took was naturally not the one for ordinary people but the exclusive VIP passage, which led directly to the meeting platform.
When the door opened, Enya did not step out immediately. She tilted her head slightly, looking to the other side.
From another direction, a blonde woman slowly approached.
Enya narrowed her eyes.
She hated blonde women.
Mellita had a smile curling at the corners of her mouth. Accompanied by a personal maid, she walked up to Enya. Her water-blue eyes carefully studied Enya, and then she spoke.
“Truly a woman of extraordinary beauty. You must be Lady Einfil?”
Enya did not answer. Her eyes indifferently fixed on the woman before her.
Mellita covered her mouth with a light laugh. “Hehe, just look at me — how could I forget to introduce myself? I am the president of the Marigold Golden Cup Lake Branch, Mellita Polly. You may call me Mellita, Lady Einfil.”
“Oh.”
Enya replied flatly. She turned her head back, facing the entrance, as if she had no desire to continue conversing with Mellita.
Katherine had told her the distinguishing features of these chamber presidents, so Enya had naturally already recognized who Mellita was.
Having been snubbed, Mellita’s smile gradually cooled.
But then Enya suddenly turned her head, smiled lightly at Mellita, and said, “Madam Mellita, would you be able to treat me to lunch later?”
“Ah…”
Mellita was caught off guard by this abrupt change and didn’t know how to respond for a moment. Enya turned back without a trace, paying no heed to whatever reaction Mellita might have, and took a step out through the door, walking onto the red carpet.
Mellita couldn’t possibly refuse. After all, someone like her — how could she ever reject a chance to hedge her bets?
Lucia and Wendy quickly followed, leaving Mellita and her maid behind.
Mellita stared fixedly at Enya’s back. After three breaths, she gave an order to the maid behind her: “Go have someone prepare — the highest standard. Do not slight my honored guest.”
“Yes!”
The maid accepted the order and quickly left.
Beyond the door was the meeting hall. From here, they would be scrutinized by many gazes. And with Enya’s appearance, the meeting hall fell into a rare silence.
“Who is she?”
“Could she be that Einfil?”
“Look — behind her, that green-haired elf maid. It’s said Einfil always has an elf maid by her side. That woman in the purple dress must be Lady Einfil!”
Hearing someone’s confident analysis, they quickly accepted that premise. But though the graceful figure was eye-catching, the wide brim of her lady’s hat obscured her face, preventing them from seeing clearly, making it impossible to glimpse Enya’s true appearance.
Enya frowned slightly. She had never been comfortable in such settings for a long time. Whenever displeasure arose, her destructive urge followed close behind — an effect of the dragon bloodline within her, or rather, the influence of the Authority of Destruction.
Normally, this influence was subtle. Enya could detect it because [Survival’s Creation] blocked all factors that might affect her soul. However, physical effects still reached her.
In the past, during those few days of the month, Enya would be just as irritable and short-tempered as any other girl — it was unavoidable.
No… it seemed that period hadn’t come for a while, had it?
Thoughts like these wandering through her mind, Enya arrived at the Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce’s seat. As she sat down, she lifted her head slightly, sweeping her gaze across the hall, then looked to the side.
Taylor of the Abundant Harvest Chamber of Commerce, Vincent of the White Wave Chamber of Commerce, Lord Cleveland, Penrose of the Tea Rose Chamber, and that Mr. Horn — they were all already seated, their gazes fixed on Enya, appraising her.
It wasn’t the look of admiring a lady’s beauty. They were like jackals eyeing a weak and helpless lamb.
Enya was amused.
This was the first time since coming to Lakeside City that she was directly facing her enemies.
In the past, she would deal with enemies by charging in and slashing them with Sword Qi. But these enemies were not suited for such extreme measures, leaving Enya with a very uncomfortable feeling…
Back then, it was precisely because of this situation — having strength but being unable to use it — that Enya had decided to leave Vivienne’s side. But before she could run away, she ran into Pandrake and Archethia. If that hadn’t happened, Enya thought she’d probably be babysitting at Vivienne’s place by now.
Ahem.
Mellita sat down last. She also cast a glance over, but her look was more one of curiosity — wondering how Enya had the courage to come here. As a major chamber president, she could have simply not attended.