The Giant Tree’s grace is the foundation that protects all.
Wherever its roots reach, holy hymns resound.
It is the land giving thanks for the Giant Tree’s mercy.
All living beings on this land should know the Giant Tree, love the Giant Tree, honor the Giant Tree, and revere the Giant Tree.
If one does not know, love, honor, or revere…
It is a crime of great disrespect, and they shall receive divine punishment.
On a cloudless night, the pale purple moonlight was especially bright.
A gentle breeze stirred the White Tiyaluo flowers in the Marquis Mansion’s back garden, dyeing them a pale purple under the night sky, making the originally sacred blossoms appear somewhat eerie.
Because the Lady loved this flower so much, the Marquis Mansion’s gardeners were quite dedicated, even on such a night… in the vast garden, there wasn’t a single chirping pest.
“Cough, cough… cough, cough, cough!!”
In the silent night, the violent coughing was particularly jarring.
Thump thump thump… The study door was knocked, and the maid’s worried voice came from outside.
“Milady, you should rest early…”
The maid was named Suzie Hado, also the head maid of this Marquis Castle.
In her twenties, she had a face that was rather cold and stern for a woman.
When facing her, one couldn’t help but think of the strict, unsmiling language teacher at school.
After Amisa left with Ileya, the task of taking care of Lady Shuderian’s daily needs fell into her hands.
As an excellent and qualified head maid, Suzie was confident she could do better than the previous “attendant maid” who appeared and disappeared mysteriously.
But unfortunately, she had underestimated the situation…
Ever since the young lady left, the Lady’s mental state had become somewhat strange.
Not that she would go mad or anything extreme, but… she often slept very late and got up very early.
Originally, the Lady liked to sit in the garden, drink tea, eat snacks, and sometimes attend salons hosted by other noble ladies.
But… now the Lady spent all day shut in the study, and her appetite was less than a third of what it used to be.
So… it was no surprise that her health was declining day by day. After all, no one could endure such a situation.
Suzie had thought of many ways and tried many dishes the Lady used to like, but the Lady still showed no interest in food or sleep, spending every day in the study searching for something.
“Cough… I’m… fine. Just choked on my saliva.” Soon, with the knock fading, Lady Shuderian’s voice came from inside.
“Um… Milady, may I come in?” Hearing the Lady’s response, Suzie immediately asked.
Beside her was a cart filled with light, easy-to-swallow food.
“Mm…” Lady Shuderian only replied softly.
Creak… The door swung open, and Suzie pushed the cart slowly into the room.
Then, she saw her lady at a glance.
To be honest, Suzie had seen many noble ladies before—all imposing, with various beauties like a hundred flowers blooming…
But not a single one could match her own lady.
No matter how vibrant the flower, how noble the person, the moment the Lady appeared, they would be shrouded in gray, becoming green leaves that only set off the Lady, the most noble and elegant White Tiyaluo.
Sometimes… Suzie would unconsciously stare blankly just looking at the Lady.
Like now.
At this moment, Shuderian was wearing a pair of crystal glasses, her eyes half-open, seemingly reading a letter just placed on the table.
“Milady… it’s time for dinner.” Suzie slowly lifted the lid off the cart, and a light, fragrant scent instantly filled the entire study.
The dinner was simple: a bowl of golden pumpkin porridge and a few delicate side dishes.
This was what Shuderian had requested, as her appetite had been poor lately. Even this small bowl of porridge… she might only eat half.
“Sigh…” Letting out a slow sigh, Lady Shuderian put down the letter.
The news was about her Ileya’s “glorious deeds” in Gilliris.
Her little Yaya’s reputation as the “Bloodblossom Demon” was probably about to reach another level…
“Is something troubling you, Milady?” Suzie asked softly while quickly arranging the dishes on the table.
“Mm-hehe. Yaya seems to be doing well in Gilliris. By the timing… she should be on her way back now… cough, cough, cough…”
Shuderian smiled helplessly, but halfway through her words, she started coughing again.
“Milady!” Suzie hurried forward to help her lady catch her breath.
“Cough… I’m… I’m fine… really…” Shuderian covered her mouth with one hand and slowly raised the other.
“Milady…”
“Cough, it’s just… sometimes it’s like this. I’m really fine…”
She turned her head and smiled at the worried Suzie beside her.
“Oh, by the way, Yaya is coming back. Don’t tell her about these things carelessly. I know my own body best…”
As she spoke, Shuderian slowly sat down at the table.
She really wasn’t seriously ill—just feeling dizzy, coughing, and having some strange dreams sometimes…
But none of these were big problems. And… some things, she really didn’t want Yaya to know.
“Milady, I… I can promise you I won’t tell the young lady. But… you have to finish tonight’s dinner!”
Suzie looked at Shuderian, who was clearly thinner than a month ago, and pursed her lips, feeling deeply guilty inside.
“Huh?”
Shuderian was slightly stunned. Looking at her head maid, she smiled helplessly.
“Hehehe~ You… how old are you now, still throwing tantrums like this…”
“Milady… doesn’t want the young lady to worry about you every day, does she?” Unfortunately, Suzie remained stubborn, showing no sign of relenting.
Helpless, Shuderian could only nod bitterly.
“Alright~”
Seeing that the Lady had agreed to finish dinner, the corners of Suzie’s mouth finally lifted. She continued placing the side dishes in front of Shuderian.
“Oh, by the way… have you heard anything recently… about refugees entering the city?”
Shuderian picked up the silver spoon and scooped a spoonful of pumpkin porridge into her mouth.
“Refugees? I haven’t heard…” The head maid was slightly taken aback, then slowly shook her head.
“Mm.” Lady Shuderian nodded.
Earlier, she had received a letter from below… The northeastern border city adjacent to East County, Loluste, had been attacked by foreign races.
And it wasn’t just a simple raid—it was a large-scale siege.
From the information in the letter, Loluste obviously hadn’t held out and had been breached.
This meant the northeastern gate of the kingdom was wide open. If these foreign races intended to move south…
…East County might also be in danger.
And this happened right when nobles above the rank of Viscount had been summoned to the Royal Capital by a single decree.
If not handled in time…
The northeastern part of the kingdom was bound to be in chaos for a while.
Still, the northeastern rainforest region wasn’t far from East County. Would it affect Yaya and the others, who should be on their way back?
Shuderian turned her head and looked out the window at the sky dyed pale purple by the moonlight… She couldn’t help but worry.
Drip…
But the next second, a raindrop silently landed on the crystal window.
This made Suzie, who was holding the tray nearby, slightly startled.
There hadn’t been a single cloud in the sky tonight. Why was it raining?
Rustle…
With the first raindrop, an autumn drizzle swept over the entire Crystal Capital…
Crackle…
In a clearing in some forest, firewood burned, the flames illuminating the still somewhat immature face of a black-haired girl.
The girl was sitting cross-legged on the ground, one hand propping up her chin, as if dozing off…
Rustle rustle…
“Huh?!” The next second, the black-haired girl opened her eyes, her obsidian-like pupils fixed on the bushes ahead.
Rustle rustle… The next second, a brightly colored snake with a triangular head slowly slithered out from among them.
Whoosh!!
The moment the snake appeared, a cold sword light flashed, instantly slicing the innocent snake vertically in half!!
“Ahhh (ã‚œ)!! A snake! A snake!!”
The next second, a scream echoed through the entire forest, startling countless birds…
Whoosh! With the girl’s scream, a black object was thrown from the side of the carriage.
Thump… The thing hit the girl directly on the head, making her yelp in pain.
She then stretched out her left hand and fell flat on the ground.
“Huh…”
“Honestly…” Then, with slightly disheveled hair, Amisa stepped out of the shadow on the side, one delicate, fair foot bare.
After picking up the shoe, she looked at her disciple lying on the ground, then at the snake that had been chopped into over a dozen pieces.
This little girl was good in every way, except she was sometimes too noisy… Especially when she saw snakes, insects, rats, or ants—she always made a fuss, lacking any composure.
“You… can you be a bit more steady?” Amisa put on her shoe, grabbed the Holy Sword Bearer by the scruff of her neck, and lifted her up.
“But, Master… that was a snake…” The girl looked innocent and said pitifully…
Wouldn’t any girl scream when seeing something like that?
Sigh~
Letting out a helpless sigh, Amisa put down her unworthy disciple.
“Alright, go to sleep. I’ll take the night watch.”
“Huh? But Master… the training…” Holly was stunned.
This time, Master’s training task was to perceive everything around her, and while pretending to sleep with eyes closed, she must not completely fall asleep, paying attention to every movement around.
“Adequate rest is also part of training. Go to sleep.” Amisa waved her hand, then sat down in the spot where Holly had been.
Whoosh! Master…
“Yes!”
Looking at the other’s back, Holly was deeply moved! Finally, she followed the instruction and went into the carriage to rest.
But in reality, Amisa was afraid this girl would make strange noises again and disturb the young lady’s sleep…
Until she heard her idiot disciple’s steady breathing, Amisa slowly closed her eyes, sitting before the fire, beginning to pretend to sleep.
Tap tap tap…
Unlike Holly’s jumpiness, even in the deep night, when footsteps approached, Amisa still didn’t open her eyes, as calm as an old monk in meditation.
“Um… Miss Amisa…” Arthur’s low, resonant voice, not at all like an old man’s, sounded beside her.
“Sorry, I’m not looking for a man, and I definitely won’t consider you.”
Before Arthur could say anything, Amisa ruthlessly cut him off.
“Huh? No… Actually, I just…”
“Can I consider that harassment?” The head maid slowly narrowed her eyes, her sharp gaze fixed on the somewhat embarrassed Arthur.
Regarding this old man, Amisa had naturally respected him at first.
After all, a capable person can get by anywhere.
But his repeated actions made the head maid feel that… he wasn’t of the same mind as them.
And he had no sense of belonging to the young lady.
In short, in Amisa’s view…
He was an untrustworthy fellow.