Allen was chatting with Marianne about the daily internal routine of the Organization while continuing to flip through the Newspaper, enjoying his pleasant morning leisure.
Suddenly, an inconspicuous headline in the corner caught his attention.
“Bizarre! Locust Mask Man Acts for Justice?”
The title was both ridiculous and reeked of chuunibyou.
He read on with interest. The reporter for the news was clearly one of their own from the Dawn’s Children.
The content was a strange story about a mysterious “hero” who suddenly appeared on the streets of the Capital yesterday, wearing a green skin-tight combat suit and a locust-shaped mask, wandering around to find and strike down criminals.
Allen almost spat out his milk.
He didn’t even have to guess to know that this was definitely the work of Hugo, that incurable, late-stage chuunibyou patient.
The reporter who wrote this article was likely some little fanboy Hugo had recruited into the Dawn’s Children, specifically writing an article to drum up hype for his boss.
No wonder that guy didn’t show up to watch the Duel yesterday.
Allen had thought that after going through that hellish special training, Hugo was hiding in some corner in self-isolation.
After all that, it turned out he had run off to be a Kamen Rider.
Unfortunately, the attention of the entire Capital yesterday was focused on that earth-shattering Duel at the Knights’ Arena and the Monster Siege.
This “hero” report was directly buried in the sea of information, failing to even cause a ripple.
‘This guy is a total idiot, he doesn’t even know how to pick a good time for hype,’ Allen grumbled silently.
Marianne leaned over to take a look and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“The evil forces in the Capital have almost been wiped clean by us. Who can he find by running out now? Acting for justice? Is he going to fight for territory with the fruit vendors on the street?”
The morning in the Laval house was filled with the usual relaxed banter.
But this coziness was completely at odds with another member of the family.
Viscount Bernard de Laval.
Looking at the relaxed and carefree manner of his son and his adopted daughter, he truly envied them from the bottom of his heart.
The lavish breakfast in front of him remained untouched, and his face appeared somewhat pale due to excessive tension.
Stomach pain seemed to be a hereditary talent of the Laval family, and Bernard felt his stomach twitching in waves.
Hearing his father’s faint, one-after-another sighs, Allen finally put down the Newspaper and joked in a gentle tone:
“Father, your son returned safely from such a dangerous Duel yesterday. Shouldn’t you be happy?”
Yesterday, Bernard hadn’t been idle.
He and the old Butler had secretly hidden in a secluded spot near the arena where they could see the whole view, sending people to constantly pass him live updates of the Duel.
That mood had been a roller coaster of ups and downs, no less thrilling than participating himself.
“I’m happy, I am…”
Bernard said with a distressed face, adjusting his elaborate and magnificent formal attire once more.
The necktie was so tight he could barely breathe.
“But… son, I have to go have an audience with the King today! Your old man… I’m so nervous I feel like I’m going to die!”
“Hey, what is there to worry about?” Allen couldn’t help but comment.
“With the heavy bargaining chip of the Royal Chartered Publishing Company in your hands, obtaining the position of Minister of Finance is already 99% certain. Moreover, I’ve prepared a complete and detailed Financial Reform Plan for you, guaranteeing you can answer His Majesty fluently.”
“But… but I’m still so nervous!” Bernard’s voice was almost tearful.
“Have some backbone, Father,” Allen said, shaking his head helplessly.
The old Butler standing to the side smiled and did not interrupt.
He understood in his heart that it was normal for the Master to be nervous.
After all, not everyone was like the Young Master, a transcendent “God’s Messenger” who could ignore the majesty of a secular King.
Bernard was, in the end, a Noble of the Kingdom.
Now that he was suddenly rising to the top and about to receive such an honor and a personal audience with the King, it would be strange if he wasn’t nervous.
At this moment, Marianne quietly slipped out of Allen’s arms.
She walked up to Bernard, opened her arms, and gave him a warm, soft hug.
“Father, keep it up. It’ll be fine,” the girl’s voice was soft yet full of strength.
This sudden, thoughtful gesture from his daughter instantly shattered Bernard’s psychological defenses, and his eyes welled with tears.
“Wah, my good daughter is still the one who cares for me…”
Allen naturally cared about his father as well, but compared to Marianne’s warmth, his way of expressing concern was inevitably a bit harsh.
After all, counting his experiences in the Cycle of Reincarnation, Allen’s psychological age might be older than Bernard’s.
Sometimes, it was hard to tell who the father was between these two.
Only Marianne was a true 14-year-old girl; her care allowed Bernard to feel the warmth of a child.
“Son, I… I’m leaving.”
With his daughter’s encouragement, Bernard finally mustered a bit of courage, preparing to face that “Mad King” who was rumored to loathe nobles and have a perverse temperament.
“You haven’t eaten breakfast,” Allen reminded him.
“I’m afraid… I’m afraid I’ll be so nervous that I’ll vomit right in front of His Majesty.”
Under his son’s slightly disdainful gaze, Bernard finally sat down obediently and forced a few bites of bread into his mouth as if completing a mission.
The old Butler saw this scene and a gratified smile appeared on his face.
This was good.
Once Master Bernard officially became the Minister of Finance, the real burden of this house would be carried by the Young Master.
The Laval family would surely become a true legendary family under the Young Master’s leadership.
After seeing off his nervous father, Marianne also prepared to head out to Heaven’s Haven to deal with the infiltration of the cultists.
Although she was incredibly reluctant to leave the Young Master and the newly arrived Livia, internal hidden dangers in the Organization had to be cleared in a timely manner.
Bribed by the small cookies Marianne had baked herself — which she claimed could make even an Angel fall — the little foodie Anna happily agreed to stay behind.
Before leaving, Marianne pulled Allen aside and mysteriously signaled for him to follow her.
She took Allen to the guest room to see Livia, who was still fast asleep.
The morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, turning into strands of soft beams that quietly spilled into the room.
Tiny dust motes floated in the air, adding a touch of dreamlike quality to the quiet room.
Livia lay quietly on the large bed covered with white linen sheets.
Her platinum-blonde hair was scattered across the pillow like melted moonlight, making her already fair skin appear even more translucent.
Her long eyelashes cast two faint shadows under her eyelids, and her breathing was steady and deep, her chest rising and falling gently.
That face, which usually carried a bit of coldness and stubbornness, appeared exceptionally tranquil and soft in her sleep.
It was as if she had shed all her heavy armor and disguises, returning to the peace and beauty a young girl should have.
She was so beautiful it made one feel pity, unwilling to disturb her.
Marianne lightly nudged Allen with her elbow.
“No matter how you look at it, Livia is super cute, right?” she whispered, her voice carrying a hint of sly laughter.
“With such a beautiful girl lying in your bed, Young Master, did your heart really not skip a beat?”
“My heart is as still as water. I even want to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible,” Allen said expressionlessly, adding, “I get a stomach ache just looking at her.”
“It’s fine,” Marianne said with a grin.
“After experiencing so much, Livia will definitely change. She’s just an ordinary girl too. Speaking of which, in your heart, what kind of existence is she to you?”
“Inside Livia’s beautiful skin is the soul of a berserker,” Allen evaluated solemnly. “I feel like she’ll eventually split me in two with her sword.”
Marianne noticed Allen’s gaze lingering unnaturally on the oversized silk nightgown Livia was wearing, and the smile on her face grew even brighter.
She leaned close to Allen’s ear and lowered her voice to a playful whisper.
“What’s wrong, Young Master?”
“Do you regret… letting me help Livia wipe her body and change her clothes?”
“No,” Allen’s expression was a bit stiff. “I just feel like this nightgown looks a bit familiar.”
“Because it’s your nightgown, isn’t it?” Marianne replied with a face full of pure innocence.
Allen turned his head expressionlessly and stared at her, the subtext on his face clear: ‘What kind of trick are you playing now?’
Marianne continued to play dumb. “Isn’t there a term called ‘boyfriend shirt’? She is your fiancé, after all. Wearing your clothes might help Livia sleep more soundly.”
“Go use your own nightgown. Don’t defile my beloved lilies, you failure of a yuri heroine.”
The smile on Marianne’s face suddenly became suggestive. She leaned in closer to Allen’s ear and lowered her voice.
“But seriously, Livia’s development is really good.”
She even gestured with her hands to trace that exaggerated curve, adding with a mischievous grin, “They’re this big.”
Allen closed his eyes in pain.
‘I’m in despair! I’m completely in despair over this yuri heroine who keeps making dirty jokes!’
“Sigh, Young Master, you really have no sense of romance,” Marianne pretended to sigh.
“With such a stunning beauty lying in your house, you’re here playing dumb. Could it be that your true love is actually Hugo and his Locust Mask —”
“Ack!”
Before she could finish, a precise and loud hand-chop from Allen landed on Marianne’s forehead.
Poor Livia remained completely unaware that she was being relentlessly teased by this lively master and servant duo.
At this moment, she seemed to be immersed in an incredibly beautiful dream.
The corners of her lips curled up slightly, revealing a gentle and relaxed faint smile she hadn’t shown in a long time.
It captured the stunning charm of those expressionless girls occasionally showing a smile, much like a cover girl on a game box.
“Young Master, while I’m away, you have to be good,” Marianne said, rubbing her forehead and planting her hands on her hips in a half-serious warning.
“You aren’t allowed to make a move on Livia.”
“Your tone sounds more like you’re encouraging me.”
Allen adjusted his breathing and said in a tone that was almost like a vow, “Don’t worry, I won’t. I will go all out to protect the yuri ending for you and her!”
“Sigh, Young Master, I agree with your yuri plan with both hands raised.”
Marianne tilted her head, her crimson eyes flashing with a wise light that saw through everything.
“But, even I can tell. For a master of the heart like you, it’s only a matter of time before Livia falls for you.”
“First, I am not a master of the heart. Second, I believe in Livia.” Allen’s tone was exceptionally firm.
“The bond between us is a fated bond between a villain and a hero. It definitely won’t deteriorate randomly like it did between me and you.”
“Hmph, stupid Young Master, then we’ll just have to wait and see.” Marianne made a playful face at him, turned, and walked out of the room.
Allen took one last look at the quiet sleeping face on the bed and followed her out.
In the hallway, the sound of their footsteps gradually faded.
Silence returned to the room, leaving only the rustle of the breeze through the leaves outside the window.
In her dream, Livia seemed to sense something.
Her brow furrowed imperceptibly, and her lips parted slightly, letting out a sleep-talked murmur that was so soft it was almost impossible to catch.
“I miss you all so much…”
Outside the window, the sky was a clear, washed azure after the rain.