Chapter 279: What Exactly Is She Trying to Do?

After seeing this silencing gesture, Melita hesitated and chose not to voice her question. Her slightly open mouth closed.

After a moment, she spoke again, but her original question had changed into something else.

“How do you find the dishes?”

“Quite good.”

Enya raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways at Wendy, who was standing behind her swallowing saliva. She turned back to Melita and said.

“Do you mind if I invite these two little gluttons to the table?”

“Hehe, of course not~”

Melita covered her mouth with a smile.

After that, the maids quickly brought two chairs and placed them on either side of the table, next to Enya.

Lucia sat down and pressed her lips together. She didn’t make a move, instead looking a bit nervous and uncomfortable.

Wendy, on the other hand, was very natural. But because there was an outsider present, she didn’t do anything improper in her behavior. Her little mouth, however, kept moving—she really seemed to enjoy the food.

Enya watched with great interest as Wendy ate with that satisfied expression. Ever since she had her daughter, Rosily, she had developed this hobby.

As for the relationship between Marigold, Golden Town, and the Golden Opera House, even without asking, she could roughly guess.

Enya mentioned it only to let the other party know that she knew, making Melita think a little more.

The unknown is what makes people wary. Now Melita was the side that was known, while Enya remained completely in the dark.

An hour later.

Enya sat in the carriage with her eyes closed, resting. Sitting across from her, Wendy and Lucia each had their own expressions—Lucia was relieved, while Wendy was still savoring the moment.

Lucia glanced at Wendy, then squinted at her. Wendy turned to her with a confused look.

Ever since they were at the table, Lucia had been staring at Wendy.

At first, Wendy thought she had something on her face, but there was nothing. So why was Lucia looking at her?

Seeing her simple gaze, Lucia let out a silent sigh.

Without opening her eyes, Enya said casually.

“Lucia, there’s no need to dwell on so many formalities. If I don’t mind, that’s within the allowable limits.”

“But you’re spoiling Wendy too much…”

Lucia lowered her head slightly.

Enya frowned.

“Am I?”

As she spoke, she opened her eyes and glanced at Wendy. Wendy seemed frightened and quickly lowered her head too, pouting as if pretending to know nothing. Enya shot a glare at Wendy.

Lucia clenched her fists and said softly.

“Mistress, I’m sorry. As a servant, I shouldn’t question you.”

“…”

Enya sighed.

Lucia lowered her head even more and continued.

“I was raised this way.”

“Lucia?”

Wendy grabbed Lucia’s hand.

Lucia pressed her head down lower.

“I’m sorry…”

Enya was momentarily dazed, but then seemed to suddenly understand. She reached out and placed her hand on Lucia’s head. Even though there was a pair of gloves between them, the touch made Lucia’s face instantly redden, as if a switch had been flipped.

Lucia felt a closeness to Enya. This closeness came from the “bloodline”—the bloodline in the potion she had absorbed shared the same origin as the Nightmare bloodline Enya had absorbed. That was why this intimacy existed.

No, rather than intimacy, it was more like an instinct to converge and merge. This instinct influenced people to draw closer to each other.

That was why Lucia wanted to stay by Enya’s side all the time. If not for reason stopping her, she might have hugged Enya.

But what Enya understood wasn’t that. Instead, she encountered a problem she had never faced before.

Jealousy between children…

Her two daughters, Rosily, was the clingy type, always finding opportunities to burrow into her mother’s embrace.

Estelle was colder and more independent. Of course, she wasn’t completely independent—she also craved her mother’s embrace, but she wouldn’t actively approach. Instead, she hoped to be pulled into the hug.

But both of these children handled things well.

Rosily was clever and always considerate of her mother’s feelings. Estelle was more oblivious, not even fully aware of her own emotions.

In comparison, Lucia was a sensitive child.

Wendy…

Wendy was just dense!

Enya looked at Lucia, whose ears were tinged with pink beneath her black hair, and laughed as she teased.

“Just like my daughter.”

“Heh…”

Lucia’s body trembled, her heart beating terrifyingly fast.

Wendy blinked rapidly beside her.

The mistress was a dragon, and Lucia was human. It shouldn’t be possible for them to be mother and daughter. But humans could also be possible… No, that’s not right. I really don’t understand.

As Wendy was thinking this, Enya knocked on her head. In pain, Wendy immediately covered her head.

Enya scolded with a smile.

“Eat, eat, eat. Is that all you know?”

“I…”

Wendy lowered her head and pouted, wondering why she was suddenly being scolded.

Enya withdrew her hand, a faint smile on her face as she looked out the carriage window. After a while, she said lightly.

“I’m going into seclusion for a few days. Then I’ll need to leave Lakeside City for a while. You two don’t need to follow me for now.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

The two maids said in unison.

After returning to the estate, Enya went straight to the underground chamber and didn’t come out again.

At that time, news from the Chamber Union Assembly began to spread widely, reaching all levels of society.

The specific clauses of the Anti-monopoly Act would be publicly announced over the following period. Within half a month—or even a week—it could be implemented openly.

Many had already sensed the storm brewing and prepared to take advantage of it. A rumor that the Lily of the Valley Chamber of Commerce was about to collapse began circulating wildly in the streets.

Wilder, as the general manager of the Lily of the Valley Chamber, had a very dark expression when he learned the contents of the meeting.

Anyone with eyes could see that the Anti-monopoly Act was targeting the Lily of the Valley Chamber. Yet, regarding such an act, Lady Einfir, the Chamber Master, had only cast an abstention vote.

An abstention vote was bad enough, but she also said something very troubling—she claimed she agreed with the implementation of the Anti-monopoly Act!

Of course, the second half of Enya’s original words was conveniently cut off.

If someone investigated the source of these rumors, they would easily find that they all came from the highly popular entertainment venues under the Tea Rose Chamber of Commerce.

Tomorrow, an article would likely be published with the headline “Anti-monopoly Act Passed, Lily of the Valley Chamber Approves,” extolling the benefits to the public and paving the way for future actions.

Using public opinion as a tool was their usual tactic.

Wilder quickly realized how they would attack the Lily of the Valley Chamber. They would definitely use the factory death incident to manipulate public opinion, demanding that the lord—this puppet regime—officially investigate. The result was obvious.

“Damn it…”

He clenched his fist, wanting to smash it on the table, but Wilder held back. He just let out a long sigh.

A man beside him also wore a troubled expression.

“Wilder, what do you think Einfir is planning? As the Chamber Master of the Lily of the Valley Chamber and the direct beneficiary, how could she say something like that?”

He was referring to the rumor that Einfir had praised the Anti-monopoly Act. This was extremely damaging to the Lily of the Valley Chamber.

Wilder rubbed his furrowed brow, also finding this matter a headache.

He knew this meant opposing the entire Lakeside City. Everything here was the enemy’s power; everyone could become a weapon against them. This was far beyond what a single chamber like the Lily of the Valley could withstand. They could only seek higher-level power.

Higher-level power, in Wilder’s view, was only the West Wind Empire. He thought they needed to contact the Star Sea Chamber.

Wilder turned to the others and asked.

“What does the Star Sea Chamber say?”

A silence fell over the room.

Those sitting here were all people with real responsibilities in the Lily of the Valley Chamber, old cadres that Wilder trusted.

The atmosphere was oppressive. Finally, the man who had spoken earlier gave the Star Sea Chamber’s opinion.

“That new lady, Diana, seems unwilling to get involved in the Lily of the Valley Chamber’s affairs. She said she only provides technical and personnel support, while operations are handled by Lily of the Valley…”

In other words, she wasn’t going to meddle.

After hearing this, Wilder let out another long sigh.

In the past, it was Gro who negotiated with Ivan on behalf of the Star Sea Chamber side. Ivan then relayed matters to the higher-ups of the Star Sea Chamber, indirectly helping the Lily of the Valley Chamber stabilize its foothold in Lakeside City.

Now Gro was dead, buried in an unknown place.

That connection hadn’t been passed down. Ivan, an old acquaintance of the Lily of the Valley, had also been transferred. A new woman named Diana was sent instead, making everything feel like starting from scratch.

As a veteran of the Lily of the Valley, Wilder naturally knew that the chamber was almost entirely a force fostered by the West Wind.

They had suffered attacks from Lakeside City forces before.

But in the most critical moments, they had always weathered the storm with the West Wind’s help. He never expected it to be this difficult this time.

“And Lady Einfir?”

“She… After returning, she locked herself in her room and wouldn’t let anyone near. Even her personal maid was kicked out. No one knows what she’s doing.”

Upon hearing this, Wilder frowned.

At such a critical juncture, why was she playing the coward?

What was she trying to do?

They simply couldn’t understand Enya’s current actions.