The dark clouds dispersed, and the gentle morning breeze swept away the lingering chill of the rain, while the soft sunlight brought a freshness unique to June.
As time passed and noon approached, the color of the light gradually deepened, glowing with a golden-orange hue, adding a gentle touch that belonged only to this world.
664 years since the death of the Immortal Demon King.
Kane von Regulus, the exiled son of a former Duke, once again arrived at a noble’s residence— Loharin, the Lord’s Mansion of the Borderland.
Although Kane had no desire to come here, this was the best place to ensure Taliya, who was injured and unconscious, received the finest treatment.
Moreover, both he and Taliya had come into close contact with the source of the Plague. Even though he showed no symptoms yet, it was best to prevent the Plague from spreading any further.
Until everything settled down, he had better not wander around carelessly.
“Hope Enya is alright.”
Kane murmured softly.
The Underground Chamber was very well hidden, and as long as Enya stayed inside, there shouldn’t be any trouble for a while.
During the long wait, to keep himself from becoming too anxious, Kane tried his best to focus on positive thoughts.
Kane folded his hands beneath his chin and closed his eyes.
Time ticked away, second by second.
As time passed, the sunlight that emerged after the rain gradually bathed the withered earth once again.
The room Kane was in had fairly good lighting. The wooden floor was spacious, and outside the side’s floor-to-ceiling windows stretched a lush green lawn.
The air after the rain was especially fresh. Sunlight streamed through the window, making the room bright and cozy.
Bathed in this gentle natural light, the chill left behind by the rain was soon dispelled, and Kane felt a long-lost sense of comfort in both body and mind.
His restless heart finally began to calm down.
Da, da, da—
After a nap that was neither long nor short, heavy footsteps sounded outside the door. At the very moment Kane opened his eyes, the door was pushed open.
Three figures appeared before Kane’s eyes.
Standing in the center was a tall woman with long golden hair that cascaded to her waist, the ends curled into soft waves. A deep V-neck revealed the healthy whiteness beneath.
It could make anyone dizzy.
Though she was nearly fifty, time had clearly left no trace on her.
Her curvaceous figure was full and alluring, exuding the mature charm unique to a grown woman, making her look no older than her late twenties.
Seth von Loharin, Border Count, Sixth Rank Duel Qi Saint—the woman was the highest authority here.
The last time Kane met her was a month ago, when he and Enya were exiled here together. It was Seth who received them.
Back then, this woman’s robust physique had shocked Kane almost as much as finding out Enya was a yandere.
“So you and Hero Taliya were the ones who drove away the Cultists of Truth from the Tower of Truth.”
Seth’s deep voice echoed clearly in the small room, even making the flowers on the windowsill tremble.
But Kane seemed unfazed. He lifted his eyes, met Seth’s gaze, and replied calmly and steadily:
“I only helped to hold them back. The main credit goes to Taliya…”
At this, Kane paused, taking a deep breath.
“It was the Young Hero. She risked her life to repel the Cultists of Truth and brought back news that the Tower of Truth planned to use the Plague to destroy Loharin.”
Kane’s voice was firm and strong.
He didn’t take credit for himself.
Perhaps without him, the Sacred Wall could not have been destroyed.
But Kane’s conviction would not allow him to accept an honor that did not belong to him.
Kane’s selfless and humble attitude drew surprised glances from the three with the Count.
There were few people in this world so noble. Kane truly deserved respect.
Except… the effect of the loli voice candy was still there. Every time Kane spoke, it came out as an adorable, girlish voice.
Whenever that voice sounded, Seth’s elegant brows would arch, and the corners of her mouth would twitch, barely able to hold back a smile.
After two seconds of silence, she pressed her lips together, raised her hand, and said:
“Everyone, leave us.”
The two guards beside Seth hurriedly protested:
“But her infection…”
“Didn’t you already check and find nothing wrong?”
“But it could still be the incubation period, we should at least wait…”
“If a mere Plague could bring me down, then Loharin deserves to lose its name.”
Faced with the Border Count’s forceful stance, the two guards had no choice but to retreat.
Click—As the door closed heavily, the small room returned to silence.
The voluptuous woman folded her arms and looked down at Kane, her sharp gaze like an eagle’s, as if she wanted to strip Kane bare inside and out.
One second, two seconds, three seconds… Suddenly, the woman couldn’t hold it in any longer—the corners of her mouth split into a wide grin, and cheerful laughter filled every corner of the room.
“Wahahahaha! Kane, what’s with your voice? It’s killing me! I wish Mot could see the fine son he raised—no, fine daughter!”
“Can you not?” Kane clicked his tongue, blushing and scowling. “There’s a lot going on with me right now.”
“Mm, I can see that,” Seth nodded approvingly. “If there weren’t a lot going on, my nephew wouldn’t have turned into a niece, and you certainly wouldn’t be teaming up with the woman who got you demoted to a commoner, let alone taking care of the Cultists of Truth together.”
Seth grinned, pulled up a chair, sat beside Kane, and poked his cheek with a mischievous smile:
“So, did you do this to get revenge on her? Castrated yourself on purpose? You’ve got guts, kid! Who’d have thought you’d endure such humiliation for revenge. That’s a real man! You’re truly my nephew—no, wait, my niece now! I could never do something like that myself.”
“If you’re just here to mock me, please turn left out the door and jump out the window, Aunt Seth.”
Yes, that’s right. The woman before him was not only the Border Count, but also Kane’s aunt—Seth was the elder sister of Kane’s late mother.
Back when Kane chose exile, his father, Duke Mot, had pulled many strings to have him sent here, so he’d have family to look after him.
Well, though in the end, he was ‘looked after’ straight into a yandere’s bed.
“Hey, don’t be so boring. I’m genuinely curious—how did you end up teaming up with the Young Hero and even get her to risk her life for you? I remember that girl publicly declared that the man she hated most in this world was you.” Seth slung her arm around Kane’s shoulders, pulling him so close he was nearly squished, her smile full of mischief. “From what I know of you, you should be snuggling with your little maid at the Baby Food Hall, not running around fighting Cultists of Truth with the Hero.”
“Come on, admit it—you hypnotized the Young Hero and seduced her, didn’t you? Otherwise, there’s no way your relationship could be this good.”