At night, the City Lord left the Green Family’s mansion. Before boarding his carriage, he looked back toward the second-floor study and caught sight of Ailaira Green’s profile through the window. She seemed to sense his gaze as well, lifting her wine glass high as a gesture of farewell.
The City Lord stood silent for a long time, then let out a sorrowful sigh.
“Ah, I really am getting old.”
Beside him, the Secretary Officer opened the carriage door, respectfully comforting him.
“City Lord, you’re in your prime—now’s the time to make great achievements. Why speak of getting old?”
The City Lord climbed into the carriage, sinking his body deep into the soft cushions, enjoying the serving maid’s hands massaging his shoulders. This was the rare moment of relaxation he’d had all day. The tired man closed his eyes, recalling the conversation he’d had with Ailaira after deciding to visit her in person. Even now, some of their topics still eluded his understanding.
For instance—
“City Lord, do you still think I am Vista Green at this point?”
The gray-haired Witch lounged on the settee, her lips curved with a faint, subtle smile that sent a genuine chill through the City Lord’s heart.
As the City Lord, of course he had his own intelligence channels. But no matter how he investigated, the information all said that Vista Green was still at The Church, while the unforgettable Ais Green had left the Kingdom long ago and vanished.
So who, exactly, was this girl named Ailaira Green before him?
A disguise? An impostor? The City Lord felt he had unwittingly stepped into the vortex of a brewing conspiracy, unable to grasp a lifeline and only able to make a deflated, roundabout inquiry.
“As far as I know, the Green Family doesn’t have a third child. If those two ever had a daughter as beautiful as you, I’m sure they’d have wasted no time hawking marriage alliances like commodities.”
“Haha, City Lord, you really do know my parents quite well.”
The City Lord maintained a polite smile, but inwardly cursed: Of course I know, because they already did just that. Otherwise, with the fortune and power that couple amassed, how else would they end up rotting away in prison?
It was all because of that boy, who dismantled the power the Green Couple had built up for decades from within.
Even he, the City Lord, had reaped many benefits, never again held hostage by fat bribes when carrying out his duties.
The City Lord picked up his teacup and, judging by the aroma, could tell it was premium tea from the Elf Forest—too fine even for Royal Palace nobles to casually savor, and yet here it was being offered to guests… Was she showing off her wealth? It certainly fit his impression of the Green Family’s notorious extravagance.
Determined not to let such luxuries go to waste, the City Lord refilled his cup, peering at the woman through the swirling steam and carefully phrasing his words.
“Miss Green? Let me keep calling you that.”
“As for your proposal, I reported it truthfully to the Royal Palace and The Church. Their reply was rather astonishing.”
“They said to leave everything to you, correct?” Ailaira gave a little hum, appearing in an excellent mood. Her jade-like, slender fingers traced along the rim of her cup. “But you’re still confused, or as the City Lord, you have your own concerns. You don’t feel at ease letting someone with such an uncertain background take charge of this diplomatic event, which is why you made a point of coming yourself.”
He’d been seen through… The City Lord felt a bit weary, so he simply admitted it outright.
“You are truly ‘considerate.’ So let’s chalk this up to a rare burst of curiosity in middle age—please, do tell me honestly—”
“Who exactly are you?”
Ailaira rested her chin on her hand, her smile deepening, the interest in her eyes reminiscent of an adult encouraging a child on the verge of solving a riddle.
“Haven’t I already told you the answer, City Lord? Why keep asking?”
“Your parents… That’s impossible!”
The City Lord suddenly shot to his feet, the sudden motion knocking over his teacup, but he no longer cared about keeping up appearances. The shocking truth had struck him hard, shaking the foundations of his worldview. Almost instinctively, he denied it.
“I’d rather believe that my census staff made a mistake and failed to record an illegitimate child!”
Ailaira paid his loss of composure no mind, as if the spilled tea frozen midair could, with a flick of her finger, return intact to the cup, as though nothing had ever changed.
“The answer in your mind right now is something no normal person would ever consider.”
“The fact that you instantly denied it is precisely proof that, deep down, you know that boy was both capable of and daring enough to do it, isn’t it?”
The City Lord was speechless. He slumped helplessly onto the sofa, staring at the clear tea, then suddenly gave a bitter laugh.
“Right, why was that the first thing that crossed my mind?”
Was he not a normal person?
No—it was because of his contact with that boy that he developed a fear from the bottom of his heart. Just how far could a human be pushed into madness?
But at this point, there was no need for more probing between them. The City Lord drained his tea in one go, put on his coat, and when he addressed Ailaira again, there was a heavier note to his tone.
“Miss Gorin, your honesty is admirable.”
“For hosting the Visiting Delegation, you truly are this city’s best choice. If City Hall can assist in any way, we will give our full support. And please… do show some restraint. After all, it hasn’t been easy for this city to reach its current state.”
Ailaira waved a hand and agreed most amicably.
“Rest assured. With such a responsible City Lord, how could I not love this city?”
The City Lord’s mouth twitched, but he could only offer a parting salute.
“I am honored by your affection.”
Time returned to the present. The City Lord looked out the carriage window at the brightly lit streets.
Even under the high-hanging moon, citizens still dared to stroll the avenues, chatting and laughing with their families. Someone recognized the City Lord’s carriage and waved enthusiastically; the City Lord waved back, the light gradually returning to his eyes.
No matter what, his duty was to ensure the city’s peace and prosperity—even if it meant sending those elite outsiders into a destined den of monsters.
After the City Lord left, Jody came in to clear the tea set. Yukla’s figure soon emerged from the opened Space Gate. She leaned against the back of Ailaira’s chair, watching curiously.
“So, you just told the City Lord like that? Aren’t you afraid he’ll rat you out?”
“I only hinted at it. He’s a clever man—he naturally knows that if he exposes my identity, the first to trouble him won’t be me, but The Church. After all, how could the ever-righteous Judgement Court allow the world to know that someone like me—a stain—still exists?”
“It was also a reminder not to meddle in my affairs, saving me the trouble of him snooping around in secret. I don’t want to be watched every day.”
Yukla nodded. On her way here, she had indeed sensed faint spying, all centered on this mansion. She turned to sit across from Ailaira, pulled out her little notebook, and, like a journalist, pressed her curiosity.
“Then I’m really curious—what exactly did you do in the past to make the City Lord both fear and respect you?”
Ailaira sipped her tea, her smile growing even brighter as she fondly recalled the past.
“Oh, nothing special.”
“I simply held a grand Banquet as the Green Family’s heir, gathering all the factions entangled with the Green Couple under one roof. Then, after that night, this border city shifted from its tangled mess to being ruled by a single hand.”
“He was merely the carefully selected outsider who reaped the rewards.”