Luo Ye held the letter between his fingers, the faint scent of a young girl lingering on the stationery, his brow slightly furrowed.
The letter had been delivered by Lilith’s servant girl, written in an ornate and formal style.
The gist was: “Tomorrow afternoon, meet at the tavern without fail; there is an important matter to discuss concerning Alicia.”
“Heh!”
Luo Ye snorted coldly through his nose.
After sparring with that divine girl a good eight hundred rounds inside the simulation, did he not understand her roundabout little tactics?
Most likely, she intended to give him a warning on her own turf.
“Lord Luo Ye,” Anna’s voice sounded beside him, rare seriousness threading through it. Her eyes, like twin violet stars, watched his tense profile with concern. “You look so serious… has that Lilith woman made another move?”
Luo Ye didn’t answer immediately.
The fewer people who knew about his meeting with Lady Victoria and the subsequent liaison with Lilith, the better.
Even though Anna was now on his side.
He wasn’t foolish enough to unconditionally trust her or turn his back on her just yet.
Crack!
Luo Ye’s arm swept through the air with a gust, decisively flicking the exquisitely calligraphed invitation letter straight into the lantern by the fireplace.
He snapped his fingers, and flames engulfed the paper.
His movements were smooth and fluid.
The evidence was destroyed outright.
“Just a nuisance letter. No need to bother with it.”
“Well then, let’s eat first.”
Luo Ye grabbed his knife and fork and began devouring his food hurriedly.
After being drained for a whole day and night by Hissnai, then forced to spar mentally with Lady Victoria—that old aunt, no, that graceful noblewoman—at the tavern, he hadn’t even managed a single bite and was nearly starving.
Anna was momentarily stunned by Luo Ye’s sudden shift in demeanor.
One moment he’d been clouded and murderous; the next, he was eating like a starving ghost reborn.
Lord Luo Ye’s mood changed faster than a princess’s expression.
Still…
Anna blinked, watching Luo Ye’s cheeks bulge as he “mercilessly” tore into the pitiful steak on his plate with a “screw it, I’m going all out” determination.
Hmm, no matter what kind of monster Lilith was.
As long as Lord Luo Ye’s peach-blossom eyes—made dazzling in her filtered perception—could brighten up again and he could eat heartily, even if it was wolfing down food like a beast, that was the greatest blessing!
“Exactly. Lord Luo Ye is right—only when you’re full can you deal with those… tactless ones.”
Anna’s faint trace of “seriousness” immediately vanished, her face resuming its usual gentle smile.
With grace and natural ease, she used her utensils to elegantly slide the largest grilled sausage from her plate onto Luo Ye’s.
“Lord Luo Ye, eat more. You’ve expended a lot today and should replenish your energy.”
Her voice was soft, carrying just the right amount of concern.
Especially since… well… she probably had to exert quite a bit of effort dealing with Lady Hissnai as well, right?
She wisely swallowed the latter thought.
Luo Ye was busy eating and mumbled an unclear reply, nodding subconsciously in acknowledgment: “Looks like you’re in charge of Alicia’s meals? No wonder I never heard her comment on any chefs in the royal city—it’s all you cooking, then.”
Anna’s lips curved slightly, a hint of pride showing.
“Thank you for the compliment, Lord Luo Ye. After all, I’ve served Lady Alicia for three years. My primary duty is to protect Her Highness, and secondly to care for her daily needs. Now that I’m taking care of you, Lord Luo Ye, I suppose it’s a matter of putting my skills to use?”
Her eyes flickered, tone maintaining the poise expected of a guard.
Yet within that “care” there seemed to be a subtle, almost imperceptible intimacy. “Lord Luo Ye, eat slowly. If it’s not enough, I can bring you a bowl of mushroom soup to warm your stomach?”
Luo Ye finally swallowed the solid steak, feeling Anna’s concerned gaze lingering on him a little too closely. His eye twitched.
Great, just when he’d shaken off the annoyance of the letter, this “close care” was seamlessly picking up right where it left off.
He gave Anna a “that’s enough” look.
Anna caught the signal, her faint smile unchanged, even adding a touch of innocent confusion, as if she didn’t understand why Luo Ye was rejecting her goodwill.
“What’s wrong, Lord Luo Ye? Is the soup not to your liking? Or… is there something else you need?”
She deliberately lowered her voice on the words “something else,” her clear eyes carrying a hint of playful mischief.
“…”
Luo Ye was left utterly speechless. Silently, he picked up his spoon and locked his sights on the other grilled sausage left on Anna’s plate.
Anna watched as Luo Ye unapologetically “claimed” the prize.
She wasn’t annoyed; instead, she rested one hand beneath her chin, smiling gently as she observed him eat with focused intensity, as though admiring some precious sight. Occasionally, she lightly tapped her own lips with a fingertip, savoring some secret memory.
Luo Ye rolled his eyes inwardly but didn’t stop eating.
Fortunately, Anna wasn’t some all-powerful deity. When Luo Ye suggested resting, she didn’t insist further.
Just to be safe, Luo Ye locked the door.
Double-locked.
He lay down and prepared to sleep.
Just as he closed his eyes, something suddenly came to mind, and he snapped them open.
He rose and went to the window, looking left and right.
Suddenly, on the other side of the windowsill, he saw Anna leaning against the railing, wearing a nightdress, smiling coquettishly at him.
Luo Ye: …
Anna: smiles
Snap—the window latched shut.
The curtain drew closed.
Now it was safe. Time to sleep.
Luo Ye quickly shut his eyes again.
Suddenly, dizziness washed over him. Then a blinding light enveloped his entire body. He instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes, feeling his mind go hazy.
“Hey, young sir, want to buy some apples?”
A shout beside him gradually brought him back to awareness.
Luo Ye lowered his hand and looked up. There stood the same eyepatch-wearing man again, toothpick in mouth, eyes full of expectation.
He glanced left and right. Around him, the bustling marketplace was alive with people shopping for supplies. The atmosphere was peaceful and full of vitality.
Did he just enter the simulation world again?
And end up in the exact same place as before?
“Hey, are you buying or not?”
The man in front snatched the toothpick from his mouth and glared at him, sounding rough and a bit annoyed. “If you’re not buying, don’t just stand there and block my business.”
“Buying, buying, buying.” Luo Ye tentatively patted his pocket and found some copper coins. He handed them over to the vendor. “Boss, could you please tell me what time it is now? What year, month, and day?”
The eyepatch boss took the coins, counted them, then gave Luo Ye a curious look. Still, he packed the apples and replied, “Today is Imperial Calendar Year 24, September 7th.”
“I see. Thanks, boss. Goodbye, and may you be blessed with eight children in one birth.”
“Hey! Who are you cursing?!”