Enya followed the sound and arrived in front of the main gate.
Her beautiful eyes fixed on the slovenly middle-aged swordsman and the Monghua Carriage behind him as she asked,
“May I ask what you’re looking for me about?”
“Of course it’s to invite…”
Alvin smiled upon seeing Enya and was about to say that Henna had sent him to invite this lady to the banquet.
But when he saw a girl with pale golden shoulder-length hair step out from the hall, he froze in place.
“Ah, Rosily?”
Rosily glared at him disdainfully.
The previously lazy-looking Alvin immediately put away his indifferent demeanor and gave Enya a gentlemanly hat-tip.
Although he had no hat, he still made the motion of taking one off, and then pretended to put it back on after standing up.
“Beautiful Madam Phil, my name is Alvin. As you can see, I am a Pure-Hearted Mortalblood Swordsman. Your daughter, Rosily, possesses extraordinary talent. I sincerely hope you will allow her to learn my Swordsmanship. In the future, she will surely become a great master…”
Alvin suddenly spoke a lot, growing more and more excited as he went on, his face turning red and his voice rough.
He was like a greedy man discovering a mountain of gold, or a lovesick youth seeing a beauty freshly bathed.
“Cough, cough…”
Enya awkwardly interrupted Alvin’s endless monologue with a smile.
“That must be Rosily’s own choice. I won’t interfere with her will.”
Upon hearing this, Alvin froze on the spot, then looked at Rosily’s reluctant expression and sighed in disappointment.
“Ah… very well, Madam, very well…”
At that moment, a maid approached and stood beside Alvin, apologetically addressing Enya.
“Madam Phil, it is Lord Henna who wishes to invite you to the banquet. She specifically asked that you bring your daughter along.”
Enya naturally understood the meaning behind this.
Henna was concerned about her and had sent someone to protect her, even a Pure-Hearted Mortalblood Swordsman of the sixth rank.
As for Alvin… she still remembered this sword fanatic. He had once tried to teach her Swordsmanship, but she had refused.
She glanced at Rosily, then back to the maid.
“Please give me some time to get ready.”
The maid hesitated but agreed to Enya’s request to prepare her luggage.
Her face was tinged with anxiety and worry as she reminded,
“Madam Phil, please hurry. The situation is urgent.”
“Mm, it won’t take long.”
Enya smiled and nodded, then took Rosily’s hand and returned inside the house.
After closing the door, she quickly headed upstairs to the bedroom, moving back and forth between the wardrobe and the suitcase like an ordinary person.
Rosily first watched quietly, then sneaked off to her room and pulled out a sword from under the bed.
She whispered to the sword,
“Sister Cang, I’m going to put you away now.”
Cang remained silent.
Enya seemed to have finished her preparations and came out of the bedroom, standing outside Rosily’s door.
Through the door, she spoke to her daughter,
“Little Rosily, do you need my help?”
“Ah, no!”
Rosily turned her head and stared intently at the door, a little flustered. She looked down at the silver ring on her hand, took a deep breath, and focused her mind.
The Spatial Ring on her hand glowed faintly, and a rift opened. She stared at the spatial fissure in awe.
“Amazing…”
Just then, the door opened. Fortunately, Rosily reacted quickly and threw the sword inside before the rift closed swiftly, leaving Cang lying in the lonely void.
Cang: Sigh, life is tough.
Enya looked at Rosily crouched by the bed and put on a strange expression.
“What is Little Rosily doing?”
“Ahaha, nothing, nothing. I’m just about to pack my things. Oh right, I can use the Spatial Ring, so I packed your luggage too, Mom.”
Enya shook her head with a smile, refusing.
“No need. I’ll carry my own luggage. The Spatial Ring is a precious item; it’s better not to let others know about it easily. Just take care of your own clothes. We might be staying away for a few days.”
“Mm, I understand.”
The girl nodded blankly. She didn’t yet grasp the idea of keeping wealth discreet. Enya also thought it was too soon to teach her about the darker sides of society.
However, Enya’s written Chronicles did contain some stories of this nature.
Given Rosily’s intelligence, once she read them carefully, she would understand quickly.
Enya picked up her suitcase and was about to go downstairs.
Rosily hurried over to help but was gently refused.
“I’m not at the stage where I need Little Rosily’s support yet.”
“Mm…”
“Good girl, I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”
“Mom~”
Rosily leaned against Enya, inhaling the comforting scent of her mother. At this moment, the girl felt completely satisfied.
After the two of them left the house, the maid visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
She was really worried Madam Phil would spend a long time dressing up and trying on dresses for the banquet.
The maid hurried forward and snatched the suitcase from Enya’s hand.
After relaxing, her smile became genuinely warm as she said to Enya,
“Madam Phil, please take Miss Rosily to the carriage first.”
“Ah, alright. Thank you.”
Enya didn’t hesitate and briskly took Rosily’s hand to board the carriage.
Alvin was already sitting in the co-driver’s seat, holding a longsword in his arms, looking sorrowful.
Inside, the carriage was lavishly decorated, with seats made of special dark red leather, filled with feathers soft and elastic enough to make the seat feel extraordinarily comfortable and plush.
The spacious interior caused no discomfort even at high speeds.
Enya slightly opened the window and gazed outside.
After traveling some distance, eight riders appeared to escort them—four in front and four behind, all knights in full armor, tall and imposing.
Rosily came over to look outside.
They were not heading to Asades Castle but instead took the broad streets of the wealthy district toward the city walls, aiming for the North Gate.
The North Gate was completely under Henna’s control. It was also the base for the City Guard Knight Squad, heavily manned and generally off-limits to outsiders.
There were two routes to get there: one was along the main avenue of Red Pine City, circling behind Asades Castle and passing directly through the forest.
The other was the route they were currently taking—cutting through the wealthy district, reaching the city walls, then following the walls all the way.
This ensured the entire journey was under the protection of the city’s soldiers, making it the safest path.
Rosily observed the large independent courtyards and villas and recognized this was an unusual route.
Curiously, she asked Enya,
“Mom, are we really going to that banquet?”
Enya closed the window, sat beside Rosily, and held her hand gently, speaking softly,
“No, we’re going somewhere safe.”
“A safe place…”
Rosily seemed to understand the implication and said nothing more. She rested quietly in her mother’s arms, waiting for their destination.
Viscount Garnard, with a fierce expression and muscular build, turned to the servant following behind him.
“How’s it going over there?”
The man, a lifelong servant of the viscount’s family, bowed slightly, his face full of servile smiles as he answered his master.
“Please rest assured, my lord. The Dark Hall Assassin has already been dispatched.”
“We will surely capture that mother and daughter.”
A cold smile spread across Viscount Garnard’s face. He snorted lightly and said,
“That woman isn’t indispensable. If she dies, so be it.”
“Yes, I’ll notify them at once!”
The servant acknowledged and quickly rode off through the garden.
What bastard daughter?
What puppet lord?
What I want has never been to stand behind the scenes, but to stand on the stage, so that everyone on this land knows my name!
The reason Viscount Garnard spread rumors about the illegitimate daughter was not to foster some pitiful puppet lord.
He intended to exploit Henna’s concern for that woman named Phil, distracting Henna’s elite forces.
Only by eliminating Henna could he win everything!
Viscount Garnard clenched his fist, but soon relaxed and turned to look at the White Robed Man who had just arrived.
“Heh heh heh, Viscount Garnard, long time no see.”
The White Robed Man’s voice was smoky and hoarse, sending a chilling sensation under the dusk sky.
Viscount Garnard didn’t waste time debating and said directly,
“You promised.”
“Of course, of course. The Bishop will arrive soon.”
The White Robed Man replied confidently.
Viscount Garnard’s expression remained unchanged as he turned and entered the villa, planning to change clothes and take part in this grand drama.
Elsewhere, Viscount Coste had already arrived at the grand courtyard gate.
He glanced back at his wife and several children.
His gaze settled on his eldest son, Ande.
Noticing the look, the black-haired young man raised his head, waiting for his father’s orders.
The young viscount smiled and said,
“Ande, you know what to do, right?”
Ande’s eyes widened. After taking a deep breath, he nodded heavily.
Viscount Coste wasn’t satisfied with a mere nod but said no more. He sighed softly and boarded the carriage. His family saw him off.
In the city’s dark alleys, several fierce-looking men gathered, seemingly preparing for something.
The atmosphere in the taverns grew heavy, suffocating even, as the usual boisterousness vanished.
In the Refugee Resettlement Zone, the numb-faced people gnawed on the bread they had received.
A ragged little girl glanced at the setting sun and then turned to an old woman beside her, asking,
“Will the Great Fog come?”
“!?”
The old woman shuddered at the question, eyes wide with terror.
She quickly covered the girl’s mouth with her withered hand. Fortunately, no one else was watching.
The refugees never liked to mention the Great Fog.
And whenever someone asked about it, they would all show the same terrified expression.
“Excuse me, what exactly is this Great Fog you speak of?”
A clear female voice rang out. The girl and old woman looked back.
It was a gray-haired young girl, now dressed in the black habit of the Goddess Church’s nun.
“My name is Simona. I’m still a newly inducted nun. Little sister, can you tell me what the Great Fog is?”
The little girl looked up at this older sister, whose complexion was not very good, and said,
“The Great Fog eats people… ugh…”
The old woman’s cloudy eyes widened as she pulled the girl away to stop her from speaking further, fearing that mentioning it might summon that terrifying omen.
Simona reached out halfway, hesitated, and then withdrew her hand.
“What’s wrong, Simona?”
Behind the young nun, a Goddess Priestess approached.
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