The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 624 The Strictest Father

The following morning, Luo Yan was awakened by a light knock on the door.

When he pushed open the door, he saw Ophia standing there, her face slightly lowered and a timid expression on her face.

This look of regret after doing something wrong is very similar to that of Miss Castellion, who suddenly begins to reflect on herself.

A hint of surprise appeared on Luo Yan's face.

You should know that he had already been turned away twice in front of that tightly closed door last night. Not only was he refused entry by a certain stubborn lady who used silence as a weapon, but she didn't even bother to say "please go back".

If it were an ordinary gentleman, he would probably have already begun to suspect in his heart that this young lady of the Castellion family had already prepared a whole process of breaking off relations in her mind, but was just holding back her words for the sake of social decorum.

However, at this moment, things took an astonishing turn.

Whether it was the atmosphere between the two of them, or the blush that was gradually rising on her fair, jade-like face.

Good morning, Your Highness Colin.

Ophia broke the silence first, her voice tinged with a hint of awkwardness.

Because of the stark contrast in his expression, Luo Yan couldn't help but make a joke while offering his morning greetings.

"Good morning, Miss Castellón. Why are you suddenly calling me by my pseudonym again?"

Ophia gave him a slightly reproachful glare, but quickly wiped the reproachful expression off her face and looked away again.

"Regarding what happened before... I want to apologize to you. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have suspected that you were deliberately delaying the investigation, and I certainly shouldn't have suspected that you orchestrated Earl Sean's death."

Luo Yan raised his eyebrows with interest, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment.

At this moment, Ophia was wearing a light blue long dress, the white ruffled collar highlighting her swan-like neck, which was long and fair.

Her hair was clearly styled carefully; her golden hair was combed into a side braid that gently fell over her left shoulder.

Whether it's her understated makeup or her drooping eyelashes, she's become much gentler than she was the day before, with a sharp and assertive demeanor.

And Luo Yan could tell that she had woken up before dawn.

“This isn’t like you.” Luo Yan smiled as he looked at her. “To be honest, I thought you would at least keep this cold war going until the end of the month.”

“That’s because you don’t understand me.” Ophia pursed her lips and said softly, “A mature Castellion doesn’t dwell on a single sentence for a long time.”

Luo Yan raised his eyebrows slightly.

"So, you matured overnight?"

“It didn’t happen overnight, but I’ve been working on it for a long time.”

Ophelia looked up, her azure eyes meeting his directly. Her gaze was clear and honest, like that of a young girl diligently handing in her exam paper.

“I was wrong yesterday. I shouldn’t have taken my suspicions out on you. I know you’ve been protecting me all along… Actually, you didn’t want to come here at this time at all.”

“That’s the truth.” Luo Yan nodded slightly, readily acknowledging her assessment. “If Miss Castellion hadn’t insisted on investigating Earl Sean’s death, I would probably be at Spruce Manor…”

Halfway through his speech, Luo Yan suddenly paused, and his expression became subtle.

He was too embarrassed to talk about what happened next.

Even the Demon King, whose skin is as thick as a city wall, has things he's too embarrassed to tell outsiders.

Fortunately, Miss Ophia did not dwell on the topic.

She hesitated for a moment before finally uttering the words she had carefully considered.

"To make amends... I'd like to invite you to see a play. I've heard that the Royal Theatre in Roland City is currently staging a new play, and it's received good reviews."

She paused, then added in a low voice.

"This time, may I invite you...?"

The voice carried a soft inquiry, which no respectable gentleman would refuse.

“Of course,” Luo Yan nodded readily, a look of great interest on his face. “Could I know what kind of show it is?”

“The Shepherd’s Legacy is a comedy about a shepherd who unexpectedly inherits an earl’s estate.” Ophia’s lips curled up slightly, revealing a perfectly timed smile. “It sounds silly, but I’ve heard it’s very funny.”

Luo Yan sized her up for a few seconds, then gave her a gentle smile.

“Great! I was just thinking of going out for a walk... How about we grab a coffee first? In my experience, great shows are usually in the afternoon or evening.”

Seeing Luo Yan about to leave the room on his own, Ophia coughed lightly and extended her right hand.

Luo Yan was slightly taken aback, then smiled and took the hand wearing a white lace-trimmed glove, and made a gentlemanly gesture of invitation.

"please."

……

The carriage that had just left the Summer Palace stopped once again in front of the Royal Theatre.

Luo Yan got off the carriage first, then turned and extended his hand into the carriage. Ophia's fingertips touched his palm, and she stepped out of the carriage, lifting her skirt, and naturally took his arm after getting off.

This series of movements seemed to have exhausted all of Ophia's courage, and her fair cheeks flushed red with barely concealed embarrassment.

However, she did not let go of her hand.

The little hand resting on her arm gripped even tighter as her tension intensified.

Luo Yan asked casually.

"Are you ok?"

Ophia shuddered and stammered.

"Me? I'm perfectly fine! Excellent!"

Looking at Ophia, who was as nervous as a deer, Luo Yan couldn't help but smile.

Instead of continuing to tease her, Luo Yan kindly turned his gaze to the theater in front of him and shifted the topic to the historical significance of the Royal Theater.

"...It is said that this theater was built during the heyday of the Devalo family and cost a total of 30,000 gold coins."

"Is that so?" Ophia showed an interested expression and obediently seized the opportunity to divert attention.

However, the blush that gradually crept up her neck betrayed her anxiety and panic.

Luo Yan nodded slightly, politely pretending not to see it, and continued speaking.

"Of course, the Devallo family is extremely generous in their investment in the arts, as can be seen from the grandeur of the Saint Laurent Cathedral. Whether the National Assembly is willing to admit it or not, they have contributed to the prosperity of Roland City... even if not everyone has benefited from it."

Thirty thousand gold coins is not a small amount even today, let alone during the height of the Os Empire's power.

At the time, this sum of money was enough to arm three entire knightly orders that were no less powerful than the Lionheart. Now, the Lionheart has vanished into history, but the theater itself has been preserved.

During the French Revolution, the place was occupied by angry citizens and became a venue for Encyclopedist lectures and rallies.

After the revolution succeeded, the National Assembly renovated and reopened the building to win over the support of people in the arts and culture circles, making it much more lively than before.

All these anecdotes were told to Prince Colin by Minister Conrad during a casual conversation, and Luo Yan then relayed them to Miss Ophia as a pastime while waiting for the stage play to begin.

However, although he told these stories in a casual tone, Miss Ophia listened very attentively, even with fascination.

interesting.

The impatient detective suddenly became a patient listener.

Luo Yan, already seated in the private room, wore an expression of great interest and suddenly became less eager to unveil the curtain.

……

The tightly closed curtain was finally slowly lifted under the expectant gaze of everyone.

As the theater lights dimmed and the stage lights focused, the actors standing backstage took to the stage one by one, and melodious music began to play.

The comedy was indeed as funny as Orphea had said.

So much so that from the moment the shepherd entered the count's mansion, the laughter in the theater never stopped, even drowning out much of the comical musical performance on stage.

However, this did not affect the atmosphere of the entire stage play; on the contrary, it brought the audience onto the stage in a unique way.

In addition, the actors' performances were excellent, which greatly enhanced the entire series.

Luo Yan watched the first half of the play with a polite smile and gave an objective evaluation of the play during the intermission.

It can be considered a stage play of above-average quality.

If I had to point out any highlight, it would probably be that the actress playing the female lead is really beautiful, not at all inferior to Miss "Elois," who is a succubus.

as well as--

Ophia, who was sitting next to me, was much easier to get along with than the day before yesterday.

She almost gave up that prickly tone, and no longer looked at the prince sitting next to her with the same scrutinizing gaze one would give a prisoner.

Instead, she quietly stayed by his side, sometimes amused by the continuous reversals on the stage, and sometimes smiling knowingly when she looked at him.

'long.'

Hearing the Demon King's thoughts, a milky-white ghost floated out from the side, followed by a surprised whisper.

'what? '

Luo Yan glanced sideways at Youyou, who was floating beside him.

'...What do you mean, "huh"?'

The milky-white ghost circled him twice, radiating ripples of emotion.

'The Demon King hasn't spoken to Youyou in so long! Youyou was... so incredibly touched!'

'...'

'Demon King, what do you want to say? Don't be shy, just tell me, your most loyal and number one lackey!'

"You shouldn't call yourself a lackey. Don't pick up weird stuff from the forum players; there aren't many normal people there."

'Ah! Is that so?'

'Yes.'

So what exactly are you trying to say?

Luo Yan turned his attention back to the stage.

'It's nothing, I've changed my mind.'

long:'???'

What he really wanted to say was that Ophia was really nice.

She retained almost all of Orphea's virtues: she was intelligent, understanding, and yet elegant and dignified.

In contrast, she shed all of Orphea's flaws. If we disregard emotional factors, she is almost the perfect spouse for Prince Corinth, the kind of spouse who would be remembered in epics for her perfection.

If I had to point out the only drawback...

That is to say, she is no longer Ophia.

In the second half of the story, the plot takes a sharp turn for the worse.

The shepherd discovers a huge conspiracy hidden behind the count's inheritance, and that the seemingly loyal servants all have their own agendas, each taking advantage of his naivety.

When the entire room fell silent, Luo Yan glanced at Ophia.

She was staring intently at the stage, her azure eyes reflecting the stage lights, her gaze filled with both fascination and deep thought.

When the shepherd exposes the steward's conspiracy in the final act and chooses to renounce his inheritance and return to the fields, thunderous applause erupts in the theater.

This is also a characteristic of the Ryans in storytelling.

The citizens of Thunder City prefer to leave the sublimation to the blank space outside the stage, while the citizens of Roland City prefer to perform it on stage.

As the audience stood up, Ophia clapped along with them.

After the applause subsided, she turned her head slightly and said in a low voice.

"Although it's a cliché story, the ending is quite good."

Luo Yan asked jokingly.

Do you think the shepherd made the right choice?

“Hmm.” Ophia nodded gently and smiled. “Things that don’t belong to you will only bring pain if you try to keep them.”

Luo Yan also curved his lips into a smile and extended his right hand.

"Come on, I'll take you back."

Ophia smiled and took his hand; her fingertips were slightly cool.

"Yes, it is getting late."

……

It's getting late.

As the performance ended, the sky began to turn a dusky yellow.

The carriage slowly made its way back along the stone-paved road, the twilight outside the window painting the rooftops of Roland City in a warm orange hue.

The atmosphere inside the carriage was warm and cozy.

Luo Yan leaned back on the velvet cushions, flipping through a newspaper he had bought from the theater entrance, while Ophia sat opposite him, quietly watching him.

At this moment, Luo Yan suddenly took out his pocket watch, glanced at it, and then started talking casually.

How are you feeling today?

Ophia suppressed the infatuation in her eyes and spoke softly.

"Today... is the most perfect day of my life."

Luo Yan glanced at her in surprise and said with a smile.

Is it even more perfect than that day?

“Of course, only the day I met you can compare to today,” Ophia said, blinking gently. “I’ve discovered that being honest with myself is such a wonderful thing… By the way, we’re on a date, aren’t we?”

Meeting those azure eyes, Luo Yan smiled gently.

"of course."

He had made this joke once before.

Ophia smiled, pleased that she had successfully tricked her mentor; her cheerful expression suggested she had won a round.

Luo Yan put away the pocket watch in his hand.

"Speaking of which, what did you do all day yesterday?"

"Reading novels."

"what book?"

“Butterflies and Dreams.” Her melodious voice carried a hint of girlish excitement as she said joyfully, “To be precise, it was that novel that changed me. If you’re interested, I can lend it to you; I haven’t returned the book yet.”

"This is quite rare; Miss Ophia is actually recommending books to me."

“Because this book is definitely worth reading.” Ophia’s gaze softened a bit, as if she were savoring a passage from the book. “It’s a story about a ‘second wife’ and a ‘first wife,’ involving a struggle between the living and the dead. The plot twists and turns one after another, and the ending is truly spectacular.”

"It seems this is more than just a love story."

“Of course, love is just an embellishment; its core is more about growth and humanity,” Ophelia chuckled softly, placing the book on her lap. “However, what moved me most wasn’t Miss Ivy’s growth, but rather Mrs. Belladonna, who died from the very beginning—”

Halfway through his sentence, the carriage suddenly jolted.

It's likely that the wheel ran over a protruding stone brick.

In the sudden tremor, Ophia swayed and instinctively reached for something, only to fall into Luo Yan's arms.

The two people sitting opposite each other were thus brought to a distance of almost touching.

The fragrance of citrus wafted into Luo Yan's nose, along with a hint of raw sea salt. He could clearly smell the aroma emanating from his hair.

The same goes for Ophia.

Sensing that calm aura, Ophia's breathing quickened slightly, her golden eyelashes trembled gently, and a blush spread from her ears to her cheeks.

The two were almost touching.

However, she did not run away; instead, she tightened her grip on Luo Yan's sleeve with her ten fingers.

“Your Highness…” Her azure eyes gazed down at the face she had longed for, and a complex mix of emotions began to well up in her gaze.

It was a long-suppressed admiration and shyness, as well as a desperate gamble after finally making up one's mind.

"Actually, I've always wanted to say this..."

Ophia finally raised her face, her lips parted slightly, and her beautiful face was like a rose blooming in the twilight.

However, that beautiful atmosphere was completely destroyed by a single sentence.

"Novell, I knew it was you. Thank you for letting me watch an intriguing soap opera while I waited for the outcome."

A gentle voice rang in Ophelia's ear, a voice like a spell to summon frost, freezing the expression on Ophelia's face.

It also froze that "rose" that was in full bloom.

His azure pupils widened rapidly, then turned to astonishment.

"Your Highness... what are you saying? Novell?"

"Do I need to repeat it? Your real name."

"No, I don't understand what you mean. Are you trying to say I'm a madman? Just because I told you my truest feelings—"

Her voice trembled slightly, and tears welled up in her eyes. Resolutely, she took a half-step back, as if deeply stung by those incomprehensible words.

Stop pretending.

Luo Yan did not try to stop her, but simply watched her performance quietly, his tone still gentle, with even a hint of a warm smile on his lips.

“I know Ophia better than she knows herself. From the curve of her furrowed brow to the pout of her lips when she’s sulking, to her seemingly nonchalant retorts… no matter how much you pave the way for your transformation, these things etched into your soul will never change. Even if one day she truly matures, I can still spot her in a crowd at a glance.”

Luo Yan paused for a moment, looked at the stunned Ophia, and used a teasing tone.

"Of course, the most important thing is that I understand you."

The carriage was quiet for a few seconds.

All that could be heard was the clatter of horses' hooves on the stone slabs outside the window, and the sound of an accordion drifting from some unknown alleyway.

The citizens of Roland City finished their day's work, and the clamor of voices flowed into the taverns in the alleyways. And in the distant arguing, something else seemed to be brewing.

Everything was as usual, noisy and vibrant.

Ophia was stunned for a long time, and the expression on her face gradually underwent a subtle change.

She was first shocked, then shocked into bewilderment, and then bewilderment turned into disbelief and tearful grievance.

Luo Yan simply gazed at her calmly, like a spectator sitting below the stage, his face expressionless.

Finally, she couldn't keep up the act any longer, and her brilliant expressions gradually turned into a subtle smile.

For a fleeting moment, she resembled Vivian after successfully pulling off a prank and being caught. Except, she wasn't expecting a beating from her brother; she was anticipating something else entirely.

"Can I know when the mistake was made?"

Ophia sat up straight again, her back ramrod straight, her chin slightly raised, and her hands naturally folded on her knees.

"If you're asking when I realized that Ophia had been corrupted and become a 'mad talker,' it was probably at the train station in Gravit, the first time I saw her."

Luo Yan's voice was calm, as if he were talking about the weather outside the window.

However, Ophia's eyes showed a look of astonishment, and her face was filled with disbelief.

Not only Ophia was shocked, but also Youyou, who followed Luo Yan closely.

'Demon Lord?! Are you serious?'

'certainly.'

"But...how did you find out?"

Faced with the unbelievable Youyou, Luo Yan answered softly in his heart.

'Remember the documents we looked at in the Padridge Library?'

What do you mean?

"Regarding the description of Novell," Luo Yan calmly repeated, recalling what he had read in the book, "there are four types of people most likely to become His slaves: detectives thirsting for the truth, explorers seeking treasure, judges scrutinizing conspiracies, and scholars who excessively explore the spiritual world."

He rarely forgets knowledge he has read once, even if it was a long, long time ago.

And this is probably the biggest difference between Miss Padridge and him.

Youyou was stunned for a moment, then suddenly remembered.

'You mean—'

Luo Yan calmly turned another page of the newspaper in his hand and said to himself.

'My dear student probably hit three... or maybe three and a half. Novell must have had his eye on this piece of mine for a long time, only recently finding an opportunity.'

While he was deeply involved with Avano's chosen one.

To be honest, he wouldn't have been very interested in coming to Roland City to see this show if Norville hadn't already put his dirty hands on his dear student's shoulders.

Of course, Novell may have anticipated this, so he manipulated the dice that were already on the chessboard, causing Ophia, who was supposed to be "bound" to Thunder City University by Ilana, to "accidentally" appear at the station in Gravit.

Looking at Ophia, who was still in shock and hadn't recovered, Luo Yan continued in a very soft voice.

"...Of course, if you're asking when I first discovered your scheme had succeeded, the answer is the moment you knocked on the door this morning."

Ophia finally came to her senses, her face filled with deep disappointment.

"Then didn't I fool you for even a second?"

"It's a pity, that's true." Luo Yan nodded slightly, his smile gentle and sincere, as if he were regretting the score on the exam paper.

"This is really frustrating. I've been planning this for so long... I thought I could at least fool you for a second."

Ophia sighed, but there was a clear hint of amusement in her sigh.

Seeing that Ophia seemed dejected, Luo Yan offered a word of comfort in a kind tone that was hardly a word of consolation.

"Don't be discouraged. You've learned it very well, but that's all. If you think that 'soul swapping' can replace her in my heart, you're underestimating the bond between me and Miss Ophia."

Unless, His soul traveled through time from the moment He was born.

However, it seems that even beings in the void cannot alter possibilities that have already converged; they can only go to another "in progress" past.

Whether doing so makes sense is another matter entirely.

"Hehe, if you said that to Miss Ophia, she would probably be so happy she'd fly." Ophia pressed her hand to her chest, a regretful smile on her face. "My heart is pounding so hard right now, I can't calm down at all."

"You flatter me," Luo Yan said modestly.

"I must admit, your cunning surpasses mine."

The regretful smile gradually turned into a pleasant one. Ophia gazed at the composed Prince and continued in a playful voice.

"He truly lives up to his reputation as my dear 'father'."

The playful laughter carried an eerie undertone.

Luo Yan looked at her quietly and started talking again in a casual tone.

"I've satisfied your curiosity, now it's your turn."

"That makes sense."

With her index finger brushing aside a strand of golden hair that fell over her shoulder, "Ophia's" tone was gentle and elegant, just like her dearest "father."

What would you like to know?

“Earl Sean,” Luo Yan smiled at her, “you killed him, didn’t you?”

How could that be?

Ophia tilted her head, her face showing an innocent look as if she had been wronged, and she even looked somewhat like her host.

"I merely fulfilled a gentleman's last wish, helping him escape the labyrinth that had trapped him. And isn't that truly the case?"

"The mastermind and his conspiracy have all been exposed to the light of day. The Empire has declared war on the Academy, the kingdoms have declared war on the Republic of Ryan, and all those who committed crimes have been punished by the gods."

She paused for a moment, then added a sentence in a choir-like tone.

"He orchestrated his own death and got what he wanted."

Luo Yan looked into those azure eyes.

"In other words, he is a madman."

“From a mortal’s superficial perspective, that is indeed the case.” Ophia lowered her eyes modestly, her dignified demeanor leaving no room for criticism.

Luo Yan neither confirmed nor denied her answer, but continued to ask in a calm voice.

"I want to know why you did this. What good does it do you?"

“Benefits? That’s something only mortals would consider.” She chuckled softly, her voice seeming to drift from a great distance. “Only mortals would lament the deaths of heroes and grit their teeth at the demons who survive. But for me, I’m only interested in change itself.”

As she spoke, Ophia lightly covered the corners of her lips, letting out a silvery laugh. Her beautiful eyes curved into crescents, and a blush of intoxication gradually rose on her cheeks.

"All grand conspiracies are sacrifices to please me."

"Especially the thought of that arrogant guy jumping up and down in a panic... makes me incredibly happy."

The carriage slowed down slightly at a corner.

Looking at the sickness and madness on that face, Luo Yan sighed softly.

"Although I had already guessed it, your twisted nature still shocked me."

"Thank you for the compliment." Ophia nodded slightly, as if she had received a sincere compliment.

Then, she leaned forward again.

Golden strands of hair slipped from her shoulders and fell onto Luo Yan's shoulder. Then, warm breath brushed past his ear, carrying a sweet yet dangerous scent.

“So,” she whispered softly, as gently as a whispered love confession, “what is your choice?”

"choose?"

"That's right..."

Ophelia turned her face slightly, gazing into his deep purple eyes with her azure gaze, her soft breath mingling with his.

"Want to join forces with me?"

Before Luo Yan could ask what she meant, her index finger gently climbed onto his arm, and she continued speaking in a slightly seductive voice.

“Miss Ophelia Castellón will become your loyal wife, capable assistant, and even… obedient slave. The impregnable fortress will crumble from within, and no one will ever imagine that Miss Ophelia will betray her family. I will help you take the Holy City, and with all the secrets I know as collateral, you can use this body as you please.”

Why do you think I would cooperate with you?

Luo Yan calmly grasped the increasingly audacious hand and moved it away from him, but the cunning girl gently grabbed it, their fingers intertwined.

"Stop pretending. You said it yourself, the moment you saw me at Gravit train station, you knew I was the Mad Talker. Can you honestly say you didn't anticipate things would turn out this way? The ritual was performed with your tacit approval."

“But I won’t cooperate with people who want nothing,” Luo Yan smiled faintly as he looked into those confident eyes. “Such people often want everything, and they want the most.”

"You don't want anything? How could that be? Didn't I tell you? The grand conspiracy is the best sacrifice offered to me. That's all I ask for."

Ophelia wore her usual intoxicated smile. Then, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, as if inhaling the aroma of a fine vintage wine.

"The mere thought of the unpredictable changes makes my soul tremble with excitement. I dare say, our union will be the greatest game in this universe!"

Luo Yan listened quietly to her statement, then chuckled and said...

"That sounds like a very attractive idea."

Ophia's face lit up with surprise.

Admiring that increasingly morbid smile, Luo Yan deliberately paused for a moment before softly uttering the unfinished second half of his sentence.

"But allow me to refuse."

Ophia was stunned.

She stood there for a long while before whispering in disbelief.

"……Why?"

There's no reason why.

Luo Yan looked at "Ophia" whose expression had become blank, his smile as gentle as ever.

"If I had to give a reason, I know very well that when I gaze into the void, the void is also gazing into me. Of course, you don't have to think too much about it; just consider it as your kind father bringing an unexpected variable to your plans."

The carriage fell silent again, with only the rhythmic sound of horses' hooves remaining. The only change was the accordion, which had disappeared into the increasingly heated argument.

Novell's plan certainly didn't stop at Ophia, but for him right now, that was the only thing that mattered most.

Ophia remained silent for a long time.

The smile on that beautiful face gradually faded, replaced by a faint regret.

However, there was no anger beneath that regret; rather, it was more like the sigh of a connoisseur who had encountered a collectible that he could not acquire, saying, "What a pity."

With that sigh, their tightly clasped fingers slowly separated.

"That's a real shame." She sat back down, regaining her composure, and said softly, "It seems we'll have to start the second plan."

"The second plan?"

Luo Yan raised an eyebrow with slight interest.

"That's right, in fact, I'm about to die."

Ophia's voice became very soft, almost melting into the white noise of the wheels crushing gravel. Even as she spoke, a faint smile lingered on her lips.

"The 'Ophelia' who couldn't have the love she desired has planned her own death, just like Madame Belladonna in 'The Butterfly and the Dream.' She will live on in your heart as you wished, becoming your lingering nightmare and the second shot in Roland City... You will remember her forever, as well as those who lost everything because of her."

"Moreover, no one can stop him."

The Duke of Castellón probably never imagined that his daughter would become a "madman." And the life-saving treasure he left her, instead of protecting her from her desire to die, would become the rope that led her to hang herself.

That hairpin was on her head.

She can die anywhere in this city, if she wants.

The temperature inside the carriage seemed to have dropped a few degrees, yet it also seemed to have been cold from beginning to end.

Luo Yan's smile remained unchanged, and he didn't even frown.

“I did not allow you to hurt my dearest student.”

"Also, I need to correct something."

"The reason I acquiesced to the ceremony was partly to satisfy Miss Ophia's wish, or rather, her curiosity. After all, she pleaded with me so earnestly, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing."

He paused, then continued in a calm tone.

"On the other hand, it is to completely remove the curse that you buried deep in her soul from her soul."

To uproot the vines covered in poisonous thorns—

First, the seed needs to germinate!
That was his entire plan.

A crack finally appeared on Ophia's expression.

After a brief moment of surprise, she smiled again, crossed her fingers on her knees, and looked at her most loving father with composure.

"Oh?" Her voice held a hint of amusement. "I'm curious, how does my dear Prince Colin plan to do this? You don't have a single card in your hand."

"It's not that it doesn't exist; you should have heard of something."

Luo Yan smiled slightly.

"The curator at Echo Gallery gave me something that can go anywhere—"

Even in the virtual realm.

Upon hearing those words, Ophia's smile finally froze.