The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 629 Miss Eileen's sword was not without its drawbacks.

The girl riding on horseback is none other than Erin Campbell, with silver hair and blue eyes.

She had a long sword at her waist, and Teresa, with her brown hair flying in the wind, followed behind her. Both of their cloaks and shoulder armor were covered in snow.

Seeing Sarah's surprised expression, Eileen reined in the reins and raised her hand to tidy her silver hair, which had been disheveled by the cold wind.

"The representatives of the Holy Light Council have returned from Roland City and said there was a riot there."

Her tone was somewhat urgent, her gaze drifting towards the carriage, and her cheeks slightly flushed as she continued speaking.

“I thought His Highness Colin was over there and was worried about your safety, so I rushed over… but it seems I was overthinking it.”

Sitting in the carriage, Luo Yan lifted the curtain and cast a surprised glance at Eileen, who was riding on horseback.

"It seems the bad news from Roland City reached Twilight Province before we did. I hope nothing happened in Dusk City?"

The moment Eileen saw Prince Colin, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up, but she quickly suppressed them back into a proper smile.

“No, everything is as usual there,” she said with a smile. “It’s just that I heard the chaos in Roland City has terrified Earl Theron Gard. He said the citizens of Roland City have gone mad, as if they’ve been cursed by the Mad Talkers.”

“Strange, I clearly notified him,” Luo Yan said with a surprised expression after thinking for a moment, “It seems my letter was not delivered.”

Eileen continued, a smile playing on her lips.

"In short, this matter has caused quite a stir. The Earl gave Speaker Ellaric, who had encouraged him to visit Roland City, a severe dressing-down. I heard that the council is currently discussing holding a referendum on the establishment of the Duchy of Twilight. Although they weren't very motivated at first, it seems they are now afraid that this fire will spread to them."

"That's good news. Your brother should be happy." Luo Yan smiled faintly, offering no further comment.

The Duchy of Twilight is the long-cherished wish of the Duchy of Campbell, and something Edward has always wanted to do.

As she spoke, Eileen's gaze inadvertently passed over Luo Yan's shoulder and landed on another girl in the carriage.

She was a young woman with beautiful blonde hair, wearing a deep blue travel dress with a white ruffled collar that accentuated her bright and delicate features. She was holding a small ceramic teacup, and her azure eyes radiated tranquility and elegance.

Actually, Eileen used to have beautiful blonde hair.

Now it has turned snow-white.

Eileen felt a pang of jealousy, especially after seeing the other woman riding in the same carriage as Colin, and the overly harmonious atmosphere inside.

However, she was, after all, a respectable lady, so the smile on her face remained elegant.

"Speaking of which, who is this gentleman?"

Ophia put down her teacup and bowed slightly.

“My name is Ophia Castellón, and I come from the Holy City. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

"From the Holy City?" Eileen was slightly surprised and blurted out subconsciously, "It seems you're from the same place as Miss Yaya Midia."

Now it was Ophia's turn to be surprised.

"Do you know Miss Ya Ya?"

She had heard of the name; it belonged to the author of "The Distant Hills." She and Luo Yan had seen the play at the Royal Theatre and had greatly appreciated the story.

I never expected to hear this name here.

"It's more than just knowing each other, we—"

Eileen was just about to say with a smile that she and Miss Ya Ya had been staying at Spruce Manor for some time when a soft cough suddenly came from inside the carriage.

"Eileen, you haven't introduced yourself yet," Luo Yan gently reminded her, interrupting Eileen before she could speak.

If Ophia were to find out about the existence of Spruce Manor, this curious little detective might just decide to "visit" it someday.

When she bumps into Miss Yaya, Karen, Vivian in the manor... the scene will probably be even more spectacular than the fire in Roland City.

"Oh, my apologies."

Eileen snapped out of her daze, glanced apologetically at Ophia, spurred her horse to the window, and nodded slightly.

"I am Eileen Campbell, daughter of the former King Aaron Campbell of the Duchy, and sister of the then Grand Duke Edward."

Ophia smiled and nodded.

“I’ve heard of your name, Miss Eileen. I’ve also heard that you are the holder of the Light of Utawarerumono, the hero of the northeast coast of the Whirlpool Sea.”

"Those are titles that people have given me without my permission." Eileen was a little embarrassed and scratched her cheek with her index finger. "I haven't dealt with the Demon King of Thunder County yet, so I don't deserve the title of hero."

Luo Yan's hand holding the teacup trembled again.

Youyou, who was floating to the side, was already rolling around on the ground laughing until she received a glare from her owner, at which point she quietly crawled away.

That gloating guy.

Luo Yan mentally complained, trying his best not to be distracted by his divine status, and focused all his attention on the view outside the window.

“How could that be? People praise you from the bottom of their hearts because you have done something that they are truly grateful for.” Ophia’s tone was gentle and sincere, and her azure eyes were naturally approachable as she looked at Eileen and said, “Since people think you are a hero, I think you must have a kind and brave heart.”

"Miss Ophia, you flatter me." Eileen smiled slightly, clearly quite fond of this young lady from the Holy City. If it weren't for the suspicious atmosphere in the carriage, they could probably have become close friends.

“You’re being too modest.” Ophia tilted her head, then suddenly remembered something. “By the way, why didn’t I see you when I passed through Campbell’s Castle?”

She had previously visited Edward's castle as the daughter of the Duke of Castellón, but had not met the legendary princess.

Edward didn't offer much explanation, and she didn't press him for details at the time.

“I’ve been in the Twilight Province for a while now,” Eileen said with a smile. “It’s normal that you haven’t seen me.”

"What are you doing in Twilight Province? Isn't that the Kingdom of Ryan?"

As the conversation drifted back to Twilight Province, Luo Yan keenly realized that things were spiraling out of control.

He coughed lightly again, subtly interjecting into the conversation between the two ladies.

"...The Dusk Province was previously invaded by Chaos, and Eileen went there to help. Also, it is indeed part of the Kingdom of Ryan, a direct title of the Devalu family. However, from a historical perspective, the Duchy of Campbell has a blood relationship with the Duchesses."

He paused for a moment, then spoke naturally.

"The blood ties between the Campbellians and the Twilight People are a very long story."

He subtly steered the conversation toward the epic tales of the rushing river.

A thousand years ago, during the reign of the Isaac dynasty, a group of immigrants from the Twilight Province crossed the Jiliu Pass and sailed down the Benliu River, where they established the now-famous Thunder City on the plain at the river mouth.

That magnificent history, sung by bards to this day, happens to be a safe topic that no one can find fault with.

Just as Ophia was engrossed in listening, Miss Elfit rode back from the front on horseback and called out loudly.

"Your Highness, I have found a small town ahead with a decent inn. We can rest there for the night."

Ophia lifted the curtain and looked at her with a genuine smile on her face.

"Thank you for your hard work, Elliefit."

“It’s my pleasure to serve you.” Ellie’s gaze fell on Eileen, and she paused for a moment, looking at the unusual silver hair. “And who is this?”

“This is Eileen Campbell, Edward’s sister,” Ophia introduced Eileen with a smile. “Let’s save the pleasantries for the journey. Miss Eileen, would you like to come in and sit down? My guards can take care of the horses.”

“Thank you, then I’ll gladly accept your offer.” Eileen gave her a grateful look, then dismounted and handed the reins to Miss Alice, who was riding up on horseback.

As for Theresa, she took over Miss Elfit's position as bodyguard.

To Luo Yan's surprise, the moment Eileen's gaze shifted from the carriage, the seemingly magnanimous Ophia let out a "whoosh" and naturally sat down next to Luo Yan, lifting her skirt.

A delicate fragrance drifted into his nose along his golden hair.

He turned his head and gave Ophelia a surprised look, while she winked at him playfully—

'Miss Campbell likes you, doesn't she?'

Luo Yan responded with silence.

Ophia was not discouraged; she merely curled her lips slightly, her azure eyes gleaming with a desire to win.

'I'll make her give up.'

Looking into those expressive eyes, Luo Yan remained silent, but felt the cushion beneath him grow even hotter.

By Bayeris—

It seems this trip is destined to be anything but leisurely.

……

The group continued on their journey.

Miss Ophia had endless things to say along the way, and she couldn't stop talking about Colin, always inadvertently mentioning her time at the Academy.

Eileen listened with an elegant smile, but the way she gripped her cloak tightly betrayed that she was not as calm as she appeared.

On the surface, the nobles on the northeast coast of the Whirlpool Sea are completely suppressed by the nobles from the Holy City, and this is also true from the perspective of other places.

However, as time went by, Eileen's stiff expression relaxed slightly, and her gaze towards Ophia softened.

The reason is simple.

Ophia seemed to say a lot, but most of it was actually her own opinion and an over-interpretation of some trivial matters.

Eileen is also a smart woman.

She gradually realized that this guy's feelings for Prince Colin were completely one-sided, and the two of them had no intimate interactions at all.

After all that, this guy wasn't as much of a threat to her as Miss Ya Ya.

Eileen's composed expression made Ophia feel a little nervous, and her azure eyes gradually lost their confidence.

'Nothing happened between you two, right?' She looked at her beloved mentor suspiciously, but this time her beloved mentor looked away.

Ophia became even more panicked.

In this enchanting yet apprehensive atmosphere, the carriage arrived at a small town called Montluçon.

There was only one inn in town, which looked rather shabby, but at least it provided shelter from the wind and snow. Sarah handed the carriage to the waiter at the door, while Theresa tied the two horses to the stables behind the inn.

When the group entered the hotel, there were surprisingly many guests in the lobby.

Not only were there merchants coming and going, but also local residents sitting in a corner drinking.

The air was filled with the aroma of stew and the bitterness of cheap ale, and the firewood in the fireplace crackled and popped.

Elliefelt walked to the bar and placed five silver coins on the greasy surface.

"My master needs hot water, a room, and hot food. We'll only be resting for one night, so you can prepare accordingly."

Silver coins were just small change for Miss Ophia, but in this rural area they were a lot of money.

Upon seeing the five silver coins lying on the counter, the bald man behind the bar, whose waist was wider than his shoulders, immediately plastered a fawning smile on his face.

"Please rest assured, Your Excellency, the fire in Meng Lüsong's hearth will certainly not disappoint you! You've come to the right place!"

Elliefelt neither confirmed nor denied this.

If the nearby manor hadn't been deserted, Miss Ophia wouldn't have had to spend the night in town; the nobles of the entire Kingdom of Ryan would have been happy to host her and that esteemed prince.

The hotel owner called out to the kitchen while personally leading Elliefet upstairs to settle her luggage.

Luo Yan, Ophia, and Eileen found a table in the corner and sat down, while Teresa went to help Sarah carry her luggage.

A cacophony of noises rose and fell.

The discussion among the crowd did not stop because of these special guests, not even for a second.

Clearly, quite a few distinguished guests have passed through here recently, and their entourage is not the most special.

Luo Yan gently raised his index finger and used his source energy to lift the teapot on the table, pouring a cup of barley tea for himself, Ophia, and Eileen.

He sipped his tea while listening to the conversation.

The voices were mostly complaints about the National Assembly.

"...Another recruitment notice has been posted, this time even forty-year-olds are required to join."

"The lord has disappeared, the windmill and mill are all broken, and no one is repairing them. There's no seed for next year's planting either."

"Why don't you fix it yourselves? You'll save on mill tax next year," a traveler from out of town couldn't help but interject.

However, as soon as he opened his mouth, he was ridiculed by the woodcutter sitting next to him.

"Fix it yourself? It's not that easy."

"If you want to fix it yourself, you'll have to borrow money from the merchants in the city. Those guys are all wolves in sheep's clothing!"

"Isn't the lord one?"

This rhetorical question sparked even more discussion, especially among the farmers drinking cheap ale, who spoke up, their faces flushed and necks red.

"Hey, our master really isn't as unreasonable as them!"

"The money owed to the Riscal family can at least be repaid with work, but it's different with those loan sharks in the city. If you can't pay them back, they'll immediately sell the IOUs at a discount to thugs, and what's worse are those mercenaries and adventurers who work as debt collectors!"

A farmer with a full beard took a swig of wine and said in a gloomy tone.

"It wasn't like this in Devallo. Just because the citizens of Roland wanted to buy cheap bread, they destroyed the countryside!"

“I heard they even burned down the church in Roland,” another old man in a gray smock chimed in, his voice trembling with fear. “The priests are all discussing moving to a neighboring country. If things continue like this… this place will soon truly become a place abandoned by Saint Sith.”

"It would be better to let the royalists come back."

After those words were spoken, the tavern fell silent for a moment.

"Are you crazy?" a younger voice retorted nervously. "Have you forgotten the massacre in Longway City? The Allied Forces are no pushovers, especially those mercenaries; they loot wherever they go!"

"At least they're more reliable than the men in parliament! What can those guys do besides argue? Have they ever solved a single problem besides killing people?"

The argument gradually grew louder until the hotel owner yelled, "If you keep making noise, I'll kick you all out!" which barely calmed it down.

Listening to these voices from the lowest levels of the rural areas of the Kingdom of Ryan, Ophia looked at the rising steam from her teacup, a complex emotion flashing in her azure eyes.

She murmured a sigh.

"It seems that the revolution in Roland City also has another side that I was unaware of."

Luo Yan replied to her gently.

There is no perfect solution in this world.

The Encyclopedist movement had its glorious aspects, but also areas where its brilliance fell short. Ultimately, the Kingdom of Ryan was simply too vast, and Roland City could not meet everyone's expectations, even though many of their practices were ahead of their time.

Eileen also murmured a sigh.

"They shouldn't have kicked those landless serfs to the city's citizens; that's not giving them back their freedom at all... These serfs and the land that belonged to their lords became spoils of war for the National Assembly."

"That's one of the problems."

Luo Yan did not elaborate on this topic. Today, they were merely travelers passing through this land, and it was inappropriate for them to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

It's definitely not suitable for a tavern.

Eileen pressed for details about their experiences in Roland City. Ophia didn't hold back and recounted many stories—attending a banquet hosted by the National Assembly with Prince Colin, watching a play at the Royal Theater, and seeing the Ryan authorities' military parade.

As she spoke, a bright smile graced her face, and her tone was light and cheerful, as if she were reminiscing about a wonderful vacation.

After hearing this, Eileen felt a pang of sadness.

She maintained her smile, twirling her index finger around the rim of the cup, and muttered something under her breath.

"It sounds like a date."

Ophia smiled radiantly.

This cunning little fox has been waiting for this sentence for a long time.

"Yes! Actually, we are on a date."

After saying that, she winked playfully at her dear mentor, though that playful look made Luo Yan's knees clench tightly.

Eileen's heart clenched.

It was the feeling of having your beloved taken away, a bittersweet and panicked sensation. But she didn't know what to do; she couldn't very well jump up and shout "He's mine!" in front of so many people.

Moreover...

He is not his own property.

Luo Yan couldn't bear to let Ophia continue to tease Eileen, so he picked up his cup, took a sip of water, and gently helped Eileen out of the predicament.

"Alright, Ophia, stop teasing Eileen."

He turned to Eileen and explained naturally.

"Ophelia went to Roland City to visit the authorities of the Republic of Laine on behalf of the Castellion family and the Senate. I have a good relationship with Duke Andre, so I accompanied her."

"So that's how it is."

Eileen immediately believed Colin's explanation, and the smile on her face became much more genuine.

Although the look in Ophelia's eyes when she looked at Prince Colin still made her feel a little uneasy, at least Prince Colin wouldn't lie.

It seems that those misunderstandings were just the girl's one-sided misunderstanding and her malicious attempt to provoke him.

As for Ophia, seeing Luo Yan speak up for the self-righteous Miss Eileen, she couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

But seeing the pleading look he gave her, a small sense of satisfaction welled up inside her.

Being looked at with pleading eyes by her beloved mentor brought her unexpected pleasure.

For His Highness Colin's sake, let poor Miss Campbell off the hook this time.

Anyway, a country woman who doesn't even know Luo Yan's real name is not worthy of being Miss Ophia's opponent.

Hehehe!

Ophelia inwardly chuckled triumphantly, but her face remained as elegant and composed as ever. She picked up the barley tea on the table, took a small sip, and then—

The taste was so bitter it was outrageous that I stuck out my tongue.

Is this really tea?
This is an insult to the word "tea"!

Just then, Ellie came down from upstairs, followed closely by Sarah and Theresa.

"Miss, the room is ready."

"The luggage is all settled."

“Miss Sarah is so capable. I’m really ashamed that I couldn’t help at all.” Theresa said with an embarrassed expression.

Eileen smiled at her and said.

"It's alright, Theresa, sit down and rest for a while."

Ophia smiled and invited the three of them to sit down and eat together. Since it wasn't a formal occasion, no one was too concerned about etiquette and they all sat at the same table, following local customs.

The table became a bit crowded.

Luo Yan quickly discovered Ophia's "plot".

She deliberately arranged for all three of them to sit at one table so that she could legitimately squeeze next to herself.

However, Eileen clearly saw through Ophia's trick and, not to be outdone, gave Theresa a look, signaling for her to help her.

However, Eileen clearly overestimated the intelligence of her guards.

When Theresa saw the look in Eileen's eyes, she thought she had bumped into her, so she quickly moved her chair to the side.

Eileen was on the verge of despair.

"Theresa, what do I smell like?"

"How could that be? Your Highness, even if there is one, it must be a fragrance."

"Then why do you stay so far away from me?"

"Uh, uh?" Theresa still didn't understand Eileen's hint, mistakenly thinking that she had done something wrong, and fell into self-blame.

Ophia suppressed a laugh, while Miss Alice glanced worriedly at her master and then at Prince Colin.

Although the master approved of their marriage, she always felt that this prince was a little too popular.

Luo Yan tried his best to keep his gaze straight, avoiding eye contact with anyone sitting at the table.

Saint Sis above—

Prince Colin was already starting to regret his decision.

Although he did enjoy flirting, as one small boat after another found the same harbor.

Even he was starting to lose his composure.

We can only try our best to be fair.

Before long, the waiter brought a large pot of stew to the table, with large chunks of mutton and potatoes floating in the steaming broth. Although it looked rustic, on such a cold night, the steaming food itself was the best seasoning.

After Ophia began the pre-meal prayer, the six people sitting at the table began to enjoy their meal.

Sarah, as always, made things easy for Luo Yan, sipping the stew with a spoon while her cat ears swayed contentedly on her head.

Theresa, sitting to the side, was engrossed in eating, trying to alleviate the fatigue of her journey with her large meal. Elefette, meanwhile, was constantly reminding Ophelia to maintain proper etiquette; the servants of the Castellion family seemed to hold a high status, quite different from the situation on the northeastern coast of the Whirlpool Sea.

This time, however, Ophia did not completely heed Miss Alice's advice and quickly forgot the etiquette of quiet dining.

“By the way, Your Highness,” Ophia put down her spoon and said in a casual tone, “you haven’t finished the bedtime story you told me in the carriage. Could you satisfy your dear student’s curiosity?”

This is a carefully chosen topic.

The stories are only heard by those who are in the same carriage. She also emphasized that it was before bedtime, even though there was still some time before she was supposed to rest.

Eileen paused slightly as she scooped the soup, clearly having been affected.

However, instead of showing the "hysterical" expression that Ophia had expected, she responded with a confident smile.

"Miss Ophia loves listening to stories."

"After all, His Highness Colin is indeed very good at telling stories."

“Indeed, when we were strolling through the old town of Twilight City, His Highness told me a lot of legends about the Twilight Province. To be honest, I was quite surprised; I never expected that a prince of the Empire would know so much about the stories of this land.”

This sounds like His Highness Colin specifically researched this land for someone.

Eileen's little scheme indeed dealt a heavy blow to Ophia, causing the smug smile on her face to waver for a moment.

You've got some skills...

She underestimated Princess Campbell; her seemingly innocent expression was merely a facade to conceal her treacherous ambitions.

“Twilight City? I’ve heard the sunsets there are beautiful.” Ophia smiled calmly, speaking at a measured pace. “It’s a pity I’ve never been there. But it doesn’t matter, Your Highness watched the entire sunset with me in Roland City, and I’m already very satisfied.”

The entire sunset.

Eileen's smile wavered slightly, but the wavering was barely noticeable.

Luo Yan was afraid she would use her ultimate move and steer the conversation back to the kiss at Glenston Castle.

Fortunately, Eileen remained relatively reserved and did not allow the war to escalate to a fever pitch.

"Your Highness must have taken you to the Royal Theatre as well, right? I've heard that the plays in Roland City are very famous."

“Yes, we watched several.” Ophia nodded, a smile curving her lips. “Your Highness has excellent taste; the scripts you choose are all very brilliant.”

“That’s wonderful.” Eileen smiled gently, a smile as if a flag had already been planted on a city wall. “Back in the Twilight Province, His Highness often took me to see the Iris Theatre Company’s performances. Speaking of which… he even said he planned to make a play based on me.”

With her beautiful eyelashes slightly narrowed, Ophia looked at Eileen with a smile, her voice still melodious, but with a hint of sharpness.

"Really? Then I definitely have to go and see."

"Yes, we can go together."

The two girls looked at each other across a steaming bowl of stew, their smiles as warm as the spring sunshine, but their back-and-forth conversation had turned into a kind of competition.

Although Luo Yan wanted to continue keeping a low profile, he was also aware of the situation.

If I don't take action soon, tonight's dinner table will turn into a battlefield.

"Alright." He put down his spoon and said in a gentle tone, "If you two aren't hungry, why don't we get down to business? Eileen, you mentioned earlier that the council was discussing a referendum on the Duchy of Twilight. What's the progress? Any updates?"

He abruptly switched the topic to government affairs.

Eileen's eyes lit up; this was exactly her area of ​​expertise.

She spoke earnestly about the recent developments of the Holy Light Council, her words clear and organized, her tone revealing a hint of confidence that she had regained her footing.

Ophia curled her lip slightly and kicked the chair leg under the table in dissatisfaction.

She had finally gained the upper hand, but His Highness wiped it all out with a single sentence.

However, she didn't stay idle either.

Although she couldn't join in the conversation about the affairs of the Twilight Province, she listened quietly, her azure eyes occasionally glancing back and forth between Luo Yan and Eileen, as if weighing something.

Sarah sat quietly sipping her soup, her amber eyes occasionally glancing back and forth between the two ladies' faces, her cat ears swaying gently on her head.

That was an enthusiastic level of interest.

Alice's face grew increasingly worried. Her young lady was usually fine, but when it came to Prince Colin, she seemed like a completely different person.

This made her begin to suspect that something might have happened between the two of them in Roland City.

However, she knew perfectly well that she was just a maid and bodyguard and shouldn't interfere too much in her mistress's private affairs.

Perhaps she should have a talk with Prince Colin at the appropriate time...

……

After dinner, everyone went back to their rooms to rest.

The hotel had a decent number of rooms on the second floor, but unfortunately there were no suites, so Elliefit had to book a single room for each of the six people.

The corridor outside was narrow, and the wooden floorboards creaked underfoot. The howling wind and snow pounded against the wooden windows, making even the candlelight on the wooden table flicker.

Luo Yan sat on the edge of the bed, flipping through the book "Butterflies and Dreams," the warm light of the oil lamp casting his shadow on the wall. The firewood in the fireplace burned brightly, making the small room cozy and warm.

Everything was quiet.

The silence was broken by a soft knock on the door.

Luo Yan sighed softly.

It's time to come.

He put down his book, got up, walked to the door, and opened the tightly closed oak door.

As expected, it was Eileen standing outside the door.

After settling into the hotel, she dressed up again, changing her travel clothes into a light loungewear dress, and her long silver hair was pulled up high.

Those emerald green eyes appeared exceptionally soft in the dim candlelight of the corridor, instantly transporting this humble corridor back to a night in Granstonburg.

It must be said that she is indeed a very charming lady, capable of changing the shabby atmosphere of the entire corridor all by herself.

"Your Highness, I'm sorry to bother you. I... have something I'd like to discuss with you privately."

Her voice was much softer than during the day, carrying a hint of caution given by the night.

"Don't be shy, come in and talk."

Luo Yan stepped aside to let Eileen into the house and closed the door for her himself.

Although he hadn't thought about what might happen, he still casually cast a soundproof barrier to avoid unnecessary trouble.

The milky-white ghost jumped out again, seemingly out of nowhere.

'Huh? Demon Lord, what are you doing?'

'I need you to disappear for a while.'

'Wait a minute—no, I don't want that!' Youyou resisted, but under the Demon King's majesty, she was temporarily reduced to ashes.

Eileen sat down on the chair by the bed, looked at Colin who had returned to sit down by the bed, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.

"That Miss Ophia... is your relationship really just that of teacher and student?"

"of course."

"But the way she looked at you..."

"She looks at everyone the same way."

Eileen clearly didn't believe that.

Although she may not be as clever and knowledgeable as Miss Ophia, she is by no means a fool who knows nothing.

Especially after reading the books Teresa gave her, she could easily call herself an expert on relationships without anyone objecting.

She had already sensed it keenly at the dinner table.

Every time Ophia steered the conversation toward "my shared experiences with His Highness," the light in her eyes was far more than just a student's reverence for their teacher.

It was a kind of light... the same light as myself.

"So... what do you think of me?"

Looking into those emerald green eyes, Luo Yan held his breath for a moment.

Normally, Eileen would look away if she met his gaze.

However, perhaps it was Ophia's appearance that provoked her, as her emerald green eyes became unusually serious, leaving Luo Yan somewhat at a loss.

Honestly—

He really hadn't figured out how to answer that question.

Just as Luo Yan was about to say something, there was another soft knock on the door.

The sound was so soft, it was as if the person knocking was hesitant.

A hint of panic appeared on Eileen's face when she was interrupted, and so did Luo Yan, though he felt a slight sense of relief.

Just as he was about to get up and open the door, the door opened by itself.

Ophia was standing in the doorway.

She was wearing a pale yellow nightgown, her golden hair was casually tied back, and she wore cute cotton slippers.

She was holding a cup or something in her hand.

"Your Highness, I've brewed a cup of tea that's reasonably drinkable; I hope it suits your taste—"

She was halfway through her sentence when she saw Eileen sitting in the room.

Eileen saw her too.

The two girls stared at each other for a fleeting moment through an open door. In that brief instant, the air in the entire corridor seemed to freeze.

"...What a coincidence."

"Hehe, it is indeed a coincidence."

"Miss Eileen, what are you doing here?"

"I have some matters to discuss with His Highness Colin."

"Oh... really?"

Ophia drawled out the words, her smile remaining perfect.

Eileen's smile was impeccable, showing no intention of backing down.

However, between the two, an invisible spark was flying, like two sharp swords colliding.

Luo Yan took a deep breath, trying his best to maintain a calm expression.

"Please come in, Miss Ophia."

Ophia walked in without ceremony, placed her teacup on the table, and sat down on the edge of the bed—right next to Luo Yan.

Seeing her abrupt action, Eileen's eyebrows twitched, and she stood up and sat on the other side of Luo Yan.

Caught between the two, Luo Yan's situation was beyond just being drenched in sweat; he even began to pray to both Saint Sis and Bayeri simultaneously.

He felt he was a terrible person.

She no longer had the face to complain about her father.

"Miss Ophia, you're still up so late?" Eileen's voice was gentle and polite, but she didn't direct her anger at Luo Yan.

"I can't sleep," Ophia smiled. "The hotel bed is too hard."

"Really? I feel fine."

"Perhaps Princess Campbell was trained in martial arts from a young age and is quite hardworking."

"You flatter me."

"No, no, no, this is heartfelt admiration. Unlike me, I was exposed to things that were frivolous and unproductive from a young age, such as flower arranging, art appreciation, dance, music and the like... It wasn't until His Highness Colin appeared that I embarked on the path of magic."

"Oh? I wonder what rank Miss Ophia is at now?"

"I am not very talented and started relatively late. In just two years, I have only been promoted to the Gold level."

"That is indeed a bit late."

"hehe."

The two of them exchanged words, each one perfectly crafted, and every smile flawless.

But Luo Yan felt that the temperature in the room was continuing to drop, and the flames in the fireplace seemed to be losing their edge.

Luo Yan suddenly started missing Youyou and was about to call it back to distract himself.

However, at that moment, a series of urgent bells rang out from outside the window, interrupting the increasingly heated discussion.

"Clang clang clang clang clang—!"

The sudden tolling of the bell pierced through the wind and snow, and also through the wooden walls of the inn, tearing the tranquil night to shreds.

That was the sound of bells from the town's central church.

Luo Yan subconsciously got out of bed and quickly walked to the window, while Ophia and Eileen also stood up.

"What happened?" Eileen's eyes lit up, and she instinctively reached for her waist, but her sword was not there.

Ophelia gripped the hairpin tightly, holding it in her hand as if it were a magic wand.

At the same time, a commotion erupted in the lobby downstairs. There were sounds of chairs being overturned, wine glasses falling to the floor, and people screaming in terror.

Luo Yan didn't speak, but simply closed his eyes slightly. His spiritual power, like a tidal wave, instantly enveloped the entire town like invisible tentacles and quickly spread outwards.

soon.

His eyebrows twitched slightly as he saw what was hidden in the darkness, and a hint of surprise appeared on his face.

"It's an ogre."

The quantity is approximately five hundred.

Upon hearing the word "cannibal," Ophelia was still in shock, while Eileen's expression completely changed.

"How could... how could they be here?!"

Luo Yan gently shook his head.

"do not know."

Ogres are a race that lives in the dimensional desert east of the Wanren Mountains, and they live by herding monsters in the desert.

Their relationship with humans is not harmonious, hence the name "ogres" given to them by humans. A small number of ogre tribes also live in Hell, but those guys mostly feed on goblins and ratmen, and don't really bully the "protected animals."

For many demon lords, ogres are natural mercenaries; Reggie Dragon once kept quite a few in his labyrinth.

But that's not the point.

The key point is that these bloodthirsty madmen are natural followers of Kalmandes, and if you're not careful, their brains will be burned by the flames of destruction.

Something similar happened before in the Thunder County Maze.

“I’ve read about ogres in books. They’re said to look a lot like humans, but they’re bigger, have a bigger appetite, and are more resistant to magic… but they don’t seem that hard to deal with?” Ophia’s voice was filled with doubt, not understanding why the two of them looked so wary.

Eileen looked at Ophia and said in a low voice.

"The key is not whether the ogres are easy to deal with, but why they are here in the first place."

Luo Yan nodded slightly.

“I’m worried that someone let them in.”

Brass Gate.

Something bad has probably happened.

(End of this chapter)