Their romance storyline only begins on the second playthrough?

Chapter 99 Pure White Flowers Bloom Amidst Pollution (4k Chapters)

"Here you are, sir, your red wine." Sheila Marshall used to be a professional maid, so after changing her hair to black, she naturally blended into the group of maids and was serving the wine.

Her sister, on the other hand, was a bit reserved, carefully carrying the plates to the nobles.

"Oh, little maid, you're quite pretty." Viscount Luca patted Mira's shoulder teasingly, causing her to tremble so much that she almost dropped her plate.

Oh no, sister—I'm going to be sexually harassed! As she cried out in her heart, a thin needle had already gathered at her fingertips.

If Luca were to actually make a move, his arm would almost certainly be torn to shreds by those thin needles;

After all, Cecilia had told her that if someone disgusted her, there was no need to consider personal gain; she should just kill them.

"I really don't understand why Miss Ivina had to bring forward her coming-of-age ceremony. It inexplicably cost me five days of vacation, and I even had to come all this way—"

The noblewoman, holding a fan, interrupted Luca with a helpless shout.

"I heard it's because she's preparing for her coming-of-age ceremony, did you know?" Viscount Luca withdrew his hand and said in a deep voice, "Didn't we see Lord Rhodes and that Ivina going in and out together last time? It was truly astonishing."

"Ah~ But Lord Rhodes already has—" The woman paused slightly.

"We don't understand the thoughts of those upper-class nobles!"

Anyway, it's normal for someone of his level to have many lovers, but I really didn't expect him to be able to get Ivina to obey him.

That's a monster, a monster—"

"A monster?" the knight beside him asked, pausing for a moment in thought. "Wasn't Lord Rhodes also called a monster when he was young?"

"It has nothing to do with us, right? In fact, nobody cares whether she shows up or not. It's better if she doesn't show up at all, so that no one gets hurt."

Each nobleman offered their own opinion, and whether it was denying Ivina's existence or exploring the relationship between Rhodes and Ivina, these were always the central points of their exchanges. After all, the discussion of interests had been completed a few days earlier, and today was truly a time for them to relax.

Meanwhile, upstairs in the hall, in Rhodes's house—

"Makeup is the best tool for girls to become beautiful," Felicity said with a smile as she sat down behind Ivina. "Although Miss Ivina is already very beautiful, this will still change your overall aura."

Felicity helped Ivina adjust her makeup step by step.

Ivina was now wearing the black and red dress, her fingers nervously gripping the stool: "I know—"

She felt Felicity's pure gentleness, as if she had been embraced by an older sister, which made her feel comfortable and at ease.

It's not hard to understand why Rod and Felicity got together.

Although I sometimes speak without thinking, it just feels very natural to people.

Ivina looked at Felicity through the mirror in front of her, and felt a little uneasy.

"Alright, mission accomplished."

As a final step, Felicity used an eyebrow pencil to add a touch of color to Ivina's face, then placed the pencil on the table and asked, "Does it look good?"

"Hmm." Ivina looked at her refined reflection in the mirror, blinked, and felt the changes in her eyelashes and the vibrant red of her lips, her heart pounding.

She definitely looks better than when she was acting like she was dying.

"If you look good, I'll teach you how to do makeup from now on." Felicity stood up, tied Ivina's hair up with her hands, and began to style her hair with accessories and hairstyling.

"Huh?" Ivina's body stiffened as she looked at herself in the mirror, feeling a little flustered.

"What's wrong? Don't you want to?"

"without----"

How could I not want to?

She wanted to live like a normal girl, even the simplest things.

However, things would become unpredictable that night, and she didn't want to agree to a promise she might not be able to keep.

"Let's talk about it in a few days?" Ivina said with a straight face, turning her face away with a hint of arrogance. "Anyway—I don't have time right now."

"Ah, that's true." Felicity nodded, looking at Rhodes—

"Unfortunately, he's busy increasing his power right now and hasn't noticed how beautiful you've become yet."

Yes.

At this moment, Rhodes sat in a chair by the window, crushing the [Divine Relic] of the God of Souls in his hand. He began to absorb strands of spiritual power that were constantly filling his body, seeping into his mind like threads, and beginning to cleanse the strength of the source.

[You have fused with the remains of a divine being; your attributes have increased.]

[Rhodes]

[Upgrade Level: Three times]

【property】:

Physical Fitness: 210→254

[Agility]: 186 → 221

[Physical Constitution]: 191→237

[Spirit]: 200 → 260

[You have acquired a brand new skill - Dream Realm Chaos LV.1]

【Dream Realm Chaos LV.1】: When you activate this skill, you can create your own domain space within a radius of ten meters in your original location. Within the domain space, all your attributes are increased by 15%, and the damage of your soul attacks is increased by another 15%.

As the last sentence fell, Rhodes opened his eyes and exhaled slightly.

The increase in attribute values ​​was not significant, only about one-fifth.

However, Rhodes did not expect that he would gain the domain skill after only three upgrades, because normally it would take at least five upgrades to have the possibility of gaining a domain.

Innate talent? Luck? Both are possible.

Although his domain skill is obviously slightly weaker than a domain that has been upgraded five times, and it is just a simple increase in attribute values, it is still quite remarkable.

"A simple calculation shows that if I used all my skills, then every attribute value would be close to 500 points after four upgrades."

Rhodes twisted his neck slightly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "For now, we can go on a killing spree tonight, and even fighting an opponent who has been promoted four times shouldn't be a problem."

"Although the witches don't have that many four-stage upgrades to give me a chance to fight."

He snapped out of his daze and immediately spotted Ivina and Felicity—

If Ivina was the cleanest and most beautiful simple white-haired girl in the past, then now, with the embellishment of makeup and gorgeous dresses, she has truly become a perfect girl.

The somewhat embarrassed averted gaze made her even more coquettish, and she pressed her two small hands against the inside of her thighs, fidgeting and feeling uneasy;

"It looks beautiful." Rhodes stood up, picked up his light gray coat and the umbrella he had prepared, walked to Ivina's side, and bent down—

"The coming-of-age ceremony is nothing special. It's just receiving blessings, dancing, having a meal, receiving some gifts, and then you can go back to rest."

"I'll be by your side the whole time, so don't worry."

Rhodes reached out and placed the umbrella in Ivina's hand.

"Hmph—of course I know."

Rhodes nodded, glancing at the pendulum of the clock at 7:23 PM.

It's about time to bring Ivina in.

However, as expected, the witches did not take any action for the time being.

Rhodes' eyes grew increasingly calm. At that moment, he hooked Ivina's finger around his and pulled her up. "Let's go, let's go to the hall to have some food and dance first."

"Mmm————" Ivina's voice was trembling a little from nervousness, but she still followed Rod's steps, supporting herself on her slightly high heels.

Rod, leading Ivina, walked step by step.

"Open the umbrella."

"Um.

""

The umbrella slowly opened.

Although there's some kind of bad custom about holding an umbrella indoors, Rod still spoke up the moment the shadow fell over Ivina's head.

Imagine your shadow as your own space; right now, you're just observing what's happening outside.

"Okay." Ivina was very obedient.

Because nervousness had overcome her pride, she was now fully focused on relaxing and putting in more effort, and could no longer maintain that little bit of arrogance.

As they left the room, they ran into Lilith, who was about to set off.

Lilith tugged at the white silk glove on her hand and whispered to Rhodes, "You've broken through."

"Yes, very good." Rhodes nodded. "That makes the problem much easier."

"Even a crippled Merrick would be enough to slaughter them, let alone you who have recovered to the fifth level of promotion."

"Let's go, take Ivina to the banquet hall."

Rod left behind his last words, then continued to hold the girl's hand and walked on.

At this moment, Ivina was nervously holding the umbrella with one hand, while Rhodes was pulling her other hand, just like a child being led by an elder.

After walking through the familiar corridor of Ivina, passing through the wide staircase, step by step from the top floor to the bottom floor, and continuing on—I arrived at the door of that magnificent hall.

The four-meter-high double sliding doors were now tightly closed.

To give Ivina ample space and a stable environment, all the nobles had already arrived in advance, so the only ones standing here were Rhodes and his group.

"Are you ready? Feel the gaze of humans, and return to the human world once more."

"Okay—" Ivina's voice was still trembling with nervousness—

"If you succeed, I'll give you a huge reward. Whatever you want, I'll do my best to make it happen, okay?"

"Hmm—?" Ivina raised her eyes. "I'm not going to eat this kind of flatbread."

Rod's lips curled into a slight smile. "Who knows if it's a pie in the sky."

The words fell.

He took a step forward and slammed the door open with a click.

The voices of the nobles inside the door instantly poured out, and various complex auras flowed and spread.

At this moment, everything became so chaotic in Ivina's pupils;

Yes, no matter how much she tried to strengthen her mental fortitude—when she saw those people casting their gazes at her, everyone in her eyes was like a twisted, pitch-black ghost, beginning to churn wildly, with low moans flowing out incessantly, her mind went blank, and her body felt as if it had fallen into an ice cave.

I----?

Why am I standing here?

Why should I face these terrifying monsters?

Who am I?

Oh no, I'm going to be eaten by a monster! I'm going to die!

Ivina's frantic thoughts began to churn, and her breathing became increasingly erratic.

"No, I can't take it anymore—" Ivina took a step back, her fearful eyes and trembling lips revealing her complete breakdown.

It still doesn't work, it still doesn't work!

"If you don't want to take the first step, just leave everything to me. If you are willing to take the first step, then leave everything to me as well."

It's never wrong for a child to be afraid of the dark, because one day you will no longer be afraid to sleep alone.

"You don't want my reward, Ivina?"

Rod's rough hands squeezed Ivina's hand, speaking gently.

In a daze.

Ivina's vision blurred for a moment.

Rhodes's words were innocuous, yet strangely, they stirred up her inner desires.

In an instant, everything seemed to be peeled away. "I, I'm scared—" Ivina said, trembling.

"It's okay to be afraid. It's natural to feel fear when faced with those threats."

"It's like when a person encounters a ferocious beast, or an animal encounters its natural enemy; it's normal to be afraid."

"But now, there are people who can kill ferocious beasts standing beside you, and people who can tear apart your natural enemies are protecting you."

"Whether it's me, Felicity, or even Lilith, we will all protect you."

"So, I'll ask you one more time—do you want my reward?"

Her body was no longer cold.

As the view before them gradually returned to normal from its chaotic and distorted state, the dark ghostly figures regained their luster, and the large glass lamps that shimmered above the hall also emitted a crystal-clear glow.

Yes, all of this—everything before her now, except for the shadow under her umbrella, which remained dark. "Rod—" Ivina murmured the two words.

"I am here."

"do not leave Me."

"Um."

The girl was like fragile glass, entrusting everything to the man beside her at that moment—

My heart is pounding, a mixture of fear for the future and a burning love for the warmth beside me.

Yes, he is radiance, gentle kindness. Even though she knows it might be a poisoned apple, she can't help but like him more and more.

It was all so perfect, so captivating, that she fell for it all.

"Take me with you—Rhodes, I give you everything—okay?"

The girl, like the wind, uttered her last words with a light yet heavy tone.

Rod nodded slightly, pulling her forward and leading her directly into the banquet hall.

"it is good."

Step—step—step.

The moment the girl in the red and black dress stepped into the hall, holding a rose-patterned umbrella, she was like the heart of a sea of ​​flowers, shattering all the rumors and gossip.

The sound of Ivina's high heels echoed throughout the grand coming-of-age banquet, drawing everyone's attention and causing them to drop everything they were doing.

Their eyes held shock and curiosity, yet no one dared to utter a single bad word.

Yes, the girl didn't actually experience as much targeting as she had imagined from the beginning.

The nobles were only afraid that she would kill people in a bloodthirsty manner, but the moment Rhodes stood easily beside her—

Everyone understood that the girl was not as terrifying as the rumors suggested.

She's just a little shy.

And it's also very beautiful.

Like a pure white flower, blooming from polluted blood.

And it is about to bear its final fruit, to be picked by the knight beside her.