Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

A voice that sounded somewhat awkward replied, “Dear Irason, I am Fanila’s uncle. I am her elder. I have no need to hide.”

"No, old man. Leave room for the young, you reclusive Hines, don't disturb this beauty."

"As far as age is concerned, Your Excellency Irason, there is no part of me that can be associated with an old man; I am a vigorous elf."

"So, old man, I'm the only one left?" The gentle voice trembled with sobs.

A sigh.

“I understand. I will hide with you. Your esteemed, eternally young and beautiful Lord Irason.”

The sounds of rummaging through drawers and cabinets came from inside the room, along with two women gesturing and pointing at a man.

When the noise subsided, light footsteps approached the door. The wooden door slowly opened, and welcoming the first rays of sunlight was Fanila's smiling face.

Her alluring face was flushed with a delicate blush, like an apple. A sweet smile soothed William's restless heart like a gentle breeze.

“Fanila…” William called out the name he had repeated in his mind hundreds of times.

Just as he had dreamed, the elven girl responded to him.

Her slender fingers took William's arm.

"Come in quickly, William. Welcome to my uncle's house."

Led by Fanila, William entered the simple room. The treehouse was divided into two levels by partitions. Morning glory vines, like burglars, peeked out from the windows of each room.

The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and a touch of moisture. It was a little cool, but that couldn't extinguish the fire in William's heart.

"Is Mr. Hines not here?"

Fanila's smile seemed to distort for a moment. She tilted her head, covered her lips with her hand for a split second, then turned back to reply with a serious expression.

"No, Uncle Hines has some things to do today. So, I'm home alone today."

Fanila's eyes held a mischievous glint. Those beautiful eyes stared at William, as if waiting for something.

William tried to suppress his increasingly violent heartbeat, but he still couldn't hold back his mouth.

That's wonderful.

"Ok?"

Realizing his slip of the tongue, William intended to apologize. However, he discovered that the voice didn't come from Fanila, but from a white wardrobe behind him.

Chapter 287 Confession

"What's wrong, William?" Fanila blinked, drawing William's attention back.

"What's that? A wardrobe?"

“That’s Mr. Hines’ wardrobe.”

"I think I just heard a sound coming from the wardrobe."

Fanila smiled in response to William's puzzled question.

“That’s your imagination, William.” As if to prove something, Fanila stood up from her seat and led William toward the wardrobe. “There are only my uncle’s clothes inside. If you’re interested, you can open it and take a look.”

"Never mind, it's just my imagination." Although William felt something was off, it was strange that a young man would be interested in another older man's wardrobe, and he was determined not to be associated with any other oddities.

William pulled Fanila back to her seat, and for some reason, a smug smile appeared on her face, though William just thought she was happy.

Today might be a good opportunity.

With that thought in mind, William took out the gift box he had on his person.

Crystals hanging from the vines of the ceiling shimmered with the light of gemstones, their hues like the morning glow tinging Fanila's fair skin with a rosy hue. The two seemed to be of one mind, smiling at each other in silence. Fanila's hands were pressed together on the table, William's reflection shimmering in her eyes, her pupils rippling like water.

William's fingers began to tremble. Was his gift truly worthy of her? Her smile, her bright eyes, her smooth wrists. William hesitated, and just then...

With a snap, a strange gust of wind blew the box onto the table. The wooden box tapped softly on the surface, drawing everyone's attention.

William thought to himself, "Damn it, I have no choice but to go for it."

Fanila's eyes were fixed on the box, her eyes seeming to speak, demanding an explanation from William.

I'm going all in.

William took a deep breath and opened the wooden box.

"This is my gift to you, Fanila, a bracelet. I hope you like it."

The cool touch of the jade froze the fine sweat on William's hands. It was placed in Fanila's hands, and William's trembling fingers touched her warm, soft skin briefly before parting.

William saw the happiness in Fanila's sweet smile. A warm feeling spread through his body, and he felt so good to be able to share it.

“I love it, William. It’s the best gift I’ve received all year.” Fanila put the bracelet on her wrist and waved it in front of William as if showing it off.

"Oh dear, I forgot to check the inscription. Sorry, William." Fanila stuck out her tongue, took off the bracelet, and her smile widened when she saw the string of light-colored magic runes on the inner wall.

William felt even stranger. He hadn't even started explaining the lucky inscription yet, but Fanila's actions were as if she had already seen this unopened gift beforehand.

“This is the inscription for ‘Lucky,’ Fanila. I haven’t told you how you found it yet…”

Fanila's eyes widened like a startled rabbit's. She stammered, managing to utter a few words, "I...I just happened to...see it, yes...just happened to see it. Elves have excellent eyesight!"

Fanila's cheeks flushed red. "As for inscriptions, I have a reliable elder in my family who happened to have taught me about them."

"That's quite a coincidence."

"Yes, that's right."

In a corner unnoticed by the two, two voices were talking.

Slender fingers tugged at Hines' wide robes, and Irasorn's soul flame flickered in the darkness.

"Hains, Fanila is talking about me, saying I'm a reliable elder!"

In the darkness, Hines's eyebrows twitched. "The mage's inscriptions? Wasn't that what I taught Fanila? That's what I learned from my colleagues in the arcane arts. How could a lazy elder like you possibly teach such things?"

That's what I really think.

"Yes, Your Excellency Irasorn, you are truly reliable."

"hey-hey."

Inside the room, Fanila finally couldn't stand William's gaze any longer. Her face flushed red as she looked at William, her voice barely audible.

"William, is there... anything else you want to say?"

"What do you want to say?" William recalled the rehearsal he had done in front of the fairy Betty.

You are my lucky charm, Fanila.

Saying those words is tantamount to confessing my feelings. Fanila and I, this girl who's now completely shy, are also facing our end.

To usher in the wonderful things you desire.

William tried to grab it, but his breath lingered on his lips, and Anna's image flashed through his mind. William's voice also changed.

“Indeed, I have something else to say, Fanila.”

Under Fanila's expectant gaze, William pursed his lips, lowered his head, and pressed his forehead against the table.

“In Hamlet, this is not the first time I have met you, Fanila. I first saw you in the City of Wanderings, and I was the clown who was spying on you, the Mr. Surprise.”

Elf's grudges are notoriously vengeful, and this fact keeps coming back to her. Perhaps this will distort her current feelings of affection. But this is the right choice; if she had to hide and conceal her feelings from the person she liked, life would be a tragedy.

Anna told me that.

Through this self-confession, William understood Anna's place in his heart.

William loves Anna just as much as he loves Fanila.

There was no cold gaze, only two soft hands cupping her forehead.

William didn't bump into the wooden table, but instead pressed his hand against Fanny's outstretched palm.

Those soft hands, carrying a sweet, flower-like scent, lifted William's head, making him gaze into those unchanging, shy eyes.

“I think William is amazing, a boy who dares to face his mistakes, like a shining star. I forgive you, William.” William could feel Fanila’s fingers trembling slightly, and her face, which looked like it was being roasted.

"Besides, I've known for a long time that William is the clown. After all, Mr. Plague Doctor, Lyle's attire hasn't changed at all. Even knowing that Mr. William is the clown, my heart still races every time I see your eyes."

“Fanila, you…”

“I don’t think Mr. William will say what I want to hear. Betty’s sarcasm was right.” Fanila took out something familiar to William from behind her back. “Actually, there’s something I’m ashamed to tell you, William.”

A gold pendant with a huge jadeite inlaid in the center, exactly the same as the one Betty used to wear.

“This is the Heart of Dreams, made by my elders. It’s a magical artifact. This is a pair. Mr. William has already seen the other one. It will fuse two different souls into one body. Betty has actually been my companion for a long time. She’s the female thief in the gang of sinners I joined, and she’s my best friend. Every time Mr. William and Betty meet, every time they talk about me, I’m actually there. I feel it all.”

"Betty's sarcastic remark, 'Those who have the will but not the courage will cause trouble for those around them,' was actually referring to me as well."

“Mr. William’s work at Blood Rose, the dazzling magic, and all the shining qualities you showed in getting along well with people. I remember them all vividly.”

"Even someone as timid as me has things I have to say."

"William, it is my good fortune to have met you."

Fanila's face lit up with a happy smile, as radiant as spring flowers in full bloom.

Chapter 288 Who is the Protagonist?

William was stunned.

What a wonderful experience it is to have the person you like confess their feelings to you!

An impulse surged like a tidal wave, rushing from the soles of his feet to his mind, swirling in his eyes. William longed to hold the smiling Fanila and share his joy with her.

He was about to do just that. William rose from his seat and, to Fanila's anticipation, extended his fingers to touch her shoulder.

Bang! The wardrobe door opened completely.

"Great! Little Fanila, you finally dared to say it!" A figure wearing a strange greenish-blue metallic mask and covered in lichen squeezed out of the wardrobe.

Hines curled up his tall frame in the closet compartment, one hand outstretched as if to grab the person who emerged from the closet, but ultimately failed.

Hines covered his face with his other hand and sighed softly.