It's so hard being a hero!

Leila rolled her eyes.

“I’ve been watching you for five years. I can tell how tall or fat you are at a glance.”

Sofia was speechless.

"I don't wear skirts."

"why?"

"I just won't wear it."

"What's the reason?"

"I just don't want to wear it."

Leila squinted, bent down, and leaned close to Sophia's face, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"Little girl, this is a token of my appreciation, how can you just let me down like this?"

Sophia was internally ranting and raving.

You actually forced your dad to wear women's clothes? You're being way too filial! Is this how a daughter should act?

"I won't wear it, I'd rather die than wear it."

Sophia shook her head firmly.

Leila straightened up, crossed her arms, and looked down at her.

"Little girl, think about it, tomorrow is my investiture ceremony, one of the most important days of my life."

Sophia looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

"If you don't dress nicely, how can you face your older sister?"

"I look quite handsome in men's clothing too."

"You look quite good in men's clothing, but that's handsome, not pretty."

Leila corrected her.

"Tomorrow is my special day, can't you make an exception just this once for me?"

Sophia opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Leila's serious eyes, she swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

She was silent for a few seconds, then sighed.

"Okay! Just for tomorrow?"

Leila's eyes lit up.

"Okay, just for tomorrow."

Leila's eyes crinkled into crescents with laughter as she bent down and kissed Sofia on the cheek.

"This is my good sister."

Sophia immediately reached out and wiped her cheek, muttering something.

"Don't mention family members so easily."

"My pleasure."

Leila replied matter-of-factly, then closed the gift box again and put it aside.

Chapter 18: Was he recognized?

"Then it's settled."

Leila clapped her hands, turned, and went into the bathroom.

Sophia looked at the gift box again, her face full of helplessness.

She felt that things were really tough for her.

She became a woman, but her own daughter still forced her to wear women's clothing.

She felt that there might be even more abstract things to come in the future.

About twenty minutes later, Leila came out of the bathroom.

She changed into clean clothes, still dressed in a more masculine style.

Sophia looked at her and couldn't help but make a comment.

"Hey! You wear men's clothes too, so why should I wear women's clothes?"

"Can those be the same?"

Leila answered while drying her hair.

“I’m an adult now, I can wear whatever I want. You’re still a child, you have to listen to adults.”

Sofia's lips twitched.

"Your double standards are so obvious."

What is double standard?

Leila countered with a question.

Sophia then realized that this word did not exist in the world.

"Oh, it's nothing."

She stood up.

"Let's go, the guests are still waiting downstairs."

Leila tossed the towel aside, took Sophia's hand, and the two walked out of the room together.

The two chatted and laughed as they walked down the stairs and returned to the living room.

The living room was already full of people.

Leila's gaze swept over everyone in the living room, and she immediately pulled Sophia over to identify them.

"Little girl, let me introduce you."

She pointed to a boy sitting next to Vic.

The boy looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, with orange hair, light gold eyes, handsome features, and a slender build.

“He is Vinard, the son of Uncle Vic and Aunt Ashleya, he is eighteen years old, and he is my brother.”

Leila explained.

“Vinard, this is my sister, Sophia.”

Vinard stood up and nodded politely to Sofia.

"Hello, I've heard about you from Leila before."

Sofia also stood up and nodded.

"Ah hello."

But Sophia couldn't help but mutter to herself.

"I knew he looked just like Vic. This guy actually got together with the Third Princess. He really does what he says he will do."

Leila's voice immediately pulled her back to reality.

She then pointed to a girl sitting next to Xilinna.

The girl looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, with long black hair, red eyes, and wearing a long red dress. She looked charming and beautiful.

“This is Sigray, the daughter of Aunt Shirina and Uncle Gideon,” Leila introduced.

Celia stood up and smiled slightly at Sophia.

Sofia returned a smile.

Celia's gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds, then she blinked thoughtfully and sat down again.

Leila continued her explanation.

"This is……"

Leila introduced them one by one, and Sofia greeted them one by one.

She noticed that these young people were basically the children of her old acquaintances from her previous life.

After giving her introductions, Leila sat down again.

"So, what do you think of my friends? Aren't they all great?"

"Oh, that's alright."

Sophia nodded.

"of course."

Leila proudly raised her chin.

"I'm very picky about who I make friends with."

Sophia smiled but didn't reply.

Her gaze inadvertently swept across the living room and she noticed Vic looking at her.

Those pale golden eyes still held a scrutinizing quality.

From the moment we left until now, Vic's gaze has never left her.

Sophia's heart skipped a beat. She pretended not to see it, but inwardly she was cursing.

"Hey, stop looking at me! Your staring makes me really uncomfortable."

Of course, it wasn't just Vic watching her; almost all the core members of the Dawn Knights were secretly observing her, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

Just then, an uninvited guest arrived; her voice preceded her arrival.

"Hahaha..."

The laughter gave Sophia goosebumps.