It's so hard being a hero!

It's a woman's voice.

"Oh my god, that laughter sounds so familiar. Could it be her?"

The laughter was incredibly arrogant, carrying an innate sense of superiority.

Everyone present stood up.

A woman dressed in a gorgeous gold gown walked in.

She wore a crystal crown on her head, her long golden hair was styled into an intricate updo, and she wore two large ruby ​​earrings.

She looked to be in her early thirties, with a flamboyant smile on her lips. She exuded an innate noble air, yet also carried a kind of arrogant charm that made people both love and hate her.

The moment Sophia saw that face, a name popped into her head.

Sofia.

She is the eldest princess of the Delos Empire, and now the empress of the Odira Empire.

She is also Frey's best friend. In fact, it was Sophia who brought Su Lan and Frey together.

When Su Lan met Sophia, he was thirteen years old and Sophia was fourteen.

It was her second year in this world, and the Delos Empire was in the midst of war.

Sofia was attacked by rebels on her way to quell the rebellion.

She was injured and fainted in that battle, and it was she and Vic who happened to be passing by and rescued Sophia together.

Later, they became friends.

Although Sofia often acts like a haughty princess, she is actually cheerful and lively; she just likes to act haughty.

Unexpectedly, she had already married into the Odira Empire and become its queen.

Time really flies.

"Greetings, Queen Sofia."

Everyone, including Vic, bowed respectfully.

Sofia waved her hand dismissively.

"Alright, alright, let's skip that. I'm back in a private capacity, so why be so formal?"

Her tone remained the same, carrying an indescribable air of arrogance.

Frey was the only one who didn't bow.

A helpless yet indulgent smile appeared on her face as she stepped forward and took Sophia's hand in a close and natural manner, as if she were holding the hand of her own sister.

"You rascal, you're already the Empress of a nation, how can you still be so frivolous? Do you really have to let people hear your villainous laughter?"

Frey's tone was full of disdain, but her eyes were full of joy.

Sofia proudly raised her chin.

"There's nothing I can do; it's been a problem for decades, and I can't change it."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the living room.

"Besides, they're all acquaintances, so I'll just be casual."

Frey smiled and shook her head, saying nothing more.

Just then, Leila ran over and approached Sophia with a grin.

"Aunt Sophia, what brings you here?"

As soon as Sofia saw Lyra, she immediately opened her arms and hugged Lyra tightly, so tightly that it was as if she wanted to meld Lyra into her own body.

"Oh my, my little Layla, you've grown so much. The last time I saw you was six years ago."

Leila was struggling to breathe because of the tightness in her clothes.

"Aunt Sophia, are you trying to strangle me by hugging me like that?"

Sofia released her grip, cupped Laila's face in her hands, examined her from all sides, and then nodded in satisfaction.

"Yes, she's getting prettier and prettier, prettier than your mother."

Leila grinned.

"That is."

"Ok?"

Frey's voice drifted over from the side, carrying a hint of danger.

Leila shrank her neck, stuck out her tongue, and wisely shut her mouth.

Sofia smiled and patted Leila on the shoulder, then looked past her and began to scan the living room.

She first looked at Vic.

"My dear brother-in-law."

Vic immediately rolled his eyes at her.

Then she looked at Shirley and the Gideon couple, then at Lynch, her gaze lingering on each of these familiar faces, her smile growing ever wider.

"It's good that they're all still alive."

Sofia remarked.

"Please, it's been so long, can't you say something nice?" Frey complained.

Sofia chuckled, her gaze continuing to wander around the living room.

But suddenly her gaze froze, as if time had been paused at that moment.

Her smile froze, her eyes widened as if she had seen something unbelievable.

Her gaze fell on someone in the living room.

"Su Lan?"

She blurted it out almost without thinking, her voice rising several octaves and echoing throughout the living room.

These two words are like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

The air in the living room seemed to freeze at that moment.

All eyes turned to a certain direction.

Chapter 19 A Call from the Depths of the Soul

Sophia's voice drew everyone's attention to her.

The elders of the Dawn Knights felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity the moment they saw Sophia.

Sophia's mention of it naturally revealed to everyone that the sense of familiarity they felt actually came from Su Lan.

The name Su Lan is like a key that unlocks a door deep in everyone's memory.

Everyone is re-evaluating Sofia.

"what?"

Leila was also startled and quickly waved her hands to explain.

"Aunt Sophia, you must be mistaken. Her name is Sophia, she's my mom's student, my sister, how could she be that deadbeat dad?"

After saying that, he put his arm around Sophia's shoulder, as if to prove something.

"Look at her, she's a girl, with silver hair and blue eyes. She doesn't look like my dad at all!"

Upon hearing Leila's words, Sophia realized that she had made a mistake.

She took another look at Sophia's delicate face and slender figure; she was indeed a short-haired girl dressed in men's clothing.

But her gaze still held a certain scrutiny.

"Oh, it's a girl."

Sofia said in a drawn-out tone, then walked towards Sofia step by step in her high heels.

But my curiosity only grew stronger.

"But they look so alike!"

Sofia walked up to Sofia, bent down, and looked her up and down, from left to right.

"Those eyebrows, those nose, the curve of those lips..."

She watched and commented, occasionally gesturing with her finger across Sofia's face.

"They look exactly alike."

Sophia felt her scalp tingle and her whole body trembled under her gaze.

She instinctively shrank back, cursing inwardly.

"Stop looking, stop looking, please stop looking."

She had only one thought in her mind: Frey, you need to get this crazy woman away from here!

Fortunately, Frey finally spoke up.

"Sophia, that's enough."

Frey's voice came from the side, tinged with a hint of helplessness.

"Don't scare my students."

Sofia turned her head, glanced at Frey, and then let go of her hand and straightened up.

"Alright, alright."

She said that, but her eyes remained glued to Sophia, as if she wanted to see right through her.

"But Frey, don't you think this little girl..."

I don't think so.

Frey interrupted her, her tone calm.