It's so hard being a hero!

Page 28

Vic rolled his eyes.

"Do we need to talk about this between us?"

Sofia smiled; it was a genuine smile of relief.

The two remained silent for a while, watching the people in the courtyard gradually disperse.

"Alright, I should go now."

Vic straightened up and stretched.

See you at the investiture ceremony tomorrow.

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

Vic took two steps, then stopped and turned around.

"Hey."

"what?"

Vic smiled.

"For the past twenty years, I've always felt that something was missing. Now I know it's that I've lost a brother who would fight to the death for me."

Sophia paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Get lost, you're so cheesy."

Vic laughed and strode away.

When he reached the balcony door, he waved without turning his head.

"gone."

Sophia watched his figure disappear behind the door, then turned around and leaned against the railing again, letting out a long sigh.

"Ah! It's so great to have someone I can confide in."

She stood there for a while longer, until night had completely enveloped the Duke's mansion, before turning and leaving.

When I returned to the living room, most of the guests had already left.

Xilinna and the Gideon couple had left sometime earlier, and Lynch had also left, leaving only a few personal servants to tidy up.

"Miss Sophia."

Millie came over with a cup of hot tea.

"Lady Frey said you can rest for a while, and she will call you for dinner."

"Okay, thank you, Sister Millie."

Sophia took the teacup and took a sip. The warm black tea had a faint honey aroma, which was her favorite flavor from her previous life.

Millie looked at her, hesitated, then smiled and turned to leave.

Sophia walked around the living room with her teacup in hand, her gaze involuntarily falling on the portrait.

In the portrait, Su Lan smiles brightly, her golden hair shimmering in the sunlight, and her blue eyes brimming with youthful vigor.

"I'm really not like you now."

She muttered something and took her teacup upstairs.

She didn't go to Frey's room or Lyra's room, but instead turned into the small guest room at the end of the corridor.

This is the room she stays in every time she comes to the capital.

The room was small but clean, with a single bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and a window facing the backyard garden.

Sophia placed the teacup on the desk, then collapsed onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Her mind was in turmoil, and Vic's reminder added another layer of unease to her heart.

She turned over and buried her face in the pillow.

"Forget it, I don't want to."

She forced herself to clear her mind and closed her eyes.

After some time, there was a knock on the door.

"Little girl, dinner's ready."

Leila's strong voice came from outside the door.

Sophia opened her eyes. It was completely dark outside the window, and the magic lamp was on inside the room. She didn't know who had turned it on for her.

"coming."

She sat up, rubbed her eyes, and opened the door.

"Let's go eat."

Leila took her hand and led her downstairs.

"It'll just be the three of us tonight, so it'll be quiet."

The two arrived at the restaurant, where Frey was already seated at the head of the table.

Seeing them come in, she put down her wine glass and nodded slightly.

"sit down."

Lyra sat down to Frey's left, and Sofia sat down opposite her.

Soon, one exquisite dish after another was served.

Leila's eyes lit up. She reached out, grabbed a chicken wing, took a bite, and squinted her eyes in satisfaction.

She had been busy all day and was really hungry.

However, halfway through the meal, Leila suddenly put down the chicken wings, wiped her mouth, and looked at Frey.

"Mom, I have a question for you."

"explain."

"Sofia, do you really look like my dad?"

Sofia's hand stiffened for a moment, but she quickly recovered and continued to drink her soup, pretending she hadn't heard anything.

Frey put down her wine glass.

Why are you suddenly asking this?

"I've been thinking about what Aunt Sofia said today."

Leila scratched her head.

"Did my deadbeat dad look like this when he was a child?"

Frey was silent for two seconds, then shook her head.

"I don't know. Your Aunt Sophia saw what your father looked like when he was a teenager, but I didn't."

Her tone was calm.

"The first time I met Su Lan, he was already an adult, just like in the portrait."

Layla opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something, but seeing Frey's expression, she swallowed her words, picked up the chicken wing again, took a bite, and turned to look at Sophia.

"Don't mind that little girl, I was just asking casually."

"fine."

Sophia looked up and smiled.

"How could I possibly look like the Hero?"

"exactly."

Leila grinned and reached out to ruffle Sophia's hair.

“You are you, my sister, and have nothing to do with that deadbeat father.”

Sophia's hair was all messed up from being ruffled, but her heart felt warm.

Leila ate most of a chicken, drank two bowls of soup, and ate three pieces of bread by herself before letting out a satisfied burp and leaning back in her chair with a contented look on her face.

Then she looked at Sofia.

"And you? Have you eaten?"

"Yes, I'm full."

Leila stood up and grabbed Sophia's hand.

"Let's go try on the clothes."

Sophia's smile froze instantly.

"Um, could you..."

"No."

Leila immediately rejected the idea.

"You promised me you'd wear a skirt all day tomorrow."

"I know, but..."

"No buts."