It's so hard being a hero!

Nareira.

Sofia turned her head and looked towards the stairwell, where Lyra had just disappeared.

Blonde hair, blue eyes, an inexplicable familiarity in their features, and a strange sense of warmth—and then there's their age...

"Teacher, could Miss Leila's father be the one in the portrait?"

Frey didn't answer, but just glanced at the portrait again.

Sophia knew that look in her eyes all too well.

That's nostalgia.

It's a longing that I can't let go of even after more than a decade.

Sofia felt as if her heart had been struck hard.

She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but her throat felt blocked.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from the stairs.

"Mom, I'm done washing up."

Leila changed into a white men's outfit, her long, wet golden hair still hanging over her shoulders. She rushed downstairs like a gust of wind, heading straight for Sophia.

"Little sister, come on, I'll take you horseback riding. We have two unicorns in our backyard, they're so beautiful."

Frey frowned.

"Laila, she's just here in the capital for a visit, she'll be going back tonight."

"It's alright, it's alright, just playing for a little while. I hit it off with this little girl right away."

Leila had already taken Sofia's little hand.

"Besides, Mom, haven't you always said I need a younger sister? Here she is!"

“I never said that.”

"You said it, you said it in my dream."

Sofia was being pulled away by Laila, her mind still processing the information she had just received.

She glanced back at Frey.

Sofia looked away and turned to look at Laila, who was pulling her forward.

Is this girl her daughter?

Judging by her age, she's probably close to ten. So, she was just misunderstanding before, or perhaps she never even considered it.

Is she Su Lan's daughter?

This feels so unreal.

"By the way, what's your name again?"

Leila suddenly turned around.

"Huh? Didn't I just say my name is Sophia?"

Leila gave an awkward smile.

"Su? What a coincidence, my dead father, whom I never met, also had a name starting with Su."

Sofia was completely bewildered.

Chapter 8 Daughter and Father

Sofia was led into the courtyard by Lyra's hand, her mind still reeling from that astonishing guess.

"Miss Lyra."

Sophia suddenly called out.

"Don't call me 'Miss,' call me 'Sister.'"

Laila corrected him without turning her head.

"Huh? Okay, Layla, what's your dad's name?"

Leila paused, turning her head to glance at her.

Why are you asking this?

"I was just asking out of curiosity."

Sofia tried her best to appear innocent and naive.

Leila released her hand, crossed her arms, and looked up to think for a moment.

"His name is Su Lan. He is an Imperial Hero, a Holy Son of the Holy See, and an Imperial Grand Duke. Doesn't that sound impressive?"

Sophia's heart started pounding.

"And then?" Sophia pressed.

"Then?"

Leila shrugged and spread her hands.

"And that's it. My mom said he went to fight some witch and never came back. He must have died."

She said this in a very relaxed and casual tone, as if she were talking about something that had absolutely nothing to do with her.

But thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. You've never met your father, so what kind of feelings can you expect?

"Then, don't you miss him?"

Leila was silent for two seconds, then grinned.

"What are you thinking about? I don't even know what he looks like. Oh, there is a portrait at home, but the portrait can't talk or play with me, so what's there to think about?"

She turned around and continued walking towards the backyard, her voice echoing in the empty corridor.

"However, my mom misses him a lot. Every time she comes home, she drinks and talks to herself while looking at that painting. When I was little, I thought she was talking to a ghost."

Sophia followed behind her, and suddenly her nose felt a little sore.

"However..."

Leila suddenly turned around, her smile containing something indescribable.

"Sometimes I wonder, if he were still alive, would he take me to fight monsters, teach me swordsmanship, or stand up for me when I'm bullied?"

She paused, then added.

"Although now I'm the one standing up for others."

Sophia opened her mouth, as if to say something, but her throat felt blocked.

She wanted to say, "I will."

But she couldn't say it.

She is just a six-year-old girl and Frey's student.

"We've arrived, this is the place."

Leila led Sophia to a wide-open meadow on the estate.

Two pure white unicorns were seen leisurely grazing on the grass.

Sophia felt another surge of excitement when she saw the two unicorns.

These are Dawn and Twilight! They are the two unicorns she tamed in her past life. She rode one herself and gave the other to Frey. They fought side by side and were the best comrades and partners.

Unexpectedly, they met again.

"Hehe, how is it? Pretty, right?"

Leila walked proudly to Dawn's side and reached out to touch its neck.

Chenxi snorted and affectionately nuzzled Leila's hand.

However, Chenxi suddenly seemed to sense something, turning her head to look at Sophia beside her with a strange look in her eyes.

Sophia watched this scene with a sigh.

As expected of a unicorn, this spiritually connected sacred beast only befriends those with pure souls and an aura of light.

"Come on, give it a try."

Laila suddenly bent down and picked Sophia up in her arms.

Sophia froze.

It wasn't because she was picked up, but because of the way Leila held her.

He supported her bottom with one hand and held her back with the other, lifting her up like he was holding a baby.

"What...what are you doing?"

Sofia's voice suddenly rose eight octaves.

"I'll take you riding a unicorn. You're so small, if I don't carry you up, how can you climb up by yourself?"

Leila spoke with absolute certainty.

The moment Sophia touched Twilight, the unicorn suddenly shuddered and turned to look at her.

"Oh? Twilight didn't leave you behind."

Leila stroked her chin, looking surprised.

"This guy is so picky. He won't let anyone ride it except me and my mom. Last time Uncle Vic tried to ride it, he was almost kicked away by it."

Upon hearing this, Sophia immediately met Twilight's gaze.

In that one glance, Twilight's eyes clearly changed; it recognized Su Lan.

Or rather, it is Su Lan's soul.

"Hold on tight, I'm going to take you for a spin."

Lyra climbed onto Dawn, holding the reins in one hand and patting Twilight's rump with the other.