Ten minutes earlier…
At the entrance of the Leicester Manor.
The guards and butler on duty spotted a carriage bearing the Herman family crest slowly coming to a halt before the manor gates.
They immediately snapped to full attention.
In Grey Pine City, the Herman family was undoubtedly the most powerful.
Viscount Hermann was one of only two Tier 3 powerhouses, commanding the utmost respect.
He was also the leader of all nobles.
His daughter, Vanessa, enjoyed treatment befitting a princess.
Thankfully, this “princess” wasn’t willful; on the contrary, she had a very gentle disposition.
Since this was Miss Vanessa’s carriage, they had to stay on high alert.
They couldn’t afford to show even the slightest negligence toward this noble young lady—that would bring shame upon the family they served.
The guards lined up on both sides, while the steward and maids also came forward, bowing respectfully toward the carriage.
However, the person who opened the door and stepped out wasn’t the black-haired girl, but a black-haired young man.
What’s going on?
Seeing everyone with their heads bowed, Shu Yue couldn’t help but purse her lips.
She turned around to look at Vanessa, who was standing at the carriage’s door steps.
Vanessa extended her fair, delicate hand, clearly meaning for Shu Yue to take it and help her down.
Does she really need help just to get out of a carriage?
Though she grumbled inwardly, Shu Yue knew she had to save face.
Vanessa had helped her out quite a bit.
Shu Yue reached out and grasped the girl’s slender, soft hand.
Now that she thought about it, the feel wasn’t bad at all.
It was soft, with a hint of coolness.
Is this what holding a girl’s hand feels like?
Shu Yue glanced down at her own hand.
[Mirror Flower Water Moon] had perfectly disguised her as a boy on the outside, making her hands much larger.
But it also felt like wearing a bulky cotton-padded jacket—like she had gloves on.
If she deactivated [Mirror Flower Water Moon], she’d probably get a more realistic sensation.
But then her own hand would be small again.
At that point, she’d probably be the one being led by Vanessa.
Both with black hair, they’d look like sisters…
Shu Yue silently pouted, then pulled Vanessa down with a bit of force.
As a result, Vanessa’s foot missed a step, and she stumbled forward.
Shu Yue caught her mid-fall, pulling her into an embrace.
The fragrant, soft body in his arms—such a delicate beauty.
Any normal man would feel his blood rush.
But Shu Yue was a girl now, and she clearly knew that Vanessa wasn’t the kind of noble young lady without a shred of strength.
How could she possibly trip while getting out of a carriage?
She did it on purpose!
“Sorry~”
Looking up from within Shu Yue’s embrace, Vanessa gazed down at Shu Yue’s amber-colored eyes from above.
Her voice was coquettish, very soft and tender, but with a unique tone that tickled the heart.
Shu Yue rolled her eyes and said impatiently,
“Can’t you watch where you’re going?”
“Mm, I won’t do it again.”
Vanessa was used to Shu Yue not falling for her act, but she still kept at it, enjoying the game.
Compared to predictable adoration, Shu Yue’s indifference was far more interesting.
It pleased her.
She was curious how Shu Yue would respond, what strange things she might say.
Seeing that Vanessa was still leaning against her, Shu Yue pushed her away expressionlessly.
“Alright, let’s go inside.”
“Mm~”
Vanessa replied and quickly caught up to Shu Yue, casually reaching out to hook her arm around Shu Yue’s right elbow.
Seeing this, the guards, steward, and maids were all stunned.
That esteemed Miss Vanessa was actually bringing a man with her, being so intimate with him, as if they had already secretly pledged their lives to each other!
They had a thousand words they wanted to say, but none dared to speak them.
If they gossiped about this young lady behind her back, the Leicester family wouldn’t protect them.
Once they understood the consequences, they all turned a blind eye and a deaf ear, pretending they hadn’t seen anything, and cleared a path for Shu Yue and Vanessa.
Shu Yue looked at Vanessa clinging to her side, a bit exasperated, but there wasn’t much she could do.
After all, she had agreed to Vanessa’s request.
When she went inside, she’d just eat like crazy, fill her stomach, and leave.
Vanessa shouldn’t have any objections, right?
She tilted her head to look at Vanessa, who had her arm linked with hers and a bright smile on her face, and asked curiously,
“Is this really fun?”
“Of course.”
Vanessa blinked.
“I find it very amusing when people misunderstand.”
“Whatever.”
Shu Yue didn’t care about being misunderstood.
Let them talk.
Once today was over and she changed her disguise, who would know who she was?
It would just become “Miss Vanessa has a secret boyfriend.”
When they entered the banquet hall together, the party had already finished its warm-up and officially begun.
Vanessa swept her gaze across the room, then looked up at Shu Yue’s profile.
“Looks like we’re a bit late.”
“Are we?”
Shu Yue didn’t think so.
It wasn’t late at all—they hadn’t even started eating yet.
She’d just find any seat.
Because Baron Leicester was giving a speech and Emily had just appeared, everyone’s attention was focused on the center of the banquet hall.
Not many noticed the two of them arriving.
At that moment, Emily stood in the spotlight, a stunning red dress adorned with sparkling jewels.
She was undoubtedly the protagonist of this banquet.
But the other protagonist was nowhere to be seen.
That noble young man who was to marry Emily and reach the peak of life had not appeared.
That inevitably made people wonder.
After all, just two days ago, they’d heard that Emily had run away from the wedding.
But yesterday, she’d been brought back.
Today was the pre-wedding banquet, and tomorrow would be the wedding itself.
The schedule was so tight that everyone was curious why it was happening so fast.
Could it be that they were afraid Emily would run away again?
Or was there something special about that guy named Liya White, something that made Baron Leicester eager to secure an alliance with him through marriage?
They had many guesses about Emily’s wedding, but they remained just that—guesses.
The Baron had kept the information tightly under wraps, possibly with the help of Viscount Hermann and the City Lord.
Otherwise, a mere baron couldn’t have achieved this level of control.
And with the massacre of Baron Jim’s family, all signs pointed to something deep behind this wedding.
Tsk, so this was the darkness lurking beneath Grey Pine City!
Shu Yue was curious about the wedding customs in this world, so she asked the woman beside her.
Vanessa gave her a teasing look and joked,
“Are you asking a lady about weddings?”
“Stop fooling around. Answer my question.”
Shu Yue sighed.
Sometimes communicating with Vanessa was exhausting—she had to satisfy her whims first before she’d get down to business.
Vanessa briefly explained the wedding process.
They were attending the pre-wedding banquet, an occasion for young men and women to socialize and a warm-up for the main event.
Both the groom and bride would appear to receive blessings from their peers.
Each side hosted a separate banquet to announce their upcoming marriage.
Then came the church wedding.
Although the Holy Radiance Church had been somewhat suppressed since the empire’s founding, it remained the foremost religion.
Its influence on the humans of this world was deep-rooted.
All weddings were held in churches, blessed by the Goddess of Holy Radiance.
“In short, it’s a process of ‘I do, you do,’ putting on rings, and kissing in public.”
After that came a feast lasting anywhere from a few days to a week, or even a month.
It all depended on the family’s wealth.
Shu Yue was shocked.
“A month?!”
Getting to freeload off a meal for a whole month would be amazing!
Vanessa didn’t know what was going on in Shu Yue’s head, but she explained,
“Usually it’s three days or a week. A month’s feast is for an emperor’s son marrying a wife or a princess marrying out.”
“Oh, oh.”
Shu Yue felt a bit disappointed.
She wondered if the emperor had many sons and daughters, and whether they were all married off yet.
She had no desire for a princess—she just wanted a free meal.
The chatter wasn’t just between them.
Many people were discussing the wedding of Emily and Liya.
Lucy looked at the most dazzling “red rose,” a hint of envy on her face.
It wasn’t that she envied Emily getting married—she envied Emily for being so beautiful.
If only she could be that pretty, with breasts like two big peaches, filling out a tempting curve, instead of being called “little and cute” every time someone saw her.
Boo hoo, why was there such a gap between people?
Turning to look at Rita beside her, she asked curiously,
“Sister Rita, how did you grow so big?”
Lucy looked down at her own flat chest and couldn’t help but sigh.
Rita was stunned for a moment before she understood what Lucy was asking.
Her pretty face flushed.
“Little sister, it’s just genetics.”
There really was no explanation.
After all, one’s body shape was often largely determined by one’s parents.
Clearly, Lucy’s mother was rather underdeveloped, and her daughter had inherited that gene.
Lucy’s face fell again.
Why did everything have to depend on talent?
She looked at her brother, who was staring at Emily with burning eyes.
“Brother, do you know what kind of person that guy named Liya White is?”
“Naturally, I’ve inquired. Rumor has it that as soon as he arrived, he beat up a noble young man named Sada. Instead of being punished by Baron Leicester, he received part of the Baron’s assets and even got engaged to Miss Emily. It’s baffling.”
He would have liked to get to know Liya better.
He felt that someone like that must have considerable influence behind them.
The siblings had come here to complete the social tasks set by their parents.
First, to find a suitable marriage partner for his sister—though that seemed unlikely.
Second, to build connections in Grey Pine City, seeing if there was an opportunity to enter the city in the future.
Rita looked at Emily from a distance and let out a soft sigh.
As a fellow woman, she could see the deep sadness hidden behind Emily’s facade.
It meant Emily didn’t like this wedding at all, even detested it.
Yet, for some reason, she had to accept it and put on a submissive act.
Because she understood this, Rita felt a chill.
She, too, was under her parents’ expectations of forming a marital alliance with a noble in Grey Pine City to realize her value.
Her gaze wandered and happened to land on a black-haired young man.
“Huh…”
It’s him?!
But when she saw that face, her foot, which she had been about to lift, stopped in its tracks.
She was looking at Shu Yue, who had been disguised according to Vanessa’s request.
“That’s not him…”
“Not him either…”
Rita felt a bit disappointed.
But when she saw Vanessa beside Shu Yue, she immediately recognized the viscount’s daughter.
After thinking for a moment, she finally walked over to strike up a conversation.
Vanessa still had a firm grip on Shu Yue’s arm.
No matter how Shu Yue tried to shake her off, she couldn’t, so she just had to drag Vanessa along as she headed for the dining table.
She was here to eat, not to stand around like a decoration.
The long table was laden with all kinds of exquisite dishes, brightly colored, and the aroma could be smelled from far away.
“Oh ho ho, so much good food!!”
Shu Yue didn’t hold back.
She was going to eat her fill.
If she didn’t go all out, wouldn’t this trip be a waste?
But Vanessa still wouldn’t let go, leaving her with only one hand free.
She raised an eyebrow and looked at Vanessa beside her, asking,
“Miss, why are you still holding my arm?”
“Is it not allowed?”
Vanessa put on an innocent expression, then a mischievous smile appeared.
“If you want to eat something, reach out. How about I feed you, dear?”
“Open wide, ah~”
Vanessa picked up a piece of pastry and brought it to Shu Yue’s lips, coaxing her like a child.
Shu Yue opened her mouth and swallowed it in one bite.
Rita happened to see this scene.
She felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest.
The young man before her looked very similar to the one she had met, but his face was different. She couldn’t consider them the same person.
“Excuse me, are you Miss Vanessa? It’s an honor to meet you. My name is Rita…”
She made a very standard self-introduction.
When Vanessa looked at her, the gentle smile vanished.
Although she was still smiling faintly, it was a cold, perfunctory smile, just to maintain politeness.
“Miss Rita, aren’t you going to the dance? A girl like you should enjoy that kind of atmosphere. As for me, I’m fine—I already have someone willing to accompany me. Dear~”
As Vanessa spoke, she turned the conversation back to Shu Yue.
Shu Yue was just reaching for something that looked like crab meat.
She didn’t have time to listen to the two ladies’ formal chit-chat.
But she never expected that after just a few exchanges, they’d directly throw the topic onto her.
Shu Yue felt a pinch on her waist from Vanessa.
She glanced at Vanessa’s “bright” smile and immediately remembered that she had promised to help ward off suitors.
“Ahem…”
She cleared her throat.
When she looked at the newcomer, Shu Yue almost showed an expression of surprise.
She didn’t expect to run into this noble girl again.
She had thought they’d never meet after their brief encounter.
She gave an awkward smile and said,
“Ah, hello, hello.”
Rita didn’t know what to say for a moment.
Vanessa clearly didn’t want to talk to her.
This young miss’s status in Grey Pine City was quite exceptional.
Since the City Lord’s children weren’t around, she was in a league of her own.
If she didn’t want to talk, no one could force her.
And the person who had won this young lady’s favor must be of no low status either.
“Sorry, sir, for disturbing you and Miss Vanessa.”
Rita replied politely.
With that, she retreated dejectedly.
Shu Yue watched the girl’s departing figure, then turned to face Vanessa’s scrutinizing gaze.
“What now?”
Vanessa had a frosty expression at first, but after three seconds of eye contact, it melted back into a gentle smile.
If a person who usually maintained a mild demeanor suddenly showed a solemn, severe expression, it would unconsciously make the other person think they had done something wrong.
In a relationship, this would create a huge sense of disparity in the other party, making them doubt themselves.
Then, using an interrogative tone to ask questions would further push the other party into a trap.
Simple psychological manipulation, very effective.
Especially for young boys just entering adolescence—with appropriate rewards, they could easily be turned into obedient little dogs.
Of course, all of this was predicated on the other party having feelings for you, subconsciously not wanting to lose you.
The reason Vanessa quickly changed her demeanor was that she was just testing whether Shu Yue had any interest in her, whether she cared.
The result was—
Shu Yue only cared about the food, treating her coolly.
Instead, Vanessa found herself being the one hooked, unwilling to let go.
Seeing that Vanessa hadn’t spoken for a while, Shu Yue decided to continue eating.
Only then did Vanessa say softly,
“Do you know her?”
“Met her once. When I entered the city, I rode in her carriage. Her carriage was really big.”
Shu Yue pointed at a large red crustacean.
“Anything else? If not, I’m going to eat that!”
Seeing that her “jealousy act” had no effect at all, Vanessa was temporarily out of tricks.
She let go of the “reins” binding Shu Yue, no longer forcibly holding her arm to keep her from running off.
Shu Yue, like a rabbit freed from its cage, ate without any regard for manners, devouring food voraciously beside Vanessa.
Vanessa quietly watched her from the side, pondering whether she had missed some key piece of information.
She always felt that Shu Yue was a bit special, not like a normal boy.
As Shu Yue ate, she suddenly remembered something.
She still had to pretend to be Liya White and interact with that duke’s daughter named Loran Isolde.
But she had absolutely no experience with that.
So, without thinking, she looked at Vanessa.
“Miss Vanessa, I actually have another question I’d like to ask you…”
“Dear, just say it. This humble woman is more than happy to answer your questions.”
Vanessa thought Shu Yue would ask about the food, since she seemed to really enjoy it.
Shu Yue considered her wording and then asked,
“There’s a distinguished young lady from a prominent family. The gap between us is enormous. How should I interact with her without making her dislike me?”