Li Ya didn’t go to the Merchant Guild today.
The events of the past few days swirled in her mind like a tangled thread she couldn’t unravel.
The mole, the transport lines, the stolen goods, the missing personnel…
Everything was knotted together, and the more she pulled, the tighter it became.
She rubbed her temples, turned, and walked out of the room.
This villa wasn’t small, but only a few rooms were used for living.
Uncle Victor lived on the first floor; she lived on the second.
There were no servants, and usually she had no one to talk to.
She suddenly felt the house was too quiet and empty.
She hadn’t felt that way before.
She used to leave early and return late, coming back and crashing into bed; the size of the house didn’t matter to her.
But today…
Today she didn’t want to go to the Merchant Guild, didn’t want to see the mountains of documents, didn’t want to hear those hypocritical pleasantries.
Right now, she just wanted to be quiet for a while.
Yet once she settled down, her mind became even more restless.
Rex’s face kept popping up for no reason.
Not the masked version—the look he gave her that day when he looked up from the farmland in the North.
Li Ya fiercely rubbed her face.
“What’s wrong with you, Li Ya?”
She said to the air.
“You still have so many things to handle, and here you are doing what?”
No one answered her.
The house was so quiet she could hear the wind rustling the leaves outside the window.
She stood up and walked to the window to get some fresh air, but she saw two people in the garden.
Rex and Hilda were standing under the old oak tree, talking.
Hilda was slightly looking up at him.
Li Ya watched this scene, and an inexplicable feeling rose in her heart.
It was…
It was that she felt she should be down there too, not up here.
Her footsteps were noticeably faster than usual as she went downstairs.
In the garden, Rex was giving instructions to Hilda.
“You don’t need to keep an eye on Marcus for now. He’s scared out of his wits and won’t make a move for a while. Just keep a close watch on Hermann. He’s the key.”
Hilda nodded.
“Mr. Victor has already arranged it.”
Rex was about to say something when he heard footsteps behind him.
Li Ya was striding over, wearing a slightly unnatural smile.
The smile looked forced—the corners of her mouth were a bit wider than usual, but there was no mirth in her eyes.
“Morning,” Rex glanced at her.
“Morning.”
Li Ya stopped, her gaze sweeping between him and Hilda.
“What are you talking about?”
“The mole investigation.”
Rex waited for her to say more, but she just stood there, unconsciously twisting the hem of her coat.
“You’re not going to the Merchant Guild today?”
“I don’t want to.”
Li Ya’s reply was crisp.
“I don’t want to hear about all those messes today.”
“Then what do you want to do?”
Li Ya thought for a moment.
“I want to go out and stretch my legs.”
She glanced at Hilda.
“Do you two want to come along?”
Hilda shook her head.
“I still need to learn cooking techniques from Mr. Victor. You two go ahead.”
With that, she nodded slightly at Rex and turned to walk back to the villa.
But as she passed by Li Ya, she paused and glanced sideways at her.
That glance was brief.
There was no longer any hostility or wariness in her eyes.
It was more like…
A tacit approval?
Li Ya didn’t look away until Hilda’s figure disappeared behind the door.
She turned to Rex.
“Let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“We’ll just wander first.”
Li Ya had already started walking.
“I’ll show you around the Federation Main City. Last time you were here, you spent all your time checking the warehouse and didn’t see anything, right?”
Rex thought about it.
That was true.
This time, following Li Ya to the Federation Main City, he had spent most of his time in the warehouse and her office.
“Alright.”
He silently followed.
They didn’t take a carriage.
Li Ya said she didn’t want to ride today—she wanted to walk.
Rex had no problem with that; he wasn’t in a hurry anyway.
Li Ya walked beside him, her pace much slower than usual.
Today she wore a deep blue long dress, not her usual crisp suit, and her hair was loose over her shoulders.
She didn’t look as capable and sharp as before; instead, she seemed much softer.
They turned a corner, and ahead came the sound of a harp.
A small crowd had gathered in a semicircle around a flamboyantly dressed bard.
His outfit was truly indescribable.
A robe of green and brown, the color combination made him look like a tree spirit crawling out of the forest.
On his feet were a pair of pointed Krakow shoes, the toes so long they could double as weapons.
On his head, he wore a soft hat with a red feather that bounced with every strum of his harp.
But the moment his hand touched the strings, everyone fell silent.
The light, portable harp in his slender fingers poured out a moving melody.
His voice wasn’t deep, but it had a unique texture—like aged wine, mellow and gentle.
He seemed to draw inspiration from seeing the two of them, and then he slowly sang:
“Roses have thorns, yet no one loves their fragrance less.
Seawater is bitter, yet rivers still rush to its embrace.
My love, your eyes hold falling stars,
And my heart, like a moth, races toward the irresistible light.
–String transition– (Imagine the music here)
They say love is a fire that will burn the foolish to ash.
But I am willing to be that fool, to turn to dust in your flames.
For from the ashes, a new flower will bloom,
And its scent will be an echo of your name.”
As Li Ya listened, the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted.
But beside her came a chuckle that was completely out of tune with the moment.
She turned to look at Rex.
He was covering his mouth, his shoulders shaking slightly, as if he were desperately holding back laughter.
“What are you laughing at?”
Li Ya asked in a low voice.
“Nothing.”
Rex put his hand down, but the corners of his mouth still wouldn’t stay straight.
“You’re clearly laughing.”
“Really, it’s nothing.”
He glanced at the bard and couldn’t help himself again.
“Well… it’s just that outfit of his. I just can’t connect what he’s singing with how he looks.”
Li Ya followed his gaze.
“…Can’t you have any appreciation for beauty?”
“I do appreciate it. The song was very good.”
Rex put on a serious face.
“But that doesn’t stop me from thinking his clothes are funny.”
Li Ya wanted to argue, but looking at the bard swaying his head to the music, the feather on his hat bouncing…
She really couldn’t keep a straight face.
“My lord and lady~”
The bard’s song had stopped at some point.
He bowed to Rex and Li Ya, cradling his harp.
“You two are simply a match made in heaven, blessed by the Goddess of Happiness, Menas.”
His eyes swept back and forth between them, his smile so sincere it didn’t seem like flattery.
“If you were satisfied with my performance just now, could you spare a few copper coins with your beautiful hands? But of course, if you’d rather not, I’ll still wish you both happiness~”
Li Ya’s ears felt a little warm at his words “a match made in heaven.”
She took a silver coin from her purse and tossed it into the hat in front of the bard.
“Oh, this beautiful lady is truly generous~! May the Goddess bless you and your husband~”
Li Ya didn’t correct him.
Instead, she turned, grabbed Rex’s wrist, and quickly led him away from that street corner.
“Why are you walking so fast?”
Rex asked, being pulled along, his tone puzzled.
“Nothing.”
Li Ya let go of his wrist and slowed down.
“I just… didn’t want to stay there anymore.”
Her face was a little flushed, but Rex didn’t notice.
They wandered around for a while longer, and Li Ya stopped in front of a building.
It was a three-story stone building, with large, colorful posters hanging on the porch.
The poster depicted a woman in an elegant gown, her profile to the audience, lips slightly parted as if singing.
Below the poster was a line of cursive script:
Cassandra Moore – The Voice of the Federation – Continental Tour – Main City Stop.
“Cassandra Moore?”
Rex read the name again. It sounded familiar.
“Have you heard of her?”
“Probably seen it in some book… ‘Continental Who’s Who’? Or ‘Contemporary Artists’?” Rex thought for a moment. “Anyway, she’s a very famous singer.”
“‘The most famous singer on the continent,'” Li Ya corrected.
“Every time she tours, tickets need to be reserved half a year in advance.”
She walked to the door, took a gold card from her purse, and handed it to the person in charge.
The man glanced at it, immediately bowed, and returned the gold card with both hands.
“President Li Ya, your seat is always reserved for you. Please follow me.”
The man led them down a corridor carpeted in red and pushed open a heavy wooden door.
The opera hall was much larger than Rex had imagined.
The dome was painted with a huge mural depicting the Goddess of Music holding a harp, surrounded by angels.
The boxes around the sides were stacked layer upon layer, decorated with gold and deep red velvet.
The central stage was hidden by a dark red curtain, with only a few magic lamps casting a warm yellow light from behind it.
The man led them to a box in the center of the second floor.
From this spot, they could see the entire opera hall, every detail on the stage fully in view.
“You come here often?”
Rex sat down on the velvet chair.
“Mm.”
Li Ya sat down beside him and draped her coat over the back of the chair.
“When I have nothing to do, I like to come here and listen to music. It’s one of my ways to relieve stress. Besides, this opera house was bought by my grandfather’s generation; it’s private property of the Granchester family.”
She paused, then turned to him.
“Is it any different from the Imperial Capital’s opera house?”
Rex shook his head.
“I’ve never been to the Imperial Capital’s opera house.”
Li Ya was taken aback.
“Not even once?”
“Not once.”
“But you’re a Duke. How can you have never been?”
“I’m the good-for-nothing Duke of the Imperial Capital.”
Rex corrected her.
“Do you think anyone would invite a good-for-nothing to listen to an opera?”
“You…”
Li Ya opened her mouth, but at that moment, all the magic lamps on the stage suddenly lit up.
The dark red curtain slowly parted, revealing the full orchestra behind it.
The conductor raised his hand, and the music began.
Then the woman named Cassandra Moore walked gracefully onto the stage.
She looked even younger than in the poster.
She wore a wine-red gown, the hem trailing on the floor, gleaming like silk under the lights.
As the violin’s sound rose slowly and melodiously, she also began to sing.
Her voice was so beautiful it seemed to come from another world.
Not high-pitched, not loud, but a…
Gentle embrace that wrapped around you.
Every note was just right, like an invisible hand gently brushing everyone’s heart.
Rex leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
His expression was calm, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, as if the song reminded him of something wonderful.
But Li Ya didn’t listen much.
Her attention was all on Rex beside her.
Seeing him so relaxed made her happy too.
The opera lasted nearly two hours.
When the final note fell and the curtain slowly closed, the entire hall erupted in prolonged applause.
Li Ya let out a satisfied breath and stood up to leave.
“How was it?”
“Pretty good.”
Rex followed behind her.
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“…”
Li Ya gave him a speechless look.
“Can’t you say a little more? Like how her high notes had layered texture? Or that the aria in the second act was emotionally rich? Some compliment?”
“I don’t know music.”
Rex’s tone was candid.
“I just need to know it sounds good. Forcing myself to list a bunch of points is just showing off.”
Li Ya was choked by his words.
“You… sometimes you’re really weird.”
“Weird how?”
“I can’t say.”
She walked ahead, her back to him.
“Just… different from other people.”
They walked slowly back along the main street.
“Rex,” Li Ya suddenly spoke.
“Hm?”
“Why are you helping me?”
“Didn’t I say? It’s just a transaction.”
“I don’t believe that.”
Li Ya slowed down.
“I can’t see any trace of desire in your eyes.”
“Then what do you think it’s for?”
“I don’t know.”
Li Ya stopped and turned to face him.
“That’s why I’m asking.”
The magic lamp light fell on her face, softening her features.
She had lost the sharpness of her usual shrewd efficiency.
Rex looked at her and thought for a moment.
“Because the first time you came to find me, you were standing at the edge of a field, afraid to step in the mud and dirty your boots.”
Li Ya was stunned.
“…What kind of reason is that?”
“Someone willing to personally come all the way to the North, afraid to dirty her boots but still willing to find me—that person is worth my help. And especially since she’s such a beautiful girl.”
Li Ya seemed to misinterpret the meaning of his words…
She quickly turned her head to calm herself down.
“But… my boots still got dirty in the end.”
Li Ya’s voice was very soft.
Rex let out a laugh.
“Yeah, I saw that. Sorry.”
Li Ya didn’t reply.
A small smile curled at the corners of her mouth.
Under the warm light of the magic lamps, that smile looked much more genuine than usual.
When they reached the entrance of the villa, Victor was standing on the steps waiting.
Seeing them return, he bowed slightly.
“Miss, Mr. Rex. Dinner is ready.”
“Thank you, Uncle Victor.”
Li Ya walked up the steps and paused at the door.
She didn’t turn around.
“Rex.”
“Hm?”
“…Are you going to the Merchant Guild tomorrow?”
“That depends on your arrangements.”
“Then tomorrow… come with me.”
Rex glanced at her.
“No problem.”
Li Ya pushed open the door and went inside.
Victor followed behind.
As he passed Rex, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched the old man’s lips.
Rex didn’t catch the meaning of that smile, nor did he dwell on it.
He simply followed inside.
Victor watched their backs from behind and nodded in satisfaction.
This villa, which had been quiet for so many years, seemed like it was about to become lively from now on.