Lorevil stood to the side, tactfully remaining silent. Catherine and Villody were sisters, and it wasn’t her place to interfere in their private conversation. She wasn’t family, after all. However, since Catherine had asked her to stay, she clearly had something to say.
Sure enough.
“I’m sorry, as her older sister, for Villody challenging you,” Catherine said, looking at Lorevil with a hint of apology. “She’s been spoiled since she was a child, so her temperament is a bit arrogant, but she meant no harm.”
“Sister — “
“Shut up!”
“Humph.”
Villody started to protest, but when she saw Catherine’s stern gaze, she swallowed her words. She simply let out a dissatisfied huff and turned her face away. Catherine scolded her and then pulled a small, white cloth bag from her pocket. The bag was embroidered with the frost flower pattern of Catherine’s family.
“This is…” Lorevil looked at the bag with uncertainty, not taking it immediately.
“Powder made from ground Bloodline Grass,” Catherine explained. “It’s not as precious as the bracelet I tried to give you last time, but you forced your bloodline energy during your fight just now. There’s a high probability that the energy in your body has become slightly disordered. Mix this powder with water and drink it. It will prevent any discomfort later on.”
“All right. Thank you, Teacher,” Lorevil said as she accepted the bag.
This time, what Catherine gave her wasn’t as incredibly valuable as the previous gift, so it was within Lorevil’s range of acceptance. Plus, it would solve the potential issue with her bloodline energy. Lorevil didn’t hesitate.
“I also learned quite a bit from the sparring session with Villody today. Thank you,” Lorevil said, looking at Villody.
Standing to the side, Villody curled her lip, but the resentment in her heart dissipated a little more upon hearing Lorevil’s words.
“Then, Teacher, Villody, I have things to do, so I’ll be going now,” Lorevil said with a wave before walking away quickly.
She wasn’t just making an excuse; she was truly worried about Noxia. Ever since Noxia’s breakdown the other day, her mental state had been unstable, even after she had been calmed down. Lorevil couldn’t help but worry whenever she thought of Noxia curled up in a corner, surrounded by that black aura.
At 5:30 PM, Lorevil took a carriage back to her manor. She hadn’t messaged her fiancée, who was waiting at home.
After the carriage stopped, Lorevil felt a rare sense of hesitation. She straightened her clothes and walked to the entrance. As she opened the door and stepped inside, Noxia, her full-time fiancée, came from the living room to greet her. Noxia was wearing a pale pink floor-length house dress, her long silver hair draped softly over her shoulders.
“Lorevil, let me take your coat.” Noxia reached out cautiously.
Lorevil let out a sigh and placed her coat in Noxia’s hands.
“This morning…” Noxia’s heart was full of guilt. When Lorevil had left for classes at Holy Blood Academy, Noxia hadn’t been awake, let alone prepared breakfast. Perhaps she had been exhausted from crying, or perhaps her mind had finally relaxed. As a fiancée, Noxia had failed in her duty to wake Lorevil up and provide her with breakfast. That was why she was so anxious, fearing that Lorevil would get angry and return to her former cold, indifferent self.
“It’s fine. I woke up early and ate breakfast out,” Lorevil interrupted her, without a hint of blame in her voice. “What about you? Did you eat lunch?”
Before leaving, Lorevil had left a note with some comforting words, telling Noxia to stay home and rest. She told her she would handle breakfast herself and that she would take care of everything. Lorevil knew Noxia was sensitive and didn’t want her to feel guilty over such a small matter.
“I did. I saw the note you left me.” Noxia nodded quickly. She held Lorevil’s coat uneasily, finding some comfort in the lingering warmth of the fabric. She had read that note over and over again. Lorevil’s handwriting wasn’t exactly neat, but it seemed to possess a magic that drew Noxia in. It made her feel cared for, even loved.
At that thought, Noxia’s eyes softened, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
“Noxia, let’s go eat.”
Lorevil waited for Noxia to speak, but Noxia clearly had no intention of mentioning what had happened the previous night. Perhaps she didn’t want to remember that fear, or perhaps she was afraid of worrying Lorevil. Lorevil didn’t press her. Noxia had wounds in her heart that needed to heal slowly on their own.
“Mm.” Noxia nodded and put the coat into the cloakroom.
“What’s for dinner today?”
“Blood-berry stewed lamb chops, ice crystal jelly, and a bowl of snow lotus and blood swallow soup.”
Dinner was already set on the table. There was a plate of crystal-clear, pale pink jelly and a dish of lamb chops stewed until tender, emitting the sweet and sour aroma of blood-berries. Two bowls of the soup were placed on either side, complete with spoons and silverware.
Looking at the spread, Lorevil felt her appetite surge. Today’s practical combat class had drained a lot of her physical strength. Without much talk, she sat down, quickly cut a piece of lamb chop, and placed it on Noxia’s plate. Then, she began to eat heartily.
“Is it good?” Noxia asked expectantly, afraid that what she had prepared might not suit Lorevil’s taste.
“It’s delicious. You’ve worked hard, Noxia,” Lorevil praised her between bites. “Noxia, if there’s something on your mind, you can say it. You don’t have to keep suppressing your feelings. You can make demands of me; I’m not very good at saying no. You’re too easily satisfied.”
Lorevil spoke with a mouthful of lamb chop. Sweet and sour juices overflowed from the corner of her mouth, only to be licked back in by her small tongue.
“As long as you’re by my side, I’m satisfied,” Noxia said with a forced smile, her heart anything but calm.
Lorevil looked at her forced expression and sighed inwardly. She took out her communication blood crystal and sent a message to Madam Sharon.
‘Have you arrived?’
‘I’m here,’ Madam Sharon replied almost instantly.
Just as the reply came, the doorbell rang. Lorevil gestured toward the entrance of the manor with her chin. “Noxia, go see who it is.”
Puzzled, Noxia stood up, went to the main door, and opened it. A maid was standing outside next to a carriage, and several servants were unloading various flowers from it. Noxia’s face froze in shock.
Lorevil walked up behind her and wrapped an arm around Noxia’s thin frame, looking at the stunned girl. “These are the same varieties of flowers that were in the garden, along with some others that are even more beautiful.”
Noxia had suffered that nightmare because she had seen the withered, lonely garden. It was tied to her childhood experiences. Noxia’s growth hadn’t relied on her parents. They were no different from any other parents, except they were completely indifferent to their gentle, untalented daughter. That was why they had been so quick to agree to marry her off to Lorevil.
There had been a beautiful garden behind her house where Noxia often went as a child. She would water the flowers every day and talk to them, telling them all her secrets. Later, a fire had occurred, burning the garden to nothing. Noxia had cried for days and fallen seriously ill. Since then, both her body and mind had suffered a heavy blow.
Watching the wide variety of flowers being carried into the garden, Noxia’s body began to tremble. She stammered, “Lori… Lorevil, you… don’t you dislike me growing flowers?”