Chapter 236 (2): Little Devil’s Smile

“If you’re going to be so stubborn, I can only congratulate you on winning it all in advance.” Planck’s eyebrows jumped up, his expression mischievous. “What about the Ministry of Magic? Did they order you to become the Anointed One at all costs?”

“Miss Yvette did mention it,” Wayne admitted.

“So it’s Her Majesty’s order?”

“Who knows? The world is too complicated. All I want is magic...” Wayne lamented. Pure magic was too dull, though. It would taste better with some magical girls as additives. Having only magical girls would still be too boring, of course. Having magical big sisters and magical cougars for a richer flavor suited his greedy taste more.

Thus, after parting ways with Planck, he visited the magical cougar first.

***

While Wayne was whispering sweet nothings to Moonlight’s High Reverend at her residence, giving away four months’ worth of love and affection, Kristen and Vera were visiting Veronica at the Lando Estate, bearing gifts.

They both heard that Veronica had become a Holy Maiden candidate and would be out of town for three to four months. Thus, they organized a girls’ meeting without inviting Wayne.

Vera was the organizer, bringing Kristen with her.

While walking along the path to the estate, Vera cocked her head at Kristen with a strange look in her eyes. “Senior, you seem to have gotten even prettier lately, and your complexion looks better. Did I imagine it?”

“Really?” Kristen touched her face. Wayne hadn’t lied to her about facials being good for skin.

“Really. You must have gotten into a relationship,” Vera emphasized the last word.

I know that you must know what I’m getting at, so stop hiding and let’s have an open conversation.

The conversation was transitioning into a catfight.

“I am in a relationship...” Kristen admitted easily with a slight smile. She didn’t specify who she had a relationship with because Vera had feelings for that man, too. For their friendship, she hoped that Vera would give up with her dignity preserved.

Vera turned away to grind her teeth together before turning back to Kristen with a cute smile. She looked like a little devil.

Shuddering, Kristen pinched Vera’s face and said, “What are you planning with this lovely smile? Are you up to some mischief?”

“Of course not. Ow, owww. You know me, Senior. Vera doesn’t do mischief. Vera is always considerate of you.”

I don’t believe you!

Kristen raised her guard. Wayne would be away for four months, so Vera would certainly pursue him harder before his departure. She had to keep a closer eye on him recently. The pervert wouldn’t have said no to someone like Vera. If Kristen hadn’t been guarding him like a dog with food aggression, in fact, Vera would’ve gotten a taste already.

“Why are you looking at me like that, Senior? Look at Veronica!” Vera pointed at the young lady’s mansion in the distance, directing Kristen to their common enemy. “Four months are enough for them to have a baby.”

Four months were so long that Veronica would be able to lay her claim if nothing went wrong. Vera hoped that Kristen would trust her and work with her to take Veronica out of this game first. Then the two of them could have a fair competition.

“That’ll take longer...” Kristen snorted but covered her smile with a poker face. “Don’t bring up something this tragic in front of Veronica. She has had it hard. She must be in great pain every time she sees Wayne.”

Befuddled, Vera tried and failed to understand her logic.

“Silly girl, Veronica and Wayne are siblings. You’ve met Mr. Lando, so you should be able to guess it,” Kristen whispered, explaining the complicated relationships within the Lando family.

“Senior, the sun hasn’t even set. Why are you dream-talking already?” Vera was in disbelief. Wayne and Veronica being siblings? What kind of twist was that? Why didn’t she have an imagination as overactive as Kristen’s?

She envied her, but instead of saying that, she laughed at her quietly.

“See, Wayne’s the heir of the Lando family, isn’t he?”

“He is.”

“Doesn’t Wayne look identical to Mr. Lando?”

“He does.”

“Isn’t Wayne Mr. Lando’s son?”

...Senior, have you considered another possibility? Maybe Wayne has become the Lando heir because he’s too talented. Maybe because he looks similar to the master of the family and is the mistress’s student, the couple has arranged for him to become their son-in-law so that his billions of seeds won’t benefit anyone else?

“Why aren’t you saying anything, Vera?”

“Senior, physical resemblance doesn’t prove two people to be father and son. You’ve seen the uncles at our gym. They all look like they’re cut from the same cloth, but would you think they’re biological brothers?” Vera sighed. She didn’t know where Kristen got the information from, but she was certain that it was complete nonsense.

“Just wait.”

Kristen tried to prove it. Every time she met one of the burly maids working for the Lando family, she would ask about the relationship between the young master and the master. Every maid said that they were father and son.

“What kind of evidence is that? I’m sure that you’ll get the same answer even if you ask Auntie Silvia.” Vera spread her hands. It would be foolish to take the words of these pranksters at face value.

“I told you to wait!”

Kristen was determined to prove herself right. They walked into the young lady’s mansion and met Veronica in the living room. They gave her their gifts.

“Thank you, Senior. I love it.” Veronica gave Kristen a sweet smile before turning to Vera with a fierce gaze, tackling her to the sofa. “Vera, I’m going on a long trip soon and won’t see you for a while. We used to be roommates. Why don’t you move in for the next few days so that we can be roommates again?”

You don’t miss me. You’re just wary of me!

Vera lamented her plight. She had been the first to set eyes on Wayne, but before she could make much progress, her two friends started gatekeeping against her.

She said bluntly, “Senior and Wayne kissed. You should tell her to move in instead.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Veronica snapped, grappling Vera with a ground technique until she slapped the cushion and begged for mercy. Even then, Veronica only let Vera go reluctantly.

(╥﹏╥)

Life’s hard!

Vera sobbed inwardly. She felt like Wayne was getting more and more out of reach, after they had sworn to be bosom buddies attached to the hips forever!

“Veronica, I heard rumors on my way here.” Kristen glanced at Vera and said quietly, “It’s about Wayne and Mr. Lando... Um, I feel like they’re... similar in some ways.”

Kristen was too kind-hearted to rub salt into Veronica’s injury. In the end, she stammered so badly and went about it in such a roundabout way that she barely strung together a complete sentence.

“Oh, I’ve heard the rumors. Wayne’s Mr. Lando’s illegitimate son, right?” Veronica said easily.

“Is that true?” Kristen waited for confirmation with bated breath.

“Of course. How could they be so similar without a biological connection?” Veronica grumbled irritably. “Mr. Lando doesn’t deny it, and he calls him son when he introduces Wayne in public.”

It would be fine for Auston to make that claim, but the fact that her mother, Silvia, also treated her like a son bothered Veronica. She felt like the odd one out. Perhaps it would do everyone good for her to leave home.

She was unhappy that the love and care that should’ve been hers were divided.

“Veronica, don’t be sad. It’s...”

It’s a good thing.

Kristen couldn’t voice her thoughts. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Veronica and quietly comforted her.

Veronica rested her head on her white moonlight’s chest, her eyes becoming dazed. Just like how the scumbag would do it, she took two deep breaths.

She smells good!

Vera went up to separate them and pull Kristen behind her, snapping, “Enough with the nonsense, Veronica. Wayne’s not Mr. Lando’s son. Stop lying to Senior. She’ll fall for it easily.”

Senior was cute when she was being an idiot, ten thousand times better than the nuisance Vera!

Ignoring Vera’s glare, Veronica crossed her arms and said, “I don’t care if you believe me, but what would I gain by lying to you? He is Mr. Lando’s illegitimate son. Mother told me.”

The brave face Veronica put on made Kristen ache for her friend. She knocked on Vera’s head gently. Vera should stop rubbing it in when Veronica was so heartbroken. She was even ready to become the Holy Maiden and lead a life of celibacy to move on from this taboo love.

Between Kristen and Veronica, one saw the other as her pure, perfect white moonlight, while the other believed she was consoling her boyfriend’s heartbroken little sister. They huddled together happily, failing to realize that they were rivals in love.

You two are going to die one day from your own stupidity!

Vera watched from the sideline, flabbergasted. She didn’t understand them and didn’t want to try. What confused her the most was how she had the lowest odds of winning when her rivals were racing to the bottom in terms of intelligence.

“What went wrong...”

Vera cocked her head, pushing her clever little brain to think and coming to the conclusion that they were birds of a feather.

“So, I’m an idiot, too?”