Chapter 280 (1): He’s a Pretty Nice Guy!

Study.

“That’s the situation. We part ways at the Balear Islands in Iberia. Megan and I will leave first, and I’ve already arranged body doubles. Officially, we’re going on a vacation in Balear.”

Auston toyed with the antique silver coin with a resigned expression. As a member of the Tulip Families and the head of the Lando family, Auston’s mind didn’t truly represent himself. Usually, his position determined whether he would turn left or right.

The Frozen Land needed the Darkness Knight. The Goddess of Darkness’s messenger demanded his presence first, and then the Nature Knight extended an invitation. Auston had no choice but to go.

While his mind was made up, he had a hard time moving his position. Thus, he arranged for a false family vacation as an excuse and bought himself a month from the Queen.

The Queen had been plagued with troubles lately. First, Vice Minister Alan went missing, leaving the mist unguarded. Then the Princess’s knight, Juno, and her master, Celeste, left mysteriously, only sending a single letter claiming that they were safe, as if they were fleeing from suspected murder.

She had barely had time to process everything when Auston left with his family.

Iberia wasn’t safe with a war going on. Of all places to go on a vacation, why would he choose a war zone? What conspiracy was he brewing?

Auston had the benefit of being her first love, or he wouldn’t have been allowed to leave. Any other Tulip Families would be prohibited from going abroad even for medical treatment, let alone a vacation.

Even if they were to die, they would die in Londan!

One lie required more to cover it up. Auston needed more deception to fill the gaps to hide the fact that he was the Darkness Knight. His mind thus made a decision that went against his position, and it gave him a headache.

Worse still, he sensed that the Queen already suspected him of being connected to Alan’s death and the Princess’s disappearance. What if she discovered something? He couldn’t keep setting warehouses on fire to destroy evidence!

“That’s what you got for being the head of the family, for respecting the Queen so much, and for not taking responsibility for your first love.”

Seeing Auston’s worried expression, Wayne delivered a sarcasm combo before making a bold suggestion, “If you ask me, you might as well go for the most straightforward solution. Her husband has been dead for years, leaving her feeling empty, lonely, and cold. One can sleep alone, and two can sleep together. Why not fill that vacancy and take her late husband’s place?”

Offering suggestion (✗)

Offering sacrifice (√)

“If you work hard to make the Queen recall the wonderful times she has spent with her first love, she’ll turn a blind eye even if she thinks you’re up to something,” Wayne continued.

The more he spoke, the more sense it made. Then Auston’s position would be secure, and the Lando family wouldn’t have to fear being targeted. Silvia and Veronica would continue living comfortably, and he, Wayne, could sit back and wait for the fortune of the family to transfer to him. They would all have a bright future.

In public, Auston would be fulfilling his duty as a subject, filling up the emptiness in the Queen’s life. That was him being loyal.

In private, Auston would be working overtime to please his boss for his wife and children. That was him being responsible.

“This isn’t cheating. Just go ahead boldly. Trust me, when Master learns that you’ve endured such humiliation to serve the Queen for the family, she will forgive you!” Wayne declared righteously and with certainty, as if he were defending the order of the world.

Auston knew exactly what Wayne was planning. The plan was practically shoved into his face. He asked about Princess Elizabeth and when Wayne could send her back.

“Can’t do it, at least not now. My conscience won’t allow it.” Wayne shook his head. If he made a move now and turned Juno into Senna, he would be an ungrateful man who bit the hand that fed him.

“Ha, you actually have a conscience...” Auston scoffed. He admitted that Trash Jr. had a conscience and was glad to see him hold onto what little conscience remained, but while Wayne could afford to wait, the Princess couldn’t—the Queen couldn’t.

A princess going missing for a month and would continue to be missing for another month? What would the Queen think? What would the Church of Heavenly Father think?

Princess Elizabeth wasn’t a pretty face waiting to be married off, but the connection between the royal family and the Church of Heavenly Father. On a macroscopic scale, her existence decided the church’s attitude toward Windsor. She had enormous political significance.

She could not go missing without a reason, or it would arouse suspicion on both sides.

“The church side is easy enough to deal with. I’ll have Mona notify Saint Paul’s Cathedral that the Princess is learning Holy Light magic from me. Knowing where the Princess is, the church won’t do anything to Windsor.”

“And then? To hide your identity, the church will choose to keep the truth from the Queen. She will thus think that the church is related to the Princess’s disappearance, which will only make things worse.”

“Then what do we do?”

Wayne spread his hands. Damn politics. Everyone was pathologically paranoid. Couldn’t they take a page from his book and be more optimistic?

The Princess hadn’t gone missing for political reasons. It was just an ordinary case of a beautiful woman going missing. The kidnappers had obviously not demanded ransom because they weren’t done with her yet.

See? That was how normal people would think. Not dark at all.

“Turn Princess into yours and send her back as soon as possible.”

“I really can’t do it. It’s a matter of principle.” Wayne shook his head with a grave face. “The Princess is a Gold-ranked mage and makes for an excellent test subject. Master’s and Veronica’s future depend on the theoretical and practical data the Princess provides. I can’t convert her now, even if it’s just for them.”

That convinced Auston.

Wayne couldn’t be serious for more than three seconds, though. He continued, “Besides, the Lando family is loyal to the royal family. You wouldn’t want a future queen who obeys my every word, making it so that a Pope rules over the sovereign of the Kingdom of Windsor, would you?”

Auston’s face darkened. “You’re right. If you control Windsor, the country will be doomed.”

“I’d say the country is already doomed.”

Wayne refused to take the blame. After discussing it, they decided to depart tomorrow afternoon, first to Iberia, then to the Balear Islands by ship, where they would take turns riding great dragons to the Frozen Land in the South Pole.

The Balear Islands were located at the southernmost point of the Chosen Land, about eleven thousand kilometers from the northernmost ice belt of the Frozen Land. Given a great dragon’s flying speed, it would take at least fifteen hours for them to reach their destination, and that was not considering the possibility of bad weather.

After reaching the ice belt on the fringe, they still had to continue south and overcome harsher climate and difficult terrains. Thank goodness they had dragons on their side, or they would die of exhaustion on the way.

Wayne wondered how Moula, the Nature Knight, had traveled to the Frozen Land. What was his vehicle of choice? Just his two feet?

Auston had arranged everything in Londan. He only had to wait for tomorrow afternoon to head to the airport. Wayne was in a similar boat. He had made the necessary arrangements and received the inevitable arrangements, shamelessly visiting Filomina to ask for leave. She was furious—it took a large offering to appease her volatile mood.

It was understandable. They were supposed to be in the honeymoon phase, but her boyfriend had turned it into a long-distance relationship by working overtime. Anyone would be upset.

Wayne left the study. Glancing at the young master’s mansion, he found it pitch black save for the light from the master bedroom. Senna’s intentions were so openly displayed that Silvia was depressed.

Wayne was also a little depressed. Legendary mages were indeed different variations of madness. He hurried to the young lady’s mansion. Veronica had called and said that she had a surprise for him. She was being all cryptic, so he wondered what scheme she was brewing.

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

It was night. Wayne opened the door and found no one. When he heard the rustling of cards being played from the second floor, his expression turned strange. He was eager but incredulous, curious but baffled. He couldn’t make sense of it. Although he knew that the trio of magical girls was close, there was a limit to that. What was happening now?

Could it be...

Realization dawned on him. His eyes cleared up instantly.

Master Senna, I’ll count this as your assist. You’ll be handsomely rewarded.

He opened the bedroom door and saw three young, pretty women in nightgowns with their long hair running down their shoulders, sitting cross-legged on the large bed and playing cards. Under the soft light, the three of them shone like stars in the night sky, and the entire room was filled with a relaxed, lighthearted atmosphere.

“Ahem!”

Wayne cleared his throat. None of them paid him any attention, instead chatting and laughing as if he were invisible.

Being invisible was great! How many people would beg for the superpower of invisibility?

Wayne came up behind Kristen and placed his hands on her shoulders, only to be shrugged off. Then he peeked over Veronica’s shoulders and whispered into her ear, “Not that card. Trust me, you should play this one.”

It didn’t work. Veronica was deaf tonight.

Fine, fine. You’re having your cake and eating it, too, aren’t you? Toying with me?

Wayne shrugged, completely unfazed. He had planted a spy. He moved behind Vera and said helpfully, “Vera, I’ve seen both their hands. Listen to me, and you’ll win this round.”

Vera showed him disrespect, never playing the cards that he had told her to play.

Damn it, I trusted you. You betrayed me and joined them!

I can’t beat them,

Vera thought helplessly.

Vera lost this round because she was playing random cards. Kristen shuffled and started the next game.

Although there were four of them in the bedroom, Wayne could never find an opening to join in. He wasn’t panicking yet, though. Knowing that the traitor couldn’t be trusted, he had already arranged for a formidable rival.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom. Veronica held her cards, eyes widening at Vera.

“What do we do? Are you sure that he won’t go wild?”

“I’d like him to, but he’s not that kind of person... Hm, just don’t let him turn off the lights.”

“What do you think, Senior?”

“I’m having second thoughts. We shouldn’t have trusted Vera. She is a traitor.”

“Alright, I’ll beat her up now.”

Veronica grabbed a pillow and was about to teach Vera a lesson when a faint, refreshing fragrance drifted in from the balcony window. It was subtle but invigorating, startling all three of them.

Hissing, they scrambled to the balcony and saw a stunning beauty strolling with light, elegant steps under the soft moonlight. Senna wore a long dress, her face breathtakingly beautiful, and her energy seemingly one with the entire world, in tandem with the breathing of the moon, wind, and earth. She alone was the world’s focal point, drawing everyone’s eyes.

The elegant figure cast a shadow under the moonlight, saying nothing yet conveying a faint yearning and nostalgia.

A breeze brought up her blonde curls, interweaving gold with the silver of moonlight. Her fragrance rippled out.

Gulp!

x3

The three girls felt their scalps tingle. They tried to recreate the elegant look Senna had given them from the vantage point, but despite occupying the high ground, their defenses were instantly torn apart. They couldn’t hold their ground at all.

What a formidable enemy!

An enemy they could only defeat by banding together!