The night breeze, carrying the scent of flowers and the freshness of grass and trees, gently swept over the entrance to the border library.
The moonlight falling on the stone steps softened, like the sound of time's harmony, making the sparse passersby on the street want to stop and listen.
Talia sat immobile on the steps outside the library.
Until the sky dimmed a bit more.
With the heavy and tall doors of the library being pushed open, Lanci finally emerged from the library, holding a code in his hand.
Although Talia had her back to Lanci, at this moment, she tilted her head slightly, obviously sensing Lanci.
"Eh?"
Lanci looked at the familiar figure somewhat unexpectedly, and quickly walked to her side,
"Have you been waiting for me here all this time?"
Lanci seemed rather at ease and casually sat at a distance not too far from her.
"I have received your payment; naturally, I will fulfill my duties."
Talia spoke without expression.
Inadvertently, she glimpsed the "Hutton Kingdom Code" in Lanci's hand.
She didn't know what book Lanci had been focusing on to stay in the library all day.
Now she finally knew the answer.
He must be eager to become a lawyer or a judge.
Indeed, he was indeed a very disciplined human being.
"You.. haven't eaten lunch?"
Lanci looked at Talia, who sat as gracefully and quietly as a statue, realizing that she might be hungry since she had stood there all day and hadn't eaten anything till now.
She adhered strictly to the trade terms even more literately than he had imagined. Perhaps this was the pride of the Demon Royal Family?
"..."
Talia did not speak, only looking at Lanci with somewhat displeased eyes.
She seemed to take Lanci's words as granted.
"Um...I am about to prepare dinner, would you like to join me?"
Lanci paused awkwardly, his face graced by a sheepish grin.
"There's no need, I will leave as soon as you return to the house."
Talia stood up, seemingly telling Lanci through her actions: Since you are prepared to go back to your residence, set off quickly.
She wouldn't accept any of human beings' baseless acts of kindness.
"It was my mistake today. I will make sure to inform you in advance how long I'll be staying here in the future."
Lanci explained sincerely, his words full of apology,
"So as a compensation, let me treat you to a meal."
Yet, Talia merely stood there unmoved, as if she hadn't heard Lanci's words.
"We have the best chef in this town at home,"
"He is good at the unique flavors of this southern region of Nanwantina, and uses the best selected ingredients to make them,"
"Guaranteed that it's impossible to taste elsewhere,"
"There are also the finest cheese mango mille-feuille, mocha hazelnut crispy egg tarts, platinum strawberry mousse cake ....."
"..."
Listened to Lanci's endless talking.
There seemed to be a flicker of emotion in the corner of Talia's eye. However, her brow soon furrowed.
"No thanks."
Talia spoke coldly, turning her head away, refusing to look at Lanci, and walked down the steps without any intention of waiting.
Just now, Lanci's words echoed in her ears.
Like a devil's whisper, filled with temptation.
She couldn't understand why, for a moment, she had a surreal illusion —
It seemed as if a Demon Clan Grand Strategist was beside her, if he dedicated himself completely, he could surely help her reclaim her kingdom...
Wrong.
This human boy, clearly belonging to the good and lawful camp, had nothing to do with her kind.
As expected. Her ambition of reclaiming the kingdom was too strong.
Such an absurd illusion was born.
"Such a pity."
Lanci stood up, dusted off his pants, held the thick Kingdom Code in one hand, and followed up with a clean smile.
Regardless of Talia's indifference, it was, after all, her nature.
However, Lanci did notice something unintentionally.
He remembered from her work profile that Talia was an extremely disciplined person.
She always stuck to a strict diet and routine, which included early rising, jogging, meditation, and cold showers.
But then.
As Talia's "biological mother", Lanci remembered a detail that was mentioned in a corner of the script—
[She avoids sweet treats, and when she has the rare opportunity to enjoy dessert, she only allows herself to eat the finest.]
This was a subtle detail.
Lanci couldn't help but entertain serious doubts:
Could it be possible that Talia was a disguised foodie, who also feared succumbing to her own appetite?
The biggest weakness of demons is their intense desires, they can be driven mad when their desires are exploited by more evil demons.
The higher-ranking the demon, the more they understand the need to suppress and conceal their desires.
Lanci laughed silently to himself.
So you see, demons are really interesting.
...
The sky over the border city dimmed a bit more.
Lanci's home was especially radiant in the night, with the crystal lamps in the courtyard and the windows shining brightly.
On the second floor of the mansion, in a spacious and elegant study, sat a majestic middle-aged man. His temples were graying, but his leader-like aura did not wane.
He was dressed in a fine, old-fashioned suit, every detail impeccable, showing a meticulous demeanor.
He was Lanci's father, and the master of this house—Noe.
At his side, the butler was pouring tea for him.
Accompanied by the approaching footsteps from outside the door.
After a moment, the study door swung open slowly.
A black-haired, green-eyed boy appeared at the door, looking somewhat puzzled.
He had just returned home from the library and finished dinner, not yet putting down the Code in his hand, when he was summoned to the study on the second floor by the maid.
"You are here."
Noe was sitting behind the desk, scrutinizing Lanci.
Seemingly, he had been waiting in the study for Lanci for quite a time.
"I apologize, I was unaware you wanted to see me today."
Lanci replied calmly and methodically.
Noe nodded.
He did expect Lanci to come home late.
But he didn't expect Lanci to be holding a copy of the "Hutton Kingdom Code" from the border library when he walked in.
He thought his son would come home drunk as usual, instead, he had been at the library reading.
Although Noe was at a loss as to why it was the Code for a moment.
But at a glance, Lanci seemed quite like a dignified priest or scholar.
Subtly, with a slight whiff of a judge's aura controlling life and death.
Noe then pinched his brow.
It must have been his imagination.
There was no compatibility whatsoever between his prodigal son and the clergy.
It would be a great fortune if he was not led astray by the cults.
Sometimes, he was actually quite worried that Lanci would be misled by those cultists.
In the worst-case scenario, he might even become a fanatical believer, worshipping those evil archbishops who are like disasters.
Fortunately.
Noe was assured that Lanci would not have the courage to provoke those who were darker than black.