Raven Skylar glanced at the tea cup in Elora's hand and suddenly seized her wrist.
"Crack… Gurgle..." Elora was startled by his abrupt movement and quickly withdrew her hand, her heart racing, thumping loudly in her chest. Her face flushed slightly, and she didn't even notice the cup that slipped from her hand, rolling off the table and crashing to the floor. Could he have sensed something, perhaps testing whether I possess inner strength?
Raven Skylar observed Elora's bashful expression, and his suspicions seemed to ease somewhat. When he had briefly touched her palm earlier, he had felt the softness of her skin, smooth and uncalloused—a clear indication that she had once been a pampered young lady, untouched by hard labor.
With calm composure, Raven Skylar withdrew his hand and leisurely refilled his own cup, taking a delicate sip. The fragrance of the tea swirled in his mouth, and he couldn't help but murmur in appreciation, "Excellent tea."
Elora smiled graciously at his compliment. "Would you care for a song, my lord?" she offered, now fully recovered from her earlier embarrassment, though a lingering worry gnawed at her—what if Raven Skylar discovered her true identity? After all, he was no ordinary man; it was best for her to maintain a certain distance.
"I have heard that Miss Yue Lan is a virtuoso in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I must have the privilege of enjoying your performance today," Raven Skylar remarked, emphasizing the word enjoy.
"Your praise is unwarranted, my lord," Elora replied, undisturbed by the subtle coldness in his gaze. With a soft smile, she walked over to the guqin and slowly took her seat. Her hands, delicate as jade, rested upon the strings, and she began to play, her fingers caressing the instrument with growing fluidity. As the sounds of the guqin filled the room, her voice followed, smooth and free:
The vast sea laughs, tides raging on both shores,
Floating with the waves, I remember this day,
The heavens laugh, the world's tide surges,
Who loses, who wins, the heavens know,
The rivers and mountains laugh, mist and rain far away,
How many know the mundane world, washed away by the waves,
The gentle breeze laughs, stirring solitude,
The heroic spirit remains, a fleeting evening glow,
The people laugh, no longer alone,
The heroic spirit lingers in laughter, eternal...
As Elora sang, her voice grew stronger, more liberated, and she felt as though her very soul had soared, a sense of ease settling in her heart.
Raven Skylar was captivated by the song, yet his suspicions about Yue Lan deepened. She had been born into a noble family—why would she play such a tune? Though his thoughts raced, his face remained unreadable. "What is the name of this piece?"
"The Laugh of the Vast Sea," Elora replied. She didn't recall where she had first heard it but had fallen in love with the song and decided to learn it.
"A beautiful name, and an even more beautiful piece," Raven Skylar remarked, his voice tinged with intrigue. "I did not expect a sheltered lady like yourself to enjoy such a song of freedom and the world of martial heroes. Hmm?" His gaze lingered on her, probing.
Elora silently cursed herself. In her moment of nervousness, she had forgotten that as a "noblewoman," she should never have been able to play such a piece. Raven Skylar was no fool, and unlike Victor Skylar, he was not easily deceived. She needed to be doubly cautious.
With a serene smile, she looked at Raven Skylar and explained, "As a child, my greatest wish was to experience the freedom of the martial world, but my father forbade it. Instead, I would indulge in books and listen to storytellers speak of martial heroes. This song, I came upon by chance and grew quite fond of, so I learned to play it."
Raven Skylar studied her expression, noting her calm demeanor, which gave no sign of deceit. He didn't fully believe her, but he was somewhat convinced. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, he was interrupted by the hurried entrance of his subordinate, Jiang Lin.
"What's the matter?" Raven Skylar's voice darkened at the abrupt intrusion. Clearly, something significant had occurred, or else Jiang Lin wouldn't have dared to disregard protocol.
"I will prepare another pot of tea." Elora stood, bowing slightly to Raven Skylar in a polite farewell before taking the teapot and stepping out. It seemed they had urgent matters to discuss. Though she had hoped to eavesdrop for valuable information, she realized the man before her was Raven Skylar—perhaps it was better to wait for another opportunity. After all, with her inner strength, he wouldn't detect her presence.
Raven Skylar was pleased by her discretion. "Speak," he commanded.
Jiang Lin leaned in and whispered something in his ear. Raven Skylar's expression shifted, and he quickly rose, hastening toward the door.
After they left, a woman descended from the rooftop into the room—it was none other than Elora.
Earlier, when no one was paying attention, Elora had stealthily leapt onto the roof to eavesdrop, but their voices were too hushed to catch clearly. However, she had caught a faint mention of "Nebula." Could this be related to the Nebula Sect? It seemed she would need to investigate further.