Chapter 542 No matter who is the loser, the Demon King is definitely not the one who loses.
"Clang—Clang—"
The Prince train sped across the endless fields, the vibrations from its wheels grinding through the gaps in the rails interrupting Luo Yan's thoughts.
Inside the lavishly decorated royal suite, a sweet and sticky smell permeated the air, enveloped by a magical barrier.
Because Edward's last-minute cancellation changed his itinerary, the train carriage, which was supposed to carry three passengers, now carries only two.
The waiters who were supposed to come in to serve tea and water all became invisible, only coming in to disturb them when the bell rang.
Eileen sat opposite Luo Yan.
She wore a dark travel cloak over a clean and tidy light-colored day dress, the pearl-white stand-up collar contrasting with her long silver hair and the lingering blush on her cheeks.
Because magic exists in this world, which is very convenient, soot and white smoke cannot enter the carriage; one will inevitably get a little bit on their skin when getting off the train.
At this moment, she was staring intently out the window, seemingly captivated by the scenery, leaving only a burning red ear on the person sitting opposite her.
To be honest, Luo Yan was really worried that if she maintained this posture for too long, she would get a stiff neck after getting off the bus.
However, he didn't seem to have any lingering resentment towards Eileen at this moment, after all, he was also suffering from another kind of torment—
For every kilometer the train advances toward Thunder City, Prince Colin gets one kilometer closer to revealing his true identity.
Looking at the scenery rushing past the car window, Luo Yan never imagined that he would actually wish this journey could be a little longer.
I wonder if this counts as shooting myself in the foot?
Before the railway connecting the north and south of the Duchy of Campbell was built, Thunder City was a well-known "elopement destination" for the nobles of the Valley Plain.
Some nobles would keep a legally married wife in their castle, and then go to Thunder City to give their lover a proper title.
It must be said that the nobles of the real continent of Os were quite humane, unlike the blasphemous portrayal in "The Bell".
In contrast, the priests of Thunder City are not as conservative as those in remote areas; they, like the Colin Grand Theatre, allow people to pay to use the "VIP channel."
The nobles and gentry of Glastonbury could often have the sacred three public readings and the final oath registration completed secretly "behind closed doors" for a relatively inexpensive sum of money.
As long as no one knows, no one will object, and nobles can marry many times.
After all, the priests of Thunder City wouldn't be so idle as to travel all the way to Granston Castle to investigate and gather evidence for every newlywed couple.
Not to mention that it would harm the interests of customers, what if they find out that they themselves have been investigated?
In this way, the lover not only has a legitimate status that can convince their family, but the illegitimate child also doesn't have to stay in the orphanage.
However, now that the public has trains, it would be difficult to do so.
After all, the Empress could buy a ticket and head straight to Thunder City that very day, instead of hesitating over the prospect of a three-day, three-night carriage ride or a vomiting journey on a boat. In the end, she simply decided to turn a blind eye and avoid trouble.
This can be considered one of the impacts of trains on the old era.
Although the nobles will soon catch up with the "fashion" of Thunder City—as long as there is love, whether there is a formal title or not is not important.
However, it takes time for one's mindset to deteriorate; at least for now, these "sea kings" are still suffering the pain of capsizing.
It's unclear whether the resentment of the lovers and illegitimate children whose umbrellas were stolen coalesced into a karmic gale that, in turn, blew away Prince Colin's umbrella.
If so, he should apologize to the other orphans, blaming them for being an orphan from hell.
If all else fails, you can hate Roxie.
Or you could hate hell.
To ease the awkwardness of this sweet yet sour feeling, Luo Yan picked up a plump tangerine from the fruit plate, skillfully peeled it with his slender fingers, removed the white pith from the segments, and handed over the translucent segment of tangerine flesh.
"Eileen, have some fruit."
Eileen didn't turn around, nor did she make a sound.
Luo Yan thought she was too shy to talk and was about to withdraw his hand when he noticed that her posture was a little stiff and her nose was almost touching the glass window.
The gaze that was originally meant to conceal shyness was now truly fixed on the view outside the window, as if witnessing some incredible miracle.
Luo Yan followed her gaze.
The train had now entered the heart of Thunder County, less than twenty kilometers from the city known as the "City of Miracles".
A year before Eileen left, this place was a muddy and barren land. During the rainy season, the country roads would turn into swamps that swallowed up horse-drawn carriages.
The thatched huts on both sides of the dirt road were dilapidated. Apart from the towering windmills, which could be considered decent, the rest of the buildings were as haphazard as patches on serfs' clothes.
But now, everything has been changed by an incredible force.
A straight gravel road cuts across the railway like a gray ribbon slicing through the green fields.
The thatched huts scattered across the fields have disappeared, replaced by rows of red and white brick houses that look sturdy and neat.
Further away, several massive red-brick factory buildings rise from the ground, resembling castles of the new era. Towering chimneys tirelessly spew thick white smoke into the sky.
In this day and age, no one would be so pretentious as to think it's pollution.
After all, Campbell's people had just experienced the first stage of industrialization—the happiest growth phase in the life cycle of all industrial civilizations.
The cake that grows from the land is enough for everyone.
"By Saint Sith..."
Eileen couldn't help but gasp in surprise, for she had witnessed something even more perplexing than anything she had seen on her previous journey.
On the wasteland beside the railway, several oddly shaped machines were slowly moving.
Their locomotives spewed steam, like monsters with cigars in their mouths. However, they were much smaller than locomotives, and instead of pulling carriages, they towed a row of metal plowshares.
Amidst the deafening roar, they effortlessly overturned the hard soil that would normally require several oxen to pull.
Farmers in Thundershire typically do not choose to clear land in the summer; the best window of opportunity is from late autumn to winter.
However, now they can even do this in the summer!
Several old oxen stood on the edge of the field, their eyes wide like copper bells, even forgetting to chew the fodder in their mouths.
Perhaps they are also contemplating their lives as cattle, and where their future lies.
Beside those machines belching black smoke, several farmers dressed in coarse work clothes were frantically operating levers, their faces filled with tension and excitement.
Beside them stood several well-dressed "city people" who were gesturing wildly with their hands and feet, seemingly instructing the farmers on how to tame these stubborn steel beasts.
Everything that met Eileen's eyes was full of incongruity, yet also carried a strange harmony, which made her stare in a daze.
"This is a tractor, the latest product from the Leimingcheng Industrial Zone."
Strictly speaking, this is a product of Beifeng City.
Long ago, players in the Great Tomb of Nazarick installed steam engines on tracks, and after improvements, placed them on wheels and tracks.
Over the past six months, these advanced technologies have been disseminated to Thunder City through player channels. Some astute players specializing in crafting and other professions, as well as guilds, have even begun investing in factories here, turning the city into their "branch base."
Although these guys weren't the main players in this wave of industrialization, and didn't have a deep affection for this land, their efforts to earn ghost money and contribution points still became a crucial lubricant for this wave of industrialization.
Colin's voice rang in her ears, pulling Eileen back from her shock. She then realized that she had been so engrossed in watching that she had forgotten there was someone else in the carriage.
"Thanks."
Eileen blushed as she thanked him, took the orange segment, and gently put it in her mouth.
The soft touch reminded her of the passionate night before; it was her first kiss, though she wondered if it was Luo Yan's...
My head is getting hotter and hotter the more I think about it.
With her head bowed, Eileen wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground until the citrus juice burst between her lips and teeth, making her cover her mouth because of the sourness.
Luo Yan quickly handed over a tissue.
"Sorry, I've never tried it before, I didn't know it was so sour."
"Cough... It's nothing, I... I choked by accident." Eileen forced herself to swallow, and only when she saw the tissue in her hand did she realize that she could actually spit it out. In the end, she wiped her mouth with a red face.
"Have some water." Seeing Eileen's flustered state, Luo Yan handed her a cup of hot water, which he had just prepared.
Eileen blushed and took it again.
"Th...thank you."
Luo Yan smiled slightly.
"polite."
Thanks to that orange, Eileen felt the stiffness in the carriage lessen considerably, and the awkwardness she felt when she first got on the train vanished.
Holding the water glass that Prince Colin handed her in her hands, she looked down at the rising steam, her index finger gently twirling around the rim of the glass.
After a moment of silence, she looked up at the window again, her eyes filled with a dreamy expression as she conveyed her inner feelings.
"...It's only been a year, but it feels like a hundred years have passed here. My brother told me that I brought miracles to Campbell, and at the time I thought it was just a polite remark. Only now, looking at all this outside the window, do I truly understand the weight of those words."
Just now, when she passed through a small town, she saw a cake covered in cream in the window of a newly renovated bakery.
Although she didn't know how much the cake cost, the fact that the pastry chef had made it and displayed it there meant that the people here could afford it.
Long ago, those delicious desserts could only be seen in shop windows in the city of Thunder City, and would never have come to such a remote place.
Something is better than nothing.
Luo Yan smiled, threw the orange peel in his hand into the trash can, then took out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his hands, and spoke in a casual tone.
"This is not a miracle, nor is it my achievement alone... I prefer to call it the power of the masses."
"The power of everyone..."
"Yes."
Looking at Eileen muttering to herself, Luo Yan smiled and nodded.
"That is a force capable of changing the world. When they work together downwards, that is the Twilight Province you have already seen. And when they work together upwards, they can support a sky that even the gods have never seen."
He paused, then looked out the car window and spoke in a casual tone.
"...As for me, I'm just a passenger on this train, just like you. At most, I polished the rusty wheels and rails."
At that moment, the train sounded a loud whistle.
White steam drifted past the window, blurring the fields in sight, while the train station of Thunder City also came into view at the same time.
In the back of the train, Councilor Dibico, standing in the smoking area, looked bewildered, nearly dropping the cigar he was holding between his fingers.
Unexpectedly, in just half a month, such a large construction site appeared near that empty train station!
“By Saint Sith above…” Mr. Dibico, who had only set off from here half a month ago, uttered the same sentiment as a princess who had just returned home.
And in that sigh, there was a hint of regret, much like that of his old rival, Senator Horace.
These guys are moving way too fast!
...
With a long, drawn-out whistle tearing through the sky, the "Prince" train, like a giant steel dragon returning to its nest, slowly glided into the train station on the outskirts of Thunder City.
Beneath the newly laid glass dome, sunlight is cut into brick-like shadows by the steel frame support, scattering onto the crowded platform.
The busy platform was not completely cleared after Princess Eileen's return; on the contrary, it was filled with a dizzying noise and bustle.
Porters carried heavy boxes along the edge of the platform, train conductors whistled to keep order, and newsboys waved copies of the Thundercity Daily News, which smelled of fresh ink, and bumped into Horace, who was just getting off the train.
"Sir! Excuse me, I'm blocking your way. You seem to be in a hurry, and you must be someone who does big business! I happen to have the latest issue of the Thunder City Daily here. You can read it while sitting in your carriage; it will save you a lot of time looking around!"
Horace didn't buy a newspaper, but he tossed two scraps of paper into the newsboy's hand and said hurriedly.
"Where is the land in this area being auctioned? Take me there quickly!"
In Horace's experience, no one knew the gossip in the streets better than the newsboys, after all, they spent every day there.
As for why it was two silver pounds, it was because he was in such a hurry that he accidentally dropped it.
The young man paused for a moment, then, seeing the two silver pounds in his hand, he immediately beamed and stuffed the banknotes into his pocket, fastening his satchel.
"By Saint Sith...may He bless you, sir! This way, please!"
Horace, not having time to feel sorry for the extra piece of paper, reluctantly followed the young man.
While trying to keep up with the brisk pace, he forced a polite smile and spoke to the young man walking ahead.
"May I have your name?"
“Rul! Mr.!”
"You seem quite clever. Do you live nearby?"
"Of course! I've been here since I was a child! I know every single brick here! I know both the newcomers and the old ones!"
"Very good! Do you know which direction people go after they get off the bus? I want to know which side is more crowded..."
"This is the road right in front of you, sir!"
In an attempt to recoup the extra silver pound he had given away, a breathless Horace asked a barrage of questions, only to find himself unexpectedly getting along well with the young man named Ruhr.
This guy is a natural salesman.
He had just mentioned his plan to invest in a Horace ship when the young man, while praising his brilliant idea, suggested that Miss Kiki wear clothes from the Horace textile factory.
This brilliant idea stunned Horace; how could he not have thought of advertising for Miss Eloise?!
Although the Iris Theatre Company's actors wear high-end custom-made costumes with hand-cut designs, that doesn't mean Horace Textile Mill can't provide their costumes!
He could easily have paid a sponsorship fee, hired two tailors to alter their clothes, and then published the news openly in the newspaper.
Miss Eloise's dress was made by the Horace Textile Factory!
He could almost foresee that all the women in Thunder City would go crazy for Horace's name!
Horace grew to like this clever young man more and more.
Thinking that it was better to believe in fate than to spend another silver pound to go to a more distant place, he gave the clever young man a business card.
“I’m planning to open one… or maybe many shops, targeting passengers at the train station. You happen to have experience in this area. I wonder if you would be interested in working with the great Senator Horace?”
"A councilor? You... are a councilor?" Ruhr stared in surprise, not expecting this distinguished gentleman to actually acknowledge him.
Although Senator Horace was a minor figure in front of Baron Guth, he was the most important person Ruhr could imagine living in the suburbs.
"That's right, you can find me at the address on my business card."
"So we're looking for store locations? How many stores do you plan to open?! You've come to the right person! I'm the best newspaper seller on this street; you can ask anyone for directions!"
Holding the business card in his hand, Ruhr was so excited that his palms were sweating, while Mr. Horace, who was following behind him, was almost exhausted.
"Wherever the Grand Duke's railway extends, my shop... will open there... Ha, Saint Sis, how much longer do we have to walk? If it's more than a kilometer, I think we should call a car! Let's not try to save money!"
Just as Horace was leaning on his knees, panting heavily by the roadside, Princess Irene and Prince Colin finally emerged from the station through the commotion of people.
Thanks to the Iris Theatre Troupe taking the heat off the two of them, Eileen and Luo Yan got off the train discreetly without causing a commotion on the platform, and were quickly escorted into the VIP passage by the staff.
The triumphant return ceremony for the Northern Rescue Army will be held in three days, while at this moment, the 50,000 young men are still resting in their barracks at Fort Granston.
For the Principality Railway, which has been in operation for less than two weeks, transporting 50,000 people back to Thunder City in a short period of time is undoubtedly a task that puts the railway's transportation and dispatching capabilities to the test.
Standing at the entrance of the train station, Eileen stared with her mouth slightly agape at the scene before her, her face filled with disbelief and shock.
The narrow, muddy streets that used to smell of horse manure are gone, replaced by a wide, smooth black road.
Along the roadside, the once chaotic wooden sheds have also disappeared, replaced by rows of neat and uniform red brick buildings.
What Eileen found most incredible was the row of cast iron lampposts standing on both sides of the road!
"That's... a street lamp?"
In the continent of Os in 1054, streetlights were not tools for illumination, but rather tools to display the kingdom's majesty.
Even in a place like Thunder City, streetlights are a luxury unique to Queen Street.
In Eileen's memory, the council of Thunder City used to argue endlessly for a long time about which street deserved to be lit.
However, now, those lampposts that symbolize order have even been laid out in the suburbs!
That's incredibly extravagant!
Standing next to Eileen, Luo Yan assumed she was surprised by the straight black road beneath her feet, so he smiled and became her commentator.
"Our engineers unexpectedly discovered a byproduct called coal tar during the coal gas refining process."
It wasn't really unexpected.
Players have known about this for a long time, and the roads in North Peak City have long been made with coal tar to save costs.
"Gas?" Eileen repeated the unfamiliar word in confusion, and Luo Yan immediately understood that she was surprised by the streetlights.
He looked ahead and said with a smile.
"That's a kind of fuel that's more convenient and cleaner than burning coal directly. We piped them to the streetlights, which saved us the trouble of sending workers up and down every night to change the coal or add whale oil."
"The pipe is..."
"What's beneath our feet?" Luo Yan pointed to the ground beneath their feet and said with a smile, "Before building this highway, the road workers laid the gas pipes first. But I heard that this is currently the only place in the entire Thunder City with gas pipes laid; perhaps it will be rolled out to other places in the future."
Eileen nodded as if she understood, then her gaze returned to the strange road surface beneath her feet.
"Then... what about coal tar?"
"That's a byproduct of the gas plant, a sticky waste. The factories in Thunder City used to throw this stuff away, but later the workers discovered that if you mix it with gravel and spread it on the ground, it will turn into this after it dries."
Luo Yan stomped lightly on the ground with the sole of his shoe, producing a dull but solid sound.
Seeing Eileen's surprised expression, he continued in a teasing tone.
"As you can see, it can firmly stick the stones to the ground, and most importantly, it is waterproof. This way, even during the rainy season, the roads in the outskirts of Thunder City will not become swamps that swallow up carriages. And most importantly, it is much cheaper than paving with solid bluestone slabs, making it very suitable for paving the suburban road network."
Eileen looked around, her heart filled with overwhelming shock.
The land prices on Queen Street are too high, and the old aristocrats and wealthy people are even less willing to let the established streets be dug up and completely changed.
On the contrary, this new industrial zone, which had once grown wildly like weeds, happened to catch the wave of large-scale construction and the infrastructure investment of Thunder City.
The scale of expanding and widening sewers, building road drainage ditches, raising sidewalks and separating driveways from pedestrian walkways... these advanced urban planning concepts have taken root here first.
Although the place had a strong local flavor, and many priests even criticized it as "a prime example of being corrupted by demons," she felt that the noisy atmosphere was full of vitality and brimming with life.
The people on the streets have completely changed.
Not only the gentlemen wearing top hats, but even the commoners in simple clothes radiated a confidence she had never seen before.
People stood on the street reading newspapers, or gathered in small groups on benches outside cafes, talking loudly about parliamentary proposals, distant wars, or even the plays that had just begun.
No one worries about where to eat next anymore; having enough to eat seems to be a given. They are more focused on competing to make their homes look "newer" than yesterday.
"Is this really Thunder City? Colin... I... are we sure we didn't get off at the wrong station?"
Eileen muttered to herself.
She looked at the huge train station behind her, then at the unfamiliar streets in the distance, and a strong sense of alienation welled up in her heart.
She felt like a country girl who had lost her way in the city that should have been hers...
People no longer seemed to need the porridge she gave them.
She no longer needed the Light of Praise in her hand.
Seeing Eileen hesitate, Luo Yan smiled, walked behind her, and teased her in a very soft voice.
"It's the real deal, Your Highness. If you don't believe me, you can just say hello to anyone here. I think everyone here knows you."
Feeling somewhat safe in Colin's voice, Eileen took a deep breath, but her voice still sounded uneasy.
“I’m not worried that people will forget me, I just feel that… this place seems to have changed overnight, and I can hardly recognize it.”
"Thunder City certainly didn't become like this overnight."
Luo Yan looked at the red brick forest in the distance and smiled faintly.
"People first compacted the mud under their feet, then slowly learned to build sewers to hide the stench, and finally planted flowers along the roadside. It's a long and interesting process, and what's even more interesting is that we will witness many more amazing changes and many more amazing legends... It's just the beginning."
Immersed in the incredible dream Colin described, Eileen held her breath and subconsciously asked a question.
"……for example?"
"for example……"
Luo Yan was just about to make a grand promise to make Eileen's eyes sparkle even brighter when he saw two familiar carriages appear at the end of the road.
One of the cars bore the emblem of the Campbell royal family, while the other bore the emblem of the Colin family's Purple Moon; their appearance caused a commotion in front of the station.
All right.
What was bound to happen has finally happened.
Seeing the commotion of the crowd and the two carriages approaching, Luo Yan's smile remained unchanged; instead, he elegantly adjusted his cuffs.
A true demon king always maintains elegance—
Unless they really can't hold it in anymore.
"Pigeon~ pigeon—!"
As soon as the carriage came to a stop, before the door was even opened, a dark shadow swooped down like a crow returning to its nest.
However, just a second before she was about to crash into the Demon King's arms, Vivian seemed to suddenly remember something and slammed on the brakes, stopping right in front of him.
Her ruby-like eyes darted around anxiously. Her head was lowered, staring at the tips of her shoes, looking like she had done something wrong and was waiting to be scolded, but it wasn't entirely like fear; rather, it was a bit... expectant?
Luo Yan looked at Vivian, who was pretending to be innocent and silly, and wanted to teach her a lesson, but unfortunately, a shy blush suddenly flashed before his eyes.
The Demon King is ultimately someone who responds better to gentleness than force, and besides, the current atmosphere is rather delicate.
If we were to bring this up now, it would not only put myself in an awkward position, but it would also be too cruel to Miss Eileen.
That seemed to be her first kiss, and it was taken away just like that... Even if it was just a mental kiss, Luo Yan felt it was a bit too much.
He is a very pure-hearted person.
Perhaps... we can pretend nothing happened?
A few seconds of silence followed between the two.
Seeing that Luo Yan had no reaction and there was no punishment as expected, Vivian finally felt relieved.
However, a strange sense of loss immediately followed.
Could it be... that my elder brother didn't actually notice?
But that shouldn't be the case... He clearly went limp all at once and even pushed away Eileen, who was already half-heartedly resisting.
Just as Vivian was biting her lip, caught in a struggle of self-doubt and anxiety, Eileen's expression gradually became strange.
Although her brother Edward had told her that Vivian was Prince Colin's most beloved younger sister, the atmosphere between the two of them... always felt a little strange.
and……
That young lady possessed a very strong aura, as if she had a captivating power that made even Eileen slightly dazed.
Unfortunately, the vampire race, such a noble existence, is far too niche on the northeastern shore of the Whirlpool Sea, far from the New World, and the familiar contract is even more niche within a niche.
She didn't know that it was the power of the bond that held her together by blood.
This has nothing to do with the level of the two parties. The resonance between demigod-level powerhouses will only be stronger, and only through training can it be suppressed.
“This is Vivian Colin.” Luo Yan coughed lightly, interrupting Eileen’s thoughts.
Although the demons of hell are not that weak and can be identified by sight, he still couldn't help but feel a little uneasy for Vivian because Eileen was staring at him so intently.
Realizing she had been daydreaming, Eileen quickly snapped back to reality and awkwardly extended her right hand.
“Hello, Miss Vivian… I’ve heard about your story from His Highness Colin. Please forgive me if I’m impolite at our first meeting.”
Vivian reverted to her former arrogant Shanghai tyrant, smiling as she took Eileen's hand and gently shook it.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Eileen Campbell. I have also heard my brother… my brother has mentioned you. I hope we can get along peacefully.”
If there's no peace, we'll send an army of hell to turn you into bean paste!
Eileen: "...?"
Whether it was her imagination or not, she always felt that Miss Vivian's second half of her sentence was squeezed out from between her teeth.
However, Eileen quickly smiled with relief, and her gaze towards Vivian softened.
I see.
Miss Vivian, who was all alone, was worried that she had taken away her only relative and that her beloved brother would be gone forever.
After all, she is an illegitimate child, so it's normal to have such concerns. There are very few heirs who can peacefully accept an illegitimate child; perhaps only a kind person like Mr. Colin would be so tolerant of her and give her a warm home.
However, Miss Vivian's worries were clearly unnecessary, because Eileen Campbell was also a kind person.
Eileen vowed that even if she and Prince Colin had a child, she would still love Miss Vivian as her own sister.
The Principality of Campbell is not a country that values pure bloodlines; what Campbell cherishes is courage, trust, love, and tolerance.
Seeing Eileen's suddenly tender gaze, Vivian was on the verge of tears.
However, she didn't get a chance to cry, because the Demon King was staring intently at her, his words carrying a clear sense of coercion and enticement.
Meanwhile, Eileen's attention didn't linger on Vivian for long, because her instinctive alarm was raised to its highest level the next second.
Then, another figure stepped down from the carriage bearing the Purple Moon emblem.
She was a woman with pink hair.
A well-tailored white dress accentuated her curvaceous figure, and an elegant wide-brimmed hat graced her head.
That languid yet alluring aura of a socialite instantly captivated the attention of everyone on the street. Even with a lace-trimmed veil covering half her face, it couldn't conceal the brilliance of the Padridge family.
Miss Eloise, who captivated countless young men in Campbell's dreams, would probably only feel inferior in the face of this "epic succubus".
It was only because Luo Yan was a trained human, and because they had spent so much time together that he had gotten used to it, that he was able to withstand it.
Alarm bells rang in Eileen's mind immediately. Her intuition told her that this guy was the formidable opponent she had to fight with all her might.
Her hand unconsciously went to her waist, but she quickly came to her senses and was startled by her own subconscious action—
Wait, why am I touching the sword?!
Eileen recoiled as if electrocuted, pulling her hand away from the sword hilt and feeling deeply ashamed of her unconscious action.
Although her opponent was indeed a formidable foe, how could she have stooped to such a low level, trying to win love by relying on her sword instead of her true feelings?
If the ancestors of the Campbell family knew, they would be ashamed of her; that is not what a true knight should do.
Only a country bumpkin like Ryan would think he's so great because of his superhuman strength, forgetting who gave him that power, and slamming his sword on the table at the drop of a hat.
Eileen's actions startled Luo Yan, but thankfully the hand that was on the sword hilt loosened, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
However, the composed Miss Padridge was not frightened at all, or perhaps this fool simply did not notice Eileen's little movements, his aggressive gaze completely fixed on the face of a certain "white-haired vixen".
This guy...
Although it was the first time the two had met, she had been putting up with her for a long time!
Every time she sent a report from Thunder County to the Demon King's Administration Department in the rear, she would watch with tears welling up in her eyes as she watched her beloved and this vixen being all lovey-dovey...
Padridge will never swallow this humiliation!
Unfortunately, Luo Yan had no idea what she was thinking, otherwise he would definitely be puzzled by her ideas. He did indeed include Eileen's situation in his report, but if he remembered correctly, what he wrote was far less than what she had imagined…
"Welcome back, Colin. I can finally rest easy knowing you're safe and sound. By Saint Sith, I never imagined there was a place like Granston Castle on the Empire's map. I always thought that beyond the Ten Thousand Ren Mountains lay the Dimensional Desert..."
Mia lifted her skirt and walked gracefully forward.
Ignoring the admiring glances from those around her, she went straight to Luo Yan's side and then gave Eileen an impeccable aristocratic bow.
"And... nice to meet you, Your Highness Princess Eileen. Like my dear sister Vivian, I've heard about you from His Highness Colin."
That "darling" gave Vivian goosebumps; she had never admitted to being Padridge's sister.
Mia's "taking an inch and wanting a mile" was clearly far more than that; the corners of her bright red lips curled up in a perfect arc.
Although she understood that her darling had reasons for keeping the hero hanging, she still couldn't suppress the jealousy that was about to overflow.
"Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Yaya Mitia, and I am currently responsible for assisting His Highness Colin with some trivial matters. Of course, I am also his closest... 'partner,' as I have been since our time in the Holy City."
Vivian suffered a second blow.
Her fragile spirit was on the verge of collapse at any moment, and it was only the threat in her brother's eyes that barely kept her blood flowing and maintained the rosy complexion on her face.
Faced with Miss Ya Ya's blatant provocation, Eileen took a deep breath, forced herself to straighten her back, and showed no fear whatsoever.
She is Campbell's princess, and she will never show weakness on her own territory. Moreover, she is a warrior; no matter the battlefield, she will fight with unwavering courage and determination!
With that thought, Eileen rallied her spirits, a dignified and confident smile on her face, and extended her hand, behaving like a hostess.
That attitude isn't wrong; she is, after all, the owner of this place.
"Oh? It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Yaya. I've heard my brother mention you before, and I've heard that you and Prince Colin have a very good relationship."
Their hands clasped together in mid-air, seemingly polite, yet an invisible spark seemed to fly through the air.
“That’s not bad at all.” Mia’s smile deepened. “Our relationship is exceptionally good.”
"Really? Then I'm relieved."
Eileen gracefully withdrew her hand, looking at Colin with gentle eyes, her voice carrying just the right amount of tenderness, like someone peeling an orange for her on a train.
“I was worried that you would resent His Highness Colin for leaving the Academy without saying goodbye when he was in the Holy City. Although he is thoughtful, he can be a bit oblivious at times. Is it because he is slow to notice or because he has too many things to worry about... In any case, once you get to know him better, you will find that he is actually a very gentle and considerate person.”
"Hehehe... You're joking, Your Highness." Mia suddenly let out a string of silvery laughter, which made Luo Yan a little worried. It was a sign that Padric was about to lose his composure.
However, he underestimated his old classmate. Mia has grown a lot and can no longer be considered a succubus who is academically weak.
Because she graduated.
"How could I blame him? Besides, if I may correct you, Mr. Colin is, in some ways, quite... well, not at all slow-witted."
Eileen was taken aback.
Not slow at all?
Last night's kiss, tinged with the scent of champagne and strawberries, flashed into her mind. Back then, Colin... was he really that oblivious?
On the contrary, she herself was so bold that she startled herself.
It wasn't until later, when she rolled herself into a caterpillar shape with the blanket, that she realized with shame that she had actually stuck out her tongue.
No wonder... it must have been that action that startled him.
Upon realizing this, Eileen's dignified mask crumbled instantly, her cheeks flushed like a hot steam boiler, and even her ears became burning hot.
She wished she could cleave the outer wall of the maze with a sword and bury herself inside.
Luo Yan, who was silently watching the battle, never expected that the hero with the thickest health bar would have his health bar emptied by the succubus with the thinnest health bar.
This was truly...unexpected.
As for Vivian's health bar, it had already been quietly shattered when no one was paying attention.
Seeing Eileen's sweet and shy expression, Mia's smug smile instantly froze on her face, and her face turned red, though it was a warm red.
Why are you blushing all of a sudden, you vixen?
Are you afraid to admit your mistakes?
Say it! Just say it!
A terrifying aura gradually permeated the street; it wasn't the aura of demons, but rather the smell of a battlefield.
A reporter secretly took out the recording crystal, only to be horrified to find that the crystal had turned into stone, which frightened him so much that he quickly fled the scene.
Sarah, leaning against the alley, gently tossed the crystal in her hand into her bulging bag and cast a concerned glance at the Demon King.
Everyone else was thinking of themselves, but she only cared about the Demon King.
Theresa looked at Eileen with the same worry. She had heard about Miss Yaya, but she didn't expect the two of them to have such a tense meeting.
Although she had no experience, based on what she learned from books, she knew that whoever looked most like the villain was more likely to become the loser.
Just as the two loyal guards were pondering whether to step in and save the day, Luo Yan coughed lightly and stepped in to smooth things over before the surrounding onlookers realized that something was amiss.
"It's windy here, let's talk about it when we get back... Let's get in the car first."
He regretted it as soon as he said it; clearly, the "karmic" winds blowing from Granstonburg were not going to let him off easily.
It was the "thought of the masses" formed from the resentment of many sea kings, clearly directed at this heinous demon king.
The moment Luo Yan finished speaking, everyone's eyes fell on the two carriages parked by the roadside.
One carriage bore the Campbell family crest, while the other bore the Purple Moon emblem.
The brave one took the lead, confidently walking to the door of her own carriage, looking at him expectantly with those big, watery eyes—
'You remember what happened last night, right?'
Meanwhile, the succubus from the Padridge family, not to be outdone, approached the door of another carriage. A confident smile graced her face, seemingly unconcerned, yet all her anxiety was etched beneath her eyelashes—
You'll definitely choose me, right?
Mia, that's a good question.
This deadly question might stump others, but it can't stump the Demon King who has long since ceased to be human.
(End of this chapter)
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