Simonton Forest
"Your Highness Mira, this is the room prepared for you."
After the banquet, Mira returned to the Duke's mansion with Tiff, who personally escorted her to her room.
"Thank you." Mira and Tiff didn't exchange many words. Mira thanked her and went inside. The maid behind her nodded to Tiff and then closed the door.
After settling Mila in, Tiffany returned to her room and leaned back on the sofa.
After the banquet, Dope told her that Ferrand had arranged for the exchange to take place in Simonton.
Simonton is a testing ground for college students and is closed off year-round. It's too dangerous to hold a cultural exchange event there. She really doesn't understand why Ferrand would suggest it.
According to Dope, the king also scolded Ferrand at the time, but Ferrand said that setting up the location on the outskirts and other places would still keep it sealed off, since only people from the Inolier Empire could set foot in Simonton, and people from other countries were very curious about it.
When the land was originally allocated, Simonton was assigned to Inoliel. Although the land was not good and was overrun by monsters, it made it convenient for the students to undergo trials.
Simonton was locked down, not only because of the monsters, but also because of the Heart of Hess.
The Heart of Hess is the heart of Hess.
Hess was once the Elf King. Why "once"? Because he is dead, and his death caused all the elves to fall into slumber.
Legend has it that whoever obtains the Heart of Hess can control all elves, and the Heart of Hess is hidden in Simonton Forest. Fortunately, very few people know this legend, otherwise people would flock to it like moths to a flame.
Elves have become an ancient legend, and most people now believe that they have been extinct.
Heart of Hess...
Tiffany narrowed her eyes slightly. Was Ferrand choosing Simonton as the location because of this?
She frowned slightly, wondering how he knew about it, since it was mentioned in the book.
A face flashed into her mind.
Hicks... could it be you?
Never mind, Tiff rubbed her temples. We'll know tomorrow if it's because of the Heart of Hess.
What was Mira's purpose? Her words at the banquet were clearly false. The king had allowed her to stay with him so that he could monitor Mira. He had already sent several guards to keep an eye on Mira.
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The trees in Simonton Forest are all black; the tall trees block out the sunlight, and the dense foliage allows no light to penetrate.
Tiffany stepped down from the carriage in her ankle boots, wearing a custom-made purple silk court dress and white trousers.
They were located on the outer edge of Simonton, where the trees were slightly scattered and the leaves were sparse, so the sunlight was reaching them and it wasn't exactly dark.
After tying her hair into a low ponytail, she took out a pair of white gloves from the cloth bag tied around her waist and put them on.
A servant approached her respectfully and said that the king invited her to come over. Seeing his hand pointing towards the dark forest, Tiffany stopped Dopelisa from following and slowly followed along.
After walking for a while, the guard stopped, turned around and looked at Tiffany. Her forehead was covered by wisps of hair, and the lower half of her face was hidden in the darkness, only revealing a pair of sinister eyes.
"Why have you stopped?"
Without uttering a single word, the guard rushed straight toward Tiffany, the tiny sparks of electricity crackling from his fingertips.
A ball of lightning gathered in his palm, emitting a crackling sound. The ball of lightning grew larger and larger, illuminating his figure with its light.
In the blink of an eye, he arrived in front of Tiffany and threw the lightning ball. The moment he threw it, he saw Tiffany's expression: a cold look in her eyes and a slight curve at the corner of her mouth.
"Bang!!!" An explosion rang out, and a sharp bang came to the guard's ears. The next second, he felt a hand, cold even through the glove, gripping his neck. Before he could beg for mercy, his outstretched hand slipped away.
Tiffany tossed him aside, and a rustling sound came from the bushes behind her.
“Hicks,” Tiff said definitively.
Hicks emerged from the bushes, glanced at the corpse on the ground, and then looked at Tiffany, speaking with a hint of reproach in his voice, "Tiffany, you're so cruel, killing someone like that."
"Ruthless?" Tiffany scoffed. "What does that have to do with me? You were the one who sent him out. The moment you sent him out, you should have been prepared for him to die. You're the ruthless one, not me."
Hicks was taken aback. He thought that if it were Tiffany in the future, she would immediately confirm that he was indeed that heartless. Tiffany was really interesting; he had never seen anything like her before.
Thinking about how interesting Tiffany's scene with Pugo during the succession ceremony was, Hicks couldn't help but laugh, excited to discover a side of Tiffany he had never seen before.
It's just a pity that she has to die today.
He narrowed his eyes, a strong killing intent rising in his gaze as he looked at Tiffany.
Tiff took two steps back and asked him innocently, "Hicks, when did I offend you? Why do you always act like we're locked in a life-or-death struggle every time you see me?" Her tone was somewhat puzzled, yet it also sounded like she was trying to make peace.
As she spoke, she tilted her head slightly toward him.
Sensing something behind him, Hicks whirled around. Countless black vines, like arms, lashed out at him. He quickly dodged, but the vines twisted and followed him closely.
He flashed in front of Tiffany without hesitation, his hand piercing through her heart. Tiffany's eyes widened in disbelief.
But he didn't stop there. He grabbed Tiff's shoulder with his other hand, made her lean against the tree trunk, and then pulled out her heart. Blood gushed out and splattered on his face.
She stared straight at Hicks, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, then sliding down the tree trunk and falling to the ground.
Looking at Tiffany, who had stopped breathing, he crushed the object in his hand with all his might.
Then, he stared at her corpse for a long time before leaving.
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