Chapter 111: The Astringent Tea Aroma on Lanchi is Too Overwhelming
Chapter 111: The Astringent Tea Aroma on Lanchi is Too Overwhelming
Prince Ennol stood side by side with Lanchi next to the grand glass wall, the transparent full-length windows offering them a beautiful view of the pedestrian square below. They wore relaxed smiles, thoroughly enjoying their conversation.
"Actually, Your Highness Ennol, this isn't difficult to discern," Lanchi began, explaining his insights into the demon world's art style from the painting class. "The second painting, despite appearing abstract, has several noticeable flaws that are not intentional but rather the result of pure mistakes..."
As Lanchi elucidated, Ennol's eyes shone with understanding, nodding along. He felt that if he looked at those paintings again, he could truly distinguish between the professor's and the student's work based on the critical points Lanchi had pointed out.
Ennol was also astounded by Lanchi's ability to analyze everything so thoroughly in an instant.
To think that someone could completely comprehend the ancient demons' artistic concepts the moment they set foot in the demon world, that was incredible and beyond what a human brain could typically accomplish!
After a few minutes had passed...
"By the way, Lanchi, did you and Hubert come to purchase some cards today? Sophia is a silver-level card maker, and she can get you some great internal discounts from the association if she helps you with your purchase."
Ennol reluctantly steered the conversation away from the captivating topic of paintings and inquired, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.
Amidst his happiness, Ennol also realized that his deep discussion with Lanchi had left Hubert out, leaving her with nothing to contribute to their exchange.
"Sophia..." Lanchi repeated the name, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce you; the only person you don't know here is Sophia Frostoke, the Countess. Hubert, you, and I are all acquainted with her." Ennol slapped his palm, feeling a bit scatterbrained for neglecting to make the introduction earlier. He finally turned to the purple-haired young lady who had been sitting on the sofa, her gaze fixed on him.
He had almost forgotten about Sophia, too.
Upon hearing this, Lanchi nodded slightly in greeting towards the purple-haired Countess Sophia.
However, despite secretly observing them from a distance since earlier, Sophia seemed to have no intention of acknowledging Lanchi's gesture. She arrogantly averted her gaze, pretending not to have noticed.
Sophia, who was wholeheartedly focused on card crafting, paid no heed to Lanchi's reputation in the shadow world.
She also had no inclination to break school rules and deal with the student council.
While Ennol and Lanchi were engaged in their friendly chat, ignoring her because of Lanchi's presence, she felt a surge of irritation building within.
Even though Prince Ennol had never shown this level of attention to her before, it only took a short while for him to forget about her entirely because of another man!
By the glass walls and full-length windows on the third floor of the Card Maker's Association...
Ennol, seemingly accustomed to Sophia's temperament, apologized to Lanchi without a hint of princely demeanor: "Lanchi, please don't mind Sophia. She's actually a very good person at heart."
"Of course not," Lanchi shook his head.
If she was Hubert's friend, then she must be a good person, just a little quirky in her behavior.
Lanchi then answered Ennol's previous question: "This time, I came to take the registered card maker exam, and Hubert wanted to watch me make a card."
Ennol's expression immediately became even more intrigued.
"As I thought, Lanchi, you can also make cards?" Ennol asked, his voice filled with delight, as if he had long suspected that Lanchi might possess this skill.
"Yes, I've been practicing diligently," Lanchi admitted.
"Forgive my frankness, but the last time I saw someone with such abundant talent was when I met Duke Migaya," Ennol said, his words filled with admiration for both Migaya and Lanchi.
"Duke Migaya?"
"Yes, Duke Migaya is a platinum-level card maker, even surpassing that, he's a magic crystal-level card maker, and one of the top card makers in the Southern Continent."
To Ennol, Migaya was a mentor and a friend. Since childhood, he had admired and followed the duke around relentlessly.
Seeing a resemblance to the young Migaya in Lanchi was one of the reasons Ennol favored him so much.
Of course, Migaya was kind, not as naive as Lanchi.
"But I'm also certain that you're different in one aspect," Ennol continued. "You won't be like Duke Migaya, secretly hiding a powerful demon and eventually marrying one, stunning His Majesty the King. Hahaha, do you know the expression on my father's face back then?"
Ennol laughed heartily, recounting the palace's old tales to Lanchi.
Lanchi: "..."
"By the way, Your Highness Ennol, have you kept your companions waiting for too long?" Lanchi asked, as if suddenly remembering something, attempting to shift the topic of conversation.
He also glanced at the purple-haired Countess Sophia, who was seated on a distant sofa, still secretly observing them.
"!"
Prince Ennol came to his senses, "My apologies, let's head to the discussion area. Regarding the card maker exam, Sophia might be able to offer you some practical advice."
"With Lanchi's hint, Ennol finally remembered that he had left Miss Sophia, the Countess, all alone for too long.
Immediately, Ennol nodded apologetically in Sophia's direction, leading Lanchi and Hubert towards her.
Lanchi and Hubert naturally did not refuse Ennol's kindness, as there was still ample time before the exam began.
On their way over, Hubert glanced at Sophia and then shot a look at Lanchi.
Her eyes were filled with confusion, as if she was trying to analyze something.
Hubert was both grateful to Lanchi for drawing away Ennol's attention and worried that Lanchi might be planning something mischievous due to Sophia's unwarranted gaze!
...
In the middle of the third floor was a grand atrium with soaring ceilings and pillars that created a breathtaking sense of spaciousness. The intricate interplay of dark wood and textured stone added to the impressive architecture.
Located on one side of the atrium was the discussion area, furnished with a luxurious set of sofas and a low coffee table, crafted from fine materials that complemented the surrounding decor. The elegant table lamps beside the sofa added a touch of quiet sophistication to the setting.
Seeing that Prince Ennol had finally returned, Sophia stopped staring at them and turned away, sitting quietly on the sofa with her arms folded across her chest.
As the trio approached, Lanchi smiled peacefully and suddenly asked a question that took Ennol by surprise:
"Your Highness Ennol, have you ever noticed that there is a gentle young lady who often quietly accompanies you?"
In an instant, Sophia stirred noticeably on the sofa.
She clenched her fists tightly, feeling her ears grow hot.
She wanted to turn and glare at Lanchi for asking such an ambiguous question, but she dared not look at Ennol's reaction, her heart pounding as she awaited his response.
"No," Prince Ennol replied, confusion evident in his voice.
His answer was clear and without hesitation, leaving Sophia frustrated and stomping her feet angrily on the sofa.
"...”
Lanchi seemed at a loss for words.
As they reached the sofa, they prepared to sit down.
Lanchi, in an attempt to help Sophia, quietly prompted Ennol once more:
"Your Highness Ennol, I think that besides devoting yourself to art and appreciation, you should also pay more attention to the people around you and not let her wait too long."
Sophia, who had been planning to shoot a death glare at Lanchi and warn him against meddling, found her expression softening slightly.
She realized that Lanchi seemed to be a genuinely good person who was trying his best to help her.
However, Ennol's cluelessness and denseness were beyond her patience.
Hubert also sat down relieved next to Sophia, as Ennol and Lanchi naturally took the sofa across from them, behaving like close brothers.
What neither Sophia nor Hubert expected was Prince Ennol's sudden epiphany.
He grabbed Lanchi's shoulders tightly and said sincerely,
"I understand, Lanchi. You are our kingdom of Herton's irreplaceable treasure. What you mean is that I should have taken the initiative to find you sooner!"
"..."
Lanchi was truly at a loss for words and could only offer a helpless smile to Sophia and Hubert, who sat across from them.
In that smile, there was seven parts regret and three parts apology.
It seemed that he truly wanted to help her, but he couldn't because Ennol was completely oblivious to her, whereas Lanchi had all his attention.
In that instant, the atmosphere in the entire atrium seemed to shift subtly.
Beneath the silence, a tinge of unspoken chill crept in, foreboding like the smoke before an explosion, creating a tense and oppressive ambiance.
Hubert's eyelids began to twitch uncontrollably.
Lanchi appeared innocent and well-intentioned.
But.
In this context, with Lanchi's words and actions, if one were to imagine him as a female, a strong scent of 'green tea' would be overwhelming! !
Hubert found herself utterly unable to analyze whether Lanchi was genuinely trying to help Sophia or if he was perfectly disguising his 'green tea' nature! The pinnacle of innocence resembled 'green tea', and the extreme of 'green tea' could portray an innocent facade. Once again, Hubert saw the duality in Lanchi's behavior!
At that moment, Sophia, caught in this delicate situation, felt her emotions teetering on the edge of an explosion.
From her perspective as a victim, she began to suspect that Lanchi's innocent act might be a long-con, earning Ennol's unwavering trust only to toy with her!
If that were the case, this cunning and malicious man might even take advantage of Ennol's sincerity and manipulate him at will!
"Lanchi, I'm truly looking forward to seeing the card you'll create today, and I hope to have the honor of admiring your paintings in the future.
Upon witnessing Lanchi's discerning eye, Ennol became extremely curious about the man's own artistic prowess.
"..."
Across from them, Sophia sat on the sofa, her head bowed as she tightly clasped her hands together.
As she listened to Ennol's effusive praise of Lanchi, his admiration bordering on infatuation, Sophia's restlessness grew, until she could no longer contain herself. She lifted her head and, her voice laced with frustration, said to Lanchi and Ennol, "Ennol, I am the most talented and accomplished card maker and artist by your side. You need not idolize him so!"
Sophia's breath quickened, and she barely stopped herself from shouting, "Look at me more!"
"Sophia..."
Ennol seemed taken aback as well, his gaze finally shifting from Lanchi to Sophia.
He was mostly envious of the effortless way Lanchi carried himself in the Demon Academy, exuding an aura of sophistication with every gesture. Ennol longed to learn the art of 'showing off' from him.
However, he couldn't understand why Sophia was so agitated. It was as if a demon was plucking at the strings of her heart, stirring up such intense emotions.
But when Ennol looked at Lanchi, he saw only an innocent and perplexed expression.
Finally, Ennol made his choice.
When faced with a decision between a woman and his brother-in-arms, he resolutely chose the latter.
"Sophia, look what you've done. You've startled Lanchi... What if it affects his performance in the card maker exam later? He's destined to become a pillar of our Herton Kingdom."
As Ennol spoke, his admiration for Lanchi only grew.
He was completely oblivious to Sophia's feelings and how his words were only adding fuel to her jealous fire, favoring Lanchi over her.
At that moment, Lanchi maintained his gentle smile, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
This only served to stoke the flames of jealousy in Sophia's heart!
She turned to Ennol and said with a hint of bitterness, "I'm already a silver-level card maker at 17 years old."
Among the students who had just advanced to their second year in the Magic Crafting Academy, only a handful had achieved the silver-level in card making!
"Why do you admire him so much, someone who hasn't even obtained his registered card maker status yet, instead of paying more attention to me? I've been working so hard!"
Sophia's pent-up emotions finally burst forth, and she laid bare her true feelings to Ennol.
Ennol's expression froze.
"Sophia, is that what you think? I've always valued you..."
Ennol had never seen Sophia express her emotions so candidly, and he was at a loss for words, unsure of how to comfort her. As he spoke, his breath formed a white mist, and he slowly became aware of the chilly temperature.
"Your Highness, I should take my leave."
Lanchi gently patted Ennol on the back and signaled with his eyes that it was time to sit beside Sophia and comfort her.
"Your Highness Ennol, Miss Sophia, I must be off to the exam venue on the fifth floor."
Lanchi checked the time and hurriedly bid them farewell.
"Oh, alright."
Ennol nodded, seemingly understanding Lanchi's hint.
Soon, Hubert also quickly followed Lanchi and left.
She sneaked a glance back and saw that Ennol had indeed moved to sit beside Sophia, slowly engaging her in conversation and easing the tension. It seemed that only a drastic measure like this could push their relationship forward, given Sophia's awkward nature and Ennol's straightforward personality.
"Lanchi, did you anticipate that only this would make them open up to each other?"
Hubert couldn't help but ask, intrigued.
Finally,
Lanchi let out a sigh of relief and bowed his head, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"No, I'm no love guru. It just happened naturally, a smooth and effortless progression."
After saying this, he turned to Hubert with a gentle smile and said, "It must have been uncomfortable having Sophia's gaze fixed on you like that. You've endured a lot, Hubert."
However,
Upon hearing these words, Hubert suddenly felt a twinge of fear, and she began to question the true meaning behind Lanchi's smile.
Was it the innocent thought of an angel, or the vengeful plot of a devil? She couldn't be sure! Hubert's mind suddenly latched onto a troubling thought.
If Lanchi performed poorly in today's card maker exam, it wouldn't be a big deal.
But what if he were to be directly certified as a silver-level card maker, or even...
Hubert dared not continue that train of thought!
(End of Chapter)
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