https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-311-Lanchi-the-Undisputed-Matchmaker/12584435/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-313-The-Impostor-of-Principal-Lanchi/12584443/
Chapter 312: No One Understands Love Better Than Lanchi
Chapter 312: No One Understands Love Better Than Lanchi
That afternoon, the sky was a blend of icy blue and pale hues, staining the horizon like a frosted crystal screen, while the soft and slightly desolate natural light was reflected by the snowy terrain, creating a hazy aura.
Three figures braved the blizzard and finally, at the edge of the snowfield, the outline of a city came into view.
"Xiya, as the heir of an assassin family, you certainly make an excellent scout. Without you, we probably wouldn't have found Kingston City until dusk."
Lanchi praised Xiya with a grin.
Xiya bashfully lowered his head. It had been a long time since he had received such sincere praise. Usually, when others mentioned his family, it was only to ridicule him. But this person was different.
"You didn't mention me at all, yet it seems like you can't stop talking about him."
Xi'erde muttered beside him.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Lanchi, his face slightly numb from the frost, looked at Xi'erde with a confused expression.
"It's nothing. Sometimes, affinity is directly deducted, and there's no need for a reminder."
As their voices mingled with the howling wind and snow, they gradually approached the city's gate.
In the vast snowfield, the surrounding landscape was enveloped in a blanket of white. Piercing gusts of wind blew intermittently, swirling the snowflakes like fine sugar dust dancing in the air.
This was the southern border of Kingston City. The towering walls, constructed from metal and long-frozen soil, stood like a steel canyon in the midst of the snowfield, shielding the city from the bitter winds and any potential dangers beyond.
The city gate, crafted from sturdy Demon Realm steelwood, was adorned with cold iron along its edges. The crest of Kingston City and magical seals were intricately carved upon it. Inside the barrier, two rows of guards stood at attention, their weapons at the ready, clad in armor with orange-red feathers fluttering on their helmets in the chilly breeze.
The guards' gazes shifted as the trio drew closer, focusing on the distant snowfield.
Slowing their pace, the three made their way through the final stretch of the boundless snowfield. They presented their identification documents at the gate, passing them through the temporarily opened passage in the barrier to the leading knight captain.
After a thorough inspection, the knight captain fixed his gaze on Xiya.
"Master Xiya Candys, heir of the Count, welcome to Kingston City. Please wait here with your friends while I contact the Lord's mansion."
The knight captain noticed that Lanchi and Xi'erde's identification listed them as students from the Royal Magic Academy of Proteros in the imperial capital, Helrom. Unaware of their relationship with Xiya, he assumed they were his companions.
The city gate creaked open slowly, the chains and wooden beams emitting a dull sound. The clamor from within the city suddenly filled their ears, and the scene before them gradually unfolded.
Gone was the endless expanse of snow, replaced by a street paved with bluestone where pedestrians occasionally scurried by. Smoke rose from the chimneys of houses, and the aroma of dinner being prepared wafted through the air, along with the sounds of children gleefully engaged in a snowball fight.
Then followed a period of waiting.
They didn't have to linger long at the city entrance before a carriage sent to greet them arrived in the empty square not far away.
A middle-aged man in a classical black dress, with golden embroidery on his cuffs and collar and a wax-sealed letter in his hand, approached them with steady yet swift steps.
"Master Xiya, and two other esteemed guests, I am the butler of the Lord's mansion."
He bowed slightly, his voice respectful.
"Lord Levin Kingston, Viscount of Kingston, has been informed of your arrival and has sent me to attend to you."
He gestured for them to follow him and led the way to the exquisite carriage bearing the crest of the Kingston family parked in the distance. The carriage was draped in deep red silk, its windows veiled by thin embroidered curtains. The butler opened the carriage door, revealing plush fur cushions and intricately carved wooden armrests.
"Please get in."
The butler offered a slight smile, one that conveyed a measured and dignified demeanor befitting a servant of important figures.
The three exchanged glances and boarded the carriage.
Just before the carriage started moving...
"May I ask if Viscount Levin Kingston is occupied with something important?"
Xi'erde inquired of the butler.
"Yes, the Viscount and his daughter were supposed to come and greet Master Xiya personally. However, they currently have guests at the mansion and are unable to leave. Hence, they sent me to receive you first and bring you back. Please accept our apologies."
The butler apologized.
Xi'erde nodded.
It seemed that the Viscount hadn't intentionally slighted Xiya.
According to the noble etiquette of the Proteros Empire, even if Master Xiya, the count's heir, arrived unannounced due to travel issues, Viscount Levin Kingston or his daughter should have been the ones to welcome him personally.
A rumbling sound filled the air as the carriage wheels left deep tracks in the thick snow. Despite the howling wind outside, the interior of the carriage remained warm and cozy.
The three leaned back against the soft cushions, Xiya looking a bit tense while Lanchi and Xi'erde seemed quite at ease.
For a moment, it was a bit unclear who the young master was.
Looking at the flaxen-haired youth, who was apprehensive, mild-mannered, and a little weak, Lanchi patted the shoulder of Xia Ya, who was sitting across from him.
"Chin up, Miss Lilys Kingstown will probably prefer a more assertive man."
"But... I'm here to marry into the Kingstown family. They would probably also hope that their son-in-law would be a little more well-behaved."
"Lilys Kingstown herself is an assassin, and her entrance exam report shows that she performed quite ferociously. As a descendant of the Empire's famous assassin family, you will definitely get along with her."
Lanchi had already begun to guide Xia Ya.
Xia Ya looked at Lanchi, his brow furrowed in confusion.
How do you know all this?
"But I'm more inclined towards a desk job now... If I were to help their family business, I might be of some use. Although I've learned the family's skills, I haven't really used them in actual combat..."
Xia Ya said, lacking confidence.
"I see."
Lanchi stroked his chin, deep in thought.
"Meow! Don't listen to him!"
An angry voice came from under the table, accompanied by a black shadow. The little black cat jumped onto a chair and crawled onto Lanchi's shoulder, saying to Xia Ya beside him,
"When it comes to romance between young men and women, it's all about being delicate and letting things progress naturally. If this guy gets involved, a heartwarming story will turn into a bizarre shadow world like the ones he messes with! Romance doesn't need violent overtaking and forceful welding!"
It accused Lanchi indignantly, angry enough to hiss and take a long time to calm down.
"Oh, little black cat, you've finally come out."
Xide looked at Lanchi's shoulder with some interest.
The next second, the cat boss seemed to shrink back, padding around to the other side of Lanchi's shoulder, farther away from Xide, shivering.
Xia Ya looked at this sprite cat in surprise.
Even this cat was stronger than him.
It actually had a level close to the fourth tier!
"...Do you think I'm only a third-tier cat?"
The cat boss, as if reading Xia Ya's thoughts, glared at him sternly and asked.
They could all speak Sprite, and there was a sense of camaraderie between them.
"Could it be... that you're actually a fourth-tier beast?"
Xia Ya asked in disbelief.
"..."
The cat boss remained silent for a moment, choosing to skirt around the topic. It was better to avoid embarrassing himself.
"Young man, just go with the flow and get to know Miss Lilys naturally. If you two are meant to be, you will eventually fall in love. Don't listen to his relationship advice; this guy doesn't understand what love is, and his idea of love is even more problematic!"
It earnestly advised Xia Ya.
"Uh..."
Xia Ya looked at the little black cat, then at Lanchi.
For a moment, he didn't know who to believe.
They were both sincere and genuinely wanted the best for him; there was no doubt about that, and it showed even in their eyes.
And so, Xia Ya was plunged into deep confusion and couldn't make a decision.
Thus, the three of them and the cat fell silent for a while.
"But I think what Machiavelli said makes sense. For example, I would also be attracted to a man stronger than myself."
Xide thought for a moment and offered her opinion as a woman.
She didn't understand why the little black cat would disparage Lanchi's relationship advice so much; she didn't see any problem with it.
"..."
Lanchi looked at Xide with pity.
Another one who would never marry.
"What did you mean by that look just now?"
Xide asked.
She had realized by now that her saintly companion rarely spoke anything impolite.
But he often conveyed his true feelings through subtle expressions, a form of the highest level of disdain.
"Deducting affinity points, of course. If I want to frame you, I can always find a reason."
Lanchi wore a smile that conveyed his resignation to everything.
"..."
Xide smiled and shook her head, not telling Lanchi how many points would be deducted.
Beside them.
"Meow, so, Xia Ya, do you really want to listen to this green tea guy's advice about romance?"
The cat boss looked at Xia Ya and asked.
"But isn't Mr. Clochi getting along well with Miss Xide?"
Xia Ya asked the cat boss in confusion.
He thought that Senior Clochi was a gentle and kind young man.
"Meow?"
The cat boss tilted its head, puzzled. Was Lanchi giving relationship advice to Xide? It always felt that the two of them were very mismatched in terms of identity, strength, age, and personality.
But now that Xia Ya mentioned it...
It realized that the two of them got along in a strangely reasonable way.
Wait a minute.
If Lanchi and Sigrid's genders were swapped.
Forget green tea girls and domineering CEOs!
There's one more chapter that I haven't finished coding yet, so I estimate that it will be done by 11:00 pm.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
