https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-339-Heather-s-Puzzlement-at-Such-Ease/12584493/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-341-Cardinal-Lanchi-Enjoys-a-Peaceful-Life/12584495/
Chapter 340: Serene Days of Bishop Serene
Chapter 340: Serene Days of Bishop Serene
In the parlor of Earl Milford's mansion, the fire in the fireplace leapt fervently, casting a ruddy glow on the velvet sofas and chairs while providing much-needed warmth to the lofty chamber. The crackling flames and the gentle roar of burning wood added a touch of dynamism to the otherwise quiet space.
Serene Bishop, also known as Bishop Serene, sat with her hands resting on her knees, her expression complex as if deep in thought.
"May I inquire as to why the Holy Son of Oblivion abruptly left the Northwestern Province?"
Serene, or Bishop Serene, directed her question to Earl Milford.
Despite her awareness of the reliability of the earl's intelligence, she remained wary of potential traps.
"It seems that some issues arose in the empire's northern regions, prompting Bishop Askesang of the Oblivion Church to reassign him to the far north."
Earl Milford, equally perplexed, stroked his beard. He found it rather peculiar that only a significant problem in the north would warrant the transfer of the Holy Son by Bishop Askesang.
It was as if someone was intentionally drawing away attention from Serene, absorbing all the pressure herself.
Earl Milford was confident that the Holy Son had already arrived at Hex Mountain Province, a northern transportation hub, via the magic rail line and was now making his way further north.
"If the Holy Son doesn't complete his task swiftly, he may not return within seven days. However, even if he does return in the next few days, I will ensure that you receive an alternate route to the imperial capital, Helrom, one that avoids any encounters with him."
Earl Milford added.
He felt that the young priestess bore an exceedingly heavy burden, and he wished for her to have a well-deserved respite without any additional concerns.
"Phew."
Serene heaved a sigh of relief at his words, her tense heart momentarily feeling so relaxed that it seemed to float, yet it couldn't quite settle.
"Praise be to the Goddess for her continued blessings upon Bishop Serene."
The three clergy members prayed sincerely, believing that this was indeed a miracle brought about by the Goddess.
As expected of the disciple favored by the Saintess, the friend of Ranchi Wilford's heart, she was indeed the chosen one, protected and blessed by the Goddess of Fate.
The next Saintess of the Church would undoubtedly be this very Miss Serene.
"Farewell... Such outrageous luck won't present itself again. Helrom won't welcome me with open arms."
Serene shook her head repeatedly. Sometimes, being too lucky could be a little frightening.
One's luck in life was finite; whoever used it up first would be the first to go. Ever since she met Ranchi, her luck had taken a turn for the better. But who would have thought that even after their brief separation, her luck would continue to skyrocket.
Ranchi's sacrifices brought her this fortune, and he had no fears, but she did.
As the conversation drew to a close—
Earl Milford, leaning on his cane, glanced towards the parlor's door.
"Regardless, you must all be exhausted from your journey. Please take some time to rest. Miss Serene, your room is on the second floor. I'll have one of the servants escort you there shortly. Also, Miss Michelle has been eagerly awaiting your arrival and is probably waiting near your room as we speak."
Earl Milford addressed the clergy members of the Church of the Goddess of Fate.
A hint of helplessness crept into his voice as he mentioned his daughter, Michelle.
"Rest assured, I am now Michelle's cousin, and I will take good care of her as if she were my little sister when we arrive in Helrom. You have my word, Earl."
Serene stood up and bowed once more to express her gratitude to their helper, Earl Milford.
"Thank you, Miss Serene."
Earl Milford nodded slightly, touching the bronze lamp to dispel the soundproof magic, and then led the group out of the parlor.
As he opened the door, a woman stood at the far end of the mansion's corridor, attired in a deep blue uniform with silver-white buttons that gleamed in the light. She was the housekeeper, and she bowed slightly to the group.
Earl Milford noticed her and turned to Serene, saying, "Perfect timing. The housekeeper, Miss Michelle, is here to escort you to your room."
Serene nodded and engaged in a brief farewell chat with Earl Milford and the three clergy members before walking over to the housekeeper.
The housekeeper bowed politely to Serene and addressed her with respect. "Please follow me, Miss Mirian."
...
The corridor was illuminated by wall lamps that cast a soft yellow glow, enhancing the ancient and historical ambiance of the stone-carved walls. At regular intervals along the corridor were intricately carved wooden doors, each with a unique design, and from the cracks beneath the doors, faint rays of light could be seen escaping.
The housekeeper walked ahead, her gait steady, neither too fast nor too slow, allowing Serene to comfortably keep pace with her.
Ascending the stairs to the second floor, they finally reached the end of the spacious corridor, where a figure stood waiting in the distance.
The girl had a slender figure, skin as white as snow, and golden hair intricately braided into an elegant coiffure adorned with two shimmering hairpins. Her hands, covered in semi-transparent white gloves, rested quietly in front of her.
As they drew closer, the girl turned to face them.
Her eyes shone brightly, but her pupils were slightly vertical, and her ears were slightly pointed, indicating a hint of elven heritage.
Serene was familiar with these distinctive features.
The girl waiting for her was likely Earl Milford's daughter, Michelle, who probably had a small amount of elven blood in her veins. However, the elven ancestry was minimal, perhaps no more than one-eighth or even one-sixteenth, far less prominent than Serene's own demi-elven features when she chose to drop her disguise.
It was said that in the Protoss Empire, it wasn't uncommon to find individuals with a trace of demonic blood running through their veins. While this lineage often resulted in magical abilities that surpassed those of ordinary humans, it could also lead to extreme personality changes, a trait of the demon tribe. In an environment like the Protoss Empire, where demons were already viewed with hostility, those with mixed blood often found it difficult to get along with others.
The young girl quietly waited for Hyperian to approach, remaining silent.
"Miss Michelle, I'm Mirian, and I'll be staying here starting today," Hyperian introduced herself amicably.
Michelle scrutinized Hyperian from head to toe, her gaze icy.
"Are you going to be my sister?"
Michelle sounded disappointed as she averted her slightly aloof gaze.
"!"
Hyperian's heart skipped a beat.
That familiar feeling reminded her of her hometown, Ikelite. Ever since her father's disappearance, those who used to look down on her but dared not show it now blatantly expressed their malice without restraint, teaching her the hard lesson of fickle human nature.
After arriving on the northern continent, she had finally encountered someone who wasn't particularly friendly towards her.
"Follow me."
Without waiting for a response, Michelle turned and walked into Hyperian's room, having apparently already taken the liberty of inspecting the guest room prepared for Hyperian.
"..."
Hyperian remained silent, steeling herself to follow Michelle inside.
She had promised Earl Milford that she would take care of Michelle.
Even if Michelle was willful, Hyperian would accommodate her.
After all, she was accustomed to yielding from her time in Ikelite.
Hyperian stepped into the already open room, which exuded elegance and luxury. A large bed dominated the center, adorned with silk bedding embroidered with classic imperial patterns. Along one wall stood a spacious desk integrated with a cabinet and comfortable cotton-padded chairs, upon which various magical appliances were placed.
Meanwhile, Michelle's voice rang out again.
"You're so pretty. Don't let anyone look down on the Milford family. A count's daughter should behave like one."
Michelle continued to regard Hyperian without a hint of a smile.
Behind Michelle, on the sofa, were several new gift boxes from stores, containing what appeared to be winter clothes and unique jewelry from the Milford territory's jewelry store.
"Are...are these for me?"
Hyperian was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise as she pointed at the gifts.
"I didn't buy you much because I wasn't sure if you'd like them," Michelle explained, nodding.
"Thank you, Michelle..."
Hyperian's surprise mingled with a touch of warmth.
She suddenly felt a connection between Michelle and Earl Milford.
"You must follow the rules in our family. If you have any issues with them, you can bring them up, and we can discuss them together," Michelle instructed, seeing that Hyperian seemed less tense.
"Okay."
Hyperian listened patiently as Michelle, in a lecturing tone, laid out reasonable expectations.
"We eat dinner at six o'clock sharp. Don't be late, or Father, Mother, and I will have to wait for you," Michelle continued, outlining the family rules.
"...Alright."
Hyperian pondered for a moment, realizing that being late would mean making the entire family wait.
"Also, we do not tolerate discrimination against those with demonic blood in this household, whether it's towards our servants or towards Mother and me," Michelle added, and then after a moment's thought, she nodded, indicating that there were no other significant rules.
"Understood."
Hyperian nodded in agreement.
She had no reason to discriminate against the demon tribe, and the Milford family's rules were surprisingly fewer than she had anticipated.
Currently, she was using the ancient Demon World technique, 'Transformation Art: Human,' which she and Ranchi had obtained during their time at the Inferno Corridor Academy. Even the Empire couldn't detect that she was half-demon, and in the Protoss Empire, disguising one's race was a capital offense.
Hyperian couldn't reveal her half-demon heritage to Michelle, who believed Hyperian to be purely human.
Seeing Hyperian's straightforward agreement, Michelle once again averted her gaze.
"It's good that you're only staying in this house for a week."
Michelle frowned slightly, muttering to herself.
"..."
Hyperian's heart, which had just begun to warm, now felt a chill.
As she had expected, her presence as an outsider in Michelle's home would be met with resentment and ostracism.
However, Michelle surveyed the room with a critical eye.
"This room is too small. Father, really...to think he'd have you stay in a guest room...but we'll be leaving for Helrom in a week, so please bear with it for now," Michelle complained, clearly dissatisfied with her father's arrangements.
"..."
Hyperian felt her eyes sting with tears. Even as a duchess in Ikelite, she had never had a stepsister who treated her so kindly.
Unbeknownst to her, since arriving on the northern continent, Hyperion had been embraced by warmth from all quarters, even without her noble status as a duchess.
Michelle was a good girl; it was just that her father's typically stern demeanor might have influenced her expression of emotions.
Overall, the Milfords were kind people.
"Don't embarrass me when you get to the Imperial Capital."
Michelle said, her eyes fixed on Hyperion with a hint of concern.
"Mhm."
Hyperion responded softly this time.
"Anyone who dares to bully you will answer to the Milfords. If anyone causes you trouble, just say the word, and I'll take care of it."
So, "don't embarrass me" meant she had to fight back if she was bullied.
Hyperion gradually understood how to interpret Michelle's words.
Although Michelle was only a second-rank priestess, her background as the daughter of a count gave her an air of confidence befitting a student of Protoss College.
This feeling of being cared for reminded Hyperion of her early days at Ikelite Academy.
Back then, everyone had been unfriendly, and there were even people who actively sought to make her life miserable.
However, there was also someone at Ikelite Academy who had always watched over her...
She wondered if he would do the same if he were at Protoss Royal Magic College.
"...”
Hyperion shook her head, dispelling her fantasy.
"Rest assured, Michelle. I'm strong now."
Hyperion looked at Michelle and smiled confidently.
After training with Ranchi, receiving Tata's guidance, and undergoing the Ice Snow Witch's special training, she was no longer the same pushover she had been when she first enrolled.
"In that case, I'm relieved. If anyone deserves a beating, don't hold back. Our family can afford it, so don't worry about causing trouble for Father."
Michelle nodded, emphasizing her point.
Although she wasn't adept at expressing herself, she possessed a unique emotional intelligence. She sensed that her new sister was a pure soul and feared that she might be taken advantage of in Helrom, a place rife with greed and apathy.
After exchanging these words, a moment of silence fell between them.
Michelle's face remained expressionless, leaving Hyperion unsure of her emotions or what she wanted to convey.
"By the way, Michelle, have you heard of someone named Rocky?"
Hyperion asked tentatively.
She had been curious about this for a long time.
She had intended to ask Earl Milford privately the next time she saw him, as she didn't want the three priests to know about Ranchi's alias and whereabouts in the northern continent. Their conditions couldn't afford to worsen.
Now, she could take the opportunity to ask Michelle, who had visited the Imperial Capital of Helrom many times and might be more informed about the southern region.
"Rocky? No, I haven't. What's your relationship with him, and does he have any distinctive features? Do you need my help finding him?"
Michelle raised an eyebrow, her tone both icy and enthusiastic.
In response to Michelle's questioning, which was both chilly and enthusiastic, Hyperion shook her head vigorously and waved her hands in denial.
"He's a long-lost friend. I'll look for him when we get to the Imperial Capital."
Hearing Michelle's reply, she felt immensely relieved.
Hyperion couldn't help but sigh inwardly. It seemed that Ranchi hadn't become famous in the Northwestern Province, which was a good thing.
Although there was currently a news blockade in the northern region, causing a delay in information exchange between the Northwestern Province and the Imperial Capital of Helrom, at least a month ago, Ranchi hadn't gained notoriety in the south.
"Don't worry. I know people at Helrom Broadcasting Corporation. At most, we can issue a missing person notice, and we'll definitely find him."
Although Michelle didn't know the identity of the man her cousin was concerned about, she was confident that as long as he was in the Protoss Empire, they would be able to locate him once they arrived in Helrom.
"I look forward to seeing how good your taste in men is, sister."
Michelle's expression, upon hearing Hyperion's response, confirmed her suspicion that this man had indeed captured her cousin's heart.
To marry into their Milford family, a man must have achieved something significant in the Empire and possess ambition, a career, and talent.
She would help her cousin vet this potential suitor.
"Michelle, I think you may have misunderstood something..."
Hyperion struggled to read Michelle's subtle expressions.
However, she couldn't divulge the story of her and Ranchi's time in the Southern Continent.
But she didn't know why.
Ever since arriving on the northern continent, everyone she had encountered and everything that had happened had been filled with warmth and beauty.
Hyperion could only sigh and breathe a sigh of relief, turning her gaze to the other side of the spacious room.
Outside the window, the drizzle continued, like a melody of time. In the quiet and cozy room, she gazed through the glass at the hazy lights of the courtyard in the rain.
The ordinary scenery took on a new feeling.
Everything was just right, and it inspired people from the heart.
Even though the future in Helrom was full of unknowns and dangers, Hyperion felt empowered.
She looked forward to the moment when everything would be over.
And when she would meet him again.
(End of Chapter)
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