Chapter 2: Want to Play with Her

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Want to Play with Her

[Mrs. Julian is a neighbor who lives on the same street as you. You often bring your pocket money to her shop to buy bread.]

[The bread here is fragrant, soft, and delicious. Most importantly, Mrs. Julian really likes you and always gives you an extra new pastry for free.]

[She always says that because you look so adorable standing obediently at the door, many customers are drawn in. You are her mascot, so she insists on paying you a wage. She also makes sure to tell you any interesting news first...]

"I passed by the Violet District yesterday and heard a Countess moved in there," Mrs. Julian said.

"A Countess?"

"An incredibly powerful noble." A paper bag filled with bread was stuffed into Lilia’s arms before Mrs. Julian handed her another box of gingerbread. "Fresh out of the oven. Take it to eat on the way."

"Thank you! Wishing you a prosperous business!"

The girl looked up with a smile. The morning sunlight spilled over her, making her delicate face look even more lustrous and jade-like, resembling a beautiful porcelain doll in a shop window. Holding her bread, she walked out of the shop.

"Good morning, Lilia."

"Good morning, Mrs. Wood. You’re as radiant as ever~"

Neighbors constantly greeted Lilia as she passed by. The newly six-year-old girl wore a beautiful princess dress, looking like a little pink puffball. Coupled with her well-behaved, polite, and sweet-talking nature, absolutely everyone who met her adored her.

She walked all the way to the Violet District.

The Countess Mrs. Julian mentioned lived here. Lilia wanted to study at the Lien Royal Magic Academy, which required a recommendation letter from a noble. In such a remote, out-of-the-way town, running into a noble was as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack. Therefore, this Countess was Lilia’s only chance. She had to build a good relationship with her and get that recommendation letter to proceed to the main stage of the story.

If she failed, she would have to reroll her stats again. The cost was too high; Lilia couldn’t bear to even think about it.

The residents of the Violet District were either rich or noble. After wandering around the area, Lilia finally found her destination. The property was imposing, featuring high walls, a courtyard blooming with flowers, and a three-story villa with red bricks and white tiles at the end of the path.

Lilia stood at the courtyard gate, not going inside. The security at a noble’s residence was bound to be strict. If she rashly barged in, she would probably be kicked out. She needed to find a suitable excuse...

Just as she was thinking this, a tiny figure emerged from the backyard and entered her line of sight. It was a boy around her age. He had handsome, refined features and wore a crisp white shirt and black shorts with meticulous neatness. At first glance, he looked like a serious little adult.

The boy clearly noticed her as well. His dark, fathomless eyes looked over, resembling the sudden descent of an eternal night.

[Caius Beaumont].

Lilia recognized him at a glance. He was Count Beaumont’s eldest son, a once-in-a-century magic genius, and one of the game’s capturable characters. So, it was his mother who lived here.

Lilia suddenly had an idea. Hugging her bread, she ran off with a quick PATTER PATTER PATTER of footsteps.

When the little pink puffball suddenly disappeared, Caius instinctively wanted to take a step forward but forcefully held himself back. Since moving here, this was the first time he had seen someone his own age. That girl was very cute. She was so cute that she didn’t seem like she was born in this border town; instead, she looked like a little lady from a noble family.

Had he scared her away?

Caius lowered his eyes. Without dwelling on it any further, he turned and walked into the villa.

Meanwhile, Lilia found her childhood playmate. She was a little girl named Betty, with blonde hair and green eyes, and she was very pretty. Since she was playing a game, Lilia never mistreated herself; she only befriended good-looking people.

After seeing Caius just now, Lilia already had an idea of how to connect with the Countess. It was perfectly reasonable for a six-year-old girl to want to find peers to play with. However, she couldn’t step forward to do this herself. She had heard that some nobles didn’t treat commoners as humans at all and might casually kill them if they found them displeasing. Lilia’s life was too precious. She couldn’t take the risk.

[You have met Betty. Betty asks why you are looking for her.]

[A: I missed you, so I came to play with you.]

[B: Do you want to meet a new friend?]

The options appeared.

"Lilia?" Betty stood in front of Lilia, blinking her pretty green eyes. They held a trace of curiosity and the joy of seeing her best friend. Lilia was very popular among their peers. Everyone wanted to be her good friend, but Lilia was only willing to play with her. She liked Lilia the best.

"Betty, do you want to meet a new friend?" Lilia asked.

"Who?"

"He lives in the Violet District." Lilia took Betty’s hand. "Come on, I’ll take you to find him."

Lilia always had a mind of her own. When they were together, Betty often unconditionally followed her arrangements. This time was no exception.

Betty was led by Lilia to the Countess’s residence. Under Lilia’s encouragement, the girl cautiously walked into the courtyard. Lilia hid by the gate, observing in secret.

Noticing someone entering, the person who came out to greet them wasn’t the butler, but Caius.

"Who are you?" The six-year-old boy asked, his voice deliberately lowered and aloof.

Betty stammered and instinctively looked behind her. Lilia, who had only poked her little head out, immediately ducked back upon seeing this. Unexpectedly, Caius still caught a glimpse of her.

He realized it was her.

"E-Excuse me, would you like to play with us?" Betty asked.

"Us?"

"Mhm! Me, and Lilia."

"Lilia..." Caius asked. "Did she ask you to come find me?"

"Ah... How did you know?"

Hearing Betty’s answer, Caius understood the situation perfectly, while Lilia felt a bit stifled. Kids were just unreliable; they blurted out everything the moment they were asked.

As the eldest son of the Earl, Caius could not decide on his own whether to go out. Therefore, he asked Betty to wait a moment and went inside to seek permission from his mother, Lady Beaumont.

Caius had always been well-behaved, or rather, dull in temperament. He rarely went out when they were in the Capital, let alone after moving to this unfamiliar little town. The Countess found his sudden request very strange and asked for his reason.

Caius thought for a moment. The first thing that surfaced in his mind was the girl’s beautiful eyes and the sight of her back as she turned and ran away. Her skirt had fluttered like a dancing butterfly.

But Caius knew his mother would not allow him to make friends on his own, especially not commoner friends from here.

Caius looked up and said expressionlessly, "I’ve been reading for too long. It’s a bit stuffy, so I want to go for a walk."

"I see. Then I’ll have Alfr accompany you."

"There’s no need, Mother. I’ll be back shortly."

The Countess agreed.

Caius led Betty out of the courtyard gate and turned to look at the little girl hiding by the wall. Lilia didn’t show the slightest embarrassment at being caught.

"Hello, my name is Lilia. Lilia Sifris." She reached her hand out to the boy. The girl’s hand was fair and tender, like pristine snow under the sunlight.

Caius shook her hand.

"Caius."

"Caius Beaumont."

[Caius’s Favorability increases.]