Chapter 38 - 37: Unwelcome Guest

Chapter 38: Chapter 37: Unwelcome Guest

One week later.

Lilia changed into the gown prepared for her. The off-the-shoulder design perfectly accentuated the girl’s neckline and shoulders, while layers of pale pink satin cascaded into an intricate skirt. It resembled a blooming rose, lively and brimming with Life Force.

Lilia lifted her skirt and twirled in front of the full-length mirror. The pristine glass reflected the girl’s agile figure, making her look like a fairy from a mirrored world.

Caius stood nearby, watching her. Lilia turned to him. "How do I look?"

"Beautiful." Caius’s response was as concise as ever. He walked over to the wardrobe, took out a pure white shawl, and handed it to Lilia. "It’s cold outside. This will keep you warm." His gaze fell on the girl’s bare shoulders. "Shall I help you?"

Lilia ignored him, snatching the shawl and leaving the room.

The carriage was already waiting downstairs.

The guest list for this banquet was indeed magnificent. Count Beaumont had been exchanging non-stop pleasantries with the Nobles the moment their carriage parked.

Stepping into the banquet hall revealed a scene of absolute splendor. The Beaumont family hadn’t arrived early, and most of the guests were already present. A single glance took in a sea of glamorous dresses and elegant figures, looking incredibly luxurious under the brilliant lights.

Unlike banquets she attended at the invitation of her classmates, Lilia would not be the main character in the presence of the Beaumont couple. All she had to do was follow quietly behind them like a quiet, well-behaved accessory.

This time, however, just as Lilia had suspected, they were subtly pushing her into the spotlight.

Lilia listened quietly as Lady Beaumont introduced her to another lady, maintaining a perfectly measured, docile smile on her face.

The other woman’s expression grew increasingly satisfied as she looked at her. "What a well-behaved child."

"Yes, indeed. Lilia has lived with the Beaumont family for over a decade. I’ve watched her grow up, and she feels just like my own daughter..."

The two women went back and forth, both perfectly aware of each other’s underlying intentions.

Knowing she had no place in their conversation, Lilia took advantage of the ladies’ shifting attention to idly observe her surroundings out of boredom.

Not far away, Caius was being led by Count Beaumont to greet the other Nobles. As he was nearing adulthood and would soon graduate from Lien Academy to take over the Beaumont family’s businesses—and even attend important functions in the Earl’s stead—it was highly necessary for him to familiarize himself with future "partners" in advance.

Lilia only cast him a single glance, but Caius sharply looked up. Their eyes met in the air before Lilia looked away first, turning her gaze elsewhere.

She had thought she would be able to run into Lucian here, but after all this time, she still hadn’t seen him. She wondered if the Williams family had fallen so far from grace that they were no longer invited to banquets.

"Lilia?" The Countess suddenly called her name.

Lilia turned her head and heard the Countess instruct, "You must be tired after standing for so long. Why don’t you go over there to rest and get something to eat?"

Lilia naturally understood her meaning. There was likely something they needed to discuss in detail that she wasn’t supposed to hear. Thus, she nodded obediently and agreed.

"You truly dote on her."

"Of course. You know I’ve always wanted another daughter, but my health wouldn’t allow it. Lilia’s arrival fulfilled that long-standing wish..."

The ladies’ conversation was left behind her.

Following instructions, Lilia approached the dining table and surveyed the dazzling array of delicacies.

To preserve their intended taste, most of the items were cold dishes or desserts. Lilia wasn’t particularly hungry, and furthermore, her gown was form-fitting; eating even a little too much would cause her stomach to protrude. At times like this, one had to acknowledge the advantage men possessed in this regard—no matter how much they ate, their suits covered everything perfectly.

Lilia picked and chose, eventually selecting two small pieces of cake that wouldn’t take up much room in her stomach, intending to slowly enjoy them on a corner sofa.

Right at that moment.

[You feel a bit bored and want to find a place to pass the time. You choose to go to:]

[A: The corner sofa.]

[B: The empty garden.]

[C: Wander around.]

...Options?

The appearance of options meant this was a crucial branching point in the plot. Whenever this happened, Lilia couldn’t help but inwardly criticize the game mechanics of *Holy Sanctuary*.

As a text-based game, the lack of a save feature in the early stages was practically designed to drive perfectionists crazy. Since there was no opportunity for trial and error, she had to carefully consider which option to pick.

With no hope of successfully capturing Caius’s heart, Lilia’s current goal was naturally to interact with Lucian as much as possible. She had searched the banquet hall for a long time without ever catching a glimpse of him. Originally, she thought the Williams family hadn’t been invited, but these options proved that Lucian was actually present.

Present, but nowhere nearby... The most likely place was the "empty garden."

As for the "corner sofa"? Perhaps she would run into Caius there, who knew.

Lilia unhesitatingly chose B.

Lifting her skirt, the girl navigated through the mingling crowd and slipped into the garden located behind the banquet hall.

The clamor of voices was sealed off by the heavy doors, replaced entirely by profound silence. The bright Moon hung high in the sky, illuminating the lush and thriving foliage. In the distance, the surface of the lake resembled a mirror, reflecting the sky above.

She wondered if there was really anyone in a place like this.

Lilia took two steps forward. Ahead lay a small path that seemed to lead straight to the back door of the Duke Mansion.

Just as Lilia drew closer, she heard the faint squeak of turning hinges in the distance.

Someone had come in. She instinctively hid herself.

The arrivals were two servants, followed by Lucian in formal attire.

"Where exactly are we going?" he asked, his voice carrying its usual relaxed and lazy tone. "The banquet isn’t being held out here, is it?"

"Mr. Williams," the servant’s tone held a feigned reverence. "You are one of the Duke’s most important guests. He wishes to meet with you privately."

"I see." Lucian chuckled. "What an honor."

Seeing that he had been successfully fooled, the servant had just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the young man behind him speak softly. "I wonder if you two have noticed how beautiful the Moon is tonight."

The two servants paused, instinctively glancing upward. Lilia, hiding in the corner, did the same. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The moment the full Moon entered their vision, a sudden, soft sound erupted in their ears.

Lucian snapped his fingers, and the two servants collapsed limply to the ground, clearly having been hit by a sleep Magic spell.

Lilia snapped back to reality.

The young man looked down at the two unconscious servants on the ground, a frivolous and lazy smile playing on his lips. Just as he was about to turn and leave, Lilia glanced down and spotted a dry twig.

She stepped on it hard.

CRACK. The faint sound immediately drew the young man’s attention.