Chapter 123: Aftermath and Plans

With the final rankings announced, Lucia’s last Monster Hunt Exercise before her coming-of-age ceremony finally concluded. Lucia’s team had rightfully claimed the top spot.

Moreover, Attestor had survived, ensuring that Lucia and Imeline’s personalities would not undergo drastic changes. Unlike in the original story, they would not blame Lovelenica for a friend’s death. This outcome allowed Lovelenica to remain better hidden within the Arcadia Kingdom.

During their return journey to the Royal City, Lovelenica’s mind was constantly occupied with her future strategies.

Regarding Julie’s deployment of private soldiers to attack Lucia’s team, Lovelenica naturally intended to seek justice for them upon their return. However, she had no intention of revealing the existence of these private soldiers to anyone else.

Just as Julie had previously surmised, even though Lovelenica knew these were the Crimson Family’s private soldiers, she couldn’t disclose it to anyone. Lovelenica herself was a Bloodkin, the Crimson Family’s greatest secret.

No matter how she felt about the Crimson Family, Lovelenica could not reveal even a shred of this information. Such an act would be akin to walking into her own trap; not only would the Crimson Family be annihilated, but she herself would be hunted by the Arcadia Kingdom.

Therefore, not only could she not reveal it, but she was also compelled to help Julie keep the secret.

Her only hope was that Julie wouldn’t continue to act foolishly. While it had been satisfying to watch Julie’s initial arrogance during the ranking announcement give way to silent defeat, Lovelenica viewed Julie’s statements as nothing short of self-sabotage.

Julie, despite never having encountered those mysterious figures, had managed to fabricate an entire battle sequence with them. This was beyond what could be explained by mere cleverness or strong psychological resilience.

Fortunately, the Arcadia Kingdom harbored an intense hatred for Fantasy Creatures, and people’s ingrained biases wouldn’t lead them to such conclusions. Otherwise, Julie’s self-incrimination regarding Lovelenica being a Bloodkin of the Crimson Family would inevitably make her a harbinger of the Crimson Family’s downfall.

‘If anyone were to question Julie’s words,’ Lovelenica mused, ‘I could simply claim I had told her everything myself.’

After all, she had indeed interacted with those mysterious individuals and was a member of the Crimson Family. Even if she had shared detailed information with Julie, it wouldn’t seem strange. Those unfamiliar with their relationship would naturally believe her explanation.

****

Beyond these concerns, a far more critical matter weighed on her mind: the whereabouts of the Crimson Skull.

Although Lovelenica hadn’t reported anything concerning the Hillebach Duchy, the Guardians dispatched to investigate the Lost City were bound to discover traces of arcane weaponry. Just as in the original story, the Arcadia Kingdom would initiate an investigation into the Hillebach Duchy.

In the original narrative, no clues were ever found, and the matter simply faded away. However, two incidents involving artificial Bloodkin had already occurred. With the clear indication that the enemy was artificial Bloodkin, the Hillebach Duchy appeared exceedingly suspicious.

At the opportune moment, she would simply have Olivia leak some intelligence, then lead Lucia’s team to intercept. This would unequivocally confirm the Hillebach Duchy’s transgressions, providing a legitimate pretext for war.

A sigh escaped Lovelenica’s lips as she considered this, seated within the carriage.

The current plot had diverged significantly from the original story. With Attestor alive, the subsequent team would naturally be a trio. In the original, after their coming-of-age ceremony, Lucia and Imeline’s first mission was merely to clear some goblin villages on the kingdom’s border. Given the present circumstances, however, they were likely to participate in a war against the Hillebach Duchy—a difference in difficulty that was anything but minor.

Still, with some time remaining until the coming-of-age ceremony, they could prepare a little more.

Imeline, sharing the carriage with Lovelenica, was likewise lost in a whirlwind of thoughts.

She was one of the few who harbored doubts about Julie.

After gaining the favor of her helpers, various clues swirled chaotically in her mind: private soldiers linked to Bloodkin, orphans in the orphanage from whom large amounts of blood had been drawn, and other missing orphans. The implications of these clues were terrifying. Imeline dared not jump to conclusions; she only wished to return to the Royal City quickly and, once again with Nikola, delve into the secrets behind the Crimson Family.

“Teacher, are you feeling carsick again?”

Lovelenica’s loud sigh drew the attention of Lucia, who was seated beside her on the same side of the carriage. Lucia turned, her expression filled with concern, and asked.

“No.”

Lovelenica shook her head, a mischievous idea flashing through her mind. Since only the four of them were in the carriage, it would be best to take the initiative and resolve the Julie matter directly. If others were to question her later, covering for Julie would seem too deliberate.

“I was merely lamenting how utterly disappointing the Third Miss of our family has become.”

“The Third Miss of the family? You mean Julie?”

Lucia tilted her head, asking with a puzzled frown.

Lovelenica nodded, her expression one of profound disappointment, as if lamenting a lost cause.

“Indeed. If her points were acquired through a transaction, why couldn’t she simply state it? Instead, she had to pretend to have been attacked by black-clad figures. Now, her lie has been exposed, and her points are still recorded as the highest in history. This is a monumental disgrace; she’s practically nailed to a pillar of shame. If no one ever surpasses that score, won’t she be mocked for life? The family’s reputation is in tatters. She’s certainly in for a severe punishment when we return.”

“She reaps what she sows.”

Attestor’s response was concise. Julie’s demeanor had utterly disgusted her, and being nailed to a pillar of shame was nothing less than she deserved.

Imeline, however, offered no opinion. She was currently attempting to connect the various clues she had gathered, and thus remained silent.

“Oh, I see…”

After hearing Lovelenica’s sigh, Lucia looked slightly surprised, then a faint smile bloomed on her face.

“Teacher, it seems you still care about them, even if only a little. After all, no matter what, they are your family.”

Lucia’s words nearly short-circuited Lovelenica’s brain. Her own earlier statements had merely been laying the groundwork to cover for Julie later. How had Lucia arrived at such a conclusion?

“Cough, cough, cough. What do you mean? I don’t quite understand.”

Lovelenica coughed awkwardly twice.

“Weren’t you just feeling sorry for Julie? If she hadn’t done those things, she wouldn’t have ended up in such a predicament, facing such humiliation. Even though you’re from a branch family, Julie is still your family, isn’t she? You watched her grow up. Seeing her like this, it must be hard on you, right?”

Lucia believed Lovelenica’s words were born of pity for Julie. Lucia, after all, was no noble; she had lost both her parents at a young age, which made her value and yearn for familial affection all the more. Lucia had almost attacked Julie earlier precisely because Julie had spoken ill of Lovelenica’s sister.

Lovelenica’s words now sounded as if she had softened towards Julie, unwilling to see her in such a state. Yet, in Lucia’s eyes, this very softness was proof of Lovelenica’s inherent goodness, which was why she had smiled.

If Lovelenica was capable of such compassion, then she would certainly never use Lucia for any nefarious purpose. Therefore, Lucia concluded, Lovelenica must truly care for her.

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