When Ophelia smiled at the two of them, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Evelyn, who had just been cheered up by Luo Wei, instantly felt her mood sour again.
They had only exchanged a few words, and yet... this woman couldn't wait to come over and assert her dominance...
And she’s supposed to be the fifth princess! How can someone of her status be so jealous? So unrefined!
Evelyn crossed her arms, her tone laced with dissatisfaction. "I was discussing something with my student. What? Do you need something?"
Ophelia gave her a puzzled look, her brows slightly furrowed. "Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?"
"Huh?"
Ophelia ignored her and turned directly to Luo Wei.
"Have you forgotten why we’re here?"
Luo Wei chuckled awkwardly and nodded. "I know..."
The reason they had come to this banquet was to receive an audience with the old emperor later.
Luo Wei glanced over to where Ophelia was standing, and not far from her, a middle-aged man in court attire stood with his head bowed, waiting.
"Let’s not waste time. Let’s go. Father wants to see us now."
Ophelia slowly extended her pale hand toward Luo Wei.
Luo Wei, ever the gentleman, took her hand and turned to Evelyn with an apologetic look.
"Sorry, Professor. I have some important matters to attend to today..."
"Huh—?"
Before he could finish, Ophelia, expressionless, tugged him away.
"Hmph!" Ophelia turned her head and muttered softly, "You’re quite busy, aren’t you? Leaving me alone to sneak off and meet your professor?"
Luo Wei felt wronged and quickly explained, "It’s not like that! I saw you didn’t need me, so I went to ask the professor a few questions..."
"Couldn’t those questions wait until later?" Ophelia’s expression showed clear dissatisfaction. "And what questions? Why did you need to ask her?"
Luo Wei truthfully explained the matter about the "Ring" magic.
"Ring magic?" Ophelia fell silent for a moment. She genuinely didn’t know about this.
But she wasn’t about to admit it. She sneered, "You could’ve asked Caroline! If she didn’t know, I could’ve found you the most powerful royal mage in Saint Callen!"
Luo Wei shook his head helplessly. "I didn’t want to trouble you further. You already have so many enemies. It didn’t seem right..."
"Ha!" Ophelia wasn’t buying it. "Excuses! You just wanted to see your professor, didn’t you?"
Luo Wei couldn’t admit to that, so he quickly shook his head.
"Really—?" Ophelia narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "But I think she’s quite beautiful, with a great figure. You must really like that type, don’t you?"
"That’s absurd!" Luo Wei continued to shake his head, then said with a straight face, "Too big isn’t good either. I prefer something just right, the kind that feels perfect to hold."
As he spoke, his gaze unconsciously drifted toward Ophelia’s chest.
"You scoundrel!" Ophelia glared at him, but she wasn’t about to let him off the hook.
"Even if you say that..."
"I still think there’s something between the two of you."
"After all, I heard from Caroline and the others that, despite the danger, your Professor Evelyn rushed to the estate to save you. I also heard that it was her idea to have you arrested as a suspect in the explosion case. She seems very concerned about you..."
"It’s normal for a professor to care about her student," Luo Wei said seriously and earnestly. "Professor Evelyn is very responsible."
"Is that so?" Ophelia narrowed her eyes. "But she lives in your house, doesn’t she? Such a beautiful professor, always wandering around in front of you. Are you telling me you’re not tempted?"
As she spoke, Luo Wei’s mind involuntarily recalled the times when the professor would wander around wearing nothing but a large white shirt...
Her pale thighs, and the way they swayed...
Stop!
Looking at Ophelia’s increasingly icy smile, Luo Wei put on the expression of a righteous gentleman.
"You’re overthinking it. The professor and I are completely innocent!"
"Liar!"
"I’m not..."
"You’re still lying! Didn’t I already say I wouldn’t make you kill those women anymore? Why are you so nervous?"
"I’m really not lying!"
"Hmph..."
"Ow! Why are you pinching me? Ouch—!"
The two whispered back and forth, while the servant leading the way remained silent, quietly guiding them out of the banquet hall and into the brightly lit corridor outside.
Back in the banquet hall, Evelyn, left behind, watched as the two bickered and gradually disappeared into the distance...
She let out a faint sigh.
Then, she silently ordered another cocktail.
...
Luo Wei and Ophelia, led by the middle-aged servant, wound their way through the vast palace until they arrived at a quiet and solemn study.
In the center of the room hung a half-length portrait of Charlton II. In the painting, he was clad in armor, his hands resting on a cruciform longsword, his gaze deep and penetrating.
Beside the portrait were various weapons on display, as well as the royal crest of the Wignar family—a complex emblem combining a black dragon, a sword and shield, and a thorny rose.
The emperor himself was standing by a bookshelf, flipping through a book. When he saw the two enter, he turned with a smile.
"You’re here."
Ophelia looked at her father and nodded slightly. "Yes."
Luo Wei placed a hand on his chest and gave a slight bow. "Your Majesty."
"No need for formalities," the emperor said with a hearty laugh, setting the book down.
Luo Wei looked up at him. Although he had seen the emperor’s image once before during the first timeline, it had been during a grand festival scene, and his features hadn’t been clear. This was the first time he had seen the emperor up close.
Carlton Gordian Wignar.
Because there had been another Carlton before him, he was also known as Charlton II.
Charlton II looked much older than in the portrait. The old emperor’s temples were streaked with gray, his frame thin and slightly hunched. At first glance, it was hard to connect him with the ruler of an empire that dominated the northern continent through Magical Industry, steel, guns, and trade.
But Luo Wei wasn’t about to underestimate him. He had already witnessed the emperor’s iron-fisted approach to the "Magic Crystal Act," and it was hard to say what role he had played behind the scenes in the cultist case...
This old man, nearing the end of his life, was far more cunning than he appeared.
"Don’t just stand there. Have a seat," Charlton II said, gesturing to the chairs.
Once they were seated, the emperor sat in the main chair and looked at Ophelia with concern.
"How’s your recovery going? I heard you..." He paused. "I heard you had another episode?"
"I’m fine now. You don’t need to worry," Ophelia replied softly.
"How’s living back in the palace? Are you adjusting well?" he asked.
"I’m adjusting," Ophelia nodded again.
"And the food? You’ve been away for so long. Do you find the palace cuisine unfamiliar?"
Ophelia looked at him, her expression still unchanged. She simply gave a soft "Mm."
"Everything’s fine."
After that, the old emperor seemed at a loss for words, and the study fell into a long, awkward silence.
The chilly and uncomfortable atmosphere made Luo Wei fidget in his seat.
He glanced at the two of them, thinking, *Are you two father and daughter or strangers who just met yesterday? Why does it feel like you’re not close at all?*
Seeing Charlton II sitting there in silence, Luo Wei tried to catch Ophelia’s eye, urging her to at least give the old emperor some face and not leave him hanging.
Her light-colored eyes shifted over, glanced at him, and then turned away again.
Still, she said nothing.
Luo Wei pursed his lips. *Fine, if she doesn’t want to talk, she doesn’t have to. Maybe this is just how they interact...*
*I shouldn’t meddle.*
However, Charlton II, noticing Luo Wei’s amusing expression, suddenly chuckled and shook his head.
"I heard you’re a top student at Callen University?"
Luo Wei smiled and nodded. "I’m currently a first-year in the Magic Engineering Major."
Charlton II studied Luo Wei and asked, "I’ve heard a bit about you. They say you’re quite knowledgeable about non-human species? And you’ve never experienced the madness that comes with being a superhuman?"
Luo Wei didn’t expect the conversation to suddenly shift to him. He replied, “My family is full of scholars, and they have a unique perspective on mysticism. As for me, in this field...”
Luo Wei noticed that the old emperor seemed genuinely interested, so he went on at length, and the emperor nodded from time to time as he listened.
What started as an awkward silence caused by a communication breakdown between the father and daughter was now revitalized, all thanks to Luo Wei’s input...