Once again, Luo Wei opened his eyes and found himself back at the entrance of the manor.
Surrounding him was still that vast expanse of wheat fields. As the sun set, the magnificent sunset cast a warm golden glow over the world. A gentle breeze brushed past, stirring his hair.
Luo Wei took a deep breath of the country air.
It wasn't as fresh as he had imagined, perhaps because it was too close to the city, still carrying a faint trace of pollution.
But it was better than in the dream.
Fake was fake, no matter how much the dream world resembled a paradise, it couldn't compare to even a single hair of the real world.
【
【Save Point: Ophelia's Manor】
【Loads Remaining: 3/5】
Back again...
Unlike the first two times, when he was completely clueless and cautiously wary, this time he had deliberately loaded the save. Moreover, a plan had already begun to take shape in his mind.
A plan aimed at Ophelia.
"Mr. Luo Wei, please follow me."
The man in black leading the way, perhaps better described as a "Shadow Guard," politely nodded to Luo Wei.
Then, he led him to the manor's dining room.
This dining room, he had visited countless times in his dreams, to the point where he could recite the position of every furnishing with his eyes closed.
Of course, what he was even more familiar with was Ophelia's face before him.
Perhaps because it was his third rewind, or perhaps because he already had the confidence to face her, this time Luo Wei noticed many details he hadn't before.
Her hands were behind her back, gripping tightly, as if she didn't want anyone to see her anxious state.
Her expression didn't change much, still as indifferent and calm as ever.
However, the glimmer in her eyes the moment she saw Luo Wei revealed her true emotions.
A barely noticeable smile curled at the corner of Luo Wei's mouth.
Next, it was his turn.
"Luo Wei."
Ophelia didn't know what he was thinking, still standing in place, not stepping forward.
She asked with a smile:
"It's been four years, have you missed—"
Before she could finish, she was pulled into a tight embrace.
Ophelia let out a small gasp.
Because Luo Wei's hug was too tight, too passionate, it made her feel like she couldn't breathe.
The Shadow Guard and the maids quickly excused themselves.
"Luo Wei!"
She squirmed slightly, a bit displeased, "Do you miss me that much? You're so passionate, it's not like you at all..."
Luo Wei responded with an even more passionate embrace.
He held her tightly, pressing her close, as if wanting to merge them into one.
Ophelia had never felt such a hug before, strong yet fiery, even Luo Wei's eyes at this moment seemed like a flame about to erupt...
As if wanting to melt her.
Ophelia only struggled symbolically for a moment before shyly lowering her head.
Her cheeks grew redder, her cherry-colored lips slightly parted, breathing in small gasps.
Although she didn't know what had gotten into Luo Wei, but...
She liked this Luo Wei, and she liked this kind of hug.
It seemed that no one had ever expressed such strong emotions to her before.
Not just love...
But a kind of... cherishing.
As if she were a long-forgotten treasure, finally discovered after a long wait, truly valued...
The two held each other tightly until much later.
Luo Wei looked down at the pair of light-colored eyes so close to his.
He smiled and said:
"Ophelia, long time no see."
Hopefully, this would be the last time he said this.
...
After a cozy dinner by flickering candlelight, Luo Wei stayed at the manor.
Familiar dialogues, familiar scenes repeated once more. Luo Wei, like last time, tried his best to placate Ophelia while agreeing to her various requests.
He followed the manor's rules, not allowed to leave, not allowed to make her angry, and...
To learn noble etiquette with Caroline.
The next evening, after a whole day of learning horseback riding, Luo Wei, tired and sleepy, collapsed onto the sofa.
He pretended to doze off, slightly closing his eyes.
He knew what this meant; Ophelia and Caroline would take the opportunity to hypnotize him.
This would be his first entry into Ophelia's constructed Dreamscape.
But he had done it on purpose.
While feigning sleep, Luo Wei heard a series of stealthy footsteps approaching.
No need to guess, it must be Caroline.
The first time she hypnotized him, he hadn't even realized it.
But this time...
"Mr. Luo Wei?"
"Mr. Luo Wei, wake up."
Caroline carefully shook Luo Wei's arm.
Luo Wei opened his eyes drowsily, letting out a heavy yawn.
"Caroline?" He pretended to be surprised, squinting his eyes, "What is it?"
"Oh, it's like this, Her Highness asked you to come over, she has something important to discuss with you."
Caroline moved even closer.
"Oh..."
Hearing that Ophelia wanted to see him, Luo Wei finally fully opened his eyes.
And just at that moment, a silver swinging pocket watch appeared before his eyes.
Then, a series of long and obscure, almost like a spell, words slowly flowed from Caroline's mouth.
Luo Wei finally saw the full starting move of Caroline's hypnosis, which piqued his curiosity.
To be honest, it was his first time seeing someone in this world use something akin to magic.
The "Hunters" he had seen before were just using alchemical tools, and "Wizards" were more like a physical mutation.
Evelyn's Vampire Magic was quite mysterious, but it was actually the innate talent of the Vampire Clan.
And the Caroline before him was truly using a kind of "hypnosis" magic ability.
"You must be very tired, very sleepy..."
She leaned close to Luo Wei, speaking softly.
"Why not rest a bit, sleep for a while..."
Staring at the swinging pocket watch, accompanied by her gentle voice, Luo Wei's gaze gradually became hazy.
It had to be said, this move was indeed magical; he now felt so tired it was as if he had stayed awake for three whole days, as if he would lose consciousness at any moment.
Fatigue kept rising, and he slowly closed his eyes.
Luo Wei's consciousness was in a complex state of being both blurry and clear, because this time he wasn't completely defenseless; he had left a precaution.
Before falling asleep, he repeatedly gave himself psychological suggestions in his mind.
Next, I am in a dream, not reality.
Repeat once, repeat ten times.
Repeat a hundred times...
Luo Wei had read some psychology books before, especially ones like "The Interpretation of Dreams," which he had just treated as casual reading at the time. Who would have thought they would actually come in handy one day.
Before loading the save, during his last confrontation with Ophelia, he had already confirmed that he possessed this ability. He could enter a "lucid dream" state of light sleep.
He could maintain conscious awareness in dreams, even possessing self-action capabilities.
Only by doing this would he not get lost in Ophelia's Dreamscape, allowing him to achieve what he wanted to do.
...
It was a peaceful afternoon, with blue skies and clouds spreading out.
In this remote and backward countryside, there was a completely different pace of life from the palace. From a high vantage point in the manor, light-colored eyes curiously observed the world outside the window.
She didn't know what those farmers were usually busy with, but the cattle and sheep in the farmhouses seemed very gentle, would they feel soft to the touch? The noisy children gathered together, seemed to be playing with some interesting toys, which were things she had never seen before.
Ophelia had always been fascinated by the outside world, but she had never experienced it herself.
Not because she didn't want to, but because she couldn't.
She was the second daughter of the king, the youngest child in the royal family. In fact, her life shouldn't have been so lonely, so dull.
Even her older sister wasn't like this.
It was said that she was very mischievous when she was young, so the king specially summoned some girls of similar age from noble families to play with her.
But she had nothing, and for a long time, she was confined, forbidden from going out, let alone making friends...
Ophelia turned away sadly, not wanting to look at the children's excited and happy expressions anymore.
The small figure curled up by the window, the wind outside lifting her silver hair.
She actually knew the reason.
It was said that on the day she was born, there were ominous signs in the sky, terrifyingly dreadful.
Her mother also passed away due to complications during childbirth.
They all said that her birth would bring doom to the empire.
Ophelia had heard this from a young servant, who claimed it was what the Archbishop of the Church had proclaimed. However, later it was said that the Archbishop was executed by her father, the king.
But no matter what, even at a very young age, Ophelia understood that because of this, she was not liked.
Her older brothers and sisters didn't like her, never played with her, and didn't even greet her.
Whenever there was a rare court gathering and she gained a little freedom, those noble young ladies her age would avoid her, treating her as if she were a jinx...
Even the servants in her own household occasionally spread nasty rumors.
Those words made her very sad and irritable.
Gradually, Ophelia stopped speaking.
Because it was meaningless.
Once prejudice arises, no amount of explanation matters.
Ophelia had understood this truth since she was a child.
As the youngest member of the royal family, who should have been the center of attention, Ophelia was mostly confined to a cold and remote palace.
That wasn't all. A few months ago, her father sent her to this far-off countryside she had never even heard of, completely away from the hustle and bustle of the capital.
But Ophelia was actually quite happy here. She liked it; the air was good, and the scenery was beautiful.
Everything outside was full of freshness. Of course, it would be even better if she could go out to play...
The sounds of laughter and play gradually faded away. Ophelia watched as the group of children disappeared, her eyes flickering slightly.
When would I ever be able to go out and play...
Would my entire life be trapped in this exquisite cage...
What would be the point of that...
Little Ophelia, dejected, lowered her head.
Perhaps, that day would never come...
As she thought this, Ophelia suddenly heard the faint sound of metal being tapped.
She looked down in confusion.
A boy dressed in a coat, wearing a cap, and looking completely different from the local farmers, appeared in her sight.
He stood outside the manor fence, smiling at her.
Ophelia curiously examined the boy.
Who was he?