Volume 2, Chapter 48 – Yuan’er? Xia’er?

Miss Yumo fell into a state of total bewilderment as she looked at the middle-aged woman who had pulled her into a hug without a word and claimed to be her “grandmother”. Her little head was filled with question marks.

However, Afnora, the noblewoman, did not notice Yumo’s confusion. At this moment, she was simply too emotional, tightly embracing Yumo while constantly feeling the warmth of her granddaughter. Amidst her excitement, tears couldn’t help but slide down Afnora’s cheeks.

“This is wonderful, Yuan’er. It’s good that you’re alright, just as long as you’re alright…”

Seeing this scene, the members of the Blizzard Knight Order who had followed behind revealed smiles of touched emotion. They stood silently at the street corner, watching this “heartwarming” moment. As for the onlookers who had been watching for a long time, they erupted into a cacophony of cheers after seeing Big Beard sent flying by the noblewoman’s punch. When they saw her embrace the pink-haired girl, the phrase “as I thought” seemed to flash in many of their eyes.

Although her attitude had changed a lot, “As expected, it really is the Young Lady.” The people couldn’t help but murmur in admiration.

…

‘The reactions of these people…’

Yumo’s azure eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced at her surroundings, noting the Noblewoman’s excitement and the expressions of the crowd. At this moment, she completely understood why those people had looked at her with such strange eyes earlier. Was that slave girl actually a noble lady before? Was it really such a coincidence?

‘Hmm, she was clearly a noble of Windward City, so how did she become a slave? If I hadn’t stepped in, that girl would have died right there in the forest.’

Reαⅾ οո KatRеаdіոɡСafе

‘Forget it, I shouldn’t think about that for now. It’s better to handle the situation at hand first.’

Glancing at the noblewoman who was crying like a pear blossom in the rain, Yumo abandoned the idea of putting her to sleep, considering how emotional she was and the fact that she had just “saved” her. Furthermore, a woman at the early saint tier suddenly falling unconscious on the street would certainly arouse suspicion.

Therefore, Yumo intentionally put on a confused little expression and spoke slowly in a cute, innocent tone. “Um, thank you for saving me. Also, may I ask who you are?”

“Yuan… Yuan’er?” Afnora trembled all over upon hearing the girl’s puzzled words. She released the girl in disbelief, her violet eyes filled with worry. “Yuan’er, don’t you remember me?”

Facing this question, Miss Yumo continued to maintain an “innocent” expression and tilted her head in confusion as she replied, “Yuan’er? Who is that? I’m sorry, Madam, you must have the wrong person.”

“The wrong person?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Hearing this and feeling a temperament completely different from Yuan’er, the agitated Afnora gradually calmed her heart. After wiping away her tears, she carefully observed the delicate pink-haired girl before her.

Rеaԁ оn ΚatRеаdіngСafе

A moment later, Afnora’s eyes narrowed slightly as she pursed her lips with a complex expression. “Indeed, you are not Yuan’er…”

Upon hearing this, Miss Yumo maintained her timid appearance on the surface, but she was smiling inwardly. ‘Heehee, as I thought.’ When she had used her Shadow Essence to change her appearance, she had used that pink-haired girl, Yuan’er, as a reference, but she hadn’t copied her perfectly. She had only simulated the general appearance, height, and voice, while leaving some differences in the facial features.

It was enough to fool those slave traders, but for family and friends who lived with the girl day and night, such differences should be noticeable. She was merely a stranger who looked somewhat similar to her granddaughter.

As it turned out, Yumo’s judgment was quite correct. This woman who claimed to be her grandmother showed a look of stunned realization after a moment of careful observation, having likely discovered the fact that she had mistaken her identity.

Thinking of this, Miss Yumo sighed inwardly. “I’m sorry, Madam,” Yumo said, putting on an act as she timidly met the noblewoman’s violet eyes.

According to Yumo’s judgment, after the woman realized she wasn’t her granddaughter, she would probably offer a couple of apologies and then release her shoulders. After that, Yumo could happily return to the Guest Reception Hall to find Mengxi. She had been out for so long that if she didn’t return soon, that girl would surely worry.

However, when Yumo met Afnora’s eyes, her brow furrowed and her heart skipped a beat. ‘Wait… what’s going on now?!’

At this moment, Yumo was surprised to find that the Noblewoman had no intention of letting her go. Instead, she gripped her shoulders even tighter, her violet eyes brimming with unspeakable excitement and joy. In the next instant, the bewildered Yumo was once again pulled into Afnora’s embrace.

Rеаd оո KаtRеadіոgСafe

“Xia’er! I finally found you!” The woman’s voice was filled with emotion, and her entire body trembled with excitement.

‘Meow?!’ In that instant, Yumo’s mind went completely blank. ‘What in the world is happening?! And who the hell is Xia’er?!’

Within the Marquis’s estate in the central district of Windward City, a man with light pink hair had his head bandaged like a mummy. He was leaning on a cane, struggling to walk through the manor as if performing some kind of rehabilitation exercise. If Yumo were here, she would likely recognize him as the noble who had tried to kiss the back of her hand after she entered the city, Benjamin Duke.

However, due to some unknown reason, Benjamin had failed to get his way and had instead crashed headfirst into an ice lake. His head had been bloodied on the spot and he had suffered a grade three concussion, leaving him unable to properly coordinate his mind and body. He was currently in a wobbly state.

“Damn it, what exactly happened back then?” Benjamin couldn’t help but mutter indignantly. Although he wasn’t sure why the horse had been startled, judging by the reaction of the Blackrose Family at the time, the loss of control of his mount was most likely related to them.

However, despite the resentment in his heart, Benjamin did not have the courage to confront the Blackrose Family. Not even the entire Duke Family could be compared to the Blackrose Family, let alone a second heir like him. He had to endure what must be endured.

Reаⅾ оո ΚatRеaⅾіոgСαfе

Still, recalling the beautiful eyes of the Blackrose Family’s young lady from that day, a heart-pounding sensation surfaced in Benjamin’s heart. If he could win that lady’s heart, he would certainly gain the support of the Blackrose Family. With their help, the difficulty of obtaining the title of Marquis in the future would surely be greatly reduced.

Fantasizing about his beautiful future life, Benjamin couldn’t help but show a satisfied smile. Just then, the sound of a carriage caught Benjamin’s attention, causing the pink-haired man to look toward the manor’s gate with curiosity. In the next moment, under the gaze of Benjamin and a group of maidservants, a high-end yet understated carriage entered the manor under the escort of a group of knights.

‘Oh? It seems the Madam has returned.’ Realizing this, Benjamin hurried to have a maidservant tidy his clothes, preparing to go up and greet Afnora. After all, as a distant relative, if he wanted to obtain the title of Marquis, he first had to gain the approval of the Marquis’s wife.

However, just as Benjamin prepared to step forward to welcome Afnora, the following scene struck him like a bolt from the blue. He froze on the spot, unable to regain his senses for a long time as his eyes bulged like eggs and his mouth hung open wide enough to swallow a football.

The carriage door opened and Afnora slowly stepped down. If it were just the Madam, Benjamin would not have lost his composure so much. But the problem was the person the Madam was holding in her arms!

Under the shocked and excited gazes of all the servants, an exquisite little girl was carried out of the carriage in Afnora’s arms. Staring fixedly at that familiar face and seeing the girl who should have been long dead appear once again, Benjamin clenched his fists so hard they trembled.

‘No, no, it’s impossible! Yuan’er?! How is she still alive?!’ Those… those useless trash!