In Daisal, Hope was going around with a basket in hand, shopping through the streets. Fresh meats and vegetables filled the basket as Hope strolled with a carefree smile.
This much should be good enough for today's dinner. I bet Zixin would love to drink soup tonight. Hope nodded, strolling ahead as she went back home.
But while she was walking, a black-cloaked individual watched her from a dark alley with a gaze as sharp as a knife.
A sudden chill went up Hope's spine, her expression stiffening upon noticing someone's gaze on her. Her grip on the basket subconsciously tightened, her hands trembling. She took a deep breath, her mind coming to a stop.
Her steps halted, frowning as she raised her finger, biting into it as she spoke in irritation, "Whoever this might be, really is annoying."
She sighed, walking off for a while. However, her gaze drifted past a rare occurrence, and as though it was an instinctive move, her head turned, casting her gaze at a new stall–a book stall.
Her eyes widened, commenting inwardly: This sure is lucky. You never see someone open up a book stall in Daisal of all places, but whatever. I might as well take a look; maybe there will be a book to pass my time with.
She turned around, heading towards the newly built stall. It was quite ordinary looking, and if not for the two large words written atop, Hope would have passed it by. They were: 'Books Here.'
She simply laughed it off, forgetting it the next second as the stall owner, a middle-aged woman, came over with a stack of books.
Upon a simple glance, the books were pretty ordinary looking, but after a closer inspection, Hope found out that they were all new. She gave the woman a suspicious look before withdrawing her gaze as she listened in.
"Young lady, it seems you have an eye for goods. Here, why not have a look? Aren't these great?" The woman handed her a book.
The book cover was smooth and had a leather-like appearance, but Hope knew it wasn't, since leather-covered books were much sturdier than these. She glanced at the title, unknowingly muttering it, "Spring and Moon…"
Could I… give this to Zixin? But would he even be interested in novels–no, a romance novel? Hope shook her head, muttering to herself, "If he wouldn't take it, I'll just keep it."
She lifted her gaze, speaking with a smile, "In that case, I'll take the first two volumes."
The woman nodded, packing the two books before handing them over. She took out her wallet, paying for the books and leaving.
Right now, she carried her basket filled with meat and vegetables and two books, which ended up weighing more than she had hoped for. She sighed helplessly, tightening her grip as she headed home.
But not long after, she slowed down, purposely walking more slowly as she thought: That person is still following? Since when did I have such a freaky stalker?! Even Vanor isn't this creepy.
She stopped, heading off to a dark alley–a shortcut to Mount Lorebale.
Not even ten steps after stepping into the alley, a soft, feminine voice came from behind, "What do you need from the Young Lord?"
Young Lord? Hmm? This person must be from the Capital–Dawn Heart, since calling people by their titles is a custom there. This is a privilege of the Longevity Bloodline, the Bloodline that Zixin is a part of. Honestly speaking, I don't believe that Zixin deserves such respect, but it's not about him; it's about his Bloodline, after all, the Founder was from this Bloodline. Hope quickly gathered her thoughts, turning around to face the stalker.
But all she saw was someone dressed in a dark cloak, and due to the lack of light inside the alley, their face was hidden behind the darkness.
How is this person connected to Zixin? Hope wondered until a sudden idea hit her.
She backed off a few steps, her expression filled with worry, "I… um… I'm but a humble servant."
The figure stepped forward, but at that moment, Hope's grip went loose, her feet ready as she dashed forward.
The figure immediately reacted, somersaulting.
Hope chuckled, her thoughts running: If this person is a Holder, my defeat is inevitable. However, as long as I could catch them off guard, I had a chance.
The moment the figure landed, Hope swiftly stretched her hand, seizing the figure's dark cloak, but it sensed her movement, jumping backwards, its body momentarily flying above Hope.
However, Hope was prepared, waiting for the figure to land. And the moment it did, her hand stretched again, but it didn't pull the cloak; instead, it pulled an arm.
She pulled the arm, closing the gap between them. She shoved the figure against the hard stone wall, pinning the figure with her whole body.
She let out a sigh of relief, her eyes glimmering with excitement. She was quite proud of herself since this was a rare occurrence. Hope was no combatant, but it didn't stop her from building a solid physique for her needs, and because of this, she was naturally stronger than most people. But this didn't mean that she actually had combat experience. All she had were memories of watching others fight, and thus, she concluded.
Fighting is stupid. If a person is forced to fight, they must act well because a fight is decided by two factors. First is strength; if there's an overwhelming gap between the fighters, no matter how much brain power one uses, defeat always exists. And second is intelligence; if a person could perfectly create and perform their strategies and plans during battles, the lack of strength would not matter.
She observed the figure before noticing a mask. She quickly pulled it away and realized something upon seeing her face.
"You're Lady Silk?"
Lady Silk fell silent, but after a second she asked, her lips trembling, "How did you know my appearance?"
Her words seem to snap Hope back to reality as she replied, "That? I've seen you before."
Lady Silk halted her resistance, her body going soft as she spoke with utmost formality, "My name is Sophia, Sophia of Thread. I belong to the Thread Bloodline, the Bloodline of silk and beauty. I propose continuing our negotiations at a more suitable location. Perhaps a café?"
Hope laughed awkwardly, her gaze filled with skepticism. Why wouldn't she? Sophia had just followed after her like her own shadow, and now that she's been caught and exposed, she immediately tried to invite her.
Hope loosened her grip, asking with a serious expression, "Will you pay?"
Sophia nodded, and Hope released her without a moment's hesitation. She quickly picked up her basket and dusted it off before walking off with a wide smile.
Free food has come to her doorstep.
…
Inside the café, Hope and Sophia sat opposite each other. Sophia had her hood held low, revealing her dazzling beauty. She tucked her silver hair, lifting her glimmering purple eyes, casting a wary look upon Hope's warm smile.
She gripped her cloak, clenching her fist as she fell into contemplation. Her thoughts soon came to a stop when a waiter came inquiring, "What would you like to order?"
He handed them each a menu, and without a second thought, Hope spoke, her smile radiant like the sun, "Everything, please."
Sophia's lips twitched, her body freezing from utter shock as her thoughts ran wild: What did I just hear? E-Everything?! She'll drain my pockets clean. No wonder I barely see Zixin treating her; she's a glutton!
"What about you, miss?" The waiter inquired, causing Sophia to snap back to reality.
She glanced at the menu and closed it after a second. She spoke softly, "A slice of strawberry cake, please."
The waiter nodded, taking the menus and leaving them.
The moment the waiter disappeared from their sight, Hope shifted her gaze straight at Sophia, propping her chin up and asking, "So, what business does a member of the prestigious Thread Bloodline have in this insignificant town of Daisal?"
Upon hearing Hope, Sophia's eyes dilated, her head drooping low. She quickly composed herself, speaking with practiced ease, "My visit to Daisal was supposed to have been a short vacation in such a rural environment. However, plans often don't go the way we hoped they would. During one of my daily walks, I spotted a young man, someone who matched all the standards of my Bloodline, and so I offered to become a model for the clothes which I designed and wove myself."
A Handsome young man… is there anyone in Daisal like that? Uh… Vanor? Hope pondered, paying close attention to her every word.
Sophia continued, "Unfortunately, he refused, and since I knew that I would never find anyone else, I proposed to create a Vow between us. He agreed, but the conditions heavily favored him. As long as he keeps on defeating my bet on the ring of the Combat District, I would be forced to feed him information regarding every Bloodline. But there's one silver lining, and that's my victory. As long as I win once, he will become my model."
"How can you be this desperate?" Hope asked, tilting her head in confusion.
Sophia simply laughed it off, ignoring her question. She added, "It was during one of the visits that I watched the Young Lord fight against Kraushel. It was quite a complicated scenario, after all, Kraushel was my bet, but I was utterly defeated by him, my superior, if you will."
Hope sighed, shaking her head. At this point, she began to wonder why Sophia is even this desperate to find a model, but she simply went over it.
"In that case, during this visit, how long have you been in Daisal?" She asked, her smile widening a little.
"I arrived about a week or so ago, and yet I still haven't won against Vanor," Sophia replied, her eyes growing dark in disappointment.
Isn't it your fault for making such a hasty decision? I mean, Vanor is one of, if not the strongest, Hunter Daisal has to offer. Creating such a bet with him was bound to be futile. Hope sighed, shaking her head.
Silence quickly turned the atmosphere cold, with neither willing to speak a word. But this was soon shattered as plate after plate was placed on their table. Hope's eyes shone with unforeseen happiness, moving her hands, and pouncing like a wild wolf as she began digging in, stuffing food in her mouth with ease.
Sophia was left stunned, her hands coming to a stop. She uttered under her breath, "How could she be so gluttonous, yet still have such a good figure?"
She nodded at her, thinking: Indeed, Zixin's wallet must be in shambles after feeding her once.
Sophia sighed, gripping a fork and slicing a piece of cake as she carefully ate. She ate slowly and asked, "May I ask what your relationship with the Young Lord is? Are you two perhaps… lovers?"
Upon hearing Sophia's last sentence, Hope almost choked on her food. Thankfully, she quickly managed to grab hold of a glass of water and drank until she felt fine.
She vigorously shook her head, standing up and slamming the table. Although she slammed the table, no food fell.
"Never!" Hope spoke aloud, clicking her tongue as she sat back down, but the moment she sat back down, it was as though she was never mad to begin with, as her expression returned to normal.
She wore a casual smile and spoke, "We're allies, and friends too, I guess."
She waved her hand, gesturing for Sophia to answer her own question.
Sophia chuckled, speaking politely, "Then, I shall speak honestly. I am his humble tailor, carefully chosen by Lady Xiu–the Queen. Unfortunately, although we've met before in Daisal, he failed to see through my disguise, believing that I'm but another member of the Thread Bloodline."
And as though both of them were in sync, they sighed at the same time. Upon realizing the coincidence, they laughed it off.
"Speaking of relationships, is there something wrong with having him as your significant other?" Sophia asked, tilting her head in confusion.
Hope, who was currently drinking, nearly spat out her drink, but fortunately, she managed to gulp it in time. She waved her hand dismissively, replying, "Nothing, nothing. It's just that I prefer my freedom, so to me, having one is just a fate worse than eternity."
"Oh, right, were you stalking me?" Hope asked, stuffing her a mouthful the next second.
"I suppose you could say so, but I was just investigating anyone with a relationship to him," Sophia explained, finishing her strawberry cake with one last bite.
Hope gave her a deadpan look, her gaze dull with doubt. She commented, "Are you that broke? Can't even afford a professional? I don't mean to sound rude, but…You were terrible."
This time, it was Sophia's turn to stand up and slam the table. However, unlike Hope's precise use of strength, she caused food to come flying. Thankfully, there were barely any left, so with a quick move of her hands, Hope caught the food in their respective plates.
Sophia hasn't fully registered Hope's words, so she spoke with utmost confidence, "I was taught to handle such situations, and so, of course, I came to do the work myself!"
After which, she quickly sat back down and returned to her original bearings, "Anyways, your level of precision was quite unexpected. Who knew you were a hidden genius?"
Yeah, sure. Hope commented, inwardly, shaking her head with a simple smile.
Hope shook her head, regaining her composure and lifting her gaze, and asking, "But why do you seem so concerned about him? It doesn't add up."
Sophia's gaze grew darker, replying, "That's because the Young Lord often encounters unforeseen dangers outside of a 'safe' environment like Dawn Heart, which is under the watchful gaze of Lady Xiu." She continued, "His Mother, Madam Xinyin, foresaw the future and chose to create a controlled environment to protect him. But as you know, it only took three years after her death for the Young Lord to encounter danger again and end up in Daisal."
That does sound true. After all, Xinyin of Longevity, Zixin's late mother, was one of the most renowned Rulers of the Land. Looking back, she bears great similarities to Fang Hau's way of doing things. After all, both foresaw a future and created a plan for individuals of said future to act upon, but there has to be a stark contrast. Unfortunately, I only know of her from books and can't create a good assumption. Hope licked her lips, taking one final gulp of water, finishing her meal.
"In that case, were you sent here to investigate?"
Sophia shook her head, elaborating, "Unfortunately, it was all just a coincidence."
Hope propped her chin, asking, her tone laced with doubt, "But is it really fine to tell me this much? Wouldn't it get you punished or something?"
Sophia waved her hand, dismissing the idea and explaining, "Before coming here, Lady Xiu had sent me a letter. I won't bore you with the details, but to sum it up, she told me that trusting the person whom he trusts is the correct move."
Hope let out a dry laugh, her gaze drifting to the window to her left. Outside, countless citizens went off with their own lives, with carriages passing by one after another. It was peaceful, which caused her smile to widen even further.
"Then, how did Zixin manage to leave Dawn Heart if it was such a protected environment?" Hope questioned, her gaze set on the outside.
"That's because of a student named Cael, a Nameless. He and the carriage driver were in cahoots to kidnap the Young Lord. Currently, all cities have already been informed of this and are on the hunt." Sophia explained, shifting her gaze to observe Hope's pondering expression.
Thinking back, when Zixin first woke up, he was searching for a corpse. Could it be the corpse of Cael? No, there could be another person involved. Perhaps Cael and the driver were meant to lure him to a dangerous area, and a third person would be given the responsibility of disposing of him. But it seems to have been a failure, after all, he's still alive. Hope thought over it, letting out an exasperated sigh.
"Whoever thought of this must be insane." She muttered without a care in the world.
Soon enough, the waiter came over, handing the bill to Sophia. She waved her hand and paid the bill.
Hope rose to her feet, taking her belongings. Sophia walked over and spoke one last time, "Lady Xiu wishes to convey her thanks to you. She also said that he can return home after he has dealt with his business in Mount Lorebale."
…
Inside the cabin, Zixin was lying down on the hard wooden floor. His gaze was straight at the ceiling as he contemplated his next course of action.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Hope stepped inside, giving Zixin a weird look.
Zixin simply stared at her with a blank look, while Hope, on the other hand, was utterly confused. The staring content came to an unfortunate end once Hope asked, "What are you doing?"
"Thinking." He said bluntly.
Can't you be more specific? Hope commented inwardly.
She shook her head, took out the two books that she bought a few hours ago, and handed them over.
Zixin stood up, took the books, and asked, "What's it for?"
"A present for a friend, of course., Hope replied with a silly smile.
Zixin's breath hitched, speaking solemnly, "Thank… you."
He sat down, opening the book and heading to the first chapter without delay, completely skipping the novel's title.
While he read, Hope went to the kitchen and started preparing dinner. After who knows how long, Zixin asked, "Why did you choose a romance novel?"
"The vendor was only selling one book series, so all my options ended up being which volume to buy, but that's an easy question." Hope explained, barely shifting her attention from the kitchen.
Zixin simply gave her a deadpan look before returning to reading. After a while, he muttered, "The protagonist is rather sweet."