Chapter 363 - 355: Lilia’s Divine Assist

Chapter 363: Chapter 355: Lilia’s Divine Assist

The Royal Capital, Zelheim. The commercial district. The Dragon’s Breath Hearth.

The restaurant was renowned throughout the noble circles, not for the exorbitant price of its dishes, but for its centerpiece—a massive hearth that took up an entire wall.

Legend had it that the hearth’s stone was sourced from the depths of the Dragon Breath Volcano and could gather the Fire Element on its own. The wood burned within was charcoal made from iron-hazel oak, which imparted a unique, fragrant aroma to the roasted meat.

A slight chill still lingered in the evening air, but the moment one stepped into the restaurant, a warm current of air, thick with the rich aroma of meat, rushed to greet them.

Diana crossed the bustling main hall, guided by an attendant.

She had specifically changed into a sky-blue traveling dress. The fabric was soft and clung to her body, outlining her slender waist.

Before leaving, she had even, uncharacteristically, sat at her vanity for a long time, applying a thin layer of powder to her cheeks from expensive cosmetics bought on Bird Street.

This was the first time she had met Velin in a place like a restaurant.

Not on some dusty territory, not in a solemn council chamber, but in a... normal place.

Her heart was beating a little fast, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the cuffs of her sleeves.

The attendant stopped at the door of a secluded private room on the second floor, bowed, and withdrew.

The door to the room was ajar, and the faint sound of muffled conversation drifted out.

’Isn’t this supposed to be a date for two?’ Diana felt a pang of disappointment.

She steadied her slightly ragged breathing, reached for the brass doorknob, and gently pushed the door open.

The scene inside made the expression on her face freeze.

Velin was sitting there. He wore a fitting black jacket that accentuated his tall, slender frame. His head was turned to the side as he spoke with a girl.

A very pretty girl.

The girl looked a few years younger than her, with long, smooth, jet-black hair, fair skin, and pure, lovely features. She was resting her chin on her hand, leaning forward slightly, her bright eyes crinkling into crescents as she said something to Velin.

Velin smiled, too.

It wasn’t a polite, perfunctory smile, nor was it the faint, detached smile he wore when he was thinking. His lips parted in a grin, revealing white teeth, and his eyes were filled with a gentle light.

Diana froze in her tracks.

Her heart sank violently, as if seized by an invisible hand and plunged into an icy cellar.

She watched the girl, with a dazzling smile, refill the teacup in front of Velin with hot water. She watched Velin nod his thanks naturally. There was a smooth, harmonious air between them, an intimacy that no outsider could penetrate.

The warmth in Diana’s cheeks vanished completely.

She felt like a complete and utter fool. The new dress, the carefully styled hair, the makeup she’d hesitated over in front of the mirror for so long—it all felt like a silent mockery now.

’First Caroline... and now who is this?’

’Why are there always so many girls around him?’

Just as she was about to turn and flee, Velin saw her.

"Diana."

He waved, his expression still as gentle as ever, showing no sign of anything amiss.

Diana’s body stiffened. ’Should I leave, or should I stay?’

Leaving now would be rude. But if she went to sit down, she had no idea what kind of expression to wear.

In the end, the instincts of her noble upbringing won out over the impulse to flee. She walked over with stiff steps and sat down across from Velin.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," she said, her voice dry.

"Not at all, we just arrived ourselves," Velin said, pushing a menu toward her. "See what you’d like to eat."

The girl sitting next to Velin turned to her as well, offering a sweet, harmless smile. "Hello, Sister Diana."

Her voice was crisp and clear, like a wind chime.

Diana’s heart tightened again. ’Sister? How chummy.’

Velin was about to make an introduction, but Diana didn’t want to hear it. She didn’t want to know this girl’s name, nor did she want to know her relationship with Velin. She cut him off quickly, "The honey-roasted lamb chops here are famous. I’ll have that."

She didn’t want to expose even a hint of her distress.

Seeing her reaction, the girl was stunned for a moment, but then a sly glint flashed in her eyes, vanishing so quickly that no one could have noticed.

The food arrived quickly. Lilia attentively placed a piece of roasted mushroom on Velin’s plate, the motion completely natural.

"This is delicious, you should try it."

"Mm," Velin nodded, forking the mushroom and putting it in his mouth.

Diana’s gaze fell to the plate in front of her, where the food seemed to have turned into a meaningless pile of charcoal. She picked up her knife and fork, mechanically cutting the lamb chop. It tasted like ash. Her stomach churned, and she couldn’t eat a thing.

The atmosphere turned strange.

Velin didn’t seem to notice, still discussing the preparation of some dish with the girl in a low voice. The girl, meanwhile, would let out a soft laugh from time to time, looking at Velin with eyes full of adoration.

Every laugh was like a needle piercing Diana’s heart. She felt like she was about to cry as a sense of grievance and bitterness rose in her throat.

She abruptly put down her knife and fork, the utensils clattering sharply against the porcelain plate.

Velin and the girl’s conversation stopped, and they both looked at her.

"I... I’m not feeling well. I should be going," Diana said, standing up. She didn’t dare look into Velin’s eyes, afraid that if she did, the tears would fall.

"Why?" Velin’s voice was full of confusion. "We haven’t even discussed our business yet. Besides, didn’t you just get here?"

He stood up, blocking her path.

"My sister, Lilia, said she hasn’t seen you in a long time and has been wanting to have a good chat with you."

’Sister? Lilia?’

Diana froze completely, her mind a total blank.

Velin turned to the innocent-looking girl and said matter-of-factly, "Lilia, didn’t you say you missed Sister Diana? You two used to play together when you were little. Why were you so busy talking just now instead of chatting with your sister?"

Lilia finally couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing. She looked at Diana’s expression, which had gone from deathly pale to beet red, her features practically twisting together, and doubled over with laughter.

"Brother, you are just... so dense."

It was only then that Diana realized.

’I’ve been played.’

She glared at the girl who was practically convulsing with laughter. The memory of the small, skinny little girl with two braids who always tagged along behind her and Velin, who would blush shyly at the sight of strangers, simply couldn’t be reconciled with the graceful young woman before her now, who dared to tease her like this!

’No wonder I didn’t recognize her!’

A complex wave of shame, anger, and relief—like she’d just survived a disaster—rushed to her head. Diana’s cheeks were hot enough to fry an egg.

She shot Lilia a vicious glare.

"Alright, alright, my bad." Lilia wiped away a tear of laughter, sat up straight, and stuck her tongue out at Diana. "But who could blame me, when Sister Diana’s expression was just so interesting? Besides, the fact that you care so much proves you still have my brother in your heart."

"You!" Diana started to retort, but found she had no rebuttal.

"Ahem." Velin cleared his throat, finally grasping the main point amidst the chaotic emotional exchange. "Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, let’s get down to business."

He pulled the conversation back on track, as if the preceding interlude—one that would have made any normal person want to crawl into a hole and die—had never happened.

"My investiture as a Count has been stalled in the Noble Council."

Diana immediately composed herself and focused her attention.

"Marquis Iron-Wall has united a group of nobles from the Imperial Faction to openly oppose it, citing my bloodline and the speed of my promotion. The council is now at a stalemate," Velin explained succinctly.

Diana frowned. She knew of Marquis Iron-Wall. He was one of the most stubborn old-guard nobles in the Duchy’s military and the staunchest supporter of the Imperial Faction. With him involved, things would indeed become very tricky.

"So what’s your plan?"

"Playing chess with them on their board will only lead to an endless war of attrition." Velin’s fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop. "I need to find someone who can flip the whole board over."

"Who?"

"Prince Willandar Orange."

Hearing this name, Diana blurted out, "I can help you contact him!"

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them.

She remembered Uncle Willandar’s teasing smile and the words he’d said that morning in the Court of Silence.

"...If that day ever comes, when you decide to discuss marriage with this ’special friend’ of yours, you must bring him to see me. I have to personally approve him for you."

Uncle Willandar’s teasing smile and banter echoed in her mind.

’I just left the Prince’s residence, and now I’m going to show up tomorrow with a man in tow? What would that look like?’

’Isn’t that as good as admitting it directly?’

’It’s too... too improper. For a noble lady, this is simply...’

Diana’s face began to burn again. She wanted to find a hole to crawl into and subconsciously wanted to refuse.

However, when she looked up, she met two pairs of sparkling eyes.

Velin’s eyes were full of unconcealed excitement—the look of someone who had just found the key to breaking the stalemate.

And Lilia’s big, bright eyes were filled with surprise and the encouraging look of "I knew you could do it."

Bathed in their gazes, the shyness and hesitation in Diana’s heart miraculously dissipated.

In their place was an unprecedented joy and satisfaction at being able to help him.

’That’s right, why should I back down?’

’The honor of the Dawn Territory cannot be sullied. And he is the Dawn Territory’s most important ally. Helping him is helping the Dawn Territory.’

’Yes, that’s it.’

Diana convinced herself, and in that moment, it was as if she had truly made a decision. She straightened her back, and the composure and decisiveness befitting the Countess of Dawn returned to her.

She met Velin’s gaze and said steadily, "I have a very good relationship with Prince Willandar. My father was once his adjutant, and he... more or less watched me grow up."