Chapter 374 - 323: An Inscrutable Mind

Chapter 374: Chapter 323: An Inscrutable Mind

Black Stone Town.

A vast expanse of snow drifted down, blanketing the entire land.

Overnight, Black Stone Town was covered by a heavy white blanket.

While it wasn’t a desperate situation yet, it greatly affected people’s daily lives and all forms of travel.

The road to Gray Wood Forest was buried, the snow even covering the grayish branches and leaves.

Any Demons or animals that could find shelter in the harsh winter were considered Lucky.

Far more life was buried beneath the thick ice and snow.

Their remains would not be revealed until the spring thaw.

Alberti Manor.

Inside the vast living room, it was as warm as spring.

The Flame in the fireplace burned brightly, filling the air with the dry scent of burning wood and a faint hint of pine.

On the soft, comfortable, deep-red velvet sofa by the fireplace, Bev was quietly studying an ancient tome.

Bev was completely engrossed, the orange glow outlining the perfect contour of her profile.

A layer of warmth suffused her snow-white skin, and even her long, thick eyelashes were plated with a faint golden sheen.

Her fingers slowly traced the diagrams drawn in the book, her red lips murmuring softly.

Suddenly, the sound of light footsteps broke the silence. Bev looked up, pulled from the world of her book.

"Mother..."

"Bev, did I disturb your reading?" Bev’s mother, Madam Sienna Alberti, sat down beside her.

She wore a magnificent purple silk long dress, exuding an air of grace and nobility.

But even indoors, Madam Sienna still wore a thick fur coat, as if she was very afraid of the cold.

"Not at all," Bev said, shaking her head gently as she closed the book.

"My little Bev..."

Sienna reached out, lovingly stroking Bev’s waterfall of golden hair.

Her eyes filled with a mother’s tenderness and affection.

"You’ve become so diligent lately."

"Have I?" Bev tilted her head.

"Of course... You never used to sit quietly by the fire for hours reading a Magic Book like this."

Sienna couldn’t help but chuckle.

"You’d either be throwing on your fox-fur cloak and pestering your father for a snowball fight, or stubbornly demanding a carriage ride to see the snowy landscape... In any case, you could never sit still. You had to wear everyone out."

"Mother—!"

Hearing about these childhood embarrassments, Bev raised her voice in a slightly embarrassed, wheedling protest.

"That was all when I was a child! I’m... I’m all grown up now!"

"Yes... you are all grown up now."

Sienna smiled gently. "You’re already a beautiful young lady."

"BANG... BANG..."

A dull banging sound came from the other side of the living room.

The latch on a wooden window had come loose, and it was being blown open and shut by the cold wind outside.

Fine snowflakes drifted in through the gap, quickly melting into a small, damp patch on the wool carpet.

Bev lifted the hem of her skirt and trotted over lightly.

She closed the window properly, carefully fastened the latch, and then nestled back beside her mother.

"By the way, Bev... what about that boy?"

Sienna gently put her arm around Bev’s shoulders.

"The boy who danced with you at the Winter Ball. His name is... Zelir, wasn’t it?"

"Yes, Zelir."

At the mention of Zelir’s name, a sweet expression unconsciously appeared on Bev’s face.

But then she remembered something and wrinkled her delicate, upturned nose in indignation.

"Zelir went to Sengu Town."

"Why would he go somewhere so far away?" Sienna asked, a little surprised.

"He said... he said he wanted to improve himself, to become stronger," Bev said.

That day at the Lake Heart Pavilion, Zelir had mentioned that big trouble was coming in the future.

Bev hadn’t revealed this to anyone.

Still, thinking about how Zelir had left her side so soon after they had just gotten together, Bev felt quite resentful.

’Hmph...’

’You villain, you blockhead, you big idiot!’

’When you get back, I’m going to make you compensate me properly!’

"You like him a lot, don’t you, Bev?" Sienna smiled gently, seeing the change in her daughter’s expression.

Bev’s face turned a little redder, and her voice lost some of its confidence.

"Mother... stop teasing me."

"Can you tell me what kind of person he is?"

Sienna seemed quite interested in Zelir.

"I don’t even know the man my own daughter has her eye on... But there is one thing I can confirm."

"What?" Bev asked, confused.

"He’s very handsome," Sienna laughed.

’Well, that’s true...’ Bev grumbled to herself.

"Zelir... He’s very powerful, and he’s gentle and considerate, and very polite."

Bev recalled.

"He’s just a little bit dense... He clearly doesn’t need to work so desperately hard anymore, but he just can’t stop. What a blockhead!"

"Calling him a blockhead... you’re just complaining that he didn’t stay in Black Stone Town to be with you, aren’t you," Sienna said.

"Ngh..."

Her secret thoughts exposed by her mother’s words, Bev’s cheeks flushed even redder, but she didn’t refute it.

She pressed her petal-like lips together and turned her gaze to the fireplace.

After a long moment, Bev spoke in a low voice.

"Mother... do you think... Zelir doesn’t care about me?"

This doubt was like a small, nagging knot in her heart.

"I know I’ve never been in a relationship before... but I always hear the other ladies of the Nobility say that a girl can’t be too forward in a relationship."

"Things that are too easily obtained are often not cherished."

"It feels like I’ve always been the one to seek Zelir out... He rarely comes to find me."