Chapter 155

Chapter 127: The Woman Who Intruded into a Private Residence

“…Go home?” Hearing me say this, Sarah looked at me with a mixture of suspicion in her eyes. “Paillot, isn’t your home in the Winter City… Or do you have somewhere to stay here?”

I gave Sarah a sweet smile, “Yes, I have a residence.”

“Is there any family here?”

“Mmm…”

I thought for a moment, finding it too complicated to explain, so I simply nodded.

“It’s sort of like that… I’ll be going now!”

I turned and quickly walked towards the door, but after two steps, I heard Sarah shouting from behind, “What do you mean by ‘sort of’… Hey, Paillot! Don’t forget, there’s still a troublesome guy watching you. Be careful not to run around recklessly.”

Troublesome guy? Who? Oh, the red-haired one.

Come to think of it, I almost forgot about him these past few days…

“Got it—”

I replied and stepped out the door, descending to the first floor and leaving the tower.

After the early spring light rain, the moist, warm earth scent filled the air, refreshing to the senses. A thin mist enveloped the path ahead and the flowers and trees on both sides, giving them an ethereal veil.

I liked this feeling.

The dusk clouds were somewhat dark, but they didn’t feel oppressive. Following the road, I exited the academy gate and saw many pale white, simple-shaped rhinoceros carriages parked on both sides.

According to Sophia, these rhinoceros carriages could be rented, which was also a feature of the royal city. Every time the Royal Academy had a rest day, they would gather at the entrance like this, with the drivers mostly being older men who chatted idly in groups until a student preparing to go home asked about the price.

Some of the rhinoceros carriage compartments had obvious family crests, and the corresponding drivers were dressed more decently. At a glance, one could guess they were servants or butlers, coming to pick up young ladies and gentlemen, but such carriages were very few.

Most students still carried their luggage in cloth bags or walked out the gate empty-handed.

I approached a kind-looking uncle, agreed on the price, and got into the carriage, riding his rhinoceros carriage back to Londor Street.

Such “rental carriages” were absolutely not allowed into Londor Street, so I had to get off at the street corner. After adding a tip, I handed the driver a silver coin and walked toward my own mansion.

As I passed by the Number 2 residence, I noticed several guards standing straight at the iron gate, and slowed down curiously, peering inside… The guards immediately became alert.

“Miss, may I ask what you need?”

Their tone was quite courteous… This was natural, after all, this was Londor Street. If it were another place, they might have directly driven me away.

“No, nothing,” I waved to the guards.

“Little girl, it’s almost dark, hurry home,” the guard smiled at me.

“Okay.”

I obediently nodded and continued walking.

Just a cursory look, I noticed more guards in the courtyard. They wore shiny armor, clearly much better equipped than the guards at the royal city gate. The interior of the mansion was brightly lit, indicating that important guests had arrived?

At this time, that woman might be inside, dining with some fat, wealthy nobles… There must be lots of delicious food… Pfft.

I originally planned to find her tonight, but it seemed she was busy… Forget it, I’ll make Captain Gray myself!

Thinking about the Captain Gray I hadn’t eaten in a long time, I felt happy again, taking light, graceful steps to the Number 3 residence. After unlocking the tightly shut door, I suddenly sensed something amiss.

… Someone was there.

A woman stood in the courtyard.

She wore a jade-green casual dress and a light pink silk shawl.

The garish combination of colors was rendered elegant and graceful by her slender figure. Even just her back could captivate someone.

She stood quietly under a large tree in the courtyard, seemingly lost in thought as she gazed at the flower buds on the branches. Her smooth, golden hair flowed down naturally, swaying gently with the breeze like ripples on water.

I immediately recognized who she was.

Victoria… What is this woman doing here… No, how did she end up in this courtyard!

I glanced back at the big iron gate and confirmed that it was locked just now… With a furrowed brow, I quickly walked towards her.

I deliberately made my footsteps loud. After a few steps, she turned her head, noticing me.

“You’re here,” she said in her usual indifferent tone. Her beautiful face was expressionless, and her vast, starlit eyes held no emotion.

It seemed as if she were the owner of this small estate, and I was merely a guest.

As I approached her, I tilted my head up to look at her and asked unhappily, “How did you get in?”

Victoria raised her right hand, extending her slender index finger to lightly tap the fence wall beside her. “There.”

…So you climbed over the wall to get in?

No, she can fly… So what if she can fly!

“Without permission, you just—”

Halfway through, I noticed a subtle change in her expression. Her eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if she found something strange. “Isn’t it the same for you?”

Damn it, she’s right… But so what? This time, I have the upper hand!

I glared at her and clenched my teeth… I felt my eyes were wide enough to intimidate her. Then I realized she was quite tall, even taller than me. Looking up at her would weaken my气势 (aura), so I stood on tiptoe—only to find I still had to tilt my head up. This made me even angrier.

“But you’re the queen! How can a queen—invade commoners—”

“You are a Knight of the Pope, not a commoner.”

“…Then you should be even more careful—”

“Why can’t the Queen do what the Knights of the Pope can?”

“…I was speechless.”

My anger grew, but I couldn’t think of anything else to say in rebuttal. All I could do was glare at her in frustration.

But Victoria clearly had no interest in continuing this staring contest. She turned around and looked up again at the flower buds on the tree.

After a moment, she said, “This honey tree will soon bloom. It needs to be carefully tended to. Look, the buds are already starting to dry up.”

Her calm, indifferent tone was infuriating.

“What does it matter to you?”

Victoria glanced at me.

“It has nothing to do with me. I’m talking about this tree, hoping it won’t be ruined in your hands. After all, its fruit is very sweet.”

Hearing this, I frowned slightly.

Wasn’t this tree originally just for decoration? It can actually bear fruit… Honey fruit… I’ve never tasted it, but it’s really that sweet?

“I won’t take care of the tree… Just watering it is enough, right?”

“There’s also insecticide. I’ll have someone bring it to you.”

…Is she trying to be nice to me?

No, she’s changing the subject.

Realizing this, I immediately said to her, “Don’t try to change the subject. What are you really doing here?”

“Nothing important.”

“Nothing important, you’re just standing in the courtyard?”

Didn’t the neighbor come to visit? Leaving them alone to stand here and look at the tree? What kind of queen…

But then Victoria turned her beautiful eyes towards the two-story building in the courtyard. “I don’t have the key.”

…So you’re saying you’d go in if you had the key?

“Just smash the window and fly in.”

I didn’t know what to say. This eccentric woman… Forget it, ignore her.

I was a bit hungry. Eating something was more important.