Chapter 171

Chapter 171: Following the Inquiry

On the first day of school, Jielanen had expected this to be just another ordinary day, greeting the new students, getting acquainted, and building some rapport, much like in previous years. As a noble’s child, he had been accustomed to these basic social skills since childhood.

However, since that moment, the usual smooth flow of hosting gatherings made him feel uneasy. Although he continued to engage in conversation with those around him, his eyes and heart would often drift towards another direction.

Who was that girl?

What was her name?

It seemed her companions were returning; was she about to leave?

Where would she go? Which grade was she in? What class was she in? What was her name?

A series of thoughts suddenly flooded his mind. His brain had never been more active, with countless associations and questions arising, making him eager to know the answers.

But as the heir to the Griffin Duke and the host of the gathering, abruptly leaving during the welcoming of juniors was too sudden and impolite. It did not align with his usual behavior and habits.

Watching the young lady and her companions slowly descend the stairs, he could no longer contain himself. He stood up suddenly, drawing curious glances from his peers and juniors around him.

“Nothing to worry about, everyone continue. I need to step out for a bit.”

He left his seat, lightly patting a companion’s back as they subtly nodded in understanding. After he left, the companion slowly rose, saying they needed to use the restroom.

After turning a corner, he indeed found Jielanen waiting anxiously.

“What’s wrong, Jielanen?” asked his friend curiously. This was quite unusual for Jielanen.

“Grace, there’s no time to explain. Follow me.”

He gestured for his companion to quickly catch up, leading them to a balcony, and pointed at four girls descending the stairs across.

“Do you see those new students? One of them is a black-haired girl.”

“Yeah, I see her,” replied Grace. They were all Extraordinary Beings after all, and their vision was sharp enough.

“Good. I want to know her name and which class she’s in, and where she’s staying.”

“I understand now,” Grace said with a knowing smile, then glanced at Jielanen, the Eldest Son of the Griffin.

“Didn’t realize you could be moved by someone.”

“Good brother, rely on you for this. And remember, keep it confidential from others,” Jielanen patted Grace’s shoulder heavily.

“I get it, I get it. Since I’m your vassal, I’ll have to follow you around for meals,” Grace made a gesture indicating everything was fine, then walked in that direction.

Grace was the son of Earl Swift Eagle. Due to traditional ties between high nobilities, he had been sent to live with the Griffin Duke from a young age, growing up alongside Jielanen. Their relationship was very close, and Grace was one of Jielanen’s most trusted companions. Given his word, he would surely handle the task, and there was no need to worry about him spreading it around.

Seeing his companion slowly follow, Jielanen finally relaxed. He knew his friend’s capabilities; with him involved, things would generally work out smoothly.

“Big Brother Jielanen, was there something earlier?” Some companions asked curiously when he returned.

“Nothing, I suddenly remembered a good ice wine from a family, so I brought some over,” he said, placing two bottles of wine on the table.

“Why did you go yourself, Big Brother? Just say the word next time, what else are we here for?” some companions said, touching others who felt touched.

“Nothing, just a whim,”

Jielanen casually explained, his tone friendly. Compared to some corrupt nobles, this Griffin Duke’s son was indeed a model, caring for subordinates, righteous and brave, courteous and well-mannered. This was why he was popular among other students and also why many young ladies dreamed of him as their prince.

“Oh, it’s been a while since Grace came back,” someone commented after eating.

“Don’t worry about that. I ran into him when I returned. He said he had some urgent matters and had to leave early,”

“How could such a gathering make him leave so suddenly?”

“Maybe it was something personal. Don’t worry about it. Come, let’s have another drink,”

“Alright.”

“Cheers!”

The freshmen were excitedly drinking, getting drunk one by one, which made the older students laugh and help them back to their dorms. Fortunately, it was still early, and even if they slept through the night, they would wake up in time for the opening ceremony.

—

Lolan Hill and three others were on their way back. They occasionally saw seniors flying overhead, like racing cars chasing each other.

“Blue skies, how nice! When will I be able to fly?” Alena looked up at the sky, sighing with envy.

“It’s not hard at all, ha!” Letis teased Alena again, then continued,

“I can do it right now.”

“Wouldn’t you be scared flying so high?” Nia whispered beside her.

“At first, there might be some psychological barriers. Most people have mild acrophobia,” Lolan Hill recalled. Many people were afraid of heights.

“Just like glass walkways. Even though many have crossed before and logic tells us it’s safe, seeing the vast sky below still makes one tremble.”

“Can you swim, Nia?” Lolan Hill suddenly asked.

“No, why?” Nia, as a Goat-Horned General, had grown up in the grasslands and never learned to swim.

“If you can swim, you can learn to fly in places with water. Even if you fall, it would be safer.”

“Oh, I can swim,” Alena raised her hand happily. She grew up on an island and swimming was a must-have skill.

“What’s the point of swimming? The sea is dirty,” Letis seemed to recall something and shuddered.

“That’s because you probably went to crowded places. Our hometown has clean water,” Alena confidently said.

“Doubt it.”

As they chatted, they slowly reached the dormitory building. Entering the gate, Lolan Hill unexpectedly turned back.

“What’s wrong, Lolan?” her companions asked curiously.

“Nothing, let’s go up,” Lolan Hill shook her head, her long black hair swaying slightly. Then, like a gentle breeze, she quietly entered the apartment building.

Dozens of meters away on the road outside the apartment building, Grace cautiously stepped out from behind a tree.

Was she aware of him? Probably not, he thought, hiding well. He noted down her name and address. With those in hand, it would be easy to find out which class she was in. He could ask the adoring freshmen to help gather the information.

Sighing, being a vassal wasn’t easy. He was the son of an Earl, destined for greatness, yet now he felt like a lackey.

But the task had to be done, and done well. If he helped secure a future sister-in-law, he would gain immense favor from the Griffin Duke’s family. Not just him, but perhaps generations to come.

—

Thanks to Qingerqi, Book Friend 20181215131332495, Blue and White Umbrella, xFrostyFeetx, Book Friend 20190806184249324, and autumn_sky for their support.

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(End of Chapter)