Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2606: Seeking Ann’s Help

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Southern Capital

"Let us head to the palace. Your room is still empty, kept just as you left it," Colleen said, resting a hand on my shoulder. "For a change, your mother-in-law is home. You can meet her over breakfast tomorrow morning."

I wasn’t surprised that Colleen still treated me as her grandson-in-law. After all, the Southern Royal Family never had an issue with me becoming their son-in-law. Their concern lay with Anna’s unhealthy obsession with me. They believed that, as the next ruler of the Southern Region, such fixation would interfere with her duties as the future Southern Ruler. That was precisely why they had conspired against her, pushing her further down the Extreme path.

Fun fact, the new Anna, who had emerged from seclusion within Field Marshal Lorn’s Mystic Dimension, also regarded me as her future husband, in accordance with the arrangement imposed by her family.

How did I know this? The Dummy Ring was still on me. If she truly had any objection to marrying me, she could have reclaimed the Dummy Ring the moment she emerged from seclusion, or at any time thereafter. Yet she never did. If that wasn’t a clear, if silent, acknowledgment of her family’s arrangement, then what else could it be?

Or maybe she simply hadn’t remembered it, and I was overthinking everything. Yeah, right? A card apprentice would just forget that one of their six item card slots was not only unavailable, but permanently active. There was no chance of that.

Clearly, she had accepted the arranged marriage, believing it to be the best outcome for the Southern Region. As the future ruler of the Southern Region, she was willing to sacrifice herself for its sake, let alone marry someone she no longer had feelings for. Not to mention, someone who was in scandalous relationships with other women.

That was the Anna I knew and fell in love with. A sentimental fool, unwavering in her convictions, never hesitating to offer herself up for what she believed in and loved.

"I’m sorry, Your Highness. That breakfast will have to wait. I came in a hurry to borrow Ann. I was hoping she could help me locate Anna in the Northern Region," I said, rejecting Colleen’s invitation and revealing the real reason for my visit.

Ann and Anna were connected through their origin cards. With Ann’s help, locating Anna in the Northern Region would not be difficult. If only Anna had equipped a VR-slime card, I wouldn’t have needed Ann at all. I could have tracked her myself.

"Why go through all that trouble to find her?" Colleen asked. "She will be back in a few days anyway. Just rest in the palace until then. She will be delighted to find her fiancé waiting for her victorious return." She pressed the matter of my marriage to Anna more aggressively than ever.

It seemed my scandal with Jill had given her a sense of urgency. If it were up to her, she would have married Anna and me off immediately. Unfortunately for her, her granddaughter was still in the Northern Region, hunting down her own father. Honestly, I was surprised that neither Colleen nor Ann were bringing up my relationship with Jill. It only deepened my belief that only I was having a hard time accepting polygamy.

"Your Highness, I’m just worried about Anna—" I began, intending to persuade Colleen to let me go and help her. After all, Anna was alone in the Northern Region. Now that the entire world knew she was hunting her own father, demigod Gainover might already have begun preparing to face her.

Given the complicated relationship between the Southern and Northern Regions, and between Demigod Gainover and the Northern Region itself, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Northern Region’s local forces, and even its royal family, chose to aid Gainover against his daughter. According to the Clown Mask’s future vision, Demigod Gainover had married Anna’s former schoolmate and rival, the Northern Princess Ivanka.

However, before I could begin to dictate my concerns and try to persuade her, Colleen cut in coldly. Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

"Wyatt, this is Anna’s journey. Only she can walk it. Others cannot walk it for her. She has gone to confront her demons, and once she is done, she will return to claim her birthright. I know you are worried about her, but if you interfere now, all you will do is hinder her growth. Have faith in your bride."

Also, now that the Masters have made it clear that you’ve become a thorn in their side, it’s best that you remain here in the palace instead of running around. The Southern Region can afford a war with the Masters, but it cannot afford to lose you. Stop foolishly placing yourself in harm’s way. I heard what you did in the central capital. Everyone did. Just because you are strong and capable doesn’t mean you are invulnerable. Don’t underestimate them, there’s a reason why they have been around since the founding of the five regions, while many geniuses that shone brighter than them eventually fell."

"No, I won’t make the mistake of underestimating the Masters. But that doesn’t mean I will sit by and wait for Anna," I declared, not giving Colleen a chance to cut me off again. I turned to Ann and asked, "Will you help me locate Anna, or not?"

"Wyatt, I—" Ann dragged out her words, unable to decide. After all, as the ’Good Daughter.’ She could not decide for herself. Her family would decide for her, and only by continuing to follow their will could she remain a good daughter. That was the nature of her origin card. She was bound by her obligations and duties, while the Bad Daughter, Anna, followed her heart, pursuing absolute freedom without reservation.

"Yes or no?" I pressed Ann. Seeing that she still hesitated, I shook my head and bid my goodbye. "I will be back with Anna."