Chapter 227: I'll Care for You From Now On

The night was deep, and the city lights outside the window stretched out into a single blanket beneath the dark sky.

Inside the restaurant, time passed in a slow trickle of idle conversation, and before they knew it, the wall clock pointed to nine o'clock in the evening.

Vera let out a wide yawn, her small head slowly tilting to one side as if it had lost its support, resting softly against her brother's shoulder.

Ansu felt the weight on him and glanced sideways.

Vera had already fallen asleep; her eyes were closed, and her long eyelashes cast two gentle shadows over her eyelids, her breathing steady and soft.

A trace of a smile flickered in Ansu's eyes as he gently draped his coat over her.

"Brother..."

In her sleep, Vera seemed to feel the warmth and let out an unconscious mumble, her body huddling closer to him like a small animal seeking a heat source.

Finally, she reached out both arms and hugged Ansu's neck, clinging to him like a little koala that had found its tree trunk, sinking into an even more peaceful dream.

Freya sat quietly across from them, propping up her chin with one hand, her gaze soft as she watched this intimate scene.

Seeing Ansu's helpless yet indulgent expression, the smile on her own lips deepened unconsciously.

How nice...

Freya watched silently, a faint sense of envy welling up in her heart.

Of course, she wasn't envious of Vera being able to hug Ansu so naturally or cling to him so closely, as that was a privilege unique to a younger sister.

"When I was little," Freya spoke softly, "if only there had been someone to care for me like that... how wonderful it would have been."

The thought of being cared for and protected unconditionally from childhood to adulthood felt like an incomparable happiness.

After all, she had been taken away from her hometown by Archbishop Paul at a very young eye and brought to the distant Royal Capital.

Since then, her world had consisted only of solemn sacred statues, cold stone corridors, and the endless chanting that lasted day and night.

Vera was truly lucky.

The fleeting loneliness and longing in Freya's eyes did not escape Ansu's notice.

He had always kept the great plan to protect the little Holy Maiden's mental health tucked away in the back of his mind.

Without a second thought, he looked at Freya and said, "It's alright, Freya. I'll be the one to care for you from now on."

The atmosphere went quiet for a moment.

"...Huh?" Freya was stunned, as if her heart had been struck.

I'll be the one to care for you from now on...

From now on... I'll be the one to care for you!

No matter how she heard it, it sounded like a confession.

A flush of crimson rapidly spread across her cheeks as she hurriedly lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously clutching her skirt, her heart pounding violently.

But after a few seconds, her cooling logic whispered in her mind: Was Lord Ansu being intentional or unintentional?

It took a long while before Freya mustered the courage to look up, her face still red as she tried to read Ansu's expression.

She saw Ansu looking back at her, his expression seemingly quite complex.

He also seemed to realize that the conversation just now had been a bit too tender and ambiguous.

Outside the window, the lights of Norvigel flickered in the night, and the silhouettes of distant churches and clock towers sank silently into the ink-black horizon.

Ansu coughed uncomfortably, shifting his gaze back to the sister "hanging" off him.

"Uh, this girl... it's gotten quite late. I knew I shouldn't have brought her along."

Freya pursed her lips, regaining her gentle smile as she spoke softly, "But actually, Vera was really looking forward to you bringing her along to investigate. If you told her you wouldn't bring her next time, she'd be upset."

"Is that so?"

"Yes." Freya nodded. "If Lord Ansu has the time... spend more time with her. Don't just leave her at the academy and ignore her."

She paused, a scene from a certain day after school flashing before her eyes.

She had gone specifically to pick up Vera, who was carrying her bag alone, walking straight toward the luxury carriage parked at the curb without looking left or right.

During that time, many classmates had plucked up the courage to approach her to say hello, chat, or invite her out. However, the 'aloof' student Vera always maintained a polite yet clear distance, responding coldly.

Vera didn't seem to have made any friends at school either; she was always on her own, possessing a sense of loneliness that was out of place with her surroundings.

Ansu looked at Vera sleeping on him and smiled. "I'll spend more time with her. But Freya, don't underestimate Vera either; her adaptability is actually much stronger than you think."

"Alright." Freya could only nod.

Having reached this point in the conversation, Freya glanced at the clock on the wall and then silently at the dim street outside, a hint of worry rising between her brows.

"Lord Ansu, do you think that supplier of crimson marrowstone will really come today?"

Ansu also looked out the window, falling into thought. The other party was already more than thirty minutes late.

According to the information obtained in the simulation, this extremely dangerous mineral was provided to the demons by a mysterious supplier code-named Grey Rat, and the two parties had a close relationship, with a large-scale transaction planned for this week.

Ansu knew Shadowhide was supposed to meet the other party this week, so he used that information to pose as a demon member and set up an early meeting.

But right now...

Ansu's gaze swept over the occasional pedestrians and carriages passing outside, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The other party was clearly very cautious and had a strong sense of counter-reconnaissance.

"They haven't shown up yet. I'm afraid they've already sensed our intentions aren't pure and won't take the bait," Freya said in a low voice.

Ansu, however, was staring at a black carriage that had just driven past on the opposite side of the street. "It's also possible... that the other party is observing the situation from the shadows."

"Where would he be hiding..." Freya instinctively looked toward the restaurants and shops across the street.

"If I remember correctly," Ansu said slowly, "that carriage... has already passed by three times, hasn't it?"

"Lord Ansu's memory is truly amazing!" Freya blinked, having not noticed that detail at all.

Just a few seconds after the two of them locked their eyes on the carriage—

The black carriage suddenly accelerated.

"Oh no! He noticed!" Freya exclaimed in a low voice.

Ansu narrowed his eyes, staring at the rear of the rapidly receding carriage. "It doesn't matter. Since he's here, he won't be able to escape."

"Chase!"

As soon as the word left his mouth, Vera, who had been sleeping soundly, suddenly jerked awake. "Are we fighting? Are we fighting!?"

She immediately reached for the wooden practice sword wrapped in cloth beside her seat.

Ansu couldn't help but be amused by his sister's well-trained combat reflex. He quickly looked at Freya and instructed, "You two take the carriage and pursue. I'll handle the pincer maneuver."

"Got it!" Freya nodded immediately.

Ansu's figure had already charged out of the restaurant's front door first.

Vera was still a bit dazed, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she looked around. "Where? Where's the enemy?"

"Don't ask, just come with me!" Freya grabbed her wrist, and the two of them hurried out of the restaurant, seeing the black carriage speeding toward East City.

They reached the front of the restaurant where another carriage was waiting. The coachman wearing a flat cap, David, turned his head and gave them a slight nod.

"Miss Vera, Miss Freya."

"Catch up to that carriage in front!" Freya lifted her skirt and leapt nimbly onto the carriage. "Hurry!"

David didn't say a single word of nonsense. He cracked the long whip, and the carriage immediately set off.