Chapter 312: Don't Burst the Bubble

Celia watched the hesitant Edmond, her brow furrowing slightly.

“Just what?”

Ansu saw through his mind at a glance. This young noble, filled with a sense of crisis and unease, desperately needed a clear stance from them.

He spoke in a steady tone, “Rest assured, you are now our confidant. We will never abandon you. How about this: I need you to do something for me.”

Edmond hurriedly asked, “What task does Your Excellency require of me?”

Ansu continued, “The Empire is undergoing a massive shift, and the high-ranking officials of the Church of Holy Light are becoming restless again. I fear the long-dormant Magic Prohibition Decree is about to make a comeback.”

“The new Pope, Eugene IX, is an extreme conservative who has always been hostile toward magic. Now that the old Emperor, who kept him in check, has passed away, the Church of Holy Light will surely take the opportunity to strike back. It is only a matter of time before the Magic Prohibition Decree is implemented across the entire territory.”

Edmond asked hesitantly, “Elder Ansu, you mean...”

Ansu got straight to the point. “When that time comes, a large number of low-tier mages will certainly be hunted down and expelled, left displaced with nowhere to call home.”

After all, there had already been a small-scale rehearsal in Norvigel a while ago. Once the decree was implemented nationwide, the situation would only become more severe.

“Edmond, I want you to secretly spread the word for me and handle the publicity. Norvigel will become a new home for all mages. The Northern Magic Mutual Aid Association will open its doors to welcome all mage colleagues who are being marginalized or persecuted.”

In fact, before leaving Norvigel, Ansu had already instructed the association to begin taking in wandering mages from various places. According to the news sent back yesterday, the association was now overcrowded, so much so that they had to rent other houses along the street to serve as temporary bases.

But for Ansu, this was far from enough.

Ansu lacked people. He was currently very short-handed.

He planned to expand the battle mage regiment on a large scale, which required a massive number of people to screen through. The skill levels of most low-tier mages were uneven, and they simply did not meet the rigorous standards of an elite battle mage.

Ansu didn't have the extra time or energy to train them from scratch, so he could only cast a wide net in this way and select the best.

And those ordinary mages who were screened out, as well as the magic apprentices who were just starting out, were also very valuable to him.

Magic was inherently profound and difficult to master. Even an apprentice who only knew 0th Circle magic was already an extremely rare and high-quality talent. In future wars, he would need such a reserve of talent.

Edmond nodded immediately, the tension and unease weighing on his heart dissipating by more than half.

“Please rest assured, Elder! I will do my utmost to spread the word and ensure the news reaches the North and even the entire Empire!”

“Very good.” Ansu nodded slightly.

He understood the root of Edmond's anxiety. By assigning him a task, he also let him truly feel his own value, making him believe he was a confidant of the two. This created a deep bond, ensuring he wouldn't worry about being disposed of once his usefulness was at an end.

Celia took everything in.

After Edmond left, she leaned closer to Ansu with a smile, her tone carrying a hint of teasing. “Ansu, your knack for manipulating hearts is truly becoming more and more masterful~”

Ansu shook his head. “It’s alright... I’m just going with the flow.”

Celia’s eyes rippled with a half-smile as she pressed further. “It seems that even I am being meticulously handled by you like this, aren't I?”

Ansu said helplessly, “Of course not...”

Her level was much higher than Edmond's. Trying to figure out his wicked witch superior... had once been Ansu’s top priority.

Celia’s gaze deepened. “Really?”

“Hmm? Of course...” Ansu looked at her, increasingly puzzled. Why did Celia like to get to the bottom of things so much lately?

The smile gradually faded from the corners of Celia’s lips, and a trace of dejection quietly flickered in the depths of her eyes.

Her mood wasn't very good either...

She sighed softly in her heart: Ansu was probably just lying to himself like that, wasn't he?

Because he really knew how to read and manipulate people's hearts...

Ansu noticed the subtle change in her emotions and asked in confusion, “What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly unhappy?”

“It’s nothing.” Celia sighed softly in her heart, forcibly suppressing her chaotic thoughts and trying not to think about it.

As long as she didn't think about it, it wouldn't hurt...

Only then would their feelings, their love, remain beautiful.

Don't burst the bubble.

Ansu nodded suspiciously, “...Alright then.”

Celia scanned the guests dancing in the hall to the music and then turned to look at him.

“Dance with me.”

Ansu was slightly taken aback and asked curiously, “Do you know how to dance?”

“You underestimate me too much. Have you forgotten who I am?” Celia stared at his slightly awkward expression and teased with a smile, “Could it be that you don't know how?”

“Yeah.” Ansu admitted defeat frankly. “I really don't.”

“Come, I'll teach you!” Celia took his hand proactively, her eyes curving into a slight arc. “Let your cousin teach you properly!”

Ansu suppressed a smile and cooperated obediently. “Alright, Cousin...”

But as soon as the dance steps began, everything went wrong.

Ansu’s movements were stiff and unfamiliar. He couldn't keep up with the rhythm at all, stepping on Celia’s toes and the hem of her dress time and again.

“Hiss...” Celia gasped from the pain.

“Left foot—no, no, the right foot... Ow! Ansu! Why did you step on me again?”

Celia was both angry and helpless, her beautiful face flushing with a hint of annoyance. She even thought Ansu was deliberately getting back at her...

“No, wait...” Ansu looked at her pouting face and curled his lip helplessly. “Don't you not know how to do this either?”

The two of them spun around clumsily. If either of them knew even a little bit more about dancing, they wouldn't be in such a pathetic state...

Celia simply pretended she didn't hear him and gave a cold snort. “If I say I know, then I know!”

The melodious violin solo flowed slowly through the hall. As the two gradually adjusted to each other, their steps finally lost their initial clumsiness and stiffness.

Although they were still awkward, they could at least spin and move slowly with the melody, reaching a sort of silent understanding.

Not far away, Edmond approached calmly with his dance partner.

When he saw their clumsy steps, he immediately put on a smile and praised them sincerely, “I didn't expect it! You two dance so exceptionally well!”

Ansu and Celia exchanged a silent look and simultaneously thought to themselves:

This kid's flattery skills still need some serious work from Deacon General David...

...