Chapter 144: A Sleepless Night Discussing Life (Part 2)

Chapter 144 -116: A Sleepless Night Discussing Life (Part 2)

“Thank you, Lian. You’re the kindest gentleman I’ve ever met.”

“Catherine, you are also the most thoughtful lady I’ve ever met.”

The two complimented each other, their bodies drawing a little closer.

“Lian, is there really no way to save my brother Lorne?”

“Lorne isn’t sick, he’s poisoned. I truly am powerless to help, but I’ll do my best to think of something. Get some rest. Good night, Catherine.”

“Good night, Lian.”

Catherine closed her eyes. Lying in Lian’s arms, she felt a profound sense of security.

But she was still worried, and worry kept her from sleeping.

She opened her eyes again, then closed them once more. After trying several times, she still couldn’t fall asleep.

“Catherine, you need to relax,” Lian said softly.

“Lian, you’re still awake?”

“Yes. I can feel your anxiety.”

“Am I just useless?” Catherine said in a soft voice. “I’ve become a Lord, but I still can’t protect my own family.”

“No, Catherine. This just shows how much you care about people. When you snatched my sword and killed those men, I was worried you might lose yourself to power and hatred, that you’d become someone like Mary. But the truth is, you’re still my beloved fiancée, the kind Catherine I know,” Lian comforted her in a low voice.

“Sometimes kindness is just weakness. I don’t need to be weak.”

Catherine’s eyes grew red.

“No, kindness can also be a form of strength, not weakness. It’s precisely because you want to protect the people around you that you’ll grow stronger. Catherine, believe in yourself. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Thank you. I feel a little better.”

“But you still can’t sleep, can you?”

“Yes. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep at all tonight. This was my first real encounter with Mary, and she terrified me. I’m worried I won’t be able to avenge my family or protect Blue Moon Territory and the people I care about. She’s just too powerful.”

Catherine recalled the sight of Lorne trembling on his knees before Mary, the ministers’ timid subservience, and the oppressive aura Mary exuded.

Before Mary, she was like a helpless child.

The only one she could rely on was Lian, which made her feel anxious and pained.

“Catherine, don’t put so much pressure on yourself. You just need time to grow. I believe that one day you will defeat Mary, surpass her—not with brute force, but by using this.”

Lian gently tapped Catherine’s head with his finger. “You have Wisdom and patience. And you have me. Don’t think of me as some outside force. We’re going to be married; we’ll become one. I will protect you. You will always be safe.”

“Those are the most beautiful words I’ve ever heard.”

Catherine turned and gave Lian a deep, passionate kiss.

Lian’s sage-like composure, which he had just managed to regain, was ignited by the kiss. “Catherine, you’ve successfully made me drop my gentlemanly facade.”

“?”

Catherine looked at Lian, confused.

A moment later, she understood what Lian meant.

And so, it was indeed a sleepless night.

Lian made Catherine momentarily forget her worries and fears, leaving only pleasure in their place.

The eastern sky slowly brightened, and the clouds on the horizon were tinged with faint golden edges.

Dawn had arrived, and the sun began to rise.

Blue Moon Castle, situated at the highest point in Blue Moon Territory, was the first to be bathed in the morning light.

The Lord’s bedroom had large floor-to-ceiling windows, and soft light spilled into the room.

It shone upon the sweat-drenched youth, searing his magnificent form into the young woman’s eyes, as profound as a golden sculpture.

Catherine was exhausted, but happy.

This was a joy she rarely experienced, a joy she could only find when she was with Lian.

“It’s morning.”

“Yes, Catherine. Let’s go out to the terrace. No one else will be up this early.”

The idea came to Lian suddenly. The Lord’s bedroom was on the top floor, after all; no one would be able to see.

Unless someone was spying with a telescope, but that was highly unlikely.

Blue Moon Territory had its Guard Knights.

Catherine’s cheeks flushed red. “I… I’m a little scared.”

“Don’t be scared. Have you forgotten our time in the wilderness? You showed some amazing talent back then.”

Lian recalled their past adventures in the Golden Forest, his heart still surging at the memory.

Catherine’s face turned even redder.

And so, half-resisting, half-complying, she was led to the terrace by Lian, where they engaged in certain… indescribable activities while watching the sunrise.

From the terrace of Catherine’s bedroom, one could overlook almost the entirety of Blue Moon Territory.

The sun rose slowly, its golden rays spilling over the mountains of Blue Moon Territory, draping the ancient land in a warm, golden cloak.

The terrain of Blue Moon Territory was like a basin, with mountains to the east and the Golden Forest bordering it to the west.

In the middle lay a wide-open plain, where nearly all the buildings were concentrated.

The tall city walls stood in the morning sun. Though their former glory had faded, their exquisite carvings and sturdy arrow towers still spoke of Blue Moon Territory’s glorious history.

Far from the city walls, at the edge of the territory, fields of wheat swayed gently in the wind. The golden waves of grain, illuminated by the morning sun, resembled a golden ocean upon the land.

The church steeple gleamed in the morning sun, its stained-glass windows refracting the light into dazzling rays.

The church bells echoed through the tranquil dawn.

Lian held the exhausted Catherine, and together they bathed in the sunlight and the sound of the bells.

Catherine curled up in his arms, her breathing gradually evening out.

“I want to rest for a bit.”

“Sleep, my Catherine.”

Catherine closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

Lian draped a blanket over her, and the two of them rested on the terrace.

It wasn’t until the sun was high in the sky, around nine in the morning, that Catherine woke up.

“What time is it?”

“It’s still early. You can sleep a little longer,” Lian said gently.

Last night, he had gained a profound appreciation for the special nature of a Knight’s Physique. Catherine was utterly exhausted, yet he was still full of energy.

Even after staying up all night, from dawn to daybreak and daybreak to morning, he remained invigorated.

His thoughts were also exceptionally clear.

“I have a lot to take care of today.”

Catherine politely declined Lian’s suggestion, ready to face the new day.

‘Maybe I can ask the Grand Priest for help.’

Lian knew Catherine was talking about Lorne Jackson, so he said,

“I’ve actually thought of a way.”

“What?”

Catherine looked at Lian excitedly, asking what his idea was.

“The power of faith.”

Lian said, “Do you remember the curse we encountered back in the Bone Forest? Oh, right, those poor souls with ‘Tree-man Disease.’ They became very lucky in the Bone Forest, but once they left, they became extremely unlucky and contracted ‘Tree-man Disease’.”

“I remember.”

Catherine nodded.

“The Bone Forest is called the Golden Forest now. The Golden Goddess is the Angel who presides over the Golden Forest. She has the ability to make Her Believers lucky.”

“You mean we should build a church to the Golden Goddess in Blue Moon Territory, have my brother Lorne convert his faith to Her, and ask the Goddess to grant him enough luck to extend his life?”

Catherine looked at Lian, pleasantly surprised.

Lian nodded slightly. “Yes, but not entirely. He doesn’t have to change his faith. Brother Lorne can still believe in the God of Tiger and also believe in the Golden Goddess. The Goddess won’t mind. We won’t ask the Goddess to grant him luck to extend his life, but to grant him a curse.”

“What curse?”

“False Immortality.”

“What does that mean?”

“It can’t make Lorne Jackson live forever, but it can at least let him drag his poisoned body along for a few more years. If we still can’t find a solution in those years, then we can fall back on the method Dora suggested.”

“Can the Golden Goddess really do that?”

“I’ve already communicated with Her. She can. At the very least, She can allow Her Believers to receive this curse.”

“Since it’s a curse, there must be a price, right?”

“The price is that his aesthetic sense will be… altered. He might develop a preference for green-skinned women.”

“Goblins?”

“Something like that.”

‘Actually, Treants,’ Lian added internally. ‘But to survive, I’m sure Lorne Jackson would be willing to pay such a small price, right?’