Chapter 135: Leaving the Northern Region

Victor had just finished his training when he encountered a familiar figure in the corridor leading toward the dining room.

Cecilia was standing beside a window, dressed in a simple, light-colored gown. Her silver-white hair flowed loosely over her shoulders, and she held a book she had just borrowed from the manor’s library.

Compared to that morning, her complexion had improved considerably. At the very least, she no longer possessed the sickly pallor caused by years of erosion from the curse.

Hearing approaching footsteps, she turned around. Upon noticing the faint traces of sweat still lingering on Victor’s forehead, she couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.

"Just got back from the training ground?"

"Why? Does Your Highness want to spar with me too?"

"I have no interest in fooling around with someone who’s only just recovered from his injuries."

Cecilia closed her book, her gaze lingering on him for a moment.

"But seriously, you only left the Medical Center a few days ago, and you’re already pushing yourself with sword training again. Are you really that eager to break through to the Second Tier?"

"Of course."

Victor answered without the slightest hesitation.

"Don’t you want to become stronger as quickly as possible?"

"I do," Cecilia replied.

"But at least I know when I should rest."

Victor glanced at the book in her hand and deliberately remarked, "Looks like your recovery is going pretty well. You’ve even got enough energy to start lecturing other people."

"I’m reminding you."

"Then should I thank you?"

"You’re welcome to try."

The two stared at each other for a moment before Cecilia was the first to burst into laughter.

"Oh, right."

Cecilia suddenly remembered something.

"I’ll have to trouble your family for a few more days."

Victor waved his hand casually.

"The manor is huge. It’s not like we don’t have room for you."

Victor smiled and began walking toward the dining room.

"Since you’re recovering nicely, come have dinner. Our family’s chefs are fairly decent."

Cecilia followed him.

"The chefs employed by the prestigious Alves ducal family are merely ’fairly decent’ in your eyes?"

"That depends on what they’ve prepared today."

"And if it doesn’t taste good?"

"I’ll have Evelyn make new arrangements."

"..."

Looking at his completely matter-of-fact expression, Cecilia suddenly felt that although this fellow had changed considerably, certain aspects of him still seemed exactly the same as before.

At the very least, he hadn’t lost even the slightest bit of his young nobleman’s temperament.

...

After dinner, victor returned to his study.

Evelyn had already placed the secret realm supply list she had organized that afternoon on his desk, along with a catalog of equipment the family could provide.

"Young Master, almost everything you’ve requested can be prepared."

Victor picked up the list and carefully examined it.

Potions, Heat-resistant equipment, Spare weapons and several auxiliary items that could prove useful in special environments.

Although none of these things possessed particularly astonishing effects, once he actually entered the secret realm, they would often prove far more practical than expensive equipment that looked impressive but offered little genuine usefulness.

Especially the recovery potions.

Victor had absolutely no desire to repeat his previous experience of finishing a battle covered in injuries, only to end up lying in the Medical Center receiving treatment.

After confirming that there were no obvious omissions, he placed the list down.

"By the way, Evelyn."

"Young Master?"

"Double-check how much time is left before the secret realm opens."

"I’ve already checked the token," Evelyn replied.

"The Inferno Prison Secret Realm opens in five days. If you intend to wait until Her Highness’s recovery has stabilized before departing, we’ll need to leave the estate soon after to arrive in time."

That was precisely what Victor had been considering.

The secret realm opened only once a year. If he missed it, he would have to wait another full year.

Especially since he had already reached Level 23 and his body had completely recovered. This was an excellent opportunity to enter another high-intensity cultivation environment.

"Then make the arrangements accordingly for now." Victor said "Once Cecilia’s recovery has stabilized, we’ll set off."

...

Two days later.

The morning sunlight had barely risen above the distant mountain ridge when a small convoy consisting of three carriages was already waiting on the stone-paved road outside the manor.

After two days of rest and preparation, Victor was finally ready to leave.

"Young Master, everything has been loaded."

Evelyn stood beside the carriage, placing the final supply list into her storage ring before raising her head to look at Victor, who had just stepped out of the manor’s main entrance.

"According to the route we decided on earlier, if we depart today, we should be able to reach the camp near the secret realm’s entrance by the evening of the day after tomorrow."

"Mm."Victor nodded.

Only three days remained before the Inferno Prison Secret Realm officially opened.

After confirming that Cecilia’s condition had stabilized, he decided there was no reason to delay any longer.

The Abyssal Heart Erosion Curse within Cecilia’s body had already been completely eliminated, and her subsequent recovery no longer required his involvement.

Besides, with a high-level healer like Morris remaining at the manor, there wasn’t much for him to worry about.

However, just as he was about to board the carriage, a familiar voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"Victor!"

Victor turned around.

Cecilia was walking out through the manor’s main entrance.

"I thought you were planning to leave without saying goodbye."

Cecilia approached him, her gaze sweeping across the convoy that was already prepared for departure.

"How could I?" Victor smiled. "I specifically had someone inform you."

"You did inform me." Cecilia looked at him.

"But it doesn’t seem like you had any intention of coming over to say goodbye yourself."

"Your Highness, you’re still a patient."

Victor replied with a perfectly serious expression.

"I can’t exactly disturb your rest just for the sake of saying goodbye, can I?"

"Alright."

He glanced at the time.

"You didn’t come all the way out here just to criticize me, did you?"

Cecilia stopped teasing him, her gaze settling on the travel gear being loaded into the carriage and then said: