Chapter 136: A Short Wintery Visit Interlude

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    Mundane, boredom, dull, and tiresome-these were the emotions Liyana Heavens felt whenever she found herself in this place.

    The opulence of the Hell mansion, with its grandeur and wealth, did little to captivate her.

    To her, it was as uninspiring as the many other gatherings she had attended.

    The same monotony, the same forced pleasantries, the same faceless people-everything about this place seemed to echo her feelings of ennui.

    Liyana''s gaze swept over the room, noting the anxious glances and barely concealed apprehensions of Riley''s family. It was a reaction she was accustomed to.

    Whether due to her status, her reputation, or something more personal, people always seemed to find a way to fear her.

    It was a sentiment she both despised and understood.

    Their discomfort around her only added to the sense of disconnect she felt.

    "I''m terribly sorry about that, Lady Liyana," Krista said, her voice laced with genuine concern. "Reina is just... a bit overzealous about seeing her brother again. I hope her words of conduct don''t leave a lasting impression. She''s actually a very kind and good-hearted young woman."

    Liyana forced a polite smile, even though her patience was wearing thin. "No, it''s quite alright, Mother Krista."

    "I understand that Miss Reina didn''t mean any harm. I''m more than happy to overlook any indiscretions, especially coming from my future sister."

    "Please, don''t be too restrained with my presence. I''m just pleased to be here and to reunite with Riley."

    As Krista''s face visibly relaxed, Liyana''s irritation grew.

    The relief etched in Krista''s features only highlighted how little these people understood her.

    They were making efforts to placate her, to ensure she felt welcome and untroubled, but it only served to amplify her disdain for the entire situation.

    To Liyana, these attempts at soothing her were both unnecessary and irritating. She didn''t care for the pleasantries or the attempts to make her feel at ease.

    Hiding the fear, they felt for her through wavering smiles and forced pleasantries was something Liyana had always grown to detest about humans.

    To her, such behaviors were as predictable as they were nauseating.

    Each time she encountered people putting on false facades to mask their true feelings, it only deepened her aversion to them.

    They all seemed like the same, a monotonous chorus of self-preservation and pretense. People operated within trivial systems, much like ants scurrying about their mundane lives. Their actions were dictated by shallow norms and social expectations, often driven by fear or respect rather than genuine emotion. Liyana understood why people feared and respected her —after all, she was the Duke''s daughter, a figure of power and influence.

    Yet, the constant, insincere reactions grated on her nerves.

    It was particularly disheartening when this facade was displayed by those she interacted with closely.

    Despite her best efforts to be kind and considerate, Riley''s family seemed to regard her with a mixture of fear and formality.

    Her own sister-in-law, Reina, was no exception.

    This notion that even her kindness could be met with apprehension was something Liyana found difficult to fathom.

    Riley, however, was different. He was the only person who had ever broken through her layers of disillusionment with genuine honesty. Where others saw only the mask of her status, Riley saw beyond it.

    He treated her with a sincerity that was rare and precious in her world of superficial interactions.

    For Liyana, Riley represented the sole bastion of authenticity she needed amidst the mundane and the repetitive.

    Of course, that doesn''t mean every one of Riley''s actions is entirely truthful. Like her mother, Riley was the type to cloak his true feelings behind a mask of polite words and well- constructed facades.

    However, what set him apart was not merely the surface-level sincerity but the depth of emotions lurking beneath.

    Despite Riley''s attempts to shield his true feelings, his demeanor towards Liyana had always been distinct and multifaceted.

    There was an unmistakable layer of intense emotions: a blend of aversion, profound respect, and an honest heart filled with both love and pity.

    His feelings were raw and unfiltered, contrasting sharply with the usual calculated interactions she was accustomed to.

    This complex emotional tapestry was something she had never encountered in anyone else.

    Riley''s ability to evoke such a wide range of emotions in her was both perplexing and compelling. Even after he left for the academy, she could not help but be intrigued by him. Her rational mind and her heart might have insisted that Riley was nothing more than a passing distraction, a mere pet she indulged in for amusement.

    Yet, her body''s responses and her emotional turmoil told a different story.

    There was a palpable disconnect between what her mind and heart asserted and the powerful reaction Riley stirred within her.

    It was as if an unseen force bound her to him, making it impossible for her to completely sever ties with him or fully rationalize her feelings.

    The notion of Riley persisted as an inescapable presence, something she couldn''t simply dismiss or forget.

    Hearing the butler''s confirmation and the distinct sound of the carriage outside, Liyana''s draconic eyes scanned the surroundings with a practiced air of detachment.

    Yet, beneath that calm exterior, her heart experienced an unfamiliar flutter.

    Her gaze settled on Riley''s approaching form, and she couldn''t help but notice the subtle anticipation that grew within her.

    It was a feeling she hadn''t expected and struggled to understand.

    "Liyana?" His voice grew louder, tinged with a hint of concern.

    She noticed his face inching closer to hers, his head tilted in a questioning manner as he

    awaited her response.

    "y-yes?" she managed to stammer, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to navigate the bewildering situation.

    Riley''s face lit up with a warm smile at her flustered response.

    Gently, he enveloped her in a hug, his embrace tender and reassuring.

    The sudden closeness and the enveloping warmth of his body created a cocoon of comfort

    around her.

    Yet, as she settled into the embrace, a profound sense of confusion continued to churn within

    her.

    The gentle thumping of his heart against her chest resonated deeply, echoing within her own

    being.

    Each beat seemed to magnify the enigma of the moment, leaving her wondering in the

    pounding rhythm, she was hearing....

    Her right hand clutched on to her chest.

    .... Thump!

    An echo upon which she had never experienced before pounded.

    ....

    ''Shit.... That was so close!

    If my rational self hadn''t returned at the last second, I might have been choking Liyana

    instead of hugging her.

    The jarring realization brought me back to the present, where I felt the weight of the moment

    and the embarrassment of almost letting my anger out on her.

    "Hey, you two lovebirds done?" my sister''s annoyed shout cut through the tense atmosphere.

    I turned around to see everyone watching us, their expressions ranging from amused grins to awkward smiles.

    Even Mom looked slightly embarrassed by the public display of affection. Her cheeks were flushed as she tried to maintain her composure.

    I released Liyana from my embrace, a nervous chuckle escaping me as I tried to regain my

    composure.

    The warmth that had enveloped me just moments before was now replaced by a cold sense of

    reality.

    My heart continued to race, and I felt a strange mix of confusion and discomfort.

    I focused on calming my beating heart, using my mana to steady my emotions and slow down

    the rapid thumping in my chest.

    Turning my attention back to Liyana, I saw her with her head lowered, a deep blush spread

    across her face.

    Her reaction was confusing. Why was she so flushed? Was she plotting something again, or

    was there another reason for her sudden change in demeanor?

    "Liyana?" I called out gently, hoping to get a response and understand what was going on.

    Slowly, she lifted her head to face me.

    Since I was a few inches taller, she had to look up, her deep red blush making her look even

    more delicate and unsure.

    Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something I couldn''t quite place -something that seemed to be a mixture of embarrassment, confusion, and perhaps a hint of vulnerability.

    This girl it wasn''t the first time she acted so affectionate for me.... Is she planning something

    again?