CHAPTER 56: SHADOW SCYTHE

The carriage returned to the manor, and Losiya and Julian got off. Alice was waiting at the door. Seeing the two of them get out of the carriage safely, she was relieved and stepped forward to bow.

"Did you have a smooth journey, my lady?"

"Very smooth," Losiya said.

Julian, however, was looking at the distance with a calm expression.

Alice felt that Julian seemed to have put down a heavy burden, and his whole being became much more relaxed.

"Are you tired?" Losiya asked, stroking Julian’s head.

"Hmm... a little," Julian replied with a yawn.

Losiya patted him immediately and said, "Then go and rest. Alice, um..."

Alice was unconsciously distracted by Julian’s yawn and expression. After reacting, she quickly said, "I’m here."

Losiya’s expression became strange, finding it amusing but not paying too much attention. "Come to my room. I’ve been away for half a month, and there are a few things I need to inform you about."

"Yes," Alice said, lowering her head. Even a calm person like her was now too embarrassed to look up. She followed Losiya slowly.

Julian, however, dragged his body back to his room.

He flopped onto the bed, closing his eyes, and the memories from not long ago came rushing back.

A while ago, he would unconsciously look in the mirror. Not him, but because Julian was too similar to his previous life, both in appearance and personality.

In a mysterious way, he always felt that something was not right. For example, the blurry woman in the dream of the Holy Mark awakening, or the voice that initially echoed in his mind.

Although he had gained Julian’s memories, the emotions Julian had left behind in his body were also unknowingly affecting him.

For example, his mother, not being able to be buried in peace before her death, was Julian’s biggest regret and wish before he died.

After today, he clearly felt a sense of liberation throughout his body, and even the flow of magic became much smoother.

He could also understand the reason for Losiya’s actions. She wanted Julian to be able to fully and completely immerse himself in his future life, and not have his steps hindered by past sorrow.

However...

Julian got up from the bed and sat down at the desk.

With his hands supporting his head, he consciously guided the sea of memories in his mind. After constant filtering and selecting useful information, Julian finally opened his eyes.

"His" mother had never, not even once, mentioned the whereabouts or even the name of his father. Whenever she was faced with such a question, she would always pass it off with a pale smile.

Holding a pen in his hand, Julian unconsciously scribbled on the paper based on a feeling.

After an unknown amount of time, Julian decided to give up. He threw the pen aside and immediately dove onto the bed, looking at the ceiling and gradually closing his eyes.

Outside the door, Lady Catherine, holding some sorted documents, paused with her hand on the door. After sensing Julian’s movements inside, she smiled and shook her head.

She quietly entered the room, placed the books she was holding down, and carefully read through them to make sure there were no issues with the markings. Then she turned around to look at Julian sleeping on the bed.

She had to admit, his sleeping posture was terrible. His limbs all seemed to have a mind of their own.

Lady Catherine touched Julian’s forehead, then pulled out the blanket from under him and gently covered him.

After smoothing out his wrinkled clothes, Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment. Then she reached out and drew a circle on Julian’s forehead. A few points of light fell, and Julian’s expression became a little more relaxed.

"Sweet dreams, child," Lady Catherine said with a smile. The next second, her body disappeared from the room.

Going up to the second floor of the manor, she looked down and could clearly see the knight order that was now stationed in the territory.

Their numbers were not large, but they were the elite of the elite, with high-level magic and holy Marks of mid-level or higher.

Archduchess Veronica walked up to Lady Catherine and said to her, "We will set off tonight."

"So soon?" Lady Catherine asked in surprise.

She thought they would at least wait until tomorrow to leave.

"If we leave tonight, we’ll arrive just right tomorrow," Veronica said nonchalantly.

Lady Catherine seemed to have thought of something, and she glanced at Archduchess Veronica, saying knowingly, "You’re right not to let Losiya stay here for the night."

Veronica’s true thoughts were exposed, and her expression was awkward. She immediately coughed a few times and said, "You understand her better than I do. You must know that she can’t control herself now. She’s so attached to that sweet embrace, how could she think of doing real business?"

"Remember to be careful on the road," Lady Catherine said with a nod. She then took something from her embrace and handed it to Veronica.

"This is a supernatural item, ’Shadow Scythe.’ The effect of concealing one’s aura is very good. It should reduce some trouble when you’re in a hurry."

Veronica curiously accepted it. The necklace had a radiant, transparent jewel with a mercury-like appearance, and the color inside was constantly changing.

"You only need to infuse a small amount of magic, and you can freely change the scope of the concealment. You didn’t bring many people anyway, so it should be enough."

Lady Catherine finished speaking and was about to turn and leave, but she was suddenly stopped by Veronica.

"Catherine."

"Is there anything else?"

"Are you still blaming me for what happened back then?"

"There’s nothing to blame you for. I was too quick to trust others."

Hearing Lady Catherine’s cold tone, Veronica forced a bitter smile. Any explanation she gave would probably sound like an excuse to the other party. There was no need to add more annoyance to a relationship that had already eased.

"I just felt at the time that your talent was much better than mine, and you shouldn’t waste your time and energy on such a boring matter..."

Lady Catherine just shook her head. With her talent back then, she had many opportunities to become a true Holy Realm, but she had a knot in her heart. That knot would not go away, and the narrowness of her state of mind also caused her to stop there and be unable to advance further.

"It’s all in the past. Aren’t I doing well now?"

Veronica looked at Lady Catherine’s departing figure, associating it with the various images of their superficial relationship over the years, and couldn’t help but question herself: "Was I really wrong back then?"

In the early evening, Losiya quietly opened Julian’s room door, took one last look at his sleeping face, and then nodded to Alice on the side.

"Don’t worry, my lady."

"Alice, you should also take good care of yourself." Losiya hugged her chief maid’s shoulder, then left with Veronica.

A moment later, in the room, Lady Catherine looked up at the window. Under the distant sunset, several figures moved farther and farther away with the passing of time.