As a villain, he could do whatever he wanted.

Page 179

Those legs, encased in black stockings, which made her so ashamed she wanted to disappear into the ground, were now exposed to Lius's calm gaze, and were being observed in their entirety.

Sophia could sense that the blond boy's gaze was full of admiration. He seemed quite interested in her beautiful legs and couldn't help but glance at them a few more times. However, there was none of the frivolous or erotic intent that Sophia had worried about. It was just a pure, equal appreciation, along with a hint of surprise that this "caravan talent who could create flawless treasures" would dress so frivolously.

All of this made Sofia feel ashamed, but on the other hand... it also gave her a completely new impression of Lius.

"Young Master Leus is indeed as Mother said, very interested in things like legs and feet, but his behavior is very reserved. Even now that he can fully admire my legs, he doesn't focus his gaze on them much, but only glances at them lightly, as if he is very worried about offending me. The more reserved Leus is, the more embarrassed Sophia feels, as if all her preconceived notions are made ugly and unbearable in the face of his frank and gentlemanly demeanor."

With a silent contemplation, her cheeks flushed uncontrollably, and her legs unconsciously pressed together, swaying back and forth with a very girlish air. Looking down at her thighs, you could see that her hands were tightly gripping the hem of her skirt, just like before in the carriage, wishing she could stretch the pitifully short piece of fabric a few more inches to alleviate the awkward atmosphere.

"Hmm, what's wrong, Miss Sophia? You look... a little unwell. Should I call the maids over to take a look?"

Lius's voice came from beside her ear, along with his caring gaze, which fell on Sophia's face and she felt it all.

Feeling the gaze from Lius, Sophia lowered her head, pressed her lips together, and stared intently at the intricate and ornate patterns on the carpet. Her lips moved a few times, but she could only utter some incoherent, hesitant syllables.

Her mind was still replaying the question Leus had asked her earlier, pondering the matter of the arranged marriage. She wanted to say something about her own marriage, but found herself unable to utter a single word.

To admit that she's happy to be by Lius's side? As yet another member of a noble family's harem, a puppet devoid of her own personality? Wouldn't that be tantamount to completely denying her past principles and pride?

But how could she possibly say such heartless words to the benefactor who had just helped her yesterday?

Moreover, now that she was facing Lius, and feeling his handsome face and gentlemanly attitude, Sophia couldn't help but feel a bit of goodwill towards him, and the blush on her face intensified slightly.

With a sigh, Sophia's lips moved slightly, but she swallowed back the words she was about to say, as if she had given up on her original thoughts. She was trapped in a huge dilemma, a mixture of shame, confusion, gratitude and self-contradiction, and could not move.

Chapter 416: A Visit to the Nobles (Part 4)

Miss Sophia.

Looking at Sophia's desperate expression, almost burying her head in her chest and with her ears burning red, Lius glanced at her and seemed to realize something. He subtly glanced at Aurora beside him, who was holding a teacup and had a knowing smile on her lips. A hint of helplessness appeared in his eyes. "So... this time, it was Ms. Aurora who forcibly dragged Sophia to my house, just to let me and Sophia meet, and thus, in a muddle, establish our relationship, completely establishing the connection between me, her, and her caravan..." Lius thought to himself as he gazed at Aurora.

This shrewd caravan leader clearly did it on purpose, not only dressing his daughter up like this, but also deliberately creating a situation that Sophia could neither refuse nor accept, so that Lius would take the initiative to express his attitude. It was both a test and an unquestionable "push".

Leus rolled his eyes at her helplessly, then took a deep breath, turned his gaze back to Sophia, and said softly:

"Miss Sophia."

Lius's voice rang out in the room again, this time with a more magnanimous and forgiving tone.

“Miss Sophia, as I said before, relax and don’t put so much pressure on yourself.” Hearing this, Sophia slowly raised her head, looking at him hesitantly. Lius gave her a reassuring smile, his eyes honest and sincere.

"To be honest, I also have some reservations about this sudden engagement. I wonder if it's too hasty. Marriage is a major event that concerns the happiness of two people for a lifetime. It should never be based solely on family interests or the decisions of elders. We don't even know each other yet, do we?"

These words were like a timely spring rain, instantly extinguishing the burning flame of "awkwardness" in Sophia's heart. She hadn't expected that this noble young man would not only not be annoyed by her long silence, but would also take the initiative to stand on his side and admit that he also had the same confusion. This understanding and respect made Sophia's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, slowly settle back into place, and also made her feel more favorably toward the young man.

Meanwhile, after comforting Sophia, Lius turned his attention back to the instigator, Aurora.

“Ms. Aurora, you…” Looking at the young woman, Lius smiled helplessly, “Your surprise attack today really caught Miss Soya and me off guard.”

Upon hearing this, Haorola simply shrugged gracefully, her face displaying an innocent expression that seemed to say, "I'm only doing this for your own good." However, a glint of cunning shone in her beautiful eyes.

Lius knew that arguing with this thoughtful lady was pointless, so he gently turned back to Sophia and spoke in a gentle, conciliatory tone:

“Miss Sophia, regarding the specifics of the engagement, I think… I need to speak with Ms. Aurora alone. How about this? My maid can show you around the manor first, so you can familiarize yourself with the surroundings. The library and the back garden are quite nice; perhaps you'll find them interesting. After we finish talking, I'll go to the back garden to find you, and then we can have a proper chat as friends, how about that?”

He skillfully shifted the nature of the conversation from "discussing the engagement" to "chatting between friends," once again minimizing Sofia's pressure and defensiveness.

This suggestion was like a godsend for Sophia at that moment; she couldn't wait to escape from this uncomfortable meeting room.

“Thank you, thank you,” said Prince Leus. Sophia seemed to still be reeling from Leus’s series of thoughtful arrangements. After a few seconds, she realized that he was waiting for her reply, and she quickly nodded like a chick pecking at its shell to indicate her agreement.

Seeing Sophia's dazed yet relieved expression, Leus's smile deepened. "Snap!"

After snapping his fingers, a maid who had been quietly standing by the door immediately stepped forward and bowed to Sophia. "Ellie, show Miss Sophia around and fulfill all her reasonable requests," Lius instructed.

"Yes, Master."

The maid named Emily answered respectfully, then gestured for Sophia to follow, saying softly, "Miss Sophia, please come with me." "Mm."

Sophia felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She almost immediately stood up from the sofa, gave a hurried and somewhat awkward bow to Lius and her mother, and then followed the maid Emily out of the reception room without saying a word. Her back view even looked somewhat like she was fleeing in panic.

With Sofia gone, the reception room returned to silence.

Aurora watched her daughter's slightly disheveled figure recede into the distance, her smile deepening. She turned to look at Lius, her tone carrying a hint of sarcasm:

"You are such a gentleman who knows how to be considerate of women, Lius, just like you did to your aunt before. It seems that my stubborn daughter is beginning to change her opinion of you."

"Ha...isn't this all thanks to you, Ms. Aurora? I was just going along with it a little." Looking at the young woman, Lius shook his head helplessly, picked up his teacup, but didn't drink it, only looking at the clear tea swirling in the cup. "Ms. Aurora, let's talk about business now."

On the other side, Sophia followed behind the maid Emily, walking through the wide, bright corridors of the Floren mansion, leaving the reception room that had made her so uneasy. Breathing in the fresh air outside, her wildly beating heart finally began to calm down.

But if you look closely, you'll notice that her brows are still slightly furrowed, and the girl's thoughts are still in a state of chaos.

She walked absentmindedly, secretly observing her surroundings and sensing the atmosphere around her.

The entire mansion is decorated in a typical classical aristocratic style, exuding understated luxury and extraordinary taste.

The corridor was covered with thick, soft carpets that made no sound when you stepped on them. The walls were decorated with landscape paintings and abstract artworks, all in soft colors and with a profound artistic conception, exuding an aristocratic air.

Along the way, Sophia encountered several maids at work. Each of them was dressed in a neat uniform, walking briskly and looking focused. When they saw Sophia and her companion, they would simply stop and respectfully greet them. There was no flattery or fear in their eyes, only a perfect professional demeanor.

This place... truly lives up to its reputation as a noble residence; both its exterior and interior exude an irrepressible air of nobility.

Such thoughts lingered in the girl's mind, causing her to take another look at her surroundings, and a completely new feeling arose in her heart towards Lius.

Chapter 417: A Visit to the Nobles (Part 5)

In the corridor, Sophia looked around, admiring the luxurious mansion.

Not only was the environment clean, but the entire mansion also exuded an atmosphere of order, tranquility, and peace. It was nothing like the decadent and luxurious den she had imagined. Instead, it resembled a meticulously managed and highly efficient institution.

Such a luxurious mansion deepened the confusion in her heart, making her even more confused, "Miss Sofia".

Just then, Emily's gentle voice interrupted her reverie, "Young Master instructed that I can take you anywhere you are interested in. May I ask where you would like to go first? Would you like to go to the library or the rooftop terrace? From there, you can overlook the entire courtyard; the view is very beautiful."

"This...the library, I suppose."

Looking toward the enthusiastic maid, Sophia instinctively chose the place that appealed to her the most. Then, led by Ellie, they arrived at a double wooden door carved with the coat of arms of the Fren family.

Gently pushing open the door, Sophia narrowed her eyes, and a magnificent and spectacular world unfolded before the black-haired girl's eyes.

It was a private library that rivaled the Royal Academy Library. The high, curved ceiling was decorated with a map of the stars, and two-story-high bookshelves stretched along the walls to the horizon, densely packed with all kinds of books, from military and magic to literature and art.

The air was filled with the unique, comforting scent of old parchment and ink, which soothed Sofia's restless heart once again.

“Most of the books here were personally selected and organized by the young master,” Emily said softly. “Especially the entire row on the east side, which is full of rare and precious books about ancient magic, alchemy, and magical engineering. The master often spends an entire day here alone.”

Following the maid's words, Sophia's steps moved uncontrollably toward the bookshelf on the east side. She randomly pulled out a thick book, "The Theory of the Source of Magic," written in ancient Elvish. Her fingertips traced the antique cover, and for the first time, her eyes shone with a genuine light, a mixture of shock and fervor. This book… she had only seen its name in the most authoritative catalogues of magical literature; it was said to have been lost for centuries. Yet here, it sat quietly on the shelf like any other ordinary book.

She glanced at the books next to her: "Detailed Explanation of High-Level Elemental Construction," "The Grammar and Practice of Dragon Language Magic," "On the Thirteen Possibilities of Space Folding"... Each one was a treasure trove of knowledge that any magician would dream of.

Sophia felt her understanding being refreshed, even... overturned, time and again. After letting out a sigh, she silently put the book back. The tension in her heart had completely vanished, replaced by a more complex emotion: the instinctive awe a magician felt for knowledge, the shame for her past ignorance and prejudice, and a hint of... curiosity and admiration for that man that she herself hadn't even noticed.

"Let's... go somewhere else to rest." Her voice was a little hoarse.

For Sofia, the rest of the tour was more like a continuous journey of cognitive revision.

Emily showed her around Lius's private magic laboratory. There were no luxurious decorations inside, only various sophisticated alchemical instruments and magic array bases that Sophia recognized or did not recognize. On the experimental table was a notebook filled with complex calculation formulas. Everything indicated that the owner of this place was a rigorous, diligent practitioner with profound knowledge in the field of magic.

Then, they went to the back garden.

The back garden of the Florence House is not decorated with overly neatly trimmed shrubs, nor is it ostentatious with piles of rare flowers. Instead, it is more like a carefully tended, semi-natural garden.

A clear stream flows past the mansion, with some unidentified aquatic plants with small white flowers growing along its banks. Several tall, ancient trees provide comfortable shade, and the lawn is soft and clean, with some soft lounge chairs and a small round table scattered on it. Everything looks peaceful and comfortable.

The entire garden's design exudes a sense of simplicity and tranquility, allowing one to relax both body and mind. Sofia deeply appreciated it and couldn't help but smile contentedly.

With that smile, Sophia walked to a white bench by the stream. The maid respectfully stepped aside and did not disturb her any further.

In the tranquil atmosphere, Sofia sat down quietly. A gentle breeze blew, lifting a few strands of hair from her forehead and bringing with it a refreshing floral fragrance.

Looking at the tranquil and beautiful scenery before her, and listening to the faint birdsong in the distance, her heart, which had been tense and chaotic since yesterday, finally calmed down completely.

She began to rethink.

Where did that rumor about Leus being addicted to pleasure and keeping countless maids and noble ladies in his house come from?

From everything she had seen today, the mansion was well-managed, the servants were professional and self-respecting, and the master was a powerful magician who lived a secluded life and had an endless passion for knowledge. Everything here had nothing to do with the word "debauchery".

As for his promiscuous private life... I didn't see that at all.

So, are the rumors false? Is someone maliciously slandering him? Or... is there some hidden story she doesn't know about?

She remembered yesterday, when she was most helpless, it was Lius who reached out to help her, not only saving her but also comforting her in such a gentle and patient way.

Would a truly morally corrupt person possess such clear eyes and such genuine kindness? No.

In her heart, Sofia gave an absolutely certain answer.

So… she was wrong. From the very beginning, she had approached Switzerland with the deepest prejudice, testing someone she knew absolutely nothing about. At this moment, Sophia felt a profound sense of shame for her prejudice and arrogance.

Just then, the sound of unhurried footsteps came from a path not far away, interrupting her thoughts. "Hmm?"

When Sophia looked up, she saw a silver-haired girl walking slowly towards her alone, a cheerful smile on her lips.

Chapter 418: A Visit to a Nobleman (Part Six)

Sitting on a bench by the stream, Sofia stretched slightly, the warmth of the sunlight still lingering on her fingertips. Having recovered from her earlier agitation and just ended a somewhat depressing experience, Sofia simply wanted to rest for a while.

With her eyes lowered, Sophia watched the stream flowing beside her, her own blurry and tranquil reflection shimmering in the water. This stirred a myriad of thoughts within her. A gentle breeze carried the rich fragrance of roses and lilies from the courtyard, along with the distinct, light, and lively sound of footsteps.

"The tap-tap-tap sound was very soft, like a cat's footsteps on a soft carpet, with an elegant rhythm." Hmm?

Upon hearing the voice, Sofia raised her head slightly and looked in the direction of the sound with some surprise.

A young girl in a pure white dress was walking slowly and smilingly from the path hidden among the flowers.

She had long, silver hair, smooth and silky, like moonlight spun into the finest threads. Each strand reflected a cool and gentle glow in the sunlight. Her skin was so white it was almost transparent, like the finest mutton fat jade, which complemented her silver hair and highlighted the girl's pure temperament even more.

What is most eye-catching is the girl's double sleep.

Those were strange and beautiful blood-red pupils, as clear as the finest rubies, yet they rippled with a charming and alluring smile that was completely different from the purity of her appearance. Her facial features were as delicate as a doll's, with a small, delicate nose and cherry blossom-pink lips that were slightly upturned, outlining a sweet and approachable curve.

Overall, this silver-haired girl is like a princess who stepped out of a fairy tale, untouched by the world, pure and beautiful, yet possessing an alluring charm that captivates the viewer.

"Hmph~"

With a lovely smile, the silver-haired girl stopped in front of Sophia. She didn't feel awkward at all because of Sophia's gaze; on the contrary, she felt relaxed and at ease, and her smile deepened, making her appear lively and adorable.

"Hello, Sister Sofia."

A voice as clear and melodious as a silver bell rang from her lips, like the tinkling of a mountain spring, carrying a touch of the delicate sweetness unique to a young girl.

“I am Lia, the elder, and also the younger sister of Lius Frenz.” “Young Master Lius’s younger sister.” Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Sister Sophia.

Looking towards Sofia, Lia introduced herself as she walked up to her, gently lifted her skirt and bowed, then gracefully sat down opposite Sofia. The whole process was natural and smooth, full of noble demeanor.

"Previously, Lia was outside the reception room. She overheard the conversation between you, Sophia, and your brother."

Looking at Sofia, Lia readily admitted to her "eavesdropping" behavior. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she wore a slightly mischievous smile. Her innocent and carefree appearance made it impossible for anyone to feel any resentment towards her.

"Oh? You overheard my conversation with Prince Lius."

Meanwhile, Sophia, looking at the girl in front of her who claimed to be Lius's sister, was filled with surprise and curiosity. She quickly recovered and greeted Lia as well, "Hello, Miss Lia, my name is Sophia. I have heard my mother talk about you before and know that you are Lius's sister. It is an honor to meet you today."

Sofia nodded politely, her posture still dignified, but her tense shoulders unconsciously relaxed a little in response to the other person's unreserved smile.

"Hehe, no need to be so formal, just call me Leah."

Upon hearing the words "Young Master Lius's sister," Lia happily shook a strand of silver hair hanging down her chest, then leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands, and looked at Sophia with a gaze full of inquiry and goodwill.

"Hmm... Sister Sophia is even more beautiful than I imagined, just like a princess from a story. No wonder my brother cares about you so much."

"Oh, really? Thank you for the compliment." Leah's straightforward and honest words made Sophia smile, a barely perceptible blush creeping onto her cheeks. Leah, looking at Sophia, maintained her cheerful smile and continued:

"Actually, I came here today to see Sister Sophia." "Oh? You came specifically to see me?" Sophia looked at her with some surprise.

"Yes, because Lia wants to help her brother. She also wants to get involved in his upcoming marriage." Clenching her little fist, Lia nodded. "Anyone valued by my brother is someone I want to understand and get close to the most. Sister Sophia, you may not know my brother very well, but he is a very good person."

The rest of the time turned into a praise session by Leah's older brother.

Once she started talking, she almost couldn't stop. Although she spoke slowly, every word was full of emotion. She wasn't deliberately praising or embellishing, but rather using all her vocabulary to share the most precious treasure in her heart with another person.

"Lord Ke is a man of many talents. Although he may seem a bit aloof and not very talkative at times, he is actually the gentlest person in the world."

A look of reminiscence appeared in Lia's eyes, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up. That feeling of happiness was so real that it deeply touched Sophia, who was listening.