As a villain, he could do whatever he wanted.

Page 182

"I'm telling you all this not to reject you, nor to discourage you," Leus said with utmost sincerity, each word clear and distinct.

"On the contrary, it is precisely because I... and the Fren family have the most sincere expectations for this marriage with you that I must show you my truest and most unconventional side from the very beginning."

"Ok?"

Lius's words, like warm spring water, slowly flowed into Sophia's heart, which was cold and aching because of misunderstanding, melting away the ice little by little.

“As I said before, my behavior does not conform to conventional etiquette, and can even be described as heretical.” A helpless yet determined bitter smile appeared on Lius’s face. “But even so, I cannot let them go. Lia, and the other girls who are by my side, are no longer just companions or followers to me.”

At this point, he turned his head slightly and glanced at Leah, who was still lying in his arms, watching everything with her bright red eyes.

"They are my family."

The word "family" was spoken by Lius with utmost solemnity, carrying an undeniable weight: "They are my most cherished family members, whom I would never let go of under any circumstances, even if the world goes by, even if they are seen as immoral outcasts, I will continue to live with them. Because this is not just my wish alone."

At this point, Lius paused, then turned his gaze back to Sophia's pretty face, which was filled with fear. "This is also the wish of all of them."

As if to confirm Lius's words, Lia, who had been sitting quietly in Lius's arms, nodded vigorously, a bright and happy smile blooming on her face.

Far from hesitating at Lius's self-disclosure, she stood up, stretched out her arms, and wrapped them tightly and intimately around his neck from the front, pressing her cheek against his chest, as if declaring her happiness and sense of belonging to the world.

“That’s right, Sister Sophia!” Lia’s voice was full of pride and joy. “Being able to become my brother’s family is our shared and greatest wish!”

Her affectionate gesture and unwavering agreement were like the loudest bell tolling, shattering the last vestige of doubt in Sofia's heart. Her family member swallowed slightly; a strange warmth welled up inside Sofia.

Chapter 426: A Conversation with Sophia (Part 4)

Sofia swallowed hard, pursed her lips, and stared at the scene before her.

Looking at the boy who openly admitted to being "unconventional" yet steadfastly protected his "family," and the silver-haired girl who took the initiative to hug the boy, her face showing no sign of coercion, only pure happiness and love.

In that instant, the turbulent, chaotic ocean in Sofia's mind, known as "Mifan," seemed to be cleaved open by a beam of light that pierced through the heavens and earth.

All the chaos, all the struggle, all the self-doubt—all vanished in that moment. She finally understood.

Everything Leus did was not to reject her, but to show her the utmost respect.

He didn't use lies to cover up the truth, nor did he use force to coerce her into accepting it. Instead, he laid bare his most authentic and unacceptable side before her, and then solemnly and completely handed over the right to choose to her.

What Lius led her to was not a chaotic harem, but a unique "home" built with love and tenderness.

Having figured all this out, Sophia felt all her worries dissipate, and the somewhat oppressive atmosphere seemed to instantly become lively again.

So that's how it is. All those constraints of "aristocratic rules" and "responsibility" that had previously suffocated her seemed so insignificant, so... worthless, in the face of Lius's awareness that he was willing to endure worldly gossip in order to protect his "family".

Thus, Sofia's heart was no longer filled with confusion or struggle. The only thing remaining was an unprecedented and incredibly intense curiosity.

She wanted to know what kind of man could make so many outstanding girls willingly abandon worldly views and surround themselves around him? She wanted to know how their unique "home" was maintained.

What she wanted to know most was about Lius's daily life. What interesting stories would happen every day in this "home"? Once this thought took hold, it was impossible to suppress.

With this thought in mind, Sophia slowly raised her head, and for the first time, her eyes, which had always been evasive, met Lius's gaze with firmness and clarity.

The previous blankness and shyness were gone from her face; in their place was an unprecedented look, a mixture of seriousness and inquiry.

Prince Leus Soya took a deep breath, clenching his fist as if making a crucial decision. "I have a request." "Oh? A request?"

Looking at Sophia, Leus paused slightly as he stroked her hair, a strange glint in his eyes, but he still said gently, "Yes, please speak."

"Would...would it be possible for me to stay at your residence for a period of time?"

Sofia mustered the greatest courage of her life and spoke her most genuine thoughts without reservation.

“I…I want to…learn more about your life, Prince Leus, and how you and your family get along.”

This question caused both Leus and Lia, who was clinging to him, to be on the same list.

They clearly hadn't expected that after experiencing such a huge shock, Sofia wouldn't choose to run away, but instead, she chose to actively approach them.

"Oh? So... Sister Sophia, you want to stay here?"

The first to react was Leah. After muttering to herself for a moment, her eyes lit up with surprise, and she excitedly shook Lius's arm.

"Brother! That's wonderful! Sister Soya is willing to stay and get to know us!"

After his initial shock, Leus's face slowly blossomed into a genuine, heartfelt smile. This smile was more radiant than any he had ever shown before, like sunlight breaking through the clouds, instantly illuminating the entire courtyard.

“Of course,” he replied without hesitation. “In fact, Ms. Aurora had already mentioned a similar idea to me in the previous meeting room. She also hoped that you could stay here for a while before the formal marriage was concluded, so that we could have more opportunities to get to know each other.”

potential.

"Mother... said that?" Sophia's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise upon hearing this. "Yes, so we warmly welcome you to join us, Miss Sophia."

Lius spoke gently, finally withdrawing his hand from Sophia's head and instead extending an inviting gesture. Then, as if remembering something, he added, a sentence that completely struck Sophia's heart. "Also, I remember you're quite knowledgeable about flawless gems, aren't you? I've been compiling some related materials recently. If you don't mind, Miss Sophia, we can discuss it together later. Perhaps you can offer me some new insights."

The word "magic" seemed to possess a magical power, instantly making Sophia's beautiful eyes shine with the most dazzling light. If her previous curiosity was the "catalyst" that made her decide to stay, then Lius's invitation about magic at this moment completely ignited the passion in her heart.

At that moment, all the anxiety, unease, and uncertainty about the future that she felt due to the arranged marriage vanished completely, replaced by an unprecedented, pure appreciation and anticipation.

She admired Lius's honesty, his determination to protect his "family," and even more so, his identity as a powerful magician who shared similar interests with her.

"hehe……

A genuine, gentle, and bright smile, like the first flower bud blooming after the snow melts in early spring, slowly blossomed on Sofia's originally hard and pretty face.

That smile was so sincere, so beautiful, that it instantly dispelled all the gloom on her face, making the entire courtyard seem a little brighter.

She stood up and, with grace and poise, gave Lius a perfect lady's bow. "Thank you, Mr. Magician."

Sophia said softly that the form of address had quietly changed from the distant and polite "Young Master Lius" to the respectful "Mr. Magician" that carried a professional air.

"Whether it was today or... yesterday, it was a pleasure to meet you. Please feel free to give me your guidance."

Chapter 427: A Conversation with Sophia (Part 5)

Faced with Sophia's renewed, kind, and respectful address, Lius's gentle smile deepened, and a knowing glint appeared in his eyes.

"Mr. Magician?" Lius repeated the title softly, a slight smile playing on his lips, as if savoring the subtle nuances. He then looked at Sophia and nodded formally and earnestly, in a similarly solemn manner.

"It seems that you, Miss Sophia, already know about what happened last night."

Looking at Sophia, Leus's voice carried a hint of amusement, confirming the girl's guess. "That's right, just as Miss Sophia thought, the person who helped you by the roadside last night was indeed me." "I knew it." Receiving confirmation, Sophia nodded slightly, her cheeks flushing again with a delicate blush, a result of her inner turmoil. Although she had expected it, when Leus confirmed it himself, the mix of gratitude, awkwardness, and a sense of wondrous fate still made her heart race.

The thought of how she had been rescued by this noble young man in such a desperate situation the night before, and how he might have even seen her at her most vulnerable through the carriage, made Sofia feel her cheeks burning hot, almost as if they were steaming.

"Yes...yes, Prince Leus...no, Mr. Magician."

She hurriedly changed her words, and then bowed deeply and solemnly to Lius once again. This time, the bow was more sincere and heartfelt than ever before.

"Last night, I really... I'm so grateful to you! If you hadn't appeared in time, I'm afraid I would have suffered even greater losses. Thanks to you, I'm able to recover..." Yan Yin's voice was tinged with lingering fear. "I, Sophia, will never forget your help! I will definitely repay you!"

“No need to be so serious, Miss Sophia. We’re all family now, no need to be so formal.” Lius smiled and reached out to help her up. “It was nothing. Besides, the courage and strength you showed at the time also impressed me. To remain calm in such a desperate situation and try to find a way out, you are already better than most people.”

"Really...really?" Lius's heartfelt praise warmed Sophia's heart. Being praised so highly by the powerful magician she respected and admired made her feel even more happy, and even overcame the shyness deep inside her.

“Not at all… I was just trying to call for help haphazardly… It wasn’t anything too serious. It was all thanks to your help, Young Master Lius, that I was able to escape… Thank you so much.” She smiled shyly, a smile as bright and captivating as the sunshine after a rain.

As the two smiled at each other, Lia watched as the slightly awkward and distant atmosphere between them, initially caused by the arranged marriage, completely melted away because of their shared topic of "magic," transforming into a harmonious and congenial atmosphere based on mutual appreciation. She couldn't help but squint her eyes happily, and a joyful smile appeared on her lips.

"Great! My brother has a new older sister by his side! Hehe, my brother is very happy, and Lia is very happy too. She knows that her 'assistance' has perfectly achieved the first step."

For Leah, seeing Lius's happy expression was the best thing that could happen to her. And so, the three of them chatted and spent the morning together.

After a while, Lius glanced at the sky, then turned to Sophia and said gently:

"Alright, it's almost noon. Since Miss Sophia has decided to stay here for a while, the most important thing is to arrange a comfortable room for you. There are many guest rooms in the mansion, each with a different style. I believe there will be one that will satisfy you." He turned his head and looked at Leah, who was holding his arm intimately. He affectionately patted her head and began to speak to her.

"Lia, I'm leaving this to you, okay? Take Sophia to the guest room area and make sure she chooses her favorite room."

"Hehe, don't worry, brother, leave it to Lia!"

Following Lius's instruction, Lia immediately puffed out her small chest, her face beaming with excitement as if she were "guaranteed to complete the mission." It seemed she had long wanted to have a good chat with this earnest and innocent future sister, and this was undoubtedly the best opportunity.

"Sister Sophia, please come with me! Lia knows which rooms have the best views and the best lighting!" Sophia was slightly taken aback by her enthusiastic attitude, but feeling the pure warmth and kindness emanating from Lia's smile, her previously somewhat reserved heart completely relaxed.

Chapter 427: A Conversation with Sophia (Part 5)

Faced with Sophia's renewed, kind, and respectful address, Lius's gentle smile deepened, and a knowing glint appeared in his eyes.

"Mr. Magician?" Lius repeated the title softly, a slight smile playing on his lips, as if savoring the subtle nuances. He then looked at Sophia and nodded formally and earnestly, in a similarly solemn manner.

"It seems that you, Miss Sophia, already know about what happened last night."

Looking at Sophia, Leus's voice carried a hint of amusement, confirming the girl's guess. "That's right, just as you thought, Miss Sophia, the person who helped you by the roadside last night was indeed me." "I knew it!" Receiving confirmation, Sophia nodded slightly, her cheeks flushing again with a delicate blush. Although she had expected it, when Leus confirmed it himself, the mixture of gratitude, shyness, and the thrill of a strange fate still made her heart race.

The thought of how she had been rescued by this noble young man in such a desperate situation the night before, and how he might have even seen her at her most vulnerable through the carriage, made Sofia feel her cheeks burning hot, almost as if they were steaming.

"Yes...yes, Prince Leus...no, Mr. Magician."

She hurriedly changed her words, and then bowed deeply and solemnly to Lius once again. This time, the bow was more sincere and heartfelt than ever before.

"Last night, I really... I'm so grateful to you! If you hadn't appeared in time, I'm afraid I would have suffered even greater losses. Thanks to you, I'm in better shape." Yan Yin's voice carried a hint of lingering fear. "I, Sophia, will never forget your help! I will definitely repay you!"

“No need to be so serious, Miss Sophia. We’re all family now, no need to be so formal.” Lius smiled and reached out to help her up. “It was nothing. Besides, the courage and strength you showed at the time also impressed me. To remain calm in such a desperate situation and try to find a way out, you are already better than most people.”

"Really?" This heartfelt praise from Lius warmed Soya's heart. Being praised so highly by the powerful magician she respected and admired made her feel even more happy, and it even overcame the shyness deep inside her.

"Not at all... I was just trying to call for help randomly... It wasn't anything too serious. It was all thanks to your help, Young Master Lius, that I was able to get out of trouble... Thank you so much." She smiled shyly, a smile as bright and beautiful as the sunshine after the rain.

As the two smiled at each other, Lia watched as the slightly awkward and distant atmosphere between them, initially caused by the arranged marriage, completely melted away because of their shared topic of "magic," transforming into a harmonious and congenial atmosphere based on mutual appreciation. She couldn't help but squint her eyes happily, and a joyful smile appeared on her lips.

"Great! My brother has a new older sister by his side! Hehe, my brother is very happy, and Lia is very happy too. She knows that her 'assistance' has perfectly achieved the first step."

For Leah, seeing Lius's happy expression was the best thing that could happen. And so, the three of them chatted and spent the morning together.

After a while, Lius glanced at Guanse, then turned to Sophia and said gently:

"Alright, it's almost noon. Since Miss Sophia has decided to stay here for a while, the most important thing is to arrange a comfortable room for you. There are many guest rooms in the mansion, each with a different style. I believe there will be one that will satisfy you." He turned his head and looked at Leah, who was holding his arm intimately. He affectionately patted her head and began to speak to her.

"Lia, I'm leaving this to you, okay? Take Sophia to the guest room area and make sure she chooses her favorite room."

"Hehe, don't worry, brother, leave it to Lia!"

Following Lius's instruction, Lia immediately puffed out her small chest, her face beaming with excitement as if she were "guaranteed to complete the mission." It seemed she had long wanted to have a good chat with this earnest and innocent future sister, and this was undoubtedly the best opportunity.

"Sister Sophia, please come with me! Lia knows which rooms have the best views and the best lighting!" Sophia was slightly taken aback by her enthusiastic attitude, but feeling the pure warmth and kindness emanating from Lia's smile, her previously somewhat reserved heart completely relaxed.

“In that case… then I’ll trouble you, Lia.” Sophia looked at Lia, nodded, and then smiled gently in response.

And so, amidst Lia's lively, chattering voice, like a lark's, the two girls walked side by side toward the main building of the mansion. Their figures, one in black and one in white, strolled along the green path in the courtyard, creating a very lovely scene.

Lius stood there, smiling as he watched their retreating figures until they completely disappeared around the corner of the courtyard, and tranquility returned once more. A gentle breeze wafted by, carrying the rich fragrance of roses and jasmine, which also ruffled the blond hair on Lius's forehead. Under the influence of this fragrance, he slowly turned around, his gaze falling upon a cluster of roses in full bloom, their colors as vibrant as purple and crimson, not far to his side.

The flowers there bloomed more profusely, and the foliage was denser, forming a natural and excellent hiding place. At this moment, the gentle smile on Lius's face subtly took on a hint of helplessness and amusement.

Beneath that smile, he casually waved his hand at the seemingly empty flowerbed, and said lazily in a voice neither too loud nor too soft, but loud enough for anyone hiding inside to hear clearly:

"Alright, stop hiding. I know you've been hiding in there, Ms. Aurora."

Chapter 428: A Conversation with Sophia (Part 6)

"Alright, Ms. Aurora, please come out. I've seen you." "Oh dear, have I been discovered?"

As soon as Lius finished speaking, a soft rustling sound came from the flower bushes. Then, a well-maintained, slender hand wearing an exquisite silk glove emerged from the dense foliage and gently parted a patch of roses blocking the way. Following that, a mature, beautiful, and charming face, with a slightly mischievous smile that seemed to indicate she had been discovered, peeked out from behind the flowers.

It was Sophia's mother, the mature and charming black-haired noblewoman—Aurora. "Oh dear, how boring, you found out so quickly."

Aurora pouted and awkwardly squeezed out from the not-so-wide gap in the flower bushes.

Because of her hasty movements, a few emerald green leaves and a couple of delicate rose petals inevitably stained her jet-black, lustrous hair and her luxurious dress, making her look quite different from her usual dignified and elegant lady. Instead, she appeared more like a wolf, yet with a unique and charming wildness.

Leus crossed his arms, looked at her helplessly, and bluntly retorted:

"My dear Lady Aurora, you are a noblewoman of considerable standing. If outsiders saw you eavesdropping in the flower bushes, they would probably be astonished."

"Hmph, so what?"

Aurora, far from being embarrassed, gave him a charmingly disdainful look, and while gracefully and casually brushing the grass and petals off her clothes with her gloved hand, she said with self-righteousness:

"Back then, in order to open up a new trade route, I traveled alone, wearing leather boots and carrying a machete, through the treacherous Blackwater Swamp for three passes and three nights. The flower bushes in a mere garden were safer and more comfortable to me than my own bedroom bed."

Aurora's tone carried an undeniable confidence and strength stemming from her own experiences. "I'm not one of those delicate, pampered aristocratic ladies raised in a greenhouse."