I'm in Mota, and they all want me to confess my feelings!

"What new and interesting gadgets has she brought me this time?"

As Yuno spoke, he unconsciously leaned forward slightly, his eyes filled with anticipation.

He could faintly smell a delicate fragrance lingering around his nose.

"She smells so good."

"You might have to ask the Second Miss about this yourself."

“Speaking of which, shouldn’t the Lady of the Court be staying in the Four Directions Palace?” Lupa couldn’t help but interject. “Yuno, what are you doing in Seven Hills City?”

Upon hearing this question, Yuno lazily propped her chin up, gazing at the bustling traffic outside the window, her tone tinged with a hint of resentment: "There's nothing I can do. Staying in the Four Directions Palace all day is so boring, it's driving me crazy."

"So, you secretly ran away?" Duanmu Yan asked.

"What do you mean by sneaking out?" Yuno immediately looked away, crossed his arms, and snorted lightly. "I came out openly and honestly."

Aren't you afraid the Senate will cause you trouble?

"I'm not afraid of those old fogies at all." Yuno nonchalantly raised his chin, casually tossing his long hair over his shoulder. "Besides, if the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. Since Augusta took office, he's been cracking down on corruption and reforming gladiatorial combat, which has shrunk the purse strings of those in the Senate quite a bit. They don't have time to bother with me now."

Augusta?

Oh, I remembered it.

He is the current governor of Qiqiu.

“However, I left in a hurry this time and forgot to bring my terminal and wallet. If I hadn’t met you guys, I might have really trespassed into the Governor’s Palace.” Yuno said, stretching his body like a lazy cat. “I wonder what new gadgets Seven Hills has gotten lately. I’d better have some fun before Grandma Lilybe comes looking for me.”

"Lupa, you don't have any particularly important matches lately, right? Could you take me along for some fun?"

“Me?” Lupa paused for a moment, then lowered her head and thought for a moment. “There’s no competition, but the Silva family has signed me to a lot of endorsements, and my schedule is very full. I’m afraid I won’t be able to spare any time to spend with you.”

"Oh, I see..." Yuno pouted in dissatisfaction. "Yeah, even in the Four Directions Hall, your endorsement is everywhere. Sigh, does this mean I have to wander around alone again?"

Lupa picked up a cookie, her gaze shifting between Yuno and Duanmu Yan, when suddenly her eyes lit up: "That's right, how about... you two go for a walk together?"

Upon hearing this suggestion, Duanmu Yan was stunned for a moment.

He had no objection to shopping with a pretty girl.

But...

You expect me, an outsider, to accompany a local to Qiqiu?

real or fake?

Who exactly is here as a tourist?

“Of course I have no objection,” Duanmu Yan said. “However, I am not familiar with Qiqiu at all.”

“It’s alright, actually I’m not familiar with it either.” Yuno sighed softly, revealing a hint of helplessness. “Since I was chosen as a maiden when I was young, I’ve mostly lived in the Four Directions Palace, which is far from the city. It’s only recently that I’ve been able to sneak out for a walk occasionally. Besides, the Seven Hills have changed so much in recent years that I don’t recognize the newly built areas at all, except for the old city.”

"That sounds like it's been quite tough. By the way, what about the Second Miss—"

Before he could finish speaking, the terminal in his arms vibrated rapidly—it was a communication from Koleta.

As soon as the call connected, the girl's voice came through, speaking a few decibels faster than usual: "Duanmu, I have some urgent business to attend to, so I might not be able to come back tonight. Go back to your hotel and rest. Use the trial voucher I gave you before. You shouldn't... have lost it, right?"

Whether it was a misperception or not, Duanmu Yan could detect some noisy human voices in the background of the communication.

The voice was muffled and indistinct, with only a few stern words drifting over.

Has the traitor in the family finally spoken up?

【Bring him in here and make him sit down!】

Tell me, what exactly is your mission in Seven Hills!?

Duanmu Yan: [Uh, Second Miss, over there?]

Koleta: [Nothing much, just caught a few little mice.]

Duanmu Yan: 【...Alright then, Second Miss, please be careful.】

After hanging up the call, Yuno looked at Duanmu Yan curiously and asked, "Was that a call from Koleta? When is she coming back?"

"Well, the second young lady... has run into some trouble and probably won't be coming back today."

Volume One: Chapter Eighty-Eight - Tonight Belongs to the Moon

"I'm sorry, the Silva family suddenly contacted me about something, so I have to leave for a while."

"Then, I'll leave Yuno to you, Duanmu."

Lupa left in a hurry, her figure quickly disappearing around the street corner.

Yuno remained wrapped in that inconspicuous cloak, concealing himself in the shadow of the shop eaves, and sighed softly as he watched the wolf-tailed girl disappear into the distance.

"It seems that being a celebrity gladiator isn't as free as I imagined."

As the chief priestess of the Four Directions Palace, her days were filled with countless rules and regulations.

She had fantasized more than once about whether she would be able to embrace the long-awaited freedom if she hadn't been chosen as a royal consort and instead become a gladiator.

But now it seems that no matter where they are, everyone is being pulled along by invisible threads.

So-called freedom may just be another form of cage.

"Doesn't Yuno like her identity?" Duanmu Yan asked softly, his eyes keenly capturing her subtle expressions.

The girl paused slightly, a fleeting, complex emotion flashing across her eyes before she regained her composure. She placed her hands behind her back, her tone elusive: "To describe it as 'like or dislike,' rather… the title 'Yu Nu' (訓女) is more like a responsibility."

"responsibility?"

“Ah, I almost forgot, you’re not from Qiqiu, so you naturally don’t understand what the Oracle Maidens mean to this land,” Yuno said. “To you, the Oracle Maidens may just be a profession that allows one to foresee the future. But to Qiqiu, we are guiding lights, pointing the Qiqiu people in the right direction through the fog.”

"Guide in the right direction?" Duanmu Yan was puzzled.

"The Lady of the Decree can glimpse fragments of the future, thus making crucial choices for the fate of the Seven Hills at critical moments." At this point, she suddenly looked up at the cold, silvery moon on the horizon, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "But I've seen too many people fight against fate to change their predetermined future. They try their best, and perhaps they do manage to alter certain details of the process, but the final outcome... always arrives as scheduled, never changing."

The girl's mood suddenly became much more depressed.

Perhaps, as she said, after witnessing people embark on futile journeys to change their fate time and time again, her heart had long been mired in despair for the future.

She clearly understands all of this better than anyone else, yet she wants to avoid this fact more than anyone else.

She wasn't unable to see, she just didn't want to see.

Silence dissipated in the desolate streets.

until--

"Perhaps, the price they paid wasn't heavy enough to break the causal chain?"

"Huh?" Yuno looked up abruptly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "The lever to manipulate cause and effect?"

“The future is never static.” Duanmu Yan’s voice was calm yet resolute. “What Yu Nu sees may only be the most likely reality in this world. But as long as that reality has not yet been realized, it means that we still have the opportunity to change it.”

After saying that, he paused briefly, as if considering what to say next.

"For example—if my fate is to die at the hands of the remnant elephant seven days later."

"But if I were to jump off a high building tomorrow, or end my life prematurely in some other fatal way... then the prophecy that I will die in seven days from the afterimage will not hold true."

"Although I still couldn't escape my fate of death, at least I caused a deviation from the predetermined future. Could this be considered... leveraging the causal chain?"

"So here's the question: if the ending the Empress saw differs from my actual ending, does that constitute a paradox?"

Hearing his astonishing reasoning, Yuno couldn't help but chuckle: "What kind of change is that? In the end, he still died, didn't he?"

“Indeed,” Duanmu Yan smiled, “but at least this action itself proves that the future can be influenced. In a sense, this precisely confirms the possibility of change—the key is how much we are willing to pay.”

Yuno narrowed his eyes slightly, deep in thought: "That sounds reasonable. But the question is, what price must be paid to truly change the future?"

“Who knows?” Duanmu Yan looked at the flickering lights in the distance. “Perhaps it only requires a trivial choice, or perhaps… a large amount of quantitative change is needed to trigger a qualitative change.”

The girl first nodded slightly, then shook her head like a rattle-drum.

"Oh, I don't want to think about it anymore, it's too troublesome!" She shook her head, as if trying to shake off all those complicated thoughts, then changed the subject, a faint but lively smile appearing on her lips as she looked at Duanmu Yan.

"However, chatting with you is quite interesting. Duanmu Yan, right? Hmm, I'll remember that! I hereby declare you my friend. To be recognized as a friend by this Imperial Decree is a tremendous honor, so you must cherish it!"

"It would be my honor," Duanmu Yan replied with a smile.

"Then it's settled. Let's go back to the hotel first." As she said this, a blush suddenly rose on Yuno's cheeks. She unconsciously twirled a strand of hair with her fingers, her gaze drifting to the side, and her voice lowered a few decibels. "Um... could you pay me for the hotel room first? I... I absolutely don't mean to renege on my debt! I'll definitely pay you back as soon as I get back to the Four Directions Palace!"

“Of course.” Duanmu Yan took in Yuno’s fleeting shyness and couldn’t help but smile. “Miss Yuno is the Second Miss’s friend, and naturally my honored guest. How could I possibly neglect her? Don’t worry, leave the expenses for the next few days to me.”

"……Is it really possible?"

Yuno unconsciously pouted, suppressing her embarrassment as she turned her gaze to the side, not daring to meet his eyes.

It's not that I dislike it, but rather a feeling mixed with embarrassment and shame—we've only just become friends, and I already have to rely on the other person. Anyone would feel awkward, right?

She secretly opened one eye, cautiously observing the young man beside her, and spoke softly with a hint of bluffing warning.

"You should think carefully before you answer. You're indulging my willfulness, and if this continues, maybe... we'll fall into an unknown deeper than chaos together."

“I still have a considerable amount of the bonus that the Second Miss gave me.” Duanmu Yan nodded. “Whatever Miss Yuno wants to do, I can fulfill it.”

"You said it yourself, I didn't force you." Yuno crossed his arms, gave a soft hum, but a hint of cunning flickered in his eyes.

"But I must warn you, I can be quite capricious. Once you agree to my request, I won't let you off easily until your wish is fulfilled."

Duanmu Yan rubbed his forehead and smiled helplessly: "To say something like that is already quite willful. But it's okay, as long as the request isn't too unreasonable, I'll try my best to fulfill it."

Volume 1: Chapter 89 The Lady of the Imperial Court and the Taro Girl

"The Leonidas Grand Hotel? Hmm, good taste."

The girl in the cloak stopped in front of the hotel's magnificent entrance, looked up at the gilded signboard, and nodded in satisfaction.

This is the most luxurious and prestigious top-tier hotel in Seven Hills, and has always been the first choice for nobles to entertain their relatives and distinguished guests.

"That's more like it. At least there's a place worthy of my status as a lady-in-waiting."

Yuno smiled slightly, but unconsciously pulled the brim of her cloak down a little further, carefully concealing her face.

—Without the permission of the Senate and Granny Lilybe, the Imperial Lady is strictly forbidden from leaving the Four Directions Palace.

If he were recognized at this moment, it would not only cause unnecessary trouble, but if it alerted the Senate and the Four Directions Hall, his plan to sneak out and have some fun would probably be ruined.

"It seems Miss Yuno has high standards for her accommodations?"

Duanmu Yan walked to her side, holding two bottles of drinks in his hand—one of which was Yinxin, the drink that Lupa endorsed.

He had fallen in love with the taste ever since he had a can at the pub.

The other can contained olive-flavored soda.

When they were at the dessert shop before, Duanmu Yan noticed that Yuno seemed to really like olives.

As he spoke, he casually handed over one of the bottles of olive soda.

Yuno took the soda, unscrewed the cap, and took a small sip, her expression one of matter-of-fact composure: "Of course. No compromises, absolutely not! I have to do it the way I like best and am most satisfied with!"

"That sounds a bit willful."

"You're only realizing it now?" Yuno snorted softly. "I told you, I'm very willful. But you can't go back on your word now! Otherwise, I'll go and complain to Koleta! And let your second young lady dock your bonus!"

"Yes, yes, Miss Yuno." Duanmu Yan couldn't help but chuckle.

How does it feel...

Compared to Koleta, Yuno has more of the air of a spoiled young lady from a wealthy family—with a touch of naivety and an innate air of arrogance.

However, this doesn't seem so bad.

Girls who are a little cunning and a little willful are more adorable.

The two stepped into the hotel's brightly lit lobby.

Duanmu Yan unconsciously stroked the brand-new experience voucher, already making a plan in his mind—he would let Yuno stay in this suite. He himself wasn't picky about the environment, as long as it was clean and tidy, he would just book a regular guest room later.

"Good evening, are you here to check in?" A staff member greeted them at the opportune moment, with a professional apology on his face. "I'm so sorry, all our suites are currently fully booked. The only remaining Champion Suite has also been reserved..."

He added tactfully, "Perhaps you two could consider looking at other hotels?"

"Huh? Full? Are you kidding me?" Yuno's eyes widened slightly, his tone incredulous. "Such a big hotel, full just like that?"

"I'm so sorry, miss." The staff member maintained an apologetic smile. "Earlier today, a guest booked all the remaining rooms, and only the suite reserved for the gladiator champion remains unoccupied."

"Are you kidding me!" Yuno persisted, her voice filled with obvious dissatisfaction. "One person booking an entire hotel room? This is clearly disrupting market order! How could your manager agree to such an unreasonable request? I'm going to file a complaint! A complaint!"