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

Before Duanmu Yan could examine the burning ghostly fire closely, the butler's voice suddenly came from beside him.

Turning around, he saw the steward who had led him into the castle standing quietly behind him.

"The head of the family ordered me to wait here for you to wake up."

"Cantrela?" Duanmu Yan immediately pressed, "Where is she now?"

“The master is in the garden in the castle,” the steward said. “Please come with me.”

After saying this, the steward turned and walked forward, with Duanmu Yan following closely behind.

……

……

This garden is situated on an open space at the other end of the castle.

It's less of a garden and more of a patchwork of exotic herbs growing in a scattered manner.

Cantrella was carrying a watering can, humming a melodious tune as she carefully watered each herb.

She stopped moving only when Duanmu Yan's footsteps drew near, raised her violet eyes, and gave him a gentle smile.

"Are you awake? I thought you would sleep a little longer."

Duanmu Yan took a step and walked towards her: "Yes, she's already awake."

"How did you rest yesterday?" Cantrela squinted slightly, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over his body before finally settling on him with a meaningful look.

This strange visit made Duanmu Yan feel as if something had really happened between him and her the night before.

Strangely, I had absolutely no recollection of it.

so……

If something really happens, will I have gained or lost?

I don't remember at all.

"Hmm, sleeping soundly." Duanmu Yan's expression was serious as he looked around. "Why is this garden different from the one from yesterday?"

“The Fesari family is renowned for its ‘poisons’,” Cantrera said, turning back to continue watering the plants. “But whether it’s ‘poison’ or ‘medicine,’ these plants are indispensable. Each one here is a precious gem I’ve carefully cultivated. Even in the outside world, they would be priceless treasures.”

"Is it so precious?"

Duanmu Yan looked slightly surprised. He bent down to examine the nearest flower more closely—a strange species he had never seen before and didn't know its name. He leaned closer to take a sniff, and a unique fragrance filled his senses.

"What a unique fragrance. What are the medicinal properties of this flower?"

Cantrela heard his voice, looked in the direction he was pointing, paused for a moment, and then couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.

"It seems the guest has a keen eye for quality. This is indeed a treasure for you."

Duanmu Yan looked bewildered: "What do you mean? Why is it about me?"

She gracefully approached him, her smile shimmering like a faint light in the deep sea.

She leaned close to his ear and breathed softly into his ear.

"This is an herb used to... prolong the duration of pleasure."

Duanmu Yan was taken aback at first, then his face turned red. He quickly took a few steps back, coughed lightly, and cleared his throat: "This... well, it is indeed a good thing, but I don't need it for the time being."

"It seems the young guest is quite confident in himself," Cantrella said, gently stroking her cheek. "But what's the point if it's just talk?"

Why did the topic suddenly veer in such a strange direction?

Is Cantrella being too repressed?

Perhaps the responsibility on her shoulders was too heavy, keeping her in a state of constant tension. Now that she had caught a glimpse of a ray of light, how could she possibly let it go so easily?

even though……

Duanmu Yan didn't mind helping her relax.

Wait a minute, what am I thinking about?

How could I do something to betray the Second Miss!

—Although it has already been done.

Cantrella couldn't help but chuckle as she looked at Duanmu Yan's embarrassed expression: "So you can make that kind of face too."

She then gracefully suppressed her smile: "But let's leave the jokes at that. Could you tell me more about Katishia?"

Volume 1: Chapter 130 The Moment of Catching the Adulterer

Kathija.

This name, which should have disappeared completely twenty years ago, is now being brought up again.

Cantrell had met her briefly at a carnival twenty years ago.

However, with the outbreak of the Black Tide, Kathija ascended to the heavens along with the entire Avinuelin Theological Seminary, and was never heard from again.

Although no one witnessed her death, in such a desperate situation, the hope of survival was extremely slim.

“I don’t know either…” Duanmu Yan frowned, carefully recalling the scene at the time. “At that time, I learned from the Second Miss that the painting we won at the auction had a hidden stone slab.”

"An auction?" Cantrera asked thoughtfully. "It seems so. I remember you guys made quite a fuss about it. What was that stone slab like?"

Duanmu said, "It is a magnificent steed galloping across the high heavens."

Cantrella's movements suddenly stopped, her usual composed and elegant expression replaced by astonishment.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Really? So you all knew?"

Duanmu Yan asked in confusion, "Know? Know what?"

“The true form of the Lord of the Year, Imperado, was not the distorted form it is now.” Cantrell’s voice was soft, yet carried an indescribable solemnity. “It was originally… a steed galloping high in the sky, until Leviathan used intrigue and trickery to drag it into an abyss.”

"A steed soaring high in the sky?"

Duanmu Yan spoke softly, unconsciously pursing his lips.

In a daze, the scene I saw at the Mercury Cathedral reappeared—a magnificent white horse soaring through the sky, only to be dragged into the abyss by an endless swarm of black tide fish.

Is it...

Was the Lord of the Year at that time trying to reveal this long-buried truth to him?

But why me of all people?

he does not know.

“In short, if what you say is true, that you have seen Katishia in person, then she should still be alive for now.” Cantrela said, looking up at the sky. “She lives somewhere we can’t see right now. But the problem is… whether she is friend or foe, we don’t know yet.”

If the family's Saintess Trial is to select a resonance partner for the Lord of the Year, then the cult's Saintess...

And whose resonance does it resonate with?

The answer is self-evident.

Although Cantrela had met Katishia briefly at the Carnival, Katishia was well-behaved and showed no signs of being corrupted by the Ming Shi. She lived up to her title of saint when the Black Tide broke out.

however……

Twenty years have passed, and who can guarantee that Katishia today has not been corrupted by Mingshi?

"Do you have a way to see Katishia again?"

Cantrela shared her concerns with Duanmu Yan, who naturally understood her vigilance—the Ming Clan was the mortal enemy of civilization, and no amount of precaution was excessive.

“I’ve only seen her once. I haven’t seen her since.” Duanmu Yan pondered for a moment. “But… if I try to touch that stone slab again, perhaps there will be unexpected results? But if that’s the case, I’ll have to ask the Second Miss for help.”

“Well, that’s fine too. If we can get in touch with Katishia multiple times, we might be able to uncover the truth about what happened twenty years ago.” Cantrela put down the kettle and yawned lazily. “But that’s all for later. I’m getting a little tired after talking for so long.”

Duanmu Yan asked instinctively, "Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Cantrela covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes sparkling: "Who exactly is it that prevented me from getting a proper rest? It's hard to guess."

Duanmu Yan's lips twitched slightly, and he subconsciously took a small step back: "Wait a minute, Miss Cantrella, you wouldn't have done that to me last night..."

"Were you serious about taking that half-step back?" She gave him a mock resentful look. "It's just that someone took my bed and wasn't sleeping properly. I had no choice but to get up early. But..."

She pursed her lips slightly, her gaze sweeping over Duanmu Yan with a hint of amusement.

"I helped you take off your clothes. You're quite fit."

"..."

For some reason, Duanmu Yan always felt like a lamb to the slaughter in front of Cantrell.

He had never experienced this feeling with anyone else—whether it was the second young lady's reserve, Yuno's willfulness, or Floro's indifference, even when they were assertive, they had never given him such a sense of helplessness.

As for Phoebe?

In my eyes, she is the prey.

This, I suppose, is the composure and sharpness unique to mature women.

Unlike the tentative, naive explorations of young girls—this is the effortless mastery of a mature woman!

If it were anyone else, they would have already fallen for the gentle embrace of the deep-sea jellyfish.

But who is Duanmu Yan?

They're Sigma men!

He is Koleta Motari's partner!

How could it be so easy—well, maybe, possibly, probably… there was indeed a tiny bit of it that fell into her rhythm.

Oh, Miss, I'm so sorry.

"Will you... sink into the deep sea of ​​dreams with me once more?"

She leaned closer, gazing into his eyes with her deep gaze, as if trying to anchor everything about him to this moment.

"Alright, just teasing you." Cantrera chuckled, concealing the weariness in her eyes. "I went to great lengths to comfort you yesterday. I also want to get some rest. So, I won't bother you any longer. You are the hero who saved Fesalie, and from now on, the gates of Fesalie will be open for you."

"If you wish, you can stay here until evening and have dinner with me."

"Of course, you can leave at any time. I will always have a guest room prepared for you, and you are always welcome to come back."

……

……

Laguna.

Duanmu bid farewell to Cantrella and returned to the city alone.

It was noon, and perhaps because the lingering effects of last night's rain had not yet dissipated, the sky remained overcast.

"Good morning~" Abu slowly crawled out of the sound trail, rubbing his sleepy eyes with his little paws.

"The sun's practically high in the sky, and you're still saying good morning?" Duanmu Yan took out the key, looked at the dazed little guy, and shook his head helplessly.

"The smell was so wonderful last night, I didn't want to wake up at all," Abu said lazily, yawning. "I'm so hungry. Since the sun's already high in the sky, shouldn't we have lunch?"

Duanmu Yan turned the door lock: "What do you want to eat? Pizza?"

"I'm tired of eating pizza every day! I want to try something new!"

"Then... shall I make you Huanglong Cai?"

"Really? I've been looking forward to it..."

Abu's words came to an abrupt end.

Perhaps it was the chilly atmosphere in the room that made it unconsciously swallow.

The little guy turned his head blankly and looked towards the doorway—where he saw Koleta standing, her face so dark it could drip water.

"You two look great! Where did you go for fun?"

"I've been waiting here all night!"

An unprecedented smile began to appear on the girl's face. The smile was so radiant and the emotion so sincere that it was captivating, yet it also carried a chilling undertone.

Volume 1: Chapter 131 The Fesalie family's move was too ruthless.

Around noon, a torrential rainstorm hit Laguna.