Earl and Countess Payen

However, looking at the little bunny’s eager face, waiting for praise.

Jianye deliberately paused, then said slowly.

“This cake… tastes very much like cake.”

Irena’s smile froze, and she was dumbfounded.

She blinked her large eyes, not understanding the meaning of this sentence.

“Huh? What do you mean it tastes very much like cake?”

“If a cake doesn’t taste like cake, what else could it taste like? Roasted sweet potato?”

She glared at Jianye, pouting.

To express her dissatisfaction, she stuffed the little cake in her own hand into her mouth.

Her cheeks were stuffed full, like a hoarding hamster.

Then, without waiting for Jianye’s consent.

She grabbed her hand and stormed out.

“Let’s go home, let’s go home! I’m ignoring you now!”

Jianye was pulled along by her, stumbling to keep up.

Her gaze fell involuntarily on their clasped hands, and for a moment, she was in a bit of a daze.

It seemed that at some point.

She had really become friends with this novel’s female protagonist.

When did that happen?

Was it after saving her during the sea dragon tide?

Or was it during the countless times they walked together in their usual classes, in the cafeteria, or on the campus paths?

This subtle, gradual closeness.

Had, without her realizing it, deeply involved her, who had originally been an outsider.

On the way out of the campus, Jianye remained silent.

She quietly listened to Irena chattering in her ear.

She found that the female protagonist of the original work was also a hidden little chatterbox.

When she had read the novel before, she hadn’t seen the author mention this point.

However, as Jianye listened, she felt it was a little strange.

Logically, what the novel’s female protagonist should be talking about.

Shouldn’t it be the original official male lead, that proud genius Eliyas?

How was it that the name constantly popping out of Irena’s mouth now.

Was Black, in eight out of ten sentences?

‘Black seems to have gone to see Senior Kristine again today…’

‘I heard Black was attacked a few nights ago, I wonder if he’s injured…’

‘Black…’

Jianye was truly puzzled.

From what she had observed, Irena and Black didn’t have many opportunities to interact.

Where on earth did she get so much information about Black?

The Black she saw was with Kristine most of the time.

However, Jianye didn’t care about this problem.

In any case, the plot development of this novel world had exceeded her expectations many times.

It had become completely unrecognizable.

Her advantage as a “prophet” was rapidly disappearing, and she could only take it one step at a time.

Mentioning Black, she couldn’t help but think of that night.

Several days had passed since that joint battle.

She wondered if that guy had been assassinated again.

At this point, the two had reached the school gate.

It was time to part.

Irena let go of Jianye’s hand and, as if remembering something, said.

“By the way, Jianye, there’s a mission from the Volunteer Corps tomorrow. Let’s go together, shall we?”

“What mission?”

Jianye asked.

“It’s to go to the Alchemic Rose tavern to persuade three students who have dropped out for a long time to come back to class.”

Irena explained, a trace of helplessness on her face.

“I heard that if they don’t come back soon, they’ll be expelled from the academy.”

Jianye was quite surprised to hear this.

“The Volunteer Corps even takes on this kind of work? Shouldn’t it be the responsibility of the academic affairs office or the discipline committee?”

Irena sighed.

“It was a special request from the advisor. But the reward is very generous!”

“The advisor personally said that as long as we complete this mission, we’ll be exempt from all the mandatory labor courses for this academic year!”

Hearing this, Jianye’s eyes lit up.

Those mandatory labor courses were both boring and time-consuming. If she could be exempt from them, she could save a lot of time to study magic.

“Okay, I happen to be free tomorrow.”

Jianye nodded and agreed.

“Great!”

Irena clapped her hands happily.

“Senior Kristine will also be coming with us tomorrow. We can just meet up there!”

After bidding farewell to Irena.

Jianye set off on the road back to the earl’s mansion alone.

The earl’s mansion was located in the high-class residential area in the west of the city.

Servants in uniform stood at the entrance.

Seeing Jianye return, the servants bowed respectfully and handed her a warm, damp towel.

Another bent down, preparing to change her into indoor shoes.

“Thank you, I can do it myself.”

Jianye said in a low voice, taking the towel to wipe her hands.

She changed her shoes herself.

Her current father was an influential earl in the empire.

Thanks to this noble status, she lived a life of luxury. Truly having everything handed to her on a silver platter.

However, as a modern person.

Jianye was still not used to being served by servants.

Except for certain unavoidable noble etiquettes, she tried to handle her daily life herself as much as possible.

Returning to her spacious room, Jianye picked up a thick book on advanced elemental theory.

She leaned against the soft chair by the window and began to read.

It wasn’t until the sky outside was completely dyed black that a servant’s knock came from the door.

“Miss, dinner is ready.”

“Okay, I know.”

Jianye replied and closed the book.

She walked to the dining room on the first floor.

At the long, carved dining table.

Her “parents,” Earl and Countess Payen, were already seated.

Seeing their daughter come down, unconcealed joy appeared on the couple’s faces.

“Jianye is here, quick, sit down!”

“Was your studying tiring today? This is the Snow Feather Chicken Soup the kitchen just made, hurry and try some!”

“And this, your favorite roasted ribs from when you were a child.”

The couple greeted her enthusiastically.

Earl Payen personally stood up to serve her soup, while Countess Payen kept putting food on her plate.

The love in their eyes was almost overflowing.

Jianye was already used to such scenes.

She lowered her eyes and said softly.

“Thank you, Father. Thank you, Mother.”

Then she picked up her knife and fork and began to eat silently.

During the meal.

The Payen couple kept trying to find topics of conversation, asking about various things with concern.

“Are you keeping up with your academy courses recently? How are your grades?”

“Are you getting along well with your classmates? Have you made any new friends?”

“How are you feeling? Is there anywhere you’re not feeling well?”

Compared to her parents’ enthusiastic attitude, Jianye’s responses were much colder.

She mostly just replied with words like “Mm,” “It’s fine,” or “Nothing.”

Only occasionally would she add a sentence or two of explanation.

The originally warm atmosphere at the dinner table became a bit awkward due to Jianye’s polite yet distant replies.

Earl and Countess Payen exchanged a look.

And both saw the helplessness in each other’s eyes.

Without a doubt, they loved this daughter deeply.

Jianye had been suffering from a rare terminal illness since birth.

Her body was frail, and she had spent most of her childhood in a sickbed.

One can imagine how desperate the couple had been during those years.

Half a year ago, Jianye’s condition had deteriorated sharply, and even the court healers had tactfully told them to prepare themselves.

During that period, they had washed their faces with tears.