Chapter 58: Another Discovery

No wonder Caster would ask such a question. In fact, both he and Ophariel, after learning the identity of the person they were protecting, thought Julian would definitely adopt a “low-profile” approach to avoid attracting the attention and suspicion of the Zach family, until they safely delivered everyone to their destination. But now, they finally understood that this lord had never considered acting low-key at all. Come to think of it… he really hadn’t told them so.

Ophariel was already used to Julian’s way of doing things, so after turning this thought over, she didn’t say much more. Caster, however, felt somewhat depressed inside. He had finally figured out this lord’s personality – but judging from the results, perhaps it might have been more reassuring if he hadn’t figured it out. Faced with such a lord who liked to play with words and language, he really didn’t know where to start.

Considering the other’s powerful strength, the threat could be imagined.

But now Caster had no medicine for regret to take. He knew very well that Julian’s display of his strength was also largely to warn them not to act rashly. And now, Caster had long since dismissed those stupid ideas in his mind. He didn’t have the courage to confront a high-rank swordsman. Although he was a soldier, he wasn’t exactly willing to die for the Bird family, so naturally, he wouldn’t make brainless moves like those guards from the Zach family.

In fact, Caster’s decision had a lot to do with Viscount Euwen. As early as when Julian first demonstrated his strength, Caster had been suspicious. How could Viscount Euwen, with his discerning eye, not see the strength of this young lord? After all, Viscount Euwen was not some incompetent noble scion, but a core figure in the Bird family. Caster didn’t believe that he knew nothing about this lord’s strength. So there was only one explanation: they had been sent here to die. Perhaps that Viscount Euwen had long seen through this lord’s strength but couldn’t find an excuse to deal with him, so he sent them to provoke this lord. When something happened, they could use this as a pretext to make trouble, and perhaps even had the idea of recruiting this high-rank swordsman into the Bird family.

Caster had been working for the Bird family for many years and had seen and heard plenty about the dealings between upper-class nobles. But this didn’t mean he was willing to become part of the deal. What a joke, his life was his own.

Thinking of this, Caster had even less goodwill towards the Bird family. As for what Viscount Euwen had told him earlier about “taking the opportunity to disrupt Twilight Forest”, now recalling it also had a bit of a sinister taste. Caster wasn’t an idiot. He understood that if he really did as Viscount Euwen said, he would definitely be the one to die in the end. He didn’t believe that if something went wrong, the Bird family would risk offending a high-rank swordsman to protect him. Who was he? Just the leader of a guard squad. Although his strength was somewhat outstanding, such figures weren’t unique in the Bird family. He had no close relationship with the Bird family either. Would the Bird family protect him? That was simply dreaming.

After reaching this conclusion in his mind, Caster suddenly became enthusiastic. Since this lord had revealed his strength in front of them to warn them to behave, it was very likely that he wanted to take them in. So why not work for this lord? Anyway, the Bird family had already sold them out, so they should let the Bird family see that they weren’t pushovers to be bullied! You want to sacrifice us? Fine, then I’ll become this lord’s subordinate and give you a good push back. Is the Bird family so great? Are great nobles so great that they can sell people at will? We’re not slaves, we’re swordsmen!

If Viscount Euwen were here to hear Caster’s inner monologue, he might be on the verge of tears. But unfortunately, he wasn’t here now, so naturally, he couldn’t understand Caster’s thoughts.

“My lord, if there’s anything you need us for, please don’t hesitate to say so,” At this moment, Caster no longer showed any disrespect. He bowed his head respectfully and said.

“I don’t need you to do anything for me at the moment,” Noticing the change in Caster’s attitude, Julian’s lips curled slightly. He certainly couldn’t read minds, but Caster’s gloomy expression while thinking earlier had caught his eye. Although he didn’t know if this guy was acting, at least from the current situation, he should know how to choose.

“You just need to do your own job well, don’t you?”

“Yes, we’ll do it right away.”

Caster certainly heard the evasive tone in Julian’s voice and was slightly disappointed. But thinking again, they were after all sent by the Bird family, so it was normal for the other party not to trust them. However, this mission was also their opportunity. If they could complete the task excellently, then surely they would improve in this lord’s eyes. Thinking of this, Caster didn’t say anything more, readily accepted the order, and then turned to leave.

“What an interesting development,” Watching Caster’s back, Julian revealed an interesting smile. From Caster’s tone, he could feel that this originally ill-intentioned fellow seemed to have made some decision now. But this was good too. If these guys were really willing to follow him, he wouldn’t mind taking them in. Unfortunately, the dinner originally planned for Judy and the others would probably have to wait.

There would be plenty of time in the future anyway.

Thinking of this, Julian didn’t think any more about it. He casually pushed open the door and walked into the room.

“My lord, do you really believe what they say?” Ophariel curiously looked at the door outside. She had naturally heard the conversation between Caster and Julian earlier. Ophariel wasn’t surprised by Caster’s change in attitude. People always seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. Just like her, if she merely pretended to be an ordinary wandering scholar, although she would be noticed, she wouldn’t be respected. But once she revealed her identity as a princess, those who had kept their distance from her in the past would immediately change their faces and enthusiastically approach her. At first, Ophariel wasn’t used to it, but later she accepted this point. After all, sometimes it’s not just enthusiasm and care that can do things for people. Without strength and status, it’s completely insufficient. When she was alive, she had once helped a village in the guise of a wandering scholar, but the village head was always somewhat lukewarm towards her help, causing Ophariel to hit several soft nails. When she later resumed her princess identity and came to inspect again, that village head showed extraordinary enthusiasm, and those requests that had never been voiced to Ophariel before were clearly stated. It was only then that Ophariel discovered that if she were really a wandering scholar, she would never have been able to solve the problems facing this village. Only with her identity and power as a princess could she solve these difficulties. After that incident, Ophariel matured a lot. She began to learn to distinguish between those who had requests and those with improper intentions. As for which category Caster belonged to, the princess couldn’t determine at the moment.

After all, people can change.

“It doesn’t matter if we don’t believe him. Anyway, he doesn’t expect us to believe him immediately,” Julian shrugged.

“Sometimes, doubting others is good for them.”

Hearing this, Ophariel sighed helplessly. This kind of inexplicable, unreasonable talk wasn’t the first time she had heard from this lord. In the past, Ophariel would still argue with him a few words, but now she had given up on this boring practice. As for whether Julian’s words were correct, only heaven knew.

“So, my lord, are you ready to face those nobles? Although this is a small city, I think those nobles will surely come knocking soon.”

“Let them come. I have nothing to worry about, and besides…” At this point, Julian suddenly paused imperceptibly, because right in front of him, Ophariel had turned around and taken off her cloak, revealing her slender figure inside, and judging by her hands, she seemed to have no intention of stopping.

“…I’ve already shown my true strength. No matter how these people doubt, they won’t believe my true identity.”

Of course, Julian’s pause was only for a moment. The next moment, he regained his original calmness and nonchalance. While answering Ophariel’s inquiry, Julian casually pulled a chair and sat down, watching the young woman before him with interest.

“Indeed,” Ophariel seemed to have not reacted yet. She took off her outer garment while calmly thinking and responding.

“Even the Bird family, after receiving information about your true strength, will probably be more restrained… But, my lord, do you really know Master Laribode?”

“There are some… small connections between us,” Julian narrowed his eyes, admiring the skin of Ophariel revealed before him. The fair, delicate, and luminous arms, the round and petite shoulders, and the slender waist looked so perfect. Against the backdrop of that violet-colored long hair, it was even more dazzling, making one linger.

“However, we don’t need to worry about these boring things for now. Miss Ophariel, are you interested in going out for a stroll with me? You probably didn’t have much appetite in the hall earlier. This time we can find a quiet place to enjoy the food outside properly.”

“If it’s your invitation, then of course I have no reason to refuse,” Saying this, Ophariel nodded lightly, answering with a bitter smile.

“Then please wait a moment, after I change my clothes…”

At this point, Ophariel suddenly stopped. She stood there stunned, as if only now realizing the current situation. Her hands, originally stiffly suspended in the air, began to tremble, and a beautiful peach blush appeared on that beautiful face.

“My lord, you…”

“Hmm? Don’t mind me, I don’t mind…”

“But I do! Now, please go out!!”

“Alright,” Faced with Ophariel’s words, Julian helplessly spread his hands, then stood up and walked out of the room.

He really didn’t expect that this princess would have such an unexpected side, which really opened his eyes. Although earlier during the “uniform incident”, Julian had noticed that beneath Ophariel’s capable and shrewd exterior, there might be hidden another self, he hadn’t expected that Ophariel’s hidden nature would be like this…

However, her figure was really quite nice.

“Bang!”

Just as Julian was savoring the beautiful scene he had just appreciated, the tightly closed door opened again. Unlike before, Ophariel stood there in full dress, looking at Julian with a gaze of shyness and annoyance. But different from before, she had changed out of her usual wandering scholar attire and, contrary to her usual style, had put on the beautiful dress often worn by noble ladies. This was a dress Ophariel had “dug out” from the wardrobe in the castle. Although the style was a bit old, when worn by Ophariel, it was exceptionally beautiful and charming.

“It’s just going out for a meal, is there a need to be so exaggerated?” Julian pretended to be surprised, widening his eyes and looking at the young woman before him.

“This is to match your performance, my lord… I think, as a noble lord, you wouldn’t appear before those nobles wearing just this outfit, would you?” Ophariel gritted her teeth and responded through clenched teeth.

“As expected of my adjutant,” In contrast to Ophariel, Julian still had a calm and unruffled face, as if nothing awkward had happened between the two of them.

“To understand my thoughts so well. Well then, please wait a moment, I’ll be right back.”

“Lord Julian!”

Seeing that Julian really intended to just turn and slip away like this, Ophariel was somewhat displeased. Although it wasn’t originally his fault, recalling the playful smile in Julian’s eyes earlier, Ophariel still felt somewhat depressed and asked,

“Why didn’t you remind me earlier?”

“Remind you?” Faced with Ophariel’s question, Julian curiously tilted his head, seeming completely unaware of what she meant.

“Just now… when I was changing clothes…”

Saying this, Ophariel’s voice became smaller and smaller. She knew that this wasn’t the first time she had embarrassed herself in front of Julian, but couldn’t this hateful lord have a bit of a gentlemanly reaction?

“It’s very impolite to speak when a lady is changing clothes,” But Ophariel didn’t expect Julian to immediately give such an answer.

“Especially when a beautiful lady like you is changing. As a man, to maintain politeness, all I could do was quietly watch.”

This is justifying it?! And you were clearly still talking to me at that time, weren’t you! What do you mean by quietly watching…

Thinking of this, Ophariel’s face reddened. She was about to say something more, but at this moment Julian had already bowed slightly, performing a perfect noble etiquette, and then quickly slipped into his own room.

“Lord Julian!”

Seeing Julian’s voice disappear, Ophariel was both angry and annoyed, but in the end, she just let out a long sigh and lowered her head.

Although Ophariel knew about her occasional absentminded habit, she had always been very careful about it. Except in front of those close to her, Ophariel had never shown this “unexpected” side of herself to outsiders. But why, why when facing this young man, did she always unconsciously fall into it?

Thinking of this, Ophariel shook her head hard, throwing the confusion and unease to the back of her mind.

Now, she just needed to do what she could do.