The ridgeline was rugged and jagged.
On this highland where even grass and trees struggled to take root, a fortress lay sprawled like a giant beast.
A steep mountain road passed right through it.
Given that the main forces of both warring parties were ground troops, this location undoubtedly held an unparalleled strategic status.
Several small figures came from the foot of the mountain.
After passing through layers of strict checkpoints, they finally arrived at the city gate.
“We’re here,” Luwei said to Floxi behind her.
“Linbei City, the fortress my father is responsible for guarding.”
She tilted her head proudly.
However, the panting blonde girl behind her no longer had the strength to compliment her.
“You’re huffing like that after just a few steps? Don’t tell anyone you’re my servant once we’re out!”
Luwei scolded coldly.
Then, she prepared to dismount from her warhorse… but her short legs kicked around, unable to find a point of support.
Her gaze drifted, looking at Sabella who was riding in the front of the saddle…
‘Should I let this woman carry me down?’
Luwei really found it hard to ask.
This woman shouldn’t have even been here.
If the family weren’t so short on guards, how could she have possibly brought Sabella along?
Luwei didn’t even have time to hide from her!
Who knew if she would conspire with Floxi one day to capture her and subject her to a harsh judgment…
While Luwei was hesitating, Floxi behind her had already seen her mistress’s difficulty.
“Huh… what are you doing?”
Amidst Luwei’s cry of surprise, the girl stepped on the stirrup, lightly held Luwei’s waist, and then supported her legs with her right hand.
She turned elegantly and dismounted…
Even Sabella in the front looked back slightly, a flash of… relief? appearing in her eyes.
But Luwei was somewhat annoyed.
This girl didn’t say a word and just came up to give her a princess carry?
Was she trying to prove she still had energy left??
“Let go! Did I ask you to hold me?”
She struggled to get down from Floxi.
The latter clearly hadn’t expected Luwei’s movement.
Luwei slipped and almost fell to the ground.
In an attempt to save her, Floxi increased the strength of her grip.
Consequently, Luwei clearly felt those hands at her waist slip precisely onto her bottom.
“Hiss —”
A wave of soreness and swelling rushed straight to her head…
Luwei could only feebly swat at Floxi’s head.
“Let go, let go, let go!”
“Ah… I’m sorry, Your Highness!”
Floxi hurriedly raised her hands…
Leaving Luwei clutching her waist, unable to recover for a long time.
After the bumps of the journey, even though the saddle had been thoughtfully covered with a soft cushion, she still felt like her backside had suffered.
Luwei bared her teeth as bits of sweat beaded on her forehead.
If the road to Linbei City hadn’t been too treacherous for a carriage… how could she have ended up in this state??
“Are you… all right? I have a potion for bruises here…”
As she spoke, Floxi took a bottle of pale green potion from her satchel.
It seemed to be cheap street-stall goods, not even reaching the standard of the low-quality, watered-down Elementary Healing Potion sold by slave traders… yet more than half of the liquid inside had already been used.
Seeing this, Luwei couldn’t help but feel suspicious.
The Caris family had professional healing priests on duty 24 hours a day.
If one got injured in the family, they just needed to tell them.
How could they possibly need a potion for treatment…?
‘Could it be… because of me?’
A faint sense of guilt suddenly rose in Luwei’s heart.
That’s right.
After all, her attitude toward this adopted daughter was known to everyone.
Those Magicians probably weren’t very willing to receive Floxi.
‘This child has really suffered a lot in the Caris family.’
But just as Luwei was feeling sentimental, she saw Floxi unscrew the cap and move behind her — acting as if she was going to lift Luwei’s skirt.
“…?”
Luwei’s expression instantly became one of utter horror.
“Get away from me!” she said through gritted teeth.
Dammit… idiots like this really deserve to be bullied!
***
Passing through the heavily guarded city gates, Luwei’s group walked straight toward the Lord’s Castle.
Along the way, Luwei noticed that most of the residents of Linbei City had sharp gazes and sturdy builds.
It seemed they followed a path where every citizen was a soldier.
This also corresponded to the setting in the game —
When Linbei City fell, the Orc Tribe pulled out this hardest nail in the northern border of the Human Federation.
Correspondingly, 70% or 80% of the Caris family’s influence was lost in the campaign, and they never recovered.
But that wasn’t all…
If losing the campaign against the Orcs only caused structural damage to the Caris family, then Luwei’s actions were the final straw that broke the camel’s back.
Poor Duke Caris witnessed his adopted daughter and biological daughter turn against each other, a scandal that spread throughout the entire Human Federation.
Afterward, Floxi transformed into an Angel, was taken in by the Church, and held a high position.
Consequently, the Kingdom of Avalon had almost no place left for the Caris family.
From then on, this lion of the northern border fell into eternal silence, and they were never seen again in the subsequent plot…
With her thoughts drifting, Luwei had already entered the castle hall.
At this moment, Duke Caris, the Grand Duke of the Kingdom of Avalon — Roy II — was sitting on the main throne in the center.
Curiously observing this world’s father, Luwei felt a novel sensation rise in her heart.
‘Calling a game character I created “Dad” or something… is definitely a bit weird, right?’
However, after seeing the Duke in person, Luwei didn’t actually feel much repulsion.
‘Is it human nature at work…? Always liking to call beautiful girls “Mom” and handsome men “Dad”?’
Luwei fell into deep self-doubt.
Looking at the man before her… his eyes were deep, his face was sharp like it was carved by a knife, and his brows exuded a hidden heroic spirit.
It was really hard to imagine that this Duke Roy was already 50 years old.
Because of this, having a daughter late in life, he placed almost all his coddling on Luwei.
So, Luwei was actually quite confident about this trip.
With both daughters pleading, wouldn’t it be easy to get the Duke to approve a sum of money to invest in the Potion Workshop?
Just one thing…
Luwei looked at the man on the high platform, feeling a bit intimidated.
Duke Roy’s aura was too oppressive!
His expression was cold as frost, and every move carried an inherent majesty even without anger.
Even if a faint smile hung at the corner of his mouth, it wouldn’t make anyone feel the slightest bit relaxed…
At this moment, Duke Roy merely waved his hand, and all the civil and military officials in the hall withdrew in response.
Only the father and two daughters remained in the massive hall.
Luwei wanted to speak, but the pressure of the situation was too great.
And the deep, gloomy expression on Duke Roy’s face gave Luwei a faint feeling of being seen through.
She couldn’t help but feel like retreating.
She really couldn’t bring herself to say the words asking for gold coins…
Come to think of it, the front lines were under pressure, so how could he approve funding for a daughter as useless and unlucky as her?
‘Maybe… I should just say hello and go back…?’
Seeing the man’s Adam’s apple on the high platform roll slightly, Luwei’s heart leaped into her throat.
It was as if, in the next second, a harsh scolding would come from his mouth…
“Oh! Why has my little Luwei come all this way specifically to see her daddy?”
Luwei: “?”
Who was speaking just now?
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