Vol 2 Chapter 221 The Banquet at the Sea Cliff Villa

After her Aspect solidified, Sylutia caused a small stir within the Griffin household.

“How did she manage it? She must have used some external aid too.” Eriel was quite displeased, sitting in her room and talking to her younger brother.

“Elder Sister, there’s no need to be so narrow-minded. No matter what, Hedra is still part of our family, and according to Mother’s investigation, she might even be our elder sister.”

“Her, as the eldest sister?” Eriel raised her eyebrows, clearly unhappy.

“But Father ultimately only referred to her as his niece. So as long as we don’t bring it up, her background won’t change further.” Ecor comforted his sister.

After Sylutia solidified her Aspect, Alanfude specifically instructed the family to hold a small dinner party to celebrate. Considering Hedra’s special status, no outsiders were invited.

Taking advantage of Sylutia’s advancement, Alanfude improved her treatment, instructing the butler to give the young lady an extra two gold coins each month as spending money.

Although Madam Haier felt a bit jealous in her heart, she still offered Sylutia a few words of congratulations for appearances’ sake.

The next day, the City Lord’s Wife sent out invitations again, informing the city’s notable figures that a banquet would be held at the seaside villa the day after tomorrow.

After receiving the invitation, Madam Haier finally showed a somewhat happy expression. She began thinking about how to strike up a conversation with that Madam Sarah at the banquet, how to resolve any conflicts, and afterwards, how to help Eriel regain her status as a prominent young lady in Quebec’s social circles.

“Ecor.” Madam Haier seemed to remember something.

“What is it, Mother?”

“Do you have someone you like?” She began to show concern for her other child’s situation.

“Not at the moment.” Ecor was momentarily taken aback, then answered.

“Alright, I’ll keep an eye out for you at the banquet later.”

Ecor could only shake his head helplessly at this, then went to inform Hedra.

A few minutes later, under the shade of a tree in the mansion’s backyard, Sylutia received the message conveyed by Ecor.

“A banquet the evening after tomorrow? I understand.”

“Then I’ll be off. Little Sister Hedra, prepare well.”

Time passed in a flash, and in the blink of an eye, the day of the banquet arrived.

On this day, Sylutia returned early from the lighthouse. She first took a simple bath, then changed into the formal dress previously selected with Madam Haier’s help.

It was primarily black, but the inner lining of the cuffs and the second layer of the skirt’s hem were red. The collar also had a red ribbon, and the hat she wore was black and red. The overall style of the dress was conservative, with a high collar. When the cuffs with their folded floral ornaments hung down, only her fingers were visible.

After putting it on, Sylutia looked at herself in the mirror. She couldn’t help but feel this image somewhat resembled a mischievous little demon deliberately causing trouble on Halloween, especially when she took off her hat. Her black hair was simply combed into a demure pair of twin tails, the two strands tied with hair ribbons, forming a structure similar to garlic bulbs.

Parts of the dress’s material were a deep, pure black, while others were a red as deep as a rose, lending her an air tinged with a touch of darkness and aggression.

After putting on the black lace gloves, Sylutia stood before the mirror, lightly placed her fingers under her chin as if posing, then neatly tied the scarf at her collar and walked out of the room.

Boarding the Griffin family carriage, the family set off for the City Lord’s seaside villa.

Located on a sea cliff east of the harbor, after arriving and passing through the iron gate, there was a long, gentle slope leading up to the brightly lit villa on the cliff.

Along the way, Sylutia could see many extravagantly dressed local notables. Some recognized Alanfude and his wife, greeting them and engaging in brief conversation. Others were relatively unfamiliar, simply nodding briefly before continuing on their way.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the villa on the sea cliff. The first-floor hall here was incredibly bright, with the floor paved with marble of different materials, pieced together to depict ancient poetic scenes. Soothing music played softly.

Her face hidden beneath the light veil of her hat’s brim, Sylutia did not attract attention when she entered the hall with the Alanfude family. Many people didn’t even notice her.

The City Lord’s wife, Madam Sarah, was in the hall receiving guests, exchanging brief greetings with visitors.

“Lina~ You’re here! You look beautiful today too.” Madam Sarah bent down to welcome a girl in her teens. The girl ran over and hugged her, then the couple behind her followed, smiling and greeting Madam Sarah.

After they talked for a while, Madam Haier saw an opportunity and walked forward with Eriel and Sylutia.

For Madam Haier, Madam Sarah simply smiled and nodded briefly in acknowledgment, then her gaze turned to Sylutia behind her.

“And this is?”

“She is my niece, named Hedra. She’s the one you mentioned before.” Madam Haier turned around.

“Come, Hedra, this is Madam Sarah. You should properly greet her.” She used her eyes and words to instruct the young lady on what to do, fearing she might be slow with her manners.

Sylutia walked over, lightly lifted the hem of her skirt, and gave a slight nod. Madam Haier was clearly somewhat dissatisfied with such a brief courtesy, but fortunately, Madam Sarah didn’t mind, smiling and gesturing for her to come closer.

“Let me take a closer look.” She gently held Sylutia’s wrist, carefully examining the black-haired young lady, as if trying to discern something different about her.

“After Rosalie returned that day, she told me quite a bit about you. It just so happens she’s been a bit bored at my house lately. If you have time, you could accompany her more.” Compared to the simple, perfunctory way she spoke with Madam Haier, when facing Sylutia, this City Lord’s Wife clearly had many more smiles. She even took Sylutia by the hand to a nearby table and had a servant fetch a portion of exquisite pastries for her.

“Here, try this.” As she spoke, she took the delicate cake handed to her by a servant at her side and placed it in Sylutia’s palm.

[Dew Blueberry Cake] (First Tier · Superior): A pastry made with premium fruits and high-quality cream. It has a cool, refreshing taste that can dispel summer heat and restore a certain amount of mental energy.

This small portion of pastry was probably worth 1-2 gold coins, equivalent to Sylutia’s current monthly allowance. Seeing Madam Sarah’s preferential treatment, Eriel behind them was filled with envy, wishing she were the one receiving the cake.

Why? Her heart remained unbalanced and uncomprehending. Why did the City Lord’s family care so much about Hedra? Clearly, the other was just a newly arrived illegitimate daughter, of impure bloodline, lowly birth, and lacking proper upbringing.

Faced with Madam Sarah’s great enthusiasm, Sylutia couldn’t easily refuse. After expressing her thanks, she took the cake and began eating it in small bites.

Watching her finish the cake, Madam Sarah asked if she liked it. Sylutia nodded yes, so Madam Sarah had the servants prepare more.

“You, go pack several portions. Remember to be careful. Store them in the icebox for now, then deliver them to the Griffin residence later.”

“Yes, Madam.” Several servants nodded and went to do as instructed.

Afterwards, Madam Sarah had the butler take over receiving guests for her. She herself took Sylutia’s hand and led her to a side of the hall to sit and chat. She talked about various things, such as Sylutia’s usual hobbies, her childhood experiences, what she was passionate about, and so on. Her attitude was exceptionally warm and tolerant.

They talked like this for a long time. Only when Rosalie arrived in the hall did Madam Sarah call her over as well.

“Rosalie~” Madam Sarah waved to her.

“Auntie!” Rosalie trotted over with cheerful steps and hugged Madam Sarah.

“You, your temperament is exactly like your mother’s.” Madam Sarah dotingly stroked Rosalie’s back.

“Was Mother as cute and charming as I am back then?” Rosalie looked up.

“Giggle, why don’t you ask if you’re as cute and charming as Mother was back then? Clearly, it’s because of her that you exist.” Madam Sarah laughed and pinched Rosalie’s cheek.

After the two laughed and joked for a while, Madam Sarah took Rosalie by the hand again to come and talk with Sylutia.

“Rosalie, look who’s here.”

“Oh, Hedra, you came today too, that’s great~” It seemed Rosalie, this naturally familiar girl, opened her arms, wanting to hug Sylutia just as she had hugged Madam Sarah.

Sylutia accepted this with slight resignation, embracing the petite girl.

After the two hugged briefly, Rosalie asked Madam Sarah for more treats. Afterwards, the Madam had the servants prepare several portions of special snacks.

“These are about half of what was prepared for tonight. I still have to entertain the other guests with the rest, I can’t give you any more.” Madam Sarah lovingly patted Rosalie’s head, then turned to Sylutia.

“Hedra, you can spend the evening with Rosalie. She’s very familiar with this place. I have other matters to attend to. I hope you both have a pleasant evening.”

“Not at all, thank you, Madam.” Sylutia nodded, bidding farewell to the City Lord’s Wife. Afterwards, she was pulled by Rosalie through the hall to the platform at the back of the villa. From here, one could overlook the night sea. The scenery was excellent; Sylutia could even see the distant lighthouse where Nox lived.

“The view here is quite nice, right? Hehe.” Rosalie was about 155 cm tall, a head shorter than Sylutia. Standing by the guardrail, she stood on her tiptoes to gaze at the night scene.

Compared to the lively hall, the sea breeze here was refreshing, and there were no other guests. Only a few servants stood not far away, keeping watch over the two young ladies who had come out.

“It is indeed very nice.” After Madam Sarah left, Sylutia gradually relaxed.

“If you like it, you can come over every day in the future, you can even stay here long-term.” Rosalie tilted her head in thought.

“There are several empty rooms on the villa’s second floor, much wider than your bedroom at the Griffin residence. I’ll be staying here overnight recently too.”

“That… it’s still unnecessary. Uncle Alanfude treats me very well.” Sylutia shook her head.

“Ah, where is it good? Anyone with eyes can see it. That aunt of yours has always been cold and neglectful towards you, hmph.” Rosalie felt indignant on Sylutia’s behalf.

Sylutia still shook her head.

“Aunt has to consider the household’s income and expenses. After all, I’m not her biological daughter. That she bought me several sets of clothes and gives me a monthly allowance is already very good.” Sylutia replied. She truly held no resentment towards Madam Haier. After all, any normal wife would find it difficult to treat her husband’s illegitimate daughter with equanimity.

“You’re too soft-hearted.” Rosalie pouted in complaint.

“Forget it, family matters and such, I don’t understand. Anyway, as a niece, my aunt’s house is pretty much like my own home.”

“By the way, are you studying under Mr. Nox now?” Rosalie suddenly switched to another topic.

“This… yes.” After a brief hesitation, Sylutia nodded in agreement. This wasn’t something that needed to be kept secret, was it?

“I heard from my uncle that Mr. Nox was very powerful in the past. It was from him that I learned your name. I was very curious, so that day I went to Eriel’s gathering, wanting to meet you.” Rosalie didn’t avoid stating her reason for seeking Sylutia out that day.

“So that’s how it was.” Sylutia finally understood why Rosalie had so suddenly appeared at the Griffin residence.

“And after meeting, what were your thoughts?” Now Sylutia also asked with a smile.

“Of course I was curious. If you can study under Mr. Nox, you must be very smart. Besides, you’re also newly arrived from elsewhere, similar to me, so I felt a sense of similarity. That’s why I came looking for you that day.” Rosalie’s reasoning was incredibly simple.

“And after meeting? I felt you always spoke in a somewhat detached tone, not like others who are so… so shallow? Anyway, you just felt different.” Rosalie propped her chin, recalling.

“I always felt like you had many stories about you, but there were many people that day, so I couldn’t ask directly.”

“You also worry about there being many people?” Sylutia covered her mouth with a light laugh.

“Of course… I’m not a fool.” Rosalie placed her hands on her hips, offering her critique.

Afterwards, the two stood on the open space outside the villa, bathing in the sea breeze and chatting about all sorts of things. Rosalie told her she usually lived on Kerlan Island, a large island east of Meteorite Lake. Before Madam Sarah married, she had also lived there.

Narrating her childhood life on the island and various sights and experiences in the port city, Rosalie’s words were light and cheerful as she poured out her various moods and feelings to Sylutia.

And so, the two unknowingly stayed until the banquet ended. Only when Madam Sarah waved to them did they slowly return.

That evening, Sylutia learned that the City Lord was originally a Transcendent from the Hidden Grove Alliance. After achieving success, he took up the position in Quebec. During that time, he married the daughter of a prominent family from the Merchant Capital Alliance, namely Madam Sarah, and had settled here for over twenty years.

So, those senior apprentices from the Hidden Grove Alliance, after leaving the Shadow World and returning to the surface world, had each embarked on their own careers and achievements.

Although Sylutia hadn’t reached that stage yet, from City Lord Brennan’s experience, she also saw a certain expected future for herself.

If it weren’t for the matter of going to the Mage Alliance interrupting things, she would most likely, many years later, return to the surface world, settle in Regas, assist Mursa with some matters, and then live a leisurely, quiet life.

As for returning to the First Continent, she would probably only consider that after reaching the Sixth Tier. The air routes traversing the floating continents were not stable or peaceful. Long-distance travel would also face various unexpected events. If her strength was insufficient, it would never be safe enough.

Organizing this information in her mind, she arrived at the villa’s front hall. There weren’t many guests left here, and the Alanfude family was still sitting in a corner waiting.

She slightly quickened her pace and approached the table. At this moment, Alanfude stood up with a tolerant smile.

“It’s getting late, Hedra. Let’s go back.”

“Yes, Uncle Alanfude. Sorry to have kept you waiting.” Madam Haier, who was sitting to the side, now stood up with a somewhat sulky air, and the group walked out of the hall together.

As they were about to board the carriage to leave, a servant hurried over carrying an exquisitely decorated box.

“Please wait a moment. The Madam has a gift for Miss Hedra.”

Under the envious gazes of Eriel and Madam Haier, the beautifully wrapped gift box was placed in Sylutia’s hands and then taken onto the carriage.

Then, with the crack of a whip, their carriage finally began the return journey, entering the slightly cool night.

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