In the spacious, three-story atrium, wood and stone with natural vitality intertwined, complementing the surrounding dark furniture and decorations, creating a tranquil and elegant atmosphere.

In the conversation area on one side of the hall, luxurious sofas and low coffee tables were accompanied by the soft light of several floor lamps, as if time itself became lazy here, filled with an unspeakable sense of harmony.

At this moment, the three guests sitting on the sofa were all descendants of the great dignitaries of the Kingdom of Hutton.

They waited quietly here, like the most distinguished guests in a high-end box at a concert, possessing an extraordinary aura even just sitting there.

"Your Highness Prince Einol, Miss Hyberia, Miss Sophia, so the friends that Lanchi has been thinking about are you."

Laurence bowed politely.

Obviously, Laurence recognized Prince Einol as a frequent visitor and knew the Duke of Migeia's daughter.

Laurence wasn't surprised that Lanchi knew these noble students from the Ikryte Academy.

However.

Laurence couldn't help but feel something unusual in the atmosphere.

Prince Einol, his expression was excited, his eyes shining with anticipation.

And Hyberia, sitting on the single sofa on the left, kept her head down, staring nervously at the tips of her shoes.

Miss Sophia Earl seemed to be in a dream, still dazed.

The three of them didn't seem to be on the same wavelength.

At this moment, only Hyberia was truly awake.

Realizing that Lanchi had finally arrived, she looked up at him, knowing that she couldn't ask any questions. She just needed to get him out of this place as soon as possible!

But.

Before Hyberia could act, Prince Einol eagerly stood up from the sofa, strode over, gave Lanchi a big hug, and grabbed his shoulders, asking anxiously:

"My dear friend! What grade were you assessed as?"

Lanchi didn't even have time to speak.

The vice president, Laurence, already beaming, said to Einol:

"Your Highness, you truly have a discerning eye and make friends widely. Our Kingdom of Hutton is about to add another Platinum-level card maker."

"..."

Instantly, Hyberia's face turned pale.

If Lanchi was graded Silver today, it wouldn't be a big deal. Sophia would at most be a little embarrassed.

If it were Gold, Hyberia would be very happy and would find a way to comfort Sophia, and the problem wouldn't be so serious.

But now.

Platinum-level.

Friend, this was a dead end.

Sophia felt like she was being roasted on a fire, and Hyberia felt powerless to save her.

"Platinum-level..."

After hearing Laurence's words, Sophia stared blankly at Lanchi.

The boy who had seemed to be sitting just across from her this morning suddenly seemed infinitely distant, his shadow stretched long and long by the light from the floor lamp.

At this moment, Sophia recalled the words she had said in front of Einol, "I'm 17 years old and already a Silver-level card maker. What about you?" and felt her cheeks gradually burning uncontrollably.

Standing there now was a 16-year-old Platinum-level card maker, far beyond her reach.

Sophia's shoulders trembled slightly, and her reddened eyes were already filled with mist.

At this moment, she only felt that the words she had spoken this morning had become like a curse, echoing in her ears again and again, making her flustered and unable to escape.

She desperately wanted to find a hole to crawl into and escape everything before her.

"So, Sophia, my father said that card making is thirty percent skill, seventy percent performance, and the remaining ninety percent depends on the mood of the Goddess..."

Hyberia looked at Sophia, her heart filled with anxiety. She raised her hand slightly, trying to touch Sophia, but was afraid that she would break if she touched her, and hesitated to touch her arm.

"Orange Epic... can't be made by luck and performance alone..."

Sophia's voice trembled, as if her tears would spill out of her eyes at any moment and slide down.

She herself was even more aware that if her strength was not enough, even if she maximized all other factors, it would be impossible to make a card of this level.

In other words, Einol's judgment was actually correct. She was far inferior to the boy he was optimistic about.

She also clearly realized that in painting, her level was like that of an infant compared to Lanchi.

"..."

Hyberia felt that Sophia's eyes could no longer hold back her tears and dared not stimulate her any further.

"Hyberia, did... did you already know about his card making and painting skills?"

Sophia finally seemed to understand why Hyberia had been so uneasy all along.

"No, Sophia, I really didn't know he could be so outrageous..."

Hyberia said timidly.

This made Sophia tremble even more violently.

Sophia wanted to hold back her tears, but the feeling of shame that was about to kill her in her heart was indescribable, because she had said those words in front of Einol, and she couldn't take them back.

Her cheeks became increasingly red, and tears fell like beads from a broken string.

Finally, Sophia finally looked directly at Lanchi.

Lanchi's expression was still so gentle, with a hint of worry, as if he didn't have a single bad intention in his heart.

Such pity was more hurtful than ridicule.

"Waaaaah..."

Sophia couldn't control herself, stood up from the sofa crying loudly, and ran away.

Einol was completely dumbfounded, looked at Lanchi in front of him, and then at Sophia's receding figure.

"Lanchi, congratulations, I..."

Einol, in a moment of brain freeze and at a loss, could only hesitate to congratulate Lanchi first.

"What are you congratulating me for? Hurry up and run over to catch up with her!"

Lanchi patted Einol several times.

"Oh, oh!"

Prince Einol reacted, quickly agreed, and chased after Sophia in the direction she had run.

And so, in a situation where the vice president, Laurence, completely didn't understand what was happening.

Hyberia covered her eyes with her hands and lowered her head, feeling that the Goddess was watching them both at this moment.

Lanchi breathed a sigh of relief, returned to Hyberia, and looked at her with a relieved but helpless smile:

"Hyberia, Sophia should no longer cast those troubling glances at you in the future."

Hearing this, Hyberia was immediately shocked and began to recall every scene from when she arrived at the Card Maker Association this morning.

"You... you wouldn't have deliberately caused trouble to protect me, would you?"

She asked with a trembling voice.

"Huh? I mean, Sophia and Einol conveyed their feelings to each other, so naturally they won't misunderstand others anymore."

Lanchi said as if he was worried that he had done something bad with good intentions.

"...?"

Hearing Lanchi's voice, Hyberia was stunned for a long time.

She couldn't figure out if Lanchi was a black, white, fun, or trolling person.

If Lanchi was trolling now, he had already trolled her numb.

She couldn't help but move her hand away and opened her eyes to look at Lanchi's expression.

His emerald green pupils were still as gentle and clear as ever, and his expression was a bit naturally confused.

Hyberia felt a chill all over her body.

If Lanchi was secretly smirking, she would actually feel better.

But now, just looking at Lanchi's innocent and pure expression, she felt like she had eaten a matcha cookie!

"Lanchi, it's a good thing you're not a girl, otherwise it would be really scary..."

Hyberia couldn't tell whether Lanchi was natural or a green tea at all.

No wonder this guy had no fear of love triangles.

It turned out that he himself was at the top of the food chain!!

(End of Chapter)