Chapter 1 The Scent of Flowers

The breeze under the night sky carried the fragrance of flowers and the freshness of grass and trees, gently caressing the front of the Border Library.

The moonlight falling on the stone steps softened, like the sound of time playing on a piano, making the sparse passersby on the street want to stop and listen.

Talia sat motionless on the steps outside the library.

Until the sky darkened a little more.

Accompanied by the heavy, tall doors of the library being pushed open, Lan Qi, holding a codex in his hand, finally walked out of the library.

Although Talia's back was to Lan Qi, at that moment, she slightly tilted her head, obviously sensing Lan Qi's presence.

"Eh?"

Lan Qi looked at the familiar figure with a little surprise and quickly walked to her side.

"You've been waiting for me here all this time?"

Lan Qi was quite relaxed and simply sat down next to her, not too close and not too far.

"Having accepted your reward, I will naturally handle matters for you."

Talia said expressionlessly.

Inadvertently, she caught sight of the *Hutton Kingdom Codex* in Lan Qi's hand.

She did not know what book Lan Qi had been focused on reading all day in the library.

Now she finally knew the answer.

This guy probably wants to become a lawyer or a judge.

Indeed, he belongs to the very rule-abiding type of human.

"You... didn't eat lunch?"

Lan Qi looked at Talia, who was as dignified and still as a statue, and realized that she had likely been waiting here all day without eating anything.

She adhered to the terms of the transaction even more rigidly than he had imagined. Perhaps this was the pride of the Demon Royal Family?

"..."

Talia didn't speak, but looked at Lan Qi with a slightly unhappy expression.

She seemed to be tacitly acknowledging Lan Qi's words.

"Uh... it just so happens that I'm about to prepare dinner, want to go together?"

Lan Qi paused awkwardly and smiled sheepishly.

"No need, I will leave when you return to the manor."

Talia stood up, seemingly using her actions to tell Lan Qi: Since you're preparing to return to the manor, hurry up.

She would not accept humans' unprovoked kindness.

"It was my mistake today. In the future, I will definitely tell you in advance how long I will be here."

Lan Qi earnestly explained, his words full of apology.

"So, let me treat you to a meal as compensation."

However, Talia just stood there indifferently, as if she hadn't heard Lan Qi's words.

"We have the best chef in this town at our manor,"

"He specializes in the unique flavors of this southern Vantina border territory and will use the best selected ingredients to make it,"

"I guarantee you won't be able to taste it in other city-states,"

"And the most upscale crepe cake with mangoes and cheese, mocha hazelnut brittle egg tarts, platinum strawberry mousse cake..."

"..."

Listening to Lan Qi's incessant chatter.

The corner of Talia's eye seemed to imperceptibly twitch, but she immediately frowned.

"No."

Talia said coldly, turning her head and not glancing at Lan Qi, before walking down the steps without any intention of waiting.

Just now, Lan Qi's words echoed in her ears.

Like the whispers of a demon, full of temptation.

She didn't know why, but at that moment, she had a trance-like illusion—

It was as if she had a Demon strategist by her side, whose wholehearted devotion could surely help her restore her kingdom...

No.

This human youth, who clearly belonged to the Lawful Good alignment, had nothing to do with her clansmen.

Indeed. Her long-cherished wish to restore her kingdom was still too strong.

That was why she had such an absurd illusion.

"What a pity."

Lan Qi stood up, dusted off his pants, and followed briskly with a smile on his face, holding the thick Kingdom Codex in one hand.

Although Talia was still so indifferent, after all, that was her personality.

But Lan Qi had intentionally or unintentionally discovered something.

He remembered seeing in his work notes that Talia was an extremely disciplined character.

She maintained strict dietary principles and cultivation habits, which included waking up early, jogging, meditating, and taking cold showers.

But.

As Talia's "birth parent," Lan Qi clearly remembered a detail mentioned in a very inconspicuous paragraph in the script—

[She abstains from sweets, and when she has a rare opportunity to enjoy desserts, she only allows herself to eat the most upscale ones.]

This was a very subtle detail.

Lan Qi couldn't help but develop serious suspicions about this:

Could it be that Talia is a hidden gourmand, but is afraid of succumbing to her appetite?

The greatest weakness of demons is that they have overly strong desires. Sometimes, if their desires are seen through and induced by more evil demons, it will drive them insane.

The higher the level of a demon, the more they know how to restrain and hide their desires.

Lan Qi laughed silently in his heart.

So, demons are really interesting.

……

The sky in the border city-state darkened a bit more.

Lan Qi's house looked particularly dazzling in the night, with crystal lamps in the courtyard and bright lights shining through the windows.

In the spacious and elegant study on the second floor of the mansion, sat a dignified middle-aged man, his temples already tinged with gray, but his leader-like temperament had not diminished in the slightest.

He wore a delicate, antique suit, every corner of which was neatly arranged, showing a rigorous demeanor.

He was Lan Qi's father and the master of this house—Noe.

Beside him, the butler was pouring him tea.

Accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps outside the door.

After a moment, the door to the study slowly opened.

A black-haired, green-eyed teenager appeared at the door, his expression showing a hint of doubt.

He had just returned home from the library and finished dinner. He hadn't had time to go back to his bedroom to put down the codex in his hand when a maid told him to come to the study on the second floor.

"You've arrived."

Noe leaned back in the chair behind his desk, scrutinizing Lan Qi.

He seemed to have been waiting for Lan Qi in the study for a long time.

"Sorry, I didn't know you were looking for me today."

Lan Qi replied in an orderly manner.

Noe nodded.

He had expected Lan Qi to return home late.

But he didn't expect Lan Qi to walk in holding a copy of the *Hutton Kingdom Codex* with the Border Library's label on it.

He had thought this guy would get drunk again before coming back, but he had gone to the library to read.

Although Noe couldn't understand why it was a codex for a moment.

But at first glance, Lan Qi looked quite like a dignified priest or scholar.

And faintly, there was a hint of the aura of a judge in charge of life and death.

Then Noe pinched the space between his eyebrows.

It was obviously just his imagination.

His纨绔 (wan ku) son had absolutely no affinity for clergy.

It would already be a great fortune if he wasn't abducted by some cult.

Sometimes he was actually quite worried that Lan Qi would be bewitched by those cultists.

In the worst case, he might even become a fanatic and go to worship those few disastrously evil bishops.

Fortunately.

Noe was sure that Lan Qi simply couldn't have the guts to provoke that group of people who were darker than the dark.