"My dear brother, there is so much you have yet to learn. You must learn to trade, to exchange non-core benefits for core interests, to be used by others without being turned into a blade in their hands. These lessons are a noble's required curriculum. You should think on these yourself, but as your older brother, I'll teach you a trick."

As he spoke, he pulled Xino aside and whispered instructions.

"She wants to kill him, doesn't she?"

"Don't be a fool and do it yourself, just create an opportunity for her."

...

Elsewhere, in the wilderness on the outskirts of Demon City, a towering ghost horse, tethered to a pitch-black carriage, stood beside a granite-paved road.

A boy of about twelve stood next to the towering ghost horse, craning his neck, looking around as if waiting for someone.

He was delicate in appearance, his skin pale and smooth, his face still carrying the roundness and naïveté of youth. His deep purple hair was soft and curly, barely reaching his eyebrows, and his purple-black eyes always seemed half-closed, as if never fully awake, giving him the appearance of a docile sheep at a distance.

A small black cloak was draped over his shoulders, a silver button stamped at the collar, revealing a neck as white as paper, protruding from a white shirt's collar, so slender it seemed a gust of wind could carry it away.

Although Demon City was the safest place in all of Hell, where even goblins were law-abiding and polite, it was unusual to see a child alone like this.

The occasional demons passing by on the street frequently glanced at him with curiosity and malice, but none dared to approach.

It was only because the aura emitted by that ghost horse was so extraordinary—it was like tens of thousands of corpses thundering across a battlefield!

Interestingly, though,

this bloodthirsty beast was as gentle with the boy beside it as a kitten.

Pacing back and forth beside the ghost horse, the boy frequently glanced at the brass pocket watch in his hand, his forehead gradually showing a trace of worry.

Still not back...

Just as he worried that something bad may have happened, a loud chorus of bat cries suddenly streaked across the sky.

Seeing the group of bats appear overhead, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, his heart settling down at last.

Countless bats descended to the ground, transforming into a girl of about sixteen or seventeen, dressed in a black western gown.

Vivian Colin.

Seeing his sister return safe and sound, Nanfu Colin breathed a sigh of relief and said,

"Sis, you're finally back."

Vivian Colin, without uttering a word, her complexion as gloomy as the tombstones in the old manor's backyard garden, simply reached out to pull open the carriage door and stepped up into it, lifting her gown.

Feeling the bone-chilling coldness, Nanfu couldn't help shivering and dared not say more, obediently following his sister into the carriage.

The carriage door closed.

The pitch-black carriage lifted into the air and blended into the night of Demon City.

Looking at Vivian, who had her eyes shut and remained silent, Nanfu pressed his back against the seat and swallowed, sensing his sister's mood had somewhat improved, he tentatively whispered,

"Dad... really had an affair?"

He still couldn't believe it.

His father, who always put his mother first, who would courteously seek his mother's opinion in everything, had been keeping a mistress!

There must be some misunderstanding!

He wasn't the only one who thought so.

Until several minutes ago, his sister Vivian thought the same. However, all those beautiful illusions vanished the moment she heard that man's confessions and repentance to the priest...

Once upon a time, in her eyes, her parents had been the best parents under the ground, an impeccable model couple envied by all—even by herself.

More than once she dreamt that her future husband would be an understanding and gentle gentleman— at least half as good as her admired father.

But now, recalling those dreams, she just felt nauseated, having already vomited once on her way back.

Why?

Why did that man keep it secret from everyone?

Wasn't mom good enough for him?!

It wasn't just an affair; he also had a child, with another woman!

If it weren't for her noticing that her father's spending was exceedingly extravagant, leading her to wonder where he spent the money and prompting a curious investigation with her brother following their father... they would likely still be kept in the dark!

Having lived sixteen years in the cocoon of happiness, she now felt like a joke; all the memories had become the ugliest scars at this moment.

Vivian bit her lip, her eyes welling up, but she quickly stifled the tears back with gritted teeth.

Confronting her brother's timid gaze, she spoke with a hoarse voice,

"...It's worse than an affair."

Nanfu fell silent.

After a lengthy silence, he softly asked,

"...There were two others?"

Feeling a murderous gaze upon him, Nanfu quickly shut his mouth and even covered it with his hands.

Watching her frightened brother, Vivian took a deep breath, trying not to redirect her anger at him just because he was also a man, and recounted the earlier events.

Including the conversation between their father and the priest.

Including that man's fleeting glance at his own flesh and blood.

As for the duel and her subsequent private conversation with the youngest son of the Dragon family, Vivian chose to conceal those details.

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