On their way, Hyperion couldn’t help but glance at Sofia and then at Lanci.
Her eyes were full of perplexity, as if she was trying to analyze something.
Hyperion was extremely grateful to Lanci for having diverted the attention away from her, but she was also worried that he had some ulterior motive for enduring Sofia’s undue gaze.
...
In the atrium on the third floor, the towering ceiling structure formed an astonishing sense of openness, with a mixture of dark wood and textured stone.
The meeting area on one side of the atrium was equipped with a luxurious sofa and low coffee table. With their high-quality materials and matching colors, the table lamps added a touch of serene sophistication.
Sofia, perceiving that Prince Aynor had finally returned, no longer stared at them in front of Aynor, but turned around and sat quietly on the sofa, hands folded in her lap.
As the three walked closer down the hallway, Lanci, with a peaceful smile, unexpectedly asked Aynor a question:
"Prince Aynor, have you noticed that beside you there’s a gentle girl you’ve always wanted to see?"
Sofia on the sofa twitched noticeably.
She clenched her fists, as her ears began to heat up.
She wanted to turn around and glare at Lanci for asking a question with such unclear intention, but she also dared not look back at Aynor’s face. Her heart was pounding as if it would leap out of her chest, waiting for Aynor’s answer.
"No."
Prince Aynor answered doubtfully.
His voice was clear and unequivocal, without the slightest hesitation.
Sofia, sitting on the sofa, stomped her feet in frustration.
"..."
Lanci seemed at a loss for words.
The three reached the sofa and prepared to sit down.
Lanci wanted to offer more help, whispering,
"Well, Prince Aynor, I think you should pay more attention to the people around you while you are engrossed in art creation and appreciation. Don’t keep her waiting too long."
Sofia, who had initially planned to give Lanci a death stare as a warning not to speak out of turn, gradually softened her face.
She realised that Lanci really seemed to be a good guy, going out of his way to help her.
It’s just that Aynor, that blockhead, was too slow to pick up on things.
Hyperion also relaxed and sat next to Sofia, as Aynor and Lanci naturally sat down on the opposite sofa like brothers.
But what Sofia and Hyperion never expected was.
Prince Aynor suddenly revealed a look of comprehension.
He tightly grabbed Lanci’s shoulder, saying earnestly,
"I understand, Lanci, you are Hutton Kingdom’s irreplaceable treasure. You mean I should’ve come to you sooner!"
"..."
Lanci was truly at a loss for words, he could only helplessly send a smile towards Sofia and Hyperion on the opposite sofa.
His smile was seven-tenths regret and three-tenths apology.
It seemed like he genuinely wanted to help her, but couldn’t because Prince Aynor genuinely didn’t notice her. In contrast, even without trying, Aynor’s eyes were full of Lanci.
The atmosphere in the whole atrium seemed to have subtly changed in that moment.
Under the silence, there was a hint of speechless chill.
It was like the calm before the storm, making people feel oppressed and tensed up.
Hyperion’s eyelid was already twitching.
Lanci looked innocent and good-hearted.
But.
Given Lanci’s words and deeds in this situation, if you imagined him as a woman, you’d get a strong whiff of green tea!!
Hyperion couldn’t figure out whether Lanci was genuinely trying to assist Sofia, or if he was just perfectly disguising his green tea nature!
The pinnacle of innocence seemed like green tea, whereas the pinnacle of green tea gave off an impression of flawless innocence. Hyperion saw both extremes in Lanci!
Sofia, caught in this delicate situation, found her mood gradually swinging towards the brink of explosion.
From her perspective as the supposed victim, she began to doubt whether Lanci had been plotting for a while, pretending to be naive, winning Aynor’s complete trust, only to actually be making a fool of her!
If that were true, then this cunning bad guy might even use this trust to toy with an unsuspecting Aynor!
"Lanci, I’m really excited to see what kind of card you can make today and I hope I’ll be privileged enough to appreciate your paintings in the future."
Aynor, having witnessed Lanci’s ability to appreciate art, was extremely curious about how good Lanci would be at painting.
"..."
Sofia sat opposite them, her head lowered and her hands clasped tightly.
Listening to Aynor’s trance-like praise for Lanci again, it seemed like he had fallen head over heels for Lanci. Sofia’s agitation grew and she finally couldn’t hold back, she raised her head and lowered voice to say to Lanci and Aynor,
"Aynor, I am the most outstanding cardmaker and the most talented painter by your side. You don’t need to look up to him like this!"
Sofia’s breath became increasingly hurried, so much so that it seemed like she was about to shout, "Look at me more!"
"Sofia..."
Aynor seemed bewildered, his gaze finally moved from Lanci to Sofia.
He was truly envious of Lanci’s powerful presence at Demon Academy, where he could show off casually. He wanted to learn this "art of showing off" from him.