Seeing the annoying witch leave the room, the female sorcerer relaxed her guarded expression. The woman walked up to Laine, lifted her head, and her silver eyes, peering through butterfly-patterned glasses, reflected the man's image: "Laine? Thank you; have I troubled you a lot during this time? I apologize to you here."
"It was alright." Laine smiled slightly, reaching out to pat Teresa on the shoulder: "It wasn't ideal, but it wasn't too bad either. Considering this is your first time venturing out, I'll give you a passing grade."
"Just a passing grade? Then... what about adding this?" The small hand covered in white lace gloves wrapped around the man's neck.
Thin cherry lips brushed against the man's lips, leaving behind only a faint lavender scent.
"Laine, don't forget me, we'll see each other again soon, I'm sure of it." The light of the teleportation array flashed, leaving Laine alone in the room, the man smiling wryly, his feelings unreadable from his expression.
The door opened again, the crisp sound of high heels approached Laine, the tone was filled with jealousy and sarcasm: "Did that bitch kiss you?"
"Just lightly, just ." Laine held up his index finger and thumb, indicating a small distance.
The man's gesture wasn't even complete before a pair of small hands in black lace gloves wrapped around his neck again, and almost instinctively, Laine embraced the newcomer.
This time it wasn't just a brief touch; it lasted more than two full minutes.
"Doesn't Trovik know that I am your partner?" Veronica panted slightly, the witch leaned against the man's chest, holding him tightly: "I was clearly here first!"
"Haha~ I also don't know why she would like me." Laine hugged the woman in his arms: "We are just partners after all, don't get any ideas! I'm very pure-hearted."
"You? Pure? Don't kid me, Laine."
Indeed, the reason Laine didn't agree to be partners with Teresa is very significant.
That reason is the Jialan Female Member in front of him, the twenty-five-year-old Veronica Bernadotte, who is Laine's true partner, and has been for many years. Check latest chapters at novel⁂fire.net
Veronica Bernadotte, the strongest young female spellcaster in the Jialan Council, a witch of the Fire and Light Elements, holder of the Violet Medal, exceedingly active in numerous battles.
Unlike Teresa, this Jialan member does not have a prestigious origin or a powerful bloodline from her parents. She reached her current position by standing out among wizard apprentices and being taken as a disciple by Jialan Parliament Speaker Margarita, though the Speaker took a laissez-faire approach to her disciple, teaching her magic but otherwise leaving her alone.
Laine met her when he was completing a task for Dietlinde at Celestial Vault Castle; the two fought unknowingly, and Laine's powerful strength and physique left a deep impression on Veronica. Thus, this witch privately became Laine's partner.
With the mindset of quietly getting rich, Veronica never publicized her partnership with Laine, and very few people know about their relationship, though it certainly includes Teresa's mother, Aurora Trovik. So, when Laine found out that his partner was Teresa instead of Veronica, he thought it strange, but didn't dwell on it.
"Humph! Elder Aurora knows about our relationship, but when Archbishop Innocen found us, she recommended her daughter instead of me!!!" Veronica said with gritted teeth, learning about this much later.
"We at Jialan certainly know what a young noble at the Legendary tier signifies in their early twenties. Lady Aurora is abusing her power for personal gain!" Veronica remained unsatisfied with the situation, as Laine's rise was so swift it caught the Jialan Council off guard, especially now as he is celebrated as the human hero who repelled the barbarian horde. His legendary feat of fending off thousands of barbarians alone, like the Holy Grail Knight Marcus, has spread across the continent.
Driven by a protective instinct, Veronica immediately seized the opportunity to change the partnership, but the witch had already fostered a deep resentment towards Teresa, leading to the fiery confrontation between the two.
"Teresa is unaware of our relationship, she even asked if I wanted to be her partner." As Laine walked outside, Veronica quickly followed, grabbing his hand from behind: "That sheltered lady, always cooped up in her room, surely knows little about the outside world, and Elder Aurora wouldn't voluntarily tell her."
Wherever there are people, there is a "jianghu." In any organization, the struggle for power is unavoidable. Laine couldn't comment on such matters, so he tried to change the subject: "I have a new place to stay, would you like to live with me?"
"That depends on where you're living. If it's not good enough, I won't live with you!" Back by Laine's side, having driven away the annoying pest, Veronica's sweet face was full of smiles: "Or should I arrange a servant's room for you in the residence?"
"Is that the kind of annoying arrangement you're thinking up?" Laine laughed with a bit of profanity, then said: "On Amber Avenue, is that to your satisfaction?"
"Oh! That's wonderful, I love it, and also..."