NOVPUBOn the third floor of the Ichrite Cardmaker’s Association, a spacious atrium encircled by floor-to-ceiling glass windows allowed an expanse of natural light to flood in, giving the entire floor a vivid daylight feel.
A deep-sea blue carpet ran through the center of the atrium, with myriad category-specific display cases on either side, as well as desks for administrative work and conversation areas.
Lanci and Hyperion had just emerged from the stairwell.
Their attention was inevitably drawn to a prominent sight up ahead. 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓅𝓾𝒷.𝒸ℴ𝓂
This floor seemed sparse with people but one area stood out sharply -
A conversation area furnished with comfortably spacious sofas, where a young man with light gold hair was sitting. Dressed unremarkably, he was surrounded by several senior executives of the Cardmaker’s Association, much like stars surrounding the moon.
The young man’s quiet yet confident demeanor made him all the more attention-grabbing.
Sitting next to the young man was a girl wearing silver-level card making jewelry. Her long dark hair shimmered with a violet sheen in the sunlight.
Although she didn’t dress opulently to stay by the young man’s side, her naturally expressed noble demeanor was undeniable, she must be a nobly dressed young lady.
It is rare to see someone being treated as an esteemed guest by the Cardmaker’s Association.
They must be of exceptionally high status.
Before Lanci could express his thoughts, Hyperion seemed to have recognized the young man’s identity immediately.
Her face subconsciously twisted into an unsightly expression as she quickly caught hold of Lanci’s sleeve, ready to turn around and leave.
However.
Since Lanci and Hyperion were rather eye-catching themselves, they unfortunately caught the light-haired young man’s sharp gaze.
"Hyperion? And also, Lanci?"
The humble yet extraordinary-looking young man looked at Hyperion and Lanci standing at the stairwell with slight surprise.
He then revealed a smile, quickly stood up, and briskly walked over to them.
"Ah... There’s no escape now..."
Hyperion muttered under her breath, sneaking in a sigh.
"He’s a good person but also a troublesome one..."
Meeting the gaze of the light golden-haired young man who was already walking towards them, Hyperion put on a forced smile, saying:
"Prince Aynor, good morning."
"Your Highness, good morning."
Lanci, noticing Hyperion’s subtle demeanor, also greeted the young man following Hyperion’s lead.
Upon hearing Hyperion’s words, Lanci immediately realized that this young man was Princess Vivian’s older brother.
He was the one Vivian had mentioned might be a bit of trouble.
But this was the first time Lanci had seen Hyperion so reluctant to meet someone.
"I didn’t expect to run into you two at the Cardmaker’s Association."
With a candid and friendly smile on his face, Prince Aynor looked at the two in front of him, seemingly completely forgetting the purple-haired girl waiting for him in the distance.
Lanci didn’t say anything, but felt a bit puzzled in his heart.
Didn’t this prince seem like someone who lacked common sense? Then what exactly was the issue?
"We came to the Cardmaker’s Association with a friend."
Hyperion said in a low, hesitant voice, seemingly not daring to meet the prince’s gaze.
"Well then, let me accompany you. My familiarity with this place is no less than that of the senior executives!"
Aynor spoke sincerely and enthusiastically.
He evidently was someone who conveyed genuine goodwill towards Hyperion.
This inevitably further confused Lanci, why would seeing Prince Aynor be so embarrassing for Hyperion?
However.
Lanci gradually began to feel a keen gaze that could not be ignored.
It seemed to be staring blankly in their direction.
He quickly looked in the direction of the gaze and soon noticed that the girl, whom Aynor had left behind on the sofa, seemed to be staring at Hyperion. Her intense overprotectiveness seemed ready to float over in the air.
Even from Lanci’s perspective, Aynor’s attitude towards Hyperion was probably like that of a big brother to his younger sister. However, to the girl with the deep purple hair, it was as if facing a great enemy, simultaneously jealous and vigilant.
After silently observing for a while, Lanci started to understand a bit.
It appeared that Hyperion’s main reluctance was not due to the cheerful prince, but the issue of not wanting the overprotective girl of deep purple hair to misunderstand.
It appeared that the two knew each other too, and their relationship didn’t seem shallow.
Hyperion cast Lanci a desperate look.
She was sure that Lanci had understood by now.
Although Prince Aynor only regarded her as a sister due to his close relationship with her father, Duke Migaya, he treated her with the same affection as his own younger sister, Princess Vivian, every time he ran into her.
"In the eyes of the purple-haired girl, who gave much attention to Prince Aynor but never received such warm treatment in return, Hyperion seemed to pose a great threat.
When Prince Aynor proposed to entertain both of them.
Not to mention that this incredibly forthright Prince casually left the purple-haired noble girl behind.
Hyperion didn’t dare to pick up that topic!
After seeing Hyperion’s pitiful expression, Lanci got it.
He decided to help his good friend, Hyperion.
"Thank you for your kindness, Prince Aynor."
Lanci looked at Aynor earnestly, neither accepting nor rejecting Aynor’s goodwill, but first expressing his gratitude.
As long as he could draw the Prince’s attention to himself, the purple-haired noble girl would not misunderstand Hyperion anymore, thus relieving her pressure.
Indeed.
As soon as Lanci spoke, a bright glow flashed in Prince Aynor’s eyes.
"Lanci, I have always had a lot of art-related questions to ask you, but I heard that you have been busy recently and I did not want to disturb you."
Although it was the first time Aynor talked to Lanci, his sincere sentiment was as if they were kindred spirits from the mountains and rivers, like he had a lot to talk to Lanci about.
"I’ve heard about you, Prince Aynor, from Princess Vivian."
Lanci said with a somewhat helpless smile.
This approachable Prince was willing to build a connection with him, which he naturally wouldn’t resist.
Compared with his sister Vivian, the Prince didn’t have a trace of arrogance.
"So, what did Vivian say about me?"
Prince Aynor immediately asked, intrigued by Lanci’s words.
"She thinks you’re very welcoming and sees you as a reliable and respectable older brother."
Lanci used his usual high emotional intelligence to respond.
Although those weren’t Vivian’s exact words, Lanci thought they carried the same meaning.
Anyway, he needed to divert the Prince’s attention to help Hyperion.
"Really?"
Upon hearing this, Prince Aynor was overjoyed.
Because feedback given behind one’s back usually carries the truth.
"Absolutely, after all, she never stops praising you."
While Lanci was talking to make Aynor happier, he noticed Hyperion was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
It was indeed because of the purple-haired girl.
Their relationship was not bad, on the contrary, Hyperion probably owed her a favor, which was why he cared so much about her.
"What else did Vivian say?"
Aynor was more than interested now, carrying on the conversation directly with Lanci’s shoulder.
From then on, they chatted like old friends, it seemed like Aynor had held Lanci in high esteem for a long time, their conversation so engaging, that it could hardly be paused.
However.
For some reason.
After a few sentences exchanged.
Lanci felt that he was being observed even more intensely than before!
Then, Lanci suddenly remembered that when he had drawn Prince Aynor’s attention, the purple-haired girl indeed stopped glaring at Hyperion.
But what he didn’t anticipate was.
That Prince Aynor and he became fast friends, this rapid rise in affection level seemed to have surpassed the purple-haired girl’s efforts over the past few years.
And it seemed that he had shifted the attention onto himself!
"..."
Lanci pondered for a while, a vague idea forming in his mind, and the corners of his mouth curled slightly into an indecipherable curve.
Hyperion, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly sensed something was amiss!
She quickly looked anxiously in the direction of the purple-haired girl.
Please, stop staring at Lanci… really, stop staring...
He’s such a good young man, always willing to help, he hates to see others in trouble.
Keep staring at him, and he’ll have to step in!"
