NOVPUBLight filtered through the sheer curtains, as if pure elves were dancing in the air.
In this brief moment of silence, Lanci’s bedroom seemed particularly quiet.
"Can you explain to me why there is a portrait of me in your bedroom?"
Talia finally asked.
Her face was still expressionless, making it impossible to determine whether she was angry or not.
"It’s a complex story..."
Lanci subconsciously took two steps back.
He glanced sideways and saw Hyperion had already reached the bedroom door, her gaze also drawn to the prominent portrait in the room.
"..."
Upon seeing the painting hanging in Lanci’s bedroom, Hyperion’s lips parted slightly, but she couldn’t say a word.
The beautiful woman in the painting was all too familiar to Hyperion. She felt lonesome but not fragile at all. No dust could cover her inherent nobility which flowed in her blood, she looked exactly as Hyperion liked.
Hyperion began to think about various connections at this moment.
When Lanci left Nanwantina with Tata and mentioned the portrait in his bedroom, he described it as a miserable and poor old lady.
As it turned out, the portrait was actually of Talia!
Hyperion finally understood why Lanci had been so flustered since yesterday.
But for some reason, an indescribable emotion began to stir in her heart.
Why would Lanci put a portrait of Tata in his bedroom, and such a carefully drawn one?
Could it be...that Lanci really harbored special feelings for Tata?
This thought made Hyperion’s mind a mess. She had always thought that Lanci and Tata were just master and apprentice, maintaining a clear boundary between them.
She couldn’t help but look towards Lanci and Tata, trying to find some answers, but they both remained motionless.
"How complicated can it be?"
Talia’s approaching voice imposed an inexplicable pressure on Lanci, even a sense of danger.
Talia didn’t say much, she just slowly walked towards Lanci.
Her eyes were like those who had finally seen through Lanci’s terrible nature, a man who had been treating her like a fool.
Light-footed but resolute, each step sounded like the toll hammer of a floor clock.
"Would you sit down and listen to my explanation calmly?"
Lanci wanted to retreat, but reason was telling him to stay put.
He knew that he must not panic, once Talia noticed his intent to escape, then it would be all over.
Because given the current distance with Talia, he absolutely cannot escape.
However, it seemed that Talia didn’t hear Lanci’s words. She walked up to him, quickly and deftly seizing his wrist.
Lanci reacted almost instinctively, trying to utter something, but Tata suddenly kicked his ankle, skillfully knocking Lanci off balance and sent him crashing to the ground with a thud.
"The painting actually is..."
He was too late to regain his balance, shouting out frantically.
Then, Tata swiftly and deftly straddled Lanci, one hand over his mouth, abruptly silencing him.
With a cold gaze, her eyes flashed with anger and questioning.
Lanci was completely stunned.
It was the first time that he had been knocked down and controlled, not allowed to speak. If he showed any signs of using a Magic Card, Talia would surely make the first move!
Talia straddled Lanci, leaning a little forward to look into his eyes.
"A portrait of a poor and pitiable old lady, your early work, is this it?"
Talia knew how cunning this kid could be.
It was a unique gift, he could deceive others by countless means through language, and even get around her lie detection magic.
The most damnable thing was when he sincerely said it was the portrait of a poor and pitiful old woman at the train station back then, such a pisser!
The more Talia thought about it, the more unbearable she felt, her chest constantly throbbing, and the hand clutching Lanci’s cheek tightened.
"...!"
Lanci never expected Talia to have such a surprise tactic, one that would leave him exposed.
Talia was capable of lie detection, and now she had discovered a way around the lie detection magic, allowing him only to answer yes or no through his gaze!
But Lanci felt it was a ticking time bomb, any answer means trouble.
At this moment, Lanci was completely subdued and could only look innocently at Tata.
The atmosphere in the room became tense and heavy, and Talia’s patience was gradually eroding.
Lanci’s face grew more and more uncomfortable under Tata’s control, as if he were deeply stuck in an escape-proof checkmate.
If he doesn’t answer, he might die!
Hyperion stood aside, watching the scene, her actions full of worry and anxiety.
She was sure that Lanci had really gone too far this time.
He probably couldn’t save himself now.
At this point, she had to save her good friend!
"Tata, let Lanci go."
After a split-second decision, Hyperion hurriedly rushed over, grabbed Tata’s hand, and tried to get Tata to release her grip on Lanci.
But soon, Hyperion realized that her strength was no match for Tata’s. No matter how she tried, Tata’s hand was like a mountain, unshakable, and she showed no intention of letting go.
"..."
Attracted by Hyperion’s arrival, Tata turned her attention. Her gaze softened slightly when she looked at Hyperion, but quickly turned stern again.
Lanci’s reluctance to answer her questions already said a lot.
Today, even with Hyperion pleading, she would not let Lanci get away with it. She would not give him another chance!
"Tata, Tata!"
Anxious, Hyperion had no choice, shaking Tata was useless.
In the end she had to change her tactics.
Hyperion squeezed between Tata and Lanci, hugging Lanci, who was lying on the ground, using her body to protect him.
Her actions were filled with protection and determination, she held him tightly as if using her own body to shield him from all attacks.
"Lanci, don’t worry."
Hyperion’s cheek was pressed against Lanci, her gaze resolute, as if proclaiming that she would not let Lanci come into any harm, no matter what.
The atmosphere in the room became tense and quiet, the three individuals’ heartbeats and breaths stood out in this silent space.
"...?"
Not only was Talia dumbfounded, Lanci was as well. He did not expect Hyperion to suddenly embrace him.
Although this may have been an act.
But Hyperion’s performance in the heat of the moment was beyond his imagination.
"Hyperion, you..."
Talia was initially shocked, then the blank emotion in her eyes turned into a subtle anger.
She understood Hyperion’s intention.
She didn’t know why she was so angry, disappointed.
But her hand still gripped Lanci’s cheek tightly, unwilling to give up this final control.
The cat boss standing at the door was stunned.
He originally thought that the showdown between Sigrid and Hyperion was explosive enough, he didn’t expect Tata and Hyperion to up the ante.
However, it seemed like the mental state of the three people in the room was explosive, they didn’t even notice something -
The footsteps outside the door just now.
Butler Hans, Maid Francine, and Lanci’s father Noe, were standing at the door, staring jaw-dropped at the three people entwined on the ground.
The three people on the ground also realized something was wrong, turned to look at the three people at the door.
At this point, silence was golden.
Noe had heard that Lanci had brought Hyperion back today and had merrily come over, chatting and laughing with Hans from the study.
He certainly didn’t expect this.
Upon entering Lanci’s room, this is the scene he sees.
Francine covered her mouth in shock, completely at a loss about what happened.
The silence lingered for a long time.
"Are you three playing some sort of combat game..."
Noe seemed to doubt whether his parenting method was wrong, murmuring to himself.
Hearing Noe’s words, Hans coughed lightly and quickly closed the bedroom door.
The door shut instantly, isolating the entanglement inside the room from the outside.
At this moment, the awareness of being watched made the breathing of the three people even heavier and more rapid.
Talia’s body tensed, her wide-eyed gaze filled with disbelief, as if she felt like she couldn’t continue to live.
Hyperion also blushed scarlet, unwilling to raise her head anymore.
She never thought that she would end up in such an embarrassing position with her friends and her aunt, and even been watched by her friend’s family.
She might as well be dead.
