Cannon fodder in the Interstellar

Hebrew Adam, who deeply despises pretentious and superficial women despite their vanity, felt very pleased seeing his friend marveling at the beautiful scenery and luxurious items around them. His friend’s genuine admiration, marked by a look of awe and appreciation, was refreshing compared to the typical affectations he usually encountered.

“It’s time for me to go see my mother. I can’t stay with you. You can join the others and look around; I’ll arrange things for you later. If anyone offends you, don’t be afraid. Feel free to deal with them as you see fit, whether it’s a punch or a scolding. I’ll take care of it for you,” Hebrew Adam whispered.

It was the first time Ruo Manni had seen Hebrew Adam with such a gentle expression. It seemed that being back in his own territory made him quite happy, especially since it was his mother’s birthday party. He must be feeling good.

Ruo Manni was naturally pleased to accept his offer of protection. She wasn’t foolish enough to reject a beneficial ally.

Over time, Ruo Manni had come to understand that Hebrew Adam was a man of his word, and he always followed through on his promises.

However, Ruo Manni was uncertain how he would handle any difficulties that arose, especially since it was likely that his mother’s people might be the ones causing trouble. But they were in the real world, and she hoped that the kind of people who usually appear in novels with poor judgment would not be present.

After Hebrew Adam gave his final instructions to the others, he headed to the back of the hall to prepare. The banquet was about to begin, and he still needed to change into formal attire.

Once Hebrew Adam had left, Dean Atchison, Hua Deli, and Mina-Olli began searching for their family members, as their respective family lineages would have representatives attending the event.

Only Sheila remained standing there, making no effort to find her family.

“Aren’t you going to look for your family?” Ruo Manni asked softly.

Sheila responded with a hint of coldness in her voice, “My stepmother and her daughter wouldn’t be happy to see me here.”

Ah, a stepmother. Ruo Manni blinked and began to understand why Sheila had such a mercurial and sharp-tongued nature.

“Don’t you think you should be happier when others are unhappy? You’re probably on a different level from them now,” Ruo Manni said with a smile.

Sheila paused at Ruo Manni’s words, the dark expression on her face fading, replaced by a pleasant smile. “I suppose you’re right. You’re not such a bad person after all.”

“Likewise, it’s good to have a superficial friendship with you; we’re all about the same,” Ruo Manni replied.

After their pleasant exchange, and since Sheila didn’t have to engage in any social obligations, Ruo Manni comfortably linked arms with her, continuing to enjoy the rare and opulent sights of the palace.

Sheila took another look at her companion, clearly certain that Ruo Manni was not paying attention at all. Sheila had noticed how gentle the Second Prince’s demeanor was when he spoke quietly with her and how surprised the onlookers were. She wondered how this might affect her.

“…Today has truly been an eye-opener and a great experience,” Ruo Manni said enthusiastically, continuing to wander through the garden and enjoy the scenery.

“Only you have the mood to appreciate these things,” Sheila said, feeling powerless as she was dragged along as a companion.

While they were talking, more guests arrived, and many of their eyes were subtly drawn toward them, especially toward Ruo Manni. However, Manni was completely indifferent. Sheila felt that it was odd for her superficial friend to behave so differently, so she dragged Ruo Manni back to her side.

Sheila didn’t believe Ruo Manni couldn’t act like a refined lady; Ruo Manni was quite skilled at putting on airs, but right now, she simply didn’t want to.

“I’m just a commoner, and my future social focus isn’t here. I don’t have the ambition to marry a rich husband, so of course I’m in the mood to appreciate the beauty,” Ruo Manni said casually.

She didn’t want to force herself into such a high-society scene in the future, so why should she pretend and make things difficult for herself? Enjoying the beauty of the scenery wasn’t rude; it only made her stand out as somewhat different among the pretentious ladies.

Sheila really wanted to say, “Do you know that your future is already planned out? You’ve been placed next to the Second Prince, which means you’re his partner now. Unless the Second Prince decides not to use you in the future, do you really think you can just walk away freely and return to where you want to be?”

But looking at Ruo Manni’s clear eyes and indifferent smile, Sheila suddenly felt she had nothing more to say. If Ruo Manni was content with not pursuing wealth and glory and preferred to focus on her own path, then it was fine for her to maintain such a pure mindset for her cultivation.

At least for these few years, she wouldn’t have to face those things. The Second Prince would only be her classmate during this time. Perhaps Ruo Manni’s thoughts would change on their own in the future, and there was no need to discourage her now.

Besides, if Ruo Manni still didn’t know by the time she should, Sheila could always tell her then.

Sheila’s attention was drawn back to Ruo Manni’s sudden distraction. What was she thinking? Had she forgotten her refined demeanor? Ruo Manni lightly tugged at Sheila, who was trying to act like a lady after arriving at the palace, and whispered, “Don’t be so pretentious. You don’t need to worry too much about your stepmother right now. After all, this place isn’t where your crush is, is it?”

Sheila glanced at Ruo Manni, puzzled over what kind of information she had given her to make Ruo Manni think of this.

But as for a crush… Sheila’s eyes showed a hint of sadness. She didn’t have a crush.

There is indeed a story, but looking at Sheila’s expression, it’s probably a tragedy. Tsk, tsk, poor girl—her past must have been quite “eventful,” no wonder she ended up turning dark in the novels.

Although the two were not genuine friends, Ruo Manni didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so she changed the subject and asked Dean Atchison, who was standing not far away, “Dean, are your parents attending the banquet?”

Dean Atchison was somewhat puzzled as to why the topic had suddenly shifted to him and why Ruo Manni was asking about his parents, especially since she didn’t know them. He felt it was odd and suspected she might have some ulterior motive.

“My father can’t come back from the base on Kepler, but my mother and aunt will be coming. They should arrive soon,” Dean Atchison replied and couldn’t help but ask, “You don’t happen to know my mother, do you?”

“Do you think it’s possible?” Ruo Manni smiled and glanced at Hua Deli, who was paying attention to their conversation. She didn’t reveal that she was a commoner; it would have been too deliberate.

Dean Atchison found her smile rather meaningful.

“My parents will both be coming; they’ll arrive in two minutes,” Hua Deli said to Ruo Manni with a gentle expression.

“Oh!” Ruo Manni replied indifferently, as if she didn’t care at all.

Her question to Dean Atchison earlier was actually to draw out Hua Deli’s response. From Hua Deli’s expression, it seemed like he already knew something. She was curious about what they were planning.

Dean Atchison looked at the two of them, not with suspicion, but with certainty that something was amiss. Both of them seemed to have issues.