Chapter 5: Talia Starved for a Whole Day
The night breeze carried the fragrance of flowers and the freshness of plants, gently brushing past the front of the Border Library.
The moonlight falling on the stone steps became soft, as if it were the sound of time, making the few passersby on the street unable to resist stopping to listen.
Talia sat motionless on the steps outside the library.
Until the sky darkened a bit more.
Accompanied by the heavy, tall doors of the library being pushed open, Lanqi, holding a law code in his arms, finally walked out of the library.
Although Talia had her back to Lanqi, at this moment, she slightly turned her head, obviously sensing Lanqi.
"Eh?"
Lanqi looked at this familiar figure with some surprise, quickly walking to her side,
"Have you been waiting for me here all this time?"
Lanqi was quite leisurely, simply sitting down in a position not too close or far from her.
"I've received your payment, so naturally I'll work for you."
Talia said expressionlessly.
Inadvertently, she glimpsed the "Houghton Kingdom Code of Law" in Lanqi's hand.
She didn't know what book Lanqi had been focusing on reading to stay in the library all day.
Now she finally knew the answer.
This guy probably wanted to become a lawyer or judge.
Indeed, he belonged to the very rule-abiding type of human.
"You... didn't eat lunch?"
Lanqi looked at Talia, whose posture was as dignified and serene as a statue, realizing that she might have been hungry all day until now because of guarding this place.
She followed the content of the transaction more strictly than he had imagined, perhaps this was the pride of the demon royal family?
"..."
Talia didn't speak, just looking at Lanqi with a slightly unhappy gaze.
Seemingly confirming Lanqi's words.
"Uh... I was just about to prepare dinner, want to join?"
Lanqi paused awkwardly, smiling sheepishly.
"No need, I'll leave once you return to the mansion."
Talia stood up, seemingly using her actions to tell Lanqi: since you're ready to return to the mansion, hurry up and set off.
She wouldn't accept humans' gratuitous kindness.
"It was my mistake today, I'll definitely tell you in advance how long I'll be here in the future."
Lanqi explained sincerely, his words full of apology,
"So let me treat you to a meal as compensation."
However, Talia just stood unmoved, as if she hadn't heard Lanqi's words.
"We have the best chef in this town at our house,"
"He's skilled in the unique flavors of this South Vantina border region, using the best selected ingredients,"
"Guaranteed to be something you can't taste in other city-states,"
"And the finest cheese mango mille-feuille, mocha hazelnut crispy egg tarts, platinum strawberry mousse cake..."
"..."
Listening to Lanqi's incessant words.
Talia's eyes seemed to flicker imperceptibly for a moment, but then she frowned.
"No thanks."
Talia said coldly, turning her head, not looking at Lanqi at all, and walked down the steps with no intention of waiting anymore.
Just now, Lanqi's words lingered in her ears.
Like a demon's whisper, full of temptation.
For some reason, at that moment, she had an illusion as if from another world—
It was as if there was a great demon strategist by her side, who could wholeheartedly help her restore her country if she could gain his full devotion...
No.
This human youth who clearly belonged to the lawful good alignment had nothing to do with those of her kind.
Indeed. It was just that her desire to restore her country was too strong.
That's why she had such an absurd illusion.
"What a pity."
Lanqi stood up, patted the dust off his pants, holding the thick kingdom law code with one hand, and followed with a smile, clean and neat.
Although Talia was still so cold, after all, that was her personality.
But Lanqi inadvertently discovered something.
He still remembered seeing in his work that Talia had an extremely self-disciplined character setting.
She always maintained strict dietary principles and practice habits, including early rising, jogging, meditation, and cold showers.
But.
As Talia's "mother", Lanqi clearly remembered a detail mentioned in a very corner paragraph of the script—
[She abstained from sweets, but when she had a rare chance to enjoy desserts, she only allowed herself to eat the finest.]
This was a very subtle detail.
Lanqi couldn't help but seriously suspect:
Could it be that Talia might be a hidden foodie, but afraid of falling into gluttony?
The biggest weakness of demons is that they have too strong desires, sometimes when seen through by more evil demons and induced, it would make them go crazy.
The higher-ranking demons understood more about restraining and hiding their desires.
Lanqi laughed silently in his heart.
So demons are really interesting.
......
The sky of the border city-state darkened a few more shades.
Lanqi's home appeared particularly brilliant under the night sky, with crystal lamps in the courtyard and bright lights emanating from between the windows.
On the second floor of the mansion, in a spacious and elegant study, sat a dignified middle-aged man, his temples already showing some gray, but his leader-like temperament not diminished at all.
He wore an exquisite antique suit, every corner of his clothes neatly arranged, showing a rigorous demeanor.
He was Lanqi's father, and the master of this house - Noé.
Beside him, the butler was pouring tea.
Accompanied by approaching footsteps outside the door.
A moment later, the study door slowly opened.
A black-haired, green-eyed youth appeared at the door, looking somewhat confused.
He had just returned home from the library and finished dinner, not having time to return to his bedroom to put down the law code in his hand, when he was summoned by a maid to come to the study on the second floor.
"You're here."
Noé leaned back in his chair behind the desk, scrutinizing Lanqi.
It seemed he had been waiting for Lanqi in the study for a long time.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you wanted to see me today."
Lanqi responded in an orderly manner.
Noé nodded.
He had thought Lanqi would return home late.
But he didn't expect Lanqi to walk in holding a "Houghton Kingdom Code of Law" labeled with the border library's mark.
He had thought this guy would come back drunk again, but instead he went to the library to read.
Although Noé couldn't understand for a moment why it was a law code.
But at first glance, Lanqi looked quite like a dignified priest or scholar.
Faintly, there was also a bit of the aura of a judge who holds life and death in his hands.
Then Noé pinched the bridge of his nose.
Obviously it was his own illusion.
His prodigal son had no compatibility with clergy at all.
It was already fortunate if he wasn't lured away by cults.
Sometimes he was really quite worried that Lanqi would be bewitched by those cultists.
In the worst case, he might even become a fanatic, going to worship those evil archbishops who were like disasters.
Fortunately.
Noé was sure Lanqi didn't have the guts to mess with those guys darker than black at all.