Chapter Seventy-Six: A Strange Feeling

Having achieved her goal, Irene left the hall with a smile. She despised places like this; the so-called noble social gatherings filled her with genuine discomfort. If not for Qin Le, she would never have attended such a tedious ball, and now that her purpose was fulfilled, she was eager to leave.

Now that Irene was gone, things became difficult for Qin Le. Without her to act as his shield, a barrage of heated gazes immediately fell upon him, and the noble young ladies began to gather around once more.

Particularly unsettling were the stares from some of the men, sending a wave of goosebumps over Qin Le.

This world was notoriously chaotic in matters of intimacy, lacking any unified set of values. Some prided themselves on restraint, while others indulged in utter debauchery; the majority of the nobility belonged to the latter. Relationships were tangled beyond measure, with such affairs treated as routine exercise—a perfectly normal social activity. Every noble wore a few figurative horns, though for them, it hardly mattered. After all, there were special ways to confirm the bloodline of one’s offspring. People simply got used to it, and at times, even found it thrilling.

According to Xuan Lv’s inquiries, most nobles in this world were enamored with relationships between men, supposedly a means to deepen bonds.

This was a bad situation—he needed to find another shield.

He scanned the hall quickly, and his gaze settled in the corner, where two figures stood alone at a massive banquet table.

So they did come after all, just hiding over there.

...

In the corner of the hall, the two girls stood out starkly from their surroundings. Emmaia still wore her leather armor and cloak, the wide hood making her look nothing like a noble fit for such an event, but rather like a wandering traveler.

Orina, on the other hand, looked vastly different from her usual self. Gone was her battered armor, replaced by a simple white gown. Her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, her brilliant blue eyes shone like gems, and her delicate features radiated a sense of purity, making one instinctively want to shield her from the world.

“Still eating? You’re going to eat yourself to death!” Emmaia said, leaning on the table, her expression exasperated.

“Aren’t you even a little bit worried?” Orina asked, puzzled as she finished a slice of cake. “Worried about what?”

“What else? Of course I mean Qin Le being taken away from you—then you’ll be the one in tears,” Emmaia replied.

“I’ve said this before; that’s not the kind of relationship we have. If Qin Le likes a girl, that’s his freedom. I have no right to interfere.” Orina’s expression was tinged with helplessness—her friend always overthought things.

“We’re together because of our ideals and beliefs. One day, we’ll accomplish what even gods cannot—create a world where everyone is equal.”

And besides, I lack the elegance and gentleness of those noble young ladies, and my origins are questionable—I’m simply not worthy of Qin Le.

The thought had barely surfaced when Orina hurriedly suppressed it, confusion filling her heart. Why was she having such strange thoughts? Why did she care about things she’d never even noticed before? And why was there this odd feeling of frustration?

How strange.

She quickly grabbed another piece of cake, taking several big bites to calm herself. As the delicious treat entered her stomach, her confusion and frustration faded away.

“You trust him a bit too much,” Emmaia shot her a look. “Ideals and beliefs won’t put food on the table. Something practical would be better to solidify your relationship. Frankly, we’re completely reliant on Qin Le right now. Without him, do you think our territory could remain as it is?”

Emmaia, ever the realist, had no faith in lofty ideals and beliefs.

“I don’t think this can go on. If you want to continue, you need to show your value.”

“What value?” Orina asked, her mouth once more stuffed full.

“For example, you possess Dawn blood and can inherit the Sword of Dawn,” Emmaia replied, though she frowned deeply. “But that alone isn’t enough. You need something more—something Qin Le doesn’t have...”

“Right! Extraordinary abilities! True strength is the foundation. If you can reach the upper third tier and complete your first transformation, your position will be much more secure.”

“Alright.” Orina took a big bite of lobster and replied casually, “That’s easy. I feel like I’ll break through before long.”

For Orina, advancing to higher levels of power was as natural as eating or drinking; there was no need for forced training. When the time was right, it happened on its own. It was just like growing taller—one day you simply notice you’ve grown.

“What are you two doing hiding in the corner?” came a familiar voice from behind them. The two girls turned around at once and saw Qin Le, face composed but clearly in a hurry.

“Eating.”

“Eating.”

They answered in unison, though Emmaia’s voice was a touch guilty.

Qin Le didn’t notice Emmaia’s unease. Instead, his gaze settled on Orina. Feeling his eyes on her, Orina—who had been quite at ease—suddenly felt nervous and bashful for reasons she couldn’t explain. She lowered her head unconsciously, her hands fidgeting behind her back.

What’s wrong with me?

Qin Le smiled politely and complimented her, “That dress suits you—you look beautiful.”

No sooner had he spoken than Orina felt her mind go completely blank, her face burning as if on fire.

Qin Le, however, was oblivious to her reaction, his attention already drawn to the crowd of noble young ladies closing in again like a pack of zombies.

Seeing this, Qin Le took two steps forward, grabbed Orina’s hand, and said, “Orina, would you dance with me? Help me get rid of those bothersome people.”

Poof!

Orina seemed to turn into a steam engine, with wisps of steam practically rising from her head.

Strange, strange... Why am I like this? What’s happening to me?

“Heh, Boss Qin really knows what he’s doing—clearly a master of romance,” Emmaia muttered sarcastically, discontent clear in her tone.

She wanted Orina to win over Qin Le, not for Qin Le to win over Orina. Suddenly, Emmaia sensed things were off—perhaps it would be better if Orina kept her distance from him.

...

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