V2: Chapter 19: Growth Comes at a Heavy Price

Can't eat it?

If it were before, Liang Lin would probably have been clueless and just laughed it off. However, she had been poisoned before, and having witnessed far too many shameless nobles in the capital, Hazel's words made her wary.

"What do you mean?"

Hazel glanced at her brother, and Edwin nodded to her, indicating she could continue.

“We were born and raised in the capital, so we know these nobles and the king much better than you do, especially my mother, who often tells us these stories.”

“If it were just a few knights coming to take you to the capital, we wouldn’t stop them. But with so many nobles coming, isn’t this a bit of an overreaction?”

Hazel paused, then continued, “It’s like they’re worried the knights aren’t efficient enough, or maybe they want their trusted confidants to witness something firsthand. I suspect there’s something fishy going on, though I can’t say for sure.”

“You mean, the king wants me dead?”

Liang Lin roughly understood, but one thing didn’t make sense, so she shook her head.

“How could that be? I reclaimed the occupied land; that’s a great achievement. Even if the king doesn’t reward me, he can’t possibly want to kill me… It’s illogical.”

“I know it sounds illogical, but… Miss Liang Lin, please don’t eat the food they offer you. It’s best to be careful.”

Liang Lin seemed lost in thought, and after a while, nodded.

"Okay, I understand, thank you for your concern."

"Don't mention it, Miss Liang Lin, it's what we should do." Hazel returned to Edwin's side, put her mask back on, and took her brother's hand. "Miss Liang Lin, please be careful."

Liang Lin nodded.

From the moment she met those nobles, she felt something was off, but she couldn't place it on the King's side.

Yes, why? She was a great contributor, why would the King give her such a hard time? Was he afraid she was secretly raising soldiers and plotting to seize power?

If that were the case…

Hm, then it would be understandable.

However, the more Liang Lin thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt, as if her burning sincerity had been wasted.

Dinner time.

“The young lady says she’s not feeling well and won’t be coming down for dinner today.”

At the table, all the nobles were already seated, their faces bearing enigmatic smiles. Upon hearing the maid’s words, their smiles froze.

“Duke Sylvester, isn’t this young lady being rather rude?” Lionel looked at Sylvester.

Sylvester, being shrewd, said, “Duke Lionel, she’s still a young lady, after all. It’s normal for her to have her period sometimes. Please be understanding. If we force her to come down, she might feel resentful.”

Springhall waved his hand, playing the peacemaker. “It’s alright, it’s alright. If she doesn’t want to come down, she doesn’t have to. It’s normal for her to be unwell. Let the young lady rest. Oh, by the way, we still don’t know this young lady’s name.”

“Hersel,” Sylvester casually made up a name.

“Hersel… that’s a nice name.”

The dinner was rather tense.

Springhall pointed to a bowl of soup on the table. “Duke Sylvester, try this. It contains precious medicinal herbs I brought from the capital. It’s a pity Miss Hersel isn’t here; she can’t enjoy this highly nourishing soup.”

Sylvester paused, then shook his head. He was about to say something when he saw Springhall scoop a bowl of soup, place it in front of him, and drink it with relish.

“Duke Sylvester, Miss Hersel is being so disrespectful. I suppose you shouldn’t spoil our fun?” Gardner was smiling, but a hint of coldness was visible in his eyes.

Sylvester froze. He had no choice but to drink the soup. Even though they were all dukes, duke was just a title. The dukes sitting beside and opposite him, in a sense, were several ranks higher than him.

Even knowing the dangers, he had no choice but to venture into the lion's den. Watching Lionel and Springhall enjoy their soup, Sylvester reluctantly scooped up a small spoonful and took a sip.

The soup was indeed delicious, containing indeed precious medicinal herbs; it smelled wonderful. Sylvester smiled and praised, "It's truly excellent."

Springhall smiled without saying a word.

Sylvester felt a chill run down his spine from the other's smile, but after finishing the meal, he felt no physical reaction, and his anxiety finally subsided.

"Gentlemen, I'm not feeling well today, so I'll head back to my room." Sylvester turned and prepared to go upstairs.

"Duke Sylvester."

Springhall's chilling voice came from behind. Even without turning around, Sylvester knew that the old man was staring intently at his back with eyes like a venomous snake.

“Duke Sylvester, are you going back to your own room, not Miss Hersel’s?”

“Why would I go there?”

Sylvester slowly turned his head.

“I’ve already said, she’s just my goddaughter. What kind of father goes to his goddaughter’s room so late at night?”

“Oh~”

Sylvester smiled and nodded, then stood up.

“Let’s go, Duke Sylvester. I’ve finished eating. There are some things I need to discuss with you. Let’s go to your room and talk about it slowly.”

Two knights followed behind Springhall.

“Duke Sylvester, I was sent by His Majesty the King. The King is worried about me and my safety, so he sent royal knights to accompany me. If I ask them to leave, they won’t. I think you can understand, right?”

Sylvester’s bad premonition intensified. He could even vaguely guess what was going to happen next.

“Duke Springhall, I’m not feeling well today. It wouldn’t be good to force myself, would it?”

Sylvester’s hand rested on the stair railing. He wanted to go upstairs immediately to remind Liang Lin to be careful, and at the same time, he was relieved that Liang Lin had learned her lesson and hadn’t come down to eat with them.

Sylvester didn't dare to think too badly. He didn't understand why the king's men would come and sabotage them, the protectors of the empire.

At first, he thought the king wanted to give them a warning, to curb their arrogance. But judging from the current situation, things seemed more complicated.

"Duke Springhall… what exactly do you want?" Sylvester clenched his fists. He couldn't immediately rush forward to inform Liang Lin. He wanted to shake off Springhall, but judging from the man's posture, he was determined to follow him into the room.

Sylvester's eyes darted around. There wasn't a single maid he could trust in his household, nor any guards. There was no one who could understand his thoughts and inform Liang Lin.

"Please, Duke Sylvester," Springhall raised his arm in a gesture of invitation. Behind him, two knights stared intently at him, their eyes glued to him.

Having no other choice, Sylvester reluctantly led Springhall to his study.

"Duke Springhall, what brings you here? I'm feeling really unwell. Let's get straight to the point so I can rest."

Sylvester stood by the door.

In contrast, Springhall seemed more like the head of the household. He leisurely sat down in a chair at his desk, casually picking up a quill pen and fiddling with it.

“It seems Duke Sylvester is eager to get rid of me. Is there some urgent matter you need to attend to?”

“It's nothing, I’m simply not feeling well.”

“Oh~” Springhall drawled, placing the quill back on the table and raising his eyes. “Then, let’s have a proper discussion about the regulations of the Soteland Empire.”

Sylvester’s heart skipped a beat. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “The Empire’s regulations…”

“The Empire’s regulations forbid women from going to war, so…” Springhall’s eyes gleamed, staring intently at Sylvester, “Duke Sylvester, why would you violate this regulation? Do you think there’s something wrong with the regulations of our Soteland Empire?”

To be honest, faced with this kind of pressure, Sylvester trembled violently. He was afraid too.

Violating the Empire’s regulations, this was a first for him.

“But Duke Springhall, my adopted daughter, she reclaimed all the occupied territories. That's enough to atone for her mistakes. You see, the King offered so many rewards, yet no one was willing to guard the border, no one was willing to fight. Only my adopted daughter went to the battlefield without hesitation, and won countless battles, reclaiming all the territory. It can be said that without her, there would be no peace on our border.”

“Shh~” Springhall made a shushing gesture, his gaze deep and unfathomable. “Duke Sylvester, you are wrong. It is without the wise decisions of our current King that there is no peace on the border… Do you understand?”

Sylvester’s eyes widened slowly.

“You…”

Thump!

Sylvist collapsed heavily to the ground, completely unconscious, falling into a coma.

Springhall stood up, walked to Sylvester's side, and gently kicked the man's shoulder. Finding him slumped like a dead pig, he nodded with satisfaction. "I think you understood what I meant before you fainted, didn't you, Your Grace? She's just your adopted daughter anyway, you certainly won't turn against us. Oh, and even if you did, what good would it do?"

Springhall laughed, revealing his true, malicious nature.

"You're just a minor duke, disliked by the king. You and I are both dukes, but one is in heaven, the other on earth. You'll never know how exhilarating it feels to be favored by the king, to be his confidant, second only to the king, above all others."

With that, he opened the door, gesturing for the knight outside to enter.

“Duke Sylvester is indeed in great pain, he even fainted. Go and move him to bed so he can get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, there's good news waiting for him.”

“His Majesty the King, to compensate him and reward his bravery, will transfer him to a more prosperous city. Our King is the most enlightened monarch in the world.” Springhall smiled and went downstairs.

Midnight.

Liang Lin was a light sleeper.

“Who?!”

She rolled over and tumbled off the bed to the floor. She wasn't wearing pajamas, but a tight-fitting suit for combat, and a mask on her face.

It was clear she hadn't slept at all.

That's right, Liang Lin was prepared. She had already sent Carol to the twins' room. Although those two were a bit perverted, they were reliable, and their families were prestigious noble families; even if they were discovered, they could cover it up.

Swish!

Drawing her sword from beside the bed, Liang Lin cautiously glanced at the window. She remembered it being locked; how could the other person have opened it from the outside?

"Miss Hersel, you're quite cautious."

The newcomer was Springhall, with several knights.

Appearances can be deceiving, and the world can be unpredictable.

She never expected that this seemingly frail old man could so easily leap into the room from the windowsill.

"So, Duke Springhall, it's already past midnight. What brings you to my room, taking this unusual route?"

Although she didn't know who this "Miss Hersel" was, Liang Lin figured it was probably her. Her uncle must have fabricated something to deceive the duke.

"Miss Hersel, leave your last words."

Springhall didn't waste any words, raising his hand. "If you have no last words, then I think… you can die now."

Liang Lin chuckled.

"Are you spouting nonsense, or just indulging in baseless fantasies? How do you intend to kill me? With these few knights, trash? No way! I can take the head of an enemy general, let alone a bunch of you scum."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Springhall put his hands behind his back, raising his chin high. "Miss Hersel, you really do overestimate yourself, too confident."

"Oh?"

Liang Lin, intrigued, raised her sword. "Then come and try, especially you, you look like a skinny monkey, haha~"

Springhall's expression stiffened. He hated and resented being called a monkey.

"Ha~"

"For you, a dying woman, I won't say anything harsh."

Springhall was furious, but his face remained calm.

"Hersel, your death is near."

With that, he raised his hand.

Two knights immediately charged forward, swords drawn.

Liang Lin sneered, raising her own sword and taking a step back, ready to rush in and kill with a single blow.

But...

"Eh?"

Liang Lin's legs buckled, and she collapsed heavily to the ground.

Her body was terrifyingly limp, like a puddle of mud. No matter how hard she tried to prop herself up, to stand, she couldn't. Each exertion left her feeling utterly exhausted, her body growing weaker and weaker, but her mind remained clear.

"You..."

Her words were weak and hesitant, managing to squeeze out only a few words with great effort.

"Miss Hersel, do you think we, as members of the royal family, lack anything?" Springhall laughed, pulling a small stick of incense from his pocket. "Didn't you smell a fragrance? Oh, right, now they've developed colorless and odorless ones. This one is colorless and odorless; it's normal you didn't smell it."

Just as the knights were about to attack, Springhall called out to them.

“Wait a minute, I still have something to say to this young lady.”

Springhall walked to Liang Lin's side, knelt down, and slowly removed the mask from her face.

A somewhat familiar face was revealed.

Springhall, holding the oil lamp in his hand, stared at the face, clearly startled.

He searched for a moment, seemingly trying to recall the owner of this familiar face.

“Oh~! It's you again, Liang Lin, the daughter of the Langwendi family.”

“I really didn't expect it to be you. When I saw those red eyes of yours, I felt like I'd seen you somewhere before, but I couldn't remember. Now that I see your true face, it turns out you're the young lady of the Langwendi family.”

Liang Lin's heart skipped a beat.

Even if she were to perish here today, she couldn't implicate the Langwendi family!

She doesn't want to drag down either Liang Di nor old man Donald with her.

“You…” Liang Lin forced out a few words, “What… I… did… to offend you?”

Every word was uttered with immense effort.

Springhall laughed, grabbing Liang Lin's hair.

"Miss Liang Lin, what are you doing here, abandoning your comfortable life as a noble lady? Showing off your talents? You're just a woman forbidden from the battlefield; you overestimate yourself."

"Although I don't know how you got here, or what your thoughts are, you must die today, that's undeniable."

He rambled on with these nonsensical words.

"Where... where... did... I... go... wrong?"

Liang Lin breathed rapidly, her brain feeling oxygen-deprived, but her consciousness remained clear; she could clearly see the person in front of her.

"So you really want to know the reason, huh?" Springhall showed pity, looking at her with pity.

"Will... the King... agree to you... doing this?"

Liang Lin asked, her heart still filled with hope.

Upon hearing this, Springhall paused for a second, then burst into deafening laughter, tears streaming down his face as he wiped them away.

"Miss Liang Lin, oh Miss Liang Lin, you're so adorably naive! I truly never imagined there could be someone as innocent as you in this world."

Liang Lin's heart sank.

After Springhall finished laughing, he stared meaningfully into Liang Lin's eyes, tilting his head.

"Miss Liang Lin, do you know a phrase? It's called… 'Merit exceeding the master.' In this world, merit exceeding the master is not allowed, especially since you are a woman who has violated the Empire's rules."

Springhall patted Liang Lin's cheek.

"Oh dear, foolish lady, you've crossed His Majesty the King's line. Do you understand now?"

Springhall chuckled.

"His Majesty sent me to eliminate you! He wouldn't blame me, would he? Why would he blame me for what I did? If he truly regrets it, he should blame himself."

"Hahahahahahaha~"

Another burst of maniacal laughter.

Liang Lin's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally died.

"You must think you're a hero, right? Saving commoners from their suffering, loved by so many, and adored by so many noble ladies. You must be feeling quite smug lately, thinking you'll receive a great reward, right?"

Springhall continued his rambling under Liang Lin's utterly disappointed gaze.

"But you're wrong. You're too adored and fawned over by them. You've become a threat to His Majesty the King. His Majesty the King is the savior of the Soteland Empire. Do you understand? Only His Majesty's rule can bring prosperity to the Soteland Empire. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Oh dear... I didn't want to say so much, but your innocent and adorable appearance really amused me. Miss Liang Lin, I thought someone as capable as you would be somewhat cunning, but I never expected you to be so frighteningly innocent."

Springhall admired Liang Lin's pupils, which had lost their luster, and her numb face.

"You look much better now than when you were all fierce."

"As a woman, you should be this obedient. You did something against all reason, like going to the battlefield; you deserve to die. The rules of the Soteland Empire cannot be violated."

What was Liang Lin thinking as she lay on the ground while Springhall spoke these words?

She was thinking...

I miss my sister (Hilary).

She longed to lie in her sister's arms, like when she was little, carefree and without a thought for anything.

She wanted to tell her sister:

"Sister, I was wrong, I was really wrong."

"I shouldn't have been loyal to an empire that wanted to kill me."

She really wanted to see her sister one last time, but it seemed that chance was gone.

A person can transform in an instant. At this moment, Liang Lin was utterly disillusioned with the Soteland Empire, but it seemed it was too late.

"My blind loyalty ruined me."

"Until the very end, I was still deceiving myself. I knew it all along… I knew it in my heart…"

"I was the biggest fool."

Before dying, Liang Lin finally understood this truth.

A person cannot grow without setbacks, and Liang Lin was no exception. In the past year, she had shown no growth, but in these few short minutes, she grew rapidly.

But it was too late.

Liang Lin thought of Carol again. She would never have the chance to hug her again, never have the chance to kiss her little face again.

Carol would be without a mother; she would be a lonely child. But she was only one year old!

What would become of her?

Could she really grow up happily without a mother?

...

No, that's not right.

There was still Liang Di, who was also Carol's mother.

But wouldn't it have a negative impact on a child if someone with a psychological disorder cared for and raised her?

What about Liang Di?

Has she grown at all in the year I was away? Has she become a normal person who has learned to love herself and others?

If she has, then Carol should be able to grow up healthy and happy with her by her side.

Liang Di, if—and I mean if—if there's a next time, I won't forget my promise. If I hadn't forgotten my promise, would you not have become so twisted and obsessive later on?

Liangdi, I lied.

Actually, I still kind of wanted to see you, really wanted to see if you'd truly changed.

Haha~ It's embarrassing, but actually, doing *that* with you was really quite enjoyable, it's just that I've always resisted the thought, unwilling to accept it. Sometimes, I even suspect I have a masochistic streak.

I also wanted to see my sister, my child, and… the mother of my child (Liang Di) whom I can't bring myself to hate, and can't quite like.

It feels like my life is flashing before my eyes, things that happened when I was a child, and things that happened after I grew up, playing over and over again.

Sister, I'm so sorry. You did everything you could to give me a second chance at life, but in just a year and a half, I'm dying again. The reason is all my naivety and blind loyalty, and my arrogance.

Sometimes, too much confidence becomes arrogance.

Springhall, having enjoyed the girl's numb expression for a while, released his grip on Liang Lin's hair, stood up, and kicked the girl on the ground twice.

"Don't worry, after you die, we won't smear your name. We'll say you were assassinated by the enemy and died a heroic death. We'll even give you a posthumous title."

"You won't miss out on any honors."

Springhall slowly raised his hand.

"Kill her. Be quick about it."

"Yes!"

The two knights beside Liang Lin simultaneously raised their swords high.

However, they seemed to have forgotten a truth.

That is—villains die from talking too much.