novelraw Chapter 102 : I Hope You Are Well
Chapter 102 : I Hope You Are Well
Liulan neither knew nor cared to know who the girl was, the one whose silhouette she occasionally glimpsed bore such a striking resemblance to the one in her memories.Chapter
Whoever she was, she absolutely could not be Latifa.Chapter
Since it wasn't Latifa, having confirmed that much, the girl's true identity mattered little to Liulan.Chapter
It wasn't hard for Liulan to guess that this girl, whose figure so closely mirrored Latifa's, was the fake that that foolish dragon Patuna had dredged up.Chapter
The girl on the intoxicating wine glass was naturally her as well.Chapter
"No, no, no."Chapter
Shaking her head at her friend's self-deceptive actions, Liulan sighed, "Patuna, finding some substitute just won't do, it won't work. What's the point of this self-indulgent sentimentality?"Chapter
Muttering these forceful words, Liulan closed her eyes to focus her senses. Since the fake Patuna was using to deceive herself was nearby, naturally that foolish dragon must be close by as well.Chapter
Though their relationship had long since shattered under the weight of constant conflict, in this situation—whether out of selfishness, goodwill, or simply feeling it was disrespectful to the Princess—Liulan had already resolved to shatter the Black Death's absurd fantasy.Chapter
Find her, walk right up to her, and tell her the truth directly.Chapter
"Patuna, you won't find anyone better." Liulan said flatly.Chapter
"—Look, hurry up and start searching!" Loranhir shouted at Shatina, "She's definitely somewhere around here."Chapter
"We've looked everywhere, short of dancing right on Dreka's face."Chapter
"Then let's go dance on his face!" Loranhir clenched her fists and waved them. If the Princess was truly gone, what purpose did she even have left?Chapter
"Hmm... I could always take up being a bard part-time." Shatina pulled out a harmonica from who-knows-where, "I know a few funeral dirges too. I can cover both weddings and funerals."Chapter
"…Could you please not copy my habit of cracking terrible jokes during serious situations?" Loranhir shot Shatina a sidelong glance and fell silent for several seconds.Chapter
"This style is way too fun, don't expect me to change." Shatina said.Chapter
Watching from nearby, Liulan thought these two were quite the pair of clowns, wondering what kind of genius had brought them together.Chapter
Birds of a feather flock together—their intelligence probably wasn't anything to write home about either.Chapter
"Let's go... oh right," Loranhir, who had been about to storm out, turned to look at Liulan, "Could we ask you, senior, to help us?"Chapter
"My old," Loranhir emphasized the word 'proper', "old friend is in danger and needs help. If you're willing to lend a hand, after this is over, both she and I will definitely do our best to repay you."Chapter
In Loranhir's eyes, given Liulan's knowledge about dragons, this aloof, unpredictable eccentric who seemed to have suffered through some miserable unrequited love already counted as half a senior.Chapter
Asking for her help to find the Princess was a deal with no downsides.Chapter
"What does your little girlfriend have to do with me?" Liulan gave a strange smile.Chapter
"There she goes again…" Loranhir covered her face.Chapter
"Wow, so you're actually a sensitive, easily-embarrassed girl inside. Teasing you is just too fun.ChapterChapterSince you've started calling me senior, I suppose I should take better care of you. Just call my name when you need me." Liulan attempted to divine Patunasankus' location but consistently failed to pinpoint an exact position.Chapter
This was a bizarre state—Patuna existed in a superposition of both being in Taurant and not being in Taurant, which was quite peculiar.Chapter
"I have other urgent matters to attend to," Liulan explained. "There's someone else I need to find, my..."Chapter
Before she could finish, Loranhir cut in, "Understood, it's the person you've been secretly in love with."Chapter
"...Are you insane?" Liulan retorted bluntly.Chapter
"You started it," Loranhir shrugged.Chapter
Liulan didn't respond, not wanting to engage with Loranhir any further.Chapter
She returned to her seat. What might that person be doing at this moment? Perhaps it was better not to speculate about things she didn't know.Chapter
Maybe that person was nestled in the arms of an imitation, deceiving themselves with false warmth, while Liulan sat thinking about them in some dark corner, appearing utterly pathetic.Chapter
She had spied, stalked, concealed, pretended nonchalance, consumed herself with silent sorrow, felt inexplicable joy, and attempted to give up in self-loathing.Chapter
Liulan sank into prolonged contemplation until the door of booth 666 slammed shut, with Loranhir taking Shatina to search for the Princess.Chapter
Reclining in her seat, Liulan gazed blankly at the sky, remaining silent for a long time.Chapter
"Do you think we can ever go back to how we were before?" she whispered, unsure to whom she was speaking.Chapter
Admitting mistakes is difficult, especially after being wrong for so long.Chapter
○Chapter
Patunasankus felt they had been traveling for a long time, yet aside from the unchanging scenery around them, there was nothing.Chapter
The fallen leaves accumulated on the path showed no signs of being stepped on. It seemed few people ever came here.Chapter
Though the sun hadn't set yet, autumn sunsets arrive quickly.Chapter
"Huff... finally shook them off temporarily. This place should be safe," Elaphia gently set down the compliant Patunasankus. "Listen carefully, stay right here. Don't, absolutely don't wander off anywhere. If I encounter the hero, I'll tell her your location."Chapter
Elaphia stood up, ready to leave.Chapter
"You're leaving again?" Patunasankus glanced at her.Chapter
"I have my own matters to handle." Elaphia organized the numerous spell scrolls she had acquired from Oz Tower without looking back.Chapter
"Going to kill your master now?"Chapter
"Yes."Chapter
"Can you manage it?"Chapter
"Obviously."Chapter
Patunasankus looked toward the opera house direction. "Including that blood river from earlier?"Chapter
"...Including." Elaphia's movements paused briefly. "Don't worry, once I kill him, I'll be free."Chapter
This was clearly an impractical fantasy, as Patunasankus well knew - when a Vampire Spawn's master dies, they ultimately share the same fate of death.Chapter
"Elaphia, even if you ultimately kill him, you'll die too as his thrall," Patunasankus pointed out bluntly.ChapterChapterThat single sentence seemed to pop some kind of bubble.Chapter
"..."Chapter
Elaphia fell silent.Chapter
She sat there quietly, allowing the silence to surge like floodwaters, layer upon layer, slowly threatening to swallow her whole.Chapter
It took a good while before Elaphia snapped out of it.Chapter
She exclaimed loudly, "I know! Of course I know that. But what choice do I have?"Chapter
She was like a doll wound up from the back and placed on a table, capable only of performing actions with no alternatives, moving only in directions with no other options.Chapter
Seeming to realize she had lost control of her emotions, Elaphia lifted her head and slowly began taking deep breaths.Chapter
Once, twice.Chapter
After spreading her hands and regulating her breathing, Elaphia spoke again, "I'm sorry, I tend to lose control when this topic comes up. Please forgive my rudeness. I want you to be well, Your Highness."Chapter
In Elaphia's eyes, the Princess shone with starlight—radiant and enviable, as if born to live under the spotlight.Chapter
She basked in those adoring gazes, delighted by how everyone was captivated by her.Chapter
They were enticing and pure, making one feel light, their heartbeat quickening, as if treading on clouds, dreamlike and illusory.Chapter
Elaphia had once experienced this feeling.Chapter
"Whether observing you from afar or up close, there's always a familiar warmth that brings joy. I'm doing fine, and I hope you are too. May all the clichéd blessings come true for you."Chapter
Elaphia closed her eyes, letting sorrow run rampant.Chapter
For some reason, helplessness didn't feel so bad at this moment; she didn't feel ashamed.Chapter
"Thank you for coming," Elaphia finished, then drifted into thought, "Really, thank you."Chapter
"At least someone remembers me—that's enough to be satisfying."Chapter
"Goodbye."Chapter
Elaphia hugged Patunasankus.