Chapter Three: Beneath the Adorable and Beautiful Exterior

"I'm truly sorry, Miss Chels!"
Robbie forced a smile onto his face, though it was little better than a grimace.

"Enough, don't show me that expression," Wei Ling said, frowning slightly. "This was all just a coincidence—a miserable day, that's all. What matters is that I successfully awakened my soul beast today. Oh, and I should thank you for your help."

As she spoke, Wei Ling blinked her beautiful, large eyes. In that moment, she looked just like any ordinary little girl, her face glowing with joy.

Robbie did not answer, only offered a dry laugh. Even though he had stood right beside Wei Ling moments before, he had no idea what had actually happened. The bizarre weather and terrifying lightning had drawn most of his attention, so he hadn't seen how Wei Ling had summoned her soul beast.

To awaken one's soul beast independently is a very different matter from relying on external forces. Though it may seem similar, it defines the path ahead: the former means innate talent, the latter means a future built on relentless effort.

"Please don't say that, Miss Chels Wei Ling," Robbie said, slipping in a compliment. Suddenly, a strange image flashed through his mind, and he opened his mouth as if to speak.

"Mr. Robbie, is there something else you wanted to say?" Wei Ling looked puzzled, questioning him.

"Uh, yes, well... Miss Chels Wei Ling, did you just see a figure fall from the sky?"

Robbie hesitated for a long while before finally voicing the question.

"A figure? You mean during the thunderstorm? Oh, it was terrifying—I was completely stunned. As for a figure, wasn't the central plaza crowded with people? The lightning... Wait, Mr. Robbie, what did you just say? Someone fell from the sky? How absurd!"

Wei Ling's initial worry gave way to surprise as she turned to Robbie. "Perhaps the lightning dazzled your eyes, Uncle Ist, let's go."

Wei Ling turned and slipped into the carriage behind her, and as she closed the door, she shot a look of contempt at Robbie's medal pinned to his left chest—a typical display of the sharp, arrogant manner of a noble heiress.

"Yes, Miss," Ist replied.

Ist drove the carriage away from the central plaza. Watching it depart, Robbie rubbed his eyes in confusion and murmured, "Did I really see it wrong?"

――――――

Ist's carriage left the imperial capital's central plaza, bypassed several bustling commercial streets, and entered a quiet, secluded lane. They followed its winding path for some time before finally stopping.

This was the rear entrance of the Chels estate.

"Miss, we've arrived," Ist said, opening the carriage door and helping Wei Ling out.

"Where is he?"
As soon as she stepped down, Wei Ling's expression grew dark, her anger almost visible as she clenched her teeth.

"He's behind the carriage, Miss."
Ist spoke softly, leading Wei Ling to the back of the carriage. He opened the cargo compartment, usually used for heavy items, but now it contained a person.

Wei Ling bent down and finally saw the stranger's face clearly.

Long, water-blue hair fell loosely around his head, giving him a relaxed appearance. Wei Ling reached out to check his breathing, then turned to Ist and asked, "What happened to him?"

"He must have fainted, Miss," Ist replied. When he sensed something falling, his first instinct as a warrior was to draw his sword—though during the ceremony, weapons were forbidden. Unable to do so, Ist had simply grabbed the falling object, and to his astonishment, found it was a person!

Most people would first check if the person was alive, then wonder how anyone could fall from the sky—Ist was no different. When Wei Ling saw that the object falling from the heavens was a man, and a naked man at that, her first thought was how such a scandal could bring shameful rumors upon the Chels family.

Wei Ling's immediate reaction was to have Ist hide the man before anyone else noticed.

"Take him to my room. Don't let anyone else see," she ordered calmly. With Ist's skill, she had no doubt he would handle it without mishap. She straightened her dress and entered her room through the back door.

When Wei Ling entered her chamber, she found Ist gone, leaving only the young man with water-blue hair.

Yes, he was still a youth—Wei Ling could tell he was only a year or two older than herself.

Now, freed from the gaze of others, Wei Ling dropped her composure and shouted at the boy lying on the floor: "Damn it! Do you know what you've done? I've worked for three years to become a soul master—finally, I succeeded. I planned to sneak out today, use that damned Soul Hall ceremony and its effects to influence my father, make him believe I truly have talent, so he'd stop forcing me to practice soul master skills daily, and stop interfering in my affairs. But you ruined everything! You wretched fool—destroying the plan I've prepared for three whole years, all while you were asleep!"

At this moment, Wei Ling was like a furious young leopard, venting her frustration at the youth lying on the floor.

"If that's true, then I sincerely apologize," he replied.

"Of course! You—"
Wei Ling was about to curse again, but the sound of his voice stunned her.

"I suppose you'll want to ask when I woke up, won't you?"

At some unknown moment, the youth with water-blue hair had sat up slowly, a playful smile on his lips, and with genuine interest he said, "I never expected that beneath your lovely and innocent exterior lies such a rebellious spirit."