Lord of Mysteries: Starting As A Reader-Chapter 1256: The Eve of the Ball

Bayam, Fragrant Manor.

Not long after escaping from the "Trial Temple," the former "Queen of Calamity," Cohinem, examined this building with a slight Sanguine architectural style and turned her head to Ebner beside her. "This is the residence you prepared for me?"

Of course. I can’t exactly let you live at 28 Pinster Street in Backlund, so Bayam was the only option... Besides, as the former Elf Queen, you should feel closer to the sea. I considered that comprehensively.

Ebner muttered inwardly, but on the surface he smiled and asked in return, "What do you think?"

"Not bad... Though it’s not as magnificent as the temple, it is more comfortable." After touring the series of "modern" facilities here, Cohinem was clearly very satisfied.

Perhaps influenced by the "God of Luck," she also had a temperament that enjoyed comfort.

"The food will certainly suit your tastes better as well!" Ebner added with a smile before asking, "Should I replace the servants here and transfer some elves from ’Roaring Town’ to serve you?"

Cohinem had originally shown some anticipation at the mention of "delicacies," but upon hearing the latter half of his words, she fell silent. About half a minute later, she shook her head and said, "Forget it. Since I’ve decided to sever ties with my former identity, then aside from my name, everything else should be abandoned as well. It’s better not to have further contact with the elves..."

"I see..." Ebner nodded thoughtfully. "Shatas will probably be very upset."

Cohinem said evenly, "When we met earlier, I already informed Shatas. Since she’s married, she should live her own life."

After leaving the deep nightmare of Kabas Town, Ebner had taken her to "Roaring Town."

"Heh, she has no intention of living quietly with Mobet. Instead, she’s recruiting elves to form an exploration team...

"With her personality and strength, I imagine the sea will soon gain another pirate admiral."

"That has nothing to do with me anymore... The one who should have a headache is her husband." Cohinem blinked. For some reason, Ebner felt that her tone and expression at that moment resembled his own somewhat.

Can this habit of enjoying the spectacle spread like an infection? Is this contamination from ’Liu Bo’? Ebner couldn’t help but complain inwardly before changing the topic. "Don’t you feel that this location is rather familiar?"

Cohinem was taken aback. After looking around, she cast Ebner a deep glance and asked irrelevantly, "Are you staying tonight?"

Lady, is there something wrong with your train of thought? How did this jump to that topic?

Hmm, wait... This is actually the place where the "God of Luck" and the "Queen of Calamity" cooperated to expel excess characteristics. After all, beneath "Fragrant Manor" lie the ruins of the palace built by the "God of Luck"...

So she thinks I’m hinting at something, and that’s why she asked?

After straightening out his thoughts, Ebner coughed awkwardly and waved his hand. "I have matters to attend to tonight..."

He truly did have something to do—after all, he still had to attend Miss Amon’s coming-of-age ball.

"It seems I misunderstood..." Cohinem glanced at him and said coolly, "Though it’s understandable, considering you crafted this temporary body with such meticulous detail—even the ’reproductive’ system is fully intact."

If you don’t want to answer, then just don’t. There’s no need to nitpick to cover up your own emotions. Ebner grumbled inwardly and said nothing further, as he could see that this was Cohinem expressing dissatisfaction.

Of course, what she was dissatisfied with wasn’t the extra functions of the body, but his lack of trust in her.

After all, the reason Ebner had asked that question was to test whether the "God of Luck" had left any other backup measures within Cohinem that might threaten him.

Even deliberately arranging for Cohinem to reside at "Fragrant Manor" had been partly for that reason.

But this small scheme had clearly been seen through by Cohinem, which was why she expressed her displeasure.

"I already said it—rather than choose Him, I would choose you...

"And that ’Him’ does not refer only to ’Leodero’!"

Oh? Why is that? Even though they’re both ’me,’ shouldn’t the ’God of Luck’ be closer to you?

As if reading Ebner’s confusion, Cohinem spoke again. "Since I intend to sever the identity of ’Elf Queen,’ I must also completely abandon the emotions of the ’Elf Queen.’"

That reason... is very "reasonable"!

...

Sunday night.

The magnificently dressed "Sage" Yarolan, accompanied by Viscount Ebner Braine of Bayam, arrived by carriage in the Queen’s Borough and beheld an expansive estate.

Marble statues, pools, fountains, gardens, lawns—everything entered their view, instantly making them feel Viscount Loveland’s importance placed upon his illegitimate daughter.

He was actually holding her "coming-of-age ceremony" in his own home... and Viscountess Loveland had agreed!

"Ebner, bringing me to the ball—won’t the ladies in your household be displeased?" Yarolan turned her head to look at Ebner, covering her mouth as she laughed.

By now, Ebner was already accustomed to Yarolan’s manner of speaking and replied casually, "My dear Miss Yarolan, I brought you because there may be danger tonight, and you won’t require me to divert attention to protect you. You can enjoy the show in peace."

"My dear Viscount, if you speak like that, I’ll be heartbroken." Yarolan deliberately put on a tearful expression, her red eyes filled with grievance, making one instinctively want to cherish her.

But Ebner remained unmoved. Having endured multiple "temptations" along the way, he was long accustomed to them.

He glanced at Yarolan, who was holding his arm, and said expressionlessly, "According to my prediction, there will be no shortage of Demonesses attending tonight’s ball... You can compete with them to see whose ’tactics’ are superior."

As a "Sage," Yarolan naturally had some "foreknowledge" of this as well. She rolled her eyes at Ebner and said coquettishly, "Demonesses? One of the progenitors of the Demoness family was our daughter. Why would I need to compete with them? Don’t forget, I was once Cohinem."

While whispering to each other, the two entered the villa. Though Viscount Loveland’s décor was far humbler compared to the elven temple, the platters of food were indeed enticing.

Foie gras, pan-fried dragonbone fish, baked lobster... Ormir wine, Mist Champagne... Yarolan, who had not visited human society in a long time, immediately released Ebner’s arm and rushed toward the dining area.

Seeing this, Ebner shook his head. Just as he was about to greet acquaintances among the guests, his inspiration was suddenly stirred. He lifted his head and then saw a blonde girl holding a black cat standing on the second-floor corridor, looking down at him from above.

A monocle seemed faintly present over her right eye, but upon closer inspection, it vanished.

(End of Chapter)