Lu Xing strolled through the gardens of Duke's Castle.
He easily noticed that this northern castle bordering the orcs also served a partial military function. Its walls were built high, the castle grounds were vast, and many low houses remained beneath the walls.
Why say remained?
Because most of those low houses had damaged windows and doorframes, and some had even collapsed. Clearly, no one lived in them.
But that also showed that this castle had not seen war for a long time.
Accordingly, the Duke's family had an expansive residential area. Not only were the gardens large and exquisite, filled everywhere with flowers and greenery, but they also contained many useless things:
A fountain with an angel statue, suits of armor standing amid flowerbeds, and even a small maze of around a hundred square meters, its shrubs over half a meter tall. Could that have been something Anne played in as a child?
As Lu Xing passed by, the gardeners working in the garden all kept their distance. He stepped among the flowers and bent down to smell one that did not exist on Earth.
At that moment, a maid's voice came from behind him:
"Troubling, despicable soul, what are you doing?"
Lu Xing turned around. It was Catherine. She walked toward him with a calm expression, her long black-clad legs moving in alternation, her high heels clicking against the stone slabs.
Several maids followed behind her, along with an ornately decorated carriage drawn by a white horse.
"Smelling the flowers. What's wrong with that?" Lu Xing replied calmly, then asked, "Where is the classroom? Take me there. Also, what does troubling mean?"
"It means exactly what it says."
Catherine was in a bad mood. After the Duke and his wife had questioned her earlier, they had both become worried about the mysterious soul before them. Once they learned he was a man, they exchanged glances in dismay.
Although Catherine had not described the process of changing clothes in detail, the Duke and his wife could certainly imagine it. Their precious daughter had already been violated by this despicable soul's gaze!
"You've all misunderstood me," Lu Xing said.
Catherine's sharp gaze fell upon his delicate, slender shoulders as she warned, "Do not use Miss Anne's body to make such rude masculine gestures!"
Lu Xing took a deep breath and calmed himself, unwilling to argue with this maid. Smiling, he said, "Yes~, my dear, nagging, lying Catherine, can you take me to class now?"
Catherine's heart trembled.
She knew he was not Anne.
But his voice was Miss Anne's. He was deliberately speaking in that tone, making it almost seem as though Anne herself were acting cute before her.
Especially that line—nagging, lying Catherine. How could he say it in Anne's tone?
"Disgusting."
Catherine spoke under her breath, yet extended her pale hand toward Lu Xing and bent slightly at the waist.
Calling me disgusting while still serving me? Are you all bark and no bite?
Lu Xing rolled his eyes, lifted Anne's small hand covered in a white silk glove, placed it in Catherine's palm, and let the maid guide him into the carriage.
The snow-white steed pulled the luxurious carriage through the dreamlike castle gardens.
The Noble Lady in a golden dress sat inside the carriage, leisurely admiring the garden scenery. Several maids followed behind it, and beneath the morning sunlight, the scene looked like an oil painting.
The carriage circled half the castle before arriving at a house. There, a tall, slender figure dressed in a proper formal gown waited while admiring the garden. Upon seeing the carriage, she turned and approached, bowing slightly in greeting.
"You should get down immediately and return Teacher Noi's greeting," the maid reminded him quietly.
"Got it."
The Noble Lady in the golden dress stepped down from the carriage, walked two steps forward, then drew her left foot back one step. Keeping her upper body still, she pinched her skirt hem, bent her knees, and performed a noble lady's curtsy toward the elf teacher, her voice soft and sweet:
"Good morning, Teacher Noi."
"Good morning, esteemed Miss Anne. The Holy Light Goddess watches over you."
The Half-Elf Noi Asa smiled and returned the bow, praising her. "Anne, you are dressed exceptionally elegantly and beautifully today. I think even true elves would be captivated by your beauty upon seeing you!"
"You should thank him for his praise," the maid instructed in a very low voice.
The beautiful Noble Lady smiled and replied, "Thank you for your praise, Teacher Noi. Your attire is also elegant and fitting, making one feel as refreshed as if by a spring breeze."
Noi froze briefly before smiling. "Anne, you used a very rare expression in Ancient Elven Language. It seems you listened carefully in the previous lesson. Come, let us go inside and begin today's studies."
Anne, the Noble Lady—who was currently Lu Xing—let out a sigh of relief inwardly. Of course. I spent fifty experience points to exchange for beginner knowledge of Ancient Elven Language, all so I could get through today without trouble!
To successfully play Anne's part, he was really going all out.
The two of them, together with head maid Catherine, entered the house. It had been built specifically for Anne's lessons and contained furnishings related to her courses: bookshelves, desks, blackboards, and more. On the other side was an alchemy room. After the Elven language lesson, she would immediately move on to alchemy.
Wearing a small golden dress and looking elegant and beautiful, Lu Xing sat in the only student's seat. Catherine sat behind and to one side to observe. Before they had parted, she had specially instructed him, "You must pay attention in class. Miss Anne never loses focus during lessons. Also, if Teacher Noi asks you a question, stand up and answer that you have forgotten. Do not hem and haw. A Duke's daughter must be gracious and proper."
Lu Xing could not be bothered to answer her.
Because he suspected Anne herself could not manage any of that!
The lesson began quickly.
Noi, standing at the front, first wrote several symbols before turning to Lu Xing. "Last lesson, we discussed—"
"Teacher Noi."
Lu Xing raised his hand.
Catherine, seated behind him, was startled. Class had only just begun. What was he going to do now?!
"Please speak, Anne." Noi gestured for him to continue.
Lu Xing put on an embarrassed expression. "Teacher Noi, I have forgotten some of the earlier lessons. Could you spare a few minutes to review Ancient Elf history and the characteristics of their writing?"
Noi considered it briefly and quickly agreed. "Taking some time to review may help students begin the new lesson better. That is a good suggestion. Very well, Anne, let us briefly review the history."
Lu Xing sat upright in his seat.
When it came to completing quests, he was a professional.
After all, he had completed countless quests in computer games. He had finished difficult quests such as Flying Fish and Swimming Fish, the Battle Mage class advancement, and more. Playing a Noble Lady for one day was nothing by comparison.
"As we know, ancient myths say that our world was born from the void. The Creator God Gaia first created the boundless sea, then the vast sky. Land was born from the union of sea and sky..."
Lu Xing knew that ancient myths could never avoid matters related to reproduction. That was normal.
"...After facing the empty world alone for many years, Gaia decided to create life and make the world flourish.
"The World Tree was thus born. It is said that the original World Tree had its trunk standing upon the earth, its branches and leaves piercing the heavens, and its roots spreading to the deepest reaches of the sea. Countless living creatures were born from it."
"Including the Ancient Elves?"
Lu Xing asked.
"No, Anne, you remembered incorrectly. After seeing the many lives upon the World Tree, Gaia was filled with joy. Her exhaled breath, the wind produced by her movements, and the magnificent, beautiful sound of her voice became living beings. Those were the Ancient Elves!"
Lu Xing nodded, treating it as a story. Pangu's flesh and blood had also become countless races; even a pool of filthy blood had nearly become a saint.
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