Ophelia

44. Ophelia Coast Manor, Castleton City.

This manor is located on a solitary cliff more than thirty meters high on the west side of Castleton Harbour.

The manor's castle-style architecture encloses the entire cliff, with stone walls rising from the edge of the cliff and disappearing into the dense forest behind it.

This Baroque-style building has its exterior walls almost entirely covered with murals and reliefs, and the main body of the building is made of white granite.

Because this manor is located next to Castleton Harbour, the fish market and the passing ships make it quite noisy during the day.

Therefore, it is not favored by the members of the Ophelia family.

Only during the summer months will someone occasionally stay here for a few days each year. Usually, the gates are closed, and occasionally gardeners will maintain the lawns and greenery inside the manor.

In Castleton, the summer monsoon from Xian Sai passes through the Frozen Sea and enters the Endless Sea, reaching the entire Elf Continent.

Affected by the monsoon from the Frozen Sea, Castleton Harbour experiences a long rainy season. During this time, the sea around Castleton appears magnificent.

During this season, the coastal manor becomes the perfect place to host summer night dances.

At this moment, a dance party is being held in the manor.

This dance party, themed 'Summer of Youth,' has invited almost all the young noble elves of Castleton City.

The manor is brightly lit, and melodious music drifts from the edge of the dance floor.

The piano music is so melodious that it can be faintly heard from the port docks...

Belle.Klayr is wearing a light blue low-cut evening dress made of Magic Pattern Cloth, with matching long silk gloves on her arms, Blue Crystal Shoes on her feet, and a glass of honey water mixed with a little Apple Wine in her hand, standing by the fountain in the front garden of the manor.

Passing around the fountain is a spacious open-air dance floor, where you can hear the melodious piano music while being isolated from the noise, making it an excellent place to chat.

Many sets of tables and chairs are also placed around the pool, and young elves always like to gather in small groups to chat.

The cool summer breeze carries the sound of waves from the distance...

At this moment, Belle.Klayr smiles at a delicate-looking Silver Moon Elf in front of her and says:

"Wagner, I heard you've been at odds with Steve at the Elf Academy?"

"Sis, you know?"

Klayr raises his delicate eyebrows, asking in surprise.

Belle.Klayr narrows her eyes, reaches out to touch his head, but he turns his head to avoid it.

"I'm just leaving the Elf Academy for a while as an exchange student. I'm not deaf or stupid. Some news can still reach me quickly!"

Wagner Klayr says rather impolitely:

"This time, I'm going to beat Steve down myself. I have to let him know how powerful I am!"

Belle.Klayr puts her hands on Wagner Klayr's head, touching his forehead with her own, and says with great relief, "Being able to say such courageous words proves that my little Wagner has grown up!"

Wagner Klayr is a little resistant. There are other elves around, and he doesn't want people to see him talking intimately with his sister.

Belle.Klayr elegantly lifts her long skirt with one hand, responding to the calls of her girlfriends in the distance, while instructing Wagner Klayr:

"This Steve was severely punished by me last year, and he's probably been thinking about revenge. You have to prepare well and not be careless..."

Klayr says a little impatiently:

"I know, sis."

Lifting her skirt and quickly crossing the fountain, Belle.Klayr joins her girlfriends, who have been waiting a little impatiently.

"Belle, why don't you introduce your brother to us?"

"He's not of age yet!" Belle.Klayr says with a smile, "Let's go, let's dance."

A group of Elven Nobles ladies bypass the fountain and come to the open-air dance floor.

Elves are already dancing on the dance floor, and the rhythm of the music is very cheerful. The tinkling piano music seems to stir up the desire of all the elves to dance, making them twist their bodies involuntarily in the music.

A girlfriend takes Belle.Klayr's arm, her blue eyes fixed on a handsome Elven Noble on the opposite side of the dance floor.

Belle.Klayr whispers in her girlfriend's ear:

"That's Wolf.Gokes, the leader of the Castleton exchange group. Do you want to go over and meet him?"

Belle.Klayr's best friend glanced at her without saying anything, then shifted her gaze elsewhere.

Probably the most outstanding young elves in Castleton City were gathered here.

Her best friend immediately locked onto an elf in a white dress. He stood among several young elves, not only behaving elegantly and speaking with wit and humor, but also possessing a pair of clean, slender hands.

In the Elven Kingdom, many artists cared deeply about their hands.

"That's Yoram.Haiyueer, a very famous musician and pianist in Castleton," Belle.Klayr continued to introduce.

"That's Yoram! He's so handsome. If he could write a song for me, or play a piece just for me, I'd be very interested in chatting with him..."

Her best friend wrinkled her pretty, straight nose and said proudly.

"He's quite arrogant. I'm not that familiar with him. You could talk to Wolf," Belle.Klayr said casually.

"Forget it. We all know who he likes. Do you think we can compete with Princess Ophelia? ... Who's that?"

Her best friend continued to observe the group of young elves across the way, pointing to an elven swordsman with a Serugi Longsword at his waist, her eyes lighting up slightly as she asked.

"I don't recognize him. He shouldn't be a noble from Castleton, at least I've never seen him before..."

"This guy looks alright... maybe we can give it a try!"

Belle.Klayr looked at the handsome elven swordsman's slightly raised chin and said softly, "I think we should forget it. He doesn't seem to like interacting with others..."

"How would we know if we don't try!"

Her best friend lifted her skirt with one hand and linked her arm with Belle.Klayr's, confidently walking towards the elven swordsman.

"Hello, I'm Milian.Talis, from Buenos."

Belle.Klayr's best friend approached the elven swordsman and extended a small hand covered in a black glove.

The elven swordsman immediately cupped it with both hands, but did not perform a kiss of the hand, only saying calmly, "Hello, Wilson Griffiths, from the Vaks Region."

Then he released Milian's hand, nodded slightly to her, but was unwilling to say another word.

"..."

Milian curtsied politely, then pulled Belle.Klayr away...

Having run into a wall, Milian's expression was a little unsightly.

After leaving, she continued to mutter softly, "Putting on such an arrogant display for who? ... What an annoying guy."

"I told you, he's not suitable for you!"

Belle.Klayr said.

At this moment, the gates of the manor were fully opened, and even the music at the ball stopped instantly, the originally lively rhythm replaced by a melodious hymn.

A magnificent silver carriage emerged from the manor, followed by a guard of fifty elven warriors, each riding a pure white warhorse.

Although these warhorses did not have wings and were not the Silver Pegasus for which the elves were most famous, they had a small tuft of white feathers next to their hooves.

This was a mutated warhorse produced by mating a Silver Pegasus with an ordinary warhorse. Although it could not fly, it was known for its light body.

The silver carriage stopped by the fountain in the front courtyard of the manor, and a red carpet was laid out below the steps, extending all the way to the open-air dance floor.

The carriage door was opened from the outside by the coachman, and a beautiful Silver Moon Elf in a pure white dress stepped out of the carriage, none other than Princess Ophelia.

Her face was almost expressionless, looking aloof and cold.

However, just as she stepped out of the carriage, she lowered her head for a moment... and when she raised her head again, her face was filled with a smile like a spring breeze.

Ophelia was still somewhat reluctant to attend this ball.

In the afternoon, she was still in her study thinking about how to change the teaching plan for the next class, but her mother asked her to attend the Summer of Youth ball at the manor by the sea, disrupting Princess Ophelia's schedule all at once...

She couldn't disobey her mother's will, so she could only reluctantly take a bath, change clothes, and go out.

Sitting in the carriage, she was still a little sullen. This time, she not only brought out a maid, but her mother even arranged a guard of fifty elven warriors.

Thinking about having to stay in the manor for half the night, Princess Ophelia couldn't be happy no matter what.

The elves dancing in the open-air dance floor spontaneously moved to either side of the steps next to the fountain. Princess Ophelia walked up the steps and saw a group of young elves coming to greet her.

Among these young elves were not only Wolf, but also Yoram, Garcia, and other Elven Nobles, causing Princess Ophelia's expression to stiffen.

Her mother's intentions... alas!

She couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Turning her head to glance at the brightly lit port terminal outside the manor, she immediately perked up and greeted the elves who were walking over with their heads held high and large strides.

Even Princess Ophelia herself felt that the smile on her face must look unnatural.

In the hold of the Great Sea Ship at the port terminal.

As the hatch opened halfway, ripples appeared in the water in the hold.

The Naga Assassin's body was almost completely submerged in the water as he swayed his fishtail and swam into the hold.

When he lifted his head out of the water, he began to carefully examine the cabin, and then he immediately saw Roy and Jasper hanging from the keel beams of the cabin...