Ophelia

Ophelia Coast Manor, Castleton City.

This manor stood atop a solitary cliff more than thirty meters high on the western side of Castleton Harbour.

The castle-like buildings within the manor enveloped the entire cliff. Stone walls rose straight from the cliffside and disappeared into the dense forest behind it.

This Baroque Style structure had exterior walls almost entirely covered in mural reliefs, while the main building was constructed from white granite.

Because the manor stood beside Castleton Harbour, the Fish Market and passing ships made the area rather noisy during the day.

Thus, it was not particularly favored by the members of the Ophelia family.

Only during summer did anyone occasionally stay at the manor for a few days. At other times, its gates remained shut, with only gardeners occasionally tending the lawns and greenery inside.

During Castleton's summer, monsoon winds blew from Xian Sai, passed through the Frozen Sea into the Endless Sea, and reached the entire Elf Continent.

Influenced by the monsoon winds from the Frozen Sea, Castleton Harbour experienced a long rainy season. Whenever that time came, the seas around Castleton became particularly magnificent and turbulent.

During this season, the coast manor became the best place to host a summer night ball.

At this moment, a ball was being held inside the manor.

This ball, themed "Summer of Youth," had invited nearly every young noble elf in Castleton City.

The manor was brilliantly lit, and waves of melodious music drifted from the edge of the Dance Floor.

The piano music was so graceful that it could faintly be heard even from the harbour docks...

Miss Belle.Claire wore a pale blue, low-cut evening dress tailored from Magic Pattern Cloth. Her arms were covered in matching long silk gloves, Blue Crystal Shoes adorned her feet, and she held a cup of honey water mixed with a little Apple Wine as she stood beside the fountain in the manor's front garden.

Beyond the fountain lay a spacious open-air Dance Floor. The melodious piano music could be heard clearly there, while the surrounding noise was blocked out, making it an excellent place to chat.

Many sets of tables and chairs had also been placed beside the fountain, and young elves always liked gathering in small groups to talk.

The cool summer night breeze carried the distant sound of waves...

At that moment, Miss Belle Klayr smiled at a handsome Silver Moon Elf before her and said:

"Wagner, I heard you and Steve are at each other's throats at Elf Academy?"

"Sis, you know?"

Klayr raised his delicate brows and asked in surprise.

Miss Belle Klayr narrowed her eyes and reached out to pat his head, but he turned away to avoid her.

"I'm only temporarily away from Elf Academy as an exchange student. It's not as though I'm deaf or stupid. Some news still reaches me quickly enough!"

Wagner Klayr said rather bluntly:

"This time, I'm going to beat Steve flat with my own hands. I have to let him know how formidable I am!"

Miss Belle Klayr held Wagner Klayr's head in both hands and pressed her forehead against his, saying with great satisfaction, "Being able to say something so brave proves that my little Wagner has grown up!"

Wagner Klayr was a little resistant. There were other elves nearby, and he did not want anyone to see him being affectionate with his sister.

Elegantly lifting her long skirt with one hand, Miss Belle Klayr responded to her friends calling from afar while reminding Wagner Klayr:

"Steve got a thorough beating from me last year. He's probably been thinking about revenge ever since, so you need to prepare properly too. Don't let your guard down..."

Klayr said somewhat impatiently:

"I know, Sis."

Lifting her skirt, Miss Belle Klayr quickly crossed past the fountain and joined several of her friends, who had already grown a little impatient waiting for her.

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

"He's not an adult yet!" Miss Belle Klayr said with a smile. "Come on, let's dance."

A group of young Silver Moon Elf noblewomen walked around the fountain and arrived beside the open-air Dance Floor.

Elves were already dancing on the Dance Floor, and the rhythm was exceptionally lively. The tinkling piano notes seemed capable of stirring every elf's desire to dance, making them sway their bodies involuntarily to the music.

Her friend linked arms with Miss Belle Klayr, her blue eyes fixed firmly on a handsome elven noble standing across the Dance Floor.

Miss Belle Klayr leaned close to her friend's ear and whispered:

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

Her friend glanced at Miss Belle Klayr without speaking, then turned her gaze elsewhere.

Perhaps all of Castleton City's most outstanding young elves had gathered here.

Her friend immediately spotted an elf dressed in white formalwear. Standing among several young elves, he was not only elegant in manner and witty in speech, but also possessed a pair of clean, slender hands.

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

"That is Yoram.Haiyueer, a very famous musician and pianist in Castleton," Miss Belle Klayr continued introducing him.

"So he's Yoram! He's quite handsome. If he could write a song for me or play a piece just for me, I'd be very interested in talking to him..."

Her friend wrinkled her pretty, straight nose and spoke proudly.

"He's terribly arrogant. I'm not that close with him. You could try talking to Wolf instead."

Miss Belle Klayr said casually.

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

Her friend continued observing the group of young elves across from them. Pointing at an elf swordsman with a Serugi Longsword at his waist, her eyes brightened slightly as she asked.

"I don't know him. He probably isn't a noble from Castleton, at least I've never seen him before..."

"That guy looks decent enough... Maybe we can give it a try!"

Miss Belle Klayr looked at the handsome elf swordsman's slightly raised chin and whispered, "I think we should forget it. He doesn't seem to enjoy talking to people..."

"How will we know if we don't try?"

Her friend lifted her skirt with one hand and linked arms with Miss Belle Klayr with the other, walking confidently toward the elf swordsman.

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

Miss Belle Klayr's friend walked up to the elf swordsman and extended her small hand clad in a black glove.

The elf swordsman immediately held it in both hands, but did not kiss it. He merely said flatly, "Hello. Wilson Griffiths, from the Vaks Region."

He then released Miss Milian's hand and gave her a slight nod, unwilling to say another word.

"..."

Miss Milian politely curtsied, then pulled Belle Klayr away with her...

After running squarely into a wall, Miss Milian's expression became rather unpleasant.

Even after leaving, she continued muttering softly, "Who's he putting on that arrogant act for... What an annoying guy."

"I told you, he isn't right for you!"

Belle Klayr said.

At that moment, the manor gates were thrown fully open, and even the music at the ball stopped instantly. The previously lively tune changed into a melodious hymn.

A luxurious silver carriage entered the manor, followed by an escort of fifty Elf Warriors. Every Elf Warrior rode a war horse with a snow-white coat.

Although these War Horses had no wings and were not the elves' most famous Silver Pegasus, each had a small tuft of white feathers beside its hooves.

They were mutant War Horses born from Silver Pegasus breeding with ordinary War Horses. Though they could not tread the air and fly, they were renowned for their light, nimble bodies.

The silver carriage stopped beside the fountain in the manor's front courtyard. A red carpet had been laid beneath the steps, stretching all the way toward the open-air Dance Floor.

The coachman opened the carriage door from outside, and a beautiful Silver Moon Elf in a pure white gown stepped out. It was Princess Ophelia.

Her face bore almost no expression, making her appear cold and aloof.

However, after she stepped down from the carriage and lowered her head for an instant... when she raised it again, a springlike smile had appeared on her face.

Ophelia had been somewhat reluctant to attend this ball.

That afternoon, she had still been in her study considering how to revise the lesson plan for her next class when her mother ordered her to attend the summer night ball at the seaside manor, completely disrupting Princess Ophelia's schedule...

She had no way to defy her mother's wishes, so she could only bathe, change clothes, and leave the house with an unwilling expression.

She had still been in a foul mood while sitting in the carriage. This time, not only had she brought a maid, but her mother had even arranged an escort of fifty Elf Warriors for her.

At the thought of spending half the night in the manor, Princess Ophelia could not feel happy no matter what.

The elves dancing on the open-air Dance Floor voluntarily moved to both sides of the steps beside the fountain. Princess Ophelia climbed the steps and looked up to see a group of young elves approaching her.

Among these young elves were not only Wolf, but also Yoram, Garcia, and other elven nobles. Princess Ophelia's expression became stiff.

Mother's intentions... sigh!

She could not help sighing inwardly.

She turned to glance at the brilliantly lit harbour docks outside the manor, then immediately gathered herself and walked toward the elves striding over with their heads held high.

Even Princess Ophelia herself felt that the smile on her face must have looked rather unnatural.

Inside the Bottom Cabin of the Great Sea Ship at the harbour docks.

When the hatch was opened halfway, ripples spread across the seawater in the Bottom Cabin.

The naga assassin's body was almost entirely submerged. He swished his fish tail and swam into the Bottom Cabin.

When he raised his head from the seawater, he began carefully examining the cabin. Then, at a glance, he spotted Roy and Jasper hanging from the vertical keel beam...