The Era's Choice
The Queen's dreamlike procession made a grand appearance, only to disappear just as quickly.
Like a Feather Fall bubble in the sunlight, it is beautiful and colorful for a moment. Just when you are attracted by its beauty and want to admire it more closely, the bubble bursts into nothingness in the next second, leaving no trace, and even making you wonder if it ever really existed.
Only a handful of extraordinary individuals in the hall were fortunate enough to witness that scene.
The banquet continued peacefully, with most people completely unaware of what had just transpired. They simply enjoyed the beautiful evening in this elegant and joyful atmosphere.
Luther, however, was caught in a dilemma while hiding in the shadows.
The Queen's procession is highly suspicious!
Mermaids, tin soldiers, Puss in Boots... He saw so many familiar figures in that group, like characters from a fairy tale from a past life!
Could the Queen have also traveled from another time?
Such thoughts naturally came to Luther's mind.
Should I test her...? No, I must be cautious. After all, she's far superior to me. Revealing my special abilities might not be a good thing. I should maintain the status quo and observe for a while longer. However, perhaps I could discuss it with Klein...
Luther pondered to himself.
The banquet continued, and as time passed, the second half began. After enjoying the food and dancing with several members of the opposite sex, the guests, feeling a little tired, started to gather in small groups around the sofas to chat.
"Excuse me, please allow me to stay a moment longer."
Sophia, seated at the head of the hall, rose gracefully and smiled at the other princes.
Please make yourself at home.
The princes, of course, wouldn't be so tactless as to ask where the other was going; instead, they politely replied...
"Thank you so much."
Sophia maintained a polite smile, her gaze sweeping downwards, and easily spotted her tall guard talking loudly in the crowd. He was flushed from drinking and boasting about his valiant exploits, completely oblivious to the polite but insincere pleasantries of the Loen people around him.
What an incompetent fool...
Sophia thought with disgust, and instead of calling him over, she turned and walked alone to the bathroom.
A golden statue stands in the pool, the gentle flow of water from its tilted spout creating a soothing sound that just masks some of the more embarrassing noises coming from the washroom.
Sophia stood before the gold-rimmed sink, looking at her elegantly dressed reflection in the Mirror, and couldn't help but sigh.
The sigh was tinged with weariness and frustration.
In the Mirror, her fiery red hair was neatly piled up, and her slender neck shone with a snowy white luster under the light. But in her beautiful eyes, emptiness and weariness were revealed.
Sophia stood in front of the Mirror for more than ten seconds before reluctantly turning on the tap to wash her hands. It was as if doing so would allow her to delay going home a little later.
Not long after, she turned off the tap and wiped her hands with a small coin.
As she was wiping, Sophia suddenly sensed something was wrong.
It felt like someone was watching me.
"Who!"
She suddenly turned around.
The luxuriously decorated bathroom was empty except for the sound of the fountain.
But Sophia's brow remained furrowed; that gaze was still fixed on her. Someone was watching her!
"Hehe."
She heard a soft laugh behind her and quickly turned around. When she saw the source of the sound, her eyes widened in surprise.
Suddenly, she saw a red-haired girl dressed up in the Mirror staring at her with a cold, malicious smile.
That gaze came from my own reflection in the mirror!
"Someone come here!"
Sophia's hair stood on end, and she shouted loudly. At the same time, a ball of crimson flame immediately rose from her palm and blasted it into the Mirror.
"Dangjiyi"
The Mirror was shattered into countless pieces, scattered across the sink and the floor. Each Mirror reflected her image, and she could even see the metallic gleam of the gold and silver threads on her silk evening gown.
Sophia clearly saw her terrified face on every piece of debris, but soon that face was replaced by a mocking expression.
"No need to shout, no one can hear you."
Sophia from the fragments spoke simultaneously, their voices overlapping and echoing loudly in the bathroom.
Damn it!
I just happened to not have Beyonder Item with me!
Sophia cursed inwardly. Out of consideration for national etiquette, she was only wearing a formal dress today and hadn't brought any self-defense tools.
"Splash..."
As if driven by an invisible force, the glass shards floated up, pieced themselves together, and miraculously restored themselves into a complete Mirror, standing before them.
"Let me go!"
Sophia was horrified to find herself suddenly unable to move. At the same time, her reflection in the mirror showed her eyes turning a dazzling gold, staring back at her.
"What are you up to!"
She shouted.
"Do what?"
The person in the mirror was smiling, her eyes shining even brighter, dazzlingly bright, as if piercing into the depths of one's heart. She slowly reached out her hands and grabbed her throat.
"Ugh!"
Sophia did as she was told without thinking, her hands tightening around her slender neck. A strong feeling of suffocation followed; she couldn't breathe, collapsed to her knees, and a look of pain quickly appeared on her beautiful face.
"Cough cough..."
Her face turned purplish-red, her eyes rolled back, as if she was about to faint. But the force in her hand did not diminish at all; instead, it became even stronger, until a crisp "crack" sound was heard, and she lost her life, collapsing limply to the ground.
A few seconds later.
"Boom!"
Crimson flames suddenly erupted from her body, blasting in all directions of the washroom. Flames and explosions instantly filled the entire washroom, and Sophia simultaneously leaped up and ran towards the washroom door.
"Help!"
She shouted loudly, trying to attract the attention of the others in the villa.
Sophia suddenly opened her eyes.
The restroom was empty, except for the statue fountain in the pool, which flowed silently.
What's going on? Was I dreaming?
Her heart pounded. She looked around and found herself standing in front of the sink, as if everything that had just happened was just a nightmare.
No, no!
How could I possibly fall Dream Infiltration!
As if remembering something, Sophia quickly reached into the only hidden pocket inside her dress and took out a crudely made woolen doll. The doll's neck was broken, and its head lay limply to one side.
Someone really wanted to kill me!
"Splash-"
Just as she was about to run away, the water flow around the statue suddenly increased, and the water overflowed from the edge of the pool, quickly soaking the entire bathroom floor. To Sophia's horror, the water's surface was like Mirror, reflecting everything. Her reflection in the water had golden eyes and was showing a meaningful smile.
Who are you? Why are you trying to kill me?!
She shouted.
Then, my reflection in the water spoke softly:
"Sorry, this is the choice of the times."