Chapter 232

The person who came to visit at this hour... Lux? No, she wouldn't be out alone at night... Mageseekers?

Chen Ce was somewhat puzzled and prepared to use his demonic power to investigate the person outside the door.

But before he could even make a move, the visitor revealed his identity:

"It's me, Kahina."

Upon hearing this, Sona had also shown a hint of nervousness in the kitchen, immediately brightened up, [It's Kahina!]

She quickly ran to open the door.

The door opened, and a girl dressed in casual clothes stood smiling by the door.

Beside her was a gentle and beautiful lady with a mature air about her.

Kahina and her mother Lestara.

[Sister Kahina! Mother!] Sona excitedly rushed towards the two of them.

"Alright, alright..." Kahina, with her long, bright orange hair, patted Sona's head helplessly and quickly closed the door. "We're still outside and you dared to pounce on us? Aren't you afraid of being discovered?"

[Sorry... I'm so happy to see you guys.] Sona stuck out her tongue, showing her girlish side in front of the two of them.

She always presented herself as a gentle older sister, but in front of her mother and sister, she was just a little girl who hadn't grown up yet.

"Good evening, Mrs. Lestara and Miss Kahina." Chen Ce stood up and greeted the two guests.

"Good evening, Mr. Chen Ce." The two returned the greeting politely.

So, the midnight snack that Sona was going to cook changed from a portion for two people to a portion for four.

The delicious noodles were served quickly, and the four of them sat around the table in a harmonious atmosphere, just like a family of four.

Chen Ce explained everything that had happened recently to Sona's "family," and they said they knew about it—they had rushed over as soon as they received word that the "Mageseekers would deal with the Black Mage Fossbarrow" would be back tonight.

"A demon...?" After hearing about their ordeal in Fossbarrow, Kahina couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. "That sounds really dangerous... thank goodness you two are alright."

"Please allow me to offer you my sincerest respects, Mr. Chen Ce." Lestara bowed slightly again to thank Chen Ce for protecting her daughter in Fossbarrow. "Sona is deeply grateful for your protection."

"It should be said that Miss Sona protected me," Chen Ce said with a smile. "Originally, going to Fossbarrow was just my own business, but Miss Sona insisted on going with me to protect me—Miss Sona's music defeated the demon at the crucial moment, it was very powerful."

"Oh? Really?" Lestara turned to look at the girl sitting next to Chen Ce —the latter seemed a little embarrassed. "It seems our Sona has grown up quite a bit, that's amazing."

Lestara's tone was filled with undisguised pride.

Kahina happily hugged her half-sister, "Sona, you're amazing!"

[No... it's Mr. Chen Ce...] Sona gestured in sign language, her pretty face slightly flushed.

The group continued eating their late-night snack, the atmosphere quite harmonious.

As it grew late, Lestara gracefully wiped her mouth and said, "I'm sorry to bother you so late... but I really miss Sona so much, please forgive me."

"No disturbance, you are always welcome," Chen Ce said.

"Then I would be extremely grateful..." Lestara maintained her smile. "Also, we're bothering you so late for another matter—we must remind you, Mr. Chen Ce, that Eldred may be planning something unpleasant recently."

"Something bad?"

"Yes... The Buvelle Family's spies noticed that his movements these past two days have been somewhat strange—he's been frequently entering and leaving Great City Prison, and he's often carrying different things in... They don't know exactly what they are, but the spies can only see that the packages he carries are different sizes each time."

"Is that so...? Okay, I'll be careful." Chen Ce bowed. "Thank you very much for your reminder, Mrs. Lestara."

"No, I should be thanking you." Lestara glanced at Chen Ce, then at the obedient girl sitting next to him, her smile growing increasingly ambiguous—so much so that she couldn't hide it with her hands.

"This is the first time our little Sona has gotten along so well with a member of the opposite sex... I'm genuinely happy for Sona."

[Eh...? Mother...! Don't talk nonsense...!] Sona blushed instantly.

Even the somewhat slow-witted and oblivious Kahina only reacted at this moment. "Sona... you..."

[I really didn't... Kahina -neechan...!]

"You little rascal... oh~~~"

Kahina narrowed her eyes and scrutinized the other person from head to toe with a critical look.

"So it wasn't just my imagination... You really have gotten a bit 'fuller' lately, haven't you!"

[No way!]

"It must be because she's usually too happy that she's become more vibrant~" Kahina chuckled, covering her mouth. "Looks like little Sona isn't happy at home; she only feels happy when she's with the opposite sex~"

[Kahina, sister...!!] Sona wished she could disappear into a hole as soon as possible.

Fortunately, her mother and sister didn't keep joking with her.

"It's getting late, so we won't bother you any longer." Lestara stood up. "Besides, it's easy for us to be spotted if we stay here too long... So we'll be going now. Goodnight, Sona, Mr. Chen Ce."

"Okay, good night." Chen Ce stood up to see them off. "You can come see Sona anytime you have time, Mrs. Lestara, Miss Kahina."

"Oh, you're making us sound like family," Lestara said with a teasing smile, making her look nothing like a lady nearing forty.

She seems more like a quirky and clever young girl.

Well-maintained... and looks like...

Um...

"Then we'll be going now." In contrast, Kahina seemed more outgoing and generous.

But just as she was about to leave, she suddenly leaned close to Chen Ce's ear and whispered:

"Although I can tell you're a good person, if I find out you dare to treat Sona badly... you'd better watch out."

"Don't worry, I won't," Chen Ce promised with a smile.

Kahina then waved her hand in relief.

Lestara then said earnestly to Sona inside the room:

"Okay, okay, I'm not kidding anymore... Of course we know things won't progress that quickly, but you don't need to worry too much~ You know, our family has always advocated for free love."

Clang. The door closed softly.

Sona recalled her mother's youth... Indeed, free love...

My mother was also brave enough to pursue love back then...

Okay, even though she was the one being "pursued"...

Hmm...

Sona looked up at the young man by the door.

The hug every morning... Mr. Chen Ce...

It seems so...?

After finishing their "dinner" and washing up, the two prepared to go to sleep—it was impossible not to be tired after driving all the way back to Great City from Fossbarrow.

Chen Ce carried the blanket to the sofa as usual, without making Sona feel uncomfortable.

But today, Sona unusually tugged at the corner of the blanket—just before Chen Ce was about to go to sleep on the sofa.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Chen Ce asked, puzzled.

[Um... how about... you sleep on the bed...] Sona turned her head to the other side, but her voice still entered her mind as usual, without any effect. [Sleeping on the sofa all the time... isn't... fair to you...]

"What's the big deal? I'm used to it." Chen Ce smiled. "Besides, the sofa is very soft and wide; it's just like sleeping in a bed."

[Um... but... really, it's not necessary...]

"Hmm... you look a little strange, Miss Sona."

[Ah... really... haha...]

"Is there something you want to say to me?" Chen Ce pulled the blanket down and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Wearing only a thin nightgown and with her pigtails down, Sona shifted slightly, feeling rather restless.

[Well... I guess so... but not really... haha...]

"It's alright, just say what you want to say." Chen Ce smiled and moved a little closer to the other person.

[...] After a moment of silence, Sona's face turned even redder, but she still "shamelessly" asked the question she had always wanted to ask:

[It's... Mr. Chen Ce... I wanted to ask you...]

[Are you... um...]

[Does he/she like... me...?]

"Oh?" More than surprised, Chen Ce was confused by the question. "Why do you say that, Miss Sona?"

"Why...?" Sona was startled by the other person's calm demeanor, and the blush on her face became even more pronounced.

But she still insisted, "[It's just that... Mr. Chen Ce hugs me every morning... He's very kind and gentle to me... He thinks of me first when he's in danger...]"

[I... I'm not entirely sure... but I've read some books about it...]

[<One Hundred Signs a Boy Likes You>... etc...]

Upon hearing this, Chen Ce couldn't help but chuckle. "So Miss Sona also watches those weird things?"

[That's weird... No, I just saw it by chance...] Sona fidgeted with the end of her hair, [So... Mr. Chen Ce...?]

"Hmm..." Chen Ce was momentarily at a loss for words.

If I were to tell Sona the truth—that I only hug her every morning to stack Heartsteel... she would be very sad, wouldn't she?

Besides, judging from her appearance...

[That book also said...] Seeing that the other party hadn't given a reply yet, Sona said another part of the strange book with an embarrassed look: [It said... silence is admission... something like that...]

"... Huh?" Since she had already said everything, Chen Ce was truly speechless.

After a pause, Sona blushed and continued, "Actually... I've always thought Mr. Chen Ce was amazing... You're very strong, very kind to me, and have very lofty ideals..."

Most importantly... we're the same kind of people...

We are all from Ionia, and we are both considered outsiders in Demacia...

Although Sona has been protected by her parents and sister over the years and has never suffered too much trouble with magic, she is ultimately unable to truly "communicate" with others.

She had no way to make her voice heard, nor could she discuss magic with anyone... Even her closest family members had to keep their voices to themselves under these circumstances.

But Chen Ce was different.

He could hear her voice when they first met, and their subsequent interactions were very harmonious and natural. Whether discussing the past or magic, they were always on the same wavelength.

She really enjoyed this kind of spiritual connection.

You can tell the other person everything without reservation, and you can get the sincerity you want from them in return...

A feeling of complete equality.

After spending these days together, she had developed a strong liking for this young man who was about the same age as her.

Another very important point... In order to hide the fact that she can use magic, she has hardly had any contact with outsiders since she was a child, let alone male peers. However, at this age, she can be considered to be "coming of love".

This entirely new experience left her wondering why her heart would sometimes suddenly race.

[Mr. Chen Ce can hear my voice, this is the happiest thing that has happened to me in so many years... You have made me feel the joy of communication for the first time, and there are no obstacles between us... I am very happy.]

[We are the same kind of people, and we experienced a true connection and equality on a spiritual level, a feeling I had never experienced before...]

[Mr. Chen Ce, I really enjoy being with you.]

After saying that, Sona seemed to have all her strength and courage drained away, and she slumped against the bedside, her body somewhat weak.

After hearing what he said, Chen Ce couldn't bring himself to say things like, "I'm just hugging you to fold steel, don't overthink it."

"Ahem... um... well... listen to me first, Sona. The key to this problem is the crucial question: does this problem have an answer? Well, it's not that it doesn't... it's not that it doesn't, it's just... well, it's all up to us..." Chen Ce began to repeat his former boss's line.

[Eh...?] Miss Sona, who hadn't yet experienced the harsh realities of capital, looked on with a puzzled expression. [I don't really understand... Well, actually, I don't even really understand whether the feelings we have here can be considered... "love"? I don't understand... It's just...]

Chen Ce didn't answer, Sona continued, "[But... the only thing I'm sure of is that I really enjoy being with Mr. Chen Ce... As for the rest, I don't know. So I'm thinking, maybe we could have... a trial period?]"

I'm really unsure of my own feelings... and I don't know much about you, Mr. Chen Ce... so I mustered up the courage to ask you these questions...

[So... Mr. Chen Ce, would you be willing to give it a try with me?]

Sona finally raised her head, forcing herself, blushing with embarrassment, to look directly into the other person's eyes—her expression, wanting to look away yet not daring to, wanting to look yet not daring to, was rather cute.

[If... if you also like being with me...!]