Dinner Party, Part One (cont.)

"I... I'm very grateful to her..."

"Grateful?"

"Um."

Lavinia nodded.

"She helped me a lot... especially recently, when some unpleasant things happened around me, but she stepped in when I was at my most desperate and saved me... so I'm very grateful to her..."

"So... he's your savior?"

"Um..."

"Just my savior?"

The old woman's eyes were always sharp; she didn't even need to hear the girl say more to see through her thoughts and continued speaking with a smile.

"Hmm... maybe there's something else?"

Lavinia wasn't sure either. She just looked at the old woman in front of her with embarrassment, hesitated for a while, and then slowly spoke.

"She gives me a feeling... of mystery."

"I don't know where she came from or why. She has a cold demeanor and seems unapproachable, but she is actually very gentle... a gentleness she doesn't express. She notices the little details in everyone's life and knows how to maintain appropriate distance between people. Although she doesn't talk much, she always gives me an endless sense of security..."

"She... is somewhat... like family to me..."

Lavinia hesitated for a long time before finally not uttering the words she truly wanted to say, and instead shyly expressed her feelings for Maria.

The old woman beside her listened to the girl's words, her eyes gradually falling into deep thought.

Once upon a time, she also had a friend like this...

However, they hadn't seen each other for many years...

Looking back now, there are many regrets.

I haven't properly thanked her yet.

After pondering for a moment, the old woman shook her head.

Lavinia, who was standing nearby, noticed that the old woman's mood was somewhat subtle. She obediently changed the subject, not letting the other woman dwell too much on the past.

"Um... Madam, are you... interested in the Law?"

"The Law?" Understanding the girl's good intentions, the old woman smiled and shook her head.

She's not as fragile as girls think.

However, since the girl had changed the subject, she wouldn't dwell on it too much and just continued talking slowly.

"I used to think the Law was great, but now... it's just a tool."

"But... since we're on the topic, Lavinia, why are you studying Law...? Is it to become a judge?"

"Judge?" Lavinia was taken aback, somewhat bewildered.

"They are the people who enforce the law... They stand in the Court, holding the Law in their hands, to judge disputes and conflicts between ordinary people, and to make decisions..." the old woman explained patiently.

But this explanation only made the girl more confused.

"You mean... the Gray Hall?"

"No, Gray Hall is not."

The old woman shook her head firmly.

Although Gray Hall was established to serve as the Court of Siracusa, it is clear that Gray Hall today is far removed from her vision.

She is not satisfied with the current situation.

"The Gray Hall still reigns supreme over many things in Siracusa... but the Court are different."

"The Law is the rule, the Law is the ironclad law. Neither a family nor the Gray Hall should be above these rules..."

"And the Court, as the representative of the rules, should be above everything in Siracusa... Gray Hall cannot do that yet."

"But I believe that one day, the inscription of the Law will stand tall in this land, and it will stand there forever, like a giant, looking down on everything in Siracusa... including those shameful things."

"It... will ensure that the darkness of Siracusa no longer conceals anything else..."

The old woman spoke softly, but Lavinia felt she had never heard such firm words before.

Those words contained a Blades, piercing realization, like Blades capable of tearing through the darkness, surging outwards.

For a moment, she even mistook it for a sun rising like a blazing fire behind the old woman.

But when she came to her senses, she realized that it was just a light hidden in the darkness.

As for what the old woman said...

How did you find out about this?

Lavinia was somewhat curious.

But the old woman just smiled.

"I just had this idea... What do you think?"

"I..." Lavinia wanted to say that she really liked that kind of future, but... she ultimately didn't say it.

"I'm really looking forward to that day."

Lavinia didn't answer directly... Even she realized what kind of Court the old woman was referring to... and such an existence... was something the family would absolutely not allow.

She didn't know who the old woman was, or why she had chosen this path, and she kept telling herself that.

But she knew that if she wanted to grow up peacefully in Siracusa without any support, it was best not to delve too deeply into these things...

The old woman simply smiled as she looked at the girl.

To be honest, her conversation with the girl was purely coincidental. Under normal circumstances, she might not even have spoken to the girl... This wasn't just because of the sensitivity of her identity, but also to protect the girl.

But... when the girl mentioned that person, she couldn't help herself.

Although she knew that the person the girl was talking about was most likely just someone else with a similar personality.

But... what does it matter?

There is never a clear dividing line between thought and impulse...

So she told the girl her idea.

As for the girl's reaction...

To be honest, she was somewhat disappointed.

"You don't believe this day will ever come, do you?"

She stepped forward and gently stroked the girl's head.

From the girl's expression, she could tell that the other person didn't really believe that this day would come.

After all, for the vast majority of Siracusa, family rules are the only true rules; as for the Court... what are they?

So, faced with the girl's silence, she didn't blame her; she simply smiled and stepped forward.

"Yes, in Siracusa, where family values are deeply ingrained, it certainly takes a lot of effort to establish an entity that transcends the family."

"But that's the meaning of our existence."

The old woman spoke slowly, her eyes gradually gazing towards the sky.

"Facing an uncertain future, are we prepared for the worst, ready to gamble everything on a single, all-or-nothing game..."

"This was a very impulsive thing to do."

"You may lose countless things in your entire life, and the result of your efforts may not even be as great as a few contracts made by others. Such a sacrifice is too tragic, and I find it difficult to associate it with virtue."

"But I'm sure."

"Sacrifice does indeed take courage."

The old woman continued speaking, but this time, her words were very calm, yet the power they contained was like a giant hammer, making her ears ring.

It was like a bolt of lightning, suddenly piercing through her spine.

The electric shock sent a tingling sensation through her entire body.

Suddenly, the girl remembered something she hadn't thought about in a long time.

Why did I... ultimately choose to study the Law?

For the future? For a living? Or something else entirely?

No, she simply touched upon the darkness of the family's control... the fighting and destruction.

She couldn't understand why anyone could justify such violent actions and openly take everything from others.

She couldn't understand why, when everyone saw the muddy person lying among the weeds by the roadside, not a single person was willing to lend a helping hand...

As an ordinary person, she simply wanted to make the world she lived in a little happier... just to make herself a little happier.

And the Law... was the answer she found, but never acknowledged.

She stared at the woman in front of her, almost in shock, and after a long silence, she cautiously asked a question.

"Who... who are you?"

"..."

The old woman didn't answer, but simply smiled at the girl in front of her and gently brushed her hand past her ear.

"The banquet is about to begin..."

"Huh?"

Hearing the old woman's reminder, the girl realized that the boring prayer period of the banquet had ended, and now the waiters were bringing plates of decorated food to the living room, preparing to provide the visiting guests with a comfortable dining experience.

"I'm going back... Do you want to come in with me?"

The old woman didn't explain further to the girl, or perhaps her identity was never a secret.

However, after taking a few steps, she turned her head again, looked at the little girl who was following closely behind her, and smiled.

"No... is that not allowed?"

Lavinia was a little nervous.

The old woman before her seemed to possess some kind of magic, drawing her in as she craved answers...

This is an attraction unlike that of Lady Maria.

If Maria gave her a sense of security, then the woman before her gave her a different, more unique, and stronger attraction.

That is... something called an ideal.

"Of course, Miss Lavinia." The old woman smiled and slightly adjusted the expensive shawl on her shoulders.

"But... if you come in with me, you'll have to face quite a lot."

The old woman spoke subtly, but she knew Lavinia would understand... She wasn't popular in the family, and who knew what others would think of the two of them if they both entered the banquet together.

This could bring a terrible disaster to the girl.

Lavinia clearly understood this as well.

But this time she did not run away.

She lowered her head and pondered for a while, then looked up again.

Will Siracusa... usher in an era of Law?

"I won't let you down, girl."

The old woman answered slowly but firmly.

"Um!"

Without needing to say more, the old woman saw the girl's eyes and understood that the girl was prepared for the worst.

She would reciprocate with approval, but wouldn't offer much assistance.

Things have come to this point; the family and the Gray Hall have reached their limit!

The girl's decision to join the Gray Hall at this point, though ultimately futile, was a gamble that put her life on the line.

If the old woman wins, Siracusa will enter the era of Law, and she will become an important figure in the transition between the Age of Law and the Age of Families.