Cornflower Witch

Chapter 88 The Daughter Awaiting the Dawn
At noon, Hilti, Yero, and Maester Hyde traveled together by carriage to Viscount Schevon's castle.

Passing through the gray and gloomy stone road, the carriage creaked as it slowly entered the ancient moss-covered stone walls.

"This must be Hilti, what a lovely little girl." The Viscountess, dressed in a dark red velvet dress, greeted the three of them inside the castle.

"Come, sit next to me." She greeted Hilti with a kind smile, then took the girl's hand and inquired about her situation.

"...Lost in the forest and then lost her memory? What a poor child." She shook her head and sighed sadly.

“But it doesn’t matter. You can treat Jiao Shicheng as your home from now on. If you have any problems in the future, you can come to me.” After saying that, she summoned a maid and took out a ring with the crest of the Viscount Xue Feng family.

"Here, take this. With this ring, the castle guards won't stop you."

“Thank you, Madam,” Shiltiya said, expressing her gratitude.

Afterwards, the lady talked to Hilti for a long time until Viscount Scheffer arrived, and everyone had lunch together.

Lunch was very lavish, with the taste and quality of the various foods being on par with the most expensive restaurants in the city. This meal alone would probably cost 70 silver coins outside.

After lunch, Viscount Scheffen also chatted with Hilti for a while. He was kind-hearted and admired the young girl very much. He gave her many gifts, including a house in Scorched Stone City.

"If you don't need it normally, you can use it as a place to store odds and ends. Don't worry, it's located in the West District, which has a very good security and no thieves."

"Thank you, Lord Xue Feng."

The girl was curious as to why Viscount Xuefeng was suddenly showing her such kindness. Was it because of Madame Fran?

After their meal and conversation in the castle, at Maester Hyde's suggestion, Hiltiah followed her maid to the tower where Iona lived.

"Please follow me, Miss Iona's residence is just ahead."

The maid led Hiltiya toward the somewhat lonely tower, then opened the door and led her up the circular staircase.

Soon, she arrived at the door of the room in the tower and knocked lightly: "Miss Iona, your classmate has come to visit you."

"I won't see you." Although her voice was weak, it still carried an air of arrogance.

"It was the Viscount's order; he hopes it can alleviate your loneliness," the maid said again.

There was a long silence inside, before Iona finally responded.

"wait for me."

About half an hour later, Iona opened the door and saw the maid and Sylvia waiting outside.

She changed into a deep red dress adorned with gold thread and pearls, and her hair was styled in an intricate and elaborate updo, making her look like she was attending a noble gathering.

"Come in." She glanced at Siltiia behind the maid, then turned around.

The rooms inside this tower are exceptionally luxurious, filled with various gold and red furniture and ornaments, which appear to be made as a set, as if a princess's room had been moved here.

After entering the room, the maid served tea to the two of them, then took her leave, leaving Iona and Sylvia alone.

Leaning back on the velvet sofa, Iona bent her right hand back and gently propped her cheek up, looking down at the simply dressed girl in front of her.

“If you’re here to complete the teacher’s task, you can leave after sitting for a while.” Her voice was cold and devoid of emotion.

In response, Hilti opened her mouth slightly, as if to refute something, but then decided it was unnecessary and remained silent.

The light red tea steamed gently, rising slowly from the coffee table in the two-person room. A moment of silence fell over the room.

Perhaps feeling she should say something, Hilti thought for a moment and then spoke: "I heard from the teacher that you weren't feeling well. Are you feeling better now?"

At this moment, Iona stared blankly at the pattern on the coffee table. Hearing the sound, she looked up and glanced at Sylvia for a while.

"I'm feeling better," she replied casually.

"Your voice is quite nice." He seemed to realize something.

"It's a bit of a waste to just study by rote." She picked up her teacup, ready to have a drink.

"Thank you." Hiltiya also picked up her teacup, and the two drank their tea in silence.

Just as Hilti thought the exchange and condolence session was probably coming to an end, Iona looked at the large iron box in the corner of the room and asked a question.

"Valeny's notes, are they yours?"

“Uh, yes.” Hiltiah remembered the two times Valenie had asked for her notebook.

“I haven’t been to class lately, and she brought me my notes.” Iona nodded slightly as she recalled this. “You took very detailed notes, and your handwriting is quite good.” Although the handwriting was elegant, in Iona’s eyes, these were merely the skills of a servant, and learning them well was of little use.

"If you don't have a good future, you can come to my side and become a transcriber." Even with printing technology, many precious books would never be published, and could only be borrowed and transcribed among nobles.

"Ah."

"You don't need to go to next month's assessment. It might kill someone." Iona felt it was rare for her to be so kind as to remind the girl in front of her.

"Are you referring to the selection test for the Hidden Woods?"

"Yes."

"I've already spoken with Professor Hyde about participating," Hilti said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she pondered how to explain.

"you?"

"You're really asking for it." Iona shook her head.

“Don’t think that just because you studied secret history well, you can find better opportunities in the Hidden Woods. It’s not like Burning Stone City is… ‘warm’.” She paused for a few seconds before uttering this word.

“Thank you for your kindness, Iona, but I know there might be some danger there,” Hiltiya said after a moment’s thought.

"Why do you also want to go there? I remember that with your status, you should be able to avoid such danger."

“Dangerous, yes, it’s really dangerous.” Iona showed a rare interest in this matter.

“You may not know, but even among nobles there are huge distinctions, and if I want to keep something, I have to pay a heavy price.”

"Furthermore, if I don't go there, what kind of 'good life' do you think I would lead? Would I spend the rest of my life in Jiaoshicheng like an ordinary person?"

“This…” Hiltiya roughly understood Iona’s situation. She was a very intelligent person and understood immediately.

"I see."

“I hope you get what you want, but going to the Hidden Woods isn’t the only way.” She guessed that Iona probably wanted to revive her family’s glory, because she had already learned a lot about Iona’s family background from other classmates.

"Oh, you're advising me so early? Are you confident you can beat me?" Iona couldn't help but tease, seeing Sylvia's serious expression.

It's strange, if anyone else had said that, she probably would have been impatient. In fact, quite a few people, like Hilti, have tried to persuade her.

The girl shook her head, then answered.

"Confidence is not something to be called, it's just some insights from life." Reflecting on her two lives, many things that seemed extremely serious at the time were not so terrible when she looked back on them years later.

"Never mind, you always speak so cautiously, you're not lively at all." Before her father's accident, Iona was a socialite in White Cliff City, and she always enjoyed interacting with her peers who loved to joke around.

She has never gotten along with reserved types like Siltiia. If she didn't find Siltiia pleasing to the eye, she wouldn't even bother to say a few words.

After the previous silence was broken, Iona started talking to Sylvia about other things.

"...So, Mick and Ray's rapid progress is all thanks to your tutoring?" She had also noticed the changes in her classmates' grades.

"Yes." Originally intending to be modest, but considering Iona's personality, Sylvia decided to be more frank.

"Oh." Iona nodded slightly at her straightforward answer, feeling that this was exactly what she wanted; why did everything have to be so roundabout?

"Do you think there's still room for improvement in my swordsmanship?" Iona asked casually.

“Miss Iona…” Hilti looked at the blonde girl, a hint of information appearing in her eyes.

Name: Iona Karen
Race: Human (Mortal Body)

Status: Poor (Forcibly acquiring the ability left hidden damage)

talent:

Golden Blood [Superior Grade]: A trace of 'Golden Honey Blood' flows through your body. Although it is weak, this bloodline still gives you an affinity for the two major attributes of 'Blazing Sun' and 'Insect Moth', making it easier for you to master the abilities of these two attributes.

—The royal court of the Golden Tree and the Bees, a powerful empire later known as the 'Golden Honey Dynasty,' once blocked the Corona Dragon from regaining the position of 'Blazing Sun.'

Destiny Card:
【The Daughter Awaiting Dawn】'The golden border, like a princess's gate, embraces the figure standing with closed eyes in the open view; behind her lies cracked, parched earth, weathered tree roots, and scattered bones.'
-
Effect [Radiant Body Lv.2]: Due to specific talents and affinity, your body gradually adapts to the 'Radiant Sun' affinity, allowing you to directly integrate the power of 'Radiant Sun' into your blood for comprehensive enhancement. (Recommended not to exceed 3 minutes/day)
Ability Cards:
【Sunlight Breathing Technique Lv.3】(Blazing Sun)

【Golden Needle Piercing Blade Lv.3】(Blazing Sun)
【Bee Dance Steps Lv.2】(Insect Moth)

(End of this chapter)