Cloud Thinking

Two days later, the news that an explosion occurred near the Thad Forest, causing the ground to collapse and revealing the ruins of a palace, spread like wildfire in Berman. Everyone was discussing why the huge explosion occurred there, which emperor left the ruins, whether the monsters from the Thad Forest were about to attack, and whether they should pack up and prepare to escape. For a time, everyone was in a panic, and even the busy Hawk was alarmed.

He looked at the report presented by his subordinates, and seemed to be in a bad mood, with a frown on his face. Only when Blot came in did his expression ease a little. He raised his hand to stroke his fiery red hair, and his sturdy body moved, and the chair under his buttocks made a creaking sound as if it could not bear the weight.

"Blot, you didn't ask Britney to do this, did you?" Hawke slammed the report in his hand on the table. There was no emotion in his light brown eyes. He stared straight at his son, demanding an explanation.

He was indeed aware that there was a group of daring human traffickers doing human trafficking in the bazaar, but he had never been able to spare the time to deal with it. It was not until recently when Blot came back from his travels that he was given the task to do and asked him to prove his ability. But the way this matter was being handled now... was really not a happy thing.

"No, someone got there before us. When Britney and I sneaked in, the underground was already in chaos." Blot explained truthfully, "When we arrived, we only saw a white-haired man. He killed a magic swordsman and then detonated the entire underground. Britney and I didn't have time to investigate and fled immediately."

"Gray hair?" Hawke sat up and said thoughtfully.

"Yes, I suspect he is a descendant of the elves. Not only does he have white hair, but he also possesses extremely powerful magic power." Blot replied.

"Afterwards, teacher Britney and I went to look for any missing clues, but the other party went there with the intention of destroying the body and burning it completely, leaving nothing behind," he added.

"Is there any movement in Sad Forest?" Hawke asked.

"After the explosion, some monsters were stimulated and ran out. They were either burned to death by the fire or killed by the nearby city defense forces. There was not much noise." Blot replied.

Hawke supported himself with his hands and thought quietly. He was like a lion taking a rest, his huge body lazily leaning on one side. Even if he didn't speak, one could feel the overwhelming pressure he exuded. You wouldn't want to be targeted by such a person.

Blot did not interrupt, but stood there silently, waiting for Hawke's instructions. He did not handle this matter well, so he deserved to be punished. But compared to this, he was more curious about the identity of the white-haired man. Britney's attitude towards him was very suspicious, and he still didn't know why Teacher Britney came to Berman.

According to gossip, it was Princess Helia who came to Bellman to study at Carter's College, and Britney should have come with her as a personal bodyguard.

Blot did have some doubts that the white-haired man was Her Royal Highness the Princess. He knew that Britney's disguise skills were superb, and it would not be difficult to change Helia's appearance and gender. Moreover, His Majesty Claude would also be able to mobilize the great magician of the court. Who could make His Majesty Claude pay so much attention to him? Princess Helia was the most likely candidate.

This would explain why Britney cast a defensive protective spell the moment she saw the white-haired man. She cared about this person very much, and it could even be said that protecting this person had become her instinctive reaction. Combined with the gossip he had received, there was an 80% chance that the white-haired man was Princess Helia. The remaining 20% ​​could only be known after personal verification.

Even though he asked Britney about it after that day, she either avoided the question or just gave him the perfunctory answer that she was an important friend. Finally, she got tired of being asked and simply disappeared. She has not been contacted since then.

If it really was Princess Helia... Blot couldn't tell how she felt. She didn't know much about this blood cousin. Because of her father, they rarely asked about royal family affairs. All they knew were the rumors circulating in the market, whose authenticity they couldn't tell.

It is said that Princess Helia is very beautiful, but unfortunately she is born weak and sickly, and rarely goes out to show herself. She is gentle, kind, and generous...

But from what Blot saw that day, the person who could kill without hesitation was definitely not the weak, pitiful and helpless Princess Helia as rumored.

So how did these rumors come about?

Of course, it is also possible that the white-haired man is not Princess Helia, and everything that happened that day has nothing to do with the pampered little princess. It is all his guess, but he is confident that if he can see that man again, he will be able to confirm whether the other party is the child that his deceased aunt tried so hard to keep.

In the end, Hawke did not punish Blot for his poor performance, but instead ordered, "Go over to Frank's side and see how Wedgers reacts."

Do you suspect that this matter is related to the Marquis Frank's family? They shouldn't be so powerful as to make such a fuss, right? If they were, they wouldn't have lived like a turtle all these years, being suppressed everywhere, and not looking like a lord.

But these were just his own guesses. Since his father felt that there was something wrong with the Marquis Frank's family, he should go there. It had been a long time since he had been to Berman. "I know."

the other side--

"Beleyi!!! Claude scolded me to death because of you!!! Why didn't you tell me before you did such a big thing!!!"

Britney almost yelled into Helia's ear. After she hurriedly escaped with Blott that day, she hurried back to Carter's College, but did not find the person she was looking for. It was not until two days later that Helia sneaked back and was caught by Britney who was squatting in Helia's room.

During this time, she also received a call from Claude, saying that she was not good enough at protecting him, and decided to replace him with someone else. After the magician arrived, she would return to the imperial capital on her own. She finally got a chance to play outside, and now she was asked to go back to the boring palace. This was more painful than beating her up!

"I haven't asked you yet! Britney! Why are you in contact with Antonio's family and so close to them!" Helia counterattacked, "Besides, you didn't tell me what you were going to do. Why should I report everything to you?"

The always docile and obedient little princess dared to challenge her. Britney felt that she had only been away for a while, how could the world have changed! Who on earth had led the little princess astray? Could it be that damn old man? She would definitely scold him severely later!

"I didn't know what to do at first. I owed that kid a favor, so I just accompanied him to check some things. Why do you, a child, care so much about adult affairs! Besides, I clearly told you not to run around before I left. What are you doing now?" Britney did not give in and replied loudly with her hands on her hips.

"Adults have no right to interfere in children's affairs! Besides, my father asked me to do this, Britney, you have no right to criticize me!" Helia's voice was one degree higher than Britney's. After all, quarrels are all about momentum. Whoever speaks louder is more reasonable. But this statement is actually very unreasonable.

"Ah!!! Is Claude crazy or are you crazy!!!" After Britney finished cursing, she realized that she shouldn't have said this name. Her arrogance disappeared all of a sudden. She opened the window cautiously and looked around. After making sure that no one was sticking their heads out to look, she retracted her head uneasily.

"Anyway, Marshal Hawke doesn't recognize me, and my father doesn't get along with Marshal Hawke. I stand on my father's side and don't want to have too much contact with the Antonio family." Helia crossed her arms and accused, "You went behind my back with the young master of the Antonio family this time. What about next time? Will you sell me out because of your friendship with Marshal Hawke?"

"Britney, you don't trust me, and I won't trust you either."

From the very beginning of the freshman dance, Britney tried to hide Avril's identity from Helia. Then, after she clearly expressed that she did not want to have too much contact with the Antonio family, she secretly went out with Blot to investigate a case without her knowledge. The investigation lasted for a month and a half, and she was completely missing during that time. Even Chico didn't know what she was doing. How could Helia trust her?

Britney always relied on her status as an adult, hiding everything under the banner of Helia's good, but asked Helia to be open with her. Wasn't this a bit unfair? What she needed was someone who stood firmly on her side. Even if they didn't stand on her side, they should stand on Claude's side. At least now she and Claude were in the same camp and would not stab each other in the back.

She didn't know what kind of past there was between Britney, Hawke, Claude and her mother Madeline, what their relationship was, or why things had turned out like this. She didn't care about any of that. What she cared about was Britney's position. Britney couldn't have her cake and eat it too. She couldn't have her cake and eat it too.

There is no such good thing in the world! You can have your cake and eat it too!

Since she chose to be a court magician, she was on Claude's side, so why was she getting involved with Hawke? It was almost a consensus among the Bermans that Hawke was the real lord of the northern border, and even Claude had difficulty inserting his hand. What did this mean? Hawke might stand against Claude and want to be a local emperor. This was something Claude could not tolerate, and it was also something Helia, who was enjoying the rights and interests brought to her by Claude, could not tolerate.

Even though he was her blood uncle.

"Helia, you know I wouldn't do that." Britney was hurt by Helia's words. She didn't expect Helia to see her like this. Sometimes she was really confused, but she, Madeline, Claude and Hawke used to be such good friends. Since Madeline's death, she didn't know why things had developed into what they are now. She always thought about the friendship in the past, so even if she was working for Claude, she couldn't refuse Hawke's request.

But she still knew the difference between right and wrong. She firmly believed that Hawke would not betray or rebel, but if he really did so, she would stand on Claude's side without hesitation.

"Yes, I know you won't, but I can't help but doubt it. Britney, have you ever thought that I would be afraid?" Helia said truthfully, "Hawke doesn't like me. Even Ronnie is worried that I will be targeted by him one day. Why do you think he will treat me well?"

"And the fact that he adopted Avril as his adopted daughter, the more I think about it, the more ridiculous it seems." Helia sneered, "He adopted her just because she looks like my mother. What would Hawke think if he saw me?"

"Does she think I'm the vampire who killed her sister, or does she think of me as a substitute for her mother?"

"Helia, no... Hawke is not..." Britney was in a headache. Why would Helia think this way? She couldn't understand. She had never seen Hawke and had no contact with him. Why did she make such a casual judgment? Did all the problems stem from me? Was it because I told Helia those things that she thought this way?

"Britney, at this point, your subconscious reaction is to defend Marshal Hawke, not me, or your father." Helia pointed out the problem in Britney's words. She knew that she was being unreasonable and venting her anger on Britney for no reason, but had she really thought about these problems! These problems really existed!

These questions were the high wall between her and Britney. Britney avoided answering them, but Helia could see them as long as she looked up. She had never intended to embarrass Britney before, thinking that the two of them would just pretend that the problems did not exist and get along well with each other, so she never asked.