Beware of the Uninvited Guest

Luo Wei looked helplessly at Ophelia.

At that moment, her eyes were slightly narrowed, and her entire face was filled with a sly expression that screamed, “I’m about to stir up trouble.”

Luo Wei suddenly felt a headache coming on. The relationship between Helena and Teacher Evelyn was already tense enough, and if this one were added to the mix...

He couldn’t even imagine the chaos that would ensue in the old mansion.

However, Luo Wei had a feeling that even if those two teamed up, they wouldn’t stand a chance against Ophelia.

After all, Ophelia could call for backup...

The more Luo Wei thought about it, the more his head hurt, so he decided to put it out of his mind for now. These were problems for the future, after all.

He turned his gaze back to Ophelia, wanting to ask her what she planned to do next.

The entire estate had been blown to pieces by the out-of-control magic crystals, and staying here was no longer an option. More importantly, the massive explosion was bound to attract the attention of the royal capital.

Luo Wei wasn’t sure if she would actually keep her “promise,” but regardless, it was unrealistic for her to keep him by her side now.

But then, unexpectedly, Ophelia, who had been so animated just moments ago, suddenly swayed unsteadily, her body weakly sliding downward.

“Ophelia!”

“Your Highness!!”

Luo Wei rushed forward in a flash, catching Ophelia just before she collapsed.

In his arms, Ophelia’s face was as pale as paper, weak and listless, looking even worse off than Luo Wei.

He pressed the back of his hand to her forehead and found it burning hot.

“You’re running a fever?”

Seeing Luo Wei’s worried expression, Ophelia managed a weak smile.

“It’s nothing serious. I’m just... just a little tired...”

She curled up obediently in Luo Wei’s arms, closing her eyes heavily.

“Let me sleep for a while... just a little while...”

The maids anxiously gathered around, and Caroline smiled bitterly at Luo Wei. “Before this, Her Highness hadn’t slept for three days and nights...”

Luo Wei nodded. Over the past two weeks, Ophelia had already been suffering from chronic insomnia due to her research into the Dreamlands. And in the past few days, she had thrown herself into a frenzy of work, forgetting to eat or sleep...

Coupled with her overexertion today, her body had long been pushed to its limits.

Luo Wei sighed as he looked down at her in his arms. “You’re really too stubborn...”

Ophelia had already fallen into a deep sleep, her closed eyelids fluttering slightly, as if she were having an uneasy dream.

Luo Wei thought about handing her over to Caroline, but even in her sleep, Ophelia’s slender hand still clung tightly to him, refusing to let go.

Luo Wei had no choice but to soothe her.

“This isn’t a good place to rest. Be good and let go...”

Ophelia murmured incoherently in her sleep.

“Don’t... don’t go...”

“Luo Wei...”

Luo Wei looked at her helplessly. “I’m not going anywhere... I’m right here.”

Ophelia continued to mumble restlessly, “Luo Wei... don’t die... don’t die...”

It seemed that in her dream, Luo Wei was still dying over and over.

Luo Wei shook his head with a wry smile. Seeing that he couldn’t free his hand, he leaned down and whispered into Ophelia’s ear.

“I’m not going to die, and I’m not going to leave you. Rest for a few days, and we’ll meet again soon.”

As he spoke, a mischievous smile crept onto his lips.

“Besides, how could I possibly leave?”

“I’m still waiting for your gift, after all~”

“You’ll need to be in top shape for that, won’t you?”

His words seemed to reach Ophelia even in her sleep.

A serene and content smile appeared on her face, and she finally settled down completely.

Luo Wei was finally able to free his arm.

After handing Ophelia over to the dutiful head maid, Luo Wei looked at her seriously and gave his instructions:

“My body is fine now. You should hurry and take her back to Saint Callen. Her condition is much more serious than mine.”

Dealing with contamination and backlash from the supernatural realm was always a tricky problem, completely different from ordinary illnesses, and most doctors wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“Understood, Mr. Luo Wei,” Caroline said with gratitude, nodding.

She then quickly instructed the other servants, “Prepare the carriages. We’re taking Her Highness back...”

Just as Caroline was making arrangements, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the ruins of the estate.

A shadow guard on watch appeared instantly beside the group, walking over to Jason, the leader of the shadow guards, and reporting in a low voice.

“What?” Jason, who was usually stoic, immediately turned his gaze toward the vast farmland in the southern outskirts.

He pulled out a telescope.

“What’s going on?” Luo Wei asked, walking over in confusion and following their gaze into the distance.

The estate was situated on higher ground, and even with the naked eye, Luo Wei could see a line of unfamiliar white carriages speeding down the road leading to the estate.

There were so many of them that they had kicked up a large cloud of yellow dust.

Jason lowered the telescope, his expression grim.

He had initially hesitated to say too much to Luo Wei, but considering the special relationship between Luo Wei and Her Highness, he decided to explain after a moment’s pause.

“The people coming...”

“They’re from the Holy Edict Knight Order.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the expressions of everyone present changed.

The shadow guards vanished on the spot, hiding in the surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, Caroline and the maids looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy, and Luo Wei noticed the muscular maid’s arm bulging with tension.

“The Holy Edict Knight Order?” Luo Wei racked his brain, trying to recall the background story from the game.

The Holy Edict Knight Order was the military arm of the Church, composed entirely of supernaturals. They were tasked with protecting the Church and, under the authorization of the Emperor and the Cardinal, using force to “purify” all evil and unholy forces in the world.

The “Knight Order” and the “Special Affairs Department” were the only two official supernatural organizations in the Empire. However, Luo Wei had more dealings with the latter and didn’t have a favorable impression of the Church, especially the Knight Order.

Anyone deemed a “heretic, a threat to society, a spreader of chaos and contamination, or someone who had made a pact with an evil god” would face the Knight Order’s relentless pursuit under the Church’s orders.

If it had been the Knight Order, rather than the Special Affairs Department, that had been chasing Helena that day, Luo Wei probably wouldn’t have even seen her in that alley.

But the question was...

Luo Wei frowned as he looked at Caroline. Why were they reacting this way to the Knight Order?

Ophelia was indeed a “mutant,” but she was the Fifth Princess, and the old Emperor was well aware of it...

Caroline noticed Luo Wei’s confusion and quickly explained.

“The Knight Order is under the Third Prince’s control.”

“The Third Prince?” Luo Wei was startled. This was an unexpected name.

Caroline whispered, “His Majesty has already executed several bishops and placed his own people within the Church. And this so-called ‘own person’ is the current acting commander of the Knight Order—the Third Prince, Her Highness’s older brother.”

With this explanation, Luo Wei immediately understood.

This was indeed troublesome.

They had expected the police or the Special Affairs Department to show up, but the Knight Order had suddenly intervened.

Luo Wei knew this was no coincidence, nor did he believe the Knight Order was here to provide disaster relief or cleanse evil.

This was all because Ophelia was the Third Prince’s rival.

Even that shocking “airship explosion” had been the Third Prince’s welcome-home gift for his sister.

Like hyenas catching the scent of blood on the savannah, the intentions of this never-before-seen older brother of Ophelia’s were all too clear.

“But why is he so determined to kill Ophelia...” Luo Wei fell into deep thought again. Where did this deep-seated hatred come from?

Sure, they were rivals, but Ophelia, who was completely ignored by the old Emperor, probably didn’t even have a seat at the table...

Her brothers had been placed in the military, the Church, or local governments at a young age to gain experience, while Ophelia had only been given a small amount of power four years ago. All the wealth and influence she had now were the result of her own hard work.

Though his mind raced through countless thoughts, it all happened within mere seconds. When Luo Wei glanced around again, he had already formulated a plan.

The people around him were on high alert, as if facing a formidable enemy. With Ophelia unconscious, everyone seemed to have lost their guiding force.

He immediately called out in a cold, commanding voice.

"Caroline! Jason!"

"Mr. Luo Wei?" Caroline looked at him in surprise.

Jason hadn’t expected Luo Wei to issue orders in such a tone, but he showed no sign of displeasure, merely gazing at him calmly.

"Take Ophelia and move her immediately. Make sure it’s done discreetly. The Third Prince must not discover that she’s lost her power."

"Understood!" Caroline nodded without hesitation. She hoisted the unconscious Ophelia onto her back and hurried toward the ruins of the manor.

"Hurry! All of you! Clear the obstacles! There’s a secret passage in the basement that leads to the lakeside cabin!"

With clear instructions, the attendants sprang into action, their movements now orderly and efficient.

Jason silently observed Luo Wei. He and Caroline had always been responsible for their lady’s protection and daily needs, respectively. For years, they had faithfully followed her commands without fail.

But they had never encountered a situation like this—where their lady was unable to issue orders herself... Nor had they ever imagined that someone close to her would take charge and issue commands in her name.

Yet, everyone instinctively obeyed him. Perhaps it was because of the intimate relationship between the two, or perhaps because it was clear that he was acting in their lady’s best interest.

"What’s next?" Jason asked. "The Third Prince won’t give up easily. The entire southern outskirts are likely swarming with his men..."

Luo Wei looked at him, his expression grave.

"Stall."

"Stall until our reinforcements arrive."

"Reinforcements?" Jason’s eyes narrowed in confusion. Where would they get reinforcements? The troops from their lady’s fiefdom? It would take a month for them to get here...

"Don’t worry..." Luo Wei reassured him with a smile.

There *would* be "reinforcements."