"Eh?"
Valentina blinked rapidly, staring at the girl who, after letting out a venting roar, quickly returned to calm.
Did she... just swear?
Not only was Valentina bewildered, but if an outsider had witnessed the scene earlier, they would surely be more confused than she was.
No one would have expected that the flawless princess in the eyes of everyone in Frost Crystal Kingdom would actually erupt in such rage to the point of swearing.
Philia broke down.
But it wasn't because Herbert was taken by Valentina that she broke down.
She admitted that, in her youth, she did care about Herbert and had feelings for him.
But isn't that quite a normal thing?
Two people who've known each other since childhood, growing up as childhood friends, it's quite reasonable to have so feelings.
But such feelings are not unchanging.
As they grow older, spending more ti together, these feelings might transform at any mont.
So people turn these feelings into love, while others transform them into familial affection.
And Philia belongs to the latter.
Especially when the Snow Witch bloodline within her awoke, her human sentints grew fainter, and the old feelings gradually transford into familial habits.
To her, Herbert was more like a brother without a blood connection.
They could jest and play around, talk about the world, but not suitable as partners—she simply didn't want to have a partner.
Rather than wasting her limited life on the boredom of romance, Philia preferred to dedicate more energy to the study and exploration of magic.
So when Philia was repeatedly taunted by Valentina for such matters, she was truly upset.
Especially when realizing she couldn't beat Valentina, this upset doubled.
No way to escape, no way to fight.
Buddha.
Valentina was intimidated by the forceful aura of Philia when she broke down, hunching her shoulders, she blinked and asked, "But, at that ti, you truly didn't appear..."
"Sigh!"
Speaking of which, Philia's expression turned even more speechless, she sighed, "At that ti, I truly wasn't in Frost Crystal Royal City but was in my mother's Mage Tower, and by the ti I learned, he was already at the Monastery."
"As for later..."
Philia shook her head, saw Valentina's bewildered face, and continued, unable to help but explain further with great frustration, "Terence and Kordi were indeed the masterminds, but behind them was another force targeting my mother."
"That person wanted to use Herbert to provoke , so I'd seek my mother's help, thereby inducing her to take action to achieve his purpose."
Valentina blinked hard, suddenly slightly comprehending, and asked, "So..."
"So, only if I seed indifferent, would that person not easily act, Herbert might suffer, but at least he wouldn't die."
"He was weak! A powerless weakling! An admirer of art and nothing else! My rationality told that this is the best solution... As for his thoughts, his feelings, compared to staying alive, they are unimportant!"
Philia released Valentina's collar, ruffled her own hair helplessly:
"Yes, at that ti, I indeed let him suffer, but I've tried to make ands, the Ring of Suffering you're wearing was found by for him."
It was I who helped!
And think, a Silver Wings Duke being just a Knight, even if wealthy, how can they easily find a perfectly suitable Magical Artifact...
Philia truly has held back for long about this matter.
He indeed suffered because of , but afterwards, I compensated, and in the end, he's fine, isn't that enough?
Besides not helping him kill my eldest brother and his eldest brother, hasn't she done her utmost already... What more is needed?
Moreover, Philia hasn't been without cost; when Herbert returned, she had already felt the distance between them.
Though she wasn't unreasonably marked as an enemy, their relationship had dropped from being "best friends" to scarcely "above strangers."
Philia felt regret about this but could understand, given he suffered part of this due to her, holding resentnt is normal.
But that's just regret; if given another chance, she'd still do the sa—not for him, but for herself.
After hearing Philia's explanation, Valentina's head lowered more, the whole dragon nearly cowered.
Feels like, maybe, kind of, possibly... misunderstood her?
Seems like the wrong battle opponent was chosen.
But the problem is, I've already eaten the person.
What to do?
Maybe just run!?
Valentina shrunk her head, preparing to quietly sneak away, but just before moving her legs, she suddenly paused watching Philia's sowhat haggard profile.
She blinked and suddenly asked, "Regarding the current outco... Do you regret it?"
Philia, initially explaining her innocence with anger, suddenly stopped and gazed at Valentina with a blank expression.
A mont later, she shook her head calmly, without a reply.
But at that mont, as the moonlight fell upon the girl's cool face, Valentina too fell silent.
Just in that instant, Miss Hungry Dragon, who had just spent a month in Herbert's small classroom, suddenly recalled a word she recently learned.
Bitter.
.
.
"Hey, sorry to keep you waiting, His Majesty has really been clinging lately."
When Herbert ca to the Royal Palace Garden for the appointnt, Philia was already the only one there.
"Mm."
Philia nodded to Herbert, her gaze lingered on his face for a mont before quickly drifting away.
Because of that gossipy giant dragon nun, her mood wasn't as calm as her surface showed.
And the most upsetting... was that at this mont, she couldn't activate Ice and Snow Mind.
Herbert didn't notice Philia's emotions, and alongside her, gazed at the blooming Frost Crystal Flowers, speaking softly:
"Now, all issues have been resolved, His Majesty has agreed to my proposal, and with Divine Spirit Church's help to suppress, once those nobles die off, the Kingdom will soon return to peace."
"Now, can you tell the identity of that person behind all this?"
Philia was silent, shaking her head: "Do you really want to know? Herbert, you're not yet on his radar, knowing his na won't benefit you."
"Philia, I'm a vengeful person; if I don't avenge each enemy, I'm uncomfortable."
Herbert turned his head towards her cold profile, smiled:
"For you not wanting to know, his identity must be complicated, and if he makes even your mother cautious, there's a great chance he's a strong figure from the Witch Association."
"Which Grand Mage is it?"
Philia grew more silent.
"You don't need to hide it; don't worry about , I'm not foolish enough to provoke him now, but... soday."
"I can't possibly want revenge one day and not even know my enemy's identity, right?"
After Herbert spoke for quite a while, Philia finally sighed, shaking her head: "Since you're so insistent, then don't bla in the future."
"The current Witch Association's twelve chair heads, second seat, Tower Master of Winter Spirit and Cold Beast mage towers—[Spirit Summoner Finn]."
"He's now the leader of the male wizards in the Witch Association and one of the only two openly epic figures in the entire Witch Association."
Sure enough, it's a Grand Mage from the Witch Association.
Herbert silently morized this na, planning to find an opportunity in the future to repay the kindness well.
After this information was shared, the two fell into silence; the depth of friendship that once had no secrets ultimately couldn't be restored.
After a while, Herbert coughed lightly, breaking the silence, he humorously teased: "So, such a Grand Mage targeting you, is he coveting your beauty and bloodline?"
Is he a perverted old man?
I've seen plenty of such scenarios.
Who would have thought, upon hearing this, Philia shook her head, her expression more lancholic, she sighed:
"No."
"You're wrong, his goal was never ."
Philia turned her head, looking at the moon above, her tone very strange, she spoke softly:
"But rather..."
"My mother."
???
Herbert's eyes widened, completely losing control of his expression.
Damn!
Turns out it's a treacherous scoundrel!
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