V1: Chapter 18: Drugging is the Fake Heiress's Choice

For over a week, Auston maintained this attitude towards Liang Lin, and Gael frequently visited the academy, hovering around Liang Lin and occasionally praising Liang Di.

"Miss Liang Di's mind is truly admirable. In less than half a month, she's made the Langwendi family's tailor shop the most profitable in the Soteland Empire, and she's even won praise from the common people. You know, as far as I know, the Langwendi family's tailor shop has been losing money for several years."

Liang Lin remained silent, her heart filled with disdain.

What good is a clever mind if someone can't even stand up?

Inside the Langwendi family mansion.

Liang Lin returned home to find Auston hurrying along, with the head maid, Bellica, following behind.

Upon seeing Liang Lin, Bellica restrained herself and stepped in front of her, offering a greeting.

"Miss Liang Lin, welcome home from school."

Liang Lin felt something was off. She craned her neck and stood on tiptoe to look at Auston's back, only to see him turn into Miranda's room.

What were they discussing?

"Hmm, I'll go back to my room now."

Liang Lin circled back to the same spot, looking left and right. Not seeing Bellica or the other maids, she relaxed and tiptoed to Miranda's door, pressing herself against it and listening intently.

"Liang Di is the true daughter of the Langwendi family. The position of head of the family should go to Liang Di."

"Then what about our son, Edwin?" Miranda's resentful voice came from behind.

“But you can see that Liang Di has a strong business sense; she has the potential to revitalize the Langwendi family!”

“Look at her…! She’s clearly a witch! A witch who knows magic! How can someone like that be the head of the family?”

Then came the argument between the two.

“Sigh…”

Auston sighed deeply. “Forget it, I’m not planning to abdicate right now anyway. Let’s wait until Edwin grows up. Let’s talk about the present. Miranda, you and Edwin need to be careful lately.”

“What happened?”

“I heard some magicians have infiltrated, but it’s alright. Tomorrow I’ll go to the palace; the Queen has potions to deal with magicians.”

Miranda exclaimed in surprise.

“They’ve infiltrated?”

“Yes, they’ve always been there.”

Hearing this, Liang Lin straightened up and slowly retreated.

Neither of them mentioned Liang Lin once. Liang Lin knew that because she didn’t have Langwendi blood, the position of family head could never be passed down to her.

So… only if Liang Di dies first can she gain a sliver of hope.

A potion to counter magicians?

Inside Miranda's room.

“She’s gone, Your Grace.”

“Hmm, she heard everything, didn’t she?”

“She heard everything. I saw it with my own eyes. She was pressed against the door, and that expression was absolutely terrifying.”

“Hahaha…”

The second day, at the academy.

“Miss Liang Lin, why are you daydreaming?”

Liang Lin slowly turned her head.

“Your Highness, do you know about magicians?”

A subtle smile curved Gael’s lips.

“Magicians? Oh~ My mother mentioned it to me recently and gave me a potion, telling me to be careful.”

Potion?

Liang Lin’s eyes lit up, her eagerness undisguised.

“Then…”

“Is Miss Liang Lin also afraid of magicians?” Gael approached Liang Lin.

Liang Lin took a step back, distancing herself from Gael. She wanted to show disgust, but needing his help, she could only force herself to nod, awkwardly feigning weakness.

"Hmm…people are always afraid of the unknown."

"Then this potion is for you, although I don't believe in it. Hmm…don't forget to share some with Miss Liang Di, so she can protect herself."

His concern for Liang Di is so strong, Liang Lin must be dying of jealousy, right?

Gael eagerly observed the expression on the woman's face beside him.

Sure enough, Liang Lin's face was ashen (actually, it was because Gael's fingertips accidentally touched her palm when she took the potion).

She felt nauseous, hating herself for not wearing gloves.

Watching Liang Lin's departing figure, Gael sat back down on the grass, sighing as if in regret, muttering to himself, "It seems the next time we meet will be in the Empire's prison."

The moon was exceptionally round tonight. Liang Lin sat on the soft sofa in her room, the potion in her palm warm from holding it. She stared intently at the full moon, and finally poured some of the potion into the freshly warmed milk.

Knock, knock, knock.

Liang Lin knocked on Liang Di's door.

"It didn't rain today, and there was no thunder. Do you want me to sleep with you?" Liang Di opened the door.

She was wearing a silky satin nightgown, her long, snow-white hair draped over her shoulders, damp as if she had just taken a bath, carrying the scent of gardenias. Her lower body was still clad in a long nightgown.

Liang Lin held up the milk laced with potion, her eyes darting away. "I...I brought you milk."

"Hmm...come in, I have something for you too."

Liang Di took the milk and placed it on the table.

"The milk is warm; it won't taste good if it cools down."

Liang Di repeated the question she had asked Liang Lin earlier, "This milk, is it for me?"

"...Yes."

"Didn't Auston send you?"

"...Yes."

Liang Di nodded gently, pulled a wine-red gemstone necklace from a drawer, and held it up high, holding it up against Liang Lin's snow-white neck for a long time.

After a long while, she smiled gently, "It really suits you."

"It's for you."

Liang Lin took it blankly.

Liang Di picked up the milk on the table; it was indeed warm.

Moonlight shone on her thin frame. She suddenly looked up at Liang Lin, a faint smile appearing on her face, cold and unnatural, unlike that of a human being.

That smile...

Sister...Hilary...!

That day, Hilary sat by the window at dusk, tears welling in her eyes, an unspeakable sorrow swirling within them.

The last rays of the setting sun streamed through the window, bathing her pale face and long, golden hair in a melancholy glow. She held a book in her hands, a children's book given to her by her missing lover.

Would she really use such despicable means to kill Liang Di?

Liang Lin stared blankly at the gemstone necklace in her hand. The last time someone had given her a gift was when her sister, Hilary, was healthy.

Liang Lin was momentarily lost in thought (so much so that later, when Liang Di grabbed her by the neck and asked who she had been looking at through her that day—but that's another story).

"Wait, wait!"

Liang Lin's limbs moved as if on cue.

Suddenly, she grabbed Liang Di's wrist, snatched the milk glass with her other hand, opened the window, and threw the glass out.

She swore it was just a momentary lapse of judgment, not a moment of weakness, absolutely... absolutely not because she saw Liang Di's forlorn face and softened, absolutely not because she thought of her sister, Hillary, and absolutely not because she was a little happy to receive a gift, much less because she remembered the warmth of Liang Di holding her in her arms that night!

"Drinking milk at night isn't good. I'll get you another cup tomorrow morning," Liang Lin said, offering a flimsy excuse.

"Is this your choice, Liang Lin?"