V1: Chapter 38: What are You All Hiding?!

"You were just an ordinary human child at first, weren't you? Why did you become like this? You really can't remember?"

"I told you, I've looked like this since I can remember!" Gladys started struggling again, kicking her legs wildly. "I'm telling you, this is kidnapping! I'm going to tell the Knights! Arrest you all!"

"Pfft~"

Liang Lin, who was watching the commotion, laughed.

Let those dogs of the Knights, who serve the nobles, arrest the nobles? What a joke!

"Hmm, I'll take you somewhere later, maybe you'll remember." Liang Lin stuffed the handkerchief back into Gladys's mouth.

Inside the Langwendi Mansion.

“Tell Grandpa I still have things to take care of. After I finish, I'll go see him and report on the recent situation in Orlando.”

Liang Di handed her coat to a maid, then, pulling on the rope binding Gladys, headed towards the back garden. Liang Lin, seeing this, hesitated, unsure whether to follow.

Liang Di suddenly turned back.

“Oh, right, Liang Lin, take Laura to change her clothes. Don’t change her into anything fancy. I have a nun’s habit in my closet; take her to change.”

“Hah? Why do you have a nun’s habit…”

Liang Di didn’t answer, dragging the struggling Gladys into the back garden.

“Let’s go, Laura.”

Liang Lin harbored suspicions. She vaguely sensed that Liang Di was taking Gladys to the Langwendi family black hole, the place where they're hiding their family secrets.

What exactly was hidden inside? Why did it feel so oppressive? Would the two of them go in?

Liang Lin was filled with questions.

However, she could go into Liang Di's room later. While she was away, it wouldn't hurt to rummage around a bit; maybe she'd find something unexpected.

"Miss Liang, the way you wield your sword is truly handsome."

Laura suddenly complimented Liang Lin as they went upstairs.

"Thank you."

Liang Lin's reply remained polite and aloof.

The commoners had all heard of Liang Lin, the villainous young lady, and Laura was no exception.

Before meeting her, she had always imagined Liang Lin to be a seductive, tall, curvaceous, and exceptionally elegant woman, like a fox. She imagined her exploiting the commoners and treating everyone like dogs.

But after meeting the real Liang Lin, Laura discovered that she was a cold-hearted beauty, not seductive at all, even possessing a touch of girlish charm. She would rescue the commoners, grieve deeply for their deaths, and wield her sword to protect them.

It turned out the rumors were just rumors, and had nothing to do with Liang Lin herself.

Laura watched Liang Lin's retreating figure with adoration, her hands clasped together in a devout prayer, like someone praying before a statue in a church.

Click~

Liang Lin opened Liang Di's wardrobe. Sure enough, among the many gorgeous clothes, there was a mismatched, pristine white nun's habit. Liang Lin pulled it off and handed it to Laura.

"Go change over there. I won't watch you. Just give your dirty clothes to the maid outside. After you're done, sit on that chair over there. I have things to do."

Liang Lin pointed to a chair nearby.

"Okay, thank you, Miss Liang Lin."

Liang Lin went to Liang Di's desk and tried to open the drawer, but it was locked. So, Liang Lin crouched down and checked under the desk to see if anything was hidden.

After a search, she found nothing.

"That's right, how could Liang Di be foolish enough to put something so important out in the open?" Liang Lin sighed.

Her peripheral vision fell on a book on the table. Something seemed to be tucked inside, a piece of paper, only a small corner of it peeking out. Liang Lin didn't pay much attention, casually pulling it out.

"Don't make anyone or anything other than yourself your eternal spiritual support. All forms of existence have an expiration date. Sincerity, affection, and embraces are like milk; they will spoil."

It was… her sister Hilary's notebook again.

Liang Lin had seen this piece of paper before; it was always written by her sister to her missing lover, that damned, heartless woman who suddenly disappeared, causing her sister so much grief.

Why is this piece of paper with Liang Di now?

If the fairy tale book she saw last time was given to Liang Di by her sister's lover, then why was this piece of paper, which was in her sister's possession, here?

Why is it with Liang Di?

What is she hiding?!

If the secret of the Langwendi family was something Liang Di had to hide, then what about her sister's whereabouts? Had she even seen her sister? Why wouldn't she tell her this?

From the moment she became Liang Lin, it seemed she had already entered a huge conspiracy. However, she was too foolish, too naive, only realizing it now.

Whether it was the overwhelming longing for her family, the lack of sleep last night, or the feeling that the whole world was playing her, that everyone knew the truth except her, Liang Lin suddenly experienced a mental breakdown. She raised her arm and slammed her fist hard on the wooden desk.

Thump!

The wooden desk dented, splinters embedding themselves in Liang Lin's fist. But Liang Lin seemed oblivious to the pain, slumping expressionlessly into the chair behind her. Her entire body was limp, her mind blank, her head tilted back, staring at the ornate ceiling.

She longed to go back… she longed to go back… back to being…?

What was her name before… what was her… name?

Why, why can't I remember?

Yes.

Liang Lin suddenly awoke.

At this moment, she finally realized that from the moment she became Liang Lin, she had forgotten her name as a boy.

"Enough, I said, enough!"

Liang Lin stood up abruptly, ignoring her still-bleeding fists, sword in hand, her beautiful face filled with rage. She pushed open the door to Liang Di's room without a second thought, ignoring the gasps of Laura and the maids behind her. She couldn't hear anything; she only knew that now, immediately, right now, she had to find Liang Di and find the truth!

Liang Lin entered the back garden. Although her mind was a jumbled mess, she clearly remembered the path to the Black Hole.

After many twists and turns, Liang Lin once again saw the Black Hole that sent chills down her spine. Outside the Black Hole stood the head maid, Bellica.

"Miss Liang... Miss Liang Lin?"

Belleica saw Liang Lin, and at the same time, she saw Laura, who was following behind Liang Lin, looking bewildered.

"Get out, you dog."