"The next heir of the Rose Workshop?" Fang Hong was taken aback by this sudden proposition. "Is it possible, for an outsider like me?" Even if the Westwood Sibika family is open-minded, they wouldn't just hand over the workshop to an outsider, right?

"Of course not just you alone, Lord Captain," Hilveld smiled gently and said softly, "but with my identity, it's possible."

"Miss Hilveld, with your identity?"

"Haven't I mentioned it before? Because of my mother's influence, I also have inheritance rights to the Heart of Fairy, although not as legitimate as Delice, but at least I'm not considered an outsider."

Fang Hong was stunned: "But..."

Hilveld just gave a light smile and whispered, "That depends on whether Lord Captain is willing to take responsibility for me." She squinted her eyes, smiling like a Miss Fox.

...

Sophie let out a low exclamation.

"Ah, a cat!"

She saw a Lady Cat emerge from the shadows, and her heart melted at its cuteness. But Lady Daisy watched her warily, not budging an inch closer. It was Tata who stroked its head, saying, "Daisy, this is Miss Sophie."

It was only then that Sophie noticed Tata, her eyes sparkling. This was her first time seeing Fang Hong's Dragon Soul in person, riding on a majestic cat, which was quite unbelievable.

Under Tata's calming influence, Lady Cat slowly walked to the side of the Princess of Silver Weslan. Sophie, afraid of startling it, only gently scratched its cheek. Daisy meowed, narrowing one eye, seeming to show a bit of affection towards the princess.

"Lady Tata, good evening." Sophie knew the formal title of Fang Hong's Miss Dragon Soul and greeted her.

"Good evening, Sophie." Tata's green eyes were full of a peaceful expression as she replied.

"Are you looking for Ade?"

Tata nodded.

"He's inside." Sophie remembered something and couldn't help but chuckle.

It seemed someone else came in outside; she heard footsteps walking on the deck. Looking out of the skylight again, the Orphen Twin Stars were quietly parked in that place, their majestic metal armor covered in snow.

In the darkness, the chilly wind howled; the valley was not peaceful after nightfall.

She didn't know what Fang Hong meant by parking this thing in the courtyard when a Flexible Construct should be well-maintained. However, the other party said it needed to be adjusted. As for what specific adjustments, she wasn't a Combat Artisan, and naturally, she didn't understand.

"Would you like me to take you inside?" Sophie asked again.

Tata shook her head. She and Fang Hong were spiritually connected, so it wasn't always necessary to meet face-to-face, just a matter of habit. As the two were conversing, the door suddenly opened in response, and Fang Hong pushed the door open by himself.

Sophie turned her head at the sound, giving him a somewhat amused look with obvious humor in her eyes: "Came out?"

Fang Hong glanced at her evasively, his face growing redder.

"Isn't it a bit of a pity?"

"Miss Sophie, did you hear everything!?"

Fang Hong was startled.

He instinctively recalled what had happened inside the house.

As Hilveld said, the actual Controllers of the Rose Workshop were the Elders' Council, and the so-called next heir was merely a guide in technique. Therefore, the identity could be relatively lenient, as long as one showed extraordinary potential in Alchemy.

And if the Lady Noble were to be his fiancée, with her bloodline relations to the Westwood Sibika family, as long as she received Delice's father's approval, he could rightfully become the next heir of the Rose Workshop.

Of course.

It was just a pretense of their relationship to the outside world, and Miss Ship's Officer also told him with a laugh that, due to her father's influence, she wouldn't mind. But the problem was—

Fang Hong felt a bit parched, never expecting Hilveld to mention such a thing so lightly to him—especially since he hadn't yet reached the Republic's legal marriage age—no, that's not the issue.

He hurriedly shook his head to toss out the chaotic thought from his mind.

But the Lady Noble's light blue eyes shone brightly, as if to tell him that if he wasn't willing to take responsibility, she would definitely mind, and he would definitely face dire consequences.

She hailed from a noble lineage, and her father was a renowned Great Explorer; how could she not care about her reputation? If she borrowed that identity, she probably would never be able to hold her head high in the Westwood Sibika family for the rest of her life.

Moreover, even if Miss Ship's Officer truly could disregard others' opinions.

What about him?

In his heart, an image subconsciously surfaced.

The so-called hazy feelings between a boy and a girl, he had been pursuing that lofty silhouette all along, but only after meeting at Cloud Harbor had he realized that everything in the past was just a one-sided assumption.

That silhouette might have already gone far away, but it inevitably left some unchangeable things behind.

"Miss Hilveld, this..." he said at that time, opening his mouth.

But the Lady Noble looked at him with bright eyes and simply gave a faint smile.

Some questions perhaps did not need answers, merely waiting for time to verify everything. The small room was as quiet as ever, like a silent poem.

Fang Hong was in a daze for quite a while until Sophie waved a hand in front of him, bringing him back to reality. Looking at Sophie's somewhat amused eyes, and by his side, the quiet Miss Tata, Fang Hong's face flushed red.

The Princess of Silver Weslan laughed: "Thinking about another girl in front of a girl, that's a bit impolite. Although your Miss Ship's Officer is stunningly beautiful, I'm not too shabby either, Mr. Ade, you're quite hurtful—"

She said with a mischievous grin.

Fang Hong knew she was joking, but he couldn't help but touch his nose.

"But developing a relationship with a Native," Sophie whispered, "isn't unheard of in history, though good outcomes are few."

Fang Hong was taken aback.

Of course, he was aware of this, as due to Starlight synchronization, the love stories between Earthlings and Natives often ended in tragedy. Time, ruthless as always, would eventually cover everything, drawing two love stories apart, never to be met again.

But he shook his head, unwilling to consider this issue, and only asked: "Miss Sophie, I have something I want to ask you."

"What is it?"

Seeing his serious expression, Sophie also became solemn and asked.

"What exactly is happening in the Southern Region?"

...

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