Chapter 89: Battle of Wits (4)
hoixWWhen she was young, she had an accident. Thats why her mental age is around 10. I heard she’s not even allowed out of her room. How did she end up at the party?9Th
HOsZAlpheas looked back at Erina with mixed feelings. However, she seemed oblivious to the stares of others, cheerfully greeting the young men around her with an innocent smile.FekPDLT
BWB4As is often the case at balls, she seemed to be looking for a dance partner, but no one offered her a kind smile. Instead, they awkwardly greeted her once and hastily left. It was only because of the Bastadd family’s power that even this minimal interaction was possible.743mF
ofqLAlpheas glanced at the family’s head sitting across the table. Predictably, the man was red-faced with anger, trying to contain his fury. Finally, he couldn’t hold back and shouted at his wife.Coxk42A
u3hsiDidnt I tell you not to bring Erina? Take her away right now!rPoT
zjYrDear, please be patient. Erina enjoys the party too. It’ll only be worse if you force her out and she creates a scene. Leave her be; Ill discreetly take her away soon.SsGYI4Y
Yai2YWUgh! Its so embarrassing. A disgrace to our family, a disgrace!UeS2weW
iCR3uAlpheas pursed his lower lip. He understood the sentiment but to call ones daughter a disgrace seemed too harsh. Of course, he knew well what position a first-class noble family held in society. After all, Alpheas was also born into a first-class family and had even earned the cringe-worthy nickname “The Light of Myrhe.”nmKhIE
sbyAsbJust like the old fogies at home. Nobles, I tell you.iZCfX
bxWtEC6Alpheas couldnt take his eyes off Erina for three songs’ duration. He realized she was genuinely enjoying the party, satisfied just with the act of exchanging greetings.wEoDDY
NeJ5But what kind of people were these mages? Arrogant beings who equate ignorance with evil. Alpheas could see that even while smiling to her face, they mocked the slow-witted Erina behind her back.sEQz
XH7n5Klumph, hold this for a sec. Actually, you drink it.uB6Fz
BLlxAlpheas handed his drink over and turned towards the ballroom, but Klumph quickly stopped him.6giUg
anUoNWhat are you planning now? Please dont cause any trouble here.jRjKE
cwtr41mThe idiots are rejecting the ladys kindness just because theyve learned a few words. As Bashukas most popular man, I should raise her status a bit.WeKY
lzZeDAKlumphs bear-like strength spun Alpheas back around.uOXV
n2qPyAlpheas. Thats a bad idea. Sympathy for Miss Erina could be construed as mockery. The current situation is enough. Dont make her feel any more miserable.RsrVz
ZayKlumph was serious. His usual goofy eyes were gone, replaced by a burning sense of justice. Alpheas smiled and patted Klumphs shoulder.OcUKnIz
z0PT5Always so simple-minded. Do you think I dont know that? Ive never deceived any woman in my life. All sins originate from discrimination, didnt you know? To start pitying her would mean confining her life in a cage. Ive got a plan, just trust me.frruxb
LKTKAre you serious? Youre really going to do it? Hey, wait!UjkAER
lucqAs Alpheas crossed the ballroom, he turned back to Klumph, flashing his trademark killer smile.Q9r
tmoDont worry. Im the lover of all.KmT
eKAPWhen Alpheas reached her, Erina was alone; everyone had subtly cleared the area. To her, this was just another ordinary day, happily munching on an apple.9V4STgT
1SjVUHello? Enjoying the ball, I see.AKM
eg8Startled, Erina stopped mid-chew and blinked at Alpheas. Just by looking into her eyes, he could tell her intellectual disability.puw
QVVcYet, there was an innocent purity in her gaze.FSUW
g720ICGShe mirrored emotions like a mirror, perhaps the real reason why people avoided her.7aubv
l0DjjGrHi! Im Erina!wg1ey1
5XlnBShe greeted him brightly, a contrast to her distant demeanor from afar. However, there was an unmistakable hint of fear.i1r9
QrQ3xKIt must be her first time someone has approached her like this.j2q9eOp
A6jIwAlpheas bowed politely.XBi
7GkIOoeIm Alpheas from Myrhe, the mage. I was so captivated by your beauty that I only just managed to come and introduce myself. If it’s not too much trouble, may I have the honor of being your partner for tonights ball?6co
tHyErina gaped, a piece of apple tumbling from her open mouth. She looked completely bewildered by the situation.xMj
YvgePXJSuddenly, she bowed her head and, without a word, turned and walked past Alpheas.dhY
70gStartled, Alpheas quickly stepped in front of her.7xPC
YouWait a moment, please. Was I too forward? Im sorry. I just wanted to be friends with you, Miss Erina.FBXGl
6WwErina remained silent, just looking down, shuffling her feet, seeking an escape.J2cRnao
3sJBut Alpheas didnt give up. He blocked her path, continually trying to engage her in conversation.5exvfI
1ngI understand. If you dont want to dance, lets just talk. I have many interesting stories. Do you like constellations?2IxrgZO
PVaBl7iI want to go. Back to my room. Mom will scold me.aSAGG
HbmWhy would your mom scold you? No ones going to scold you here. Youre at the party, and Im asking you to be my partner.0zWWiis
lsvThey told me not to talk. If someone talks to me, they are bad. I want to go to my room.bgxxZP
UIqLLAlpheas felt both frustrated and anxious. His usual charm with women seemed to have vanished; he was desperate just to make eye contact with Erina again.zsU3
y5MOYoure not talking to a bad person. Look at my face. How could this be the face of a bad person?ZuD
kT9N2Alpheas grasped her shoulders. Suddenly, Erina started having a fit and screamed.PWc9Sx
9vACQpNoooo! I dont like it!nAV9Nu
RmqFwAll the nobles in the hall turned to look at Erina. To any observer, it looked as though Alpheas was up to no good.mWTu3
Rbk8fdMom! Help me! Mom!EgUF
D5uYErina, look at me! Im not trying to hurt you!hl0UAEE
A8DJ6Mom! Mom!jjr0Q
tTIRAmong the invited mages was Alpheas rival, Saroph, who was incredulous at Alpheas absurd behavior. He knew Alpheas was a bit off his rocker, but he never imagined him to be this insane.S4G
tzdjFrom charming all the women in Bashuka to now pestering a mentally challenged girl? He must be desperate for advancement.Px3hrNj
4W2M7K0Most nobles shared the same thought. Even if her intelligence was lacking, Erina was still the eldest daughter of the Bastadd family. Winning her over could guarantee a secure future.gLy
2VPGThe only one who knew Alpheas true intentions was Klumph, but even he gave up as the situation escalated.nVhL9uf
zRud1RDamn, hes like a lunatic. Hes made his bed, let him lie in it.N6Ykzs
zVswaErina was having a near-seizure, and a sane person would have let go in front of her family, but Alpheas stubbornly held onto her shoulders.DGMmJ5t
52yQErina, wait. Look at me. Look at me.AQK
OlG2LVMom! Im scared, Mom!jxc
IhHm2As Alpheas shouted, Erinas movements momentarily froze, but now they were more fearfully tremulous than ever.Fzor
nCDWfoPlease, just look at my face once. Im begging you.B4ai
rE6Slowly, Erina turned her head with a look of terror on her face. Alpheas burning eyes met hers. His intense gaze seemed to warm her heart.YyhzjR
A6f65NCSee? Nothing’s happened. Im not a bad person. I wont do anything you dislike. But its a party, dont you want to dance?BUlygAN
9aN8A hint of excitement flickered across Erinas face. The crystals refracting light, the musicians melody, the buzz of conversation she just wanted to smile like everyone else.v3D
Fz4XqyrMiss Erina. I want to be with you. Will you be my partner tonight?unv5Jq
P48qzZjThere was no verbal response, but Alpheas didnt wait for one. Taking Erinas hand, he led her to the center of the hall. She followed him like a toddler taking her first steps, and for the first time, she embraced someone other than her family.s8fq
zoFThe quick-thinking musicians resumed playing, and Alpheas began to lead Erina in a dance. The nobility looked on in stunned silence, even Erinas parents lost for words.nWR
PE1rhAlpheas didnt care. Erina didnt care. As if in their own world, they immersed themselves in the music. Their dance was far from graceful, more instinctive and passionate, often losing balance and bumping into others. With each collision, Erina’s laughter grew louder. After about ten minutes, Erina became the star of the party.q4aVh
gjYVMPlayful laughter echoed through the garden. Having almost caused a scene at the party, Alpheas and Erina had fled and were now running through the forest in disarray.1UQykt
U5PReaching the top of a hill, Alpheas gasped for breath, his tongue hanging out. Embarrassingly, Erina seemed hardly tired, making Alpheas question his own stamina and consider cutting down on alcohol. He looked up at the night sky, brimming with stars.glQq
HXgErina was surprisingly quiet, but then, Alpheas was known in Bashuka for his loquaciousness. He kept the conversation going without pause, filling the atmosphere with his chatter.Mc6
PbvLiAs time passed, it almost seemed as if Erina was drawing out his stories. She listened silently to every topic, occasionally smiling in understanding, encouraging Alpheas to talk even more.CPn3tWU
mx4WEventually, Alpheas began discussing his latest concern the true nature of photons.qiUJe
0lO5HgXIs light a wave or a particle?EVSYlN
0c7Xu4Saroph believed it to be a wave, but Alpheas was convinced otherwise. Yet, he couldnt fully advocate for particle theory either.J8ve
Jx2RYwHonestly, he didn’t know. He believed that admitting one’s ignorance was the first step to understanding.2op
zIUGeBIts strange, isnt it? Light has such unusual properties. In interference experiments, it shows wave-like behavior, but on the other handmvIBBJ4
6ksZXAlpheas stopped, realizing he had gotten too engrossed in his own story, forgetting that his listener was Erina. She sat squatting on the grass, gazing down the hill. Yet, her smile remained beautiful.VG1x
eU0Haha! Did I talk too much? Its the first time Ive had such a long conversation. Normally, people get bored.cnPLx
wjpNDIYou are a good person.88t4kr
wDhIt was the first sentence Erina had spoken. Alpheas blinked in surprise, feeling his heartbeat quicken inexplicably.EXNQ
8DNTz0XHis mind was in turmoil.A7u2
3gyMt8Why am I here? What do I expect from this woman?x9aXH
dSgHXIt was an unknown world, a mixture of wanting to explore and fear, preventing any judgment.SVk
tlXAlpheas chose to ignore it. Continuing his conversation as if he hadnt heard her.Ac2ftQ
VHEDHaha! Embarrassing to say, but as a mage, I need to write a thesis, and I dont know anything. I cant decide which theory to pursue. What do you think, Miss Erina? Is light a wave or a particle?xxkbq
8NtvRlErina didnt seem upset by his change in attitude. Standing up, she looked at the stars and saidHex
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