Chapter 1362: The Cutest in History (Part 3)

Waiting and waiting, Lude Xiufanke's message came.

The banquet had ended, and Vivian was granted permission to enter this Duke's mansion.

Following the bird-beak strange person, Vivian entered the Duke's mansion from the side door, and then passed through a long, narrow corridor.

"It's here." The bird-beak strange person stopped at the end of the corridor and reminded Vivian softly.

After saying this, he disappeared into the shadows.

"Knock knock."

Vivian raised her hand and knocked twice on the dark red solid wood door. A low "Please come in" soon came from inside.

Pushing the door and entering, Vivian saw her father, whom she hadn't seen for many days.

Lude Xiufanke was a handsome man. The frost of time had dyed his temples a light gray, but this didn't make him look old; instead, it added a bit of mature charm.

He was covered with a thick blanket, his tall body curled into a ball, as if embedded in the chair.

However, although his sitting posture was slightly decadent, Lude Xiufanke's eyes were sharper than the precious sword hanging on the wall, constantly exuding a confidence that saw through everything.

"Come here, my daughter."

Lude Xiufanke called softly, his voice like a candle flame jumping in the cold wind.

Vivian walked up silently, with undisguised suspicion in her eyes.

Two months ago, she had met Lude Xiufanke once. At that time, he was clearly still in his prime; how did he become so withered now?

Before she could figure it out, Lude Xiufanke spoke again: "As you can see, I am now so weak that I am like an old man in the twilight of his years.

The doctor said I have a very rare disease, so rare that it can be named after me."

Lude Xiufanke paused, his gaze gently stroking Vivian's face: "Child, I know your heart is full of resentment toward the things I, your father, have done, but for your and your mother's safety, I had to make such a cruel decision."

Vivian lowered her head obediently and said: "I understand your hidden bitterness, and I have always been trying to become the person you expect."

"I am deeply gratified that you can think this way." Lude Xiufanke revealed a smile, and then sighed again: "Unfortunately, my body may no longer be able to support me until the day I see you become successful.

The doctor told me I have at most five years left, three years at the fastest; the scythe of the God of Death is already hanging over my head."

"Is there no way to cure it?" Vivian revealed a trace of intolerance in her eyes, but in her heart, she wished she could cheer "Good death."

"Perhaps there is, but I haven't found it, and I don't intend to look for it anymore." Lude Xiufanke suddenly smiled relievedly. "Instead of trying every possible way to linger on, it's better to do more meaningful things while I can still speak and breathe.

For me, you and Alice are all the meaning of my remaining life."

Alice was the daughter born to the father and his legal wife, with a prominent family background, outstanding talent, and royal blood.

Vivian and Alice had met from afar once.

Alice stood in the crowd, shining brightly, like a princess pampered by everyone.

And she was hidden in the dim light, just an illegitimate daughter looked down upon by everyone.

She had never thought that one day she would get the same treatment as her sister Alice, but appearing in her father's mouth at the same time this time really made Vivian a bit surprised.

So she shook her whole body and looked at Lude Xiufanke with surprised eyes: "Father, what do you mean?"

Lude Xiufanke's eyes became deep: "There is something you might not know. During the period when you were about to be born, the whole forest was calling your name.

However, this sound could only be heard by me.

Later, I asked the witches of the Star Dome Sect, and they told me that this is a reaction that only occurs when the tree spirit senses a great soul.

Your birth is so extraordinary, as if carrying some kind of destiny.

And what I want to do is help you realize a corner of your great destiny."

Lude Xiufanke said, stretching out his trembling hand and placing a badge in front of Vivian: "From today on, you will officially become a member of the Taria family.

You are no longer some illegitimate daughter, but a dignified daughter of the Duke!"

Vivian picked up the badge, her eyes full of excitement: "Father, you are finally willing to acknowledge me?!"

Lude Xiufanke answered with a smile: "Originally, I intended to give you this surprise after you graduated from the Turandot Academy, but time waits for no one. I can only pave the way for you in advance, a path to the peak of power in the Turinhan Empire."

"I, the peak of power?" Vivian looked shocked. "Father, you must be joking. How could I have the qualifications to do such a thing?"

"Why don't you have the qualifications?" Lude Xiufanke asked back. "The first king of Turinhan was also just a commoner at first, no more noble than anyone else.

Why can't you do what a commoner can do?"

Speaking of this, Lude Xiufanke reached out and placed his hand on Vivian's shoulder, his tone soft: "Don't worry, I am your father; I will be responsible for clearing all the obstacles on this path for you, and what you need to do is remember every word I say next.

Count Reyek is the richest aristocrat in Saint-Grains, and his only son, Elezer, is your classmate. If you can conquer him, it is equivalent to owning the largest private treasury in Turinhan.

It is said that even the Emperor wants his third daughter to marry Elezer. Although the competitors are strong, I believe you won't let me down, right?"

Vivian was silent for a few seconds, then nodded: "I will do my best, Father."

Hearing this, Lude Xiufanke revealed a gratified smile: "In a while, my life will come to an end. However, before that, if I can see you crowned as king, then I will have no regrets.

By then, I will also be able to accompany your mother forever and make up for the mistakes I made when I was young."

"Father!" Vivian shouted with emotion, her left hand pinching her thigh hard, and hot tears instantly surged out from the pain: "My mother and I have drifted for half a lifetime, lonely and helpless. Thank you, finally giving us a real home!"

"Child." Lude Xiufanke was also full of guilt and self-reproach, reaching out to wipe away his daughter's tears.

"Don't worry, I will definitely not live up to your expectations!" Vivian held the badge tightly in her hand and said in a tone like swearing an oath.

Just like this, the father and daughter ended this night talk full of flags.

Vivian left the room, and Lude Xiufanke shrank back into the seat.

"What a deep father-daughter love; it makes me want to shed tears."

At this time, a black shadow drilled out from the corner of the room.

This black shadow had no form, like a cloud of thick fog, and the sound it made was as if the throats of seven or eight people had been pasted together.

"Such a good daughter, are you really willing to sacrifice her just like that?" The black shadow drifted to Lude Xiufanke's side and asked in a teasing tone.

"I only have Alice as a daughter. As for Vivian, her tragedy is destined, and I am just accelerating this process."

Lude Xiufanke said expressionlessly, his tone so cold that it was like a different person from the gentle father image just now.

The black shadow immediately let out a disdainful sharp laugh: "You humans are really hypocritical, always liking to find excuses for your subjective choices, as if all bad things are forced upon you by others."

Lude Xiufanke didn't answer, just looked at the window calmly.

The rain was still falling.

And Vivian also stayed outside the room, listening to the conversation between the two in the room before leaving.

She knew this person didn't have any good intentions.

Letting her be crowned king was just a lie to make her willingly marry.

The purpose was just to get a money bag for his family, and she was just a stepping stone for his daughter.

At this moment, Vivian swore to kill Lude Xiufanke and let him taste the flavor of a "filial daughter's sword."

Carrying her thoughts, Vivian took the carriage back to her temporary residence in the west of the city.

Although it was still a distance from the slums, the environment and atmosphere were not much different from the slums.

Ever since the magic energy hidden in ancient ores was wantonly mined and used, humans have been wandering between happiness and trouble.

Happiness lies in the fact that magic energy is indeed convenient and efficient; just a fingernail-sized magic energy crystal can light up a street lamp for a full half month.

Trouble is concentrated in the waste generated during the mining and purification of magic energy. These wastes are quite harmful to the environment.

Of course, in the eyes of those upper-class people, these are just the necessary "pains" brought about by technology changing life.

Anyway, the consequences don't need to be borne by them.

The waste produced after magic energy purification would never exist in the prosperous East District for more than two hours; it basically flowed into the sewage canal toward the slums at the first moment, and then flowed into the Brei Swamp through the slums.

Therefore, although the pollution problem of magic energy is serious, the East District is always bright and clean, without a trace of turbidity.

But the air in the West District is always filled with an unpleasant smell, making people unable to straighten their waists under an inexplicable pressure in a dazed state.

The harshness of the living environment exacerbated the corruption of human hearts. In the situation where they couldn't return the pain to the residents of the East District, the poor in the West District could only vent their pain on the poor who were weaker than themselves.

Therefore, fighting, robbery, and murder are the main themes of the slums. The law enforcement team only patrols here once at noon every day; for the rest of the time, the leaders of the biggest gangs in the slums are the law here.

Fortunately, the place where Vivian lived was not in the slums, and although the air wasn't much better, there were relatively few violent cases around, so she didn't have to worry about being woken up by sudden screams while sleeping soundly in the middle of the night.

Her residence was a simple apartment, two stories high, with green vines and white morning glories climbing all over the outer wall.

However, she didn't live here for long before she received the rest of living at the Turandot Academy.

Later, she met Luo Xi and Lilith, and then she acted on behalf of heaven, executing prisoners with non-procedural behavior.

Whether this was a good thing or a bad thing, Vivian didn't want to distinguish anymore; anyway, she had a clear conscience.

However, what made Vivian feel most complicated about this trial was the performance of her father, Lude Xiufanke.

Even in the face of so many aristocrats, and in the situation where she had already lost her utility value, he was actually still willing to speak for her.

If she hadn't heard his conversation with the devil outside the door at the beginning, Vivian would have really treated him as a kind father.

It was precisely because of this huge difference that Vivian felt confused.

Does this person love her, or is he just trying to use her?

If it was just for use, then this acting was really too good.

But if he loved her, why would he imprison her mother and then want to use her as a stepping stone?

Vivian couldn't figure it out, and every day during this period, she would dream of related scenes.

Either her father stabbed her to death with a sword, or she stabbed her father to death with a sword.

This was like a rehearsal of a scene that might happen in the future, only none of them were good endings.

However, after dreaming for three consecutive days, Vivian knew it was time for her to make some changes.

Now she had become an accomplice of the Succubus Queen.

Everything belonging to humans had nothing to do with her anymore.

Thinking about these things no longer had any meaning.

Just as Vivian made up her mind, the door suddenly opened.

"Luo Xi... Your Majesty the Queen."

Vivian was a bit surprised; she didn't expect the Succubus Queen to arrive suddenly.

Speaking of which, she hadn't seen her for several days.

Ever since the Queen saved her back to hell, she hadn't shown her face much, and the number of times she communicated with her could be counted on one hand.

Vivian didn't know what the Queen wanted from her; clearly, she had no utility value at all.

"I have already sent someone to rescue your mother. From now on, you can stay in hell with peace of mind; no one will threaten you and your mother again."

Luo Quan felt that before helping someone awaken, she had to solve her heart knot first.

Vivian's heart knot was definitely her mother, so after Luo Quan returned, the first thing she did was help Vivian rescue her mother.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Queen."

Vivian thanked her sincerely.

Subsequently, nothing happened.

Luo Quan immediately frowned; could it be that she guessed wrong?

No, her deduction was definitely fine, so it must be that Vivian still had a heart knot.

"Vivian, do you still have any worries bothering you? Say it out; perhaps I can help you solve your problems."

Luo Quan sat beside Vivian, her hand gently placed on her shoulder, her voice full of bewitchment.

Probably regardless of gender, there was no resistance to a "bad woman" with Luo Quan's beauty.

Not to mention she was Vivian's savior, so there was even less guard.

So Vivian took a deep breath and told Luo Quan the scenes she had dreamed of during this period.

The main point of contradiction was whether her father was a good person or a bad person.

"So, this is the point you are struggling with?"

After listening, Luo Quan thought about it and quickly found the entry point of the problem. ===== CHAPTER 1363 =====