Chapter 286 : Invitation from the Rose Family
Chapter 286: Invitation from the Rose Family
After exchanging smiles, Janna-Roland removed the surrounding “Soundproof Barrier” and pulled out a string of notes from the Thorn Bracelet.
“Since you’ve returned, it’s time to catch up on the classes you missed.”
“Oh no—”
Vivian had imagined several different things they would do once they met again.
However, when she saw the pile of textbooks stacked high on the table, the expression on Vivian’s face turned into something like a roller coaster ride, teetering on the edge of breakdown.
“History of Ancient Magic,” “Intermediate Spells,” “Intermediate Herbology,” “Intermediate Biology,” “Dragon Tongue”
As she counted through the mandatory subjects, Vivian merely flipped through them and already felt overwhelmed.
While Vivian was flipping through the books, she naturally saw the important notes Janna-Roland had specially marked in each one.
As Vivian read faster and faster, her previously furrowed brows gradually relaxed.
“Janna, it’s really nice having you around!”
Seeing Vivian looking so “grateful to tears,” Janna-Roland simply shook her head with a smile.
“Remember to pay the credits. These aren’t free for you to read.”
“Tch~ I know~”
After carefully putting away the textbooks, Vivian pulled out an invitation from her dimensional space ring.
“You got the invitation I sent last time, right?”
“You mean that party invitation that didn’t even have a date written on it? Of course I got it.”
Hearing Janna-Roland’s words that were half sunny, half shady, Vivian looked innocently away.
“I couldn’t help it. Back then, I didn’t even know when I could come out of the Closed Cultivation Chamber. You’re such a busy person, how could I just randomly write in a date?”
Janna-Roland took the invitation from Vivian’s hand and opened it right on the spot.
“It’s today?”
“Yeah, didn’t you see me personally come invite you? Don’t tell me you already scheduled something else?”
“No, I didn’t.”
Actually, Janna-Roland had originally planned to spend the entire afternoon “soaking” in the Misty Forest, seizing the time to heal as many trees as possible.
But seeing the way Vivian looked like she would throw a tantrum if she refused, Janna-Roland had no choice but to push back her tasks and agree to fulfill the promise that should have been kept during the New Year.
“That’s more like it. Let’s go!”
Maybe it was due to Vivian awakening her bloodline, but Janna-Roland noticed that her power was vastly stronger than before.
Combined with the fact that Vivian’s body temperature was extremely low, Janna-Roland felt as if she were being dragged by an Ice-elemental Beast.
“Is your family hosting a lunch banquet this time?”
“More or less. It’s just you, me, and my father. Just treat it like a normal family meal.”
Hearing that it would be only the two of them and the head of the Rose Family, Janna-Roland was slightly relieved.
After all, what Janna-Roland was most experienced with were business banquets. As for meals with a friend’s entire family—whether in her past life or present—Janna-Roland was never good at them.
After the two left the magic tower, Vivian didn’t give Janna-Roland any time to return to her dorm to freshen up, and headed straight for the Rose Castle on the outskirts of Turin.
“Just treat this place as your own home. Don’t be formal with me.”
Even as Vivian rang the side doorbell of the ancient castle, she was still chattering on, trying to make Janna-Roland feel at ease.
“Don’t worry. I won’t be polite with you..”
“Welcome back, Miss Vivian—and Miss Janna.”
Before Janna-Roland could finish her sentence, a snow-white owl wearing a small black hat flapped over, then skillfully used its claws to open the main door, warmly inviting them inside.
“Maji, is the lunch banquet ready?”
“It has long been prepared according to your instructions.”
“What about Father? Has he returned?”
“The Family Head has been waiting for the two young ladies in the parlor.”
“Good, then.”
After confirming that everything was prepared as she had envisioned, Vivian tugged Janna-Roland by the arm and stepped into the estate.
“Pop—”
Like a stone dropping into a deep well, the moment Janna-Roland stepped past the gate, rippling waves spread out from around her.
“A barrier?”
Just as Janna-Roland thought, the moment she truly entered the Rose Estate, the scenery around them began to rapidly change.
In no time, it turned into a world blanketed in ice and snow.
“How’s that? Pretty unique, right? I helped design the interior of the estate myself.”
At this time of year, although it hadn’t officially turned to spring in Turin, the snow in the city had more or less started to melt.
However, seeing the snow-covered scene and massive ice sculptures within the Rose Estate gave Janna-Roland the illusion of being in the heart of winter.
“So the outer barrier is an illusion-type one?”
“Pretty much—oh, and it also has a constant temperature feature.”
Constant temperature?
Upon hearing Vivian’s words, Janna-Roland raised an eyebrow.
“You mean your estate stays the same temperature all year round?”
“Yup, even in summer, it’s this temperature—so I hate living in the dormitory the most.”
As the two continued chatting, a stern-faced, tall and thin middle-aged woman with neatly combed hair quickly approached Vivian.
“Young ladies, the Family Head has been waiting for quite some time in the hall.”
“I know, Isis.”
Just moments ago, Vivian had been all smiles with Janna-Roland. But upon seeing this woman, her expression suddenly stiffened, and her body subtly tensed.
“She’s the butler of Rose Estate. A particularly fierce Alchemical Creature—I suggest you don’t make eye contact with her.”
“Alchemical Creature?”
Hearing Vivian’s voice through telepathy, Janna-Roland glanced cautiously at the woman from the corner of her eye.
But no matter how she looked, Janna-Roland couldn’t identify any features of alchemical origin.
“For an Alchemical Creature to reach this level, it’s truly breathtaking—”
As they entered the castle, Janna-Roland noticed that the place was filled with Alchemical Creatures.
However, those were all puppets that merely had human forms, unlike Isis, who looked completely indistinguishable from a real person.
“Does your family have any normal humans at all?”
“Of course. The chef in the kitchen, who’s in charge of cooking, is a regular human hired from a famous restaurant in the Lower City.”
“Lower City—you’re sure they came willingly?”
“Of course. The money they earn here in a month is almost equal to what they used to earn in an entire year—”