This flower wreath was hers. Olivia reached out and took it down. Her light green eyes lowered, her gaze upon the wreath holding a subtle tenderness. Before the Vampires’ sneak attack, her wreath had only been half-woven, but the one now before her was a finished product.

Olivia didn’t know what kind of mood Cynthia had been in while weaving this wreath, but it ought to have been similar to her own.

At the time, she had been weaving this wreath with the intention of placing it in a flower basket to be sent to the God Race. It was an Elven custom for a young maiden, whose heart was first stirring with love, to exchange flower wreaths with her beloved as a pledge of their affection. Olivia knew Cynthia didn’t understand this custom, so she certainly wouldn’t have understood her hint and responded in kind.

But she didn’t care. She just… wanted to do it, just like the baskets of Twin Flowers she had sent.

The person across from her seemed lost in thought, and the aura around her softened. Cynthia’s gaze slowly drifted down from Olivia’s eyes and brows, her focus intense and earnest as she took in every detail, finally landing on her still somewhat pale lips. Because of the slight curve there, Cynthia couldn’t help but raise the corners of her own mouth.

Her golden eyes were filled with deep affection.

Perhaps sensing Cynthia’s gaze, Olivia, who had been staring at the wreath, suddenly looked up and met her eyes. The curve of her lips straightened.

Cynthia raised an eyebrow. Just as she was about to say something, she saw Olivia suddenly lift her hand and place the wreath she was holding on top of her head.

Beneath the carefully woven wreath of verdant branches interspersed with pale yellow and snow-white flowers, her silver hair appeared even softer. Cynthia froze for a moment, then raised a hand to gently touch the wreath on her head, the words she had wanted to say completely forgotten. She lowered her head and chuckled softly, her expression one of unconcealable delight.

The atmosphere in the wooden cabin, in addition to being ambiguous, now had a touch of warmth. Olivia had been watching Cynthia the whole time, but she averted her gaze when the other woman looked up, taking the initiative to ask, “When are you going back?”

This person was changing the subject again. Cynthia glanced at Olivia’s hand, which was unconsciously gripping the wooden cup tighter, and her eyes flickered. She deliberately put on a stern face, sighed, and said in a heavy tone, “I can’t go back.”

Hearing the gravity in her voice, Olivia thought something had happened and asked seriously, “What’s wrong?”

“Many cities in the Slade Sea Region were affected by the fighting and have been reduced to ruins.”

Fighting did indeed destroy many things, but what did that have to do with her not being able to go back? Just as Olivia was feeling puzzled, she saw the God Race member, who had been sighing just a moment ago, suddenly break into a smile and say teasingly, “I have nowhere to live. Her Majesty the Queen will have to take me in for a few days.”

Olivia was speechless.

Nowhere to live… what an incredibly poor excuse.

Although Cynthia’s excuse was very “perfunctory,” Olivia still let her stay.

The wooden cabin they were in belonged to Helen. After chatting for a bit, Olivia and Cynthia prepared to leave. But just as they stepped out of the cabin, Polly, who had been waiting outside, approached and said in a low voice, “Your Majesty the Queen, Clan Leader Helen is preparing to leave.”

Olivia frowned and asked, “Now?” In the past, whenever the Elf Race was attacked, Helen would bring her people to stay for a while, only leaving after they had mostly recovered.

Likewise, if the Wolf Race were attacked, she would take her people to the Wolf Race’s territory to protect them.

To leave so suddenly… Olivia couldn’t fathom the meaning behind Helen’s actions and subconsciously turned her head to look at Cynthia.

Cynthia didn’t yet know that Olivia had already discovered the anomaly in the Forbidden Land. Seeing her look over, she thought Olivia suspected the Wolf Race’s departure was related to her previous orders, so she explained, “The vice clan leader of the Wolf Race is acting very strangely. I suspect she snuck into the Forbidden Land, but I haven’t found any evidence.”

“Someone did indeed try to tamper with the Tree of Life.” But Joanna, who had appeared at just the right time, was merely a prime suspect. Olivia was silent for a moment, then raised a hand to rub her brow and said softly, “This is an internal matter for the Wolf Race. Let Helen handle it herself for now.”

Of course, if the outcome wasn’t to her satisfaction, she wouldn’t mind handling it again herself.

As Olivia and Cynthia were talking, Helen happened to be approaching with her people. Joanna, who had come with Cynthia, was walking by Helen’s side, a gentle smile on her face, her expression normal.

Helen had her people stay put while she walked toward Olivia and Cynthia alone. She spoke with a hint of apology, “My people guarding Yezreet sent word that they’ve found traces of Vampires. I have to leave.”

Olivia nodded with a placid expression, only saying a single word, “Alright.”

Cynthia stepped forward slightly, continuing where Helen left off, “Talia failed in her attack on the Elf Race, so she’ll surely be more anxious to target the other temples. The God Race and the Elf Race have just been through a war and need to recuperate. We’ll have to trouble Clan Leader Helen with the matter of the temples.”

As she spoke, she turned her head to look at Olivia, her expression gentle. “As for the Elf Race, Clan Leader Helen need not worry. I will protect them.”

This God Race member had a forceful personality, but her words were always beautifully spoken, leaving no room for complaint. Helen smiled and nodded. “Send word if anything comes up.”

After saying this, she didn’t leave but instead turned to face Olivia, smiling as she said, “Don’t forget to invite me to your Guardian Ceremony.”

Guardian Ceremony? Why hadn’t he heard Olivia mention this? Cynthia frowned, discreetly observing Olivia’s reaction.

Olivia, who had been looking indifferent just a moment ago, hadn’t expected Helen to bring this up in front of Cynthia. Her expression stiffened slightly. She glared at Helen and said through gritted teeth, “I haven’t decided to choose a guardian yet.”

Noticing the clear annoyance in her voice, Helen rubbed her nose and shrugged. “Alright, invite me when you’ve decided.”

With that, she left. Cynthia watched Helen’s retreating back, wanting to ask what the Guardian Ceremony was, but before she could speak, Olivia had already turned and walked away in the opposite direction. “I’m tired. I’m going back to rest.”

Her strides were large, making it seem like she was indeed in a hurry to go back and rest.

Cynthia turned, watching Olivia’s back as she put some distance between them. Her golden eyes narrowed, her expression thoughtful.

By the time Helen returned to her people, the smile on her face had vanished. Joanna discreetly studied her expression, unable to gauge her thoughts, and shot a look at a nearby elder.

That elder gathered the scattered clan members and then walked over to Helen, asking, “Shall we depart now, Clan Leader?”

Helen nodded but didn’t say much to this elder. Instead, she called over two elders from her own faction to arrange their departure.

The first elder froze for a moment and subconsciously glanced at Joanna. Joanna’s brow furrowed, and she used the motion of tidying her hair to conceal her exposed emotions.

Ever since returning from the God Race, she had been contemplating how to explain herself to dispel Helen’s suspicions. She had rehearsed countless answers in her mind and was fully prepared, but… Helen hadn’t asked anything. She had only asked about the current situation of the God Race.

This attitude, contrary to her expectations, made her uneasy.

Did Helen trust her? She must. They had grown up together. When Helen was injured, she was the one who had supported the Wolf Race. When the Vampires provoked them, she was the one who led the clan into battle. Regardless of whether she was colluding with the Vampires and putting on an act, in Helen’s eyes, she was completely devoted to the Wolf Race.

Over the years, she had come to feel that Helen had grown accustomed to relying on her. This person trusted her without a shred of doubt. This time was just a small slip-up… Joanna closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, all emotion had been hidden away.

While Helen was discussing something with the elders, Joanna approached from behind with a natural air. She glanced at the clan members, who had been split into two groups, and asked, “Aren’t we going to Yezreet?”

As she spoke, she took out a cloak and skillfully draped it over Helen’s shoulders. Helen’s constitution had weakened considerably after her injury. Although she wasn’t so frail as to be bothered by the cold wind, Joanna would still put a spare cloak on her when the wind was particularly harsh.

This had become a habit for Joanna.

The weight on her shoulders made Helen pause in her conversation. She waved her hand to dismiss the elder, then raised a hand to smooth the white gauze over her eyes and spoke softly, “I can take people to Yezreet myself. You take the elders of the Axton clan back to our territory.”

Joanna was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and asked, “Are you worried the Vampires will attack our territory?”

“Talia’s attack on the Elf Race failed, and her people were either killed or severely injured. I don’t think she’ll challenge our Wolf Race again.” Joanna observed Helen’s expression. Seeing it was placid, she changed her tune. “However, your concern is a possibility. I’ll have Sena and the others go back and guard the territory.”

“I want to go to Yezreet with you.” Joanna reached out to adjust Helen’s cloak, her voice gentle. “It’s too dangerous there. Let me stay by your side and protect you.”

Helen raised a hand, grabbed Joanna’s wrist, and gently pushed her away. Her tone was so calm it was almost cold. “We’ve known each other for centuries. I am willing to trust you.”

The smile on Joanna’s face slowly froze as she watched her in silence.

Helen placed a hand on Joanna’s shoulder. Although the white gauze over her eyes made her look somewhat frail, her words carried an air of quiet authority. “Take the Axton elders back to the territory. You should understand what I mean.”

“Don’t leave without permission, if you don’t want to arouse my suspicion.”

Helen had been “weak” for too long, so long that Joanna had forgotten what this person was like when she was forceful. She stared at Helen motionlessly, her eyes gradually darkening, but her demeanor softened first as she replied meekly, “Alright.”

After so long, she once again remembered why she had been driven mad with jealousy for this person. Helen was too brilliant. She was like a dazzling, fiery light. Next to her, Joanna could never feel her own presence. She was so strong she didn’t need anyone; Joanna’s help felt more like a burden to Helen.

Wasn’t Helen better off in her weakened state? Joanna’s gaze shifted downward, glancing at the cloak on Helen’s shoulders. She had just put it on and adjusted it herself. She enjoyed the feeling of being needed by Helen, not as an act or to gain trust.

The person who was once so powerful now needed her care. This sense of superiority was more addictive to her than her rising status within the clan.

Only when the light was extinguished could she become the light.