scary figure you out anvinore, Gabriel said abruptly.


    abriel frowned, staring intently at Flira. "You''ve changed so much, Sometimes


    I can''t frelp but wonder if your''re still the daughter ( ones bag


    Efra knew ove thy why he said so.


    After all, they couldn''t understand her hatred for the entire Duke''s estate, none of them had been given a second chance as she had.


    to Gabriel and the rest of the Stonor family, he transformation seemed to happen overnight, ever since the day of hering of age party, she had suddenly be apletely different person.


    It was as if the old Eliza, once gentle, caring, and always so obedient, had vanished overnight, reced by someone cold, heartless, and defiant.


    As if, in an instant, an unbridgeable chasm had opened up between her and the entire Duke''s estate, separating her from every member of the Stonor family.


    Even now, Gabriel still couldn''t understand how it happened. He thought he had concealed everything so well, even when he brought Sophie into the Duke''s estate as an adopted daughter, he had never acted too hastily or done anything revealing.


    Gabriel couldn''t fathom how his daughter had managed to uncover everything so suddenly.


    With time, she came to know even more.


    Like a tom pocket, all of Gabriel''s past misdeeds kept leaking out, one by one, until they finally spilled into Eliza''s hands.


    She no longer even carried the Stone.


    "Fine," Gabriel said, lowering his gaze as his expression hardened. "So this is what''s left of our bond as father and daughter. Still, I''ll give you one chance; hand over Dale, and I''ll tell you the truth behind the Padi family''s downfall. Deal or not?"


    After he finished speaking, Gabriel added coldly, "Dale knows far less than I do. So don''t think that just having him in your grasp will give you the whole truth."


    Eliza raised her eyes to meet his gaze.


    She must admit, Gabriel''s proposal gave her a momentary thrill. The downfall of the Padi family had been her mother''s greatest sorrow in life.


    There was no doubt that both the people from Duke''s estate and the Marquis''s estate could very well have known some inside information.


    However, since the Marquis''s estate was only brought into this by the Duke''s estate, it made sense that Dale probably knew less about what really happened than Gabriel.


    Eliza had actually known this from the start. The reason she kept Dale had nothing to do with the Eliza family''s affairs.


    So, she just smiled faintly. "A tempting offer, but I''m afraid I must decline."


    Gabriel''s expression turned icy. "Greed will only drag you straight to hell," he warned coldly.


    He had clearly misunderstood Eliza''s intention, thinking she was just being greedy and wanted more.


    Eliza didn''t bother to exin. Instead, she simply said, "It''s gettingte, Lord Mowbay. Please take your leave now."


    Gabriel fixed Eliza with a darkening stare. "This is your final warning. Refuse to hand him over, and don''t me me if I show no mercy, no matter what we once shared."


    Eliza motioned for him to leave without a word.


    Tendment table sun neary mide him dash mint, but jt sanity he von


    A skares whinte echoed from outside, cutting through the terialon.


    et face darkened für a moment with onest icy te at Eliza, he stormed off a anger.


    No sooner had he let than another figure appeared outside Eliza''s courtyard. "Is he gone?" Nn''s voice broke the silence as he arrived


    But he wasn''t alone. In his grip hung a corpse; a man who had just met his end by his hand.


    Eliza kriew without looking, it had to be the man who had just warned Gabriel. The whistle saved Gabriel, but cost its owner his life.


    She poured Nn a drink.


    "Perfect timing. You scared him off," Eliza chuckled, but she wasn''t joking about that.


    Truth be told, Gabriel had bolted the moment he sensed Nn''s presence.


    Eliza clearly sensed Gabriel''s killing intent before. At such close range, for him to show it meant he must have a hidden trump card, something that made him confident he could actually kill her.


    Fortunately, before Gabriel could act, Nn''s sudden arrival forced him to make a hasty retreat.


    If he had hesitated even a second longer, he probably wouldn''t have made it out of there alive.


    Gabriel wouldn''t have dared show up tonight unless he was fully prepared.


    While these preparations might have worked against Eliza and her allies, when faced with Nn-Bortend''s most formidable warrior-they would prove woefully inadequate.


    Nn tossed the corpse. Instantly, two shadowy figures slipped out and disposed of the body.


    Stepping into the courtyard, he swept his gaze over Eliza to make sure she was safe and unharmed. Only when certain did Nn finally sit down and speak.


    "Don''t you dare take such risks again," Nn said firmly. "If you must meet him alone, bring me along. He wouldn''ty a finger on you with me there."


    God knew how Nn dashed all the way from Hasen City the moment he got wind of the news tonight.


    Luckily, he made it just in time.


    If Eliza had suffered even a scratch, or lost a single strand of hair, he swore that old bastard Gabriel wouldn''t leave tonight alive.


    Then, Eliza chuckled and replied, "Alright, next time I''ll definitely call you first."


    A smile finally tugged at the corners of Nn''s lips. He raised the ss Eliza had poured and drained it in one swift gulp.


    After quenching his thirst, Nn suddenly remembered the promise he made back at the Malone family in Woteria; to personally serve Serenity a drink someday.


    Just as he was about to offer her, Eliza spoke up! "Your Highness, I asked you toe tonight not just for this, there''s something else I want to give you."


    Nn blinked, momentarily pulled from his thoughts.


    Eliza pped her hands, and Renee, her maid, emerged from the house carrying an ornate chest.


    After setting it down on the stone table, Renee withdrew without a word.


    Eliza opened the chest and said to Your Highness, “Inside are three century old Bloodde Blossoms and ten more that are at least kny years bed Please take these to Dr. Larson. these should allow him topletely runs your condition"


    The expectant smile on Nn''s lips froze abruptly.


    He gazed at the Bloodshade Blossoms, yet his face remained utterly joyless.


    By all ounts, this should have been a joyous asion. Yet after silently studying them for a moment, he averted his gaze, only to fix his eyes on Eliza


    instead.


    After a long pause, Nn said stiffly, "Serenity, it can''t be cured."