Reborn After Betrayal: The Frail True Princess Decides to Give Up

Chapter 228 : How Can Worldly Possessions Compare to Those Beside You

Celitia didn't quite understand why Benita had become somewhat obsessive after coming out of the dreamscape.It was probably still the deep influence of the nightmare. It was all that fool Annie's fault...

If worst came to worst, she could have Annie enter dreams again to provide psychological healing for Benita.

"Let's go over first and greet Teacher." Shanie pulled Celitia along. "We can bring Benita to visit another time."

Celitia nodded: "Then let's go."

The two came to the wooden house again.

The difference was that this time, before even entering, Celitia could hear thunderous snoring.

No wonder Shanie was certain someone had returned just from passing by.

Shanie embarrassedly scratched her head: "At first listen, doesn't it sound like there's a monster living inside?"

Celitia was speechless.

In her youth, she was often kept awake by this snoring.

Fortunately, young people sleep well, and she gradually got used to it.

She had found it extremely annoying back then, but hearing it now, only nostalgia remained.

"Indeed, a humanoid monster." Celitia couldn't help muttering.

A retired Sword Saint who had single-handedly charged into a dragon's lair, successfully slaying the dragon and looting all its treasure...

What else could he be but a humanoid monster?

The wooden house door wasn't locked. Shanie pushed it open and walked in first.

The white-haired old man lay in a wicker chair by the window, completely undisturbed by the two, still snoring thunderously.

Walking to Erwin's side, Shanie tried to wake him:

"Teacher, Teacher, wake up. It's getting late—the sun's shining on your bottom!"

Under Shanie's persistent calling, the snoring finally stopped. The old man lifted his eyelids and glanced at Shanie:

"Oh, it's Shanie. Let me sleep a bit more..."

After speaking, Erwin closed his eyes again, his breathing getting louder as he was about to fall asleep again.

"Teacher, wake up quickly!" Shanie called him again.

Just as Shanie finished speaking, Erwin suddenly opened his eyes wide:

"Hm? Wait, wait! Let me see—Shanie brought someone back, and it's a pretty young lady?"

Erwin straightened his back and sat up directly from the wicker chair, transforming from sleepy-eyed to energetic.

"I knew it! While playing outside, I suddenly had a premonition that something good would happen when I returned. Turns out my good disciple brought a wife home!"

Shanie was stunned and quickly waved her hands at Erwin:

"No, no, Teacher, you've got it wrong. She's not my wife, she's my friend."

"Really?" Erwin's face immediately fell. "That rascal couldn't bring back a wife, and now even my good disciple can't bring back a wife either. So disappointing!"

Celitia's eyelid twitched slightly as she held back from speaking.

Why was Shanie the "good disciple" while she was the "rascal"?

Moreover, Shanie was a girl—why were you expecting her to bring back a wife?

Afraid Celitia would feel awkward, Shanie quickly pushed Erwin and whispered in his ear:

"Teacher, this is my friend named Celitia. She came specially to visit you. Also, she already has a lover, so please don't talk about wives anymore..."

"Ah? Already has a lover? You foolish girl, why didn't you seize the opportunity??"

Erwin asked repeatedly, finally sighing: "Fine, fine. Since Shanie is so cute, even if she can't bring back a wife, Teacher will forgive you."

Celitia: "..."

Wasn't this differential treatment a bit much?

You old codger, back then you pressured me about marriage to the point of saying don't come see you if I don't get married!

Erwin sighed for a while, then waved at Celitia:

"Come, come, Celitia, come sit. Grandpa isn't blaming you for anything—I hope you don't misunderstand."

Celitia adjusted her mindset and walked over calmly, sitting on another wicker chair beside him:

"Hello, Mr. Erwin. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Good, good, good. What a good child."

Unlike his snow-white hair, Erwin's eyes were pitch black and full of spirit.

"Indeed, I still prefer energetic young people, especially pretty young ladies. Just seeing them makes me happy!"

The pipe on the table, the wine fragrance floating in the room, and those eyes that sparkled when seeing young ladies.

Teacher was exactly the same as always—nothing had changed.

The only one who had changed was herself.

As Celitia's thoughts wandered slightly, Erwin rummaged through pockets all over his body for a long time, finally producing a shining silver-purple gemstone.

"Good child, Grandpa didn't have time to prepare a proper meeting gift, so I can only give you this. I hope you won't mind."

Grabbing Celitia's hand, Erwin placed the gemstone in her palm.

Celitia held the gemstone, stunned for a moment, then quickly tried to push it back:

"No, this is too valuable. I can't accept it."

This was a Heram gemstone that Erwin had plundered from the dragon's lair during his dragon-slaying battle years ago—an illusion-attribute gemstone rich in magical power.

It was both an extremely precious gemstone and proof of that battle. Erwin had always treasured it dearly.

He used to not even let her touch it, but now he was casually giving it to a friend of his disciple on their first meeting?

"It's just a worldly possession—what's precious about it?" Erwin waved his hand. "No matter how precious something is, it can't compare to the people beside you. Looking at you, Grandpa feels a connection. Keep it well, and when you have time, come chat with me."

"But..." Celitia was still very hesitant.

Erwin said impatiently: "Grandpa is happy to give it to you, so just accept it. Don't make such a fuss."

Shanie also urged her: "Since it's a meeting gift from an elder, don't refuse."

No matter how precious things were, they couldn't compare to the people beside you?

Recalling Erwin's words, Celitia silently gripped the gemstone in her palm tighter.

"Alright," her voice was slightly hoarse, "then I thank you, Mr. Erwin."

Seeing Celitia accept the gemstone, Erwin finally nodded with satisfaction.

He casually reached for the pipe on the table: "Good, good. What a fine morning—perfect for a smoke!"

Before Erwin could touch the pipe, Celitia had already reflexively reached out, extremely quickly slapping his hand down onto the table with a "smack."

"No, you can't smoke!"

The moment Celitia acted, both Erwin and Shanie froze simultaneously, looking at her in unison.

Suddenly realizing what she had done, Celitia's face flushed red.

"Uh, sorry... I just..."

Celitia struggled to explain but couldn't find a suitable reason for quite a while.