Mysterious: The Innate Sacred Body of Destiny

Chapter 226 Fors's Reverie and the Ingenious Use of a Vest

Chapter 226 Fors's Reverie and the Ingenious Use of a Vest

"Should I... not have come?"

Lorne, left standing alone at the door, felt a little lost and embarrassed.

"Should I write a letter in advance to inform them?"

From behind the door came the faint sounds of hurried footsteps, a low-pitched exclamation, and a muffled thud like furniture being hit.

To be honest, Lorne desperately wanted to turn around and leave immediately, as if this awkward first meeting had never happened.

But thinking that leaving without saying goodbye would be even more impolite, he gritted his teeth and stayed where he was.

"She—could she be Fors Wall—" A thought popped into my head.

Enthusiastic and cheerful—that's really lacking. "I'm starting to understand why so many online romances that ended in real life ended tragically in the world before I transmigrated."

"Looks like I'll have to be more careful from now on."

After a long while, the sounds behind the door gradually subsided.

Lorne quickly composed himself, making himself appear calm and composed.

The door was opened from the inside once again.

This time, however, what came into his view was no longer the somewhat flustered brown-haired woman from before. Instead, it was a short, blonde girl with a slightly chubby face, dressed in a smart equestrian outfit.

It's her.

Lorne recognized her at a glance. She was the one who had asked him to exorcise evil spirits at the party, and the one he had later saved from the werewolves.

"So that's why the two of them are so close, living together—" He suddenly realized, and many clues instantly connected.

"Ahem." Hugh coughed lightly twice before asking with a scrutinizing gaze, "Who are you?"

Lorne snapped out of his reverie and gave a slight bow. "Hello, miss. My name is Lorne Disenke. I'm here to see Ms. Fors Wall; I'm—her friend."

Hugh looked him up and down a few times, then stepped aside and said, "Then come in."

"Sorry to bother you."

Lorne followed the other person into the house.

The living room was decorated in a cozy style with a touch of artistic flair, and Lorne saw a completely transformed Fors.

Unlike before, she had changed into a well-fitting off-white long dress, and her slightly wavy brown hair seemed to have been hastily combed, barely regaining its smoothness. She appeared to have applied a light layer of makeup, and the large dark circles under her eyes had disappeared. She was trying to create an image of quiet elegance.

The two exchanged a glance, both feeling a strange, inexplicable awkwardness.

Seeing this, Hugh couldn't help but inwardly facepalm. She took a deep breath and said, "This is Fors. I'm her roommate, Hugh Deercha."

Lorne bowed slightly to the two of them again: "It was too abrupt of me to come here today without prior notice."

"It's...it's alright," Fors hurriedly waved her hand.

"Well then, Mr. Disenck," Hugh began, deliberately making his tone serious, "is there something special that brings you here today?"

She had made up her mind. In order to salvage Fors's already ruined image, she would play the "bad cop" today, to highlight Fors's gentleness and ladylike nature.

"Miss Wall has written me many letters before." Lorne turned his gentle gaze to Fors.

"Um—just call me Fors," Fors added softly, sitting upright and forcing a ladylike smile.

"Sigh, Mr. Disenke, he's really a busy man," Hugh complained from the side. "He can't even be bothered to reply to a letter."

"Shut up! Don't say that!" Fors interjected at the opportune moment. "Lorne must have some reason for his predicament!"

"I was out of town for a while, and I also got the mailing address wrong. That's why I couldn't reply to your email in time," Lorne explained.

"That's true," Hugh continued, crossing his arms, "but do you know how worried Fors was about you? She thought something had happened to you."

"—I know. That's why I've come here today specifically to apologize."

Lorne chuckled and took out the gift box he had been carrying.

"This is a gift for Warnefors."

He opened the box, and a pen that looked extremely luxurious, inlaid with a huge sapphire, appeared before their eyes.

"This is way too expensive!"

Looking at the pen that gleamed under the light, Fors covered her mouth in surprise, somewhat unable to accept it.

"It's not expensive." Lorne didn't want to put too much pressure on the other party. "It's only about ten pounds."

"Ten pounds is quite expensive," Fors muttered to himself.

Hugh scrutinized him carefully for a few moments, then suddenly asked, "Mr. Disenke, are you a nobleman?"

"Hugh! How could you ask such a rude question!" Fors immediately scolded in a low voice, gently tugging at Hugh's sleeve.

"I'm asking this for you, you idiot," Hugh said with a look of disdain.

"I'm not a nobleman," Lorne shook his head slightly. Then he joked, "What? Will my not being a nobleman disappoint the two ladies?"

"Yes," Hugh joked, "someone thought they might have a chance to become a noblewoman."

"Shut up! What nonsense are you spouting now!" Fors had an urge to rush over and cover her friend's mouth immediately.

Lorne couldn't help but laugh as he watched their natural and amusing interaction. The awkward atmosphere eased considerably, and the three chatted casually for a while longer.

"By the way," Lorne changed the subject, "I remember you mentioned in your previous letter that you, Fors, have a new work coming out. Would I have the honor of previewing it?"

"Oh, this..." Fors's expression instantly froze, her eyes began to wander, and she unconsciously scratched her hair.

"She hasn't finished writing yet. Fors has already sent the manuscript to the editor." Seeing this, Hugh immediately spoke up to smooth things over without changing his expression, "What a pity, you're a step too late."

"That's such a pity."

"Oh, right! Speaking of novels," Fors said, grasping at a straw, quickly changing the subject, "Lorne, didn't you mention in your letter that you also wanted to try writing, and even suggested a few very interesting ideas?"

"Um—can I borrow this concept in my new book? I mean, I can give you credit!" Fors was a little embarrassed, but she had indeed been lacking inspiration lately.

"You mean that idea about the 'Death Note'?" Lorne said generously. "Of course."

Anyway, I copied it too—

"That's great! I can add a new villain to Sissi's story!"

As the conversation turned to novels and writing, the atmosphere in the living room finally became more relaxed. Fors gradually let go of her initial restraint and pretense, regaining some of her talkative nature, although she still tried to maintain her composure.

"Actually, there's one more thing I'd like to ask."

Just as the three of them were getting into a lively conversation, Lorne suddenly seemed to remember something and said with a serious expression.

"What is it? If I know it, I'll tell you!" Fors replied with a smile, clearly still enjoying the friendly atmosphere.

Saying everything?

Although he knew that these were probably just polite words from his friend, Hugh couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"That's how it is—"

Lorne then briefly recounted how Sherlock Moriarty had investigated him and even illegally broken into his home.

"The detective said he only did it because he received your commission—"

"That's not how it is!" Fors immediately denied.

"The reason I went to see a detective is because—"

"Mr. Disenke."

Hugh suddenly interrupted Fors.

"Fors did indeed seek the detective's help to find you because she was worried about you. But regarding the trespassing, that was entirely the detective's own doing. We were unaware of it beforehand."

"No, I never suspected Fors," Lorne explained politely. "I just wanted to confirm. It seems, just as I suspected, that detective is trying to shift the blame onto you to cover up his illegal activities."

"That's absolutely outrageous."

"That's right!" Fors echoed.

She hadn't expected the detective to do something so damaging to her image. She was furious if Lorne had misunderstood anything, and her dissatisfaction with the detective had reached its peak.

"That detective is absolutely outrageous! We're going to report him to the guild right now! He has to be punished!"

After jointly condemning the unethical detective, the three chatted happily for a while longer.

During this time, Lorne also returned the money that Fors had previously sent him through letters.

Although Fors repeatedly said that she didn't need to rush to repay the money, Lorne said that he didn't need the money at the moment, and he was also very grateful for Fors's kindness.

"I knew it," Lorne praised sincerely, "A person who can write such interesting stories must be very kind and generous at heart."

Upon hearing Lorne's words, Fors's face immediately lit up with undisguised joy, and she gave a slightly embarrassed smile.

But Hugh, standing to the side, narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze not that of someone looking at a friend, but rather that of someone scrutinizing a suspicious individual who might abduct his mentally challenged daughter, filled with vigilance.

After chatting for a while longer, Lorne got up to say goodbye.

Fors saw him to the door, looking somewhat reluctant to part. She told Lorne that he could come visit her anytime he wanted.

"Goodbye, ladies." Lorne turned and disappeared into the streetscape of Backlund.

"This Lorne Disenke certainly doesn't seem like a nobleman."

After Lorne left, Hugh, like a wicked mother-in-law scrutinizing her future son-in-law, commented:

"He didn't have the sense of superiority and aloofness that are typical of nobles. And—" she paused, then added thoughtfully, "he didn't seem to have much experience in deep interactions with women, and seemed a bit too formal and polite."

"Really, Hugh?" Fors's eyes lit up, automatically filtering out the other comments and focusing only on the last point. "I had no idea you had a talent for being an emotional detective! No experience with women? That's a good thing!"

"It seems he's not like some superficial men who only care about first impressions." Hugh ignored his friend's infatuation and continued to objectively analyze Lorne's behavior before he left. "He didn't seem to show any disgust or look down on you because of your initial casual demeanor."

"You figured it out, didn't you!" Fors immediately chimed in. "I knew it! He's not that kind of shallow person! People who like my stories must have good taste and character!" Her words, which praised Lorne and herself at the same time, made Hugh, who was standing next to her, lower his head and facepalm again, feeling utterly powerless.

"And this pen—"

"Fors, how much do you think this pen is worth?" Hugh asked.

"About 50 pounds?"

Lorne just said it was only worth a dozen or so. But Fors thinks that, given its exquisite craftsmanship, it should be more expensive.

"50 pounds? Fors, you're too naive." Hugh shook his head. "This pen, just based on the quality and size of that sapphire, is worth at least 500 pounds!"

"What?! 500 pounds?!"

Fors opened his mouth in surprise.

You should know that the total royalties for her last book amounted to only about 400 pounds!

"Hugh, are you—are you sure?"

"Don't doubt my judgment."

As a former aristocratic lady, Hugh has a good eye for luxury goods.

"This—this is too valuable!" Fors suddenly felt the box in her hands become hot. "Should I return it? I can't accept this gift—"

"The fact that he didn't tell you the actual value of the gift shows that he genuinely wants you to accept it, rather than using it to show off or put pressure on you." Hugh rested her chin on her hand, calmly analyzing Lorne's motives. "Otherwise, he could have easily boasted about how valuable the pen was, making you feel embarrassed yet unable to refuse. Many aristocratic young men who pursue women like to play this self-important trick, using money and gifts to demonstrate their superiority." She seemed to recall something and sighed with a hint of sarcasm.

"Then...then he gave me something so precious, does that mean...he wants to be with me—"

Fors was initially delighted, her cheeks instantly flushing crimson as she drifted into reverie.

Although they were just pen pals, this was still their first meeting. Giving such an expensive gift right off the bat—it was hard not to make some wild guesses for a writer prone to flights of fancy.

There's a similar plot in one of Roselle's novels: a talented writer and a devoted reader who appreciates her talent become connected through their writing and eventually come together—although the genders seem reversed, it's not entirely unreliable!

"Maybe this is a token of our love!" she almost blurted out.

But her excitement lasted only a few seconds before her expression turned gloomy again.

"But my first impression on him was so bad, and I was smoking, wouldn't he actually be disappointed? Was he just being polite—"

After all, no one wants someone who has been to a brothel to be their wife.

"Fors," Hugh said, pulling her friend out of her unrealistic "Mrs. Disenck" reverie, "have you forgotten something very important?" "What is it?"

"Sigh." Hugh was somewhat speechless. "It's about Miss Audrey!"

"How do you plan to report this to her?"

On his way back, Lorne pondered the visit he had just had, feeling a little puzzled.

Aside from a slight awkwardness at the beginning, everything else went quite well during today's meeting.

Because of his previous experiences, Lorne had known for a long time that Hugh and Fors were both extraordinary beings.

This somewhat dashed his hopes of making a "normal friend".

"However, although it differed somewhat from what I imagined, Fors is still quite an interesting person. I feel she has a lot of inner monologues! She's very much in line with the identity of a writer."

However—that guy named Hugh seems to have quite a bit of hostility towards me.

noble·-·

Hugh had been subtly probing me about nobles.

That's strange. I'm not a nobleman, and I have no connection with nobles.

Why does she keep hinting at these things?

Could it be that there was something else going on in their investigation of me?

Should we go back and find out now? Lorne stopped in his tracks.

No, they didn't say it outright just now, which means they still have reservations. Or rather, they don't trust me enough. The key point, then, is still with Hugh.

After thinking it over, he had a new idea.

Perhaps—I can use the identity of "James Scott" to try and contact her again.

After all, James Scott was her savior. Moreover, Scott was also known as Lorne's friend.

If Hugh wants to know more about "Lorne," he probably won't let this "friend" off the hook.

I can take this opportunity to extract some information from her.

Thinking of this, Lorne couldn't help but sigh again:

"Having a vest is indeed quite convenient."