Legacy of a Benevolent Lord
Chapter 38: Are you Big Sis or.... Miss Selene?

Chapter 38: Are you Big Sis or.... Miss Selene?

Inside, eight to ten young women huddled together, their bodies covered with bruises and scratches.

Each of them wore an expression that clearly showed they had just escaped from a near-impossible situation, as if the jaws of hell themselves had almost caught them.

Not one of them will be able to please any other man the same way they have been doing in the past.

Today was sure to be a traumatic memory!

Old Duck Head, the madam of the boat, hearing the pleading screams of her young employees, burst in, furious at the scene.

But before she could speak, a heavy bag of silver slammed onto the deck at her feet.

Enough to buy her silence ten times over.

From behind the beaded curtain, a hoarse voice rasped:

"Change the group tomorrow night."

Old Duck Head weighed the silver carefully.

Her expression switched from rage to glee immediately. Bending her back and smiling fauningly.

"As long as Master has money," she said, "any problem can be solved."

Another sack of silver came flying.

She caught it deftly.

Word was spreading through Sundawn Commercial hub’s brothels about a new ’cruel master" lurking in the city.

....

Elsewhere.

On the wide, misty waters of the Great Lake.

A medium-sized, luxurious boat drifted slowly through the haze.

Inside the cabin.

Azira sat with her mouth wide open, staring dumbfounded as "Azhula" carefully peeled off her disguise.

The beautiful face of Selene Virelyn emerged from under the false layers.

Selene let out a long breath, stretching slightly. Then she faced the bronze mirror, smiling brightly.

"Ah, this feels so much better! Wearing all that sticky makeup was unbearable."

Selene rarely wore makeup.

She preferred her bare face: natural, fresh, radiant.

Azira blinked, still confused.

"A-azhu-... sister?" she stammered.

"Why are you dressed like Miss Selene?"

Her small face was full of innocent confusion.

She thought Azhula was playing another prank.

After all, Azhula had disguised herself before, once pretending to be a young master just to tease her.

Selene’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

She leaned closer, lowering her voice.

"His Highness likes Miss Selene," she said with a playful smile.

"So I dressed up like her... to make him happy."

As she spoke the word "likes," a soft blush crept across her cheeks.

In that moment, her whole being seemed to glow.

The entire cabin lit up with her radiance.

"Ah...?"

Azira’s jaw dropped even further.

......

Inside the cabin of the riverboat, lit only by a gently swinging lantern, Azira sat frozen in place, her little hands clutching her skirt tightly.

Across from her, Selene Virelyn smiled faintly, still wearing her "Azhula" disguise, and struggled to contain her laughter.

Azira blinked, completely confused.

She pointed at Selene with a trembling finger.

"Wait... y-you’re not Big Sister?"

Selene tilted her head slightly, smiling even more mischievously.

"Take another good look," she teased gently. "Who do you think I am?"

Azira stared harder. The height, the skin, even the air around her... it wasn’t right.

Her mouth fell open.

"You’re... you’re Miss Selene?"

The realization hit her like a splash of cold water.

Selene gave her a playful wink and stood up, smoothing out her robes.

Azira was still dumbfounded.

Her head whirled with questions.

How did Azhula become Miss Selene? Where did Big Sister Azhula go? Was this... magic?

Her hands gripped the edge of the table tightly.

She blurted out, "Miss Selene, were you kidnapped by villains and forced onto the ship?"

Selene blinked, then burst into soft laughter.

"Not exactly," she said, reaching out to affectionately ruffle Azira’s hair.

Before Azira could get any more worked up, the door to the inner room opened.

Creeack

Riven walked in briskly.

Outside, the river winds whistled against the wood of the cabin, carrying the fresh scent of water and lotus flowers.

The night was deepening.

Inside, a small lamp cast a warm, golden circle of light over the three of them.

........

By early morning.

A thin veil of mist covered the Great Lake, the waters smooth as a polished mirror.

Golden beams of sunlight pierced through the fog, creating shimmering paths across the waves.

Boats drifted silently in the far distance like ghosts, their sails barely moving in the gentle breeze.

Now, the boat gently rocked with the current as it floated steadily deeper into the heart of the lake.

Inside one of the larger cabins, Riven and Selene sat at a low table, maps and scrolls spread out before them.

Selene tapped her finger lightly against a spot on the map.

"I want to see the Ruins of the old academy, too," she said.

"And that stone forest near this river. You promised, remember?"

These were all famous tourist attractions Selene yearned to visit once upon a time.

Riven was bombarded with innocent requests. He chuckled under his breath, leaning back.

"I remember," he said lazily. "And if you behave, I’ll even take you to the mist bridge everyone’s so obsessed with."

Selene rolled her eyes and huffed.

"Why are you saying it like you’re doing me a favor? You’re the one who wants to see it. Hmph"

Riven smiled, not bothering to deny it.

Their laughter filled the cabin, easy and natural.

Azira, sitting at the side like a little squirrel, watched them with wide eyes.

In all her memories, Miss Selene had always been silent and elegant, a flower untouched by mortal dust.

Her perspective was different as she was still an immature kid.

But now...

Now she was laughing, blushing even, looking more alive than Azira had ever seen.

She hugged her knees, smiling softly.

At least... they were happy.

........

Just as the boat glided forward.

A sudden, violent jolt rocked it sideways.

"Ah!" Azira shrieked, losing her balance.

Before she could hit the floor, Riven reached out like lightning and caught her around the waist, setting her back upright in one smooth motion.

"Careful," he said, his voice warm and steady. His voice did not carry the usual flirtatiousness. It was much more fatherly.

Azira stared up at him, her little eyes blinking rapidly.

His hand was already gone, as if it had never been there at all.

"T-thank you, Your Highness," she stammered, feeling her heart hammering in her chest.

Selene smiled but said nothing, her gaze shifting quickly to the window.

Outside, torches flickered across the water.

Boats.

Many of them.

An urgent knock sounded at the door.

"Your Highness!" the steward’s anxious voice called out. "It’s terrible! Lake pirates! A sea of Pirates has surrounded us!"