"Summoned back?! At this time?" Laine was puzzled, his voice filled with confusion: "How come?"
After years of contact with the Jialan Council, Laine was well aware of its rules; usually, after a mission is completed, the Female Mage Council gives the councilors some time to rest before sending the next task.
In about two weeks, it will be the Winter Festival, so why is the Jialan Council urgently summoning Veronica back now?
"How would I know! Normally, unless it's something special, there wouldn't be an urgent summon at this time. But I received a notification from the council, and Catherine has already gone to get the recall order!" Veronica pouted, looking very upset: "I originally planned to spend the Winter Festival with you."
"Me too." Laine also found it strange: "Let's look into it carefully when we get home."
Late night, Amber Avenue 53, Marinburg.
The carriage slowly stopped at the door of the small building. Laine carried Veronica off the carriage, and then they both opened the door to their home.
Two maids quickly came to greet them, with Catherine holding out a scroll of parchment: "Councillor, this is your recall order."
Veronica snatched it from Catherine, and after just a quick glance, understood what it was about. She sighed deeply, gesturing to Laine to talk upstairs.
Thirty minutes later, on the second floor, the master bedroom.
Veronica had already changed into a lace-trimmed long nightgown. She curled up her silky stocking-clad legs on a long couch, her earlier ornaments all removed, letting her black-brown hair fall delicately on her shoulders. Her sweet face was full of grievance and anger.
"What's going on? Veronica, have you figured out the reason?" Laine, also changed into pajamas, saw the woman looking down and tried to comfort her: "It's okay, just make an excuse and leave after the Winter Festival."
"Oh~" The Jialan Witch patted the spot beside her, and Laine sat down next to her: "Laine, you don't understand. This is Jialan's urgent recall order; all Jialan Witches who see it must immediately return to the council. Based on the timing, this urgent recall was issued the moment we completed our mission."
"Issued the moment we completed our mission?" Laine held Veronica in his arms, inspecting the urgent recall letter.
"Clearly, someone in the council doesn't want me to stay outside any longer, or perhaps... stay by your side." Veronica sneered, lightly kissing the man's face: "My presence doesn't align with the interests of certain people, so I have to get out. Look, see who signed this urgent recall."
Laine carefully examined the recall letter and indeed saw the signee: Aurora Trovik.
"Elder Aurora? She called you back? Wait… Are you saying?" Laine wasn't a fool; he quickly grasped Veronica's meaning. Chapters first released on nοvelfire.net
The bright magic lamp illuminated the figures of two people on the couch inside the bedroom.
"Clearly, she doesn't want to see me by your side. To her, Laine Macado is a friend of the Jialan Council, a Griffin Duke's godson brimming with potential, a Legendary Middle-tier Powerhouse under twenty-five, a strong ally, while Teresa Trovik is her daughter." Veronica extended her small hand, intertwining her fingers with his: "And I, Veronica Bernadotte, have various relationships with Laine, most importantly, I am Speaker Margarita's apprentice."
Laine understood, thoroughly understood.
On the surface, it was Veronica and Teresa, two female casters vying for Laine, an excellent partner. But hidden beneath this was the fierce factional conflict within the Jialan Council, between Speaker Margarita and Elder Aurora.
This conflict reached Teresa, reached himself, and now also Veronica.
A long silence followed, with Laine's expression slightly changing. He tightened his grip on the woman in his arms, his tone becoming somewhat cold: "So, this is what it's come to?"
"Yes, it's come to this. I will leave for the Jialan Council tomorrow morning. As long as I want to continue being a Jialan councilor, I must accept the council's emergency recall, even if it's unreasonable, because… rules are rules." Veronica brushed her hand over the man's handsome face: "After a brief reunion, we are parting again."
"Indeed, we are parting again. Right, here's your money; these coins are enough for you to build a Wizard Tower." Laine took out a bag containing fifty Deities Gold Coins: "Remember our promise? I agreed that you would have your Wizard Tower."
"Indeed, although I don't know why you could so easily gain Schultz's trust, nor why Schultz would give you so much money. But I know this is my partner, an extraordinary man… also my man." Veronica gently pushed away the money bag from Laine's hand: "Keep it for now."
"You don't want money? That's unlike you." A flash of amusement crossed Laine's eyes.
"Some things are more important than money, some things are more important than strength. This is what you taught me, Laine. I often think, if not for you, I might have fallen long ago." Veronica sighed lightly, the Jialan Witch continued: "I'm not giving up on this money; I mean to keep it on your side until you become a Lord, then I'll directly build my Wizard Tower on your territory!"