WAR LORD'S UNRIVALED GODDESS

Joy As A Means

She probably couldn't hold a candle to Auriane, who seemed to have matured, though she was still just thirteen. To be more precised, she looked more like a little bean sprout. Nora felt like laughing when she thought of Auriane as a bean sprout , but still her smile froze before it had even curled her pink lips. She just realized that her reaction was only due to her escape facts, facts that couldn't be sure escaped by efforts or just because one wished to.

Auriane was obviously more outstanding and she paled in comparison to her, because she wasn't even capable of protecting herself, so how was she supposed to protect the little feotus in her womb.

In the future, if Auriane was tired and gave up on her, then she...

"I won't give up on you."

Auriane's soft voice seemed to have reverberated like the smooth sounds of the harp, causing her to stiffen and hold her breath for a second. Looking into her ever green eyes, Nora felt that her soul had been penetrated through, revealing her deepest thoughts to light.

'Did she just..?'

Unable to complete her absurd thoughts, Nora felt her hands suddenly warming up with a soft touch, giving her the impression that her heart had been warmed alongside with her hands.

She was utterly speechless, not knowing what to say or do at this moment.

Ignoring Nora's startled expression and slightly opened mouth, yet speechless expression. Auriane could slightly guess what her sister was thinking, and even if she was more or less correct, she didn't mind.

"I really have no intention of giving up on you. As a sister, how can I give up on you because of such trivialities." , Auriane pursed her lips, feeling guilty at the thought of her past life. In her past life, even if she didn't totally abandon Nora, she actually gave up on her. She only believed in Stella and was at the beck and call of the manipulative Angel.

Though she had altered the events of her past life, the guilt was still present and as long as Nora's baby wasn't born, she probably would never be able to let go of her guilt.

Seeing that Auriane was in daze with a creased brow, Nora called out her name with a worried expression.

"Auriane."

Taking a deep breath, Auriane got rid of her worries and got a grip of her emotions. Now wasn't the time to be melancholic over her past life, she needed to strengthen herself.

"I'm fine sister, I'm just worried."

"..."

Auriane ignored Nora's perplexed expression and continued with a sigh.

"As your sister, I obviously would stand by your side, protect you and help you as much as I can. However, at the end..." Auriane paused, looking at Nora with hesitation, but she didn't need to continue. Nora wasn't a topnotch student in her class, neither was she a genius. But her IQ was high enough to help her understand the situation.

Auriane stood by her side when others had drifted away from her, defended her when everyone pointed fingers at her and protected her when all the arrows where directed towards her.

However...

There was a simple fact that one couldn't neglect, Auriane wouldn't accompany nor stay by her side for twenty four hours, seven days, there would be a time when she'll be left all by herself.

At that moment she might be persecuted and tormented. And even... plotted against, comparable to the incident that left her with a child. At that time Auriane wouldn't be there and even if she was, certain situations weren't appropriate for her to act.

After all, no matter how matured she was, she was still barely thirteen. Nora understood all this without any second thought. And as an elder sister, if she couldn't protect her kid sister, then wasn't she useless.

Taking in a deep breath, Nora seemed to draw back the tears that had originally been threatening to spill.

The deed had already been done, if she still cried, then wasn't she doing exactly what her enemies wanted of her?

Auriane gave a sigh of relief and wiped the tears at the corners of Nora's cheek. She couldn't exactly decipher what had been going on in Nora's mind. Even if she could give some guess due to her sensitivity and ability to read through one's expression, she wasn't a medium or a mind reader. Her rebirth was already a shocking myth, so she didn't expect to obtain psychic powers as well.

She was contented.

"Now, do you understand." , Auriane calmly said.

"Yeah, I can't cry anymore, I need to destroy my enemy's smugness with a smile and crush their hopes with my strength. How can I give them joy with my pain."

"Good." It was good that her sister had been able to take the bitter truth, if not it might be difficult for her in the future. At least she knew her friends and her enemies, especially the ones she needed to guard against.

Seeing that Nora wasn't affected or traumatized with the harsh truth, Serge and Stacey finally gave a sigh of relief. After all, being able to swallow such a news wasn't an easy feat. Nora's life had been completely ruined and she was roughly back stabbed, no body would be able such news lying down.

Stacey was relieved, yet indignant.

"This is so unfair, Nora suffered so much, but the culprit is portrayed as a victim."

Stacey pouted, thinking of how Cindy played the victim in front of others, claiming that she escaped a close shave and even risked her life to save Nora and her dignity, but is still shunned by Nora for her mistake.

She was obviously the criminal, but she portrayed herself in front of others as a victim.

Thinking of how Cindy kept smearing Nora's reputation, Auriane's expression quickly darkened. Though she had reduced the impact of Nora's reputation being darkened by Cindy and Stella on the day of her rebirth and saved her from marriage. Cindy still didn't give up and kept spouting nonsense about Nora, tarnishing her reputation and gaining sympathy.

Prosperous indeed, but not completely bad thing. A cold smile appeared on Auriane cherry lips, causing the environment to drop in temperature. Everyone by her side, felt their body frozen by her smile that they hardly have the opportunity to see.

Though they prayed to one day see her smile, they felt a reluctant, yet chilling joy in their heart.

'Why was her smile beautiful and scary at a time?'

They thought, feeling their body subconsciously shiver. Her smile to them was just like a bitter sweet emotion swirling in their heart.

"Who said we'll let her off, don't you know the proverb... revenge is a plate best served cold?"

Of course they all knew that certain proverb, but they felt that the words leaving her lips seemed cold and frost bitten.

"So what are you going to do?"

Stacey asked, suddenly feeling anxious to hear Auriane's words. She didn't know why, but she felt that as long as she stayed by Auriane's side, she would have a lot of show to watch.

But Auriane's next sentence caused her to feel as if a whole bucket of cold water had been poured on her.

"Nothing."

"Fairy Ane, how can you not bring my hopes to the cloud and suddenly drop back to the floor. Ain't afraid that I might be hurt."

"That should be the case for Cindy, when did it reverse towards you?"

"...?"

Stacey suddenly felt that her mind was blank and she didn't quite understand what Auriane was up to. But Serge and Nora had an idea of what she meant.

"Fairy Ane, I really expected to watch a show, how can you kill my hopes."

Auriane flicked Stacey's forehead, which caused her to grimace, and a drop of tears dropped from her azure eyes while she covered her forehead with her palms.

"Fairy Ane...?"

Stacey paused at her words when she saw Auriane's creased brows while she looked towards the clock. She couldn't tell why, but Auriane seemed displeased.

"Was the clock ugly or..."

"Fairy Ane...", Stacey called out, but Auriane had already averted her gaze from the clock and looked towards Serge.

"There's a lottery stall fee meters away from here, can you accompany my sister there?"

Stunned by her, Serge couldn't help but stutter.

"Your...your solution was..."

"Do you have a better one?"

Auriane cut Serge off with a stern expression, and he could only swallow back his words. Averting his gaze from her, he thought of what to say , but couldn't find any words. Though trying a lottery game could help, but they could also lose a lot from it.

He thought Auriane must be joking or perhaps she actually didn't know what she was saying, but seeing her stern face, she didn't seem to be joking.

"You ...are you sure?"

Before Auriane could lift her lips to speak, Nora cut it with a smile.

"I believe Auriane wouldn't joke about this, if she says so, then we'll try out our luck."

Without any further ado, Auriane pulled the arm bag that she had brought with her, then she walked towards the door and pulled it open.

"Then I'll count on you guys to buy as much lottery cards as you can."

With that said, Auriane was gone in as split of second, without even clarifying her suggestions, but it didn't see like she gave them any choice either.

"Senior Nora, are we really...?", Serge seemed to hesitate a little, but looking at the smile on Nora's face and the glow of admiration in Stacey's eyes, he guessed there was no need to thank further.

"Alright, it's decided then...."