Mystery: Gray Walker

Chapter 55 Lillian's Contradiction

Green glared fiercely at Lillian, forcing out through gritted teeth, "I hope you're not lying to me this time..."

Lillian responded with an impeccable, gentle, and slightly shy smile, as if the previous exchange had never happened.

"You can try it now."

If I had it with me, I would definitely try it without you even having to tell me!

Just then, Sylvia glanced at the setting sun outside the window, gracefully set down her teacup, and rose to bid farewell to Mrs. Hannah:

"Hannah, it's getting late, so we won't bother you any longer. Thank you so much for your hospitality today."

Mrs. Hannah kindly invited them to stay for dinner, but when Sylvia politely declined, she didn't press the matter and warmly saw them to the door.

Green stood up and straightened his suit.

Lillian immediately resumed her gentle and ladylike demeanor, following Mrs. Hannah and whispering farewells. Her gaze occasionally met Green's, but she would quickly and shyly look away, her acting skills completely natural.

In the foyer, while Mrs. Hannah and Aunt Sylvia were exchanging their final pleasantries, Lillian naturally took a step closer to Green.

Her lips barely moved, yet her voice clearly pierced Green's ears:

"Just a friendly reminder, keep an eye on her... don't let her get discovered by Fan Huayuan."

After saying that, she immediately stepped back.

Green's body froze instantly.

What does that mean?

Isn't Lillian a member of the Garden of Prosperity? She personally led him to that secret gathering, introduced him to Ms. Martha, assigned him the task, and was also her intermediary between herself and the Garden of Prosperity...

But at this moment, she reminded herself not to let Emily be discovered by the Garden of Fragrance.

What lies behind this contradiction?

Was it her personal warning? Or is the interior of Fan Garden not a monolithic entity?

Or perhaps... Isabella Winston's identity is somehow disconnected from or even in conflict with Lillian de la Nott's position or mission within the organization?

Countless questions arose instantly.

Green nodded slightly; he knew now was not the time to investigate.

Mrs. Hannah had already opened the door for them herself, and a warm winter breeze carrying the scent of the garden wafted into the foyer.

"Take care on your journey, dear Sylvia. Green, Emily, and little Sula, you're welcome to visit often," Mrs. Hannah said gently.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Hannah/Mrs. Winston," the Hayes family said politely as they took their leave.

Green took one last look at Isabella, who stood beside Mrs. Hannah, wearing a pale yellow dress and with a gentle smile.

The other person was looking at him, their eyes clear.

The way the two looked at each other had a different flavor in front of everyone, a flavor of... love at first sight.

Everyone smiled without saying a word.

The door closed gently behind me, shutting out the Winston mansion filled with the aroma of tea, sunlight, and secrets.

The atmosphere on the carriage back to the city was completely different from when we arrived.

The anticipation and trepidation she felt upon arrival now transformed into undisguised joy and relief on Sylvia's face.

She sat upright with her back straight, a gentle smile on her lips, her gaze occasionally falling on Green, who seemed lost in thought.

"Mrs. Hannah is so kind and considerate," she said softly, breaking the silence in the carriage, her voice full of admiration.

"The Winston family truly deserves to be called aristocracy. Even in their decline, they are still beyond our reach. That composure and depth cannot be faked."

She paused, her gaze softening as she looked at Green. "That Miss Isabella... is truly a rare and wonderful young woman. She's beautiful, well-mannered, and speaks with elegance; she's clearly a woman of substance. Green, what do you think?"

She asked the question subtly, but the expectation in her eyes was practically written all over her face.

Sylvia could tell that the interaction between the two young people at the tea party was far from simple politeness. The subtle eye contact and the shy hesitation were clearly signs of mutual attraction in her eyes, given her experience.

This put her mind at ease, and she even began to look forward to a bright future.

Emily seemed to have broken free from her previous silence, perhaps stimulated by the luxury of the Winston family and the world she had once longed for.

She stopped staring out the window and joined the conversation.

"I've seen those tulips in flower guides; they're a rare variety cultivated in the South, and I heard a single plant can cost several pounds! And that small landscape painting in the living room—it looks unremarkable, but the frame and signature... it's very likely genuine."

She recounted the details she observed, "This is the real high society, Mom. Unlike the ones we usually encounter... all pretentious."

There was a hint of disappointment in her tone, but more than that, there was a burning desire to get closer to that circle.

Afternoon tea at the Winston family's house was like a window, allowing her to see more clearly what the world her father had always hoped she would enter was like, and also quietly reviving some of the vanity and ambition that had been temporarily suppressed by the potion.

Unlike Sula, she is still immersed in the memories of those delicious foods.

"The scones sprinkled with powdered sugar and jam were the best! They were so soft and fluffy. And those little green macarons, although a bit sweet, were so fragrant! And that little tart-shaped dessert was filled with cool cream and strawberries..."

She counted on her fingers, her eyes sparkling, "Mrs. Hannah's pastry chef is amazing!"

Sylvia's satisfied whispers, Emily's comments, and Sula's cheerful descriptions echoed in the carriage.

Only Green seemed detached from the situation.

He leaned back in his seat, his gaze fixed on the rapidly receding street scene outside the window, lost in thought.

[Keep an eye on her... don't let her get discovered by Fan Huayuan.]

This sentence is like a thick fog, seemingly containing a secret.

Lillian's identity, motives, the authenticity of her warnings... countless clues and questions are intertwined, making it impossible to sort them out.

His dazed expression and silence, however, were interpreted differently by his Aunt Sylvia, who had been secretly watching him.

He was still deeply attached to Isabella.

When the carriage stopped in front of No. 27 Embankment Street, dusk had already draped the three-story, slightly exquisite house in a gray-blue veil.

After paying the fare, the family had just stepped onto the steps when the door opened from the inside.

Uncle Victor had been waiting at home for a long time and came out to greet him as soon as he heard the commotion.

His face was filled with anticipation. His gaze first swept over his wife, Sylvia, and when he saw that familiar, mysterious smile on her lips and a slight nod to him, Victor instantly calmed down, but he couldn't hide the joy in his eyes.

"Green! Believe me, my child, your future path... will be incredibly broad!"

He didn't ask any further questions, but his expression said it all.

In Victor's view, establishing ties with the Winston family, especially if a successful marriage with Miss Isabella were to occur, would be a significant step forward for not only the Green family but also the Hayes family.

The atmosphere at dinner was much more relaxed than usual.

Victor, unusually, didn't talk about work or current affairs. Sylvia had a smile on her face the whole time, and even Emily occasionally chimed in with her observations about afternoon tea.

Only Green, while outwardly engaging in conversation with his family, would unconsciously glance at Emily.

Emily noticed his unusual behavior.

Her keen eyes caught Green's solemn expression and the look in his eyes when he looked at her, a heaviness she couldn't comprehend.

After dinner, everyone went back to their rooms.

Green locked the door, but didn't rest immediately. Gazing into the deep night, Lillian's warning kept replaying in his mind.

"Who exactly is she...?"

After some time, a soft knock sounded on the door.

"Green, it's me." Emily's hushed voice came from outside the door.

Green frowned and opened the door.

Emily slipped in and quickly closed the door.

She had changed into her pajamas, her hair was loose, and her face showed less of the deliberate calm she had during the day and more of a genuine anxiety.

"You've been watching me all night," she said bluntly. "What's wrong? Did I...do something wrong? Did someone notice?"

Emily subconsciously attributed Green's unusual behavior to the important social event that afternoon, fearing that she had given herself away.

Green looked at the worry in her eyes and felt a pang of sadness.

He couldn't tell her that Isabella was Lillian of the Garden of Fame, that the gentle lady was actually a dangerous extraordinary being, and that the Garden of Fame might be interested in her, this "wild" assassin.

Green finally shook his head and said in a deep voice, "You performed... well."

"Then why..." Emily asked, puzzled.

Green interrupted her, "Emily, you must become the real Emily Hayes as soon as possible. Not pretend, but inside and out, your habits, your temper, even your little quirks... you have to go back to the way you were. At least until we're capable of protecting ourselves."

He took a deep breath and continued seriously, "The world of the extraordinary is far more dangerous and cruel than what you can glean from the snippets you find in old books in the library. It is not, as you imagine, a shortcut to gaining power and changing your destiny."

The room was completely silent, with only the occasional faint sound of wind coming from outside the window.

Emily stared blankly at Green, seeing in his eyes a seriousness and gravity that was far from intimidating.

She opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing, only slowly nodding, her fingers unconsciously clenching the cuffs of her pajamas.

Emily silently turned around, opened the door, and quietly returned to her room.

The door closed again. Green leaned against the door, wearily closing his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, but his gaze was no longer filled with doubt or confusion.

"The bigger the waves... the more expensive the fish."