Nimbasa City, in a mansion on the outskirts of town.
The light from the kerosene lamp on the table illuminated the entire living room, and two girls, about seventeen or eighteen years old, looked at everything around them in disbelief.
The people who had just brought them here said that from now on, this would be their home, and they could live here in peace. They also said this was Draconis's arrangement, and everyone who came to this territory would be given a house of their own.
Not only that, those people also brought them a very hearty dinner.
A basket of soft, sweet white bread, two honey-glazed grilled fish roasted to a golden brown, and some vegetables, fruits, and drinks.
Having always been treated as cursed and ominous people, the Joy sisters' first reaction to this scene was disbelief.
In this world, would anyone really be so kind to them?
You know, even their own father hated them so much that he and everyone in the village drove them out of the village—
"Sister, can we really eat this food?"
Joy Alia, the younger sister, couldn't help but swallow. She hadn't eaten such good food in a long time.
Joy Rin remained silent, her heart incredibly complex at the moment.
Her mind replayed the words of the knight who brought them over.
"Don't worry, there are no more Slaves here!"
"From now on, this house is your home. Lord Draconis said everyone gets a house of their own, so you can live here in peace!"
"Don't thank me, thank Lord Draconis! This is all his arrangement!"
Joy Rin couldn't believe it. Looking at the abundant food in front of her, she felt as if she were dreaming.
Who exactly was that Lord Draconis? Why was he so kind to people like them?
But at this moment, Joy Rin could no longer think.
Her stomach rumbled. Joy Rin silently thought to herself:
Even if it's a dream, please let my sister and I wake up a little later!
"Alia, eat slowly."
"Okay, I know, Sister!" Joy Alia ate the bread in large bites, feeling the sweet aroma in her mouth, and couldn't help but shed tears.
After finishing dinner, the two sisters went to bed to rest together, just like on those nights in the past, they huddled together, embracing each other as they slept.
At this moment, Joy Alia lay on the bed, curled up in her sister's arms, and couldn't help but ask:
"Sister, are we dreaming?"
She couldn't help but pinch her thigh hard.
"Hiss, it hurts so much!"
She wasn't dreaming!
Joy Rin sighed silently, looking at her sister helplessly.
"Sister, why is that Lord Draconis so good to us?" Joy Alia asked again.
"I don't know." Joy Rin shook her head easily, but no matter what happened next, she was already prepared.
Life couldn't get any worse than before.
After a long journey, the two sisters were both very tired.
They lay on the soft, comfortable bed and quickly fell asleep.
Early the next morning, the two sisters saw a knight standing at the door.
"Lord Draconis wants to see you!"
Hearing this, both of them immediately became nervous.
"Sister—" Joy Alia held her sister's hand, a little worried.
Joy Rin said nothing, silently leading her sister behind the knight. After several turns, they arrived at the building they had seen yesterday, called the City Hall.
Soon, they met Draconis in the luxuriously decorated room on the top floor.
Their eyes met, and when Draconis saw the two familiar faces in front of him, a sense of familiarity immediately welled up in his heart.
That's right, this was the Miss Joy he was familiar with!
The Joy sisters also couldn't help but secretly observe the noble young man in front of them.
They didn't know why the other party suddenly wanted to see them, and they were all very nervous for a moment.
Looking at the reactions of the two Joys, Draconis smiled and said:
"Don't be so nervous. I called you here today just to understand a little about your situation."
Hearing this, the two Joys immediately froze.
"I heard you came from a small village and were sent to prison for theft after stealing a piece of bread in the Royal City, is that right?" Draconis asked.
"We didn't do it on purpose, my sister and I were just too hungry!" Joy Alia said somewhat aggrieved, "And we tried to find work, but everyone was scared of us and didn't dare to come near us—"
"Alia!" Joy Rin stopped her sister, "I'm sorry, Your Highness, for making you laugh. This is our own mistake, and I am willing to accept any punishment."
"Why would I punish you?" Draconis raised an eyebrow.
Joy Rin was slightly stunned. She somewhat didn't understand the intention of this Highness calling them over.
Draconis smiled and said, "You have already been punished, and I didn't call you here today for this matter."
"I want to tell you that you are no longer Slaves. Whatever happened in the past, it's all in the past. Since you have come here, you should live well here."
Hearing this, the two Joys were both stunned.
After a while, Joy Rin couldn't help but ask, "Is Your Highness not afraid of us?"
"Why should I be afraid?" Draconis retorted.
Even witches who could use magic had to stay and work for him.
"Because we are under a Curse—" Joy Rin said, "All those who marry us will have children who look exactly like us."
Just like them and their mother.
"Everyone thinks getting close to us will bring misfortune—that they will be affected by the Curse." Joy Alia also couldn't help but say.
"Regarding this matter, I have a new perspective." Draconis smiled and asked, "Do you know about Magic Beasts?"
Magic Beasts? The two sisters were stunned. Of course, they knew, a kind of creature found everywhere in this world, more numerous than humans.
"Children born from Magic Beasts of the same species are identical in appearance and ability." Draconis explained, "Perhaps the phenomenon on you is no different from theirs."
The two sisters had never thought of this perspective before.
"So, does that mean my sister and I are actually Magic Beasts?" Joy Alia became even more afraid.
"Not just you. I heard that some scholars who study the origin of humans believe that humans in this world are actually a type of Magic Beast. Some scholars also believe that humans evolved from Magic Beasts, and perhaps you have a phenomenon similar to atavism, which is why this situation occurs," Draconis said.
Hearing these words, the two sisters' eyes flickered, filled with disbelief.
"Then, does that mean there is no Curse on us at all?" Joy Rin couldn't help but ask.
"Of course." Draconis nodded.
"I understand—thank you very much, Your Highness!" Joy Rin bowed deeply.
At this moment, Draconis noticed her loyalty had risen from the original 0 to 80, reaching a very exaggerated level.
"Do you have any skills you are good at? Farming, logging, blacksmithing, Fishing, building houses?" Draconis then got to the point: "The City Hall will provide you with daily necessities for a period of time,
but if you want to continue living here, you still need a skill and find a way to earn money yourself."
"None." Hearing this, the two sisters were a little embarrassed.
They came from a remote small village and then wandered everywhere.
Stealing—does stealing white bread count?
Obviously, it didn't.
Draconis was not surprised by this situation.
He pretended to ponder for a moment, then wrote a letter of introduction and handed it to them, saying:
"In that case, take this letter and go find someone named Lila. She will teach you some skills that will allow you to survive."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Joy Rin breathed a sigh of relief. She reached out and took the letter, her heart filled with gratitude, and her loyalty increased by another 10 points.
Looking at the two turning to leave, Draconis was very happy.
Very good.
Now, he would have "Miss Joy" in his territory.
۞۞۞۞
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