Chapter 648: Chapter 216 Study Room_3
Leonard Churchill also followed into this quaint, ancient-style room.
As soon as Leonard entered, he noticed that although the room was not large, it was arranged very ingeniously.
The walls were lined with bookshelves piled with all sorts of classic books, making it look like an ordinary study.
But upon closer inspection, one could see that curse words were hidden everywhere.
After closing the door, it seemed as if everything from the outside world had been blocked out.
Watching Leonard curiously surveying the room, Catherine Carter explained, “Don’t worry. This is the ‘Secret Study Room.’ It’s protected by special relics and barriers, and cannot be detected from the outside. Usually, only my father can come in here.”
“Oh?”
Leonard listened and understood.
This was somewhat like a “Safe House.”
His gaze drifted again to things like the [Glowing Ghost Candlestick] which could shield light, the [Ancient Gramophone] which could disrupt sound waves, and [Surok’s Pen] for nurturing one’s body…
All ancient relics indeed.
The furniture of a top Noble Family was so modestly unadorned.
Just walking off with a few items would ensure an ordinary person a lifetime of carefree living.
Upon entering the room, Catherine relaxed.
Ignoring Leonard, who was visiting around, she immediately removed her head cover, revealing her lush, wavy golden hair and that charming face.
“Huh…”
Having returned to her natural appearance, Catherine let out a sigh of relief.
Her part of the plan for the evening had gone smoothly, and she was in a good mood.
The black dress could no longer be worn, but there was no place to change in the study.
She had originally planned to come alone, but now there was an extra person.
Catherine’s brows furrowed slightly.
Her eyes glanced at the mirror and caught sight of Leonard looking curiously at the classic books on the shelf. She had something to say, but swallowed the words back down.
It seemed that after becoming familiar with this guy, there were many things she no longer avoided in her heart.
Her crystal eyes shifted, and the hint of hesitation dissipated.
She reached out and pulled the drawstring of her court dress, and with the constriction gone, the gown slid off her delicate skin.
Beneath was a thin undergarment, which, even though it was through her clothes, already revealed the faint contours of her graceful figure.
If it had been before, she, a lady from a great Noble Family, would definitely not have been so bold.
But at that moment she was completely natural.
As Catherine raised her hand to undo the fastenings of the soft silk lining, a glance at the mirror revealed a pair of interested eyes.
Leonard, hearing the rustling behind him, was naturally aware.
He turned his head to see Catherine changing clothes.
He had intended to look away, but seeing her calm demeanor, Leonard felt that avoiding her eyes would be too superfluous, so he took an extra look with an appreciative gaze.
In the room, not a single bit of the atmosphere changed; both of their expressions remained very natural.
Catherine merely glanced at the mirror and continued to casually undo the hidden buttons of her lining.
However, thinking of something, she raised her eyebrows slightly and, turning her back, said, “Yo… sir, wouldn’t you like to look away?”
Although she said that, there wasn’t a trace of any other emotion in her tone, very calm.
Leonard remained interested, “I am no gentleman.”
“Heh…”
Catherine gave a smile that was more like a smirk, without correcting him, and her hands did not slow in their task.
After undoing two or three buttons, a glimpse of snow-white skin came into view.
Just before completely undressing, Catherine seemed to remember something and added, “However, if you really want to watch, could you turn back to your original appearance?”
Leonard also asked curiously, “Why?”
Catherine replied with an indifferent tone, “Haven’t you already seen it before?”
That time at the Flood Gang casino, and before in the Mysterious Realm, he’d already looked her up and down thoroughly.
She had anticipated it.
Adding after a moment’s thought, “But someone else… that’s not possible.”
“…”
Leonard chuckled upon hearing this.
He had only been appreciating beauty; if it were really disrespectful, he would definitely not take a second look.
But evidently, she did not mind.
As she spoke, Catherine Carter had already undone the last button of her soft undergarment, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse in the mirror of someone’s original appearance returning.
No wonder she had felt something amiss earlier; it was because of this.
The last hint of hesitation in the elder miss of the Lionheart Family’s crystal-clear eyes evaporated, her pretty face looking perfectly natural as she commented with a slightly resigned tone, “You really don’t hold back, do you…”
With that, her jade-like fingers hesitated not a moment to lift the undergarment, exposing her magnificent chest completely to the air.
Though her back was to Leonard Churchill, the mirror in the corner clearly revealed everything.
Her entire upper body was now exposed to the air.
Her flawless back had the smoothness of warm jade.
Catherine was not the slightest bit awkward about it and continued with great openness.
She bent slightly, hooking her fingers in and pulling down the thin trousers, bending one leg to hook it, and the light shorts dropped softly beside her.
At this moment, her stunning figure was completely uncovered, a faint fragrance permeating the air.
This allowed one’s gaze to slide down from her smooth back, across her slender waist, down the perky smoothness, and then to a pair of long, straight legs…
Like the dew gently sliding down the petals of a Rose at dawn, a vision of delicate beauty is revealed to the eye.
How could Catherine not be aware that the gaze behind her was appreciating her, something that might have made her somewhat uncomfortable in the past?
But at that moment, she stood there with utmost composure.
She was like the most dazzling Silver Mist Rose blooming proudly amid the vibrant patchwork of flowers in a garden.
She could even casually ask, “What do you think?”
“Quite nice,” he responded, raising an eyebrow in approval.
Full and perky, impeccable in shape, indeed, her body was flawless.
Though this wasn’t the first time he’d seen it, it was the first time he’d been granted silent permission to look with an appreciative eye.
Most importantly, her aura was different.
He had noticed that this “Silver Mist Rose,” after the Hero Trial, seemed completely changed, radiating an indescribable sense of ease and self-confidence.
Catherine heard the sincerity in the praise and, without comparing herself to others, she smiled slightly, “Thank you for your compliment~”
That smile was graceful and gentle.
It was as if she was saying, she didn’t mind this guy looking, especially since he had paid her a compliment.
However, this enchanting scene did not last long.
Catherine naturally changed out of her evening dress and into another extravagant gold-threaded long gown.
….
Leonard Churchill and Catherine stayed in the study, not caring about the chaos outside.
Being in this Safe House meant that the Lionheart Family had chosen to offer protection.
Even if the Orlan Remnants really suspected that there were accomplices of the Thirteen Knights in this building, they would not be able to find this place.
They would just wait until things quieted down outside before leaving.
After discussing the situation of the evening for a few moments, Leonard confirmed some of his earlier suspicions.
Although the Lionheart Family and the Orlan Remnants were allies, the assassination of Queen Catherine was indeed the intention of the Lionheart Family’s higher-ups.
The reason was that the ally was too strong, and the Lionheart Family might not be able to hold them down.
Their earlier choice to work together was solely for the resources and archives of the Orlan Royal Family.
Of course, they didn’t mind treating those down-and-out royals as vassals.
But they didn’t want to deal with ambitious figures they couldn’t control.
Now it seemed that the power the Orlan Remnants had accumulated over two hundred years of exile was strong enough to be worrisome.
So they had to clip the wings of those ambitious figures and give them a warning.
At the same time, Catherine took advantage of the situation to reorganize the succession situation within the Lionheart Family.
The Lionheart Family needed a lion.
Catherine, who had solidified her hero fate, was perfectly suitable.
Both her ability and her strength had gained the recognition of the Lionheart Family’s highest echelons.
Leonard had little interest in these political matters and didn’t ask for details.
It wasn’t long before the fighting outside came to an end.
The people of the Thirteen Knights had fled, and Young Lion City was in great turmoil.
Leonard had no intention of staying any longer; he was heading back to Sinless City to find Master Merlin and craft a Third Tier Profession Card.
After his advancement, he planned to go to the Upper State Prison to find out where the “Gluttony” Breathing Method really came from.