Cycle of Destiny

Chapter 62 The Viscountess's Affair

After losing his source of income, Odell began to drink heavily and became depressed.

Laura wanted a child. She hoped a new life would bring about change, and felt that a child might awaken her husband's sense of responsibility and energy—some people are changed by children, and she hoped Odell would be one of them.

But Odell refused. He said that as long as he remained a minor viscount, he would not allow such a thing to happen.

Laura tried many other ways to encourage him, hoping that Odell could get out of his troubles, but no matter how much Laura pleaded, Odell's drinking problem became more and more serious.

The double blow of losing both title and wealth was so profound that it could not be soothed by a few words of comfort from Laura.

After failing to persuade her, Laura could only devote more and more attention to church activities.

The goddess knew that Laura's financial situation at that time could no longer support her to make generous donations, but she still insisted on doing so.

The goddess did not approve of her actions. She told Laura that her willingness to come and participate was already the greatest support she could give to the church.

Thus, only after the goddess's insistence did Laura reluctantly withdraw her overly heavy act of kindness.

Just then, a new nobleman stepped onto the stage of the imperial capital. In the northernmost province of the empire, the old duke passed away, and his only son, Edric, succeeded him through a duel, becoming the new duke.

Perhaps it was the bustling life in the capital that attracted him; like Odell before him, this young duke also moved to the capital.

At the time, grain prices were extremely high, and his territory was rich in potatoes, unaffected by the reduced harvest in the southeast. Coupled with the wealth accumulated by his family, he was quite wealthy when he arrived in the capital.

He bought up vast tracts of land in the capital, built a magnificent castle, and even his own hunting grounds, enjoying unparalleled splendor.

When Odell was selling the Orion lands, the person who took them over was none other than Duke Edric.

At that time, Odell was already dejected and lacked rationality. The details of the deal were finalized by Laura and Edric, and that's how Laura met him.

Laura later told the goddess that she found it strange at the time: after she quoted a price, Edric accepted it without any hesitation and didn't even haggle.

At the time, Laura could only guess that the newly crowned duke was not short of money, but she later discovered that it was not because of the gold coins, but because of her.

After learning of Laura's religious zeal, Edric also began to frequently appear at various church events.

Laura was surprised to find that Edric was "coincidentally" present at many of the dinner parties she attended; and at the church charity auctions she hosted, the Duke was always the most enthusiastic and eager to bid.

The goddess also noticed that Edric's gaze rarely fell on the items he had won, but always lingered on the beautiful hostess.

It was clear that the young and handsome duke was completely captivated by Laura.

Although Laura was already in her thirties, it did not diminish her beauty in the slightest. She had a natural beauty; time had not left its mark on her face, but rather added to her radiance.

Her skin was still smooth, and her smile was still sweet, but her bright blue eyes were filled with weariness due to the hardships of life, which only added a touching charm to her beauty.

Charming, elegant, and tasteful, she's the kind of girl who can make the whole world fall at her feet when she's being cute. Plus, she's intelligent, and you'll enjoy talking to her about anything.

Her inner kindness and generosity were even more breathtaking than her outward beauty—in the goddess's eyes, it would be hard to find a more beautiful soul in the entire capital, no, even on the entire continent of Arcanos.

It's perfectly normal for Edric to fall for a woman like this after coming from the border into the capital.

Edric was exactly twenty-five years old at the time, more than ten years younger than Laura. He was tall, with regular features, and his gray eyes were very bright.

Because he was young and rich, he always had a smile on his lips; and because he was a level nine samurai, he was also very handsome, with a great physique and no excess fat on his body. He was the kind of person who would look incredibly brave and heroic when he put on knight's armor.

He was impeccably dressed, and his clothes fit him perfectly. He spoke with a thick northern accent, and was lively and uninhibited, making you feel very comfortable around him. A man like that is certainly very charming.

Before long, Edric became the most sought-after single nobleman in the capital, and unmarried noble girls all wanted to get close to him.

But they had no chance, because the Duke's mind was entirely on Laura.

By this time, Odell had begun to drink heavily and was rarely sober each day, so most of the time, Laura was the only one who attended the parties.

At every banquet, Edric would try to get close to Laura.

Edric and Laura got along very well, talking about everything from the new plays to the biggest gladiatorial arena and the hottest auction house.

To his surprise, Edric discovered that Laura knew everything he knew, but he could also talk comfortably with Laura about things he didn't know. He understood that Laura was accommodating him, and his infatuation with Laura grew even stronger.

He was also very humorous and often made Laura laugh. In addition, he had a deep voice and a pleasing appearance, so the two of them were very happy together.

The radiance Laura radiated during that time was something she never saw when she was with Odell.

After her husband fell into darkness, Laura lost her initial vitality and energy, becoming tired and haggard. But after meeting Edric, she regained her beauty, as if she had returned to her twenties.

At first, Laura was rather oblivious and didn't react much to Edric's affectionate gaze, assuming that he always looked at pretty girls like that.

A few months later, Edric could no longer contain himself and confessed all his feelings to Laura. But Laura was not a fickle woman, and she rejected Edric.

Edric was devastated, but Laura's pain was no less, for she had already fallen in love with him when she heard his confession.

Laura idolizes Edric. What Laura values ​​most, in fact, is a man's achievement in martial arts.

She couldn't compromise on this matter. And it was precisely because of this that she became completely disillusioned with Odell.

She had originally thought that Odell would become a brave and skilled knight, but she did not expect that he was just a clumsy squire. Although he was also on the battlefield, he had no determination to fight and no spirit to defeat the enemy.

But Edric was different. He knew the responsibility on his shoulders from a young age and received the most rigorous knight training. In addition, he was hardworking and talented, and he became a level nine powerhouse at a young age.

Laura had previously witnessed his duel inheritance.

Facing a formidable opponent, Edric's attacks are like a powerful note suddenly bursting forth in a musical piece—resolute, swift, and aimed straight at the vitals; while his defense is like a steady and precise pause, always calmly neutralizing the opponent's offensive at the last moment before it touches him.

In his hands, the duel was transformed into a symphonic poem with a sharp and dynamic rhythm.

In contrast, Odell's martial skills were like a jarring, out-of-tune noise in this poem.

Moreover, Edric is incredibly talented; no one can match his dancing skills, and he always manages to catch the most prey when hunting. Laura really doesn't know what he can't do.

Furthermore, Edric had been a devout believer in goddesses since childhood, so their feelings were completely aligned.

Edric tells Laura that he fell madly in love with her the first time he saw her in the dueling stands.

That day, even though the stands were packed, he felt that Laura was the only audience member, and he had to win spectacularly to leave an impression on her.

Later, Edric learned that she was selling her property, and he finally had the opportunity to meet her.

This was his first time being so close to Laura. Looking at her beautiful face and listening to her gentle, melodious voice, he knew he could never love anyone else.

Edric knew she was married, but he was completely captivated by blind love, dizzy and bewildered, and there was no way he could escape.

He saw the weariness in Laura's eyes. He wanted to have her, he wanted to protect her at all costs, but he found that he couldn't do anything about it.

He fantasized countless times about switching places with Odell, imagining himself no longer as the renowned duke, but as the down-on-his-luck viscount, her husband, someone worthy of loving Laura.

An extraordinary passion enveloped the two, making them feel as if they had come to this continent solely to meet each other.

However, Laura still chose to refuse.

Her passion was no less than Edric's, but her upbringing and societal rules acted as an invisible barrier, preventing her from readily accepting this love.

Seeing Laura's restraint and self-control in the face of her overwhelming emotions, Edric's love for her not only did not diminish, but intensified, and he respected Laura even more because of it.

Because he was also a believer in the goddess, and seeing that Laura was unwilling to make a decision that the church did not allow, he knew that he had not loved the wrong person.

After that, every time Laura returned home and saw Odell half-drunk, she showed absolutely no leniency.

If she had previously held onto a sliver of hope that her husband could emerge from the shadows, now all that remained was disgust—a disgust that almost drove her mad.

It was this failed heir, this incompetent nobleman, who stood between her and Edric.

What else can he do besides tending to those orchids that are now worthless?

As the mutated weeds grew everywhere, he lost even this last "use," and apart from drinking, there was nothing else worth doing every day.

Only then did the goddess learn from Laura's confession that she had never loved Odell. Laura had married him because of a marriage arranged by her parents long ago.

Laura's family was once a prominent family in the Kingdom of Augustus in the north of the empire. Although they have declined in power, they are still very wealthy.

As an adult, Laura unexpectedly learns that she was betrothed to a nobleman of the Acronos Empire.

When she first met Odell, she knew he wasn't her type, and she found it hard to see any admiration in him.

However, Laura had strong family values ​​and wouldn't allow herself to shirk the responsibilities that fell on her shoulders. After so many years of marriage, Odell might have loved her, but she herself had never loved Odell.

It was responsibility that bound her to be a wife, making her no longer anyone's mistress.

In Laura's eyes, Odell became the obstacle to all her happiness and the root of all her suffering. But Laura could not abandon him; neither worldly views nor her inner principles would allow her to do so.

Laura could only swallow her bitter tears and pray to the goddess alone in the dead of night, begging for the strength to bear all of this.

Although they could not become each other's lovers, it did not hinder the growth of their affection.

On late autumn nights, they could stroll together in the garden; at balls they both attended, she could be held in his arms; and at auctions, a brief glance was enough to satisfy them both.

Laura experienced the beauty of love for the first time; the happiness was so intense that it almost made her dizzy.

Physical intimacy seemed to be the most dispensable part between them; as long as they knew that the other was in the same room and breathing the same air, they were happy enough.

They talked to each other, danced together, and joked with one another in the crowd.

To others, they were simply a pair of close friends who got along very well. No one knew that beneath this facade, such a breathtaking passion was brewing.

All the obstacles not only failed to extinguish the flames, but instead became fuel for their combustion.

This love gave Laura a new life, but it was also destined to eventually burn her to ashes.

Although Odell was depressed, he wasn't stupid. He instinctively sensed that something was wrong with his wife; she was radiant and cheerful every day, and she no longer tried to dissuade him from drinking.

He was certain that his wife had someone else in her heart.

He tried various methods to find out the imagined "lover," but Laura and Edric were careful and didn't let Odell notice anything unusual.

This did not dispel Odell's suspicions; on the contrary, it made him even more paranoid.

He would suddenly appear at parties Laura attended; at church events hosted by Laura, he would lurk in the shadows below the stage, his bloodshot eyes scanning every man who might be talking to his wife.

And so, Odel’s suspicions grew ever stronger, like poisonous vines entwining his reason.

Finally, one day while drinking at a noble tavern, a half-drunk Odel mistook a dissolute lecher for his wife's lover.

Overwhelmed by alcohol and long-suppressed anger, he lost his last shred of restraint, drew the short sword hidden in his sleeve, and thrust it fiercely at the man.

The opponent dodged in panic, but by some twist of fate, the sharp blade plunged deep into the chest of an innocent bystander, a baron.

A ridiculous accidental killing, the death of a nobleman. Odell was imprisoned, and his life as a nobleman, along with his already shattered dignity, came to a complete end at this moment.

"You should have heard of the name of that scoundrel he originally wanted to kill. In fact, in the magic academy these days, no one is unfamiliar with his name."

"Who is it?" Harry asked immediately, his body leaning forward unconsciously. He had a feeling that this person's appearance would twist the currently known clues into a more complicated knot.

The goddess clearly uttered the name: "Cavill."