Four Split Personalities

Double Leaf’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she asked with some displeasure, "Do you think I will cooperate with you? Do you think those people will give you a chance to explain?"

"They should, because I can probably guess that among those... um, ’worthless gifts’ Diana has given me in the past, surely there are things that can keep me out of life-threatening danger, save me at the critical moment, or even remotely notify her."

Frank touched the tip of his nose and smiled bitterly, "Although I prefer taking care of Diana than being taken care of by her, we must admit, as the heir to the Archizorti family’s Stars lineage, one of the only three Grand Astrologists in the world, she is far more qualified to protect her lover than I am."

Double Leaf was silent.

"I believe that the trouble you’re facing, Double Leaf, is not ordinary, and the current situation is probably much more severe than I have seen, understood, or recognized. But precisely because of this, we should choose a safer and more rational way."

Frank, tightly bound in the center by multiple elemental shields, took some difficult steps, stood side by side with Double Leaf, but did not cast his eyes on her, instead he spoke to himself, "You shouldn’t hesitate. In my understanding, this genius beautiful girl beside me isn’t someone deeply sentimental, acting emotionally isn’t your style, especially... acting emotionally without meaning."

Double Leaf abruptly turned to Frank, her gaze cold, "Who do you think you’re talking to?"

"To my friend, Diana’s precious apprentice, the enigmatic, temperamental genius beautiful girl mage, Miss Futaba."

Frank chuckled and said leisurely, "I’m not worth you risking yourself, and I won’t be killed by these attackers who aren’t here for me. Believe me, no one is willing to face Diana A. Achizolti’s wrath, unless they’re prepared to never get a good night’s sleep again."

"So, in your opinion, the best way now is..."

Double Leaf toyed with the Enforcer in her hand, expressionless, saying, "I throw you aside and leave immediately, and after that, you focus on ensuring your own safety, and the fact that you’re Diana’s lover is your biggest leverage. If the other party doesn’t believe you or doesn’t intend to give you a chance to explain, you still think the protective measures Diana left you can prevent you from being killed instantly. If things develop to that point, you can not only prove your relationship with Diana, but also use the protection measures to alert Diana to the situation, prompting her to come rescue you."

Frank smiled contentedly and nodded, "That’s right, and you, Double Leaf, will gain a precious chance to catch your breath. I can guarantee it, the time for the other party to squander is running out. Soon, when the Tuning Sage and Diana realize, your situation will immediately become safe, and by then..."

"Stop! Don’t treat me like an idiot, I know exactly what you’re going to say and I’ve thought about it much more thoroughly than you."

Double Leaf impatiently interrupted Frank, then stared directly into his gentle and peaceful black eyes, speaking sternly, "I just want to ask you one thing, no matter what plan you have, it doesn’t change the fact that your strength is equivalent to a small fry, so... what if after I leave, you get killed?"

Frank shook his head, speaking lightly, "I think the possibility is very low. Although those people are assassins, they don’t seem like the kind of heartless..."

"Don’t give me that nonsense."

Double Leaf smacked Frank on the shoulder, angrily saying, "I said, what if! What if you die?!"

"If I die..."

Frank sighed softly, then suddenly grinned, mischievously winking at Double Leaf, "Would that really be so bad?"

The girl was stunned at once, unconsciously ’eh’ and then was petrified.

"As Diana’s apprentice, as a genius among mages, as the youngest formal member ever of the City of Miracles delegation, as... sorry, as my friend."

Frank showed Double Leaf an apologetic smile, his eyes behind his glasses appeared somewhat complex, "Double Leaf, do you really think that I, Frank Hughes, and Diana A. Achizolti are a well-matched couple?"

Double Leaf immediately realized, her eyes widened, "You..."

"As long as I’m alive, I can’t help but love Diana, and people are selfish. I also don’t want to let go, including Brother Kenneth, no matter how many people doubt my intentions or think I’m just dragging Diana down, I won’t give up as long as Diana still loves me, and I’ve promised her to never let go first."

Frank gave a bitter smile, a rare shadow passing through his eyes, "Honestly, no matter how calmly I act, I occasionally think about what would happen if someone of equal social status or power got together with Diana... the conclusion is absurd."

Double Leaf snorted, asking, "What kind of absurdity? Generally pretending to bless her?"

"No, quite the opposite. If I had that ability, I might want to destroy the world."

Frank laughed heartily, the corners of his mouth curling into a defiant arc, which quickly became a self-mocking bitter smile, "Unfortunately, I don’t have that ability, so it’s more likely I would, as you said, hypocritically bless her, then live a life of pain."

Double Leaf tugged on the corner of her mouth, but unusually did not retort.

"But all of this is premised on the fact that ’I am still alive’."

Frank gently patted Double Leaf on the shoulder twice, making a funny face at her, "So while I don’t really want to die, it isn’t refusing to the point of being unbearable. In fact... death might actually make things easier in some ways, you’ve told me many times before, haven’t you? That mismatched couples rarely have happy endings outside of ballads."

Double Leaf nodded, "Yes, that makes sense."

"I knew you’d understand."

Frank immediately smiled with relief, speaking lightly, "Seeing as you agree, then..."

"Do you know why I listened to you talk so much nonsense?"

Double Leaf lazily stretched her body, interrupting Frank and then nodding her chin toward the group of attackers not far away, many of whom were already injured but with no casualties, "Just passing time while waiting for them."

Frank’s eyes widened, and just as he was about to say something, the girl, who had already walked in front of him, interrupted him first——

"Listen, Mr. Frank Hughes."

With her back to the noisy man, Double Leaf lifted her small hand to ensure her droopy hair was more upright, then released the Enforcer in her hand, letting it float steadily in the air, chuckling, "Even though I don’t plan to completely negate the nonsense you just said, I still want to emphasize that I am far from being serious, and the preparations I’ve made are in no way less than that vile woman."

The Enforcer floating in the air suddenly split into two, showing two different colors: crimson and deep blue.

"And the most important thing in the title of ’genius beautiful girl’ has never been the ’beautiful girl’ part."

Swirling between two elemental attributes of ice and fire, the Enforcer twisted again, dividing into four, with the two additional wielding dark gold and deep purple hues.

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

From an angle Frank couldn’t see, the girl’s lips curled slightly——

"Keep those ’treasures’ Diana left you safe, today Frank Hughes is under this girl’s protection."

Chapter One Thousand Three Hundred and Fifty-five: Conclusion