After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World

A/N: Thank you for another castle Lotuslin! T_T You prob won't see this so imma just announce in discord T_T *hugs*

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Speaking of the Golds, they had been living relatively low-key. Anyway, Bleulle was not so near and few people actually knew them closely by appearance. They had also dyed their signature blonde locks, so now they had either brown or black hair.

Well, except for Olga. She chose pink.

Of course, despite all these measures, they knew it was impossible to remain undetected. The transfer of information was limited, but they were still a big name in their region.

Although they were the only liaison to Alterra in their region, they could tell the trends of expansion, and it would only be a matter of time before merchants from their side of the world would head here on their own.

By then, more and more people will recognize them just by their faces.

In that case, the only way to be completely undetected was to not get out of the house, but how could they do that?

Of course, they weren't carefree about it, so Orion and the other boys made sure to prepare themselves in case they got hunted.

One was strength. It'd be hard because this was a Town and there were no monsters here for them to hunt. However, Orion was contacting some trusted people to get them some aether crystals.

They wouldn't have the money to get a lot anymore, but they could perhaps strike deals with Alterra to help out. They were certain they'd be interested in that resource.

Many among the family were also building wealth and connections on their own, and Alterra had always been open to show favor to them.

Fortunately, Alterra had strong and strict rules, so they could develop as peacefully as possible.

Orion was writing some plans on paper, making timelines, goals, and so on. He was making a few decades-long plan for the revival of the family… as one of the top families in what might be Alterra City.

He was so immersed in his task that when his wife Hilda entered his study, he did not even raise his head.

He finished the page, and looked up, seeing his wife holding up some snacks. How long has she been standing like this?

He sighed and stood up, taking the snacks. "Thank you," he said, though went back to his seat to continue working right after.

Hilda looked at her husband, pursing her lips. She had heard mother-in-law talk about Octavia's wedding, her tone filled with concern. After all, Gaia treated Octavia as her own daughter until that incident, and they did remain in contact even after Orion already married.

At the same time, Hilda was also Octavia's distant cousin so she was also concerned for the woman, especially when it had always felt like she had taken something away from the latter.

To be honest, even she was not sure why Orion chose her either. She could only believe that it was probably out of obligation for taking her virginity.

It was an accident on both their sides. It happened when the Lord doused hers and many other maids' food with the Love Potion.

It was something he liked to do to make them more passionate and receptive. It was his birthday and he wanted to finish the day with some 'fun'.

After she found out about this, Hilda did the first rebellious thing she had ever done—she snuck out.

There was a party going on at the time—the lord's birthday feast—and every high noble family as well as the mid-ranked ones were there.

At the time, Orion was meeting with Octavia upon her request. She had seen it herself, how she hugged him, and how he pried himself away from her.

Orion was extremely angry, though the way he expressed it showed more in his aura than in his face. Half-conscious, Hilda heard that he had been doused in the Love Potion, too, but at a much higher dose than normal.

He didn't seem affected, but he was pale and ill. He used his ability to stop Octavia, who was electrocuted before she could approach him again.

Hilda went to help her out, but she heard Orion lose balance as well, barely supporting himself with the wall.

She gulped. Despite feeling weak herself, she dragged Octavia to the nearest room, and hurried to go to help Orion, who appeared beautifully inebriated.

She hesitated to touch him, feeling electricity traveling through her body. She was not sure if it was his ability, but she did not entirely dislike it.

She felt like she was burning, and realized the mistake she was making. She genuinely had innocent intent at the start, but unconsciously…was she hoping for something else, after all?

Orion was someone every girl of their generation admired and maybe even loved. She was no exception.

She couldn't help but touch his cheek when she helped him to a nearby room. He opened his eyes abruptly and her heart dropped, and she thought he'd electrocute her, too.

However, she found him under him instead.

Things happened then, and they were even caught a few hours later.

It was an extremely large scandal and if it wasn't for Orion, she'd have been killed many ways, with no body found.

She felt so guilty and she told him she was fine being an unknown mistake he would forget about later, and he could take Octavia as his wife.

He looked at her with dark eyes then, and that was the first time she had felt so scared of him.

Anyway, that was many years ago and things had softened up between them. He was still quite cold though, but she was also thankful it was her by his side and not anyone else.

For her, that was enough.

At least this was what she had been telling herself.

After another page, Orion raised his head again, staring at his wife who was still standing there after a while. "What is it?"

"I…" she paused, nervous, and ended up blurting out her next words. "Octavia is getting married…"

"Yes, she said so herself in prison."

"The person she's marrying—"

"I don't care," he said with such callousness that it gripped her heart for some reason.

Obviously, he was talking about Octavia, but why did it feel like that indifference applied to her, too?

Tears fell down Hilda's eyes, making Orion flinch. He stood up and stopped in front of her, a startled expression on his handsome face. "Why are you crying?"

"I love you… I love you so much… but I feel like I tethered you to me…"

Orion sighed and lifted his hand. There was a slight hesitation as it hovered above her head, and he ended up taking his hand back.

After a moment of silence, his baritone voice echoed. "There's a new cafe selling a new sweet… chocolate, was it?"

She blinked and lifted her head as she looked him, extremely confused. "...what?"

"Let's go," he said. His face was stoic, but he was offering her his cold hand.

Hilda sniffed, but she shakily took his hand anyway.