Chapter 414: Performance
Bree also took a step forward, looking at Vincent as she spoke gently.
"Prince Vincent, it’s been a long time. You really have changed so much."
As expected of the most talented male of the Firebird clan, Bree thought. Looking at his current state, Vincent had clearly advanced to a higher tier. She just wondered if the genetic modifications left behind from when the Zerg experimented on him were still present.
Vincent looked up at them.
"You both are far too polite. Saving people is simply my duty; there is no need for you to make a special trip just to thank me. If there is nothing else, you may leave."
With that, Vincent glanced at the time on his optical computer. Why hasn’t Rory arrived yet?
"But you saved our lives!" Yilan interjected hurriedly upon hearing Vincent dismiss them. "How could we just brush aside such a profound debt of gratitude?"
As she spoke, she quickly retrieved a beautifully crafted, delicate little box from her spatial ring.
"Vincent, this is a gift I specially prepared to thank you. I made this scented candle myself, and I want you to have it."
In this world, when a female took the initiative to pursue a male she liked, she would give him a handmade gift. If the male accepted it, it meant he returned her feelings.
Vincent didn’t believe for a second that Yilan was ignorant of the underlying meaning behind a female gifting something to a male. He swept a cold gaze over her.
"I have a female master. If I am to receive gifts like this, my master will give them to me. I have no need for them from outsiders."
Being rejected made Yilan rather displeased. She was just about to say something when Rory’s voice suddenly cut in.
"What’s this about a gift?"
Rory walked into Vincent’s office, flanked by Xarion and Aren. Glancing at Yilan and Bree, she walked straight up to Vincent. As the prince stood up from his chair, she smiled and gave him a brief hug.
"What brings you here?" Vincent looked at Rory, his eyes lighting up with delight.
Wasn’t he the one who asked me to come over? This guy sure knows how to act, Rory thought.
She smiled warmly at him and said, "Because I missed you, of course. I came to see you."
After speaking, Rory stood by Vincent’s side and turned her attention to Yilan and Bree. "Yilan, Bree, what are you two doing in Vincent’s office? Do you have business with him?"
Before either could answer, Vincent spoke up first.
"These two ladies said they came to thank me for saving them from the Zerg last time." He then pointed to the scented candle sitting on the desk. "And this female, Yilan, wanted to give me a scented candle she made herself. Rory, you know me. I strictly adhere to the virtues expected of a committed male; I would never accept a gift from another female."
Rory’s gaze fell upon the unopened scented candle on the desk.
The last time Yilan had given Vincent that tainted fruit, Yuel had sent it off for analysis. They still hadn’t figured out exactly what kind of effect those strange toxins were supposed to have. And now, she was trying to give Vincent a candle. These two women must really want Vincent dead, Rory thought, a cold gleam flashing across the depths of her eyes.
She turned to Yilan with a pleasant smile. "Yilan, Vincent is an imperial soldier. Saving you was just part of his job. Expressing your gratitude once is more than enough. As for this gift, Vincent definitely cannot accept it."
"Besides, I happen to be a rather petty person," Rory continued, her tone entirely unreserved. "My mates can only accept gifts from me. If another female gives them presents, I get angry."
"If you two still want to be friends with me, you’d better take this gift back right now. And please refrain from meeting with Vincent alone in the future. Otherwise, we won’t be able to remain friends."
Standing beside Rory, Vincent watched her display such fierce, possessive protectiveness over him, and the smile in his eyes could no longer be hidden.
Yilan stared at Rory, bubbling with resentment. This Rory was incredibly annoying. By what right did she forbid Vincent from accepting her gift? She had specially formulated the scent of this candle just for Vincent, spending ages trying to capture a fragrance unique to him.
Seeing the ugly look on Yilan’s face, Bree worried that she might do something stupid and completely burn her bridges with Rory.
They had gone to great lengths just to establish a decent relationship with Rory. They absolutely could not afford to fall out with her now. Besides, it was just a scented candle—it wasn’t as if it contained anything that could make Vincent lose his mind. If he didn’t want it, so be it.
Bree immediately reached out, grabbed the candle off the desk, and shoved it back into Yilan’s hands.
"Yilan, Rory is right. A female really shouldn’t be giving gifts to a male so carelessly. Put the candle away."
After scolding Yilan, Bree turned to Rory and said smoothly, "Rory, I’m terribly sorry. Yilan is just too naive to realize there was any other implication. She truly just wanted to thank Prince Vincent."
"Since you’re here now, we won’t interrupt you and Prince Vincent any longer. We’ll head out first." With that, Bree grabbed Yilan and quickly dragged her away.
Hayden also chimed in hurriedly, "Prince Vincent, my apologies for the disruption." He then quickly walked away to catch up with Bree.
Once they left, Vincent couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Standing nearby, Aren and Xarion were also grinning from ear to ear.
"What are you guys laughing at?" Rory looked at them, slightly bewildered. "Was my performance just now that funny?"
"No," Vincent shook his head, looking at Rory with pure delight. "I’m just incredibly happy to hear you voice your possessiveness over me so fiercely and directly."
Xarion and Aren nodded in agreement. Xarion took a step forward, smiling as he said to Rory, "Master, I want you to tell everyone just as directly that no one else is allowed to come near me, and that I belong solely to you."
Rory: "..."
These guys definitely have some sort of hidden kink, she thought.
Outside, Yilan followed Bree out of the military department. The moment they stepped into the airship, she cursed in frustration.
"That Rory is so annoying! Why on earth did she suddenly show up at the military department?" Looking at the scented candle in her hands, she complained aggrievedly, "I really spent a long time making this candle. This fragrance is my absolute favorite, and I think it suits Vincent perfectly."
And Vincent was exasperated too—why didn’t he want it? Was he really that afraid of Rory? What if Rory didn’t want him anymore? She was still right here! She wanted him!
Bree cursed her silently for being an idiot but comforted her in a gentle tone anyway. "Don’t be angry. It really is a bit inappropriate for a female to give a gift to a male who already has a master. It’s understandable that Vincent didn’t accept it."
"It’s just that the way Rory spoke was indeed a bit much. I didn’t expect her to be so fiercely possessive over Vincent."
"She’s just petty," Yilan grumbled resentfully. "I’ve never seen any female as stingy as her."
Meanwhile, back in Vincent’s office, Rory was munching on some fruit that Aren had sliced for her when Vangar unexpectedly walked in.
"Rory." Vangar entered Vincent’s office without even needing to knock. Seeing Rory sitting in Vincent’s office chair, he walked quickly to her side and asked with a slight pout, "You came, so why didn’t you let me know?"
If he hadn’t heard a bunch of people gossiping about Vincent’s female master arriving right after he stepped out of his meeting, he wouldn’t even have known Rory was at the military department.
"I heard you were in a meeting, so I didn’t want to disturb you," Rory explained, popping a piece of fruit into Vangar’s mouth in the process.
"Those boring, headache-inducing meetings are nowhere near as important as you." If he had known his little master was coming, he would have broken out of that tedious conference room ages ago.