Chapter 127: The Returned Gifts
Before long, Evan Adler and the others who had sent gifts all found out that their presents had been returned by Ethan Cross.
Yes, that’s right. It was Ethan Cross.
For a moment, they felt like their brains had crashed, their minds filled with question marks.
They had sent those gifts to Sophie Wexler. Logically, even if she didn’t want them, Miss Wexler should have been the one to return them.
So, besides Miss Wexler, who else would be qualified to return them?
The answer was beyond doubt. It could only be the person who had successfully matched with Miss Wexler.
The group sat in a circle, staring intently at the pile of gifts before them.
"Wait, it looks like there’s something extra in here," someone suddenly noticed.
At his words, everyone realized what he meant and immediately checked their own returned packages.
"I have one too."
"Me too."
Everyone looked at the extra items, then at one another. The room fell completely silent.
"I have a question." Someone looked up from the gifts and spoke slowly.
"Was Ethan Cross on the matching list?" Even as he asked, his voice wavered.
Everyone looked up at him. After a long moment, another person answered, his voice devoid of emotion yet firm.
"No."
Although the matching list wasn’t public, they had a pretty good idea of who was on it, and Ethan Cross was definitely not among them.
Besides, while Ethan Cross was exceptionally capable—he wouldn’t be Cillian Forrest’s right-hand man otherwise—it was impossible for him to match with a Level 3S Healer-class at his current Level.
So if it wasn’t Ethan Cross, who could it be?
As realization dawned, their pupils dilated. An answer surfaced in nearly everyone’s mind.
Cillian Forrest!
Someone who could match with the Level 3S Sophie Wexler. Someone who wouldn’t appear on the matching list. Someone who could leave silently after a successful match and who could ensure no record of that match could be found.
And the most direct piece of evidence: someone who could order around Ethan Cross, an adjutant of the First Legion.
When all these characteristics were put together, only one person fit the description...
"The Marshal!" Gasps of shock instantly echoed through the room.
That’s right. Only the Marshal, Cillian Forrest, could do it!
In that instant, it was as if everyone present had been struck by a sudden, profound realization.
Once they processed it, they just stared at one another, not moving for a long time.
After a long while, someone finally spoke. "We can’t let this get out," Evan Adler said, his expression serious.
’At least, not before the Marshal announces it himself. Even though we know, we have to act like we don’t.’
’Otherwise, if rumors start spreading, we’ll be the first ones he suspects of leaking the information.’
"Understood."
---
After returning, Ethan Cross went to see Cillian Forrest first.
"Returned them already?" Cillian Forrest asked when he saw Ethan standing before him, apparently not expecting him back so soon.
"Yes, they’ve been returned."
He had planned to return them one by one, starting with the Adler Family estate. But unexpectedly, when the door opened, Evan Adler cried out in surprise at the sight of the returned gifts.
Immediately after, several other heads popped out from behind the door one after another.
Ethan Cross: "..."
He hadn’t expected that on the day after the matching ended, so many of the candidates would be gathered together in one place.
Not only was he stunned, but the others were all dumbfounded as well.
He even remembered the look on their faces when they saw him, as if they had seen a ghost.
At the time, he had even marveled to himself, ’Who would’ve thought they’d all be together?’
As for Evan Adler and the others, they hadn’t been chosen, so of course they had gathered to discuss who the successful candidate was.
And under their utterly astonished gazes, Ethan Cross calmly and composedly returned the gifts they had sent to Sophie Wexler.
’Perfect,’ he thought. ’They’re all here. I can return everything at once and save myself a few extra trips.’
Ethan Cross relayed the details of the situation to Cillian Forrest.
Hearing this, Cillian Forrest just grunted in acknowledgment. As long as the gifts were returned, it was fine.
He had personally selected these candidates.
He never thought that in the end, none of them would match with her, and he would be the one to succeed instead.
No matter how he looked at it, he felt he had wronged them.
But he definitely wasn’t going to let her go.
That was why he had prepared a gift of apology for each of them.
He hoped it would serve as some form of compensation.
After finishing his report, Ethan Cross didn’t leave but simply stood in place.
After a moment, Cillian Forrest looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "Is there something else?"
In the end, Ethan Cross couldn’t help but ask, "Marshal, by doing this, won’t they know that you are the one who matched with Sophie Wexler?"
"And," Ethan Cross hesitated before continuing, "aren’t you worried this information will leak?"
’Evan Adler and those men aren’t fools. When they saw me and the returned gifts, and then thought about the situation, they would definitely guess that the Marshal was the one who matched with Miss Wexler.’
’But wasn’t this supposed to be a secret?’
’Is it really okay to let them find out just like this?’
At his words, the Marshal finished writing the last of his comments with his pen. "I want them to know," he said slowly.
"These men are mostly from the Royal Family’s faction, supporters of the Little Prince, or neutral at worst."
"Once they know, they’ll naturally understand what needs to be done."
"There’s also another, more important reason."
"When they know that *I* am the one who matched with Sophie Wexler..."
"...they’ll dismiss any clever ideas they might have. They won’t delude themselves into thinking they can change the outcome of this match."
"They will also realize Sophie Wexler’s importance. As long as they have half a brain, they’ll know what course of action is in their own best interest."
"This way, not only will they refrain from pulling any stunts, but in the hopes of seeking her help in the future, they will also make sure no harm comes to her."
"This is the safest course of action for Sophie Wexler."
"As for the information being leaked..."
Cillian Forrest leaned back lazily in his chair. "Leaked? They know better."
"Rather than leaking it, they’re more likely wondering how to prevent this from getting out before I make the official announcement."
"Because they know that if it leaks, they will be the first people I suspect."
"Therefore, they won’t, they can’t, and they daren’t leak it."
With that, Cillian Forrest finished reviewing the final document, closed the file, stood up, and headed for the door.
Seeing this, Ethan Cross assumed he was heading to the base’s training grounds and immediately moved to follow.
But the next second, Cillian Forrest stopped in his tracks and turned to look at him.
Ethan Cross: "???"
’Why did the Marshal suddenly stop?’
"Marshal, are there any other orders for me?" Ethan Cross asked, his eyes full of confusion.
"Yes," Cillian Forrest replied.
Ethan Cross: "What is it?"
"Stop walking. And don’t follow me," Cillian Forrest said, raising an eyebrow and enunciating each word.
Seeing his utter confusion, Cillian Forrest slowly added, "I’m going home now. Are you planning on following me?"
Ethan Cross: "???"
Ethan Cross: "!!!"