Chapter 204: The Invitation to the Ball
Adele sat opposite Rena, only feeling as if she had a thorn in her back, completely unable to pay attention to the delicious food on the table.
“Miss, I was told that I should not ask about your identity. Then may I ask why you wanted to meet me?” Adele asked in confusion.
Rena first glanced at Leon. Leon spoke and had the servants in the dining room leave first, closing the door behind them. Only the three of them remained beside the dining table.
“Is there anything wrong with meeting the person my beloved had a fake marriage with?” Rena directly replied to Adele.
“Your...” Adele opened her mouth halfway and glanced at Leon. Leon nodded toward her.
So this guy already had a beloved?
No wonder he had no interest in me at all.
This also explained why the presence of this girl here had continuously given her an inexplicable sense of pressure.
“Then you should know that my marriage with him is only for a transaction, right?” Adele asked tentatively.
“I know. He asked for my opinion, but I still felt that I should meet you.” Rena replied.
“There is nothing between me and him!” Adele explained.
“I know. What I am worried about is the future.” Rena said.
“You telling me this is also...” Adele replied helplessly. “You should talk to him about this. If you are worried, I am worried too!”
Compared to worrying about what she might do to Leon, it was more worth worrying about what Leon might do to her. After all, to Leon, she was now practically a lamb waiting to be taken. Furthermore, legally speaking, she was still Leon’s lawful wife.
“I agree with that point.” Rena nodded and glanced at Leon.
Leon only smiled and began eating his breakfast.
Looks like she is at least a reasonable person. Adele slightly relaxed inwardly.
“Miss, I can understand your thoughts. But marrying Mr. Leon was not my wish. If you only want a guarantee from me, I can completely assure you that I absolutely will not do anything with him. However, the initiative in this matter lies with him. Rather than watching me, you should watch him first, so I hope you can understand me.” Adele looked at Rena this time and argued her case.
“I understand. I am not here to make things difficult for you either. I simply wanted to seriously understand what kind of person you are. If my attitude just now made you uncomfortable, I apologize.” Rena calmly replied.
“Thank you for your understanding. So if possible, I think it would be better if we do not meet too often. Coming here without being invited is still troublesome, so please do not do this again! I hope you can respect other people’s dignity a little. Although it is a fake marriage, if outsiders see my husband frequently bringing a woman into the residence, I will suffer unnecessary criticism.” Adele felt that she had gained the upper hand and her attitude became slightly more assertive.
“I also agree that it would be best if we do not meet too often. However... were you just making a request to me?” Rena suddenly changed the direction of the conversation.
“Eh?” Adele was suddenly stunned.
“Miss Adele, I need to explain one thing to you. I am not merely his beloved. To some extent, I am also his partner. Leon bought all of your family’s assets, and strictly speaking, part of them actually belongs to me. You should understand that this is no longer your home. Compared to you, I have more authority over the use of this place. So, regarding the words ‘coming here without being invited,’ do you think it is appropriate for you to say that to me?” Rena explained to Adele.
“Partner?” Adele was extremely surprised after hearing this.
A girl who sounded so young was actually Leon Set’s partner. Could it be that she was also involved in that kind of illegal business?
“Yes. You think Leon bringing me here damages your dignity, but if my beloved registered as husband and wife with you, do you think I would not care at all? I hope you understand. What he can decide regarding you, I can actually do as well. You can ask me, but you should not make demands of me.” Rena’s tone became slightly heavier. Adele’s habit of making requests based on her own perspective just now had made her somewhat unhappy.
Adele looked into Rena’s eyes and suddenly felt the same sensation as when Leon had threatened her before.
Adele suddenly understood where the girl’s intimidating presence came from. This girl, who engaged in the same kind of work as Leon, possessed an aura extremely similar to Leon’s!
Facing such a Rena, Adele shivered and said somewhat timidly, “You should... not be thinking of killing me just because of what happened just now, right?”
Rena was stunned by her words. “I... did not say anything like that, did I?”
She suddenly realized something and looked toward Leon, asking softly, “Did you often threaten her?”
“Occasionally. It was just a joke.” Leon said while spreading jam onto his bread.
“Those do not sound like jokes at all! What about buying off my guards, throwing me into the Labyrinth to be fed to Magical Beasts, sinking me into the sea, and even disguising my death as being killed by bandits...” Adele somewhat aggrievedly listed the threats Leon had implied to her openly and secretly before.
If this mysterious girl in front of her was the same kind of person as Leon, then considering that the other party had enough reason to dislike her, it would not be strange if those threats were actually carried out!
“This... don’t you think you went a little too far?” Rena even felt somewhat indignant on Adele’s behalf after hearing this.
“It is fine. Miss Adele has actually always been very obedient, so there was no need for us to do that, right?” Leon raised his eyebrows.
Looking at Adele trembling all over because of Leon and her, Rena suddenly remembered when she had first met Leon in the past... it seemed that she had also been about this afraid.
In the end, Adele was merely a pitiful girl who had no way to control her own fate at the moment.
“Sorry, I did not mean to make things difficult for you.” Rena let out a breath and stood up. “Knowing this much is already enough for me. I am leaving. I probably will not come again in the future.”
“Leaving?” Leon picked up the napkin and wiped his mouth.
Rena nodded, and Leon also stood up.
“Farewell.” Rena said goodbye to Adele.
“Eat your breakfast properly.” Leon also said before leaving the hall together with Rena and walking directly out through the main entrance.
Adele sat alone at the dining table and nervously inhaled.
These two people are both terrifying!
Probably because she already had such a first impression of Leon, she could not help but develop a similar fear toward the girl. Although, in the end, the girl seemed at least slightly easier to talk to than Leon.
However, after the lingering fear faded, she discovered that she actually felt a trace of envy toward the girl beside Leon.
The aura radiating from that girl gave off the feeling of someone who had their own fate in their hands. Adele could not imagine what this girl had experienced as Leon’s partner while engaging in that kind of illegal business.
But there was one thing she was certain of. This girl was far freer than her. She was not controlled by others. Even Leon, whom she had always feared, shared a very natural equality with this girl.
Unlike her, that girl possessed Leon’s respect and recognition.
By daring to engage in that kind of illegal business, Leon and that girl seemed to have both gained something for themselves, something... she did not have. At the same time, it gave them enough capital to buy everything away from the Viscount Arend family.
So envious!
If she could also have the same adventurous spirit as them...
No, what am I thinking?
Adele suddenly came back to her senses and hurriedly stopped that dangerous thought from earlier—she had actually imagined herself getting involved in that unknown illegal business!
She forced herself to ignore these inexplicable thoughts, finished breakfast first, then stood up and headed to the study. Regarding the five hundred thousand investment business, she also had quite a lot of work to do.
However, shortly after she sat down in the study, she heard the sound of a bell ringing outside the courtyard. This was the signal that a guest was formally visiting.
The bell stopped after a while. Just as Adele stood up in confusion and walked out, she saw Petra approaching her and saying, “Young Lady, someone dressed very elegantly came to the entrance just now. He claimed to be a messenger of Marquis Veronia and delivered a letter, saying it was an invitation for the Viscount or the Viscountess.”
After saying this, Petra handed over an envelope sealed with wax bearing the marquis’s family crest.
“Marquis Veronia?” Adele was greatly shocked.
That was a powerful grand noble from the eastern region. She had never heard of him having any connection with their family.
“He is not here. Can I open it?” Adele took the letter and first asked Petra.
“The Commander said that if it is an ordinary letter concerning social relations involving your family, you may inspect it first.” Petra answered. Since the messenger had said the Viscountess could read it, Adele technically still had the authority to open such a letter.
Adele opened the envelope and looked inside, discovering that it was an invitation to a banquet:
Marquis Veronia would hold a banquet in Helenburg and sincerely invite the major noble families of River Valley County to attend. This invitation was sent to Viscount Arend, and... the Viscountess.