Chapter 55: Pretending to be a Couple [VIP]
Following the page boy, Xiao Yun passed through the huge gate, walked into the hall where a gorgeous song and dance performance was being performed, and came to the high steps covered with bright red carpet.
"stop!"
The waiter shouted.
Xiao Yun stopped.
“Kneel down!”
A serious voice rang out from above his head: "Kneel down and climb up the stairs. Don't look up or speak!"
Xiao Yun was speechless for a while.
You know, even at the Grand Audience Ceremony of the Palace of Light, which is famous in the Western Continent for its solemnity and complex rituals, Edmund, who was secretly cursed as a tyrant by countless people, would not ask his servants to observe such a degrading and humiliating etiquette.
But thinking that what happened in the hall would be heard by Alfonso who was visiting Paradise City, and that Yaris would also receive the news through the secret intelligence network built by the magic sect, Xiao Yun suddenly found it very interesting. He knelt on the ground with great interest, rubbing his forehead on the carpet, and crawled forward.
"You know the etiquette..."
A heavy voice sounded above my head: "Crawl over here quickly, hold your head high and crawl in front of me, so I can see if your face is as beautiful as the rumors say~Haha~"
His voice was filled with the breathlessness and violence of excessive drinking and sex, and his articulation was unclear.
Xiao Yun raised his head and saw a circular structure in the center of the platform that was similar to a throne and was three steps higher than the surrounding steps. A dark red silk curtain embroidered with gold thread opened like a curtain. In the middle of the curtain was a luxurious bench that could accommodate three people. The backrest of the chair was nine fan-shaped sea monster heads that looked like snakes but not snakes, and like dragons but not dragons.
Sitting diagonally on the chair was an obese middle-aged man with a slightly bald head and a Mediterranean look. His eyes, which were already small, were almost squeezed into a slit by the fat on his face. Above his thick lips and on the tip of his chin was a carefully groomed beard, but it looked fake because of excessive application of ointment.
The Earl's clothing was typical coastal style: a dark blue vest heavily embroidered with gold thread, with a white lace linen shirt underneath visible from the cuffs and collar. A long black belt with gold tassels was tied around his bulging belly, like a woman about to give birth. His colorful striped silk trousers were loose, with the hems tightened at the ankles, and he wore pointed hook shoes with gemstones on the surface.
"Troubad—Hail to the great Count Tales, who has inherited the authority over Kukuchia, the City of Joy, from the hands of the Sea God!"
The etiquette officer standing beside the throne shouted in a pretentious manner.
Xiao Yun tried hard to suppress his laughter and saluted Earl Talese: "Respected Lord Earl Talese, the bard Claude Shaw salutes you——"
"Why didn't you come to Paradise City to meet me right after arriving in Kukuchia?"
"I'm just a bard."
Xiao Yun lowered his head and answered solemnly.
"Look up—"
Xiao Yun looked up.
The Earl squinted his eyes, looking up and down at Xiao Yun's face, and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration: "You don't look like an ordinary bard."
"As the master of Kukuchia, I have seen countless bards, many of whom used their beauty as a selling point. But I have never seen anyone more beautiful than you. Your face is so beautiful that I suspect you have the blood of the Holy Family flowing in your veins."
"I'm just a lowly bard."
"Yeah?"
The Count sat up straight. "What's your name?"
"Claude Shaw."
"How old are you this year?"
"Twenty-one."
"Your eyes are so big and clear, and your skin is so smooth and fair that you don't look like you're twenty-one."
“People often say similar things to me.”
"How old were you when you first started? Was the other person a boy or a girl?"
“…”
Xiao Yun was stunned.
"Can't you remember?"
The earl twirled his beard and said, "A bard this beautiful, no matter where you go, you'll find someone willing to spend the night with you... Now that you've met me, you've finally reached the harbor."
“…”
"Stay with me, and I will make your life more comfortable than that of the master of Silver Moon Palace. After all, although the Holy Duke possesses immense wealth, he must fulfill his duties and battle wits with his cousin, the Emperor, who covets him. You, on the other hand, only need to accompany me in eating, drinking, and having fun, and please me with your beauty and singing voice."
The Earl spoke to himself, wishing he could eat the man alive.
"You must be very hungry after being brought here from the tavern by Carilla late at night. How about accompanying me to the next room to eat something? Just the two of us. We can discuss your specific treatment while we eat at the table."
"—I prefer the glass of wine after the meal to the meal. If you were a delicious glass of wine, I would give you more benefits. Of course, even if your skills are not good enough, such a beautiful appearance is enough to satisfy me."
"Come on, follow me into the next room so I can see what's inside you."
This is a declaration of the end of the audience and a prelude to the beginning of the "meal".
The Earl stood up, shaking his fat belly, walked down the steps and headed for the "dining table".
The servant urged Xiao Yun to get up quickly and follow.
This is the only chance, grab it quickly!"
"I don't—"
"Claude,
Alfonso's voice suddenly rang out, accompanied by disbelief.
Xiao Yun looked in the direction of the voice and saw Alfonso, dressed in traditional Western Continent attire, striding towards him.
Perhaps it was because the color of his soul was too heavy. Although Alfonso's hair and cloak were pure white, he gave people the feeling as if he was wrapped in black flames - beautiful, dark, and dangerous.
Count Talese stopped and asked: "Do you know each other?"
"certainly."
Alfonso walked to Xiao Yun and put his arm around his waist.
Xiao Yun suppressed his dissatisfaction and accepted his behavior.
"In fact, he stayed in my bed for a month before he came to Kukuchia. We did it every day, non-stop, and had a very happy and wonderful time."
“…”
Count Talese's eyes were filled with jealousy and anger: "Since he was once your lover, why—"
"Because he discovered that I was using him as a substitute for the Holy Duke, and that I was about to marry the Golden Princess of Barakhania, Freya. He wanted me to forget the Holy Duke I couldn't have, or to give him a room in the Barakhania Palace that was second only to the Golden Princess's."
Alfonso said nonchalantly.
"And then you—"
"Do you think he is more noble and beautiful than the Holy Duke? More important than the crown that Freya will bring me?"
"this……"
Talese's expression froze: "You are right."
"When he got off the boat, I gave him a bag full of gold coins and allowed him to come to Paradise to find me when he figured it out. I would continue to pamper him and let him wear silk clothes."
"It's rare to find a wealthy and handsome sponsor like me, isn't it?"
"really."
Tales said with a gloomy face: "With Alfonso's handsome face, if you are willing to accompany me, even just once, I will pay you a cart full of gold coins as a reward."
"That's impossible."
Alfonso flatly refused.
"...I've figured it out now. There's nothing wrong with being your lover."
Xiao Yun spoke softly, as if after being hit by Talese, he finally realized that Alfonso was a good choice.
"No longer asking me to forget the Holy Grand Duke?"
"The Holy Grand Duke is the Rosa Marie that belongs only to the gods and cannot be plucked by humans."
"Where's Flora?"
"The crown is more important than me."
Xiao Yun made a pitiful expression and said, "Alfonso, I only hope that after you marry the Golden Princess Freya, you will allow me to stay in the Barakaniya Palace as a court musician."
"——Tales, I must thank you. Because of you, Claude, the wild cat, finally behaved himself."
Alfonso laughed triumphantly.
Tales, with a twisted expression, complained, "Alfonso, you're about to marry Freya, yet you're bringing your lover with you, even promising him to live in the Barakanya Palace as a court musician. Aren't you afraid that Freya will cancel your wedding if she finds out?"
"I married Freya because Barakaniya needed me, not because I needed Barakaniya."
"——You make a lot of sense."
Talese sighed in frustration. "By the way, does Claude's performance in bed match his looks?"
"It's a perfect match."
Alfonso said lazily, "He's very resilient and can do a lot of unusual moves. Also, because he's quite cute and pretty, even though he's very experienced, I always feel like he's new to the business and still has a clean physique."
"—When you get tired of him, send him to Paradise and I'll pay him in gold coins."
…
…
Alfonso's temporary residence in Paradise was an exquisite small building with a garden. Thales assigned more than 20 young and beautiful maids and servants to serve him.
After returning to the small building, Alfonso immediately took Xiao Yun into the bedroom: "You two go and rest, we are going to do some intimate things."
"Please go to bed early."
The servants politely left the room.
Xiao Yun breathed a sigh of relief and was just about to thank Alfonso——
Alfonso suddenly grabbed his hand, pulled him to the bed, and whispered in his ear: "To make a long story short, Talese has a bad habit of eavesdropping."
"ah?"
"Every room in Paradise City is equipped with a magical eavesdropping conduit. Successive city lords have used this method to gain access to the privacy of the nobles who visit Paradise City."
Alfonso added: "And I am the focus of Talese's attention."
"He wants to..."
"Um."
"...straight pervert."
"I'm not your brother. I can't communicate with you using the magic language. I can only whisper in your ear, a method I find disgusting even to myself, to avoid being eavesdropped by Talese."
“…”
After a brief and awkward silence, Xiao Yun sat up straight and tried hard to play the role of a reunited couple with Alfonso.
"—Your eyes are so beautiful, a golden amber with a hint of green, like a wolf."
"Your eyes are beautiful too, like a calm ocean."
"Your muscles are quite impressive, like a wolf and a leopard. You are indeed worthy of being the famous 'Mercenary King'."
"Your body is quite nice too, slender yet flexible. You are indeed the bard I have my eye on."
“…”
"We've always been a strange couple. When we're together, we actually like to compliment each other's looks."
"Are we a couple?"
Xiao Yun sneered.
"We must be lovers in front of that fat pig."
Alfonso muttered through gritted teeth and approached Xiao Yun's face again.
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