Chapter 192 "I want to return to both the North and the West..."
“I’m going back to the North and the West. Who stays in your East all day long? I have my lover and daughter in the North, and my capital is near the West. What do I have in the East?”
"Isn't having me enough? With me, you'll have more than just a royal city in the West. Your lover in the North won't give you a damn."
"It's better than watching other women bite your butt here. I'm afraid of catching a sexually transmitted disease."
We parted on bad terms. He threw his plate down and left, and I overturned all the breakfast onto the floor.
I stormed out shopping, taking Helo and Aya with me, and spent the whole day wandering around the capital. I checked off the city's most luxurious restaurants, bathhouses, clothing stores, jewelry stores, and so on.
Sitting in the luxurious restaurant, I ordered the most expensive dishes, drank the most expensive wines, and tipped the most. The manager and waiters treated me like royalty, serving me with utmost care, before they knew I was Bernard's chief mistress. After they found out, they all fell silent in fear. The manager even urgently summoned a high-ranking noblewoman, supposedly the boss's sister, to serve me exclusively.
This noblewoman was beautiful, warm, and witty; her words were like a gentle breeze.
"So you are Lady Lana! I've long admired your name. I've always wanted to meet you, but never had the chance. It's truly an honor to meet you today."
"Would you like some more tea? I have rose tea that I grew myself; it's incredibly fragrant, and you definitely can't find it anywhere else."
She poured me a glass, saying, "Try it, the aroma will make you forget all your troubles."
I took a small sip, and it really was quite fragrant. After praising it, I left with the rose tea she had given me.
I soaked in the beautifully decorated bathtub, my eyes half-closed, for half an hour. The most skilled masseuse then gave me a massage for an hour, and I took a short nap.
After leaving the bathhouse, I visited a clothing store and a jewelry store. I tried on clothes one by one at the ready-made clothing store, trying on almost all the high-end garments, but ultimately didn't buy a single item. However, since all the shop assistants had been busy for me all afternoon, I couldn't let them go to waste, so I gave each of them twenty gold coins as a tip.
Aya complained, "Madam, they can't earn this much money in two months."
"So they won't gossip about me behind my back, trying things on but not buying them."
“So what if they don’t buy it?” Aya said angrily. “They’re all trained. Even if a VIP doesn’t buy it, they can’t show their dissatisfaction. That’s the bare minimum of etiquette.”
I just smiled.
The glittering jewelry store was filled with a few wealthy women besides myself. I was surrounded by sales staff, making me feel like a top-tier VIP. The women secretly observed me, occasionally offering their comments.
Ocean sapphire necklaces, star diamond bracelets, rose gold transparent anklets, teardrop crystal earrings, large diamond rings, and translucent jadeite bangles—it's simply dazzling.
I tried on one piece of jewelry after another, and couldn't bear to take them off, so I just bought them all, since I wasn't the one paying for them anyway.
When making purchases outside, Hailuo is usually the one responsible for negotiating. I don't know what Hailuo said to the staff, but anyway, Hailuo didn't pay in cash, and the staff still politely saw us off.
Before opening, I couldn't help but ask about Bluebeard. At first, the staff didn't know who I was asking about. I gestured to show them his appearance, and an older staff member, perhaps the manager, said, "We don't know where he went. He suddenly disappeared one day, and his family can't find him either."
"Yes, I heard that the police were notified, but they couldn't find him either."
"Madam, do you know him?" a young female shop assistant asked curiously.
"Yes, I've seen it twice." As I was about to push open the glass door, another female shop assistant hurriedly opened it for me first.
Next, we're going to have dinner. The luxurious restaurant we went to at noon seemed to know I was coming; as soon as I stepped inside, the head manager came to greet me with a beaming smile. "We've already prepared two dishes, the two you took the most food from at noon. Would you like to try any other new dishes?"
"Okay, bring the menu."
This time, I chatted with the head manager while eating. The head manager was also willing to chat with me, which probably means he doesn't have many opportunities to interact with people around Bernard.
After chatting about all sorts of things for a while, I left, packing up the leftovers. The head manager was quite surprised by my action, but didn't say anything.
On the carriage, I gave all the takeout boxes to Aya, saying, "See if you and your girlfriends need any."
Aya was surprised and quickly took it, saying, "Yes, of course I need it."
The takeout box contained half a roast chicken, half a roast duck, and some roast meat and sausages, which was a rare delicacy even in the wealthy Eastern Territory.
These dishes were still very clean, even though they were packed up and brought back. The nobles here are very particular about their meals; they always cut the food with a small knife, and with gloved hands, ensuring it was extremely clean.
Aya happily accepted it, knowing she would gain a lot of goodwill when she got back.
As the carriage passed through the busiest street, a delicious aroma wafted over, and I, who had just finished eating, couldn't resist wanting to eat something again.
That was the most famous pastry shop in the capital, its rich aroma attracting many diners, even though it was expensive. I bought fifty or sixty boxes, several of each variety, practically emptying the shop and taking them all back to the imperial palace school.
Back at school, he distributed most of the snacks to the staff, keeping only two or three boxes for himself.
I had a great time spending money today, and I feel much better now.
Emerging from the bathroom, I caught a glimpse of Bernard, dressed in a bathrobe, sitting beside my bed. "Oh, the big boss's here," I sneered, walking aside and handing the robe to Hero. Hero took it and quickly retreated.
"Are you still angry with me?" Bernard smiled, came to my side, and tried to wrap his arms around my waist, but I shook him off. He looked aggrieved. "I thought you had been playing all day and would have calmed down by now."
"What are you doing here?" I glanced at him sideways. "Shouldn't we be choosing concubines and having sex right now?"
He nuzzled against my shoulder and gently kissed my long hair. "I want to sleep with you, is that okay?"
I shoved him away again and yelled, "Get lost!"
He got a little angry and hugged me again, this time very tightly. I couldn't break free no matter what I did, and I started yelling and cursing wildly: "Why don't you get out? Why don't you go die? Get out of here, die! Don't stay in front of me!"
But he held me tightly and wouldn't let go.
I kicked, bit, and scratched, but he kissed my hands and wrapped his arms around my feet, using both hands and feet to make me fall onto the carpet. I screamed, "Who wants to be with you? Let me go! I'm really happy with Mamboya. He understands me, he's just my type."
He was furious. He ripped off his bathrobe and pinned me down. The more I yelled and cursed, the wilder he became. I yelled, "He's much better than you. He's strong and wild. He's making me so happy I could die!"
He was furious and pressed down on me with tremendous force.
I yelled and screamed, and he went mad and frenzied. With each curse I uttered, he went even crazier. My fingernails scratched his face, and the sudden smell of blood made him as ferocious as a wild beast. He almost tore me to pieces, and the ferocity of his attack made me unable to scream anymore.
I collapsed onto the carpet, my robes already torn and tattered. He kissed my face and my lips, his affection overflowing.
When I woke up again, I was lying in bed, sunlight streaming through the thick bed curtains and onto the muscular arm of a naked man.
I stood up angrily, and he quickly followed. I turned around and yelled, "What kind of man are you? Are you having fun?"
He raised his arms. "Don't be angry, you can hit me now!"
"Hit? I'm afraid of getting my hands dirty."
"Use your feet? Use your mouth? Either way is fine!"
He grinned, and I was furious. Suddenly, I thought of something, squatted down, and bit him hard. He screamed in agony, a scream that was extremely shrill and exaggerated.
"Why did you bite me?!" he screamed.
"You made me use my mouth."
He looked pitiful, his translucent, icy blue eyes seemingly brimming with tears. "Then don't use so much force."
I ignored him and turned to leave, but he grabbed me again, pulled me into his arms, and started rubbing and touching me, kissing my earlobe. "Come on, take another bite!"
The morning was almost entirely spent in his screams, but no one knocked on the door, and no guards rushed in to catch the assassin.
By the time he had to return to the palace, I had beaten him black and blue. Even so, he begged me to come back to the palace with him, saying, "I can't sleep without you."
"I'm not going," I replied coldly.
He looked at me with a smile, "Aren't you afraid that some dirty woman will climb into my bed again?"
“I’m not afraid,” I said, my voice even colder. “I hope they all bite it off.”
He laughed heartily, "This kind of accident has never happened before, but you can make it happen a few more times."
Does he mean I should bite him a few more times? My expression grew even colder, and I slammed the door shut, leaving him outside.
I continued to give him the cold shoulder, but he continued to come to see me, returning to the imperial school every night without fail.
He kept pestering me, insisting on sleeping in the same room as me. We agreed to sleep on the floor, but every morning when I woke up, he would be in my bed. He said he needed to pee at night, and after that, he slept in the wrong bed.
This clumsy lie was laughable, but he said it with such seriousness, as if it were the most serious thing in the world.
He even swore that it wouldn't happen again. What happened? The thing about being caught.
Of course it won't happen. He never had the concept of catching someone cheating before, which is why I succeeded so easily. No woman has ever dared to do that. Even if she did, she'd be furious, but he wouldn't care. She could leave if she wanted, but changing him was impossible. But now, he won't take the risk so easily. But perhaps he'll be more discreet, so I won't find out.
That's how men in high society are; they don't take it seriously, it's just a small appetizer.
Snowflakes began to fall one by one; before we knew it, deep winter had arrived.
Deep winter is a busy time, as it is in any country. Year-end reviews, summaries, plans for the coming year, various trade projects, etc., keep people extremely busy.
Bernard was very busy, but he still insisted on coming to the palace school every night, even when it was already dawn.
He dared not refuse to come, for I had recently been corresponding with the Elf King. It was the Elf King who wrote to me, with a few words of greeting from Anleya enclosed. I naturally replied, inquiring about my daughter's well-being, her height, and her weight, and the Elf King would reply in his next letter.
The Elf King would also write other things, such as asking how I was doing in the Eastern Territory, and that he felt the Eastern Territory wasn't very prosperous for me, considering I'd spent several years in prison there. Seeing things like that made me chuckle.
“I’m very curious how the Elf King took a liking to you?” Bernard asked me. “He even switched your contraceptive pills so that you would have a child for him.”
"The contraceptive pills were switched?" I asked in shock. "Is it true?"
“Why would I lie to you?” Bernot said lazily and leisurely. “The Elf King wants a half-blood child, and the supernatural woman is the best choice.”
Why does he want a mixed-race child?
"Then you'll have to ask him, but of course you probably won't have the chance."
The weather grew colder and the snowflakes grew heavier. Because I lived in the suburban palace, I had the opportunity to go into the city. I often wore a thick cotton robe and a thick fox fur coat, walking on the thick snow. The carriage only stopped at the city gate and left; I told the driver to leave and come back to pick me up at a later time.
Now that we're in the city, why sit in a carriage? We might as well stay at home.
Hero and a plainclothes guard followed behind me. I didn't want them to follow me, but Bernard wouldn't let me leave the house if I didn't.
The luxurious restaurant was brightly lit tonight, even though it usually closes after 6 p.m. I went in out of curiosity. The air was filled with the fragrance of clothes, fine wine and delicacies, and music. The dancing girls twirled around and around, as if they were having a party.
The restaurant's manager and waiters all recognized me, greeted me, and then went about their business. In a quiet corner behind the stone pillar, a richly dressed, disheveled man was drinking. His hair shimmered silver under the bright lights.
And I was drawn to his silver hair. Silver hair is a symbol of the direct lineage of the Eastern Kingdom's royal family.
As I approached, I was astonished to discover that this silver-haired man was actually Benoit's biological father, King Amur.
King Amur raised his chin and saw me. He was somewhat surprised, perhaps because he was drunk. He didn't let me bow and pointed to the seat next to him, indicating that I should sit down.
I was a little surprised, but I still sat down.
Behind the stone pillar, in the shadow of the lamplight, his face, which bore a striking resemblance to Bernard, was cast in a faint shadow.
The shadow covered his forehead and eyebrows, but it couldn't hide his bright, cold blue eyes.
"What are you doing here?" I asked first.
“I have to get out and about occasionally, otherwise I’ll go crazy.” He pointed behind him to the crowd dancing and drinking. “I also need them to cover me up, otherwise every time someone comes, they’ll bow to me, it’s no different from being in the palace.”
Seeing that I didn't speak, he suddenly blurted out a startling question: "I heard that you know Bernot's mother, the Elf Queen?"
"I know him," I replied.
How did you meet?
"Would you believe me if I said it was in a dream?"
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