Chapter 208 "I just wanted to see you, to keep you company..."
I studied this piece of paper all night.
I examined it repeatedly, even heated it over a fire, and sprinkled water on it—both cold and hot water—but the paper remained completely still and showed no reaction whatsoever.
A white light shone on the curtains. The night passed, and I didn't sleep a wink.
I don't know if he's genuinely interested in the paper or if he's just overthinking it.
A soft knock sounded at the door. I was surprised; it was just dawn. Who could it be?
I opened the door, and Bernard appeared, wearing a black hooded long coat. It was still drizzling outside, and the wind was strong; judging from his appearance, he had walked quite a distance and was soaked to the bone. How long had it been since he last came to see me?
"Could you please let me in?" he pleaded. "Look, I'm soaked from the rain."
"You got soaked on purpose, didn't you? So you could get into my house."
“Who would deliberately get themselves wet?” he said, his eyes full of grievance. “The carriage broke down on the way, and I walked here in the rain.”
I was skeptical of his claim that his carriage had broken down, but I let him in anyway. The reason was simple: several neighbors had already peered over, and lights were on in a few houses. I didn't want to become the center of gossip.
Upon entering the small living room, Bernard smiled and removed his long hood, revealing himself to be wearing only a grey-blue robe embroidered with gold thread. He then sat down with me by the old fireplace.
“This place is nice; I’d like to move in myself,” he said with a smile.
"No, my place is too small to accommodate such an honored guest as you."
"Oh, you're being so polite," he laughed. "That's rare."
I turned my face away, somewhat displeased. "Am I usually so rude?"
"How could that be?" He smiled and moved closer to me. "Although it's not exactly gentle, I like it very much."
I quickly moved away and sat down in a rocking chair next to him. "Why did you come so early?" He followed me and sat down in another chair next to him. "I missed you, so I came to see you," he said, staring at me without blinking. "I couldn't sleep. If I wasn't afraid of scaring you, I would have come in the middle of the night."
It's only just dawn, and the light filtering through the curtains is only slightly brighter than before.
"Now that you've seen it, you'll leave right away, right?" I said.
“You’re so heartless.” He got up and walked over to me again. “I just arrived and you’re already trying to kick me out. It’s still raining outside.”
"What does that have to do with me? You came here of your own accord. I can just lend you my umbrella." I turned away, not wanting to see him, but he moved closer and said unhappily, "Do you hate me that much?"
What would happen if I said yes?
“I would be very happy,” he smiled, “It means you love me. Where there is love, there is also dislike; otherwise, where would dislike come from?”
I was both amused and exasperated. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
At this moment, Hero and Aya brought in red tea and snacks and carefully placed them on the table.
"You can go now, I'm going to have breakfast," I said.
"I came all this way early in the morning, aren't you going to invite me to breakfast?" he said with a grin.
"I can't afford it, I'm short of money right now."
"I'll pay."
“I’m not willing to pay you,” I said, and was about to push him out. “Let’s go. My husband isn’t here right now. Let’s not be complicit.”
He clearly didn't understand the meaning of "being in a compromising situation," and still smiled as he squeezed into the table with me. Hero and Aya had already left. He sipped his black tea with an air of nonchalance, looking at me with a gentle smile.
The rain outside was getting heavier, and it didn't seem like it would be good to send him away. I kept quiet, drinking tea and eating snacks. When I finished, he was already sitting on the sofa, looking through his official documents.
Hero and Aya came in to clear the tableware, and I slowly walked up to him. "Although the rain is a bit heavy, you won't get too wet sitting in the carriage."
"I just want to see you and spend time with you. I'm so afraid I won't be able to stay by your side forever," he smiled.
"But with you here, it's inconvenient for me to do my things."
"What are you going to do?" he asked curiously.
"Go out and find a job."
He laughed loudly, "I told you, you won't find it, and I'll send money over regularly, so you'll never be short of money."
"Who cares about your money!" My voice suddenly turned cold.
"Don't be stubborn, and especially don't be stubborn with money." He smiled and tried to stroke my hair, but I slapped his hand away. "Money is actually a good thing; it can buy back your dignity in crucial moments. You can hate me, but don't refuse money."
This was perhaps his honest opinion. He had always been short of money. He even kept a string of wealthy wives and concubines around him for financial reasons.
It's hard to judge a man like that. If I say I despise him, wouldn't that make me seem arrogant? You can't get anywhere without money. If I scold him for being shameless for money, he could scold me for never having experienced poverty, which is why I can be so high and mighty.
Everyone has their own destiny.
In the end, I said nothing and silently sat down to read. He also stopped talking and flipped through his official documents. Before I knew it, I fell asleep. When I woke up, the sofa was empty; he had already left, and the rain was still falling outside.
The rain lasted for three days before it finally showed signs of clearing up. For those three days, I was confined indoors, repeatedly studying that yellowed piece of paper. When the rain stopped, Aya went out to buy groceries and, upon returning, told me about the war.
"The North lost, and the Elven Realm began sending troops to aid the East, winning two battles in a row," Aya said happily.
"What does this have to do with me?" I said indifferently.
Since the weather was clear, I decided to go for a walk. Passing by the shops where I used to shop, I quickened my pace. However, I still couldn't avoid running into some acquaintances. The shop assistants who used to serve me so attentively saw me and, with their habitual smiles, rushed out to greet me. I tried to give them a few perfunctory replies and leave quickly, but some people were always overly enthusiastic and insisted on pulling me into the store to try on new clothes.
After putting on the two new pearl necklaces and gemstone rings, I took them off and prepared to leave.
“You don’t need to worry about the cost,” the heavily made-up saleswoman said solicitously. “Prince Bernard has already made arrangements, and he will pay your bill.”
I paused for a moment, then replied, "My husband left me some money." I then quickly left.
Back at the old mansion, I asked Aya, "How much did you spend on groceries and daily necessities these past few days?"
Aya suddenly stammered, "This... the boss said to put it on the books first."
"Do you also keep track of your grocery shopping expenses first?"
"Yes."
"Then go and settle these accounts today."
Aya then said with a bitter face, "These past few days, whenever we go out to buy things, no one wants money, saying that someone will pay for us. I refused at first, but they wouldn't accept it no matter what. I just left the money there, and they still chased after me and tried to force it on me."
Who pays for us?
"Prince Bernard".
I sat on the sofa for a long time, speechless. What could I do? He used this almost coercive method to force me to accept his kindness; I had no ability to refuse him.
How will others view my relationship with him now? In their eyes, we've gotten back together, haven't we?
That's ridiculous. It's not even close to happening yet, and I don't want to get entangled with this man anymore.
Five days later, while I was still asleep, I was hurriedly woken up by Hailuo. "Your Highness, big news! The Northern Border has suddenly withdrawn its troops."
"Ah, why?!"
"I don't know, everyone outside is talking about it."
We hurried to the street, where cheers of victory echoed everywhere. The war had lasted for months, costing the people and the nation a great deal of money, with every household paying war taxes. Now that we had won, it was natural for every family to celebrate.
A magnificent black carriage suddenly stopped in front of me, and the palace's chief travel officer appeared before me. "Your Highness, His Majesty the King now summons you to the palace."
Two hours later, I stood in the familiar hall and heard King Amur mention arranging for me to meet King Sarga, to which I obediently agreed.
The meeting is scheduled for three days from now, and I will travel by sea to the island to keep the appointment.
I had barely stepped into the old nobleman's house when Bernard followed me in; I didn't even have time to close the door.
“I will go with you.” Bernard put one arm around my waist and closed the door with the other.
"What, are you afraid I'll run off with King Sarga?"
"Yes," he readily admitted.
"We broke up a long time ago."
"Yes."
"Then you shouldn't follow me."
“You’ll agree to let us be together again,” he said gently. I shook off his hands that were wrapped around my waist. “No way.”
"You've been angry with me, but one day you'll understand my predicament."
"What's your predicament?" I laughed. "The predicament of being a kept man? Relying on your wife's money to get through tough times, or relying on your wife's money to support your mistress? You're lucky you have a face that can swindle a country, otherwise you really wouldn't be able to cheat women out of their money."
"In your eyes, am I just a useless person who only relies on women?"
"Yes, you not only rely on women, but you also want to live off them. Simply put, you've taken money from women but don't want to admit it."
He stared intently at me, and I stared back, showing no sign of backing down.
With a bang, he slammed the door shut and left. The sound was so loud that Hailuo and Aya gasped in fright, while I slumped onto the sofa, feeling as if all my strength had been drained.
Under a clear, cloudless sky, bathed in the warm spring sunshine, I boarded the ship bound for the island. The ship wasn't large, but it was large enough to accommodate our group. I was quite surprised to see Bernard in the cabin. I hadn't expected him to come; he was here, and quite early at that. While we were still lingering in the harbor, he was already inside the cabin.
The ship set sail soon. I sat on the deck of the ship, enjoying the sea breeze and watching the scenery on the sea. A dozen or so seagulls circled and flew around in the sky.
Bernard also came up to the deck, not far from me, and was talking to the captain. To be honest, we hadn't spoken since boarding the ship. He ignored me, and I ignored him.
Suddenly, a black eagle appeared in the sky in the distance, flying incredibly fast and swooping down towards Bernott. I was startled, but then I saw Bernott swiftly pull a letter from the eagle's beak, and the eagle flew away again. He looked at the letter, a mocking expression on his face, and said in a voice I could hear, "Ha, so this is why the North is fighting. I thought the Grand Chancellor of the North was really fighting for a woman."
He told the captain in a joking tone that while the North and East were at war, the South had dug a tunnel in a piece of land on the East's border and secretly moved all the silver from a mine they had recently discovered not far from the border to the South. The South promised to share a portion with the North, and the North used the war to divert the East's attention.
“Although that silver mine is located in the Southern Territory, it is too close to the Eastern Territory. To prevent the Eastern Territory from seizing it, the Southern Territory actually came up with this method.” Bernard laughed loudly, making my face turn slightly pale.
I suddenly became a laughing stock!
-----------------------
Author's note: I'm trying my best to wrap things up now; it should be nearing its end.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
