Chapter 218 I can't bear to part with you.
That night, the weather on the island suddenly changed, and a strong wind blew up. The salty sea breeze blew open the tightly closed windows, and two maids hurriedly closed them for me and lit a fire in the fireplace.
The temperature difference between day and night on the island is significant. It can be sunny and bright during the day, but freezing cold at night, with strong winds and heavy rain.
Just as the room was getting warmer, the faint sound of two maids gossiping outside the door could be heard.
This place is different from the palaces of the East and North. The East and North have extremely strict rules, making it impossible for maids to gossip outside their masters' doors. But the island kingdom is different. Perhaps because it has only been established for a few years, the rules are not very strict.
"Lady Alice cried so hard that Lord Artis took her to be confined."
"It was Miss Ya Dai who ruined her wedding night, so why wasn't Miss Ya Dai punished?"
"Because Lady Ellie chased Miss Yade outside and made a huge scene, Lord Artis thought she was too shameful."
Artis is actually quite busy. During the day, he pretends to be a snake with me, saying all sorts of nice things, trying to get my powers to go treasure hunting. At night, he still has to come back and deal with household chores. Most people would have collapsed by now, but he handles them in an orderly manner, showing no signs of annoyance during the day.
I yawned and actually fell asleep leaning against the fireplace.
I woke up to the sound of light raindrops at dawn. Unable to fall back asleep, I took an umbrella and went to the tomb of the Elf Queen.
The Elf Queen's tomb was well-preserved, with not a single weed around it, and a ring of unidentified yellow wildflowers planted around it. The wildflowers were not vibrant, but they possessed a delicate beauty.
“They all thought you would reappear and give them guidance.” Standing before her tombstone, I murmured, “What does it mean to be insatiable? You’ve already given them enough.”
The salty sea breeze brushed against my face again, and my long hair fell over my shoulders.
Then the wind picked up and got stronger, so strong that my umbrella couldn't keep out the wind, so I went back to the palace.
Artis was already waiting for me in my room.
“I grant your request,” he said. “Bring your husband, Desen, and at the same time, find a way to get Nathia and Haya’s blood. The bloodstained handkerchief you mentioned, you mean the handkerchief stained with their blood, right?”
I was extremely surprised that he actually agreed, even after I told him that I might not be able to help them.
“Yes,” I said, “I meant the handkerchiefs stained with their blood.”
"Okay, I will do my best."
"Why?" I asked him. "Why did you agree?"
“You’ve helped us a lot before,” he said with a smile. “We’ve never reciprocated. What you’re asking for is far less valuable than what you’ve given; in fact, we’ve come out ahead.”
I stared at him for a few seconds before replying, "It's good that you understand."
A hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes. Clearly, I didn't show the overwhelming gratitude he wanted.
Ten days later, Derson, covered in wounds and looking disheveled, was brought to my room by several guards, which startled me greatly.
I didn't expect them to save Derson so quickly. I thought it would take at least a month.
“I have an empty room next door. It’s quiet and suitable for recuperating.” I didn’t plan to share a room with Desson yet. As I helped Desson up, I said, “Call two more careful maids.”
Desen gave a weak smile, sensing my thoughts, but didn't say anything more.
Desen was badly injured and lay in bed, his face deathly pale. Just as I was about to leave, he grabbed my hand and whispered, "Thank you. If it weren't for you finding someone to save me, I would have died in exile."
I was stunned. "It's that serious?"
“I was poisoned, and my father wanted to use this opportunity to get rid of me.” He said in a low, soft, and extremely weak voice, “I thought I was very clever and always guarded against my two brothers. After Ivanhoe died, I guarded against Bernard, but I never dreamed that it would be my father who wanted to kill me.”
"Don't think about it too much, just focus on recovering." I sighed and said, without asking why his father wanted him dead. What was there to ask? Royal affairs are all just soap operas.
“Where the superpowered woman is, there lies the turning point. I made the right choice in choosing a wife. Only you saved me.” He still held my hand tightly. “Back then, so many people laughed at me for marrying a wife who had nothing and was just an ordinary person, but I still stuck to my decision.”
Of course I know the pressure he was under. Even Bernard didn't dare to marry me, but he insisted on marrying me.
"Take a rest first," I patted his hand, "You must be tired from the journey."
He then slowly released my hand, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.
In the hallway outside the door, Artis, dressed in a black robe, looked at me and said, "His injuries are severe, and he has been poisoned. His condition is not optimistic."
"Why did King Amur poison him?" I asked. It's heartbreaking to see a once spirited and handsome prince reduced to this state.
"King Amur disliked all his current sons, feeling that they all wanted to kill their fathers and seize the throne, so he preferred to watch them kill each other. But after Crown Prince Ivanhoe died, Bernot and Desen suddenly stopped fighting each other, and the illegitimate sons were all well-behaved and had no power. King Amur got anxious. If you won't take action, then I'll have to. The exiled sons are easier to bully, so I'll start with them."
I sighed. "Perhaps it's because he's not King Amur's biological son, which is why he can be so heartless."
“He has signed the documents, so his status is equivalent to that of a biological son, which is why King Amur is not at ease,” Attis said.
That night, a fierce wind blew again, accompanied by wind and rain. I heard coughing coming from the next room, so I went to check on it several times throughout the night. Only after confirming that the fireplace fire hadn't gone out did I go back to my room to rest.
When I saw that he was much better after daybreak, I went to the Elf Queen's tomb again. For some reason, I really liked this place; standing in front of the tombstone, I felt a long-lost sense of peace.
I still remember the girl who held an umbrella for me in the rain, and I remember her holding my hand and leading me to swim into the depths of the sea.
I stood in front of the grave for a long time, until the morning raindrops soaked my hair, before I slowly left.
This world is too terrible. Sexual desires run rampant, sisters fight over husbands, mistresses and lovers are as numerous as hairs on a cow, there are even patricide and fratricide. I really don't want to face this cruel world.
Perhaps the modern world is like that too, but my life there was simple; I didn't get involved in these things, so there weren't so many problems. Here, I'm caught in the vortex of power and have to face everything.
Back at the palace, it was nearly noon, and the rain had stopped. Attis invited me to their monthly family gathering. Sitting at the long table covered with a red checkered tablecloth, I realized that Attis already had five or six mistresses. The higher-ranking mistresses sat behind the table, while the lower-ranking ones stood behind Attis; all were young, beautiful, slender, and exquisitely dressed. The AI beauty sat beside Attis, her arm linked with his, signifying her extraordinary status.
Daio sat in the main seat, with seven or eight mistresses lined up behind him.
When Daio saw me, he smiled and patted the seat next to him, gesturing for me to sit down.
I didn't want to come over, but two or three maids suddenly appeared and forced me to come over.
No sooner had they sat down than Daio and Artis's illegitimate children arrived. Those whose mothers were of higher status sat at the table, while those whose mothers were of lower status could only stand behind their mothers' chairs.
Alice and Ya Dai were both sitting. Alice was the newlywed bride, with dark gray hair, while Ya Dai was the daughter who had an affair with the groom, with dark brown hair. They sat on opposite sides, ignoring each other.
Alice's husband also appeared, a young and handsome man who looked embarrassed and sat down next to Alice, who ignored him.
Artis seemed oblivious to all of this, smiling as he announced the start of the family feast.
Various delicious dishes were served, along with wines of different colors. The enticing aromas of wine and food quickly filled the dining room, and the atmosphere became noticeably more relaxed.
I barely ate anything, just a few slices of bread, and I felt rather restless. This was their family dinner; what was I doing here?
“There will be a family ball later, and other nobles will be attending. I hope you can join us,” Daio said to me.
“Well… my husband is still sick, and I’d like to go see him later,” I said.
"Don't worry, he won't die anytime soon," Daio laughed. "It doesn't matter whether you look or not."
Before I could refuse, Artis suddenly spoke up, smiling, "Come on in. It won't be lively if you don't come. Our Achia hasn't had any guests for a long time."
Before I could refuse, Daio preemptively said, "Your silence means you agree, haha!"
I was speechless for a moment.
“What’s so great about your husband?” Daio whispered to me. “I wish he were dead so you could remarry.”
I didn't reply.
The ball was completely different from a family dinner; everyone let loose. Daio and Artis's mistresses all changed into alluring and sexy sheer gowns and excitedly danced a group dance on the ballroom. The illegitimate children drank and chatted with great enthusiasm, embracing and hugging the daughters and sons of the nobles; an air of ambiguity permeated the atmosphere.
Daio had been dragged off to dance by his mistresses and was dancing wildly among a group of women, laughing loudly as he danced, becoming the center of attention.
“Bernot is negotiating with me,” Artis suddenly said as I was engrossed in watching, “offering me one of his private cities in exchange for returning you to him.”
"Oh? Did you agree?" I asked.
"you guess?"
"He definitely didn't agree." In his eyes, I'm a "source of wealth," how could he possibly agree?
“I can’t bear to part with you, how could I possibly agree?” Artis said gently.
I laughed loudly, "In your eyes, I am a mineral resource, more valuable than a royal city. If he brought ten royal cities, you might consider it."
“If he brings me ten thousand royal cities, I might consider it,” Artis said with a smile. “In my eyes, you are priceless.”
"Is that so?" I sneered.
“It’s better to marry me than him,” he said, pointing to Daio on the dance floor. “I know how to care for women better than he does.”
"I believe that. You are more mature than him, but he is more innocent than you, so he is naturally more genuine towards women."
"You mean I wasn't sincere with you?"
I looked at him and smiled. "You are a bit cunning and shrewd, but if you weren't cunning and shrewd, how could you have reached your current position? And become the leader of several tribes."
He leaned against me, a strange look in his eyes. "I'm glad you think highly of me, but I want to tell you that I'm also very sincere towards you."
I chuckled and pointed to the mistresses on the dance floor. "If I were to break in while you're having fun, rip all the women's hair off, and even take your manhood off, would you still be so sincere with me?"
"Why don't you remove it now?" he suddenly said, grabbing my hand. "Quick, remove it now."
I was stunned and didn't react for a moment before he had already put my hand on his. "Hurry up and twist it off, I can't wait."
I tried to pull my hand away, but he grabbed it again and looked down at my lower abdomen. "See that? It's thriving, waiting for you to get rid of it."
I burst into laughter, and I couldn't stop.
“I think you don’t have enough mistresses,” I said with a laugh. “You need a whole bunch of mistresses to torture you until you’re completely exhausted before you’ll behave.”
Men can never have enough women; they just crave something new and exciting.
Dog poop that you've never tasted always smells good.
I left the banquet hall laughing, and before leaving, I gave him a hard pinch and spun him around like a top. He cried out in pain, and I laughed again, bursting into laughter. Everyone looked over.
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Author's Note: Please also check out my completed works: "My Brilliant Friend," "All the World's Male Gods Are in Love with Me," "A Love of Ice and Fire," and "Cinderella Wants a Thrilling Novel Script"~~~
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