Chapter 149 Winston and Vivian (Part 1)
At that moment, Jericho's eyes instantly transformed into the shape of a cat's pupils, rapidly shrinking and expanding. His face was expressionless, but his heart was in turmoil. A little figure in his mind clutched its head and screamed in shock, "Vivian is here, but why is Master Winston here too?! Master Andrei never told me about this... Should I greet them now or pretend I don't know them?"
However, after screaming in his head for a while, he placed the dishes on the table with a very calm expression: "Please enjoy your meal, both of you."
Jiang You sniffed and glanced at Winston a few more times, her eyes gleaming with inquiry and curiosity. Fortunately, this scrutiny didn't last long. Before Winston could react, Jiang You had already set the dishes, put away the empty tray, and smiled brightly: "Please enjoy your meal, both of you. The rose wine will be ready soon~"
The Bone Lich strode out with a clattering sound, and Jericho followed her almost hand in hand as she left the dining room. Once in the kitchen, Jiang You closed the door to the small dining room, his skull face filled with gossip and curiosity. "Do you know these two?"
Jericho closed the kitchen door leading to the front hall and nodded. "That's the young master's adopted brother and his future sister-in-law...assuming this adopted brother can really get his wish and win the beauty."
"Wow!" Jiang You's gossipy spirit fire intensified even more. "I see!" Andre's sworn brother, wasn't that the Winchester clerk? He'd just left, and then he'd come back with a different face to have dinner with his girlfriend? No wonder their spirit auras were exactly the same!
"As far as I know, that sworn brother shouldn't be in this city," Jericho whispered. "Let's just pretend we haven't seen him, and don't mention him to anyone except the young master."
Jiang You scratched her cheekbone, realizing that perhaps she knew a little more information than Jericho, but this information was obviously related to some secrets involving the king and the nobles, and was not something she could share casually.
So she just rubbed her bone claws and said with a greedy look on her face: "So, these two should be very rich people?" Andrei is a nobleman, and his sworn brother and sister-in-law should also be nobles? For Andrei's sake, it should be no problem to make a good profit from them~
Jericho: “?” Wait a minute, isn’t the focus of this skeleton a little strange?
The young attendant subconsciously put his hand into his trouser pocket, but unexpectedly touched a small piece of paper. He took out the note and looked at it, quite speechless: "Um, Jiangyou, this sworn brother asked you to make another set of two contact books for him..."
Jerico paused and added, "One of them should be made...cute, in line with the aesthetics of a noble lady."
"Oh~" Jiang You laughed, "This big brother is quite romantic!"
She stuffed the soaked rose petals and glutinous rice into the steamer: "Please watch the steamer for me, I'll be back soon~"
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In the box, Winston and Vivian sat face to face on either side of the small dining table. The sunlight from outside shone into the room through the rose window, filling the room with romance and beauty.
Winston looked at Vivian, who was enveloped in the light and shadow of the stained glass, his eyes full of tenderness. "Actually, you are the daughter of a marquis. Since you don't like those old customs, there's no need to force yourself. Whether it's a debut ball or a marriage alliance, as long as you don't like it, don't want it, or don't want to, you can put it behind you."
Vivian sighed and shook her head. "Rumors are terrifying... We're caught in this turbulent current. What can we do on our own? For those of us left behind by the old royal family of the Delman Kingdom, we can only band together to maintain our glory."
"Everyone knows that His Majesty the King hates the old royal family. One day, he will eliminate all of us who are stumbling blocks to his rule. Everything we do now is just trying to delay that day as much as we can. Brother Winston, I don't want to be the soul killed by His Majesty the King's blade, and I don't want to be used as a warning to others."
"Then join His Majesty's side." Winston reached out and gently placed his hand on the back of Vivian's. "You no longer need to worry about those bad habits you hate, nor do you need to force yourself to be part of their corrupt practices, nor do you need to use your marriage as a bargaining chip. If you ever marry, I hope you will choose someone you love out of considerations of love, rather than compromise under the pressure of family or the entanglement of interests."
"Brother Winston..." Vivian's eyes sparkled, as if she was moved and delighted by Winston's words. But after a moment, she sighed again, "You are the only one in this world who understands me. However, the reality is far from that simple. People's prejudices are deeply rooted. Even the knights under my father's command would not willingly submit to a weak woman they cannot marry.
"If I don't have the true loyalty of my generals, how can those powerful people in the upper class listen to the words of a weak woman like me and take them to heart? A weak woman like me can only control the troops in my husband's name and gain people's respect after getting married."
Although Vivian had previously claimed she didn't understand, it was actually just a sarcastic rant about the injustices in the world. How could such a brilliant noble like her not understand the intricacies behind these ancient "customs"?
It's simply that men have been in power for so long that they disdain to share this power with women, whom they consider inferior, even if these women are exceptionally talented, intelligent, or possess magical powers far superior to ordinary people. As long as women are in power, they will only sneer and mock these beautiful women behind their backs, wondering who they slept with and which men they won the favor of to achieve such power.
They slander women's reputation and belittle their abilities, but they cannot bring themselves to admit that they are not even as good as a weak woman.
Winston's lips curled up slightly. "But I know the Vivian I know isn't someone who would give up so easily. You've been secretly supporting your half-sister to become a rare female knight. Wasn't that precisely to break those deep-rooted ideological constraints and firmly grasp military power in your own hands?"
Vivian's smile brightened a little: "Hehe, you saw through it~"
"I know you're still hesitant." Winston held her hand. "But now that you're ready, you can give it a try. At any time, the Mordor family and I will stand behind you and support your reforms."
He added: "I know that His Majesty the King also wants to break the shackles of the old aristocracy and allow more talented and capable women to enter politics and step onto a broader stage."
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