Chapter 33 The Leader of the Meteor City Troupe 33 (Revised and ready to be read...)
[The system has detected that the host is in a survival crisis and has automatically activated protection mode.]
【3, 2, 1】
[Please devise an escape plan as soon as possible. During this period, you will be temporarily teleported back to the real world for two days.]
Just before the blade struck, a cold, mechanical voice pulled Ayana back from the brink of death.
Because she was so tense, Ayana's brain hadn't even had time to process all this information before she was back in the real world in a flash.
"Young Miss, Young Miss?"
The maid's voice outside the door became hurried. She anxiously urged, "Are you alright? Master is waiting for you. Has something happened?"
The girl in the mirror had no color in her face and looked somewhat haggard, exactly like Ayana before she left, but her eyes were filled with fear, as if she had just escaped death.
Ayana took two deep breaths, then collapsed onto the dressing table, pressing her hand to her chest in an attempt to calm herself down.
She was just a hair's breadth away from death.
She almost died completely!
Still gripped by the fear of near death, Ayana took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. After clearing her throat twice, she replied in a deliberately calm tone, "I know, I'm coming."
"Miss, please hurry, or the master will be getting impatient."
"If you anger the master, it will be you, young lady, who will suffer."
The maid was still nagging and was about to knock on the door again when it was suddenly opened.
The girl's haggard face was revealed.
She seemed to be forcing herself to smile, but because her face was so haggard, she didn't look like she was greeting someone properly. Plus, her skin was naturally fair, which made her look even more terrifying, like a female ghost that had crawled out of a horror movie.
The maid was startled by her smile, momentarily stunned, and unable to speak fluently. She asked cautiously, "Miss... what's wrong?"
Having just narrowly escaped death, Ayana was trying her best to maintain her usual demeanor, but because her brain had not yet fully recovered from that life-or-death experience, she was indeed full of mistakes.
"You...you look like you've lost your soul?" the maid said, observing Ayana's expression. "Are you planning to see the master like this? I'm afraid...I'm afraid the master will be..."
The maid didn't say the last three words, "I was startled."
Although this is indeed the truth, it is still inappropriate for a maid to say it.
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you're forced to get involved, just close your eyes and pretend you don't know anything when asked.
So even if she was genuinely startled, the maid would only ask appropriately, "Are you going to see the master looking like this?"
Ayana finally came to her senses.
She took a breath, closed her eyes, and gently pressed her temples twice with her fingers, clearing her mind for a moment before slowly saying, "Okay, let's go."
The Monzado family is a very famous and prominent family.
While they may not rank among the top three in contemporary times, their wealth and power far surpass those of the vast majority of families.
Ayana followed her maid through the corridor.
Night had fallen, and only a few lights were lit inside the mansion.
Under the dim yellow light, the ornate decorations were faintly visible.
The chandelier on the ceiling was inlaid with diamonds, which reflected a silvery light under the moonlight, but it was not very dazzling.
A large cashmere rug was laid on the floor, which was very comfortable and soft to walk on and very relaxing, but Ayana could not relax in this environment.
She looked up at the window. Outside the huge French windows, only the moon was still hanging in the sky, casting its light. Occasionally, a few sleepless birds flew by, leisurely and freely flying in the air.
They are completely different from the people in this house.
Floor-to-ceiling windows not only separate the indoors from the outdoors, but also the freedom from confinement.
Aayiana is the one who is imprisoned.
"Master, Miss has arrived." The maid's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Ayana's thoughts.
"Let her in." The mature voice of the adult man inside the door sounded slowly; it was a very deep voice.
Ayana lowered her head and followed the maid inside.
She bowed to her nominal "father" as usual, and called out to him in a low voice. Only after hearing his reply did she return to her standing position, obediently listening to her "father's" teachings.
"Ayana, you have always been the child who makes my life easier."
The "father" was wearing a black suit. He seemed to have just come back from outside and hadn't washed up yet. His body even smelled a little cold. He coughed once or twice and then said, "As the eldest daughter of [Monsado], you should set an example for your younger siblings."
"You should know how much I've invested in you, and I've spared no expense in hiring people to teach you what you need to learn."
The "father" turned his back and said, "I've spent so much time, energy and money on you over the years. You're not a stupid child, and you've seen it for yourself. I think you don't want all my hard work over the years to go to waste, and you don't want to see my disappointed expression."
These are the same words again.
We've already said it so many times, and everyone knows the real intention behind these words, so why do we keep repeating it?
It's just a way to ease one's conscience and label one's actions of forcing others as "righteous."
Ayana did not refute, but silently mocked in her heart.
"Father" turned his head and looked at Ayana with tender, fatherly eyes: "It's time for you to contribute to this family. Since you are a member of this family, you should do what you should do for [Monsado]."
The seat was pulled out.
The "father" sat down at the table and handed Ayana the information he had researched beforehand: "Don't worry, I've taken care of everything for you. Marrying Albert is definitely not a bad thing."
But it's definitely not a good thing, is it?
If it were truly such a wonderful thing, you would have arranged for your most beloved youngest daughter to marry him long ago. Why would you give such a good opportunity to me?
Moreover, the so-called "taking care of everything" is actually just transferring control over me to another person, right?
Such a grand and dignified way of concealing one's true intentions—isn't that just like you?
"The Deville family is a family with a profound historical background and its overall strength is arguably the best in the world. After marrying into the family, you will enjoy wealth and luxury, and you will never have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of your life. You can get whatever you want."
As if thinking of something happy, the "father" couldn't help but chuckle twice: "At that time, [Monzado] will also be able to get [Deville's] support, gain more power, and climb up the ladder more easily."
"After that, after I pass away, [Monsado] will be handed over to your younger brother. He is the best successor I have cultivated. No one is more suitable to inherit the position of family head than him."
The best... successor?
Does it refer to her younger brother, who was inferior to her in every way when they were in school, and who even made her cry and complain to the teacher in sword class?
Oh.
That's ridiculous.
If Monzado really gets taken over by her brother, then it's probably not far from decline.
"Ayana, are you even listening to me?"
"Father" seemed to notice Ayana's distraction, his brow furrowing slightly, and his tone becoming more serious: "Do you know how important this marriage is to [Monsado]?"
“I know, Father.”
Ayana smiled faintly and bowed again: "I understand what you mean. You said these things before, and I have already kept them in mind."
"Please rest assured, I will marry Albert. This is a decision you made after considering the best interests of [Monsardo]. How could I possibly let you down?"
Upon hearing this, the father's expression softened slightly.
He snorted: "Good that you understand."
so what?
Was he calling her over just to repeat these clichés and assert his authority as a "father"?
Ayana felt a bit disgusted.
He was interrupted before he could finish saying goodbye.
"In that case, why not marry Albert sooner?"
"Father" tapped the table twice with his fingertips: "You've reached marriageable age. According to etiquette, you should first choose an auspicious day to get engaged, and then formally get married after some time. But Albert seems to be impatient."
"After all, Albert is quite fond of you. Why not take advantage of his affections to arrange the marriage, firmly grasp his heart, and have another son? Then you can rightfully become the next matriarch of [Deville]."
The "father" spoke coldly, his expression showing no sign of reluctance, as if he were discussing the life of a stranger.
He paused, glanced at Ayana, and said, "With Albert's qualities, countless women would be fighting tooth and nail to marry him. Ayana, you must seize this opportunity."
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