Chapter 308: Chapter 102 Problems Between Girls
“By the way, Father, I remember the family collected a Crimson Flamewing Flower?” Igter asked, turning his face towards the Marquis.
“Indeed,” Marquis Mays nodded, a slight change in his expression. “However, a Sacred Relic of the Flame element like that is still too far for you. Could it be that you’re doing this for that young lady?”
“You can’t hide anything from me,” Igter chuckled.
Marquis Mays looked at the young man again. Given Igter’s attentiveness to girls, it seemed that Miss Phoenix’s position in his heart was deeper than he had initially estimated.
“If it were a few months earlier, perhaps I could have helped you obtain it, but not now. That flower is after all family property and managed by the Clan Council.” Marquis Mays shook his head. “If I were to ask for it now, they would most likely refuse, using the reason of treating that old man’s injuries.”
Igter’s expression froze. Gods above, who knew what kind of expression Miss Phoenix would show if she found out he had deceived her?
“It seems you care a lot about this matter.”
“…I do, a little,” Igter’s smile was quite strained. He was already envisioning a miserable life under the young lady’s anger.
Marquis Mays chuckled, shaking his head. He couldn’t help but recall his own anxious feelings when pursuing the one he admired in his youth, so he could not help but understand Igter’s dejected and frightened expression.
Marquis Mays took out a gilded jade token from his embrace and handed it to the young man. Igter focused his gaze and saw the family crest of the Cross Kite Pattern of the Lantischthofen family engraved on it, the emblem of the clan leader.
“The old fellows of the Clan Council decided a few days ago to conduct the qualification assessment for the next clan leader. I did not refuse,” Marquis Mays said with a smile. “You should know that the winner has the right to choose an item from the family treasury. Although, by normal standards, a flower of the Crimson Flamewing’s caliber would not be within the scope of selection, I can do some work.”
“The winner of the assessment.” Igter clenched his fist slightly. Although he didn’t know why his father agreed, he would surely have to deal with Blade and the others awaiting him in the so-called assessment. He was only Silver, and to defeat them… Although it didn’t seem very possible, it was better than being beaten to death by Miss Phoenix, right?
Marquis Mays smiled subtly, his gaze shifting from the window frame towards the distance. He did not think Igter could win, and as the clan leader of Lantischthofen, a Saint-level Flamewing Flower was not a significant difficulty for him. It was just that a gift was more valuable precisely because it was difficult to obtain. If he had simply asked for it from him, how much would a Miss Phoenix value it? This kid still had lessons to learn.
The conversation between Marquis Mays and Igter not only covered the young man’s travels but also the current situation in Lantichthofen, and even the interesting stories shared in the letters sent by Igter’s mother during her visit.
“…Having talked so much, Igter, you should go and spend time with your friends. I really didn’t expect that young lady of the Dragon Clan to be the little princess of the Black Flame Dragon King.” Marquis Mays said to Igter. When he heard about Ophiuchus’s identity from the young man, even he couldn’t help but be startled. “Coincidentally, there will be a simple banquet tonight. Igter, you should also invite your friends.”
“Mm. Then I’ll go out and find Shiel and Miss Vera now.” Igter also stood up, suddenly remembering something, and smiled at the Marquis. “But logically, Shiel should still be at the academy. Why did you suddenly call her back?”
“It wasn’t me who asked Shielin to come back,” the content of Marquis Mays’s words immediately caused the smile on Igter’s face to freeze. The Marquis looked at the young man’s face, shook his head, and spoke in a calm, unmodulated voice: “Moreover, Douglas will also be arriving in Lantichthofen in the next two days.”
—
As dusk approached, the soft evening sunlight, serene like golden silk, spread across the ancient and luxurious long table along the transparent high window. Shiel’s soft, silver-blue hair slid down along her delicate shoulders, like the frost-kissed tips of a mountain under a snow dome, seemingly stirred by a gentle breeze. A delicate long dress accentuated the girl’s slightly tender, yet graceful, delicate body. Shiel sat with her knees together on the long bench, her delicate and exquisite little hands holding the tea set, looking as if she wanted to bring it to her lips to sip the black tea, but it seemed frozen on the tabletop.
“Miss Vera and brother’s adventures seem quite eventful…” Shiel exerted great effort to reluctantly shift her frost-blue pupils back to Verafia opposite her, her teeth slightly biting her lips, her exquisite little face showing extreme awkwardness. “But, Miss Vera, were you always with brother? That’s truly unbelievable…”
“Yes, but what’s strange about being by Igter’s side!” Verafia bit off a piece of fruitcake with force, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and then raised her eyes, saying casually, “Besides, if it weren’t for me, Igter would have died countless times.”
Previously, after shopping on Senan Main Street, Shiel could no longer hold back and asked Verafia questions about Igter. Verafia had no reason to refuse, and as she was feeling a bit tired, she suggested they find a dessert shop with cakes and black tea first. The afternoon tea shops here were quite popular among noble young ladies and ladies. Both the luxurious decorations and the food and tea were worth hundreds of silver coins, but Shiel felt that sitting here was even more embarrassing than during her etiquette lessons. Of course, the reason for her discomfort was not the uncomfortable chair or the cost of the silver coins.
“Mmm-hmm. Miss Vera has helped brother, and I do need to thank you. However, there’s something I don’t understand… How could a Miss Phoenix like yourself be by brother’s side?”
Verafia raised her pretty face, took a large sip of her sweet red tea, and managed to hold back a laugh with great effort. The girl opposite her, although she had been acting as if nothing was wrong… her clumsy acting, and the carefully phrased sentences separating her from Igter, but with such tender technique, wasn’t she afraid that she wouldn’t notice? Although she completely disdained what Shiel was thinking, and felt a little embarrassed about toying with a young girl, she couldn’t help but do some things to maintain her persona. Verafia put down her tea set, curled her lips, and said, gazing at Shiel with her scorching gold eyes, “Because I had just been born, and the human I saw was him! And it was Igter who woke me up, and he also promised to take me to play in your human world. Is there any problem?”
