Chapter 54: The Banquet in Progress (IV)

Page (1/3) Chapter 54: During the Banquet, Part 4

“Hey!” Christina reached out but failed to catch Ye Tian. “Don’t think you can escape from me once I’ve set my sights on you!” Christina gritted her teeth, her lips curling into a cold smile.

“Madam Christina, may I have the honor of inviting you to a dance?” A portly, middle-aged man said, his eyes glinting lecherously at the woman.

“Why, isn’t this Lord Brooks? It would be my absolute pleasure!” Christina covered her mouth with her fan, laughing softly. “Shall we?” Without another word, Brooks eagerly wrapped his arm around her waist.

Christina giggled behind her fan, following Brooks into the dance floor. “Hmph!” Seeing Ye Tian return in disarray, Liji snorted and turned away from him, while Mickey chuckled quietly on the side. Laura stepped forward, grabbed Ye Tian’s hand, and tried to pull him onto the dance floor.

“Please, spare me,” Ye Tian pleaded.

“Not a chance. If I let go, who knows who’ll snatch you away next.” Laura smiled sweetly and asked, “Or would you prefer to go with someone else?”

“Good grief!” Ye Tian had no choice but to take Laura’s hand and step into the dance floor, showing through his actions that he was not that sort of man.

An hour passed, and the ball grew livelier. Ye Tian had spent the entire hour in the dance hall, and now even the gleaming floor filled him with dread.

“All right, he’s yours,” Laura led Ye Tian off the floor and handed him over to Liji.

“No way, more dancing?” Ye Tian felt his legs trembling.

“What, you don’t like it?” Liji asked, displeased.

“No, just let me rest for a bit,” Ye Tian begged.

“Hmph!” Liji ignored his protests and dragged Ye Tian back onto the dance floor.

“I’ll pray for you!” Mickey shivered. “An angry woman is truly terrifying.”

“Mickey, would you like to dance with me?” Laura asked, smiling as she watched Mickey muttering to himself.

“Uh, I’m sorry, please forgive me!” Mickey quickly pleaded.

“Hmph!” Laura hummed sweetly, then leaned against the side, picked up a glass of martini, and took a sip. After two hours of dancing, she was both hungry and thirsty.

“This is good.” Mickey hurried over with a plate of delicious pastries, trying to please her.

“Thank you,” Laura replied with a smile. Mickey breathed a quiet sigh of relief, glad to escape further suffering.

Ye Tian and Liji danced slowly across the floor. Suddenly, Ye Tian felt a chill on his back. Turning around, he caught a glimpse of several icy gazes silently fixed upon him.

“Alansa!” Seeing those angry faces, Ye Tian called out joyfully.

“Liji, I’ve found my friends,” Ye Tian exclaimed, excited.

“Oh, then let’s go over,” Liji agreed sensibly, and the two of them gradually moved out of the dance floor.

“Alansa, Taya, Rolora—and how are you?” Ye Tian smiled at Mina, who was clinging to him, and patted her head. “I went looking for you all today, but couldn’t find you.”

“Hmph, only now you think of us. Done playing, have you?” Alansa said, dissatisfied.

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“Not at all, I’ve been helping the princess with her illness. If you don’t believe me, ask her.” Ye Tian raised his arm, and Liji immediately replied, “It’s true.”

“Who is she?” Alansa inquired.

“She’s Liji, the emperor’s maid, a personal attendant.”

“Oh.” Alansa scrutinized Liji up and down, then nodded. The professional aura surrounding Liji confirmed Ye Tian’s words.

“Taya, are you all right?” Ye Tian asked with concern.

“I’m fine,” Taya answered. Her ears were tightly hidden beneath her hair, and she wore a headpiece that cleverly concealed her secret. Unless someone was particularly attentive, nothing could be discerned from her appearance.

“And you?” Ye Tian patted Mina, who nodded to show she was well.

“By the way, how did you get here?” Ye Tian queried.

“The crown prince brought us over. When you entered the palace to treat the princess, he moved us to a special estate.”

“Him, huh.” Ye Tian frowned slightly. “Quick moves, indeed. Have you been practicing diligently?” Ye Tian asked.

“Of course! We haven’t missed a day!” Alansa responded proudly.

“Is that so? Once I finish my duties, I’ll come see you,” Ye Tian said, patting Alansa’s head.

“How much longer?” Alansa pouted, unhappy. Not seeing Ye Tian or getting to taste his cooking, she had grown noticeably thinner!

“It might be a while,” Ye Tian admitted, uncertain. “Keep practicing hard, don’t slack off. You’ll need those skills in the future,” he advised.

“Okay.” The girls nodded.

“How about you, are you doing well?” Alansa asked.

“Quite well, surely more carefree than you,” Ye Tian replied with a smile.

“That’s for sure,” Alansa pouted.

“Where are you staying? I’ll come visit you,” Ye Tian asked.

“Number 1120, West Street. It’s pretty far from here, but don’t worry—the prince is taking good care of us. He’s assigned plenty of servants.”

“Is that so? Then enjoy it,” Ye Tian said with a smile.

“Gale, I have a feeling—” Taya frowned.

“Shh!” Ye Tian interrupted with a playful finger, and she smiled back.

“I’ll come see you soon. Keep it up!” Ye Tian grinned at Alansa.

“What are you looking at me for? I’ve been training!” Alansa said guiltily.

Ye Tian chuckled, not exposing her little secret. He patted Mina, who hesitated but let go of Ye Tian; now was not the right time.

Ye Tian brought Liji back to Mickey’s side.

“Are those your friends?” Mickey asked.

“Yes, but let’s not go over. It’s not wise for me to interact too much with them right now,” Ye Tian replied gloomily.

“What’s the matter?”

“You tell me.”

Just then, the music at the ball stopped. Charles V took Rayisina’s hand, smiling at the crowd. “To express my gratitude to Lord Gale, I have decided to bestow upon him the title of Baron of Leyden Principality, and grant him a manor.”

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Immediately, the crowd stirred. A baron—such an honor, earned by great military merit! Clearly, this Gale had won the emperor’s favor.

“Go on!” Laura said to Ye Tian.

“Old fox,” Ye Tian thought, maintaining a calm expression as he ascended the steps.

“Your Majesty, your gracious bestowal is a tremendous honor, but such fortune is far too great for me to accept. As for the manor, that I would gladly accept, for my greatest wish is simply to have a home.”

“You are indeed a humble man. Very well, then—let us leave the matter of the title for another time. The manor will be prepared for you as quickly as possible, so you may enjoy warmth and happiness in your new home,” Charles V said, his eyes flashing as he smiled.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Ye Tian bowed.

“Why did you refuse the title?” Mickey asked when Ye Tian returned.

“Never accept rewards without merit. It’s said that accepting a great favor without having earned it shortens one’s life,” Ye Tian said, curling his lip.

“Is that so?” Mickey smiled awkwardly. As the emperor’s servant, he could only act according to the emperor’s wishes and couldn’t reveal much to Ye Tian. Though he knew Ye Tian was dissatisfied, Mickey could only sigh helplessly.

As the ball neared its end, Charles V once again called Ye Tian up to the stage. Amidst the envy of all, he pinned an honorary medal representing the Leyden Principality onto Ye Tian’s chest and loudly proclaimed him a hero of the nation.

“Good grief!” Another trap! Ye Tian bowed to accept it, his mouth twitching, but he kept smiling. Life is like this: if you cannot resist, you must accept it calmly. After all, he had no intentions of staying here.

“Your Highness!” In a corner on the second floor of the hall, Prince Rudy quietly watched everything unfold. Next to him, someone glanced at Ye Tian below and said, “It’s nothing. Don’t you think destroying a hero is quite the challenge?” As he finished, he noticed Ye Tian looking at him. Rudy raised his glass in a congratulatory gesture, smiling.

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