lcionline Chapter 19 At Your Service
Chapter 19 At Your Service
The cold wind, carrying snowflakes, howled through the streets.
The endless, heavy clouds made the evening sky gray, with only a small patch of blood-red setting sun blooming on the edge of the sky.
The firelight from the fireplace illuminated the faces of the young man and woman, crackling as it ushered in yet another quiet night.
Edith looked nervously at the flickering fire in Edmund's eyes. Even though she was the owner of the house now, she felt like a weak person waiting for Edmund's judgment.
Reality is not a simulation within the [Gala Wood System]; there is no saving or loading function here.
If I miss out on Edmund this time, it will be a complete loss.
"So you're Alicia's sister."
"Um."
"So you learned about me from your sister?" Edmund asked, eyeing Edith tentatively.
He always felt that the girl in front of him was being too nice to him.
Edmund had sensed something was amiss when he learned from his former landlord that this "nobleman" planned to meet with him in person to discuss the rental issue.
That's why he dared to take the risk and declare his firm intention to leave, in order to find out whether Edith was after him as a person or simply wanted to acquire the house and the collection inside.
She seemed to have known herself for a long time and had observed every corner of her life in detail.
something wrong.
"Yes, yes." Edith nodded earnestly, and as if afraid Edmund might have even the slightest doubt about her words, she added, "My sister often speaks of you to me and others, saying you are a strong, wise, and kind-hearted adventurer..."
"She always tells me your story, about the spoils and victories you won in countless battles, and about the people you met and lost in your past adventures."
"And tell me why you stayed in Kalenbel City, because here you can watch over the souls of your fallen comrades and continue to witness the great changes under this sky in their place."
Edmund smiled.
"It's not that exaggerated. I'm just tired of the nomadic life and want to settle down."
"And you, Miss Edith, after you were expelled from the family for some mistake, you thought of me, believing that I could help your sister, and that I could certainly help you as well."
Edmund's gaze was fixed on Edith's face.
"For example, with my possible help, could you start from scratch, prove yourself through achievements that you are not as worthless as the family thinks, or even earn the opportunity to clear your name and return to the family?"
"Yes, yes!" Edith continued to nod.
His faint smile was like a massive boulder, making Edith feel increasingly flustered. His indifferent gaze was like a cold needle, slowly and sharply piercing through the girl's fragile facade.
Did he sense something?
Could it be that the [Gala Wood Strategy System] has been exposed?
It is said that experienced adventurers have methods to detect magical fluctuations, some using wondrous tools, others possessing innate talent.
But activating the [Gala Wood System] doesn't require magic.
Or did he find out that I was following him?
Could it be my body pillow?!
The guilty girl bit her lip and awkwardly looked away.
Edmund picked up the teapot and filled the teacups in front of Edith and himself with tea.
"Mr. Clemens, so does this mean you've agreed to my request?" Edith picked up her teacup and poked the slightly hot rim with her fingertip.
"What are your requirements?" Edmund feigned ignorance.
"Stay here, just like I said." The girl blinked and asked tentatively. "You and your collection, stay here."
“Miss Edith, perhaps it’s impolite of me to put it this way, but you said you’ve been expelled from the family and enjoy complete freedom.” Edmund didn’t directly answer Edith’s question. He glanced at Willow, who stood beside Edith, as delicate and aloof as a porcelain doll. “But to live under the same roof as a complete stranger like me so soon after leaving home, wouldn’t that be…inappropriate for a lady like you?”
"Aren't you afraid that I might also have ulterior motives? In other people's eyes, you are not as unattractive as you think, and you also have the same noble blood as your sister."
Complete strangers? I don't think so.
As for harboring ill intentions?
Edith licked her lips.
Hey.
Is there such a good thing?
"I believe you're not that kind of person." She rested her chin on her hands, smiling at Edmund. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have refused my sister's offer to stay, would you?"
"Throughout Karenbel, and even among the nobles of the capital, countless people covet my sister's beauty and talent, or desire the power and status of the Enfield family."
"But you are different."
"You didn't take advantage of her infatuation with you." Esther paused, glancing at Esther on the sofa. "Nor did you break the promise you made."
The snowflakes outside the window were thrown to the ground by the gale, looking like falling shooting stars under the streetlights.
"But the harsh winter doesn't discriminate between good and evil when it brings more or less snow. The biting wind, carrying ice and snow, will indiscriminately take lives. As far as I know, you'll probably have to pay several times the price of what you used to pay to find a suitable place to stay now."
"I grew up in a noble garden and have never experienced the hardships of the outside world. You are the only person I know from my sister and the only person I can trust now."
"If you're willing to stay and teach me how to take risks and live, just like you taught my sister in the past and the guy on the sofa now, I'm willing to waive your rent and even pay you extra when I have more money in the future."
Edith leaned forward slightly, and the girl's fragrance wafted into Edmund's nostrils with her movement. To Edmund, her voice sounded like a devil's seduction, becoming increasingly alluring.
The girl glanced at Esther, who was staring blankly on the sofa, and had already planned how to gradually distance this "white-haired pig" from Edmund's side.
"You just said she is a noble descendant from a distant land, completely ignorant of the etiquette and customs of the Holy Kingdom, which happens to be the area of expertise of the person beside me." Following Edith's words, Willow, who was beside her, nodded.
"How is it, Mr. Clemens?"
Edmund finally understood what his former landlord Kane meant by "an irresistible price."
The mere condition of waiving the rent was enough to free up 60 percent of Edmund's monthly expenses.
If you can save most of your expenses each month.
Before long, he will be able to save up enough start-up capital to change his destiny.
"You're not going to refuse again, are you?" Edith pouted and said angrily.
"Of course I'd be happy to stay. Nobody wants to abandon their warm home and find a new place to live in the winter."
Edmund stood up, the fireplace light illuminating his back, his dark short hair gilded with a flame-like glow, much like Edith's most beautiful simulated memory: the young man under the yellow sand sunset, his eyes reflecting the sunset, his burning love like a raging wind brushing over the girl's parched heart.
"Edmund Clemens, at your service."