lcionline Chapter 265 I'll Retreat First
Chapter 265 I'll Retreat First
When Keslan came in, Jiang Yu was trimming a bunch of flowers by the window.
Keslan leaned against the door for a while before smiling and saying, "It's rare to see someone take the initiative to contact me."
The man arrived silently, and Jiang Yu was completely unaware. His sudden voice startled her: "Why didn't you have a servant announce your arrival?"
Keslan deliberately changed into a gray top with delicate patterns embroidered in black thread, and a few shimmering white pearls adorning the collar and cuffs. This made him look less cold and stern than before.
"What do you want?" Keslan strode in, his long black curly hair a little longer, draped over his shoulders, looking lazy and unruly. He walked to the window and sat down on the soft couch closest to Jiang Yu, crossing his long legs, his eyes lingering on the face he had missed for so long.
"Thank you for making this trip, Chief Keslan." Jiang Yu put down the scissors, stepped forward, and personally poured him a glass of juice: "This is made from seasonal fresh fruit, so it's on the sweeter side. You should like it."
Seeing Keslan narrow his eyes in pleasure, Jiang Yu continued, "With your abilities, you probably know why I invited you here."
"Although you no longer belong to Yulia, I know that you have a good relationship with Prince Turner in private. For some reason, Prince Turner wants to marry my good friend, Lord Chen Xin of the Forest Empire. Although I shouldn't presume to know His Highness's intentions, I am really worried about my friend."
Keslan observed her quietly for a while. Jiang Yu truly had a heart big enough to hold onto; she cared about far too many people. He smiled and said, "You don't know that guy's motives? But are you sure you want to keep using honorifics with me?"
He leaned forward slightly, his cheek almost touching Jiang Yu's arm, and he could vaguely smell the fragrance emanating from her. Only then was he somewhat satisfied.
His aggressive and ambiguous manner made Jiang Yu back down slightly. She turned and sat opposite him, promptly changing her form of address to comply with his wishes: "Because of your complicated relationship with the royal family, your information is far more accurate and reliable than what we obtain through other channels. So, in your opinion, does His Highness Turner not trust my loyalty?"
"Or rather, even His Majesty's past tests and trials couldn't make His Highness lower his guard against me, or even the Jiang and Lin families?" This was Jiang Yu's true purpose in meeting with Keslan.
The future emperor's vigilance and apprehension are a sword that will always hang over her head. She is confident that she can protect Chen Xin, but when the emperor is angry, millions will die. She cannot allow the Jiang family and the Lin family, these two behemoths, to become stakes and be put on the table.
"Compared to the Jiang family and the Lin family, Turner is obviously more concerned about the monster beside you."
Keslan leaned back comfortably on the soft cushion: "While you are restless all night because of the emperor's fear, he is also doing his utmost to overcome all difficulties and restrain every threat to the regime and the peace of the empire in order to safeguard his reputation as a wise ruler throughout the ages."
“Among them, the sea monster, and even myself, are ranked ahead of your Lin family and Jiang family. Don’t worry too much. Your friend’s decision is correct. He wants some kind of check and balance. Only by satisfying him will he be completely at ease.”
"Besides, I'm here too." Keslan said the last sentence in a low voice, as if to suppress his emotions that were getting out of control. He took a big gulp of juice and found that it did indeed taste good to him.
But Jiang Yu heard it and understood what Keslan meant.
Keslan promised her that he would not let anyone hurt her or anything she cared about.
Such affection is far too profound.
“It’s understandable that His Highness is wary of Moa. But why is he also suspicious of you? Didn’t you two have a deep bond since childhood? He even took care of you before. Wasn’t it because of him that you didn’t completely break with Yulia?” It seemed she had never cared about him before. This was the first time she had inquired about his situation so specifically.
“I am a member of the criminal underworld.” Keslan said with some helplessness, “The owl is my trump card for self-defense. For the royal families and nobles of the three great empires, it is a powerful weapon when it is useful, and a piece of trash that everyone hates when it is not.”
"My title as an old nobleman of the Yuria family sounds impressive, but it's actually worthless. The reason I still maintain a superficial relationship with Yuria, secretly take on some royal orders, and disguise myself as Yuria's lingering henchman, is simply because the Owl's scale is getting bigger and bigger, and without some power, I really can't keep up with it."
Jiang Yu remained silent. Keslan's words came from the bottom of his heart. He looked imposing and arrogant, but in reality, he was walking on the edge of a knife every step of the way.
“Sometimes, the human heart is the same as an animal's. You can't be cowardly, because it can smell your fear. So, shackles are also fortresses. As I build my fortress, my shackles are slowly becoming heavier.” Looking at the uncontrollable heartache in Jiang Yu's eyes, Keslan felt as if all the injustices he had suffered had vanished in that moment.
"I have many malicious speculations and unfair views about you, and I apologize to you." Jiang Yu looked sincerely into Keslan's eyes, suddenly recalling the pair of bright yellow eyes that flickered in the narrow cabin when they first met and the brief time they spent together.
Keslan has been protecting her, whether or not he is paid.
Later, he developed feelings for her, and apart from being sharp-tongued and behaving eccentrically, he always went out of his way for her.
"I'm also very grateful to you for trusting me and telling me so much." Jiang Yu nodded, a sense of guilt rising in her heart.
“Besides trying to get rid of me with money, you can actually solve my predicament in another way.” Keslan propped up one arm, supported his head, and tilted his head to look at her, as if he had suddenly found a way to infiltrate her. The agile hunter never missed the slightest flaw or opportunity.
Guilt is a crack, acceptance is an invitation.
Jiang Yu looked up and saw Keslan's smile widen. His deep, magnetic voice pierced through her, word by word: "Why don't you take me in? That way you can hide me behind that monster. Between two evils, choose the greater one, and he won't bother me anymore."
"!" Jiang Yu choked up and couldn't help but say, "If that really happens, we'll have to be a powerful alliance, right? We'll have to choose the greater of two evils. It's good enough that His Highness Turner doesn't send troops to attack us directly."
"Wait a minute, haven't you heard the saying?" Keslan said shamelessly, "Of course, you can't have it all. I've already got the woman I love, and she can support and protect me. Why should I be a hardworking gangster? The brothers have made enough money over the years. Those who want to do it can do it themselves, and those who don't can find another way. Can't I just leave first?"
"...?"