"For that, I want to tell you about my parents. Will you listen to me?" She asked pleadingly.
"Of course. You're my girl, so I should know about my in-laws, don't you think?"
Evelyn blushed, slapping his chest a few times. "Who is your in-laws? Shut up and listen to me."
Zen was geniuinly interested in Evelyn's past. It was clear that she was insanely talented, almost breaking through the fourth outer circle at just 18. Most rich kids reach the third outer circle by then. It made Zen wonder why Evelyn's family treated her poorly.
"Absolutely!" He replied, "Onward to our next destination. There, I'll listen to your every word alright?"
"Mm," she softly hummed and got off Zen's chest but not releasing his hand. Zen smiled, tightening his grip on Evelyn's hand as he guided her forward.
Zen led Evelyn to a nearby Ferris wheel, surprising her completely. She had only seen such magical things on TV, never imagining she'd get to ride one with him. As someone from prestigious family, she was not allowed to enjoy the things commoners could because of the strict restrictions.
Zen immediately purchased the tickets and they both sat inside. As the Ferris wheel began its ascent, Evelyn's expression transformed into that of a child experiencing freedom for the first time.
"So beautiful," she whispered at the peak of the ride.
"... I totally agree," Zen responded, his focus not on the scenery but entirely on Evelyn.
"Will you tell me what you were saying?"
"Yes. Where should I start?" Her eyes clouded with sadness, a stark contrast to the joy she radiated moments ago.
"As you know, I come from the Walker family. We're known for our military achievements and hold prestigious positions in military. My mother, Chelsea, is from the Lockheed family."
Listening intently, Zen recalled something he had read before. The Lockheed family was among the 90 noble families, but he recalled reading that something significant had occurred to them.
"Do you know about shadow noble families?" Evelyn asked, her gaze fixed outside the window.
"I have no idea. Are these families in hiding or something?" Zen inquired.
"No, nothing like that. These families are among the 90 nobles who basically serve the 9 great families as their hands and feet."
"Don't tell me, these families cling to the top nobles with marriages to elevate their standing?" Zen was taken aback. It seemed absurd.
"Exactly. To climb up, they marry off their descendants to higher nobles and do their dirty work. They're essentially high-grade butlers. Around 25 families are shadow nobles right now."
"Damn! Why would they want to serve anyone just to elevate their position despite being one of the 100 most powerful families in the country?"
"That's human nature for you!"
Zen knew about human nature, but as a family that ruled over a significant part of the country, how could they stoop to serving someone else? Zen never believed in clinging to others for power. If he needed power, he would build it. That was his belief.
"Well, my mother was married to my father, Ricardo Walker, with the condition that the Lockheed family would become a shadow noble under the Walkers," she continued. "My father is like a block of ice. No emotions, no love and no empathy. He doesn't care about anything as long as it doesn't interfere with his standing. My mother was one of those things." She stopped while saying this.
At that moment, Zen noticed tears welling up in Evelyn's eyes. He rose from his seat and settled beside her. Evelyn remained silent, leaning on Zen's shoulder as she continued.
"For my mother, the happiness of my elder brother and me was her entire world. She used to play with us all day just to forget about my father. But things took a turn. My father noticed that both my brother and I were equally talented, so he began training my brother to be the heir, completely ignoring me. And my brother changed too. He stopped talking to us, and whenever we saw him, he looked at us like we were nothing."
Now, Evelyn's voice became hoarse, and she gritted her teeth while speaking.
"Eventually, my brother, like any prodigal son, fell into alcohol and relationships, negatively impacting his position in the military. I later discovered that they planned to marry me off to another great noble, just so my brother could secure his position easily, given the Walton family's high status in the military."
"So basically, you're being sold to cover up your brother's ass? But why can't he just make you the heir?"
"Yes that was a way but that would mean that my brother won't be of any use to my father. Marrying me to the Calytons will ensure two things, that I will serve my purpose as a merchandise and my brother will advance too. So double profit for my father. My mother fought against it, even sought help from her father. The result was straightforward—my grandfather was killed. My brother and father were responsible. Since then, I never saw my mother smile."
As Evelyn cried, Zen felt his heart shatter. He never really had someone he could call a friend. His family was everything to him. Yet, this girl he had met just two days ago was stirring emotions he hadn't known before. He already understood why he felt this way. He really couldn't understand how a father can sell his own daughter for his ambitions.
"Evelyn, you're safe for the next three years at the University. In that time, I promise I'll make sure you won't have to endure anything in the future." He really had tons of reason to get powerful fast.
"What? No! If you get involved, you'll be an enemy of the Walkers and Claytons. Do you realize how dangerous that will be? This is my problem, and I'll handle it," she declared as the ride came to a halt. Without hesitation, she swiftly disembarked, concealing her emotions. Zen, sensing the urgency, hurriedly followed.
"I only told you this because it's the first time anyone showed any concern for me. At home, after I was labeled as merchandise, every one of those bastards insulted me and my mother," she shared, attempting to distance herself. However, Zen promptly caught her and turned her around.
She really doesn't want to involve Zen. Zen already had a great burden with him being a commoner but having absurd talent which can bring disasters if not careful. She cannot put more pressure on him for her selfishness. He was a commoner and she knew how dirty things can become if nobles start playing shamelessly.
"Evelyn, why do you think I was enraged when you were insulted?" Zen's voice rang out loudly.
She couldn't answer. Her eyes met his, but no words escaped her lips.
"Tell me!"
"… that…"
"SHIT" Zen shouted and wrapped her hands around Evelyn. He then immediately pinned her down on the ground.
Before Evelyn could understand anything,
|BOOMMMM| something exploded right beside them.
Although the explosion was not big and Zen avoided direct hit, it still caused major damage to Zen.
"Ughh" Zen groaned.
"Zen... Are you okay?" Evelyn came to mind immediately. She stood up while supporting Zen.
"Does it look like I am okay? Damn!!" Zen replied while trying to put his mind straight.
Amidst the settling smoke and dust, a dark figure emerged with slow applause.
|CLAP CLAP CLAP|
"Wow, you survived that, huh? Well, that's good. I have to take that girl without any damage."
Evelyn and Zen upped their guard. They knew the person in front of them was far stronger than what they can handle. Fear, however, was not in Zen's vocabulary.
"You have a high cultivation base but couldn't kill a commoner with a sneak attack, and now you're making excuses? Bitch, please!"
The person's face twitched,
"You sure have a big mouth. How about this, leave immediately and give me the girl." He said while fire on his hands started radiating. Zen understood that since he couldn't kill him at once, he was now on timer because soon the authorities will be here. He started thinking about what he can do to buy time.
"Evelyn, distract him any way you can for at least 1 minute." He whispered. Hearing this, Evelyn came forward and pushed him. Zen's arm and back were injured.
"Leave fast. He's not like those Clayton dogs; you're not his match. I'm sure it was Raymond who sent him. I'll cover for you. You need treatment fast," she urged, directly confronting the stranger.
She also summoned fire on her hands but it was clear as day that the fire was significantly weaker than the stranger.
|Evelyn's POV|
'I can't let Zen get caught. From his flame, it is clear that he is at least fifth outer circle. Let's see what I can do. She looked behind and saw Zen was not there. She was slightly disappointed but also rellieved that Zen was safe now.
"Haha. Girl you are making it hard for me to not disfigure your pretty face." The stranger said and then blocked Evelyn in a relaxed manner.
Evelyn retreated and then conjured fire on her legs and then kicked his legs. The stranger smiled,
"You are good! If you were at my cultivation base, you could have defeated me. Alas! Life is unfair."
He was mocking Evelyn's every move. He knew that he has around 2-3 minutes so he will enjoy to his fullest, eating away the girl's confidence. Although he was noble's dog, he hated nobles. He loved breaking a noble's spirit whenever he gets a chance.
Evelyn didn't pay attention to him. She attacked the guy continuously. She first tried close combat but when that didn't work at all, she then started using ranged attack for distraction while trying to attack the stranger with her kicks. She only had one thing on her mind,
'I have to give Zen a chance to run away as far as possible.'
She then chose an AOE attack and almost put all her power in it.
|BOOMMM| A very small explosion shook the ground and covered it with dust. Making use of heat signatures and dust everywhere, she attacked the stranger. She used whatever power she left into both of her feet and then tried to kick his face,
"Haha, that was close girl. You are really good but now it is time to fin..."
|SWOOSH| A kick landed on his neck perfectly. Apparently the first kick was just a feint!
"Ughh... bitch you will pay for this!" His aura increased significantly and he started charging his with his full power. He was enraged. A little girl in 3rd circle dared to hit him?
Evelyn on the other hand, had no energy to do anything. As she was ready to accept her fate, she heard something and,
|BAMM.....BAMMMMM... BAMMM....BOOMMM| The stranger was hit by a car and then another and then another and then the last one. Finally all the cars started the distress alarms.
"FUCKKKK" The stranger screamed. The impact was heavy but still was not enough to cause any injury to him. Instead it was the alarms which frustrated him. He understood that his time was up here and immediately jumped back and disappeared.
Evelyn just looked at everything with blank face. She then spotted Zen in one of the cars.
"ZEN!" She swiftly opened the car and brought him out.
"What are you doing? Didn't I ask you to leave?"
Zen was almost unconscious, but he still smiled and said,
"How can I let my girl die like this?" He replied and closed his eyes.