Lancelot's Empire. Inside the Bootz Merchant's Guild.
In an area of artificial mountains overgrown with vines stood an elegant pavilion, complete with a small bridge over a flowing stream. The scent of flowers and plants filled the air. It was a peaceful and beautiful scene.
Phoebe, dressed in a simple white dress, was sitting on a swing, rocking. Her beautiful face was downcast with sadness. After five years, time had left no mark on her face. On the contrary, it seemed to have become even more beautiful and distinctive.
Whenever she finished her tedious work, she would routinely stare blankly at the small crevice in the artificial mountain, her mind unconsciously recalling the scene a few years ago.
In that narrow crevasse, two people had once pressed skin to skin, so close that they could smell each other's scent and even feel each other's hearts beating...
Even after all these years, the scene was as vivid in their minds as it had been in the moment!
A group of fast footsteps approached. Seeing the dazed Phoebe lost in thought, Fabian sighed to himself before asking gently, "Miss, are you thinking about him again?"
"Oh, you're here," Phoebe smiled apologetically after coming out of her trance. She then pointed to a chair next to her and said, "Have a seat."
Fabian casually sat down at Phoebe's gesture. He was a little worried when he saw Phoebe's tiredness. After some hesitation, he said carefully, "That crown prince of the Angela Empire came over again.
Phoebe, who was still looking at the artificial mountain in front of her, showed annoyance on her charming face as soon as she heard these words. She knitted her brows and said impatiently, "Can this guy be any more irritating? How many times have I told him, why does he keep coming?"
Fabian frowned, thinking that Phoebe should know his purpose for coming here. After another moment's hesitation, Fabian explained, "Before coming over, Prince Hagrid visited the Imperial Palace and met with Lord Karel."
Phoebe's face went cold. She groaned and said, "My mind is made up. No one can influence my decision, including those two."
Fabian's face became even more contorted, even though he was admiring in his heart. He looked deeply at Phoebe and said, "But Lord Bryan hasn't appeared for five years. There are rumours that..." Fabian did not finish his sentence.
"That Bryan is dead?" Phoebe scoffed and continued disdainfully, "How could Bryan be dead? He just went to cultivate. Don't listen to their nonsense!"
"But it's the Church of Light that put out the information. Even the Pope of the Church of Light himself confirmed it..." Though reluctantly, Fabian said it as it was.
"So what? The Pope of the Church of Light can't lie?" Phoebe, having cultivated into the realm of the Sacred SwordMaster, had become much more refined in her behaviour. However, whenever the subject was broached with her, she acted rather erratically.
Confused footsteps clattered outside. Soon a group of people came into view. The group was led by a man in his thirties. He looked distinguished, mature and dependable. There was an intense air of nobility about him. Obviously, he was a man of great status.
Following him were two Grand Magi, a Great Swordsman, three Archmages and two Earth Riders. They were all dressed in sumptuous robes and gazed at this man with complicated emotions.
Phoebe, however, showed an obvious feeling of disgust in her eyes as soon as she saw him. In a cold voice she said, "Prince Hagrid, why are you here again?"
"We will be returning to our homeland soon. I came to see you specifically to discuss some of the details of the bilateral trade agreement between our two countries. I really can't rest until I've sorted out the details!" Hagrid said as he looked at Phoebe, not hiding the fervent glow in his eyes.
"We'll talk about it tomorrow after the meeting with His Majesty. I don't like to be disturbed in my private time," Phoebe replied impatiently, aware of his true intentions. She jumped down from the swing, an aura of ferocity naturally emanating from her.
The crowd behind Hagrid clearly sensed the aura coming from Phoebe and instinctively took up positions to protect their master.
Hagrid stared at Phoebe's back like a fool. Just as Phoebe was about to disappear from his sight, he cleared his throat and said hastily, "I have already spoken to the King of your distinguished country. Miss Phoebe will only have to deal with a few minor details."
Not caring whether Phoebe was listening or not, Hagrid listed the details of the trade agreement in rapid succession.
After listening to Hagrid's machine-gun lines, Phoebe's face suddenly jerked. She stopped walking for a moment, looked at Hagrid with dazed eyes and asked, "Have you lost your mind?"
It wasn't just Phoebe. Even Fabian next to her and the few bodyguards next to Hagrid were in disbelief.
"Your Highness, are you mad? To charge the Bootz Merchant's Guild only ten percent duty on this harbour, how could it be so low?! Your Highness, if we are to be so relaxed with Bootz, other guilds will surely be unhappy. It's very hard for us to justify this arrangement," one of the swordsmen replied.
Fabian, the senior merchant of the Bootz merchant guild, could not contain his excitement. He exclaimed, "This is great! Prince Hagrid is really generous!"
Phoebe let out a small sigh as she looked at Hagrid, his eyes glowing with fire. She had not expected this man to actually put the interests of his own country first. If the trade deal were to go through, even though Hagrid was the Crown Prince of the Angela Empire, the King of the Angela Empire would still be furious. Even Phoebe was touched to think that he would go to such lengths just to woo her.
However, Phoebe remained cold and unfriendly towards Hagrid. Contrary to Fabian's expectations, she bluntly refused, "No. Our Bootz Merchant's Guild has no intention of taking advantage of you. Charge us the same rate you charge other guilds."
"Miss!" Fabian was alarmed and hastily tried to convince Phoebe otherwise.
"Stop it. Our Bootz Merchant's Guild has always done and will always do things fair and square," without letting Fabian finish his words of persuasion, Phoebe, with a somewhat exhausted expression on her face, turned to Hagrid. She sighed before saying, "Your Highness, I advise you to stop wasting your time. I will categorically refuse all your advances. Things have been rather unpeaceful lately. Take care and have a safe journey home."
Hagrid was disheartened to hear these words. With a grimace he asked, "Why? Why do you have to do this to me? That person has been dead for five years, and this has been going on for much longer. Why can you still not forget him? What's so good about him? How can a mere city lord compare to me? The Angela Empire will be mine in the near future. I can provide you with everything he could and more. Just give me a chance!"
"This has nothing to do with advantages!" Phoebe said as she looked at Hagrid somewhat pitifully. After a short pause, she continued coldly, "You'll never understand!"
"I do understand! How could I not understand?" Hagrid seemed to forget his manners and made a noise as he stared at Phoebe. His voice grew higher and higher as he said, "Even if you love him, he is already dead. It's been five years. You should have come out of his shadow by now, right? Even if you haven't, I can wait for you. A year, or even ten years, I'm ready to wait for the day you accept me.
"I'm sorry, but if you really want to wait, you can wait until you die!" Phoebe knew this man was beyond redemption. Although she was somewhat touched by his actions, she remained firm in her position and expressed it clearly.
"It doesn't make sense! Don't tell me you want to live the rest of your life alone for a dead man?"
"This has nothing to do with you," Phoebe's face only grew colder. She was quite irritated and so she waved her hand and said to Fabian beside her, "Please send His Highness out. Fabian bowed ceremoniously, pointed to the exit and said coldly: "Your Highness, honoured guests, this way to the exit.
Deep in Fabian's heart, he too did not want to see his missus commit an act of treachery against a person, even if that person appeared to be dead.
Hagrid looked at Phoebe angrily, but in the end he sighed helplessly. Looking at Phoebe's ice-cold back, he said in a deep, low voice, "I will still wait for you, I will wait until you forget him." With that, Hagrid waved his hand weakly and started to leave with his men.
At that moment, once again, the sound of hurried footsteps was heard. A moment later, Chester the Bandit, dressed in a black robe, appeared. He bowed to Phoebe first and said respectfully, "Miss Phoebe, Lord Emily has some mail for you.
"Hand it over," Phoebe demanded as she held out her hand. Meanwhile she muttered in a low voice, "Ugh, it's been almost half a month since she came to visit me. What on earth could have kept her so busy? What a heartless bitch..."
Phoebe nonchalantly tore open the envelope. Her lovely body trembled at the sight of the contents. Her beautiful white face was incredibly emotional and unbelievably rosy. The emotion on her face was sixty percent surprised, thirty percent hopeful and ten percent shy. At this moment, Phoebe was sending out tantalising beams of beauty all over the place, looking beautiful beyond belief.
Hagrid was instantly stunned and his heart was filled with question marks. In all his years of tormenting her, Hagrid had never seen such emotion on Phoebe's face. He was stunned and had no idea what had happened to Phoebe.
Fabian was standing very close to Phoebe. Curious, he turned his head to look around. He discovered that the letter in Phoebe's hand only had three big, beautifully written words on it - 'He's back!
Report Chapter Comments