Miss Montelansi seemed reluctant to part when saying goodbye, and Li Lin acted like a chivalrous gentleman in bidding her farewell. But once he turned around, the sweet little girl, along with her father, brimming with the scent of copper and enlightened self-preservation ideas, was swiftly forgotten.
In the interest of her family and out of gratitude for her parents, the young lady held strong convictions, her performance full of unspoken attraction could easily win her a golden statue award at home. But for Count Montelansi, who was listed as a bargaining chip in political deals, all her painstaking efforts were doomed to be in vain.
The noise from the ballroom gradually faded as he moved further away. Two men, in black suits and sunglasses, stood solemnly at the end of the hall, opening the doors of the salon. Pale-faced and sickly, the Red-clothed Archbishop was slowly savoring his limited-edition premium Blue Mountain coffee.
