The car came to a halt before a grand Gothic manor. Elegantly dressed servants were already waiting outside. The moment the guests stepped out, they hurried forward with impeccable manners to usher them into the estate.
Xiang Ri seemed oblivious to everything, following the servants in silence. Fang Yingying, however, couldn't hide her amazement. Judging by the impressive display, the host was undoubtedly someone of considerable stature. She couldn't help but wonder if speaking ill of someone in such a place might bring serious consequences.
After passing a vast open-air swimming pool, they arrived at the centerpiece of the estate—a classical 18th-century building. Parts of it had clearly been damaged over time and were now interwoven with modern additions. These contemporary elements, made from advanced alloy materials and expansive glass walls, were designed to complement the height and decorative lines of the original structure, creating a harmonious blend that reflected the owner's considerable investment and care.
Standing before the classical edifice was a tall, voluptuous woman of striking beauty. As soon as she spotted her awaited guest, she moved forward to greet him.
The servants, noticing their mistress personally coming out to welcome the guests, quietly withdrew in an orderly and considerate manner.
"Mr. Xiang, we meet again," the Empress greeted with a radiant smile. Her golden hair danced lightly in the breeze, exuding an irresistible allure.
"Yes," Xiang Ri replied casually, though a flicker of disappointment crossed his heart. He had hoped she might embrace him or perhaps even greet him with a passionate French kiss. Yet, judging by the three feet of distance she maintained, his wish seemed unlikely to materialize.
"And who might this be?" The Empress shifted her gaze to the stunning woman accompanying him. Her eyes lingered briefly on the woman's chest before politely returning to meet her face.
"She's a friend of mine. I hope Her Majesty doesn't mind me bringing her along," Xiang Ri stepped forward with a courteous introduction.
"Not at all. Any friend of Mr. Xiang is a friend of mine," the Empress replied with a smile, though a hint of ambiguity flickered across her face, as if recalling something. It disappeared as quickly as it came, replaced by a formal expression. "There's no need for such formality, Mr. Xiang. If it pleases you, I would prefer you call me by my name—Tru."
"Hmm?" Xiang Ri raised his eyebrows slightly. The name sounded...
"Masculine, isn't it?" The Empress interrupted his thoughts with a knowing smile.
"Indeed," Xiang Ri admitted with a nod.
"Don't you think it has a certain charm?" she countered. Without waiting for a reply, she gestured graciously for them to follow. "This way, please, Mr. Xiang and Miss..."
Xiang Ri shrugged and followed her lead, while Fang Yingying politely murmured her thanks. Despite her outward composure, her curiosity now outweighed her initial surprise. From their conversation, it was evident that the two weren't lovers—perhaps even strangers.
But why would a notorious playboy come all the way here to meet a woman with whom he seemingly shared no close relationship? Could it be that he had already set his sights on her as his next conquest? Fang Yingying found the idea plausible. After all, she had been struck by the woman's beauty at first sight—she was every bit as stunning as Fang Yingying's own boss, if not more.
One detail, however, puzzled her. Xiang Ri addressed the blonde beauty as "Her Majesty the Empress," yet France was no longer a monarchy. The title seemed anachronistic.
Questions aside, Fang Yingying knew better than to ask in such a setting. She followed in silence, keeping her thoughts to herself.
The Empress led them into a sprawling, opulent lounge that resembled a grand reception hall. Once seated, she inquired warmly, "May I offer you both something to drink?"
"Red wine, thank you," Xiang Ri replied without hesitation, crossing his legs and resting them on the coffee table with an air of ease. "If you happen to have a bottle from 1986, that would be perfect."
The Empress showed no sign of displeasure. On the contrary, she seemed to admire his unrestrained demeanor. Turning to Fang Yingying, she smiled and asked, "And for you, Miss?"
"Just tea, please," Fang Yingying replied, leaning forward slightly with polite deference. Internally, she was already regretting her decision to come. She couldn't believe how shamelessly this man behaved, treating someone else's home as though it were his own. The thought of being associated with his antics made her cheeks flush with embarrassment.
The Empress seemed slightly surprised when the guest requested tea—a rarity among the younger generation these days. However, despite her curiosity, she maintained her graceful smile. "Please wait for a moment, I'll return shortly," she said, turning with elegance and leaving the room.
Xiang Ri found this perplexing. With so many servants at her disposal, why would she need to personally serve the drinks? Of course, someone like him, utterly unversed in etiquette, couldn't understand that a host personally serving their guest was the highest expression of respect.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Fang Yingying seized the opportunity to speak as soon as their hostess departed.
"Don't call me 'hey,' alright? I have a name," Xiang Ri replied, evidently irritated by her casual address. He was not accustomed to responding to such an informal term, especially given his lingering annoyance at her dragging him around for so long earlier.
"Then what should I call you? Boss? You already said I couldn't. What exactly do you want?" Fang Yingying retorted, clearly annoyed, wondering if all spoiled brats came with peculiar quirks like his.
"Fine, just call me by my name. You know my full name, don't you? Xiang Kui! Or, you can call me Brother Xiang since we're practically siblings now," Xiang Ri quipped, his mischievous side surfacing as he took the chance to tease his newfound "brother."
Fang Yingying, however, was brimming with frustration. "I wouldn't dare. You're the boss. If Director Su finds out…"
"Don't worry about it. Just tell her I approved it. See, I'm already calling you by your name—Yingying. Though, to be honest, saying it out loud feels a little... strange," Xiang Ri admitted, his discomfort growing toward the end of his sentence.
Fang Yingying felt a shiver run through her and an unprecedented wave of disgust rise within her. "Ugh, please stop. Call me by my full name or just Fang Ying. If you keep this up, I might lose my appetite for dinner."
"Alright, Fang Ying it is. So, what was it you wanted to ask me?" Xiang Ri relented, dropping the matter.
"I'm curious—why do you call her 'Her Majesty the Empress'?" This was the question that had been bothering Fang Yingying all along.
"What's so strange about that? I call her the Empress because she's the supreme ruler of her country," Xiang Ri replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Feigning indifference, Fang Yingying mused aloud, "But this is France, isn't it? Does France even have an Empress?"
Xiang Ri froze. She had a point. He had been casually addressing the blonde woman as Empress without considering the oddity of the title. Now that he thought about it, there were indeed a few puzzling details.
If she were truly the Empress of France—assuming France even had an Empress—then shouldn't she be residing in Versailles rather than this manor? But if she wasn't, why would she own such a grand estate in Paris, speak fluent French, and even have a security detail composed entirely of French-speaking experts?
"Hmm, have you figured something out?" Fang Yingying asked, noticing his changing expressions.
"No," Xiang Ri replied curtly, his tone subdued. While he still hadn't pieced everything together, the hostess was right here; he could simply ask her later.
At that moment, the golden-haired Empress returned, gracefully carrying a tray.
"Mr. Xiang, your red wine," she announced, placing an already opened bottle and a tall glass before him. She then gently set a cup of fragrant, freshly brewed tea before the woman whose enviable figure drew subtle envy from all who saw her.
"Thank you," Fang Yingying said softly, carefully accepting the tea.
Xiang Ri, as brazen as ever, poured himself a half-full glass of wine and downed it in one go. Letting out a satisfied sigh, he exclaimed, "Excellent wine!" Turning to the smiling Empress, he added, "Miss Tru, may I ask you a question?"
"Of course, Mr. Xiang," she replied graciously.
Clearing his throat, Xiang Ri decided to address the question gnawing at him directly. "Uh… well, I was wondering—which country are you the Empress of?"
Fang Yingying, who had just brought the tea to her lips, paused mid-action, her ears perking up to listen attentively.
However, the astonished expression they anticipated did not appear on the golden-haired Empress's face. Instead, she remained composed and replied with poise, "Mr. Xiang, have you ever heard of a country called Sommes?"
Xiang Ri shook his head, a look of confusion washing over his features. Beside him, his secretary furrowed her brows, lost in thought.
The Empress spoke with a hint of melancholy, "It's just a small nation. It's perfectly normal for neither of you to have heard of it. I grew up in Paris, but after my mother passed away, she left the throne to me. Technically, I am the highest ruler of that country. However, I've never liked such a life. I yearn for freedom—the kind of freedom to shop and stroll like other girls, to eat my favorite snacks, to wear the clothes I adore, and to fall in love with a man of my own choosing."
As she reached the end of her words, her gaze flickered, almost imperceptibly, toward the man beside her.
The weight of her words seemed to settle heavily on Xiang Ri and Fang Yingying. The latter, as a fellow woman, felt the impact most keenly. The idea of a life devoid of such simple freedoms was almost unfathomable. Particularly abhorrent to her was the notion of marrying a man she didn't love. Fang Yingying could not imagine enduring such misery. She would sooner take her own life than walk down the aisle with a man she felt nothing for.
"Miss Tru, let's not dwell on such unhappy topics. You're in France now; you should embrace and enjoy this life of freedom," Xiang Ri interjected, sensing the growing somberness in the room and swiftly changing the subject.
"Thank you, Mr. Xiang," the Empress replied, her gaze softening with gratitude as it rested on the man across from her. "You're absolutely right. In fact, I've already decided to pass the throne to my younger brother. From now on, I plan to live as an ordinary woman. But..."
Her words were abruptly cut off by a sudden voice. "Apologies, Your Majesty," said a deep voice from the doorway.
It was Susan, the dark-skinned bodyguard who had earlier left but now returned.
"What is it?" the Empress asked, her brows knitting together in a slight frown.
"Prince Solcus requests an audience," Susan announced.