CH 81

November 5, 2021 by danmeiheaven

Before the queen’s dinner banquet.

Darnell sent his attendants to take away the tailors, maids, and others who will prepare the queen at that time—to reduce their existence and send them into the palace without attracting the attention of other people, a clandestine and hidden action.

Xia Zuoyi changed his clothes at Grand Duke Archiayoli’s mansion and then entered the palace with Orville.

He had planned to accept Darnell’s invitation to go in with him, but after thinking about it, he thought it would be more convenient to rely on Grand Duke Orville’s identity.

Xia Zuoyi wore a black tuxedo that tightened at his waist and displayed his long legs.

In addition to wearing the Desinia family crest on his chest, he also wears the thorny rose ruby brooch given to him by Segalot on his chest, with the same ruby ​​ring on the index finger of his right hand.

Orville is habitually dressed in white.

It’s just that this suit is more luxurious and noble. The collar and cuffs are decorated with gold and silver lines depicting elegant patterns, and he’s wearing a pair of black boots.

Xia Zuoyi didn’t see much of Orville in the past few days while staying at the duke’s mansion.

Orville obviously has a lot to do.

In addition to going out for a long time every day, the first thing he did when he returned to the duke’s residence was to go to the big enclosure on the back mountain to see the beasts.

This paddock is the private domain of the Grand Duke. It occupies a huge area of ​​mountain forest, and naturally, there are countless wild animals living in it.

In view of the fierce beastly habits of Briquette, Snowball, and Egg Yolk, and to avoid causing daily panic in the duke’s mansion and frightening the servants here, Xia Zuoyi accepted Orville’s friendly advice and allowed the three large animals to enter the large enclosure and hunt inside.

They have adapted well and have now become the new bosses in the big pen.

As for Brown Sugar, besides occasionally following Briquette, Snowball, and Egg Yolk for a chase in the paddock, he usually prefers to stay with Xia Zuoyi.

After all, he’s still a half-size leopard. He’s currently cuter than fierce.

Orville’s frequent activities include going to the paddock to see the three of them, trying to touch them, being a little frustrated after failing, and then making more persistent efforts…

But so far.

Grand Duke Orville only touched the small round ears of Brown Sugar once, rubbing them against his palm, and the next moment he was avoided by Brown Sugar while squinting his golden eyes and warned with sharp teeth.

Orville continued to work harder.

In this regard, Xia Zuoyi can only show his concern: “…”

It seems that the Grand Duke is no longer concealing his… “hobby” in front of him.

Just before leaving, Orville suddenly grabbed Xia Zuoyi and personally arranged his tie for him.

His beautiful silver hair was neatly combed behind his head, with only a strand hanging from his forehead that slightly fell in front of his gray eyes. His face was cold but beautiful.

Orville whispered, “Unexpected things may happen to you at the banquet tonight. Are you afraid?”

Xia Zuoyi: “Maybe what happens will surprise me, but I won’t be afraid.”

He raised his head to look at Orville again, and said sensitively, “You seem to have something to say to me.”

Orville frowned slightly, then he replied in a faint voice, “I just hope you won’t be frightened by what will happen tonight…”

He paused, “If you get scared, you can hide behind me. I won’t hurt you.”

Xia Zuoyi: “…Thank you, Your Grace.”

The Anas Empire’s royal city is far more prosperous and lively than the former royal city of Keys. This is the gap between the empire and the small country, and it also causes the difference in the living standards of the cities and the people.

Of course, people in the lowest class are still oppressed and exploited.

The bright moonlight appeared above the night, the stars dotted the sky, and in the distance of the royal city were thousands of brightly lit houses.

—Because the queen’s birthday dinner is also a common celebration for the people of the empire.

They can’t get into the magnificent palace, so they can only watch the carriages drive by with envious eyes, and then envy and hate the good life of the rich.

…

Xia Zuoyi’s carriage stopped behind Grand Duke Orville’s.

Udit went down first and stretched out his white-gloved right hand to support him.

The badge of the Archiayoli family is a roaring lion. There’s one engraved on a carriage, which is particularly conspicuous even at night.

The status of the grand duke is revered, so when his carriage stopped at the gate of the palace, the rest stopped to show their respect.

Their eyes stayed not only on the grand duke’s carriage but also on the strange carriage that followed.

Immediately after reacting quickly, the person sitting in the vehicle behind must be Lord Desinia who was picked up by the grand duke as soon as he arrived at the imperial port.

For a while, everyone’s expressions couldn’t help becoming obscured, and they looked up implicitly.

They watched the grand duke come down first. His face is as handsome and cold as ever, even looking a little unkind. Then, he turned around and walked towards the carriage behind.

After waiting for a beautiful young man to come down with the help of the butler, he nodded slightly and led him to the palace in the opposite direction.

This is obviously the behavior of waiting for someone.

It may be fine for others to do it, but it seems extraordinarily incredible when the grand duke does it, who has a reputation and treats everyone like winter ice and snow.

They can hardly avoid thinking that it seems that Grand Duke Archiayoli’s attitude towards this lord is indeed unusual, but they don’t know for what purpose…

Butlers and servants were forbidden to stay outside the palace, so after saying a few words to Udit, Xia Zuoyi followed Orville into the palace.

They walked with many nobles along the way.

A man is holding a woman’s hand in his arms. They are dressed in appropriate and rigorous clothing fit for their status, while the woman’s dress obviously took more thought.

Xia Zuoyi saw that not far ahead, there were women walking in twos and threes with feather fans in their hands, with no men following them.

He couldn’t help showing the doubts on his face.

After seeing his reaction, Orville whispered beside him, “Those are His Majesty’s mistresses.”

Xia Zuoyi opened his mouth in surprise.

This was at the queen’s birthday banquet, and the king’s mistresses came over to attend… Isn’t it a complete provocation? The queen’s face will be gone.

“Don’t the palace attendants stop them?!”

Maybe Xia Zuoyi’s expression is too wonderful.

The corner of Orville’s mouth evoked a slight arc. He said in a low voice, “They have a special honor and secret permission given by His Majesty. Who will stop them.”

“See the woman walking in front?”

Xia Zuoyi looked over and nodded.

This woman was wearing the most luxurious dress. Her appearance was gorgeous, and her expression was even more arrogant. Her attitude was not to put anyone around her in her eyes, and no woman was qualified to walk with her.

There was a hint of something in Orville’s face, “She’s Tosi Cavendish’s mother, Jona Ann, and also…”

Seeing the grand duke suddenly stop speaking, Xia Zuoyi looked at him a little strangely, “What’s the matter?”

Orville: “You’re still young. I’m wondering if I should tell you…”

Xia Zuoyi: “…”

He raised his chin, his beautiful caramel eyes meeting a pair of light gray eyes, “Not small!” 

Orville approached Xia Zuoyi and spoke in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “King Paul Cavendish once had a brother named Lawrence Cavendish.” 

“The first prince Lawrence was heir to the imperial throne, but he later died of illness, so the throne was inherited by the current king…”

When Xia Zuoyi wondered what the relationship was, he heard Orville continue to say—

“Jona Ann is Lawrence Cavendish’s wife.”

Xia Zuoyi hummed, nodded, and then reacted to the message clearly conveyed in this sentence.

He stared at Orville wide-eyed—did you make a mistake?!

Orville: No mistake.

How should a beautiful woman who has lost her husband and dependence live in the royal city of the empire?

Jona’s family does not belong to the Anas Empire.

She is a princess from a small remote country. She’s a woman whom Lawrence Cavendish fell in love with at first sight when he went out on a trip and married when he brought her back.

Therefore, after Lawrence died unexpectedly, Jona lived a hard and helpless life in the empire.

She finally hooked up with the current king by virtue of her beauty. On the surface, she’s a noble lady, but “privately” she’s the king’s mistress.

Of course, this “secretly” means that most members of the royal family, including the nobility, know it well.

Xia Zuoyi didn’t understand, “Since her husband has died, why didn’t she return to her country?”

“Does the Holy See not care about this kind of… nondescript relationship?”

Orville: “It’s complicated.”

Robert is Orville’s subordinate, but he’s also a nobleman. He followed them into the palace and walked behind them along the way.

He obviously knew this well, so he gave an explanation after hearing his question.

“Jona Ann enjoys the extravagance and splendor of the empire, how could she want to go back to that remote and backward country again? She’s very vain.”

“Not to mention whether she returns or not, Jona will not be taken seriously.” 

“In that case, why not just stay in the empire and continue to be a noble lady.”

“His Majesty’s affair with her wasn’t revealed until two years ago. Before that, people thought that the king attached importance to her out of respect…”

“As for the Holy See’s opinion on this… I can only say that not long ago, the king had a conflict with the Holy See.”

Robert’s expression was disdainful—not many people thought highly of Jona Ann, the royal family, and nobles of the empire alike.

She got the status by relying on the king.

—The circle of the empire is chaotic.

This was Xia Zuoyi’s first thought. It never occurred to him that before the queen’s dinner party officially began, he would hear such great gossip and had a new understanding of the king’s absurdity.

The king sitting on the throne is nothing short of a disaster.

Xia Zuoyi followed Orville into the magnificent banquet hall and finally saw His Majesty the King of the Anas Empire.

With his appearance in his fifties and tall stature, he can vaguely see his handsome silhouette.

Even when he’s old, he doesn’t put on much weight. With a smile on his face, after seeing Orville walk into the hall, he turned and walked towards their position.

Suddenly, the people at the party also looked over with obscure eyes, both openly and secretly…