Chapter 383

Chapter 7 The Old Scoundrel

“What do you mean by naive and innocent?”

Carlos raised an eyebrow, his expression showing slight surprise.

“Nothing…”

Seeing that he didn’t understand, I didn’t bother explaining.

Actually, whether it was Carlos or Angel, I could understand their concerns. But there were some issues even I couldn’t figure out… Forget it, thinking about them just annoys me. I don’t want to talk about this now.

I changed the subject, “Is the trip to East Continent dangerous?”

“Dangerous… There will be some, I suppose.” Carlos played with the hair tie at the back of his head. After a moment, he suddenly thought of something, a playful smile appearing on his lips. “Why do you ask? Are you worried about me?”

“Who would be?”

“Tsk, being hypocritical… I know you’re worried about me.”

“Hmph.”

I deliberately turned my head away, lightly snorted, and remained silent.

Seeing that I wasn’t paying attention, Carlos didn’t find it boring and continued, “Don’t worry. The East Continent is my homeland. I grew up drinking Red River water, and I know all the rules there. Actually, putting other things aside, I really want you to go there and see for yourself the simple folk who believe in strength… People in the East Continent are mostly straightforward. Easy to understand, so it’s comfortable to get along with them. At least they are much more pleasant than some hypocritical scoundrels in the West Continent…”

I looked at Carlos’ bright blue eyes shimmering in the darkness, slightly dazed for a moment, then suddenly understood.

I almost forgot, this guy is from the East Continent.

“…I might have gone off-topic. Anyway, that’s how it is… Today, I just came to say goodbye.”

Goodbye?

These days, you’ve been nowhere to be found, barely saying a word to me, and now you come to say goodbye…

I hate it.

“If you’re done saying goodbye, then leave quickly. Just seeing you annoys me!”

I showed signs of impatience, turned around to look at the brightly lit house behind me, and through the window, I could vaguely see the graceful figure sitting on the living room sofa. Golden eyes seemed to be watching this side.

“Really?”

I heard Carlos’ slightly teasing response in my ear.

“Mm-hm.”

I nodded.

“Then give me back the cake and cheese.”

“No!”

I quickly turned my head, glaring at Carlos with wide eyes. Seeing him grinning at me and winking, I immediately kicked him.

Carlos twisted away.

He stepped back two steps, bent down to pluck half a blade of grass from the lawn, put it in his mouth, and his smile became even more pronounced.

“Little Hill, you’re still the same, nothing has changed… I’m relieved.”

After saying this, he smiled at me, his grayish-white hair fluttering in the wind, his posture standing tall under the moonlight, his shadow long and slender.

Just as I thought he would continue talking, Carlos stopped abruptly, turned, and walked towards the iron gate of the courtyard.

My heart raced, and I couldn’t help but shout, “What did you say!”

It made no sense…

But Carlos didn’t answer my question; he just waved his hand without looking back.

“See you. Take care.”

Zzz—

A flash of light, and his silhouette disappeared into the vast night.

Ah, he’s gone…

It seems like tonight, I won’t have to think about whether to make orange and radish stew as a dish or a soup.

Standing in the courtyard for a while, I suddenly remembered that I hadn’t eaten any snacks yet, so I hurried back to the manor and sat down next to Victoria. I crossed my legs on the sofa and looked at the delicate pastries and ripe fruits on the tea table, feeling a bit hungry. After hesitating for a moment, I grabbed a large fruit, held it in my hands, and started eating.

At the same time, I secretly glanced at Victoria.

… Why isn’t she saying anything?

Sitting there calmly like a Bodhisattva, isn’t she curious about what I said with Carlos?

She doesn’t even look at me, nor does she eat anything…

And more importantly, I noticed that there hasn’t been any wine set on the dinner table tonight.

“Chew… chew… Vicky… um…”

“Let’s talk after you go down.”

“Mmm…”

The servants had already withdrawn, leaving just the two of us in the vast mansion.

I lowered my head and scratched my thigh, then felt my bangs were obstructing my vision. I raised my hand to brush them aside, while chewing and swallowing the fruit in my mouth. I intended to ask her why she wasn’t drinking, but suddenly recalled that Victoria had promised me last time at the second mansion’s bedroom that she would drink less.

Is this… fulfilling a promise?

Or is it because Carlos is around…

With doubts in my heart, the words on my lips turned into: “How long have you known Carlos?”

“Not long. Why, did he leave?”

“Mm-hm.”

I nodded, took another bite of the fruit, and chewed with a “crunch crunch.” Seeing that Victoria was no longer speaking, I couldn’t help but ask again: “How did you… meet him?”

“Speak properly or finish eating first.”

Victoria seemed impatient, her face looking cold.

So I quickly swallowed what was in my mouth, tilted my head to think, and took a few more bites of the large fruit, making my mouth full before throwing the core onto the table. I straightened up, sat upright, and stared wide-eyed, my cheeks puffing like a squirrel’s, sweet juice flowing down the corners of my mouth which I wiped away with the back of my hand. In no time, I swallowed the whole fruit, feeling satisfied as I smacked my lips.

Then I turned my head and repeated the question to Victoria.

“How did you meet him?”

“My fencing teacher and his teacher are the same person.”

Victoria remained expressionless, picking up a grape from the plate with two delicate fingers and putting it in her mouth to chew gently.

“Uh…”

I know this…

“I mean, did you… have any conflicts with him?”

“No.”

“Then why—”

“There’s no reason. You should eat now.”

“…”

Hmm…

She doesn’t want to tell me…

What should I do?

I thought for a moment, reached out to hold her forearm gently, shook it slightly, pouted, and blinked.

“Tell me…”

“…”

“Vicky…”

“I’ve told you, he has many lovers.”

Ah, she’s giving in!

Simple and straightforward~

Looking at the serene beauty beside me, I almost couldn’t hold back my laughter.

I have to suppress it…

“But how could you, just because of this—”

“When he was twelve, he proposed to my aunt’s cousin.”

“Pfft—, cough!”

I choked on my saliva.

Huh?

Proposed? Huh? Victoria’s aunt’s cousin? Carlos?

? ? ?

Such explosive news, thrown at me without warning like a bomb, especially coming from Victoria, made it hard for me to process. My brain briefly froze, and after a moment, I managed to say, “Then she…”

“Married someone from Silgaya.”

“…”

In an instant, I imagined a grand love drama.

For example, a commoner falling in love with a royal… No, a noble lady, crossing age and class barriers, from affection to elopement, and then being ostracized by society, the noble lady forced into marriage, and Carlos remaining single for life…

“Don’t think too much. The next day after proposing, Carlos slept with the daughter of a carpenter in town, who was thirteen years older than him.”

“…”

Carlos…

Is he really such a person?!

I shouted indignantly, “He should be beheaded!”

“At the time, there was indeed a plan to do so, but the person cried desperately, refusing to let it happen. Mother couldn’t bear it, and given the fencing master’s status, it eventually came to nothing.”

Victoria glanced at me, her voice calm.

Eh…

Thinking back to the carefree smile he had when he left, I shivered.

Old playboy…

“So, you don’t like him…”

“It’s not entirely because of this.”