Larry took a seat and gestured to the manager, instructing firmly, "No one enters without my permission."Once the door closed, Felix said, "I assume you've figured things out, Mr. Laird?"Larry nodded. "I'd be a fool not to. When I see you dining with Wendy right after Vincent's call, it's not hard to connect the dots." His gesture with the expensive drinks was clearly an attempt to smooth things over after rejecting Vincent's request. It was obvious that Larry was a real people-pleaser. Felix said, "Alright. Let's just get straight to the point. I need you to relocate that grave. I only need access to the back garden for a week, and after that, you can do whatever you want with it."Larry seemed troubled. "Mr. Zeller, seeing how Wendy respects you, I know you're no ordinary person. But that grave means a lot to me, and there's a precious family heirloom buried beneath it. I simply can't agree to this."Larry assumed Felix had somehow learned about the family heirloom and wa
Felix's expression shifted slightly when Xena's name was mentioned. Of all the possibilities he considered, Xena was not among them.Mistaking Felix's reaction for hesitation, Larry decided to lay all his cards on the table. "I'm not just talking about a quick meal, Mr. Zeller. I want to give her a grand reception—if you understand what I mean."Larry's motivation made sense. He was devoted to his restaurant business, and what better way to gain instant recognition than hosting a celebrity of Xena's caliber? With proper publicity, success would be inevitable."Let me guess—you also want to take photos with her and display them in your restaurant?" Felix asked wryly.Larry shifted uncomfortably. "Come now, Mr. Zeller, I know my boundaries. Lady Summers isn't some regular celebrity, so photos are obviously out of the question."The mention of Xena made Felix contemplate the situation carefully. He considered potential alternatives but realized even someone like Vivian, the current
Since Felix had been dragged into the Phantom Poison incident because of her, Xena felt somewhat guilty. Thus, she agreed to the talk. "Alright."As they walked out, Jaden seethed with frustration. If not for his promise to Zara, he would have confronted Felix already."Felix, I'm going to win Xena over before she becomes Warlady," he muttered. "If you're smart, you'll back off now. Zara can't protect you forever."While walking through the neighborhood, Felix decided to skip the small talk. "Have you heard of Yardley Dining?""No, I haven't." Xena shook her head.However, her heart unexpectedly raced, and she could not explain why. Was Felix really planning to pursue her? "I need a favor from Mr. Larry Laird of Yardley Dining," Felix explained. "His condition is having you dine at his restaurant—a very formal, special dinner."Hearing that he was asking for a favor, Xena's excitement instantly deflated. "Absolutely not! I'm about to become a Warlady. Do you expect me to be a p
Jaden's sudden proposal caught Xena completely off guard. In all honesty, the man kneeling before her checked all the boxes of her ideal partner—handsome, kind, accomplished, and backed by the prestigious Crimson Sage Sect. Sadly, the timing was not right. Xena explained gently, "Jaden, you know my grandpa asked me to date Felix for a month. There's still about two weeks left. I hope you understand."Jaden stood up, looking somewhat embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I completely forgot about that."The euphoria from his breakthrough had made him impulsive, momentarily forgetting about Felix, whom he considered insignificant. Nonetheless, he noticed the look in Xena's eyes and felt he still had a chance, especially considering Xena's promotion to Warlady would happen much later. Shortly after Jaden left, the doorbell rang. Xena was a little annoyed, wondering how everyone seemed to know her whereabouts so easily. Then again, it could be Felix.But as soon as she saw who it was, she went
Leia continued, "The second way is to do him a favor. The only opportunity we know of is through his chronically ill sister. But this won't be easy—Alistair once used his greatest war achievement to convince Lord Hector to summon Silas for her, but even Silas couldn't help."Xena's expression fell. If Dragonia's second-ranked healer, Silas, could not help, what hope was there? Any leader knew the invaluable worth of having a capable commander. Hence, earning Alistair's genuine respect was crucial to securing her position as a Warlady."Leia, did you come here just to discourage me?" Xena asked with a bitter smile. "Both options are impossible for me."If Silas could not help, what could she do? Even if she did become Warlady, getting Silas' attention was not guaranteed. And as for the top-ranked healer, that was even less likely. Leia replied, "Don't you know any master healers? Dragonia's history spans centuries. The current top-ten-ranked healers are just those who seek the
Half an hour later, a group of men arrived at the scene, each exuding a fierce, battle-hardened demeanor. It was clear they were experienced combat veterans. "Captain Hill, punish me as you see fit," the first man said with his head bowed low. "I failed to protect Ms. Hill."The man who commanded such respect appeared to be in his 40s, with a square jaw and a cross-shaped scar on his forehead. His cold gaze alone was enough to send a shiver down anyone's spine.Alistair replied, "It's not your fault. Yara has been suicidal for a while now. She must have used her inner energy for that burst of movement, despite her condition. You couldn't have kept up. Did her trace disappear here?"The man nodded. "Yes, she could be nearby or much further away." Thanks to his unique practice, he could track a person's scent as long as they did not leave a certain radius.Alistair bit his finger until it bled and began murmuring something. His men's faces paled at this action, and one spoke up
Alistair declared, "In my life, I've only kneeled before my parents, but today, I kneel before you, sir. Please, I beg you to save Yara's life."The dozens of men present suddenly dropped to their knees as well. They all owed their lives to Alistair many times over, so this gesture came naturally to them. Alistair continued, "We broke into your home and attacked without knowing the truth. I'll cut off my own arm if that's what it takes for you to forgive us and save my sister."He raised his right hand, his expression unchanging as he prepared to strike his left arm."If you actually do that, I won't help Yara," Felix warned quickly.Alistair was caught off guard, and his eyes lit up with hope. "You'll help her?"Felix sighed. In truth, he was genuinely moved by Alistair's character. He had met many military men before, but never one like Alistair—someone who combined fierce loyalty with such devotion to family."Everyone, please stand up. This is making me uncomfortable," Feli
As the sound faded, Xena walked in and was surprised to see Felix there. She quickly masked her reaction and ignored him, secretly hoping he would not mention their relationship in front of her subordinates, especially Alistair—that would be too embarrassing."Lady Summers!" Alistair and the others bowed respectfully. Just as predicted, Alistair was not the type to disrespect authority, though his true loyalty remained questionable.Xena acknowledged them with a slight nod. "Quite a commotion here. Is there anything I can help with? I know I don't officially start until tomorrow morning, but I hope you don't mind me asking." The others remained silent until Alistair spoke up. "It's nothing serious. My sister just went missing for a while, but we've found her. Thank you for your concern, Lady Summers."Felix stood there silently, smart enough to pick up on Xena's deliberate attempt to hide their relationship."I see. I'm glad it was just a false alarm," Xena replied.As Alistair