Chapter 161
Suitable
“Miss, you must like sweets, right? In that case, I have some desserts I can recommend for you to try. Would you be interested?” The deep voice of a middle-aged man spoke up. His face wore a small, polite smile, and his composed demeanor immediately told Nara that this person was undoubtedly from a noble family.
Having been invited to the Setter family’s party today, his status must be significant. Even if some were in a weaker position compared to the Setter family, they still had to maintain a respectable appearance. Therefore, Nara didn’t dare to be rude.
The beautiful woman flashed her brightest smile. She knew which parts of her face the most attractive and which expressions were the most charming. Thus, she knew how to display her demeanor to win affection.
“Thank you for your kindness, sir. Since I’m not very familiar with luxurious foods, I’ve been trying everything. But if I could get a recommendation, that would be wonderful. Otherwise, I might be full before I find the truly delicious ones.”
Seeing the young girl willing to talk to him, the middle-aged man let out a sigh of relief. In truth, he knew that many people were interested in getting to know her and wanted to approach her as well. However, none of them had the courage. After hearing the rumors that this "scholarship student" was affiliated with Second Young Lord Aman, it was no surprise they were afraid to approach her. If they angered Second Young Lord Aman’s woman, they might face problems with the Setter family.
He had observed the girl’s behavior for several minutes and understood that she wasn’t as ruthless as Second Young Lord Aman but seemed more friendly. Her manners were good, and she was approachable. So, he decided to take a chance.
He was a leader of his own family as well, although his family, once a top-ranked one, had recently been surpassed by other families. Unlike the Ares Kingdom, where the strong remained strong, Hestia had families of hunters, apothecaries, and other specialists, creating a diverse competition.
Previously, his family had a "God of Stratagems" as its head. During that time, everyone acknowledged his family as 1 of the top 10 noble families due to the exceptional skills of their leader. However, his family had been quite unfortunate. No matter who they sought to train under the leader, no one could fully inherit his abilities.
While the family head could create level 5 stratagems, the descendants could only manage level 3 at best. Comparing the grandeur of creating level 5 stratagems to level 3 was like comparing the sky to a chasm. Therefore, although they remained a noble family, their significance had greatly diminished.
If the family’s treasures, the level 5 stratagems, were completely used up, they might become an ordinary low-ranking noble family.
It’s no wonder he felt there was nothing more to lose. Moreover, getting close to the Setter family was their last hope. By associating with the Setter family, they might secure a stable income, as the Setter family used numerous stratagems. If they could sell level 1-2 stratagems in large quantities each year, they might maintain their status as a noble family with a stable income.
But the difficulty was too high to negotiate through normal means. Many families could create level 1-2 stratagems, even in the Ares Kingdom, which meant their chances were significantly reduced. Therefore, they needed to seek "opportunities," whatever they might be. Even if he had to kneel before this young woman, as long as it could make him a business partner of the Setter family, he would do it!
The middle-aged man smiled, feeling that talking with the girl was a good opportunity to get closer to her.
"In that case, please come this way, miss. Is there anything in particular you like? If you like meat, there are desserts made with meat as well. Or if you prefer sweets made from eggs, I can recommend another type."
"Any dessert will do. I like them all."
"Very well, if you enjoy trying various things, then you will have many opportunities to find something you like. Even if some items don’t stand out, they can still be quite friendly."
Nara paused slightly upon hearing this. The middle-aged man acted as if he had spoken without any particular intention, but his real aim was to see if the young girl understood his implication.
If Nara was indeed close to the Setter family and understood what he was hinting at, she might help him and seize the opportunity he was offering. His words implied that he wasn’t particularly special or outstanding to catch the Setter family’s attention, but he could always be a friend and support her.
And yes! He was indeed offering support to a lowly girl like her. He believed that staying in the Setter family was not easy, and from his perspective, a girl from poor family like her would definitely grab this opportunity. At the very least, having someone to support her to live stably in the Setter family would be better, right? This would indeed be true if Nara were the girl the Setter family was looking for.
The unfortunate reality, which Nara understood, was that she couldn’t accept his goodwill because she wasn’t the woman he was actually seeking!
Initially, seeing the man as a noble, Nara thought it would be good to befriend him. At least, they could help each other if any problems arose in the future. But who would have thought that this man approached her not because she was interesting, but because he mistook her for Ellie?
Nara’s expression shifted slightly. Her initial genuine smile turned into a stern look. She lifted her chin, gazing at the middle-aged man who failed to recognize her true worth with a mocking glance.
"Something that doesn’t stand out but can be friendly? I apologize, sir, but I don’t quite understand your meaning. In my view...if everything is meant to be friendly, then why would you seek out something “that doesn’t stand out”? Isn’t it better to choose something outstanding? Or do you think there is something here that isn’t friendly to me?" Nara retorted fearlessly.
Although she was just an ordinary person now, Nara believed that her status would not remain this way forever. This man approached her thinking she was Ellie’s proxy, making him unworthy of her time. She preferred to look for people who valued her for who she was rather than for someone else.
Furthermore...the so-called something that doesn’t stand out he mentioned clearly referred to himself as just an ordinary noble. Compared to everyone here, he was still humble enough to admit that he wasn’t outstanding. And yet, such a person thought he was worthy of speaking with her!
Nara thought angrily and then walked away abruptly. The middle-aged man felt like he had been slapped hard. His hands clenched in fury. Despite her connection to the Setter family, she was just an ordinary villager at this moment. How dared she ignore him!
Of course, neither understood the other’s thoughts. But it seemed like the saying Ellie once heard, "Just as two tigers cannot share the same cave, two selfish people cannot coexist." When two self-interested individuals came together, conflict was inevitable. It’s no wonder Nara and this middle-aged man couldn’t get along, as they both only sought personal gain.
Although the middle-aged man’s approach had irritated Nara, it had the effect of emboldening others. Now, Nara found herself surrounded by people. There was no longer a need for Aman to appear to confirm her status.
Ellie watched Nara, who was like a flower at an important event, with numerous flies closely followed the scent of their delicious food, afraid to look away lest someone else took the prize. Nara seemed more relaxed now. At least, it appeared that everyone understood Nara was the "important scholarship student." Even the infiltrators were hand signaling each other and suspiciously eyeing Nara.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Lady Ellie, the Eldest Young Lord has arrived. He is changing in his room now. Please get ready; the introduction will begin soon." A maid entered to inform her of the schedule. Aman was the most delighted to hear that his older brother had returned. While Ellie had to wait in the room for him to come and get her, Aman bolted out like a wolf.
In the end, only Ellie and the 5 maids remained in the room. The maids checked her jewelry and cleaned Ellie’s small hands, which had been eating sweets moments ago, as if ensuring there was no evidence left for the guests to see that the host had indulged in treats before the event.
A luxurious silver mask was placed over Ellie’s small eyes, revealing only her small nose and lips, clearly showing that this little lady was quite young. Fortunately, Aunt Lana’s makeup and the Setter family maids’ touch effectively hid Ellie’s freckled face. At a glance, no one could tell that Ellie was the same girl as this elegant lady.
Her slightly rough hands were covered with long gloves, revealing only her delicate arms, preventing anyone from seeing her calloused palms. Otherwise, it would be too easy to make a connection. This outfit was truly well-designed.
After a short wait, the door opened again, and the tall figure of the important person of the day entered with long strides. He wore a dark green outfit that matched Ellie’s perfectly. However, while Ellie’s outfit appeared bright and youthful, the Eldest Young Lord’s attire looked more mature than his age.
His physique had changed; he seemed taller, possibly because his previous illness had caused his joints to shrink, or for some other reason. His already tall frame seemed even taller. His arms had regained their muscle, no longer thin as before. His silver hair, now healthy and lustrous, had unique streaks of purple.
His sharp eyes immediately focused on Ellie, ignoring everyone else, including Aman, who hadn’t stopped talking. He walked toward Ellie and gracefully knelt before her.
"It is an honor that you have come to the event." Owen extended his broad hand. Ellie couldn’t help but place her hand in his. The simple and harmonious interaction between the two caused Aman to pause at the door. He had many questions for his brother but ultimately decided to let the pleasant atmosphere between them continue uninterrupted.
After all...today was an important day for his brother...
“It is my honor to be invited,” Ellie replied once she regained her composure. Owen’s gaze was still intimidating, but it also provided a sense of security. She stood up to her full height as Owen rose and held his arm at a 90-degree angle, allowing Ellie to easily link her arm with his. All these actions were without any verbal instruction.
“Then, let’s join the event,” Owen said politely. The two walked together past the many attendants, their matching aura making the servants bow their heads and avoid eye contact.
Initially, many still had their doubts. Ellie’s assistance to Eldest Young Lord Owen had been kept secret. Only a few knew why Ellie had become important to the Setter family. The fabricated story that Aman and Ellie had crafted, along with the words of the family leader Steven, led everyone to believe that it was actually Ellie’s father who was the benefactor, and Ellie was simply a lucky woman.
Even so, even if they were reluctant to accept Ellie, no one dared to oppose the decisions of their masters. They continued to welcome Ellie warmly and did their utmost to accommodate her. However...who would have thought that the moment Ellie and the Eldest Young Lord were together, such a majestic image would emerge?
Many felt the grandeur of Ellie’s status as the future lady of the house for the first time just by seeing the two walk together! This sight was not lost even on Aman.
The young man’s steps slowed significantly, feeling a mix of discomfort and joy. The discomfort came from seeing how well Ellie matched with his brother, but the joy arose from realizing that Ellie was even more suited for his brother than he had imagined. Though he didn’t fully understand why, he couldn’t help but smile.
It was best for the two of them to be together like this. After all, one was his beloved and revered elder brother, and the other was the girl he was interested in and his first friend. If the two of them were happy together, he would have no issue with his feelings anymore...
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