NOVPUB
Chapter 86: Irene’s Problem
Hearing the name, Irene felt an annoyance stir inside her heart. The name clung to her like a leech ever since her return. The Loraz family, located to the south of the Rivas Grand Duchy, was their neighboring noble family and one of the closest allies of the Rivas family. Duke Loraz had been a friend of Grand Duke Rivas since their academy days, and their friendship had endured as they took control of their respective families.
Grand Duke Rivas could sense his daughter’s displeasure and could only sigh. Her cold personality and distant demeanor made her someone who could be admired but never easily approached. He knew the young master of the Loraz family had taken an interest in her. However, despite the close ties between their families, as her father, he prioritized his daughter’s wishes.
"Where is he?" the grand duke asked.
"He is in the guest room with his knight," a servant replied.
"Alright, I’ll be there shortly," Grand Duke Rivas said, glancing at his daughter.
"My dear, do you want to meet him? This is the second time this month that he’s come here, and he asked about you."
"No, Father. I need to cultivate and strengthen my foundation. I had a breakthrough not long ago, so I’ll pass," Irene said, her voice flat and emotionless, in stark contrast to how she had spoken with her father earlier. Without waiting for him to respond, Irene turned and began walking back to her room.
Before she could enter the main building, she heard a commotion. Her curiosity didn’t last long as she saw a handsome man walking toward her with a knight by his side. The maids were trying to persuade him to wait, but he ignored them and continued walking.
His steps finally stopped when he saw Irene. He gave her his best smile, but she simply turned her face away. Undeterred, he walked closer to her.
"I’m sorry, my lady, he doesn’t want to wait in the guest room," one of the maids said.
"It’s fine. You can return to your work," Irene replied, her face expressionless. The maids bowed to her before returning to their posts. Grand Duke Rivas also felt displeased at the man’s behavior in his manor. If not for the close relationship between their families, he would have already struck him.
"Good afternoon, Grand Duke Rivas. It’s good to see you again. I apologize for my persistence, but if I had waited any longer, I feared I’d return home empty-handed once more," the man said, bowing. He was a handsome man with a tall stature and sharp features. His short blonde hair and blue eyes radiated charisma, drawing people toward him.
He was dressed in luxurious golden and white noble attire, adorned with small diamonds. In every respect, he was a man many ladies desired. This was Dalwin Loraz, the young master of the Loraz family.
"Look, young master Dalwin has come again. He’s really persistent."
"Of course! Our young lady is one of a kind. No man can resist her charm. I wonder who will be the lucky one to win her heart. So many have already asked for her hand."
Grand Duke Rivas glanced at Irene and Dalwin before interrupting him.
"Young master Dalwin, I understand you are eager to meet with Irene, but I hope you will not cause a commotion. This is the Rivas family manor, and there are rules here that must be followed."
"Yes, I know, and I apologize. That’s why I’ve brought a token of compensation for Grand Duke Rivas," Dalwin said as he took out a small, beautifully carved box. He opened it, and immediately, the energy of heaven and earth surged from it.
The sudden wave of energy shocked everyone present, including Grand Duke Rivas. Inside the box was a pill with four distinct colors on its surface.
"This is the Four Elements Pill, which grants its user the comprehension of the earth, air, water, and fire elements. Even a king-stage cultivator would gain tremendous benefits from it. I was fortunate to acquire this at an auction in Tania. It was crafted by none other than Grandmaster Alchemist Marco Villares of the Alchemist Association."
The crowd, including Grand Duke Rivas, was even more stunned upon hearing the pill’s creator. Grandmaster Marco was one of the top three alchemists on the continent. His pills were so valuable they could spark chaos, with many noble families fighting over them. Even a grand duke’s household would be forced to compete for such a treasure.
Irene raised her eyebrows but had a different thought in mind.
"I could give this pill to Aldrian, it would benefit him greatly," she mused. Her son, whom she was immensely proud of, could wield multiple elements. With his diverse abilities, he needed many resources, and the pill in front of her was one of the finest resources he could use.
She missed him deeply. She couldn’t visit the secret realm at the moment, knowing that her father would immediately forbid her from entering the Everlasting Silent Forest. Although the forest had changed recently, she was still being watched closely by her family to protect her from the devils and prevent a repeat of the last incident.
The problem was that if she accepted the pill, Dalwin’s ego would inflate even further, and his persistence would likely grow. She had the urge to smack him on the head and take the pill without his interference.
Grand Duke Rivas coughed and sent Irene a voice transmission.
"My dear, let Dalwin speak with you this once. He’s brought such a valuable gift; it would be highly inappropriate to ignore him again. I understand your feelings, but please, for me, can you bear it just this once? For your father?"
Irene looked at her father for a moment before sighing.
"Fine, but you have to give me that pill."
"Good. I’ll give it to you later," the grand duke responded.
Though the pill would benefit him as a king-stage cultivator, he believed it was better suited for Irene due to her exceptional talent. It could deepen her comprehension, and perhaps when she reached the grand duke stage, she might even control more elements—who knew?
"Hm, young master Dalwin is certainly thoughtful. I’ll accept your compensation," Grand Duke Rivas said, taking the box and closing it, halting the surge of energy. The onlookers were still in shock that Dalwin had offered such a valuable pill as a gift. It was clear he was serious about his intentions toward Irene.
Irene, however, ignored him and continued walking. Dalwin followed her inside, and as he did, his gaze lingered on her slender figure from behind. His eyes gleamed with undisguised desire. All his efforts to win Irene’s favor were not only driven by attraction but also by ambition. If he could marry into the Rivas family, his status and influence in the empire would skyrocket.
"Young master, if you still wish to keep your eyes, I suggest you stop looking at me like that," Irene’s cold voice suddenly echoed. She stopped in her tracks and glanced back. Dalwin froze as he met her gaze—those blue eyes filled with killing intent.
He abruptly stopped, raising his hands in a placating gesture. His knight, already tense, readied his hand on his sword. Unbeknownst to them, the Rivas family’s guardians, hidden in the shadows, had also prepared to intervene should anything happen to Irene.
"I apologize if I offended you, but Irene, I hope you can see my sincerity. You must know why I keep returning and wanting to see you," Dalwin said, trying to soften the tension.
"That’s the same reason all those other men come here. What makes you any different from them?" Irene’s words were sharp and unfiltered, not caring Dalwin’s status.
His knight clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead. He wanted to shout at Irene for belittling the Loraz family, but he knew better than to speak out against the grand duke’s daughter. He held his tongue.
Dalwin, too, suppressed his anger, though his smile became stiff. "Don’t you think comparing me to those men is a bit ridiculous, Irene? Sure, some may hold similar status, but the bond between our families, built over thousands of years, makes me closer to you than any of them."
"Quite confident, young master, but in my eyes, you’re no different from the rest. Perhaps you should set aside these thoughts and focus on your cultivation. We are cultivators, seeking enlightenment, power, and achievement. We shouldn’t be distracted by such trivial matters, don’t you think?"
"I still appreciate the gift you brought for our family, but I hope you won’t disturb me with any more unnecessary visits. Now, if you’ll excuse me," Irene said, her face emotionless as she turned and continued walking.
Dalwin stood there, watching her silhouette grow smaller and farther away.
"What an ice beauty. She’s really difficult to approach, but that’s fine. For now, this is enough, I can wait. Ah, Irene, Irene... You’ll soon realize how different I am, and you will be mine." He smiled to himself before turning and walking in the opposite direction.
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One week later...
In the Yu family manor, Aldrian stood before the Divine Iron. He touched the massive ’rock,’ making it disappear into his storage ring. Today, he would continue his journey to his next destination—the Thorny Flower Garden.
