\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAchool\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sneezed so hard my whole body jerked. My nose tingled, and I quickly pinched it, sniffling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy lady, are you okay?\u201d Evelyn asked beside me, her soft voice full of concern as usual.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded and rubbed my nose. \u201cYeah, maybe someone\u2019s thinking about me,\u201d I muttered, amused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn smiled at that and tugged at my sleeve. \u201cMy lady, look! Do you like these? These jewels are so pretty, they\u2019d look wonderful on you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I followed her gaze to the vendor\u2019s stand overflowing with necklaces, pendants, and delicate bracelets glittering under the sun. There was gold, silver, gemstone; enough sparkle to make any woman squeal. But I only stared, expressionless.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A while ago, I\u2019d been minding my own business, doing the job I was paid for, escorting the group to the auction house. Yet somehow, my dutiful maid had turned the mission into a shopping trip. Evelyn flitted from stall to stall like a hummingbird, dragging me along with stars in her eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sighed quietly and glanced over my shoulder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To my surprise, they were still there, the mysterious group I was supposed to escort were waiting patiently. There was not a single complaint, or a hint of irritation. Even though they\u2019d paid me quite handsomely to make sure they reached their destination safely, they just stood there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Or more accurately, he was watching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That man. The one whose presence made the air feel heavier. His posture was lazy, almost disinterested, but his gaze was sharp, and steady.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Every time I felt it on me, a strange shiver ran through my body. It wasn\u2019t fear, but something deeper. Something that made my chest tighten and my pulse skip.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It felt as if I was a puzzle he was trying to solve piece by piece..\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy lady, look at this too!\u201d Evelyn\u2019s excited voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She held up a pink pendant, her eyes shining like a child\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t help but smile. Reaching over, I took the pendant and held it against her neck, tilting my head as I studied her. \u201cThis will look beautiful on you,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn blinked at me in surprise before quickly shaking her head, her cheeks pink. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t dare! And besides, it\u2019s ten silvers, my lady. That\u2019s too expensive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I raised an eyebrow. \u201cToo expensive?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice and nudging my head toward the group waiting behind us. \u201cHave you forgotten? We have a walking money bag with us. Ten silvers is nothing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn\u2019s eyes went wide as if I\u2019d said something blasphemous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smirked and added casually, \u201cWe can buy more if you like them. Besides,\u201d I looked down at the sparkling jewels again, \u201cthese things aren\u2019t really my style.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNot your style?\u201d Evelyn asked, blinking at me, confusion written all over her sweet little face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:42 Tue, Dec 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
UMG\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. If I want to get something for myself, I will get it somewhere else.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I paused. I couldn\u2019t exactly tell her the place I was talking about was a blacksmith workshop, could I? She might faint if she found out that what I actually wanted were swords, bows, arrows, and maybe a few enchanted artifacts for cultivating.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pretty things never got my heart racing. But sharp blades and rare artifacts? Now those made my blood sing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So instead, I simply smiled. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about that,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn looked like she wanted to press, but I turned to the shopkeeper instead. \u201cI\u2019ll have all these, please,\u201d I said, pointing to the entire section of delicate jewelry, the pendants, rings, and bracelets that Evelyn had been admiring like a starved cat in front of cream.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The shopkeeper froze. Evelyn gasped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even the people passing by glanced our way, shocked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cM-Madam,\u201d the shopkeeper stammered after a moment, his eyes darting between me and Evelyn. \u201cIs\u2026 is this for your maid? You can\u2019t waste such precious stones on a lowly-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t finish. Because I turned, fixing my gaze on him until his throat bobbed with a nervous gulp.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd who are you,\u201d I asked, \u201cto open your mouth and question me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My voice wasn\u2019t loud, but it was cold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you can\u2019t mind your business,\u201d I added, \u201cI\u2019ll take mine somewhere else.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man paled instantly, sweat forming at his temples. He shook his head rapidly. \u201cN-no, my lady, I didn\u2019t mean it like that! I will pack everything for you right now!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood,\u201d I said simply, then looked away as if he were no more interesting than dust.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn tugged gently on my sleeve. \u201cM-my lady\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t think too much about it,\u201d I said, glancing at her. \u201cThink of it as a welcome-back gift. I\u2019ll get something for Silas too.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn tilted her head, puzzled. \u201cWelcome back? Did you go somewhere before?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled, the corners of my lips lifting. \u201cYes, I did and I\u2019m back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t understand, of course. How could she?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn smiled shyly and bowed her head. \u201cThank you so much, my lady\u2026 I don\u2019t know what to say.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I reached out and patted her head gently. \u201cThen don\u2019t say anything. Just take it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the shopkeeper returned, trembling slightly, he handed Evelyn the neatly packed bag of jewels. I paid him. I was just about to turn away from the stall when a man with crooked yellow teeth leaned forward from his table, his grin too wide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBeautiful lady, would you like to play a game?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked, slowly. Even without looking properly, I could tell his whole presence screamed shady.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The kind of man who probably made his living fooling gullible travelers and drunkards.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But then again, so was I.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
1 tilted my head at him. \u201cWhat kind of game?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man\u2019s grin widened, and behind it, his thoughts slithered clearly into my mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ah, good, a foolish lady. I\u2019ll cheat her out of her money today.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I almost laughed right then. I didn\u2019t even need to read his thoughts to know what kind of scum he was, but it was always satisfying to confirm it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He gestured dramatically to a wooden table where eight small cups were lined in two neat rows. \u201cIt\u2019s very simple, my lady, There\u2019s a ball hidden under one of these cups. If you pick the right one, I\u2019ll give you a gold coin. But if you lose, you give me two gold coins.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo? That doesn\u2019t sound fair to me.\u201d I said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the rule of the game, miss.\u201d His grin flashed again, that missing tooth showing. \u201cTo make it fair,\u201d he added, \u201cI\u2019ll even show you all the cups afterwards, so you know I\u2019m not cheating.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEh, this stupid girl will never find it. I\u2019ll swap the cups fast, take one gold coin from her, drown it in drinks tonight, and spend the night with a dozen whores.\u201d His mind was loud and disgusting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at him for a moment, then slowly grinned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Poor man. So confident, and oblivious. How unlucky he was to meet me today.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t need his gold coin but I never tolerated anyone trying to cheat me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy lady,\u201d Evelyn whispered beside me. \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I rolled up my sleeves slowly, ignoring her. \u201cFine,\u201d I said, stepping closer to the table. \u201cLet\u2019s do this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man\u2019s eyes lit up in greedy excitement, thinking I\u2019d taken the bait.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled innocently and added, \u201cBut don\u2019t cry when I take your coin, mister.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He chuckled, shaking his head, clearly amused by what he thought was a naive girl.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He had no idea what was coming.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t wait to see his expression the moment he realized who the real scammer truly was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
AD\u00a0<\/p>\n
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12:42 Tue, Dec 23 MG.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Editorial Board: Our editorial team works behind the scenes to refine each chapter, maintain consistency, and deliver the best reading experience.<\/p>\n
Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 23 \u00a0 Chapter 23\u00a0 Chapter 23\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 \u201cAchool\u201d\u00a0 I sneezed so hard my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-ruthless-tycoons-obsession-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27817"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27817\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}