Chapter 12: The Unyielding Maiden and the Persistent Suitor

“This…”

The confidant, who had presented the gift, was utterly dumbfounded. He had considered the possibility of the recipient refusing, but he never anticipated Cai would be so direct, physically destroying the bracelet with such finality.

“Withdraw.”

The command had been given. Seeing the man before her frozen in a daze, Cai simply directed her own people to act. Two nuns, imbued with a certain philosophical flair, sprang into action, flanking the confidant and each seizing one of his arms, dragging him away.

Cai’s stance was unequivocally clear. Since the man persisted in offering gifts despite her previous rejection, she saw no need to cherish the items. Whatever he sent, she would shatter. Even if he were to somehow pilfer the imperial crown, Cai would find a way to make it vanish!

‘The way Miss threw that bracelet was so beautiful…’

Any pang of regret for the precious item was utterly absent in the man. His greatest sensation at that moment was an even deeper infatuation with the object of his affections.

The man currently being regarded with such disdain by Cai was named Uwe Dekalen Restiel. Everything from the third character onward was part of his surname, though he was simply addressed as “Uwe.” His father still held the position of Regent in the Empire, and also served as a Grand Duke of Dibiles, commonly referred to as the “Regent Duke.” A “Grand Duke” was a noble title, and in the context of the Western Continent, it was equivalent to an Eastern “King.” His exceptionally noble birth meant that throughout his life, Uwe had been able to acquire anything he desired, with the sole exception of the imperial throne.

Recently, the seventeen-year-old Uwe had developed a new craving. He wanted Cai to be his woman!

Such an impulse was hardly surprising. After all, every day Uwe had lived thus far felt like a perpetual state of intoxication, his mind constantly bubbling with extraordinary ideas.

“The more I look at you, Miss, the more I feel your beauty transcends the mundane…”

With a box containing a diamond ring already in his hand, Uwe spoke with utmost seriousness:

“Why don’t we get engaged today!”

Cai truly wished the man would draw closer, allowing her to snatch the ring and incinerate it with magical flames.

“Do you truly believe yourself worthy of me?”

It was quite a feat for a usually polite maiden to utter such words.

“Perhaps not now, but one day I will become the Grand Duke, and then…”

“Stop your relentless pestering!”

Cai had been poised to utter those five words herself, but Wang Xiaole, who had rushed over, beat her to it. Cai disliked having guards or maids around her, so normally, there would have been no one else nearby. This was usually the case. Yet, in the previous moment, Wang Xiaole had stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Cai to act as her shield.

Wang Xiaole’s reasoning was simple: having received so much care from the Sacred Maiden, it was only right for her to be of some use when the Maiden was being harassed.

“Who are you?”

Uwe’s infatuated gaze and smitten expression synchronously morphed, his eyes now radiating a chilling frost, his demeanor turning sinister and fearsome.

“Who am I? Let me think…”

Feigning deep thought, Wang Xiaole stroked her chin, and after a deliberate pause of a few seconds, she suddenly seemed to have an epiphany.

“At least, I am not a brazen scoundrel.”

When animosity takes root, no matter how comely a person may be, they become an eyesore in one’s perception. Uwe’s sudden shift in attitude towards Wang Xiaole perfectly illustrated this truth. Searching his memories, Uwe concluded that Wang Xiaole’s appearance matched no high-ranking official within the Papal State. Since she held no important office, she must be a commoner.

“Commoners these days truly have no manners.”

“And high-ranking monkeys these days are all as shameless as you?”

“You…”

Pointing a finger at another person was a grave breach of decorum for the son of the Regent Duke. Wang Xiaole, however, was different; she viewed herself as nothing more than an ordinary citizen. If someone from the upper echelons lost their composure in front of her even once, they had already lost!

The atmosphere grew tense, reaching a breaking point. It was then that Cai walked over to Wang Xiaole and gently took her right hand.

“Eh?” ×2

Both Wang Xiaole and Uwe were astonished by Cai’s sudden action. The difference was that one had already been ignored, while the other, before fully comprehending, was already being led away.

“Let’s take a walk outside.”

Leaving those words behind, Cai quickened her pace, swiftly leading Wang Xiaole away from the area. Uwe, startled, found his expression involuntarily frozen.

‘Why… would I feel defeated by a woman?’

If Cai had held the hand of a man, Uwe could have made comparisons and drawn the erroneous conclusion that he was superior. But if his opponent was a woman, he… was truly bewildered. This was likely the first time he had ever questioned his entire existence.

“Young Master, please don’t lose heart…”

The confidant beside him had intended to offer comfort but inadvertently provoked his anger.

“Scram!”

Simply for being too close and too talkative, the confidant was unceremoniously pushed down (literally), his head meeting the chilling floor.

****

Meanwhile, the two women exited the cathedral. The winter sun shone upon them, offering a welcome warmth. Wang Xiaole’s eyes took in the lingering snow from yesterday, now gradually melting today. At the edge of her vision was the maiden whose hand was intertwined with hers. She appeared incredibly serene now, like someone about to drift off to sleep, lying peacefully in bed.

“Thank you.”

A gentle voice reached her ear. Wang Xiaole did not turn her head, merely replying,

“I’m glad… if I had only called out your name, I would have felt I hadn’t done enough.”

After all, Cai had helped her so much; Wang Xiaole was more than willing to assist her whenever an opportunity arose. The two walked aimlessly, and after perhaps a hundred steps, Cai lowered her head slightly, expressing her apologies with sincere regret:

“My apologies for dragging you out like that.”

“It’s alright… but why?”

Wang Xiaole wasn’t bothered by being led away; she was simply curious about Cai’s reason for doing so.

‘To escape that annoying man, she used me as a cover to leave the church?’

According to Wang Xiaole’s personal assessment, that must have been Cai’s thought at the time. In reality, she was mistaken. The maiden with the soft, slender hand beside her hadn’t deliberated so much.

“I…”

The Sacred Maiden tilted her head slightly, and then, the smile Wang Xiaole witnessed firsthand was the most beautiful she had ever seen since they met.

“I merely wished to keep you by my side a little longer…”

That statement was simply unfair! Aside from her own sister, no other girl had ever said such a thing to Wang Xiaole. Her heart instantly began to pound. At that moment, Wang Xiaole grew nervous. Whether Cai noticed the feelings of the person beside her was uncertain, but one thing was clear: they couldn’t maintain their cheerful mood indefinitely.

Upon returning from their stroll, Uwe and most of his retinue had already departed the cathedral. The only one remaining had a handwritten letter from his master to present. Cai now demonstrated the proper way to receive such a letter, in two simple steps:

1. Upon seeing the presented letter, accept it without a word.

2. Without opening the envelope, tear the letter to shreds as quickly as possible.

The demonstration was complete; this method could be learned in a single viewing. Guessing this might be the outcome, Uwe had specifically instructed his servant before storming out:

“If the Sacred Maiden tears up the letter, convey to her what I told you!”

“Young Master asked me to tell you…”

‘La la la, not listening, Uwe’s just rambling.’ Halfway through the sentence, Cai raised her hands and firmly covered her ears. ‘As long as I can’t hear it, no matter how many times you say it, I don’t have to pay attention!’ The oral method had failed. The servant still had one last resort, so he began to use sign language. In response, Cai chose to tightly close her eyes, preventing any defiling information from tainting her sight. One word:

‘Absolutely not!’

Seeing no progress, the servant grew anxious. As he worried, Wang Xiaole circled behind him. Facing such absolute speed, the servant couldn’t evade her and was simply lifted, becoming like a puppet to be manipulated at will. This weak, pitiful, and helpless man was carried by Wang Xiaole’s steps to the main entrance of the cathedral. Then, with a ‘whoosh,’ he was directly tossed out, a “disgraceful” exit in more ways than one.

“There’s a ball at the Duke’s residence in three days, please, Your Holiness, grace us with your presence!”

Whether Cai heard him or not, the servant had certainly done his best. Even while sprawled on all fours, he shamelessly shouted his message. ‘I’ve tried so hard; even if the Sacred Maiden doesn’t come in three days, Young Master won’t punish me severely. Probably…’ He truly had no confidence, but he had acted with a clear conscience. After shouting, he dusted off his clothes as if nothing had happened and walked away with renewed vigor.

“Being constantly pestered like this won’t do,” Wang Xiaole remarked to Cai after returning to her side.

“Originally, I had planned to leave Dibiles as soon as possible,” Cai said, as Wang Xiaole watched her intently. Cai was unaware of what Wang Xiaole was thinking at that moment. Only one thing was certain: that thought had already been abandoned!

It was nothing short of an ambush. In an instant, Cai’s hands rested on either side of Wang Xiaole’s face, her touch as gentle as if cradling an priceless treasure.

“Now that you have arrived, this country holds meaning for me to stay!”

The surrounding nuns and monks, who had been observing the scene, witnessed the Sacred Maiden touching Wang Xiaole’s face. The expressions of some of them appeared utterly satisfied.

[This means the Sacred Maiden has taken a liking to you…]

The Mustachioed Uncle had once told a junior this. Wang Xiaole hadn’t believed it then, but now, she couldn’t help but wonder: ‘Could Senior be right? Does Cai truly like me?’ Even if this idea were true, there was still something Wang Xiaole couldn’t comprehend. Why would Cai like her?

From Wang Xiaole’s perspective, they had only just met yesterday. But for Cai, it was not so. What happened yesterday was not a first encounter for the Sacred Maiden, but a reunion. As for “falling in love,” that had not happened in the last day or two at all. The emotion in Cai’s heart had, in fact, been settled long ago, and to this day, it had never changed!