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Join the Server“A distant cousin? How come I’ve never heard you mention her before?”
Katusha munched on the bean paste pastry in her hand, asking casually.
Roland offered a wry smile. “It’s a very remote connection, barely touching our Marquisate. If her family hadn’t sought us out some time ago, I wouldn’t even know they existed.”
“Did they come to you for something specific?”
Su Mu was grateful to Katusha for opening the topic and followed up with a question.
Roland paused, recalling. “I believe they needed money and came to borrow some.”
“Borrow money?”
Su Mu pondered this, a puzzled expression on his face.
As Roland continued to recall, more details surfaced in his mind. He chuckled, “It’s quite amusing, actually. I remember when Rosie was found to have a Healer’s talent and was sent to the Sacred Healing Institute, her family even grandly hosted a banquet and sent an invitation to my house. I can’t fathom how they’ve fallen so far as to be borrowing money everywhere now.”
“Eh—a Healer…”
Katusha pouted, a faint hint of disdain flickering in her eyes.
“Do you know the specific reason for their need to borrow money?”
Su Mu inquired, his tone serious.
Roland shook his head. “I’m not entirely clear on that. Susumu, why are you suddenly so concerned about this?”
Su Mu didn’t evade the question, stating directly, “This matter is very important to me, but I can’t reveal the specific details. My apologies.”
Observing Su Mu’s earnestness, Roland and Katusha exchanged glances, then both began to laugh.
“What’s with all the politeness, you old chap? We’re friends. All we need to know is that you need help. Do the reasons truly matter?”
“Exactly, exactly.”
Katusha echoed, finishing the last piece of bean paste pastry in her hand.
Su Mu felt a surge of warmth in his heart and offered a genuine smile.
Behind the three, Bai Ji remained silent, her ears perked, listening intently to Su Mu’s words.
Her expression was solemn. Perhaps the reason for His Highness’s fear and dejection yesterday lay within this very matter.
“So, what do you plan to do next?”
Su Mu deliberated for a moment before asking, “Roland, do you know where Rosie Boyi’s home is?”
“Hmm, I recall it’s in the Lower City… but I’m not entirely sure of the exact location anymore. Don’t worry, I’ll head home and gather some people.”
Roland, full of enthusiasm, immediately dashed off in the direction of his home after speaking.
Such decisive action…
Su Mu couldn’t help but smile wryly. ‘Alright, my good brother, I owe you one for life.’
“Then let’s wait a bit. Roland’s house is quite close, so he should be back soon. Mu Mu Ge, would you like some crispy meat pastry?”
Katusha’s armload of snacks was already half-gone. She pulled out another meticulously wrapped snack, neatly bundled in oiled paper, and offered it to Su Mu.
“Thank you.”
Su Mu did not refuse.
He took it and unwrapped the package, revealing soft, yellow-tinted pastries within. A rich, meaty aroma instantly wafted towards him.
He took a delicate bite. The soft pastry melted in his mouth, the scattered powder dissolving first, and the sweet, savory meat fragrance assaulted his taste buds, causing them to secrete even more saliva.
“So fragrant… and delicious!”
Su Mu praised.
Receiving Su Mu’s affirmation, Katusha beamed happily.
She suddenly remembered Bai Ji behind them and glanced at the single remaining packet of crispy meat pastry in her arms, a conflicted expression on her face.
“Bai Ji, you should try some too.”
Katusha gritted her teeth, making up her mind, and offered the last packet of crispy meat pastry to Bai Ji.
Bai Ji did not take it, shaking her head indifferently. “No need.”
“Just try it?”
Bai Ji still shook her head.
“Alright…”
Katusha withdrew her hand, half-disappointed, half-pleased, and happily began eating it herself.
Su Mu glanced at the expressionless Bai Ji. After a moment’s thought, he broke off half of the crispy meat pastry he held and brought it to Bai Ji.
“Open your mouth.”
Bai Ji froze. She hadn’t expected Susumu to feed her in such a manner; it was something that would never have happened before.
“Be a good girl, A’Bai, open your mouth, ah~”
Su Mu’s lips curved into a smile, his tone doting, as if coaxing a child.
For the first time ever, Bai Ji displayed a shy expression. A faint blush bloomed on her snowy skin, like the setting sun casting its glow upon a vast, snow-capped mountain.
She cautiously opened her mouth, eventually taking a bite of the pastry Su Mu offered.
Seeing Bai Ji obediently eat it in the end, a sense of accomplishment welled up in Su Mu’s heart. Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, Bai Ji suddenly grasped him.
The girl then looked at the pastry crumbs on Su Mu’s hand and extended her small, pink, adorable tongue, carefully cleaning them away.
Su Mu instantly froze in place, his eyes gradually losing their color.
“Ooh-hoo~”
Katusha covered her mouth, her eyes sparkling as she watched the scene unfold before her.
‘Is this something I get to watch for free? Ooh-hoo-hoo, ooh-hoo-hoo~’
‘How is it that Mu Mu Ge’s flirting skills have maxed out since he lost his memory?’
‘Such a gentle and handsome Prince, I doubt any young lady in the capital could resist him!’
Bai Ji, still seemingly unsatisfied, retracted her tongue. She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and stepped forward to wipe Su Mu’s hand.
Su Mu’s scalp tingled as he said, “A’Bai, please don’t do things like that in the future. It’s unhygienic.”
Bai Ji didn’t lift her head, murmuring, “His Highness’s fault. This is a return gift.”
Before Su Mu could say anything more, she finished wiping his hand, stepped back, and resumed her previous cool demeanor.
Su Mu couldn’t help but feel a little exasperated.
Beneath her composed expression, Bai Ji’s heart was still a tumultuous sea.
‘His Highness fed me for the first time!’
‘She was so happy!’
‘The former His Highness never paid attention to her, much less made such intimate gestures. This was truly a first.’
‘The meat pastry tasted wonderful, and so did His Highness’s hand.’
Bai Ji savored the memory in her heart.
She couldn’t help but think, ‘It’s truly wonderful that His Highness lost his memory…’
Su Mu cast a sidelong glance at the giggling Katusha, about to speak, when Roland returned.
He was accompanied by a robust-looking elderly man.
“Your Highness, Miss Katusha.”
The old man bowed respectfully upon seeing Su Mu and the others.
“This is our old butler. He handles all the affairs big and small at home. He knows where Rosie Boyi’s house is, so I brought him along,” Roland explained, seizing the opportune moment.
“Thank you for your trouble.”
Su Mu nodded slightly.
The old man, flattered, bowed deeply. “Your Highness is too kind. It is an honor for this old man to be of assistance to you. I only ask that Your Highness continue to look after my young master in the future.”
“Uncle!”
Roland frowned, a hint of displeasure in his voice.
Su Mu gently pulled at Roland, who was about to burst out, and said with a smile, “It’s only right.”
The old man thanked them profusely, then led the way.
Leaving the bustling thoroughfare of the Upper City, the group traversed the densely populated Middle City, winding through several narrow alleys until they reached the somewhat desolate Lower City.
The houses in the Lower City exuded an aged feel, with gray as the predominant color. The people here generally appeared sallow and gaunt.
If the Upper City was the royal district and the Middle City the district for well-off nobles, then the Lower City was essentially a slum.
The eyes of the people here were hazy, as if shrouded in a gray mist, devoid of hope for life.
Even Su Mu couldn’t help but feel the oppressive atmosphere of the environment.
Suddenly, Bai Ji’s voice broke the silence.
“Your Highness, there are a few rats behind us. I’ll deal with them and be right back.”
“Mm.”
Su Mu nodded.
The old butler’s voice chimed in, “Lady Bai Ji, please be merciful and do not take their lives.”
Bai Ji snorted, her tone filled with disdain.
Su Mu stated sternly, “A’Bai, do as the old man says.”
Without a reply, Bai Ji had already vanished.
The old butler bowed to Su Mu in gratitude.
Roland grumbled, “Uncle, why bother with such trivial matters? You’re not from here anymore.”
The old butler smiled without speaking, simply saying, “Young Master, we’re almost there. Rosie Boyi’s house is just ahead.”
“Alright, let’s go.”
As Su Mu prepared to follow, his peripheral vision seemed to catch sight of a pink-haired figure, causing him to furrow his brows in confusion.
Laura Odyssey? What is she doing here?
When Su Mu tried to find the figure again, he saw nothing. ‘Strange, was it just my imagination?’
An unsettling feeling began to stir within Su Mu.
You’ve got to see this next! How To Survive Without Dying at The Hands of The Emperor will keep you on the edge of your seat. Start reading today!
Read : How To Survive Without Dying at The Hands of The Emperor
