Chapter 14: Masters Duel
Morning light streamed through the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows, reflecting off the silver cutlery until it gleamed.
As Veronica entered the restaurant, Lena was slicing a fried egg with military sabre-like precision, the runny yolk tracing a remarkably calculated path.
Reid sat beside her, half of his face obscured by the morning paper, his eyes, smiling, directed towards Lena.
“Good morning, Sister Lena.”
Veronica’s voice, slightly hoarse from just waking, brushed against the eardrums like a feather.
Today, Veronica had specially styled her platinum long hair into a lazy half-updo, with several strands cascading down her porcelain-white neck.
Unlike Lena’s shoulder-length hair, Veronica’s was exceptionally long, even reaching down to cover her hips.
Such long hair was a symbol of high status, as only nobles could afford to spend such substantial resources on hair care every day.
Veronica wore the morning dress that Lena had lent her, the neckline still dangerously tight, the fabric stretching to create a startling curve across her chest.
Today, Veronica’s neckline was even lower than yesterday.
“Sit.”
Without raising her head, Lena’s gray-blue eyes swept over the small mole beneath Veronica’s collarbone.
That small dot appeared and disappeared with each of her breaths, lying amidst the snow-white skin, blooming like a wintersweet in a courtyard.
Something was off.
Lena narrowed her eyes. She knew Veronica’s dress, soaked in last night’s downpour, had long been laundered and dried.
But the fact that Veronica chose to wear this outfit now said a lot.
Reid timely set down his newspaper and stood up to pull out a chair for Veronica.
“Did you sleep well, Miss Veronica?”
Reid’s voice was gentle and polite, but his fingers deliberately avoided any contact with her.
Reid’s actions were not out of place.
On the contrary, Lena’s etiquette manual specified that gentlemen should assist ladies at mealtime, including but not limited to helping them take a seat.
Moreover, having Reid act intimate with Veronica was part of a plan concocted between Lena and Reid.
As long as Reid created more opportunities for contact, Veronica would eventually reveal her flaws.
When Veronica sat next to Reid, a whiff of floral fragrance wafted over.
“Thanks to Mr. Reid’s calming tea last night,” Veronica blinked her blue eyes, her lashes casting a fan-like shadow on her cheek, “but…”
Veronica leaned slightly forward, a carefully calculated angle.
This angle ensured Reid could see the whiteness of her chest unobstructed.
“Mr. Reid, could I trouble you to pour me another cup of tea?”
I must say, Veronica’s tactics were quite exquisite.
Before Reid’s crossing over, he had been taught “not to easily trouble others.”
If there was something he could handle himself, he would try not to ask.
This certainly allows for self-reliance, but the relationship between people is actually built on mutual “troubling”—
Just like diving into a crisis to save a club’s existence, being asked by a sister for a “life consultation,” or passing on a box cutter that the campus goddess forgot at the library.
Relationships that progress through mutual troubling undoubtedly include “attraction” between genders as well.
Reid’s gaze discreetly swept over Veronica, silently making a judgment.
Indeed, she is a woman who could be my rival.
As a rival, I acknowledge you!
“It’s my pleasure, Miss Veronica.”
As Reid handed over the teacup, Veronica’s fingertips inadvertently brushed against the back of his hand.
The touch was silkily smooth, yet carried the warm softness unique to a young girl.
“Be careful, it’s hot.”
Reid maintained an appropriate smile but noticed a drop of tea on her lips.
Veronica seemed completely unaware, her rosy tongue gently licking her lower lip, pulling that drop of amber liquid into her mouth.
Lena’s knife scraped harshly against the porcelain plate.
“I really envy you, Sister Lena,” Veronica turned to Lena, but her gaze drifted subtly towards Reid, “your taste has always been so good.”
It seemed Veronica was complimenting Lena, yet most of her praise was directed at Reid.
“Ah, sorry, I forgot to thank Mr. Reid and Sister Lena.”
Seemingly having thought of something, Veronica asked a maid for two bamboo skewers and then began skewering the assorted fruits and vegetables in the salad plate one by one.
“This is a new way to eat that has just emerged in the royal capital—”
Veronica held out the freshly prepared skewer towards Reid’s lips:
“Mr. Reid, please take this as my insignificant thanks to you.”
Here it comes!
The legendary feeding play that only exists between intimate lovers!
Moreover, Veronica had a backhand.
Silently adjusting the angle, she let the sunlight fall perfectly on her moist lips, refracting an enticing sheen.
At the same time, her knee unintentionally brushed against Reid’s leg under the table and did not pull back immediately.
Instead, it maintained a teasing distance, transferring warmth through the fabric.
What a deadly move!
Which old-timer could withstand such a test?
I must say, Veronica indeed had a gift for enticing the opposite sex.
In the entire Victoria Kingdom, from an old man still capable of boki to a young boy just starting to lose his baby fat—
As long as the House of Commons could still operate, almost no man could resist Veronica’s tactics.
But Reid was an exception.
The ability to demystify women was a necessary skill for a professional gigolo.
Faced with Veronica’s fierce assault, Reid not only remained composed, but the corners of his mouth also curved into a faint smile.
The patrons in the tavern were all too small fry, easily deceived to spill gold coins with a little coaxing.
It had been a long time since he felt this exciting clash of masters.
Reid took the skewer from Veronica’s hand but did not bring it directly to his mouth.
Instead, in full view of Veronica’s shocked eyes, he held the skewer up to Lena’s lips—
Veronica, I’ve won this round.
The skewer from Reid stopped at the edge of Lena’s lips, and she calmly bit down on a cherry tomato, its bright red juice staining the corner of her mouth.
Lena did not wipe it away; rather, she extended her tongue to slowly lick it off, her eyes fixed on Veronica’s suddenly pale face.
“Veronica,” Lena’s icy voice suddenly rang out, “your napkin has fallen.”
Veronica awkwardly bent down to pick it up, the angle of her neckline causing Reid to have no choice but to avert his gaze.
Reid immediately turned to look out the window, as if he had suddenly developed a keen interest in the roses in the courtyard.
But when Veronica sat up straight again, a strand of hair had somehow tangled in her pearl earring.
Veronica let out a soft “ah,” tilting her head slightly, her fingers clumsily tugging at it, only to tighten the tangle further.
“I’m really sorry…”
Veronica bit her lower lip, looking up at Reid with her azure eyes filled with morning light and pleading.
“Could you help me?”
Reid’s gaze flickered towards Lena, a prearranged signal between them.
He played along.
Reid noticed Lena’s chest rising and falling slightly, the knuckles of her hand gripping her fork already turning white, yet her face maintained perfect calm.
“Of course, Miss Veronica,” Reid’s voice was gentle to the point of being deliberate.
The moment his fingers brushed against Veronica’s warm earlobe, a sharp scraping sound rang out—
Lena suddenly pushed her chair back and stood up, the legs of the chair scraping harshly against the marble floor.
“Study. Now.” Lena’s voice was as cold as ice.
Once Lena’s figure completely disappeared through the door, Veronica gently exhaled.
She blinked at Reid: “Is Sister Lena always so… strong-willed?”
“Did I… make her angry?”
Reid leisurely adjusted his napkin, following the direction Lena had left, the corners of his mouth curving up in a meaningful smile:
“Miss Veronica, I think you should see how she handles a sword.”
He turned around, hands behind his back, following Lena’s departing figure, leaving Veronica sitting alone in the morning light.
Veronica’s slender fingers gently brushed against her recently touched earlobe, her gaze cold as the surface of a winter lake.
