Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Going to the Appointment

The next morning, Cecil learned that Duke Lu Xia was going to attend the public banquet for Victoria’s main husband, and that Smelian would be accompanying her.

Cecil wasn’t surprised, but he couldn’t help feeling a sense of loss. It was clear that after Graces’ departure, Smelian was now Duke Lu Xia’s best option, and he was not part of that equation.

He couldn’t help but wonder, ’If I hadn’t been so resistant to approaching Duke Lu Xia in the beginning, and had instead, like Smelian, already committed to staying by her side, could I be competing with him right now?’

But there are no ’what ifs’ in life. The past couldn’t be changed. All he could do now was try his best to make up for it. He just didn’t know if Duke Lu Xia would still be willing to accept him, or if she would even spare him a glance.

The side effects of Smelian’s celebratory banquet quickly became apparent. On her way to Courtyard No. 1, Lu Xia noticed a hovercar tailing her. The moment she did, it moved to intercept her.

Lu Xia watched as a tall male exited the vehicle. He wore a crisp suit and tie, and a pair of amber, beast-like eyes revealed his identity as a Gene Fusion Expert.

The man walked over and bowed politely to Lu Xia. "I apologize for meeting you in this manner. I am a male of the Daferno family. My name is Sivier, and I wish to offer myself as your secondary husband."

Lu Xia looked through her car window at the assertive yet humble male outside. If she weren’t experiencing it firsthand, she would have found the scene utterly ridiculous.

"I see. Go and wait for my message."

Lu Xia’s reply clearly stunned the man outside. He hadn’t expected such an undisguisedly dismissive answer. He knew perfectly well that if he did as she said, he would be waiting for a message that would never come.

Sivier straightened up and looked at the young female inside the car. Through the glass, her expression was indistinct. He said calmly, "You may not be familiar with the Daferno family, but having me by your side would undoubtedly be a great asset to you."

"Then what do you hope to gain from me?" Lu Xia had always known that there was no such thing as a free lunch. She just didn’t understand what he was after. ’Sivier is already a Gene Fusion Expert.’

"Because I want to ask for your help in saving my brother from his fate of becoming Victoria’s main husband."

Lu Xia froze for a moment. No wonder the name "Daferno" had sounded familiar; she had seen it on the invitation. She just never imagined he would come to her for help.

She couldn’t help but sneer. "What makes you think I have the power to help you? If I recall correctly, your brother’s union with Victoria was personally decreed by Her Majesty the Queen. Who can defy Her Majesty’s will? You give me far too much credit."

"You are a meritorious Duke, a title bestowed by Her Majesty the Queen herself. Her Majesty naturally treats you differently. If it’s you asking, I believe Her Majesty will grant you the favor. My brother is in poor health. Even though he’s an 80% Gene Fusion Expert, his constitution is weak. He won’t be able to withstand Victoria’s ’favors.’ I hope you can help us."

"I’m sorry, I can’t help you. You should ask someone else."

With those parting words, Lu Xia no longer hesitated and drove away immediately.

Her refusal was blunt, leaving Sivier with no hope whatsoever.

She truly had no reason to help. After all, she had no connection to the Daferno family, and Sivier was a complete stranger.

Lu Xia didn’t give the matter a second thought, dismissing it as a minor episode born of desperation. However, just as she parked her hovercar and got out, she was approached by another unfamiliar male.

The man knelt before her the moment he saw her. "Duke, please accept me as your husband."

Faced with such a request, Lu Xia was speechless. ’Am I running some kind of shelter for males? Why is every Tom, Dick, and Harry coming to me?’ If Sivier’s appearance had been exasperating, this male was downright infuriating.

"I don’t care who sent you. Leave immediately, or I’ll have the Male Protection Association come and escort you away."

The man had never expected Duke Lu Xia to be so blunt and merciless. Before he came, his family had explicitly told him that the Duke wasn’t like the rumors suggested—that she was kind and gentle toward males. If he could just get a chance to become her husband, he could enjoy the same treatment as Smelian.

I ask you, after witnessing Smelian’s celebratory banquet, who wouldn’t want to be Smelian?

As for why no one wanted to be Graces, well, that was because there could only be one main husband, while there could be countless secondary husbands.

One path was hopeless, the other held promise. Naturally, everyone’s eyes were fixed on the one that held promise.

The man clearly wasn’t ready to give up and was about to plead again, but Lu Xia gave him no opportunity. She immediately opened her terminal, making a show of contacting the male management agency. At the sight of this, the man scrambled to his feet, turned, and fled.

Lu Xia closed her terminal. She hadn’t actually intended to contact the male management agency; she had only wanted to scare him away.

But once was not enough. Lu Xia soon encountered more, extremely similar incidents, and she scared them all off in the same manner. However, she knew very well that this only treated the symptoms, not the root cause.

So, Lu Xia ended up actually contacting the male management agency and having them post guards along her route to work. The effects were noticeable in just two short days. Afterward, no one dared to intercept her on her way to work to make such ridiculous propositions.

On the day of the public banquet for Victoria’s main husband, Smelian changed into the formal suit the old butler had prepared for him. The black attire perfectly complemented Smelian’s tall, slender figure. As he stepped out of his room, he ran into Cecil, who was just coming back inside.

Cecil noticed his attire and asked softly, "Going to the public banquet for Victoria’s main husband?"

Smelian didn’t try to hide it, nodding gently. "Yes."

Cecil reminded him, "I hear a lot of influential people will be there tonight. Watch over Duke Lu Xia and ensure her safety. It would be best not to eat anything you’re served."

Smelian knew this was a well-intentioned warning from Cecil. "Okay, I’ll be extra careful."

Cecil nodded, said nothing more, and headed upstairs. Smelian watched him go, taking in his retreating figure. He had seen the change in Cecil over this period and understood perfectly well what he was trying to do.

’But it’s not like I can blame him,’ he thought. ’Faced with a Female Master like Lu Xia, who wouldn’t be captivated?’

’I went through the exact same thing myself, so how could I not understand what Cecil is trying to do now?’

But he wouldn’t interfere. Lu Xia had the right to make her own choices.

Whether it was him, Cecil, or even Graces, none of them had the right to stop Lu Xia from being with whomever she chose.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Lu Xia appeared, descending the stairs in a long white dress. Bathed in the light, she looked as beautiful as a celestial fairy who had strayed into the mortal world. At that moment, Smelian couldn’t help but think, ’If I could one day have a wedding with her, Lu Xia in her wedding whites would be absolutely breathtaking.’