Our Family Has Fallen

Chapter 502: Chapter 317: What the Heck is Hitting Me?_1

”What are you thinking about?”

Lance had calmed down by now. This era was actually quite open about such behavior; he remembered his predecessor had been quite a playboy. Handsome and a college student, he had never been short of female company at school. But after arriving in Hamlet, he understood the true nature of the world. Under such pressure, he had no time for such trifles, pouring all his energy into development and breaking the deadlock.

”I just wanted a kiss. Who knew you... you’d hurt me?” Tamara leaned against Lance. The flush on her face hadn’t faded, and her earlier frenzy was replaced by a shyness, as if she hadn’t quite recovered.

”You’ve just taken a bath. Your scent doesn’t suggest it was just a kiss.” Lance lowered his head to her neck, inhaling deeply and detecting a faint, elusive fragrance.

If this wasn’t premeditated, it would be unbelievable. Is she still pretending?

”Would you have come looking for me if I hadn’t turned up?”

Lance’s teasing comment immediately made Tamara’s face turn crimson. She shyly burrowed deeper into his embrace, burying her head and tightly hugging his waist. Lance had experienced her thick-skinned nature before, so seeing her shy now made him laugh out loud. Truth be told, he hadn’t expected such an assertive Tamara to be a novice; she couldn’t handle much.

”Amanda has her eyes on you. She thinks she can fool me, but I know what she’s up to the moment she makes a move.” Tamara quickly recovered, a smug smile appearing on her face as she hugged Lance and boasted, ”Now you’re mine. No matter what, she can only trail behind me.”

”I’m not some stud horse, jumping on every woman I see. You’re underestimating me,” Lance said, somewhat exasperated. He didn’t quite understand the strange way these women thought, this inexplicable rivalry.

”Hmph, unless you’re not a man, no man can refuse Amanda,” Tamara replied with a touch of dissatisfaction, her jealousy unmistakable.

”Has the time been decided?” Lance, not wanting to continue this topic, quickly changed it.

”Tomorrow,” Tamara said, twisting her body to press closer. Looking up at Lance’s face, she couldn’t help but reach out and gently caress it. ”Will you forget me?”

”How could I possibly?”

Lance didn’t hesitate with such a loaded question, and indeed, he would not forget this woman.

”Do you know why we are all women?”

”I don’t know.” Lance understood she was referring to her organization, from the Elder to Amanda; in any case, all those he had encountered from it were women. Speaking of which, Lance was also curious.

”Because among the Romani, women are in charge. Women inherit the power of fortune-telling, while men, even those with Extraordinary Talents, are trained for combat roles. So I know you can never truly belong to me. A Romani and an Imperial Noble—it’s destined to be impossible. But I want you to remember me!”

As she spoke, Tamara’s hand, which had been on his chest, began to wander downwards.

Lance understood her meaning. Among nomadic peoples, a man can’t always be sure if a child is his, but a woman always knows her child is her own. That’s why their culture developed this way. And clearly, an Imperial Noble, especially a powerful Lord with actual authority and a Fief, would never join their chaotic, nomadic lifestyle. So Tamara knew a formal relationship with Lance was impossible, but she didn’t care.

”Hmph! I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle it.”

With Lance’s constitution, their recent encounter was just a warm-up. Since his ’enemy’ was so fierce, he had to strike back hard!

Tamara had talked tough, but Lance’s counter-assault soon threw her into disarray, knocking her from her high horse and leaving her begging for mercy.

”Do you yield?”

”Please, my lord, spare me.”

Tamara, so arrogant just moments before, surrendered. She was indeed tired and soon slipped into a sleep more tranquil than any she had ever known. Lance, on the other hand, was full of energy. But even if he were in a hurry, he wouldn’t leave at a time like this. Looking at Tamara in his arms, he felt the night was somewhat absurd...

The night was too beautiful, but time always stealthily slipped away.

”Awake?”

”Hmm...” Tamara let out a soft, unconscious hum, seemingly still half-asleep and dreaming. She had clearly realized what a wild night it had been and seemed a little hesitant to face him.

”Alright, I won’t disturb you any longer. The Gold Coins in the chest are for you.”

Lance didn’t point out she was pretending to sleep, but he didn’t have much time to stay. His words, however, instantly made Tamara, who had been feigning sleep, sit up, her expression somewhat resentful.

”What is this? Compensation for me?”

Lance naturally caught the shift in her mood. This woman is really sensitive, jumping to such strange conclusions. He could only helplessly smile and explain.

”Guess why I came over last night? I heard you were preparing to leave and remembered all your money was still with me. I was worried you wouldn’t have any funds when you got back, so I came to give it to you. Who knew that before I could even mention it, you’d pounce on me like that...”

”Stop, don’t say any more!” Tamara hastily interrupted, a blush of shyness appearing on her face. But she quickly pressed Lance, ”Really?”

Although what he said was true—he really had come over last night because of the money—Lance knew the current situation was a trap. If he insisted on dwelling on this topic, it would never end. So, he didn’t answer directly and instead changed the subject.

”When you return, although you’ll have the support of your organization and likely won’t have to worry about basic necessities, there will surely be times you need money. With these funds in hand, you’ll have more confidence in whatever you do.”