Inheriting a Lost Bloodline, My First Task is to have heirs?!

Chapter 263: Chapter 263 - Tying some loose ends (Part 2)

The last of Xenos’ reports covered the progress of the expansion of my businesses in Hoffen City. He said that he has already worked with Izuku and Feivel to procure the block of land next to the current area of the Moonlight Inn and has added it as a property under Halcyon. It has also been cleared up through the workers than Izuku initially hired. It was now just waiting for me to decide what structures to build on it.

Once he has completed all of his reports, I kept my silence and did not react. I saw his body shiver as if he’s afraid that I wasn’t happy with the progress. He respectfully asked, ”Is there anything that you did not find satisfactory in my report, young mistress?” He kept his head down as he asked.

I stood up and walked slowly towards him. I stopped just one step from where he was standing. I then gave him an instruction, ”Look at me, Xenos. Why are you staring on the ground?” He stiffened at my instruction.

He slowly lifted his chin but his eyes did not meet mine. I leaned forward and gave him a brief kiss on the lips which made him look up in shock straight to my eyes. When he realized what he thought was a mistake, he closed his eyes tightly but he did not move away to avoid my kiss.

I leaned back and teased him, ”So I have to kiss you every time if I want you to look in to my eyes, I guess?”

He opened his eyes again but he was still staring on the ground and shakily answered, ”We are not allowed to look straight into the eyes of the future young master’s wife without permission.”

I giggled and responded, ”I am giving you permission from now on. I am giving permission to the other three as well so you have to tell them about it. It feels weird to talk to someone who doesn’t look at you. I couldn’t help but feel that you were maybe lying to me.”

His eyes immediately met mine and he seriously declared, ”I have never lied to you and never will. Thank you for your permission, young mistress.”

I looked at him seriously and asked, ”Why do I feel like it became more awkward to talk to you once the marriage is bound to happen? I always find it refreshing to talk to the four of you since you are honest to a fault. You even make Aurum frustrated as to how blunt you guys are. I want it to stay the same.”

He looked at me and opened his mouth, then closed it again. It seems that it was hard for him to process what I am asking of him. He opened his mouth again and then sighed. He then spoke, ”We... Umm... We can talk like that in private but not outside, especially in public places. We are only concubines in status later on, just part of the dowry so we can’t act audaciously towards our wife.”

I nodded at him and said, ”I can go with that. It is so boring to talk formally to everyone.” He replied, ”I definitely understand what you mean, young mistress.” He smiled at me and looked like he was trying to hold in a laugh.

I looked at him with a raised brow, a smile on my lips and said, ”You pretentious bunch. You don’t care about formalities with Aurum even if you are outside.”

He said, ”He’s different. You are different as well so the treatment won’t be the same.” He scoffed and rolled his eyes as if Aurum was worthless in his eyes.

I answered, ”Fine. Fine by me. Do whatever makes you happy, you four.” He replied in a jolly tone, ”Thank you for understanding our circumstances.”

We ended his reports and conversation after that. Before he left, he told me that Aurum will be fetched by the palace two days from now without prior notification to the prince (2 days before the day of his birthday banquet). He said that he suggested it to the palace to stop the guy from his attempts to escape the engagement. He then he left with a ”See you at the banquet” greeting.

Since I have already finished my appointment for this afternoon, for the first time in a while, I ran out of things to do. I don’t like being idle so I decided to visit the adventurer’s hall to submit samples of the plants I got near Zanahavre. It should complete my mission quota for the current month and get me points from the alchemy guild as well.

I hurriedly left the Moonlight Inn, passed by Uncle Daejung’s shop on my way for a short greeting and then went to the main road straight to the adventurer’s hall. I quickly completed what I came there for and withdrew all my money from my adventurer’s account and transferred it into my personal storage (not the one given by the academe).

Since there is still time before dinner and I don’t have to cook since I can just eat at my own restaurant, I am left with more time in my hands. I decided, despite having second thoughts, to drop by at the magic tower’s room of questions. I still have my contract with the magic tower’s grandmaster to assist them on answering research and invention questions but I still do some extra work once in a while. It doesn’t hurt if you earn more money!

Once I entered the magic tower, I immediately felt that someone was watching my every move. Is that something new? Nope. I don’t care much if I’m under surveillance.

I walked leisurely inside the room of questions, picked 5 random pieces of paper from the board and then wrote my answers on the blank pieces of paper, taking my time as I did. As I was about to submit the papers in the box, I was welcomed by a broad chest on my left peripheral vision that clearly smells of tangerines. I pretended to check on the papers and drop them into the box one by one.

As I let go of the last piece of paper so that it will settle into the box, I teleported to the magic tower grandmaster’s office at the top floor. I definitely heard someone scream ”Wait!” just before I left the room. It was Mr. Tangerine for sure, not that we have anything we need to talk about. I am kind of glad that I did not feel any anger or slight killing intent when I met him today at least.

Grandpa Mage immediately looked up and stood up from his seat when he saw me appear in his office. He invited me to sit on his set of comfy chairs and we started having small talks while having refreshments. After a few minutes, we both heard a knock on the door.

Grandpa Mage and I looked at each other since we both sensed who was outside the door. It was his grumpy grandson whom I escaped from a while ago. The old man did not answer to give him permission to enter so the guy knocked again, shocking us with how patient and calm he was today.

I looked at Grandpa Mage with a raised brow and then he replied with a single nod on his head. When two sets of knocks didn’t work, he started begging though he couldn’t hide his sarcasm, ”Grandpa, you know I’m a mage too. I can feel your mana signature from in there as well as the breath of another person though I can’t perceive if SHE has mana or none.”

The old man laughed loud but still did not give his permission to let him enter. Grandpa talked to me telepathically, ”I placed a triple reflect spell on that door. If he tries to destroy it like last time, he’ll be the one who gets beaten up real good by the spell. He can’t come in without permission too. Only you, my dear grand daughter, can come in and out of my office freely, of course.”

These two are really funny. It would be nice to have this old man as my in-law since I adored Dimitri’s grandparents too. If only this old man’s grandson is not such a pain to be with.

Mr. Tangerine started begging again right outside the door, ”Grandpa, please. I am just here to talk. I won’t fight anybody or destroy any property. I am totally calm right now. Please, just let me in.”

Grandpa Mage looked at me and I just nodded my head just to get over this issue. The engagement contract created by mana has long expired so there is nothing connecting the two of us anyways. The old man then shouted and finally let him in.

The door was immediately opened quite widely and then he closed it gently. He then walked slowly towards the comfy chairs and sat a bit far from where I was. I can feel that he was staring at me but I did not meet his eyes on purpose as I continued eating my cookies and drinking my tea.

Keeran (a.k.a Mr. Tangerine) immediately spoke, ”I apologize for how I have acted towards you during the very few times we’ve met before. I just wanted to clear out that I am not angry at you or you, grandpa. I am just upset and a little frustrated since you never asked for my opinion while you just went and decided my engagement. Again, I am not saying I didn’t want an engagement between Luna and I. I just don’t want to be treated as a bargaining chip or a commodity for exchange.”