Alice was unaware of all the thoughts William had been entertaining. She simply thought the evening’s plan was a simple celebration of her leaving the cliff base. She was overjoyed inside, even thinking that William had finally made a significant change for her.
They first visited Alice’s home.
Calvin, her father, breathed a sigh of relief the moment he saw his daughter. Alice had been away with William for so long without any contact. Her phone was unreachable, nobody could find her, and when asked, William only mentioned that Alice was undergoing secret training. Calvin had even suspected at one point that William might have harmed his precious daughter. Though William didn’t seem like a bad person, as a father who hadn’t seen his daughter for many days, how could he not worry?
“Dad, I’m going to take a bath first. Could you prepare something to eat for me?” Alice had been at the cliff base all these days, only able to bathe in the lake water tinged with dragon blood. Although it strengthened her body, she always felt uncomfortable.
Which girl doesn’t like to be clean and fragrant?
Calvin had rushed home from his company as soon as he knew Alice was back. Seeing his daughter looking healthy and clean, he naturally felt relieved and asked, “Alice, what would you like to eat? Should Dad cook for you?”
Alice had already dashed into her room. Hearing his offer, she hurriedly called out, “Dad! Please don’t cook! Let Mia or William do it.”
In her heart, she actually wanted William to cook, given his culinary skills were quite tempting. However, since William and she were not married yet and he was somewhat a guest, it was up to her father to decide. Anyway, the food cooked by her father was not something she could eat.
Fatherly love was too heavy for Alice to bear.
“William, please sit down. I’ll ask Mia to cook for her,” Calvin said, clearly very pleased with Alice’s fiancé. But he couldn’t ask William to cook.
A man should maintain his position in the family.
William didn’t make any show of insisting otherwise and simply sat down on the sofa.
After taking a bath, Alice changed into the off-shoulder evening gown William had made for her last time and put on beautiful makeup. She took her time, and an hour and a half later, she re-emerged as the exquisite little princess she was.
At the dining table, an array of dishes had been prepared.
Mia, who had watched Alice grow up, knew her tastes better than Calvin did. In just an hour and a half, she managed to prepare eight dishes.
Usually, Alice would have a little bit of each dish, being mindful of her figure as most girls are.
Alice eyed the food on the table, then slowly and methodically took her seat.
William watched her, knowing all this was just a facade.
If she wasn’t concerned about appearances, she would probably be devouring the food by now.
“Alice, go ahead and eat!” Calvin said with a smile. “William mentioned you were away for secret training. Is it over now?”
“Yes, it is!” Alice, holding her knife and fork, nodded without taking her eyes off the dishes. After swallowing hard, she couldn’t resist anymore and used her fork to pick up the Baked and Braised Pork Shank, a dish she usually ate the least.
Her actions were still graceful.
William just watched.
Calvin invited him to eat as well, and William sampled a few dishes.
At first, Calvin chatted with Alice about various family matters, but gradually, their conversation dwindled.
An hour later, William and Calvin exchanged glances as Alice finally put down her knife and fork.
She had truly mastered William’s way of eating. Though her actions seemed graceful, she never really stopped, and she managed to clear every dish on the table.
Then, with a smile, she slowly wiped her lips with a napkin and said, “I’m done eating. What about you two?”
William chuckled, “We’re full just watching.”
Alice glared at him, her cheeks reddening. He never seemed to understand the concept of tacit understanding.
“Dad, we’re going out,” said Alice, eager to enjoy her newfound freedom after being confined to the cliff base.
“Will you be back tonight?” Calvin asked.
Alice looked at William questioningly.
William responded, “The academy has arranged accommodation for us, so we won’t be coming back.”
Alice’s cheeks flushed again. Was this an official move towards living together? .𝒎
“We won’t be back tonight,” Alice added, following William’s lead. .𝒎
Calvin, fully aware that his daughter had grown up, spoke with a complex expression, “Then be careful out there.”
He might not be a Soulmancer, but he understood that the world of Soulmancers was much more brutal than that of ordinary people.
Alice smiled and reassured him, “Dad, don’t worry. I’m quite strong now, what could possibly happen?”
William didn’t say much. After bidding farewell to Calvin, he left with Alice.
After taking Alice around the amusement park, and while she was still in high spirits, he finally said, “Alice, I need to tell you something.”
“Hmm? What is it? Where are we going to play next?” Alice’s face was radiant with happiness, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she raised an eyebrow.
William smiled and said, “I just wanted to tell you that the person you’ll be competing in swordsmanship with tonight is an incarnation of the sea god Poseidon.”
“What incarnation? My swordsmanship is quite… huh?” Alice’s smile gradually froze and then disappeared completely, turning into a face of dismay. “Could you repeat that? I’m afraid I misheard.”
Still smiling, William gave Alice a big hug and whispered in her ear, “He’s an incarnation of the sea god Poseidon.”
Alice pushed him away, pouting, “The sea god Poseidon you’re talking about, isn’t he one of the powerful Twelve Olympians, the ruler of the seas?”
William nodded seriously, “Though I don’t think the sea god Poseidon you’re referring to is that formidable, it’s probably him.”
Alice, staring into William’s eyes, asked, “Have you found another woman?”
William shook his head, “No, I haven’t!”
Alice punched him lightly with her fist and said with a bitter smile, “I mean, do you not love me anymore?”
William shook his head again.
“Then why are you so eager to send me to my doom?”
William replied, “I don’t think you’ll die! Just treat him as a sparring partner.”
“He’s just an incarnation of the sea god Poseidon, not Poseidon himself,” William explained. “You don’t need to be afraid of him. With the swordsmanship I’ve taught you, it should be a… 20-80 split in your favor.”
Alice frowned and asked, “I get the eighty percent?”
William looked at her with a smiling face…
No words were needed!
“Men are really unreliable.” Alice looked at William tearfully, now seriously doubting whether William was sending her off to be defeated.
𝘳𝑎.𝒸ℴ