The barrier vanished, and Ashton stood up and bowed toward Lilly. Not only he but Esther, Amelia and others also stood up and bowed. Max’s expression became strange as he thought, ‘Why are they bowing to Lilly?’
He reflexively looked toward Lilly, who was also looking at Ashton and others with a panicked expression. Just as she wanted to ask why were they bowing to her, she heard Ashton speak while bowing, “We greet you, senior.”
‘Senior?’ Lilly heard this and was confused and looked back and immediately realised that they weren’t bowing to her but to the person standing behind her. Max’s expression froze the moment he looked toward Lilly.
At some point of time, the white haired woman had appeared behind Lilly without them knowing. Max stared at dumbly and when he thought what would have happened if she was their enemy?
The woman nodded at Ashton and others. Then she glanced at Max, staring at her as if he has seen a ghost and felt irritated. She raised her brows and said coldly, “Why are you stating like that?”
Max came to his senses after she spoke and retorted with an unpleasant expression, “Are you a ghost? Why would you appear silently like this?”
If he hadn’t met Crimson monarch, Margaret and others, he wouldn’t have dared to speak to her like that. But after interacting with them, he now could vaguely know if someone had malicious intentions or not. Of course it was based on the feeling he gets from the said person and based on that he knew that she wasn’t a bad person even though she seemed to hate his guts for some reason.
“Do I have to announce my arrival? And who told you to be so weak that you aren’t even able to sense if someone had come or not?” She said with naked disdain in her eyes.
Max shook his head, he didn’t want to argue with her as it not beneficial. He didn’t bother to stand up and greet her as it wouldn’t make any difference to her, given her personality and continued eating.
The woman noticed his rude behaviour but didn’t seem to care. However, Ashton grew anxious seeing this and quickly said, “I apologise for my son’s rude behaviour. I hope you won’t take it to heart.”
Lilly also grew anxious as Max had told her yesterday night about this woman’s strength. She glanced at Max and seeing that he was eating without care, she also wanted to bow and apologise but the woman spoke first,
“It’s fine. There is nothing to take to heart. What can you expect anything from men like him?” Max almost choked on the piece of meat he was munching on.
But the woman then glanced at Lilly, and her ice-like expression melted a little as she said, “Child, Finish your meal. We will depart as soon as you are ready.”
Max stared at her as he touched his chin in contemplation ‘Why does this woman seems to hold some kind of grudge against me? I’m sure yesterday was the first time we met, and I’m sure I didn’t do anything that might make her dislike me.’ He shook his head and thought, ‘It’s fine as long as she treats Lilly well.’
Lilly frowned at her for disrespecting her man, but her gentle words that seemed to contain a bit of affection made her unable to say anything. Moreover, she knew that they couldn’t afford to offend her because, according to Max’s speculation, no one in the Green leaf kingdom was a match for her let alone their family. She hesitantly asked, “Umm, Senior, would you like to eat with us?”
The white-haired woman shook her head “It’s fine. Don’t mind me and take your time.” Saying this she once again vanished.
Max mumbled when she disappeared again “She just comes and goes as she wish. Oh well, At least now we can eat peacefully.” Hearing him talking so casually about a supreme existence, everyone looked at him incredulously and thought ‘Is his guts made of steel?’
Amelia rebuked ”Max; you shouldn’t be rude to such powerful people. They usually have quirky personalities, and no one knows when they might feel offended and start a massacre.”
Seeing that she genuinely cared, he smiled and nodded ”I’ll keep that in mind.”𝔬𝑽𝓛xt.𝒞𝒐𝓜
…
After they finished breakfast, the white-haired woman appeared again. “Shall we depart, Child?” She asked Lilly.
Lilly looked at Max and suddenly couldn’t control her tears and hugged him, not wanting to let go. She didn’t care if everyone was watching or not. The white-haired woman sighed seeing this but didn’t say anything.
Max patted her back and consoled, “Don’t cry. We will be together again in no time.”
Lilly finally calmed down a little. Then she hugged Esther too, and surprisingly, Esther also seemed a bit sad. After a while, she bade everyone farewell and went to stood beside the white-haired woman.
The woman asked, “Should we go?”
Lilly glanced at Max, who smiled and nodded at her. She then said in a low voice, “Mhm.”
Shua!
The white-haired woman put her on Lilly’s shoulder, and with a whooshing sound, they vanished in thin air leaving chilly air behind. Max clenched his fists, feeling vexed. But just then white-haired woman’s voice echoed in his mind, “Try to raise your strength as soon as possible so that you can be qualified to come and visit her and be of some help to her in future.”
“Huh?” Max stared dazedly at the spot where they disappeared from. After a while he breathed deeply and nodded at the empty spot. Although he didn’t know what that woman meant by helping Lilly, he knew he had to become strong not only be ‘qualified’ to meet Lilly but also come and go to any place he desired without any worry just like she did.
…
After Lilly went away with the white-haired woman, Ashton and Max went to his room to continue their conversation.
Max sat in front of his father on a wooden couch. “I heard that Butler George told you about your mother’s death.” Ashton said.
Max nodded and said, “Yes, I know that mother’s death was caused by that count, Wiley.”
Ashton sighed. “But what you know isn’t the complete truth.”
“What do you mean, father?” Max asked confused. Was there something more to her death? He didn’t think that Butler George would hide something from him or was it that even he didn’t know about it?