Lilian’s and Cedric’s subordinates stood several meters away from the table and observed the four people seated there.
The two young ladies were looking at Cedric and Ethan, while the two young men were looking at Luna.
The ladies were quite happy because there were two handsome young men to serve as their eye candy.
Cedric’s two subordinates were specifically monitoring Luna’s reactions to see whether their Young Master’s charms had an effect on her.
They were originally very confident that Cedric could make the angelic beauty fall for him with just a smile.
But after observing her for several minutes, the confidence they had earlier was steadily decreasing.
Although Luna would glance at Cedric whenever the latter asked her a question, her reaction didn’t look like a maiden in love.
From time to time, they would shift their attention to the handsome young man with long blue hair, and they noticed something with his expression when they observed him.
It was amusement.
Cedric’s subordinates glanced at each other to confirm that both of them were thinking of the same thing.
“Hey, is it just me or that blue-haired guy seem to be having fun observing our Young Master’s attempt to woo his lover?” the Chubby Teenager whispered to his friend.
“I feel the same way,” the Skinny Teenager whispered back. “He has this, ‘Do your best to entertain me’ look on his face. It seems that he’s pretty confident that our Young Master cannot seduce his girl.”
“Exactly! This guy is too arrogant. I hope that the Young Master shows him who’s the real boss!”
“Don’t worry. Our Young Master is just warming up. How can he possibly lose to that guy.”
While the two teenagers were talking in whispers, the four good-looking people ate, and chatted in a casual manner.
If one were to look at them, one would think that the atmosphere was quite lively.
However, those who paid closer attention would notice that there was an ongoing battle between words and body language.
‘I’m sure that Sir Ethan understands what is happening,’ Lilian thought. ‘But he looks very confident. Does he really think that my brother is incapable of snatching his lover away from him?’
As the dinner progressed, Lilian found herself becoming more attracted to Ethan’s charm, witty replies, as well as the unbridled confidence that was apparent through his words and actions.
It was like watching a duel between two knights.
Every time her brother attacked, Ethan would deflect, dodge, and even counterattack at the most opportune moment, leaving Cedric at a loss about how to break through his opponent’s defenses.
But, that was not all.
Lilian noticed that every time Luna glanced at Ethan, her gaze would become soft and affectionate.
Naturally, Cedric noticed this as well, which mildly annoyed him.
He was so used to ladies looking at him the way Luna looked at Ethan, so when that gaze was directed at another man instead of him, he felt as if he was being slapped in the face.
Finally, Cedric felt that enough was enough, so he decided to use a more direct method of catching the angelic beauty’s attention.
“If I remember correctly, the Oswald Family governs the Southeastern Regions of Westshire,” Cedric commented. “How are the living conditions there?”
Luna closed her eyes for a bit as she recalled her hometown, which he hadn’t seen for a few months. A moment later, a sweet smile appeared on her lips, which made Cedric almost drop the spoon in his hand due to how captivating it was.
“Warm in the summer, and cold during the winter,” Luna replied. “The people there are hard-working, but sometimes, the crops don’t give that much yield. My Father loves his people, so when that happens, we reduce their taxes.
“Of course, reducing taxes delays important projects that would help the people live better lives, like being able to hire more medical professionals so they will open up their clinics in our territory.
“The irrigation projects are also being delayed, which would have helped the farmers have a more bountiful harvest. Winter is almost here as well, so everyone is stockpiling food and other precious commodities in order to survive the cold nights.”
Ethan listened to Luna’s explanation and smiled.
This was the first time he was hearing Luna talk about her hometown, and from what he could tell, her parents were very caring people.
Of course, the handsome young man would often ask her about her family, but he never asked her anything about their territory. He didn’t know how the nobles ruled their land since he had grown up on a farm.
So, hearing her story allowed him to get a glimpse of how her parents treated their people.
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‘I guess this Cedric guy can be useful at times,’ Sebastian commented. ‘Ethan, make sure to ask Luna more about their territory later.”
‘I bet he’s going to tell her that he and his family could offer Oswald Barony some aid to help them fund their projects,’ Ethan’s Other Half chuckled. ‘This is the power of Nobility, especially those with higher standings.”
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Ethan’s Other Half said those words in a teasing tone.
It was as if he was telling the handsome young man that since Luna was going to be his future wife, he should do his best to score some brownie points with the angelic beauty’s family.
How should he do that?
Simple.
Give them some funds!
Ethan made a mental note to do just that after his mission at the Nightfall Academy ended. Since he had plenty of treasures at his disposal, using them to help Luna’s Barony would be a worthwhile investment.
Just like what Ethan’s Other Half had stated, Cedric’s eyes lit up and he immediately made his move.
“I see.” Cedric nodded. “It is quite unfortunate that those who live on the outskirts of the Kingdom don’t get much help from the Crown. Since we are now friends, I will do everything within my power to send aid to Oswald Barony. Although it may not be much, I hope that you will accept my sincerity, Luna.”
Luna, who didn’t expect that Cedric would say such a thing, found herself at a loss for words.
She subconsciously glanced in Ethan’s direction, as if asking him how she should deal with the current situation.
Seeing her expression, Ethan smiled and held her hand.
“My Friend, my Fiance and I are very grateful for your sincerity and generosity,” Ethan commented. “However, it is not only Oswald Barony that needs help. The other Nobles that are located on the outskirts of Eastshire are suffering the same fate.
“I do not know of your background, but I can tell that you are not a mere Noble. Perhaps your family belongs to the High-Ranking Nobles, which is good and all. However, if the Oswald Barony were to receive aid from your family, their neighbors might get jealous, and jealousy often leads to trouble.
“Also, it might just cause unnecessary attention to their peaceful lives. But, do not fret, I already have this covered. In fact, the funds needed to help MY Fiance’s family are being prepared even as we speak. These funds will arrive very soon, so you don’t have to worry about their hardships.”
Cedric smiled. “But, I insist.”
“And that’s the problem,” Ethan replied. “Your insistence will cause eyebrows to rise. Luna’s family doesn’t want unnecessary drama. They would rather have peace than become a pawn in a political game between Nobles.”
Cedric was doing his best to prevent his smile from turning into a scowl.
“How about I send the funds anonymously? That way, no one will raise their eyebrows at the matter?” Cedric proposed. “I’m sure that there is no harm in doing that, right?”
“Actually there is,” Ethan replied. “If the Oswald Barony suddenly gained wealth that appeared out of nowhere, people would wonder if they were doing something illegal. Their neighbors would find it suspicious, and an investigation would be conducted. Once that happens, it will be traced back to you. Are you sure you want to deal with that kind of trouble?”
Cedric smirked. “I don’t mind. I’d like to see who dares to cause trouble for my Family.”
“You sound confident.” Ethan arched an eyebrow.
“I am confident,” Cedric stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Ethan then smiled and nodded his head. “Even if you are confident, that will not change the fact that the Oswald Barony will be placed in the spotlight. So, you sending funds to them will not work. As Luna’s Fiance, I will handle this matter myself.”
Cedric’s smile finally cracked, and for the first time, he looked at the handsome young man in front of him as if he were his mortal enemy.