novelraw Chapter 463: The Vinegar Jar is Overturned
Chapter 463: The Vinegar Jar is Overturned
The young political luminary gazed at the forlorn and joyless woman in front of him. His refined and elegant features broke into a faint smile as he spoke with gentle warmth, "Won’t you invite me for a cup of tea?"
Delphine saw that he had no intention of leaving anytime soon, so she got up to brew tea for him. She had only learned the bare fundamentals, and her technique was quite unrefined. Finnian merely watched, unhurried, with a perpetual smile etched into his brows and eyes.
When the tea was ready, the man stretched out his hand and gracefully took a sip. He neither offered false praise nor pointed out any flaws but simply smiled faintly and remarked, "I’ve heard that your father is involved in a case concerning the embezzlement of inheritance? Although my standing in the Imperial City is quite modest, if there’s any way I can help, please don’t hesitate to say so."
Was this him extending an olive branch to her? Delphine was slightly surprised, but quickly returned his smile, saying, "Thank you, but my father’s affairs—he always has his own way of handling them."
Finnian was a man of extraordinary patience, yet today he had repeatedly been thwarted. The man pondered: even if he stayed here until dawn, Delphine Carter would likely sit with him, never directly addressing the matter. It had been a long time since he met a woman so intriguing.
The man’s smile at the corners of his mouth deepened as he politely inquired, "May I ask boldly—does Delphine already have someone in mind? From the moment I met you, I felt an extraordinary connection. I wonder if I might have the opportunity to court you?"
Are people so direct nowadays? Delphine was momentarily stunned.
Standing just outside the door, the handsome man about to enter couldn’t have timed it better: he overheard Finnian’s words being delivered verbatim. His already frosty countenance grew even colder—was this an attempt to poach what was his, to seduce his woman and steal his future offspring? Bold, indeed. Ignatius Leclair curled his lips into a cold smile. His long, straight legs carried him smoothly into the room. He spoke gravely, "Mr. Finnian, you’ve come to the Southern Archipelago—is there a reason you didn’t notify us in advance?"
His words were laden with nuance, capable of being interpreted as either polite or impolite—depending entirely on how the listener chose to perceive them.
Ignatius walked over to sit beside Delphine. Observing her recovery over the past few days, her skin now glowed porcelain-white like jade. The once-cropped locks of obsidian-black hair had grown to just graze her collarbones, their slight waves accentuating the delicate, palm-sized perfection of her face. She looked utterly adorable. A strange, unspoken emotion flickered through the man’s mind as he murmured in his low, husky voice, "Your hair has grown longer. After dinner, let me take you to get it trimmed, hmm?"
His voice, already rich as aged wine, now whispered close to her ear with a raspy undertone, laced with the familiar, brisk scent of pine and chill. Without warning, Delphine felt half her body go weak, her ear tips flushing a faint red.
Watching the intimate dynamic between the two, the smile on Finnian’s face faltered slightly. He chuckled warmly, "I wasn’t expecting Ignatius to be here as well. This is the Dragon Well tea Delphine just brewed. Please, give it a try."
Finnian gestured toward the freshly brewed tea, his lips curling into a smiling invitation.
Ignatius lowered his gaze, his deep, phoenix-shaped eyes studying the teapot and the three wooden cups on the table. He snorted coldly—his audacity was impressive. Delphine hadn’t even brewed tea for him before, and yet this interloper dared travel thousands of miles to set foot on his territory and command his woman’s service? Was this boldness or a direct challenge?
Though rage simmered in Ignatius’s heart, his face betrayed no emotion. He spoke evenly, "Mr. Finnian, having traveled all the way from the Imperial City, it’s only natural for Delphine to extend her hospitality. However, her health isn’t great—so much so that I rarely even ask for her help myself for fear that she might injure herself. If there’s anything you need, just tell me directly."
Delphine was utterly dumbfounded—was this really Ignatius Leclair?
Finnian was equally taken aback—he had merely sipped a cup of tea, yet why did it seem like the renowned Ignatius of the Southern Archipelago had knocked over a jar of vinegar?*
What exactly had he done... hmm?