Chapter 95: Delay, Just Delay
Angel watched Lena’s expression as she spoke.
Terrible! Absolutely dreadful!
It seemed she would be devoured by the devil after this…
“I see.”
Juliana listened to Angel’s embellished account, nodding, then turned her attention to Lena, her arms still crossed. “Neglect is one thing, arguing is another, but how could you harass other girls because of a momentary lapse in judgment?”
Especially the untouchable Imperial Princess, sigh…
Juliana was a traditional woman, believing in monogamy, so she always strived for perfection and expected the same from those around her.
“It seems I’ve been too lenient with her upbringing.”
She sighed deeply, and Lena’s heart ached.
A sharp pain, like a nail being driven in.
Diana, embarrassed, gave a sheepish smile, realizing she had gone too far. Just as she was about to confess, “Aunt Juliana, actually, what I said was…”
“Mom.” Lena suddenly hugged the middle-aged woman, her voice clear and gentle. “Can we not talk about this during our family reunion?”
“Of course, no problem!” Juliana pinched Lena’s nose affectionately. “But you have to give that girl an explanation. Always chasing after girls, what will people think? If word gets out that the future head of the Falmouth family is obsessed with women, what about your father’s reputation? He always hoped you would inherit his legacy and bring glory to the Falmouths.”
“What should I do?”
Lena played along, acting submissive.
Now, Lena was like a lioness sheathing its claws, setting aside her pride before her aging mother, accepting her family’s love.
It’s been a while…
She thought silently.
“You’re so grown up, and yet you still act spoiled.” Juliana’s heart softened, and she stroked Lena’s gray hair, her expression filled with affection and exasperation.
Lena had inherited her father’s hair color and her mother’s beauty. They had been a handsome couple in their youth, their offspring inheriting their good looks, their features delicate, their figures tall and slender.
So tall.
Juliana had to look up to see Lena’s face, so clear, her long hair cascading down like a waterfall.
She suddenly realized her child had grown up, the small hand she used to hold now holding hers, the warmth of Lena’s hand a comforting reassurance…
“You should make your own decisions, Lena.”
It was time to let go, wasn’t it?
Juliana smiled, the wrinkles around her eyes deepening…
Like an eagle soaring through the sky, she couldn’t restrain Lena forever, couldn’t impose her own beliefs on her child’s will, that would be wrong.
“I’ll listen to you, Mom.”
But Lena chose to trust her mother.
“Consider this my last act of defiance, as your spoiled daughter…”
She was no longer the same person. She would reclaim everything she had lost, everything.
Even if it meant facing insurmountable odds, even if death was inevitable, she would use her death to ensure the Falmouths’ greatness, to save everyone who had died because of her.
Except for herself…
“Always so reckless,” Juliana hugged Lena tightly.
“Hmph.” Lena closed her eyes, savoring the moment, then pulled away, her usual languid demeanor returning, like a cat basking in the sun. “Always so… soft-hearted, Mother.”
…
The drinking and feasting continued.
Diana finally witnessed the “terror” Lena had spoken of…
The drunken young man stood on the table, shadowboxing the air. The lean old man, completely inebriated, swung a chair around the table, shouting and dancing, the strong smell of alcohol filling the air.
They maintained a strange order in their chaos, their revelry contained within their own space, not disturbing the other tables.
So, this was some kind of cult ritual?
Diana felt like she would be sacrificed to a dark god if she made a single sound…
She huddled under the table, trembling with fear. She had stumbled into this place, and now she was terrified.
Although she didn’t want to admit to being scared, this scene was truly frightening. The sheltered princess, who had never experienced such a thing, decided to retract her previous statements… Someone save her!
Senior Weakling, protect me!!
Lena seemed to hear a faint sob, but ignored it, not noticing Diana’s disappearance. When she finally realized, Juliana spoke, “Since the whole family is here, under the full moon, how about you propose to Miss Angel?”
“…I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Don’t be so quick to refuse, Miss Angel seems to have something to say.” Juliana ignored Lena’s exasperated look. Lena had dug her own grave, she would have to lie in it.
How devious~
Was she being too manipulative?
Juliana covered her mouth, her gentle gaze turning to Angel, whose cheeks were flushed at the mention of “proposal.” “So, Miss Angel, what are your thoughts? We’ll vote, majority rules. Trust me, Lena wouldn’t dare go back on her word, she always listens to me.”
Indeed, even the subject of the sentence had changed, the outcome predetermined.
This was tyranny! She wanted to protest!
Lena glared, like a beached dolphin attempting a final struggle.
Juliana gave her a warning glance, dismissing her protest, the proposal proceeding…
“Have you considered it?”
“I… I’m not sure…”
Angel looked down at her toes. She hadn’t intended to stay for dinner, but Lena had insisted, calling it a celebratory feast.
But who knew…
The celebratory feast had become an execution ground, she the condemned prisoner, two pairs of eyes fixed on her, any choice a sin.
Angel suspected Juliana was trying to set her and Lena up, using this as an excuse to curb Lena’s promiscuous behavior.
After all, marriage meant responsibility, and for someone as proud as Lena, even if she was dissatisfied, she would fulfill her obligations.
Like mother, like daughter, the older generation was always wiser…
“I’ll think about it, I’ll think about it…”
All Angel could do was delay.
Although delaying was dangerous, she would still delay!
Ignoring everything, even if it meant death, she would delay!!
Waaah, what should she do, all alone…?
Lena didn’t seem like she would let her off easily, and Lena’s mother, despite her gentle demeanor, was even more manipulative and terrifying than Lena.
Could a devil’s mother be any better?
Angel didn’t dare say anything insincere, choosing to remain silent. Her lies were transparent before these two cunning foxes. She had to hold her tongue…
