??Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Malena
Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Malena
“Your dance steps are a bit rusty,” lly said to Russell, who had already accidentally stepped on her foot twice, as they moved together with the flow of an elegant waltz, his hand in hers and an arm around her waist.
“I’m sorry, I’m still trying to rember the steps from the last ti I danced,” Russell said, his face showing not the slightest bit of embarrassnt.
lly asked with a light chuckle, “Do you rarely dance with ladies? It seems that I seldom see you at the balls held by Fluorescent Castle.”
“Dancing only disrupts my training,” Russell replied. “As you know, I don’t have much talent when it cos to cultivating my skills.”
“But you’ve successfully unleashed your Battle Qi, haven’t you? You’re destined to beco a Phantom Beast Knight in the future.”
“Who knows what the future holds? I only care to make the best of the present.”
“Indeed, making the best of the present matters, and the Great Dragon watches over the rest, especially over a hardworking knight like yourself,” lly said with a smile, her eyes shining brightly.
There was no denying that lly had a way with words, and just a few sentences were enough to coax a smile from Russell’s lips.
But at that mont, Russell was thinking about the Golden Black sow back ho that was due to give birth—it was uncertain whether it would produce a litter of piglets that could be bred into a new Primordial Beast species. If successful, the Golden Black would beco the specialty of his estate.
“Golden Black pork is commonplace; this is Primordial at, not the sa at all… Maybe the new breed should be called ‘Dark Black Pig’?”
The Golden Black pig is the Blackwaist Serpent Manor’s pork specialty.
“Has anyone ever told you that it’s very ungentlemanly to be distracted while dancing with a lady?” lly’s voice pulled Russell, who was still concerned about his sow at ho, back to the ballroom.
With an awkward and perfunctory laugh, Russell replied, “I just thought of sothing interesting. Would you like to hear about it?”
“Why not?”
“I bought a Golden Black sow in town the day before yesterday. Did you know, under the watch of the Great Dragon, there’s a wisp of Magic Power coursing through this Golden Black sow’s belly?”
“Ah, you an it’s carrying a Fantasy Beast baby?” lly’s eyes lit up with intense curiosity as she looked at Russell.
“Indeed, but the aura is too weak, and it’s highly likely to miscarry.”
“Oh, that’s such a sha. Is there anything that can be done to help?”
“There is, unless Mr. Ross could assist, but we’ve had a disagreent, so obviously that’s not an option. Moreover, it would consu too much of Mr. Ross’s essence, and my father would never agree—they believe in solving the estate’s problems within the estate.”
lly frowned, “So we just let the Fantasy Beast baby miscarry? And that doesn’t sound very fun to .”
“It’s not about the fun of the situation, it’s about my idea,” Russell said. “I was thinking, even if the Fantasy Beast baby miscarries, this piglet is extraordinary. Perhaps I can try to raise it into a new breed of Primordial Beast.”
“Right!” lly’s eyes sparkled again, “If it works, Wuyao Snake Manor will have a new specialty!”
“Exactly, it’s worth a try.”
“Definitely.”
“That’s why it’s interesting,” said Russell, pleased that his plan was well received.
A bit absent-minded yet filled with anticipation, lly asked, “I’ve never been to Wuyao Snake Manor. Russell, could I co to see the piglet?”
“Sure,” he replied.
“Maybe I could take a tour around Wuyao Snake Manor.”
“If you really co, I’ll have Mr. Charles show you around the manor.”
“What about you?”
“?” Russell thought about it, “There are too many things to take care of in the territory, and I need to practice, I can’t spare the ti.”
“Don’t you need to relax occasionally?”
“This is
relaxing.”
Before the words had died away, a dance had ended, and the n and won fluttering about the dance floor drifted apart, each making their way to the rest area to sip so tea.
Russell and Malena separated as well.
When the next dance began, Malena looked at him, but Russell, head lowered, was too busy with his tea and pastries to consider taking to the dance floor again.
“Only one dance and then you’re done?” Lady ryl, his mother, approached from sowhere with a glass of red wine in her hand.
“I don’t like dancing.”
“Then how will you take on the responsibilities of your Uncle Roson in the future?” Lady ryl looked gently at her son and could see the shadow of his father and brother in his face; the Rainflower Family was known for its attractive n and won, a trait that had carried on in Russell.
“Uncle Roson could carry on for decades, by then I doubt anyone would want to dance with
if I wanted to enter the dance floor.”
“That will not happen to my son. Your maternal grandfather is over seventy and still trendously popular in the dance hall, and your handsoness is no less than that of your grandfather and your uncle.”
“But Grandfather is an Earl, Sir, and your handso, dashing son is but a smallti Lord.”
“Although I know you’re making a joke, it sounds like my son is complaining about his fate,” Lady ryl said with a smile.
Russell smiled apologetically, “Sorry, Mother, I didn’t an to complain… Maybe I used to, but now I feel good, especially after going to the manor. I feel I’m on the right, optimistic path.”
In mory, his predecessor indeed resented the heavens and others, complaining about his lack of talent, lanting that he was just a second son in the family.
But he wouldn’t.
Because he had a Great Dragon, what need was there for a bicycle?
“I’m proud of you, Russell,” Lady ryl said, reaching out to smooth a strand of his pale golden hair from his forehead.
Russell smiled; he rather liked the atmosphere of the Fluorescent Fungi Family, especially his parents’ attitude: loving but not interfering.
The next mont, Lady ryl inquired, “Malena is a nice girl, albeit two years your senior, and it’s clear that she’s interested in you.”
Russell’s smile froze on his face, just as he was thinking how comfortable it was for the parents not to interfere in their children’s lives, he suddenly found himself being urged to marry.
“Mother, I’ve just co of age.”
“Exactly, you’re of age now, it’s ti to think about the next stage of your life,” Lady ryl said matter-of-factly, “When you go and live independently on the manor, you’ll need a lady to take care of your daily needs, won’t you.”
All Russell could do was to give a noncommittal response, “Let’s wait a bit longer.”
“You can wait, but Malena can’t. She’s already eighteen. Wait a bit longer and she’ll beco an old maid.”
“Why does she have to wait for ?”
“Oh, my silly son, you won’t find many girls better than Malena in Glowing Valley. If you don’t want her, she’ll soon be snatched up by soone else. Your father and I have hinted at Marcus several tis to steady him down and keep him from letting Malena socialize too early.”
Marcus was a vassal of Baron Roman, but even as Lord, he couldn’t arbitrarily interfere with the marriages of his vassals’ children.
Russell shook his head and laughed, “Mother, you and Father don’t need to worry too much about . I have a clear understanding and plan for my future, trust .”
What he wanted now was to properly manage the manor and to earnestly cultivate his Battle Qi.
Looking into Russell’s eyes, Lady ryl chuckled after a mont, “Then go and ask Malena for another dance.”
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