Chapter 156: Guillotine
The night of the business gathering, Wayne trailed after Auston and reviewed every business contract and every speech manuscript. It had been Megan’s job, but tonight, it became Wayne’s.
An important man like Auston never did anything unnecessary. His every action meant something, and the elites, socialites, and other bigshots attending the gathering weren’t so foolish that they couldn’t see an answer written out so plainly.
Auston was effectively announcing that the Lando family’s illegitimate son was returning as heir. He took him here today to prepare everyone.
The old man was busy. His connections covered both the legal side and the clandestine side of Londan, including political figures and business people. His many friends meant that he had many relationships to maintain. In Wayne’s words, Auston had been donating left and right and buying friendships, making himself the most popular guy in the city, and wherever he went, there was someone who would do him a favor.
Wayne had planned to leave early, but Auston had so many friends that, despite this being a small gathering, over a hundred people were lining up to show their faces to Auston.
While the gathering ended at eight, following Auston around, Wayne was only able to rest at ten.
Good news, there was no afterparty since this was a legitimate business gathering. Bad news, he didn’t even get to eat!
Hitting the buffet was out of the question. Auston nursed a glass of champagne and had a sip whenever he was tired. Wayne, not liking alcohol, gulped down several glasses of orange juice and barely filled his stomach with liquid.
When they finally got to rest, Silvia walked up to them with a smile. Matching her smile, Auston extended a hand to his wife.
“Good work. You’re exhausted, aren’t you?” Silvia stepped around Auston and went up to Wayne instead, sorting out the collars of his black suit with crinkling eyes. The more she looked at her student, the more pleased she was with him.
Auston side-eyed them, pulling his hand back without a word.
Around a third of the guests had not taken their leave. When they saw how close Auston’s wife was to his illegitimate son, they cast looks of awe at him. No wonder he could stay in office as the head of the Financial Town. He was so deft in managing relationships that even his wife treated the bastard as her own.
If they had taken their illegitimate children home openly, there would be war. This was something they could not imitate. Auston surely deserved his wealth.
Under their admiring gazes, Auston kept his head high while maintaining a poker face. Although he didn’t know exactly what these people were thinking, he was indeed the patriarch of the family with the final say in every matter; only his territory was often the balcony, after he got kicked out.
At eleven at night, the gathering officially came to an end. Silvia walked out of the venue arm in arm with Wayne, with a smile that had not dropped since earlier. Auston led the way with a dark look on his face. He didn’t like the scum, truly. Wayne went better with a barrel of cement.
In the parking lot, Veryl stood beside a black car. He put a hand on his chest and bowed when he saw the group.
“Master Wayne. Mr. Lando and Mrs. Lando.”
“Ah, isn’t this Butler Veryl from the Wayne family? It’s been a while!” Auston’s face darkened further, huffing derisively at the traitor.
“Ha! Why are you huffing at him? It’s too late for you to be messing around outside.”
Hearing the keyword, Silvia immediately retaliated. Her fists itched to hit a face for relaxation. She let go of Wayne’s elbow and dragged Auston to another car, while calling out for Wayne to come home for dinner in two days.
It would be another family banquet!
Megan bowed to bid Wayne farewell. When her gaze shifted to Veryl, the two butlers nodded at each other with a smile.
“Apologies for making you wait, Veryl. There were accidents.” Wayne took the backseat of the black car. “If it’s not too much trouble, have the maids prepare me some food when we return. I’ve only had a few glasses of orange juice tonight, so I’m quite hungry.”
“Master, we’ve already prepared your favorite dishes.”
“You’re as professional as ever...” Wayne marveled. Veryl had always taken perfect care of his everyday needs. He didn’t know what he would do without the exceptional butler.
***
October fifteenth.
Today was Vera’s birthday. With her being the spoiled princess of the Power and Faith Bodybuilding Center, the musclemen she called family had arranged a birthday celebration at the gym. They weren’t taking any customers today. Everyone would be serving her.
Although Vera had lost her parents at a young age, she never lacked parental love, especially the fatherly kind. Her de facto fathers’ love for her was as impressive as their physique.
As the most important person today, she enjoyed the highest status and could exercise the authority of a sovereign. No matter what she said, everyone had to listen.
They weren’t just showering her with love, but drowning her in it.
Wayne arrived at the gym at noon for the party that would begin at afternoon tea time. He brought gift—or gifts. He had asked Valkyrie to forge the full set of Sun gems he acquired with her thoughts, making a knightly sword out of them.
Veronica and Kristen had arrived earlier at ten in the morning. They put in a lot of effort to dress Vera up. Since she was still young, she didn’t need heavy makeup to shine. She made her appearance in an elegant princess dress with an airy, puffy skirt that swayed with her every step. Her blonde hair was put up into an updo instead of twin tails today. Her radiant, happy smile made one feel warm, but also made them want to protect her smile.
Unfortunately, the one who was smiling was a comedian rather than a graceful princess at heart. In three seconds, she showed her true nature.
Veronica and Kristen cameoed as the maids serving the princess. Pleased with their services, the princess marked the two of them—Veronia got a circle around her right eye, while Kristen got six whiskers. Since the doodles were done by the supreme ruler of the day, they could not resist.
Wayne burst out laughing as soon as he saw them, not sparing their dignity at all. Then he got marked with a £. It was the symbol of Windsor’s currency, drawn with dark markers on Wayne’s forehead.
How the turntables. Now, it was Veronica and Kristen’s turn to laugh at him.
Wayne didn’t mind. It was a good thing since it showed that Vera felt close to him.
There were a few other college girls at the gym who hadn’t received the marks of the sovereign. Only Vera’s close female friends and her parental figures enjoyed the luxury, and they were all Vera’s favorite people.
Outside of those who had raised her, Wayne was the only man around her age who got marked by her. That was significant.
Head Trainer Dick gave Wayne the evil eye. There was a sun on his forehead, which was identical to the marks Vera had left on many other trainers and their wives, all members of the Church of Sun. Since Dick was the leader, the sun on his forehead was much bigger.
However, Wayne had a different symbol! One unique to him! That was unacceptable!
“You there, guy with money on your forehead, you’ll be the prince today!” Vera pointed at Wayne, her hands clad in white gloves that matched her princess dress.
You aren’t in need of a prince! Wayne raised an eyebrow, holding a hand to his chest to accept the order. He jogged up to Vera with a boxed gift, taking her gloved hand to press a kiss.
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
Vera beamed, while Wayne smiled bashfully. The princess was wearing a dress with a lower cut, and from his angle, he was given quite a view.
He didn’t mean anything by peeking, really. It was just that he had been quite lucky recently, which he attributed to his bosom buddies. To avoid his luck from declining, he decided to look at his buddy’s bosom more.
“Your Highness, I don’t think that is appropriate!” Dick was suddenly right behind Wayne as if he had teleported. The heat radiating from his body made Wayne clench up. He didn’t have to turn around to know how viciously the man was glaring at him.
“Why? Her Highness should be allowed to do anything she wants. You’re in no place to intervene.” Wayne got behind Vera, whispering into her ear. “This man is disobeying your supreme order. He must be pondering treachery. In my opinion, if he’s disobeying your order today, he may stage a coup tomorrow. He should receive harsh punishment according to the law.”
“You’re right.” Vera nodded with a solemn expression, waving her hand. “Guards, take the coachman to the guillotine.”
Dick’s face darkened. Coachman? Where did that come from, and why was Wayne a prince when he was a coachman?
He knew the reason, but he was trying his best to deny it, just like a certain old man in Veronica’s life. When he saw two ‘soldiers’ actually coming up to grab his arms, he hurriedly said, “Your Highness, I don’t fear death, but he cannot be the prince. Look at his lecherous face. How does he in any way look the part?”
So I’m lecherous. What does that have to do with you? Wayne griped.
So he’s lecherous. What does that have to do with you? Vera thought.
After a tussle, Wayne was demoted from the prince to the princess’s knight thanks to the two maids’ valiant attempt to persuade the princess despite the risks. Meanwhile, Dick was ordered to stand in a corner with a small plaque that said, “Dead coachman, death by guillotine.”
If not for you, I would have a prince, Vera complained.
Dick looked like he had bitten into a lemon.
The birthday party didn’t end until five o’clock in the afternoon. Vera’s classmates left first. Then she sat among her gifts and enjoyed the surprises. Unlike her parents, her classmates had only just entered the workforce and couldn’t afford special gifts. Vera didn’t mind, though. She liked every one of them.
Veronica had given her a potted sunflower that she had grown herself. It would face the sun during the day and face Vera during nighttime. Given her incredibly wealthy family and her substantial savings, a gift that she prepared herself would be more meaningful.
Kristen gave Vera a white bracelet, also handmade. It was a magical item imbued with the faith of Moonlight, able to disperse negative energy and restore the wearer physically and mentally during battle, as well as strengthening their will.
Vera liked the gifts so much that she promoted them to senior maids then and there.
After that was Wayne’s turn. She tore open the package and found a rectangular wooden box inside. Based on the size of the container, she could guess that it was a sword, and it turned out to be just that.
Although it wasn’t as much of a surprise, she still loved the gift. She made two swings with it to try it out.
“Thank you, Wayne. It’s a special gift. I really like it.”
“Your Highness, the gift’s not the special one, but you.”
“Tee-hee...”
The ‘dead’ man turned around. Dick could immediately tell the value of the sword. He quietly dragged Wayne to a corner and put his arm around his shoulder. “The gift’s too valuable to be a birthday gift.”
He thought the sword was worth so much that if Vera couldn’t give Wayne a gift that was worth just as much for his birthday, he might ask for something even more priceless in compensation.
Dick didn’t overthink it, but underthought it. Wayne didn’t have that evil plan in mind, but something even worse.
Just like one goddess wasn’t enough to satiate his greed, Wayne wasn’t looking to claim a tree, but a whole forest. Thus, he strictly followed the strategy of spreading his love evenly. Before he maximized all love interests’ affection points, he would not make a move on any of them. Thus, he could promise Dick that he would use protection, and he needn’t worry about becoming a granddad just yet.
Usually, Dick would’ve taken out pretty boys salivating after his girl with a punch, but not this time. Wayne was a knight candidate, so no matter how much Dick disapproved, he could only complain rather than resort to violence. It was beyond frustrating!
After the birthday celebration, Veronica took a car back to the Lando family, while Kristen rode in a car with Wayne. Vera didn’t follow today. Her many parents had seen through her feelings, and under Dick’s prompting, the men and women surrounded her and kept her home.
Wayne had allies in Veronica’s family, but enemies in Vera’s.
***
Study, Wayne’s residence.
The tutor and student had enjoyed an endless supply of snacks during the earlier birthday party, so for dinner, they only had some sweets and black tea before starting their nightly tutoring session early.
Wayne was serious as a student since he needed the knowledge, and Kristen was a devoted teacher. He realized how good she was at it, especially for her patience with her students. It was a good thing. They wouldn’t have to worry about their future children’s pre-school education.
When Mona arrived at the mansion, Wayne was already in class. She sat alone in the dining room, awkwardly receiving the services of the butler and the maids. She had come to show herself to Wayne, not to fill her stomach. But oh, how good the food turned out to be!
Veryl didn’t believe that Mona would become the mistress of the Wayne family, but he served her like one. His master was kindhearted and sentimental; he wouldn’t just cast her aside after having her. She would have a place in the household in the future.
Eat more and enjoy good food. I’ll entrust you with Master’s coming-of-age ritual.
Mona didn’t know what Veryl was thinking. She only saw how exceptional and gentle a butler he was, which was to be expected since he was her master’s butler.
After dinner, she stayed in the living room for a while, but once she realized that she wouldn’t get to meet her master tonight, she took her leave regretfully.
What a sad day.
***
Second-floor study.
The tutoring session ended at ten. Kristen closed the textbook and suddenly saw a well-packaged gift box before her. She turned to Wayne in confusion.
“I wasn’t here on your birthday. I missed the celebration.” Wayne put the box on the desk. “Veronica helped me pick that gift. It’s been on my mind, so I prepared another gift to make amends.”
He had missed not only Kristen’s birthday in July, but also Veronica’s birthday in May and the graduation ceremony of their university. He had been forced to move to a remote rural area due to Auston’s threat of stuffing him in a barrel of cement, and then he met Silvia and had to stay hidden after returning to Londan because of his master’s awkward standing as the High Reverend.
The downtime had gained him much, but he had also missed a lot.
Kristen smiled at him. “I like the gift Veronica prepared on your behalf. This won’t be necessary. Don’t worry about it.”
“Still, I’ve given you the gift.” He took her hand and put it on the box. “Open it. If you don’t like it, I’ll take it back. Deal?”
That was an unnecessary gesture he made to touch her hand, but Kristen was too dense to notice. Touched, she opened the packaging gingerly and revealed a rectangular wooden box.
She guessed that it would be a shortsword, and it was, but the sword was much more valuable than she had expected. The smooth mirror-like surface gleamed with faint moonlight. The blade was light, with a blue gem embedded in the hilt. The magical patterns were delicately crafted to give the shortsword a sense of mystery. It looked ethereally elegant, beyond beautiful.
Kristen fell in love with the weapon at a glance, but she shook her head to disperse the thoughts. “It’s too valuable and too special. I can’t take it.”
“Kristen, the gift’s not the special one, but you.”
...Wait, haven’t I heard that before?