Chapter 511
Strange. It shouldn’t be just little Ai Weina’s words that could cause such a significant shift in Charles’s perspective... Has something major happened in Ansu City recently?
**Knock, knock, knock—**
Just as William was contemplating whether to ask directly, a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
“Come in.”
A well-dressed secretary entered, greeted William Winston, and then turned to Charles.
“Duke Charles, your maid has come to deliver a message.”
“Hmm.” Charles nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.
“Miss Ai Weina has invited you to join her and Miss Xia Er for dinner this evening.” The secretary lowered his head slightly, repeating the maid’s message.
Even after the secretary left, Charles seemed lost in thought, staring down at something.
“Who’s Xia Er?” William asked, noticing the rare hint of tension in Charles’s demeanor.
“Ai Weina’s... um... good friend.” Charles took a deep breath, as if he had found a lifeline, and looked at William. “Are you coming to the dinner? I’m not very good at talking to kids her age; you’re better at it.”
“I’m afraid not, Your Grace,” William replied with a slight bow and a smile. “As you can see, I need to prepare for my speech within the party. I probably won’t have time for dinner.”
“Alright then.”
Charles paced around the office a couple of times, oblivious to William’s departure.
Soon, he calmed himself, went downstairs, and boarded the carriage home.
...
That night, at the Russell residence, in the dining room.
The lights illuminated the opulent dining hall, and servants bustled about, setting exquisite dishes on the table.
At the 20-foot walnut dining table, Charles sat at the head, leaning against the fireplace and family portraits. To his right, in the prime seat, sat Ai Weina, while a red-haired girl was placed in the secondary seat beside her.
If it had been before, if his daughter had brought home a “boyfriend” or “fiancé,” Charles would have certainly seated him at the southern end, directly under his scrutiny. But this time, he had allowed the red-haired girl to occupy a position of honor.
“I heard from Ai Weina that you enjoy French cuisine,” Charles said, perhaps trying to break the ice. “Is it to your liking?”
Xia Er looked up at Charles, nodded slightly, and smiled. “Thank you, Your Grace. The food is delicious.”
Though Xia Er had only taken a bite of the squab, she politely offered her praise.
Charles hesitated but decided to speak directly. “About what happened earlier... I’m sorry. I was in a hurry to get the injured Ai Weina out of there, and by the time I returned, I couldn’t find you...”
“It’s alright,” Xia Er replied, setting down her knife and fork, wiping her mouth with her napkin as she looked at Charles. “As long as Ai Weina is fine, that’s all that matters.”
Charles was at a loss for words, the conversation once again falling into an awkward silence.
Sitting here, Xia Er seemed more like the head of the household, while Charles was left tentatively probing... He seemed unsure of how to approach this red-haired girl.
Though she had captured his daughter’s heart, she also seemed to have effortlessly silenced the formidable presence that was once so powerful...
If she were just an ordinary “son-in-law,” Charles would have exerted pressure, taking on the role of the stern patriarch. But Xia Er was a beautiful girl, not much older than his daughter, which left Charles feeling somewhat flustered.
Now, in all of Ansu City, perhaps only Charles, who had witnessed the downfall of the formidable presence, truly understood the weight of the name “Xia Er.”
Pressure... he didn’t dare to apply.
Conversation... he didn’t know what to say.
The atmosphere couldn’t remain so tense. Charles adjusted his demeanor, softening his tone. “Miss Xia Er, may I ask where you’re from?”
“From Ansu, originally from Bole City.”
“Oh... and your family...”
The classic inquiry about family backgrounds began.
Xia Er had nothing to hide, truthfully sharing her family situation, including the fact that she and her sister were adopted orphans.
Though her words were honest, Charles remained skeptical.
After a few exchanges about family, Charles realized that continuing to pry would be inappropriate... it felt more like interrogating a suspect. He hesitated for a moment before asking, “What is your relationship with Ai Weina now...”
At this point, Charles still held a flicker of hope, imagining that Xia Er’s mention of “lover” might just be a term of endearment among friends.
But when his daughter looked at him and declared, “She is my beloved,” it shattered Charles’s fantasy.
Unable to contain himself, he picked up his napkin, using the motion to suppress his emotions.
There were still many followers of the Order of the Gods of Order in the family. If they learned that Ai Weina had formed a partnership with a girl, he couldn’t imagine the kind of scandal it would bring upon her.
Moreover, Charles himself found it hard to accept.
He had even envisioned a noble suitor coming to propose, or Ai Weina bringing home someone she cared for. As long as the person had a good temperament and a clean background, Charles wouldn’t have obstructed them too much, though he might have felt a bit uneasy.
But he never expected his daughter to bring home someone who was also a girl, and possibly even stronger than himself.
He couldn’t fight her, nor could he speak out.
Charles continued to wipe his face, the warm napkin in his hand nearly cooling down.
“Do you... disapprove?” Ai Weina’s voice, tinged with disappointment, came from beside him.
Charles paused his movements and looked at his daughter on his right. He opened his mouth to say, “No, I just...”
Just don’t know how to accept it.
He didn’t know how to convince himself to accept this, after all, it wasn’t a situation widely accepted by society.
**Tap, tap, tap—**
Footsteps approached from the doorway, and William Winston sat down in the second seat on the left with a smile. Looking at Charles, he said, “Isn’t this great? It’s like you’ve gained another daughter.”
“William?” Charles looked at him in surprise, having been so lost in thought that he hadn’t noticed William’s arrival.
“I thought you might need some help, so I rushed back after my speech,” William said, smiling at Ai Weina and Xia Er. “The speech went quite well; most people in the party support my ideas... Long time no see, Ai Weina. Miss, I believe I saw you at the previous banquet.”
The red hair was quite distinctive, and William was sure he had seen her before, so he smiled at the girl.
Gained another daughter...?
Charles rubbed his temples.
According to William Winston, it didn’t seem so hard to accept after all...
Finally, Charles managed to convince himself internally. He looked toward Ai Weina and Xia Er and slowly said, “William is right... it’s no different from having another daughter.”
“If you want to change your name to Xia Er Russell, I... have no objections.”
Though Charles didn’t say it outright, his words already conveyed his stance.
Only married women take their husband’s surname, so Charles’s statement could be seen as an acceptance of the situation.
It was just that the surname mix-up almost made Xia Er smirk, but remembering that she didn’t have a surname herself, she held her tongue.
However, Ai Weina discreetly glanced at Xia Er, her chin nearly raised to the ceiling.
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