Chapter 133
âWowâŠ!â
âThey really built this place extravagantly.â
âHow much money did they spend on it?â
Even from the boat, Sunset Valeâs luxury was obvious.
Leonhard and Sylvester were astonished, but Luciard and Hestia, who did not think well of Malrus, appeared unimpressed.
âMy uncle and aunt are over thereâŠâ
Sylvester looked especially thoughtful. He imagined his family enjoying themselves there, and he had a complicated expressionâboth curious and a little sad, maybe wishing he were there too.
âWant to take a closer look?â
Hestia handed him a telescope. Sylvester thanked her and looked through it at Sunset Vale. It was so clear, it felt like he was right there.
He could see people walking by the beach and dining outdoors.
He wondered if he could spot the Duke Florence family among them.
âOh!â
He did.
âDid you find them?â
âYeah! Gabriel and Chloe are on the hotel terrace. Looks like theyâre having a fun conversation.â
Unlike Sylvester, who was happy to see them enjoying their time, Hestia and Luciard frowned upon hearing the Florence siblings’ names.
But Sylvester didnât notice their reactions.
He continued watching Gabriel laugh heartily at something Chloe said and wondered what the joke was.
âI wish I could be there too.â
But if he went over, Chloe would probably leave, and Gabriel wouldnât be laughing like that.
Knowing Chloe disliked him, Sylvester quietly pushed down his feelings.
Then, the door opened and Lasie appeared.
Gabriel and Chloe soon went inside.
Sylvester didnât see Acid, but he was relieved to spot Lasie at least.
He lowered the telescope.
âAll done. Looks like theyâre enjoying their vacation.â
âWe could ask the captain to get us closer.â
âNo, theyâre heading inside now. I just wanted to check if theyâre doing okay, so Iâm done.â
He told the others they could do as they pleased now.
âThen letâs head back.â
As the sun began setting, the sky darkened.
Hestia looked around for Max, when a sudden flash of light caught her eye.
ââŠWhatâs that?â
She turned to see a signal light coming from Sunset Vale, flashing toward them.
âIs something wrong?â
âNo, itâs nothing serious. Are you finished sightseeing?â
âYeah, thanks.â
âThis was the last patrol zone, so weâll return to the navy base now.â
Max gave orders, and the ship turned back.
Once they moved away, the signal light stopped.
âCommander, what were they signaling just now?â Leonhard asked curiously.
âI heard people communicate using lights by the sea. Were they asking for help?â
âAhâŠâ
Max looked awkward.
Sensing something was off, Hestia said,
âDonât worry, just tell us honestly. Whatâs going on?â
âWell⊠they were urging us to leave the Sunset Vale area quickly.â
âWhat?â
âThey always insist that our navy ships ruin the view, and they donât want us anywhere near their coastline.â
âWhat the hell?â
âThatâs ridiculous!â
Sylvester and Leonhard were shocked, but Hestia wasnât surprised.
âIn my past life, they even tried to move the navy base.â
She had managed to stop them, but stillâŠ
âThis is how they end up ruining themselves.â
âI noticed a huge wall near the base. Was that their doing too?â
âYes⊠Count Humphreyâs side built it, saying they didnât want the navy base to be visible.â
âWhy didnât you report this earlier?â
âIt was tricky. The wall is technically on their land, so we couldnât say much.â
Typical Malrusâmanipulative and sneaky.
âYou were only able to patrol today because of us. Itâs been two weeks since your last one, right?â
âYes, until now we could only observe from a distanceâŠâ
Hestia noticed how tired Max looked.
âAt first, I worried that stopping the base relocation might change the future too much⊠but no. Malrus stays true to itself.â
âI actually wanted to discuss this. If we canât patrol, itâll delay our response in emergencies. Is there any way to persuade Count Humphrey?â
âI doubt he outright banned it.â
âNo⊠he said if anything happens, theyâll handle it themselves.â
So basically, they wouldnât hold the navy responsible for any incidents.
âDid you get that in writing?â
âNot yetâŠâ
âYou should. If he changes his story later, he could blame you.â
Max looked a bit confused.
She didnât seem too angry about Count Humphrey blocking patrols.
âImportant guests must be there now, and theyâre probably mad to see navy ships.â
ââŠI think heâll come to complain tomorrow. What should I do?â
âIâve got a plan. Weâll talk about it tomorrow. For now, itâs late.â
Hestia smiled, saying the ocean view was nice, and Max just scratched his head in confusion.
Meanwhile, just as Hestiaâs group had arrived at Sunset Vale…
Gabriel and Chloe were relaxing on the terrace.
It was their first vacation as a whole family in the south.
At first, they enjoyed the food, hotel, and massages, but after four days, it was getting boring.
There was a casino, but it wasnât their thing, so they stopped going.
Still, the scenery was beautiful.
As the sea turned orange under the sunset, Gabriel sighed sentimentally.
âI wish we could see Tia while weâre down here.â
âPfftâŠ! Ugh, you made me spit my drink. My dress is ruined.â
Chloe had choked on her drink.
Gabriel ignored her and kept dreaming.
If other noble girls had seen him like this, they mightâve swooned.
But next to him was only his sister, who always argued with him.
âWhen did you two get close enough to use nicknames? Did she even say you could call her that?â
âSheâll be my woman someday. Might as well practice now.â
Chloe rolled her eyes.
âSeriously? I thought your obsession would last a couple months, but it’s been two years! Time to give up.â
âI didnât expect this either. Sheâs just⊠so fierce.â
âSorry, I have other plans.â
âIâm tired today. Maybe next time.â
âIâm engaged. This makes me uncomfortable.â
Gabriel remembered all the cold things Hestia had said to him and smiled.
âIâve never met a woman who rejects me this much.â
âYou know sheâs getting married soon, right?â
âMarried?â
âYeah, theyâve been engaged for two years. Itâs about time.â
Chloe turned to look at her brotherâhe was suddenly laughing like crazy.
âHahaha! Youâre so naive, Chloe. Theyâre never getting married.â
âWhat?â
âThe whole engagement is fake.â
Chloe was shocked into silence. Gabriel laughed so hard he cried.
âA fake engagement? People have gossiped about that, but they act like such a perfect coupleâŠâ
âThey overdo it. Too much public affectionâitâs unnatural.â
Neither Hestia nor Luciard are the type to show love openly, yet they always act affectionate in public.
Gabriel had even seen moments where their smiles seemed forced or their actions became awkwardâlike they were acting.
âWhy would they pretend?â
âI donât know, but Iâm sure the act will end soon.â
âHow do you know?â
âBecause that illegitimate guy is getting more power in the duchy.â
Before, Hestia had appeared in public as the guardian, but now Luciard was showing up more.
âTheyâre probably stalling until Luciard takes over officially. That girl is impressiveâI donât chase her for no reason.â
Gabriel had looked into Hestiaâs past.
He discovered something shocking.
âShe practically built up Frost and Winston herself.â
âWhat? Thatâs ridiculous. Winston has always been powerful. How could she build it?â
Exactly the reaction he expected.
But Chloe overlooked something: Winston had once almost collapsed after losing its leader.
âA lot of people tried to take advantage of that.â
But Hestia fought off all their schemes and made Winston self-sufficient again.
She even achieved more than the former duke ever had.
âItâs complicated. You wouldnât understand.â
Was she really a Florence, with such a narrow view?
Gabriel was suddenly embarrassed by his sister.
âSounds like youâre just making excuses to like her. Come onâsheâs a commoner. You think someone like her suits us?â
âDidnât you used to chase after that illegitimate guy?â
âThat was in the past! And even if they break upâare you seriously thinking of marrying her?â
âMarry?â
Gabriel snorted.
âNo way. As you said, sheâs a commoner.â
âAt least youâre still sane.â
âIâll be emperor someday. A commoner canât be my empress. But maybe⊠I could take her as a concubine. She loves politics, so Iâd use her skills wellâwithin my golden cage.â
Chloe gave him a knowing look.
âFigures.â
delusional psycho. hope you slip in bathroom and crack your head
Get away from her creep