Free Web NovelChapter 663: Chapter 23: A Duel
Under Han Zhan’s deliberate guidance, Marianne’s vigilance towards Lady Dais increased significantly.
They returned to the garden, where Lady Dais sat with a faint, enigmatic smile, looking at the two of them.
Her eyes seemed to see through one’s soul, causing Marianne to feel a subtle chill.
"Where have you two been?" Lady Dais asked, resting her head on her crossed hands, with a tone filled with hidden meaning. "Does it really take that long to change clothes?"
"We..." Marianne was caught off guard by the question, her hands fidgeting as she sought a plausible explanation.
"Were you in such a hurry?" Lady Dais suddenly spoke again, in a tone that was mocking yet teasing, "Wasn’t it just a kiss? Did you have to fool around in the daytime again?"
"Marianne, I didn’t realize your desires were even stronger than mine."
"???"
Marianne and Han Zhan exchanged a glance.
They wanted to refute, but seemed to find that this might indeed be the best reason.
After holding each other’s gaze, they tacitly chose to remain silent.
Lady Dais let out a meaningful "oh," "So, I was right?"
"He’s mine, and no one can take him," Marianne finally reacted, forcefully declaring her claim, and pulled Han Zhan over to kiss him hard on the cheek.
Seeing this, Lady Dais said nothing more, only chuckling lightly twice.
However, Arjun, the Angkasaru Star Person who Lady Dais had brought along, glared at Han Zhan with a look as if wishing to tear him apart.
The Angkasaru people were known for their savagery and bellicosity, despising the weak human race, a fact well acknowledged on Yongsha Star.
Han Zhan had come across such notes in the library of the Marian Mansion.
"It’s getting late; let’s start with the luncheon," Marianne said, raising her glass and inviting as the mansion’s host.
With her words, everyone raised their glasses.
The luncheon officially began.
Compared with the private dinner Han Zhan and Marianne had that night, today’s luncheon was evidently on a higher scale.
Even a simple dish could easily be worth over a thousand Sabi.
And a thousand Sabi could buy the lives of a hundred slaves in the Uda Desert’s slums.
Only now did Yongsha Star’s high society begin to unveil a corner before Han Zhan.
Amidst clinking glasses, Lady Dais lazily swirled the wine in her glass, asking in a seemingly nonchalant tone, "Marianne, why haven’t I heard you complaining about nightmares lately?"
"Have your nightmares been resolved?"
She finished her wine with a sip.
Displaying a casual demeanor, just like a friend showing concern.
If not for being forewarned, and having seeds of mistrust and suspicion against Lady Dais implanted in her heart, Marianne might really have opened up to her. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
However, now—
"No, they haven’t gone away; in fact, they’ve seemed to worsen."
Marianne said with a frown, rubbing her temples as if deeply troubled.
"In order to shake off the nightmares, I can only extend the time I spend with Han Zhan to offset the nightmares’ effects on me."
Marianne’s imagination came up with an additional statement.
After hearing her last words, Lady Dais’s eyebrows raised slightly.
Though it was only a small movement, it was clearly discernible to the keen observer Han Zhan.
For Marianne’s response, Han Zhan nodded silently in his heart.
Indeed, merely saying the nightmares persisted would hardly suffice; hence, Marianne "unintentionally" provided a more reasonable explanation.
Because spending more time with Han Zhan reduced her sleep, which in turn mitigated the nightmares’ impact.
This was an impeccable response.
Just when Marianne and Han Zhan thought Lady Dais’s probing would end, an unexpected person suddenly stepped forward.
"Hey, kid!"
"I want to duel you, to entertain the ladies!"
Arjun, the Angkasaru Star Person, stood up, casting a provocative gaze toward Han Zhan.
Despite Arjun’s actions, Lady Dais maintained her smile without objecting.
Dueling for entertainment was quite common in the social circles of noblewomen.
It’s akin to cage fighting on Yongsha Star, where both parties send their slaves to engage in a bloody combat.
Punches exchanged in fierce battles awaken the noblewomen’s morbid primal desires, "adding excitement" to their gatherings.
The Angkasaru people were evidently more adept at this.
This was why he was Lady Dais’s most favored slave.
Of course, this challenge was more like a long-planned revenge by Arjun.
He firmly believed that if the pretty human breed in front of him accepted the challenge, he would be pummelled into a bloody mess by him.
"Better not."
At this moment, before Han Zhan could speak, Marianne rejected the challenge on his behalf.
"He’s just a human breed; how could he be a match for the Angkasaru people?"
"Lady Dais, your Angkasaru slave is one of the top killing machines in our circle; a one-sided crush won’t bring much fun."
Unexpectedly, Lady Dais was unmoved by Marianne’s words of capitulation.
Understanding her master’s stance, Arjun’s face showed increasingly intense provocation.
"If you remain silent, I’ll consider it as your concession, heh."
The tall, burly Angkasaru man finished his talk, towering over Han Zhan, looking down like he was observing an ant, with disdain in his eyes.
"Lady Dais," Marianne called out. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
"Marianne," Lady Dais finally spoke in a faint voice, her smile gone, "I hope you understand something."
"To integrate into the circle, you must pay a price."
"You know one of my pleasures is watching slaves fight to the death. Is a human breed slave more important to you, or is being part of this circle more important to you?"
"I’m sure you should know this better than I."
This was a threat, a stark threat.
Marianne understood the meaning behind Lady Dais’s words, and her expression turned unpleasant.
If Han Zhan were to fight, he would certainly be crushed into a pulp by the Angkasaru man.
If Han Zhan were not to fight, and Lady Dais’s amusement were ruined, it’s highly likely that the social circle she arduously integrated into would draw a line against her.
What should she do?!
Just as Marianne was torn, Han Zhan stood up slowly.
He wiped his hands with a napkin on the dining table and spoke, "Want to have a bout with me?"
"Alright, then let’s do it."
Han Zhan’s words left Marianne in utter shock.
She stared in disbelief at Han Zhan’s back, as if it overlapped with the hero in her dreams.
