Chapter 565 (2/2)

Startled, he turned around abruptly and found Denise Payton, the businesswoman with whom he had spent a great deal of time with on the way here.

“How come…”

“I told you that we’d meet again.” She smiled while raising a glass of red wine. “Cheers, to our reunion.”

Yorko hurriedly glanced about to make sure no noble was staring in this direction.

“Are you looking for my husband?” Denise raised her brows. “Relax. He’s not entitled to attend this reception.”

“Are you saying…”

“I’m the one who manages the Payton Family, not him,” Denise said bluntly, “and there’re more than enough housemaids for him to indulge in. He’s not allowed to seek pleasure outside without my permission.”

[That’s the reason…] Yorko’s heart lightened. It seemed that Denise was the real heir of the Payton Family. In order to inherit the family, the daughter would normally seek a partner, often a diminished noble, to live with her. Due to the huge difference in their status, it was usually the male partner that changed his name.

“You should have told me earlier.” Yorko put on a relieved look. “I don’t want to split up such an affectionate couple and interfere with your special relationship.”

“Really?” Denise smiled. “It wasn’t special when you held out your hand to me.” She paused for a moment and then asked, “Do you have any plans after the banquet?”

“Well, I guess no,” Yorko answered while winding an arm around her dainty waist, “if you invite me.”

“Then I know a good place.”

“All up to you, darling.”

*******************

After the banquet, Otto pulled Prince Appen aside, looking quite confused. “I don’t understand, Your Highness. Even if His Majesty is ill, you can still enter into an alliance with the Kingdom of Graycastle, as this is also what your father intends to do. Why do you want to set the matter aside? With the church putting pressure on us, it isn’t a good idea to fight alone.”

“I’ve heard that father asked you to meet with Timothy Wimbledon rather than Roland Wimbledon?”

“We’re allying with the King of Graycastle. The ambassador has also confirmed that Roland is the new king of our neighbor.”

Appen Moya nodded. “You did a great job on the confidential trip to the Kingdom of Graycastle. But I have my own thoughts on the alliance. Leave it to me.”

“Your Highness!”

“You don’t understand.” Appen interrupted. “I’m, for the sake of the Kingdom of Dawn…”

“It’s for the safety of the Kingdom that we need someone to help us stop the attacks from the church!”

“I said leave it to me!”

Appen could not help raising his voice.

“I’m sorry. I lost my composure.”

As the prince insisted, he had no choice but acquiesce. Just as he turned around, Appen suddenly questioned him. “We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Otto was silent for a moment and then answered, “Yes. Andrea, Belinda, Oro and me… all of us are your friends.”

“If father can’t make it,” Appen spoke slowly, “you’ll help me to the throne, right?”