51 Chapter 51: Out of City Invitation (2/2)

”Ah, I see.” Alicia smiled. ”That explains your improving performances.”

”Still not good enough,” Stan muttered darkly, still sore over his last defeat. I raised an eyebrow at him, and he wisely fell silent. Not that he was scared of me – I was the lenient, easygoing guy (especially compared to Dad or Dong Fang Yue Chu) who got along with everyone, but because he realized he would be making a fool out of himself by ignoring everything I said earlier.

”Do you need us for something?” I asked, turning back to Alicia. She nodded.

”A moment, Richard, if you don't mind.”

”No, I don't.”

Alicia bowed apologetically to my society members, and then strode to a spot some distance away, where we were out of earshot of my friends. I followed her, guessing that this was a private matter.

I was right.

”Are you free this weekend?” Alicia asked, catching me off guard. I ogled at her for a moment, then shut my mouth in a manner similar to Stan a few seconds ago. Was Alicia Violet, the goddess of our Jing Tian Magic Academy, asking me out on a date?

”Um…yeah.” Weekends were generally free for me. There was no society training during the weekends. As punishing Dad's regimen was, he let us off during the weekends. According to him, we were still students, and we should have fun during our precious years of youth. I sometimes trained for a couple of hours during the weekends, but otherwise my schedule was flexible. ”Do you need me for something?”

”Yes.” Alicia nodded. ”If you don't mind…I need an escort to Southampton City this weekend. I was hoping you could fulfil the role.”

”Huh? Escort?” I stared at Alicia blankly. So it wasn't a date. I couldn't say I wasn't disappointed, but I did half-expect that. there was no way the goddess of our school would ask me out on a date, no matter how many signs she showed. Actually, I was pretty sure she displayed the same positive, friendly signs to everyone, such as Troy. I heard she was also very friendly with Theodore Hammond and Craig Carlson as well.

I was just overthinking it.

”Okay. So what does an escort do?” I understood the word as a verb, but the term was unfamiliar. ”Bodyguard duties?”

”Ah, that's right. You're not very familiar with the way the great families operate.” Alicia looked a little guilty. ”Basically I've been invited to the Stuart family's opening of one of their hotels. It's a formal event, and I'm going on behalf of my father. Usually, those invited have to bring an escort. It's sort of a ball, so there will be dances and a banquet.”

”You're asking the wrong guy,” I said bluntly. ”I can't dance, and I'm not good with formal events.”

Alicia giggled. ”I sort of expected you to say that. But I'm not asking you because I want a dance partner. Cecilia will be there too. She's the one who invited me, actually.”

I cocked my head to the side silently. I would prefer to avoid Cecilia if I could. Having seen her take out both my Vermillion Phoenix and a rank C Frost Wyvern, I thought of her as an extremely scary person.

”I don't believe Cecilia specifically asked you to invite me along as your escort, did she?” It had better not be anything to do with that bullshit declaration she made about the first guy in her generation who defeated her having the right to be her boyfriend. She hadn't bothered me in the couple of months since then, so I doubted she would suddenly bring that up again.

”No, actually it was Adrian who asked if I could bring you along. Cecilia passed the message on, and told me that Adrian would really like to meet you again and express his thanks for helping him. She would also like to express her gratitude to you as well, for saving her cousin and bringing him to safety.”

”I didn't do much.” I scratched my head uncomfortably. But if Adrian and Cecilia were putting it that way, then it would be rude to reject them. Not to mention, if there was a banquet, I would get free food – ridiculously expensive and delicious delicacies usually available only to the upper class. Might as well take advantage of that. ”Okay, I'll go with you then.”

”Excellent!” Alicia beamed in delight. ”I'll send you the details through email then!”

”Yeah.” While watching her, I was reminded that Alicia wasn't asking me to be her escort necessarily because I was her first choice. She only approached me because Cecilia and Adrian specifically requested for me. Why didn't they just directly invite me, though? Oh, because Dad and I weren't from a high-class, wealthy family.

The rich, upper-class people had their weird etiquettes, ceremonies and rules, which were convoluted and excessive, to say the least. I was so glad I wasn't among them.

”I'll see you on Saturday then!” Alicia waved before she turned to return to wherever she came from. Most likely the Black Roses training rooms. I nodded and watched her for a bit before returning to the waiting Ultimate Outcast Society.

”What was all that about?” Dong Fang Yue Chu asked with a knowing grin. Not liking his expression, I merely scowled.

”President Alicia asked me for a favor.” Before he could press me for details, I strode to the front. ”Okay, let's go. Sorry for the holdup, but we had better hurry before my Dad punishes us with an extra set for being late!”

That got everyone running as quickly as possible toward the direction of my house.