248 Misunderstanding and Challenge (2/2)

The Duke felt something breaking inside.

”Can you not be so selfish?” The Duke said wryly.

”Hmph! What do you know? These are for our daughter. We already ran out back at home.” Amelia scoffed.

Hearing this, the Duke turned serious and no longer complained.

Leon noticed this and felt that the situation wasn't right. The herbal tea leaves he last gifted them was already finished? Even if they drank tea every day, it shouldn't be finished so soon, no?

Recalling his future mother-in-law's words, he realized something and asked, ”Did something happen to Rachel? Right, which pill did she decide to take? Is she at the workshop right now?”

”That girl… Haiz, she is too stubborn. She's not here today. In fact, it's been a while since that girl left the house. You should visit her sometime.” Amelia sighed.

Leon was taken aback by the vagueness, but he nodded.

At this time, the general marquis made his way over with his son and the envoys. He greeted them both as they both returned his greeting.

”We meet again, General.” Leon smiled and offered a handshake.

”We meet again, Your Highness.” The general accepted.

Leon swept his gaze past the general marquis and landed on the Princess Faelyn. His eyes lit up for a brief moment, but he recovered and refocused on the general marquis. ”And these are?”

The general marquis secretly praised the prince but sighed when he compared his son, who had his eyes glued on the elven princess.

The conflicted look only appeared for a split second before the general marquis began another round of introduction for both sides.

”As the prince of Crawford, I welcome you both, envoys of Elvengarde.”

Leon was surprised that there was a sudden elven race rocking up, but recalling that there were Elder Trees in the world and the World Tree Ascension event, he was no longer surprised and welcomed them both naturally without losing his bearing.

”We are honored to.”

The Supreme Elder had learned the human etiquette in their short interaction in the Human Domain and took the initiative to give Leon a handshake.

He had been silent gauging the strength of humanity all this while. A 5-star General, 5-star Duke, and 6-star Duchess, but the prince?

No energy fluctuations could be felt, just like a mortal that never cultivated.

However, instincts told him that the prince was the strongest human out of those he had seen.

Sure enough, the Human Domain was not simple.

The Supreme Elder's action naturally piqued Princess Faelyn's curiosity as she studied the human prince while sneaking a few glances at his bare chest muscles.

This person was royalty just like her, but he was hardworking as one could see from the sweat oozing from Leon's body and he was also unmoved by her beauty.

Is he genuinely unaffected, or just feigning?

Princess Faelyn curiously thought. She was used to people's gazes and had an accurate read on their level of infatuation, but for some reason, she could not see through the human prince.

It was also Rowan's first time meeting the prince, but he was already disgruntled like he was meeting a love rival.

When a person becomes jealous of someone else, they start to look at all that person's shortcomings and flaws.

Rowan had heard from his father that the prince was heroic and a genius, who fought on the frontlines during the Capital Crisis, but why can't he see it?

Sensing the nonexistent energy fluctuation from the prince, Rowan silently sneered. Everything was a pack of lies. A person with zero cultivation can fight against those spiders? Bullshit!

The way he saw it, the prince was a vain person who spread false rumors to uphold his image when he was just a useless mortal who can't cultivate and can only turn to blacksmithing.

Feeling the Rowan's hostile and contemptuous stare, Leon was dumbfounded. What did he do to earn this person's hostility? It's not like he stole his wife or something.

”And this person is?” Leon asked quizzically.

The general marquis saw the look in his son immediately wore a dark look.

”This is my useless son, Your Highness. Don't mind him and just treat him like fart.” Hendrick tried to respond calmly, but he was completely disappointed. He didn't mind too much when his son insisted to accompany the envoys but to be hostile against royalty…

As a hot-blooded youth, who was ready to show off in front of Princess Faelyn, Rowan could not stay quiet after hearing his father's words.

”Father! My limbs might be disabled but I am not useless! I am already a 9th step Awakener! At least compared to a useless someone who can't even cultivate but spread lies of his heroic deeds, I am much better!” Rowan retorted.

Boom!

Rowan's words were like a thunderclap in the general marquis's mind as he almost exploded on the spot.

No names were mentioned, but anyone could guess who the general's son was referring to. Amelia and the general marquis were shocked to realize that they could not sense Leon's cultivation, with the exception of Ignis.

Bastard!

Hendrick gnashed his teeth furiously. Without his guidance, how could his son even dream to reach the 9th step so quickly?

Not to mention up until three months ago, the prince was still missing and had been living in the Lower Districts that was no different to a slum!

Cultivation or no cultivation, to disrespect royalty, was treason!

My face has been completely lost because of you!

The envoy didn't express opinion towards this sudden situation, but the Duke and Amelia both wore ugly expressions.

”What a good son you have, General!”

One could hear strong sarcasm in the Duchess's voice.

Hendrick's expression grew worse. He looked at his disgraceful son and roared, ”Apologize! Apologize to his Highness right this instance!”

The general marquis was trembling with anger.

”I won't!” Rowan said defiantly.

Just you all watch! Even if he is the prince, I tear down his façade and show you all his true colors. You're all being fooled by his fake reputation and deeds!

Rowan looked Leon directly in the eye and said, ”Do you dare accept my challenge to a duel?!”

Leon looked the general's son that was barking like a mad dog and understood the heart of the matter. There was some misunderstanding between them due to his unique situation.

However, he was a prince. He could explain to those close to him, but did he need to explain to everyone too?

Looking at the person's cultivation, Leon wouldn't even need to lift a finger. The other person wasn't strong enough to harm him, while he could finish the other person with one slap.

However, the other person was still the general's son so he should at least give the general some face.

Leon suddenly smiled and said, ”I… refuse!”