CHAPTER 217: GOING ON A DATE

A few people heard the name, and they knew immediately who Riven was, but they didn’t say anything, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire.

The chef paused when he heard Riven’s name. He looked at the man in black, and before anyone could take their next breath, he threw a punch. His fist slammed across the face of the man and sent him flying into the wall of the building.

"You stupid piece of shit, do you know who the hell you just disrespected? If you want to sabotage a business, then go and do it somewhere else," the chef roared.

The man was stunned to see this. Never in his life did he think that he would get hit and then scolded today. But the chef wasn’t done.

"Get your stuff, leave this establishment, and never return again. If you do, I’ll have your head."

The man froze in fear. Did he just lose his job like that? How was that even possible? How does that even happen?

He got on his feet, a look of defiance on his face. "This is not fair," he roared. "What did I do? I only stopped some random dirty stranger from entering into your establish—"

Before he could finish that statement, another punch rocked his face so hard it cracked his jaw. "Shut your mouth before you get all of us killed," the chef roared. Everyone was watching at this point, waiters and customers alike.

"How dare you call a noble, the son of the Baron, a dirty stranger?" the chef said.

"What? Son... of... the baron?" the man stuttered. It finally hit him, the gravity of his actions. He looked up and saw him looking down at him with a blank expression.

He had insulted a noble, spoken to him anyhow. That was a crime punished by death. But somehow his eyes filled with anger, so much anger that he didn’t even want to apologize.

But Riven didn’t have time for that. He looked at the chef. "You can do whatever you want with him. I just want to know if I can make a reservation for tonight," Riven asked.

"Without a doubt, young master. You can come in whenever you want, and a table will be ready for you," the chef said hastily.

"Then that’s all, thank you," Riven said and left the restaurant.

Everyone was stunned. Riven didn’t do anything even after being talked to recklessly by a commoner. It was a shocking scene to behold.

The chef looked at the man. He clenched his fist hard. "I have tried all my life to ensure my business goes up. I built my network through grit and determination.

And here you are, you good-for-nothing nobody, trying to sabotage my life’s work. Get out," the chef said one last time.

The man looked at the chef. He took a deep breath and got up, walking to the door without saying another word.

Everyone watched him leave. The entire scene, though exciting, was anticlimactic. Still, it gave them something to gossip and talk about for a while.

Riven left there, not caring about what would happen.

’Now, go to the dungeon and go deeper? Or read some of the books that Dark gave to me,’ Riven thought.

With a craving for blood and battle, he decided to finally go to the dungeon. He had not accessed the depths of the dungeon before and had to leave for the academy.

He wanted to see if he could find more of those monsters that had red crystals. But then again, he needed time to do that, and he didn’t have that type of time on his hands right now.

"Let’s go home and start reading the books that Dale gave us," Riven said.

"Yes, let’s go. I’m sure I can incorporate some of my knowledge to make sure that you learn faster," Twilight said.

Riven nodded. It was soon going to be noon; he headed back to the manor. But rather than actually get the chance to read, his mother asked that he play with Amber, after all, they hadn’t seen each other for a while.

It was an offer that he couldn’t refuse, so he indulged and spent the rest of the day playing with her until the sun slowly started setting and he needed to go prepare for a date.

He got into his room, cleaned up, and got dressed in a simple white shirt, black trousers, and black boots.

He stepped out of his room and saw Sophie standing there, leaned against a wall. She looked him up and down. "You look like you have plans today," she said.

"Yeah, I have somewhere to be," he said and made to walk past her, but she grabbed his collar and pulled him back.

"Whoa, whoa." He turned to look at her, his eyebrow raised in confusion. "What’s wrong?" he asked.

"I want to speak to you before you run off on your date with her. There are three girls, and you have run from them for a while now. It’s like you don’t know which to choose.

But don’t choose," she said and placed her hand on his head. "You don’t have to choose. You can love them equally, devote your time to them, and stand with them.

They might not say it, but each of them is attracted to you in their own way. No one is saying you have to end up with the three of them, but in this early stage of your life, you have some time to figure it out.

Don’t fight it. Go with the flow and see where the stream takes you," she said and grabbed his collar, helping him adjust it properly.

"I understand, Sophie, and I know what I’ll be doing now. I want to learn to love the three of them. The road here was rough, but I think it’s fine now," Riven said and then walked away.

’I have to love them and help them, all three of them, because if I do not, they’ll all die because of Lance,’ Riven thought. He recalled something that had happened in the story.

All three girls lost their lives at different parts of the story, and it was all for Lance to make it to the goal of killing the Demon Lord.

Sacrifices were made, people died, all because Lance was meant to kill the demons. Riven clearly remembered what was stipulated about the real reason for it, and he couldn’t stomach it.

The people that died were all catalysts to ensure Lance won, for him to carry their ambitions, their desires, and their dreams on his back.

For him to know that he wasn’t fighting for his sake alone, but for the sake of all his comrades that had died along the way.

Riven hated that way of thinking. He hated the fact that someone would need to allow others to die to serve as motivation.

The want to keep them alive should have been enough motivation. The desire of Lance should have been to keep those people he said he cared about safe, not allow them to die and then say that their memories are what drive him.

Riven would not allow that. He would give his all first, and then give extra, and then push beyond that to make sure that they stayed alive. He didn’t care what it took; he would fight every single odd to ensure that they were safe.

So now, he was going to protect them rather than allow them to die. The right thing to do.

He made it out of the manor, and he saw Liana standing there in a beautiful black dress. She looked like a dark angel, regal, beautiful, and yet still dangerous.

Her hair was styled beautifully, light makeup was set on her face. She was stunning. Riven found himself looking, and before he knew it, he blurted out, "Beautiful." He quickly covered his mouth and looked away.

"Sorry about that," he said.

She looked at him getting flustered, her cheeks rosy from the fact that he had called her beautiful.

"Thank you," she replied in a soft voice, the same voice that she had used when she wrapped her hands around him.

She walked close and held his hand with both her hands. He felt her warm, soft palm on his, he looked at it, and his heart rate increased.

"Thank you," she said again. He swallowed hard and looked away again.

A few seconds later, a guard rode one of their carriages and stopped in front of them.

"Young Mistress and Young Master, please board," he said and opened the door for them.

Liana walked in first and Riven followed behind. They sat opposite each other, and the guard closed the door. The journey began immediately.

While inside the manor, Sofia stood at a window in a hallway and watched as they left, her eyes cold and her expression heavy.

"You don’t plan on doing anything, right?" Mia suddenly spoke from behind.

Sofia turned back and flashed a smile. "Don’t worry, I’ve come to terms with the fact that I have to share him with both of you for now. As long as none of you try to monopolize him, then it’s fine," she said and then walked away.