CHAPTER 83: FAMILY BANQUET

“Ah, the family banquet is on July twenty-fifth? That’s tomorrow, right?”

“What’s wrong? Do you have a date?” Silvia lowered the suit and dress shoes tailor-made for Wayne and said bluntly, “You’re still young. Young people should focus on their studies rather than on girls. Listen to your big sister. Cancel this date, and I’ll introduce you to my daughter another day.”

“But I already promised—”

“That settles it then!”

Silvia shoved the clothes into Wayne’s hands, pushing him into the bedroom and closing the door. “Try the clothes and see if they fit. If not, I’ll take them back for alterations.”

“What a coincidence.”

Wayne held the clothes and started changing resignedly. He had agreed to attend Veronica’s small celebration on the evening of the twenty-fifth, which just so happened to be the date for Silvia’s family banquet.

Now dressed in his new outfit, he stood before the full-length mirror and turned sideways to check his reflection. The fabric was premium, the craftsmanship exquisite, and the fit absolutely perfect. He was certain that he had never met with a tailor for measurement. Silvia’s eyes had a built-in measuring tape, it seemed—truly worthy of being Palis’s top fashion designer.

Speaking of fashion design, he remembered the stockings and called out to the door, “Master, three months ago, you said you’d arrange for someone to develop stockings. Are there prototypes yet?”

“I’ve been pushing them. The models are trying on the prototypes at this stage. It’ll take a bit more time for the finished products to come out.”

“I suggest speeding up. It’s almost August. Summer is the peak selling season for stockings.”

“I know, I know. Are you done changing? You’re dawdling more than a woman. Should I do your makeup?” Silvia was complaining when Wayne pushed the door open. She immediately froze.

As a fashion designer for women’s clothes, Silvia had only made clothes for two men: her scoundrel husband and her student. The clothes alone weren’t particularly similar, but once Wayne put them on, he looked remarkably similar to her husband, more so the more she looked at him. It wasn’t just in their hair color and appearance, but also in their... temperament.

The temperament of obedience and compliance on the surface, and a rebellious stubbornness underneath!

She frowned. Goddess, please let that be an illusion. She had picked a bastard as a husband; please don’t let her student be a bastard as well.

“What’s wrong? Is something not right?”

Noticing his master’s stormy expression, Wayne instinctively lifted his arm to check himself. Clothes make the man; this suit immediately elevated his class when put on. There was no flaw he could spot. He looked perfectly presentable.

“Nothing. I just remembered something unpleasant.”

Silvia waved her hand, telling Wayne not to go anywhere on the afternoon of the twenty-fifth. She would come to pick him up. With that, she left in a hurry, returning to her office to continue working.

Wayne shrugged, changed into casual clothes, and hung the suit in the wardrobe before diving into the basement. He summoned Do and Julia for a stroll through the sewers.

Destination: the detective agency. Along the way, he’d help out some homeless old friends.

He could give up on anything, but not grinding! Without grinding, he would have no future!

He rode his horse, stopping once in a while to pick up old friends. When he reached his agency, it was already dark outside. He checked and caught a whiff of one of the magical girls; it seemed that Veronica had swung by today. Sure enough, there was a note from her on the desk.

[Why haven’t you taken the diary? Call me ASAP!]

No phone was installed in the detective agency, and he had always been the one to contact her first. When Veronica wanted to find him, she realized she didn’t have his phone number, and even more infuriatingly, they had not exchanged their messenger birds’ contact information despite what they had been through together.

He sighed. He would have exchanged contacts with her, but he’d been too busy lately, and the phone line at this temporary residence had been cut. The workers had not shown up to repair it yet.

That was how things went in Londan. Sellers made promises to lure customers in first, then claimed staff shortages after receiving payment, resulting in a terrible customer experience.

Wayne pocketed the diary and went to the street to make a call to Veronica. He would have to stand everyone up on the twenty-fifth. He hoped the organizer wouldn’t be angry about the main character’s absence.

“Oh, if this isn’t Boss Wayne! Been busy lately?”

“Being busy is good for the sake of livelihood!”

Wayne smiled shamelessly. It was his bad for breaking a promise, especially a promise to the three magical girls. He pondered how he should shift the blame without hurting Veronica’s feelings.

Unexpectedly, she spoke up hesitantly before he could, “About tomorrow night’s gathering, something urgent came up on my side. We might need to reschedule.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Is it that time of the month?”

“Something like that...”

“Really? We set the date a week in advance. How can you cancel all of a sudden? You’re a girl. Can’t you keep track of your cycles? And I thought we were friends. I trusted you so much. Is this how you treat friends?”

Wayne immediately raised his voice. As everyone knew, he most loathed people who didn’t keep their word. On the other end, Veronica apologized softly. She had already explained to Vera and Kristen, but couldn’t reach Wayne, which was why she visited the detective agency earlier.

“What’s the point of saying this now? Do you know how much I was looking forward to tomorrow’s gathering? Veronica, you’ve disappointed me!” Wayne huffed and scolded her. “And why are you speaking so quietly while apologizing? So insincere.”

How dare you? Don’t push your luck! Veronica fumed but took a deep breath. It was her fault for going back on her word.

“Sorry,” she repeated.

“Louder.”

“I! AM! SORRY—!”

“Why are you shouting?!”

Veronica had already hung up. Wayne huffed, marching out of the phone booth like a general returning victorious.

***

Family Banquet, July twenty-fifth.

Wayne spent the entire day frantically writing in his diary, portraying himself as generous and kind, upright and brave, and neither greedy nor lustful. He even added a part based on the current event about him making it to a date despite having to face hundreds of evil gods.

It was realistic work, all about authenticity! The author hoped to use his integrity to awaken the readers’ lost conscience and make them recognize their mistakes.

At five o’clock in the afternoon, a high-end black sedan stopped in front of 13 Manor Street. Wayne, dressed in the fine suit Silvia made for him, declined the driver’s help to open the door for him and climbed into the back seat himself.

Silvia was dressed for the occasion in an evening gown of her own design—a black sleeveless dress that displayed incomparable elegance and nobility. The neckline was uniquely designed, the deep V going just low enough to tastefully reveal her delicate collarbones and graceful neck.

She wore earrings with green diamonds, and the pendant on her chest was also a green gemstone. It was understated, reserved, luxurious yet approachable. As for the other aspects, like the curves of her body, Wayne had respectfully avoided them out of respect for his master.

“How do you like Sister’s outfit?”

Are you asking about your clothes? You just want to know if you look beautiful today, don’t you?

He kept his grumbling to himself and put on a likable expression, nodding in praise, “Master, you’re the most beautiful outside of the Goddess of Nature.”

Although pleased, Silvia pointed out Wayne’s error: outside of the Goddess of Nature? The Goddess of Sun and the Goddess of Moonlight were also noble and elegant; she would rank fourth after them at best.

(눈_눈)

Fine, they’re all old ladies. You’re the youngest, so you come after. Whatever makes you happy.

***

The Lando family’s ancestral home was located at the border between the Western District and the Central District. Years ago, when Londan hadn’t yet expanded, the estate was considered quite remote. But with industrialization and the city’s continuous growth, the plot of land had become an expensive spot close to the financial center.

The estate sat behind a large forest, beyond which was a spacious lawn, far from the city’s hustle. Being there felt like entering another world.

The main house consisted of a central building and two wings. A bit further back in the rear garden stood the young lady’s private house. From above, each building had its own unique architectural style and aesthetic appeal.

The interior of the estate was only worth countless millions; nothing more to say about it. Wayne couldn’t see the small nature reserve in the back garden from inside the car; he only knew that the path lined with trees leading to the main building was very long, the road circling the lawn was also very long, and the fountain on the lawn was very large.

Rather than an estate, it looked more like a resort.

None of that was the point. The point was that when entering, he saw the family crests on both sides of the gate: the tulip was particularly striking, identical to the Lando family crest from Enrod.

(一`´一;)

The big shot, Mr. Lando, Master, Veronica, the family crest... With a little analysis and deduction, he figured out everything.

No wonder the mysterious big shot suddenly wanted to put him in a cement barrel and dump him in the river. No wonder the banker Mr. Lando couldn’t handle that big shot. No wonder his master easily took care of his problem when Mr. Lando couldn’t. No wonder...

He had a eureka moment where all the questions that had been troubling him for a long time were answered. He looked at Silvia with resentment. “Master, I just saw the Lando family crest. Wonderful. It’s the same as the one in Enrod!”

“Oh?” Silvia said in surprise. “Didn’t I tell you?”

“It was my fault for not asking.”

“Yeah, good for you to recognize that,” she praised, patting him on the shoulder and teasing, “Before, when I wanted to introduce my daughter to you, you always turned me down. Are you regretting it now?”

ε=(-｡-;

Wayne sighed, speechless. So he hadn’t been sugar dating his master and the young lady separately—he’d been the Lando family’s kept man all along.

How wonderful to meet a master who enjoyed toying with her student. It also explained why Veronica had suddenly canceled the gathering.

“Master, does Veronica know?”

“She didn’t ask, either.”

“Fantastic. I’m not the only one being toyed with.”

After loudly voicing his complaint, he turned to look out the window. Ridiculous. The car had been driving for a long time since entering the gate, and they still hadn’t arrived at the main house.

This was the city center! Had Mr. Lando considered building a subway line in the front yard?

Better do that soon, or more guards and maids would break up because they couldn’t sustain their long-distance relationships.

***

The black sedan stopped, and servants came forward to open the doors. After getting out, Wayne extended his hand to support Silvia—it was a tip from Veryl about maintaining etiquette while preserving the elegance of the ladies. That was what made a gentleman elegant.

“Madam.”

On both sides of the main entrance, servants stood in two rows as head butler Megan approached, placing one hand on her chest and bowing slightly.

Wayne didn’t feel anything. Perhaps the drive had been too long, so this grand welcome didn’t surprise him. Nothing would shock him anymore unless the Queen personally swept the floor in a maid's outfit at the gate.

“Megan, this is my student, Wayne.” Silvia glanced at Wayne beside her. “From now on, address him as Young Master Wayne.”

Megan nodded and bowed to Wayne, addressing him as Silvia had instructed.

He returned the gesture, suddenly realizing why Veryl had been calling him “young master” despite him being an outsider and a temporary guest. He looked curiously at Megan, who turned around calmly to lead the way, dressed in a tailored suit with a proper, serious appearance.

This was the woman who defeated Veryl? She was quite beautiful indeed. No, she was more than just beautiful. She was stunning, elegantly poised, and composed, flawless in appearance as a head butler.

But still average!

Wayne disapproved. A butler couldn’t be judged by appearance alone. The key was their professional competence. He still believed Veryl to be the best butler, and Megan had to have physically wrangled a promotion out of Mr. Lando.

He turned to Silvia with indignation. Master, this woman is sleeping with your husband!

Then he noticed something suspicious: they look so alike!

He compared his master and the butler, and their images overlapped perfectly. Megan’s short blonde hair and her meticulous temperament were exactly like Silvia’s. The similarity was beyond mimicking—they were identical.

So Master’s husband hadn’t cheated spiritually? Every time he cheated physically, he was thinking of Master? Such a devoted romantic!

Entering the main door, what greeted Wayne first was a spacious, bright hall with a high ceiling, a magnificent chandelier, exquisite murals, and a staircase leading directly to the second floor, covered in red carpet. When luxury and elegance came together perfectly and reached their peak, wealth was no longer the feature. It was all about the artistic element.

The Lando family’s ancestral home was incredibly artistic, the artistic value as high as a skyscraper.

Megan pushed open the white doors ahead, revealing an ornate dining room of exceptional style, where every random decorative piece had an extraordinary history.

Wayne didn’t understand anything and didn’t try. His eyes landed on the man in the main seat. He wore a black suit similar to his own, with handsome features and a youthful appearance. He was playing with an antique silver coin in his hand.

Auston Lando.

He stood up and walked up to the lady of the house with a smile, his eyes seeing only Silvia. He didn’t glance at Wayne once. The younger man was pushed to the blind spot of his sight, not even visible in his peripheral vision.

Auston raised his hand, wanting to escort his wife to her seat, but it didn’t quite work. Silvia snorted and walked directly past him.

“Hmph!”

Auston slowly lowered his hand, his smile fading as he watched his wife’s back. He huffed with a stern face.

“Hah!”

Hearing that, Silvia refused to be outdone.

“Hmph!”

“Hah!”

...Are you two just gonna keep huffing at each other?

Wayne was already sick of being the third wheel here.

He wasn’t surprised that Auston paid no attention to him. It made complete sense from the perspective of the wronged party here.

Bad news: the pretty boy got his girl.

Good news: the pretty boy ran away.

Bad news: halfway through, the pretty boy hooked up with his woman.

Good news: his woman came home.

Bad news: the pretty boy followed her home, too.

Yes, Wayne nodded to himself. He deserved the treatment. If someone had done the same to him, he would’ve already sicced Do, Julia, and Bo after them.

Under the butler’s guidance, he took his seat. Looking up, he saw Veronica sitting across from him in an evening gown, clearly dressed for the occasion. She had a scowl on her face.

(눈‸눈)

Wayne looked at her innocently.