Lord of The Mysterious Realms Chapter 1183

After the somewhat sensitive topic, Dolores steered the conversation back to more natural ground, asking Jenkins if he liked foie gras as she picked up the menu. It wasn't that Jenkins was oblivious to the young princess's intentions; he simply didn't know how he should respond.

The cat, lounging on a soft purple cushion set out just for it, regarded Jenkins's indecision with utter contempt.

Nolan, being a coastal city, was rich in marine resources, ensuring its residents could enjoy seafood on their tables all year round. In contrast, the northern city of Ruen, due to its climate, had no agricultural specialties to speak of. But as the kingdom's capital, it was a melting pot of culinary delights and spices from across the continent. Its chefs were masters of their craft, capable of working wonders with both the most extravagant and the most humble of ingredients, transforming them into a dazzling array of dishes for their esteemed guests.

Setting aside Jenkins's own opinion, even the cat, with its notoriously finicky palate, was thoroughly pleased with the evening's fare. Before it had taken up with Jenkins, the cat had fended for itself, yet its tastes were always surprisingly refined. Since joining him, its discerning appetite had often been a source of suspicion for Jenkins.

If even Chocolate was satisfied, then Jenkins was naturally more than content. He'd always assumed high-end restaurants were more for socializing than for getting a full meal, but he was now realizing that was merely a problem of insufficient funds, insufficient status, and insufficient audacity. The most update n0vels are published on n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

Dinner began at half-past five, just as the sun was beginning to set. By the time Jenkins felt he'd had his fill and started to gently restrain the cat from devouring anything more, the world outside had been enveloped in darkness.

Without him even noticing, the street lamps had all flickered to life, their glow revealing the breathtaking nightscape of the northern city of Ruen.

"What's the name of the play tonight?"

"The Swindler's Sin,"

the princess replied, her gaze fixed on the candle before them, a faint smile on her lips. Her thoughts remained a mystery.

So far, the entire day had passed without incident. Not a single thing had occurred that Jenkins hadn't anticipated, making it quite possibly the most astonishingly peaceful day he'd had since arriving in this world.

But that sense of astonishment was short-lived. Just as their carriage pulled up to the theater entrance, with Jenkins still deep in conversation with Dolores about the detective opera he was writing, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the evening calm.

A moment later, a rap sounded on the carriage window. A guard passed in a calling card dusted with gold powder. Julia took it, and after a brief glance, hesitated before handing it to Dolores.

Jenkins reached over and took the card himself. A single glance was all it took for him to grasp the situation.

"The son of a duke?" he mused. "Do they just hand these things out to anyone these days?"

Jenkins himself, after all, didn't even have a calling card to his name.

"Young men with more ambition than sense always enjoy making a scene,"

Dolores remarked, showing no interest in even touching the card. She turned back to Jenkins and added:

"He must have assumed I came alone and saw an opportunity to invite me to the play. Mr. Williams," she said, her tone shifting, "I wonder if I might have the honor of inviting you to be my escort? To help me fend off these tiresome flies?"

She asked with such natural grace that one could hardly detect any other motive.

Jenkins nodded with a smile.

For a moment, Julia almost suspected the duke's son was an actor hired by the princess, positioned perfectly at the theater entrance to trigger a scene straight out of a chivalric romance.

But she wouldn't dare voice such a thought. Prearranged or not, Julia knew one thing for certain: anyone who dared to spoil this evening would face the full force of Dolores's wrath.

The rejected son of the duke didn't have the audacity to press his luck further. When Jenkins stepped out of the carriage, he only caught a glimpse of the man's own coach pulling away.

Still, the street was crowded with carriages, and this was, after all, the capital of the Hamparvo Kingdom, teeming with high-ranking nobility. The second son of a duke was hardly a major figure in such a place, so Jenkins quickly dismissed the man from his thoughts.

It was only after stepping out of the carriage that Jenkins realized just how popular the theater was. The crowd was a veritable sea of people, as bustling and noisy as a marketplace. Of course, one wouldn't typically see people dressed in formal suits and elegant gowns at a market, nor would they arrive in a horse-drawn carriage to buy vegetables.

"I've noticed a lot of people are looking at me,"

he murmured to Julia, who simply pursed her lips in response.

Jenkins understood the reason perfectly well. Given Dolores's delicate position, any man appearing at her side with such apparent intimacy was bound to draw attention. He wasn't hiding behind a false identity this time; he was out in public as Jenkins Williams. He had no doubt that by morning, news of his appearance would be all over Ruen.

"But what's so bad about that?"

This was, after all, at Papa Oliver's suggestion—or rather, his near-explicit instruction from that very morning. Though Jenkins didn't fully grasp what the Church was planning, he didn't particularly mind making his presence in Ruen known as Jenkins Williams.

He would have to introduce Alexia to his friends sooner or later, so letting the Church and others become aware of his connections in Ruen was a necessary step.

He was simply curious. On what grounds would the Church, which never meddled in secular politics, have a Saint like him appear at the side of a royal princess? The political climate on the continent was exceedingly tense. The Fidektri Kingdom and the Cheslan Kingdom were already engaging in small but tangible skirmishes along their border, and a full-scale war seemed imminent.

At such a volatile time, the Church shouldn't be making such a move, logically speaking. But since it was Papa Oliver's wish, there had to be a reason behind it. He decided he would ask Alexia about it tomorrow. The petite woman would surely be able to make sense of it all.

After stepping out of the carriage, Jenkins spotted a young girl selling flowers from a small basket not far away. He murmured a word to Julia, then excused himself and walked toward her.

Selling flowers in a place was undoubtedly a smart move. As long as she was dressed respectably, neither the patrons' servants nor the theater's guards would mind a young girl trying to make a sale.

She had a pleasant voice, and she offered Jenkins a sweet smile as he approached.

Given the season, her selection was limited, and now that night had fallen, most of the blooms were showing signs of wilting. Jenkins ultimately selected three red roses and generously paid her asking price without haggling.

He had little choice, in truth; the flower girl only had roses.

"Here, these are for you, Dolores."

He returned and presented the flowers to Dolores, who could no longer contain the joyful smile spreading across her face. She didn't pass them to Julia but held them herself.