Victoria’s current mood could be described as frustrated to the extreme.
So close!
She had been so close!
She had just successfully managed to press her body against his!
In Hope County, it was rare to find a prime prospect as high-quality as Elias.
Deep down, she truly wanted something to happen between them, even if it was just testing the waters first.
Her mental abacus was clicking away at a frantic pace.
First, Elias’s monthly salary was absurdly high.
A full twenty-four gold crowns!
In this hellish era, that kind of money allowed one to walk tall anywhere in the Kingdom of Velen; it was a sum that firmly crossed the threshold into the wealthy middle class.
To put it in perspective, her own family had worked tirelessly in this city for many years.
Yet, they barely managed to maintain the decency of an ordinary middle-class household.
Elias was young, yet his single month’s income ruthlessly crushed that of her father, who had spent his entire life doing clerical work!
He was practically a walking bank!
Granted, his profession was that of a sailor.
Spending his life on the turbulent, rolling seas sounded full of fatal uncertainty.
Generally speaking, a girl looking for stability would find it hard to place a man in such a profession at the top of her list.
After all, in this day and age, no one wanted to wear black lace and become a widow at a young age.
But in Victoria’s eyes, that wasn't a problem at all.
Judging by the rock-solid composure Elias had shown earlier in the tavern when facing George’s provocation...
He was definitely not some flashy, impulsive brute who would easily throw his life away.
Then there was his attitude toward his sister, Charlotte.
This was clearly a responsible man who cared for his family.
Victoria’s mental gears turned rapidly.
With Elias’s terrifying ability to rake in money, he could easily work at sea for a few more years.
After saving up a staggering amount of wealth, he could simply quit the Wayland Shipping Company.
He could return to the mainland, buy a villa with a garden in the safe West District, and comfortably run a small business of his own.
It sounded like the perfect retirement plan!
If she managed to snag him, would he be willing to make such stable plans early for the sake of her and their family?
It was very likely, wasn't it?
Not only that.
For Victoria herself.
Rather than sitting at home like a piece of merchandise, waiting for her father to marry her off to some stranger who might be a social equal but was most likely an eccentric weirdo...
She would much rather take the initiative while she was still young and beautiful!
She would directly secure this prize catch who met all her top-tier criteria!
Finally, and most importantly for her.
The genes of the Rockland family were so good they were almost enviable.
From the lively and cute Charlotte to her eldest brother, who was a detective at Old Palace Yard.
And then there was the tall, well-built Elias standing right before her.
The looks of this entire family hit every aesthetic preference of the Kingdom of Velen’s high-beauty standards.
Victoria had once secretly wondered if she could get to know that supposedly formidable police officer brother through Charlotte.
But once, after catching just a distant glimpse of that eldest brother...
She had immediately abandoned the idea.
The man was definitely the stoic, iron-blooded type.
Living with a man like that would be enough to drive anyone into a deep depression.
By comparison.
The gentlemanly and witty Elias in front of her fit her criteria for a partner perfectly.
However!
Who could have imagined!
Mary’s own brother—that damn George!
What on earth was he doing?!
Victoria currently felt like taking off her shoe and swinging it hard against George’s face.
Is this man’s IQ even normal?
She couldn't help but let out a deafening roar in her mind.
Since your eyes are practically glued to Charlotte...
Shouldn't you be acting like a normal suitor and desperately trying to please her brother like a loyal lapdog?!
Since when does chasing a girl involve being arrogant enough to pick a fight with her brother right to his face?!
Are you worried your path to marriage is too smooth? Do you feel the need to add some extra difficulty for yourself?
Looking at George’s idiotic, provocative face.
Victoria took a deep breath, feeling a wave of relief.
This also served as a perfect proof that her decision to seek a relationship on her own terms was very wise.
Looking at George’s behavior.
She could guess with her eyes closed what kind of suffocating, bizarre young man her father—with his average taste—would introduce to her in the future!
The biggest problem now was...
She had finally built up enough psychological courage to take the initiative and initiate some heart-pounding physical contact with Elias.
Did this hateful George really have to barge in and interrupt?!
Is your competitive streak really that strong?!
Victoria stood in the crowd, arms crossed, staring fixedly at George’s back with a gaze that could kill.
Unfortunately.
George was currently in a state of extreme, hyper-excited peacocking.
He seemed completely oblivious to the murderous look behind him.
Instead, he was fully immersed in the fantasy of having a "test of strength between men" with Elias and showing off in front of his sweetheart.
Elias, with his hands in his trench coat pockets, walked leisurely over to the carnival stall.
In front of him, the machine featured a heavy leather punching bag connected to complex gears and a vertical, transparent glass tube.
Inside the tube was a heavy cast iron weight.
“What are the rules?”
Elias completely ignored George, who was acting like he’d been injected with adrenaline, and calmly addressed the stall owner.
“It’s simple, sir!”
The owner immediately stepped forward, shouting enthusiastically.
“It only costs five Fenny per try!”
“This precision pneumatic machine can accurately measure the power level of your punch!”
The owner patted the thick glass tube, the scales on it reflecting the firelight.
“There are five levels in total!”
“If the power of your punch exceeds the first scale, you win one Shilling on the spot!”
“If it exceeds the second level, you get two Shillings!”
“And so on...”
The owner paused deliberately, pointing a thick finger at the counter at the very top of the machine.
His eyes gleamed with a seductive light.
“However!”
“If you can unleash such staggering power that you hit the highest level!”
“Then, you can walk away from me with a shiny gold crown!”
Having said this, the owner rubbed his calloused hands and gave the two of them a warm, eager smile.
“What do you say?”
“Would you two strong young men like to test your strength in front of these beautiful ladies?”
At the mention of the "one gold crown" prize, the surrounding crowd let out a collective gasp of amazement.
In an era where prices weren't particularly outrageous, one gold crown was a genuine fortune for an ordinary commoner.
Hearing this, George felt as if he could already see the glorious moment of winning the gold crown and shining brilliantly in front of Charlotte.
He gave a cold snort.
With a casual wave of his hand.
He pulled a silver, shimmering Shilling from the pocket of his custom suit and flicked it with his thumb.
The coin traced an arc through the air and landed accurately in the owner’s cash box with a crisp clink.
“We’re playing!”
George tugged at his tie and deliberately took off his suit jacket, handing it to his sister, Mary, revealing his tight-fitting shirt underneath.
That done, he turned his head.
He flashed Elias what he considered a gallant smile.
“My treat!”
On this noisy street.
Faced with George’s childish provocation.
Elias didn't even twitch an eyebrow.
He didn't pay the slightest bit of attention to the peacock in full display before him.
Instead, he naturally turned his head, his gaze softening as he looked at the three girls standing nearby.
Like a considerate gentleman.
“Would you like to play?”
Elias asked politely.
Charlotte immediately shook her head.
She clearly had no interest in participating in this meaningless dispute between George and her brother.
However, she obviously knew what George was up to, so she was happy to step aside and let the stage be theirs.
If her brother won, it would likely earn him more points in the hearts of the two girls.
If her brother lost, she had ways to spin it to preserve his image.
It was a win-win situation.
Mary also had zero interest in such a crude punching game and indicated she wouldn't participate.
As for Victoria.
She watched as Elias, even at a moment like this, maintained such calm and gentlemanly grace.
He hadn't been blinded by George’s provocation; instead, his first instinct was to consider the feelings of his female companions.
In that instant, she felt as if he were the perfect protagonist stepped right out of a chivalric romance!
“I...”
Victoria’s heart skipped a beat, and a perfectly timed blush crept onto her face.
“I’d like to try too.”
She lowered her head, speaking softly with a hint of shyness.
Then, she lifted her sapphire eyes, looking at Elias with anticipation to see what he would do next.
Hearing Victoria’s answer, Elias nodded with satisfaction.
Then.
He turned back to face George.
His eyes were clear, and his expression was entirely unruffled.
“You see, Victoria wants to play too.”
Elias looked at George’s frozen face, his tone as flat as if he were stating a simple truth.
“You’ll have to pay for her as well.”
“After all, all my money has a use.”
He said it with complete seriousness.
“?”
Rate on N.U.
