I’m Really Not Trying to Be Chased by the Heroine as the Villainous Playboy! – Chapter 658

Chapter 39: Old Father

The next night, the welcome banquet was held as promised.

The archbishop of the church and the saint candidate graced the western continent after a long absence, and this wasn’t just about White Harbor; it was about diplomacy between two continents.

Thus, various factions sent representatives to show their respect for the Holy Light Church.

The Lionheart Princess, the Elven Nightingale, the heads of the Purple and Black Magic academies, and the duchess from the imperial border were all present.

The princes from the Golden Sands and the South Sea had also arrived.

With White Harbor itself being the venue, all representatives from the seven major forces in Veszyra, except for the Winter Empire, were nobility and dignitaries, showcasing the level of importance each faction placed on this event.

It’s rare to see such a gathering of powerful figures at a banquet.

However, today, be they royalty or prodigies, they were not the stars of the evening.

The nuns in their pure white robes entered gracefully, instantly becoming the center of attention.

The honor of the Holy Nun goes without saying, but the real guests of honor were the young boy and girl walking behind her.

The saint candidate of the White Harbor Church and her saintly bodyguard.

The boy, with black hair and black eyes, donned a formal white suit adorned with golden floral patterns—solemn yet magnificent, exuding both noble elegance and the rugged spirit expected of a knight.

The girl wore a dazzlingly white dress, her layered skirt swaying like foam with her every step.

The sleeveless design revealed her delicate shoulders and arms wrapped in lace sleeves. One leg was clad in smooth white stockings while the other was bare, highlighted only by a black leg band that accentuated her fair skin.

Her beautiful dual ponytails rested on her shoulders, and her light blue eyes resembled a clear spring. Her cool and gentle demeanor blended perfectly with her pure attire, creating an otherworldly figure.

Walking side by side, they looked so breathtakingly beautiful, like a masterpiece from a master painter, that it stirred the hearts of countless young boys and girls. Yet, they also realized how inadequate they felt in comparison, sighing quietly in secret.

Prior to this, the people of White Harbor had only heard tales of Alice’s astonishing performance during the sea selection, and knew nothing of Roy.

Could the saint candidate of White Harbor really compare to the church’s prodigy from the East?

But upon seeing the two in person, even the most anxious of believers felt reassured by their extraordinary presence.

Appearance may not determine everything, but it is the easiest way to make an impression.

And Roy and Alice’s appearance undoubtedly received full marks.

“However, why is our saint candidate wearing a black leg band?”

“And why is her stocking not symmetrical?”

“Don’t worry about it! As long as it looks good, that’s what matters!”

Besides the nuns and servants, wearing black in a church function is an unwritten taboo.

The bare leg symbolizes the “all or nothing” attitude of her master, and the leg band is actually a gift Alice eagerly insisted on wearing.

Due to the little maid’s strong preference, they ended up with this outfit.

After the stunning entrance, Alice engaged in light banter with Charlotte and other young girls, becoming the subject of much teasing.

“Wow, our saintess is really beautiful. If Roy can’t land her, I’d doubt his taste!” Nia said, her eyes sparkling as she scanned Alice from head to toe.

“Master really does say he likes her a lot.” When talking about this, Alice’s usually flat tone softened like a gentle breeze.

“Wait a minute, now that you’re a big deal, you can’t call him ‘Master’ in a public setting anymore, right?” Charlotte suggested, slightly furrowing her brow while holding a champagne glass.

It’s scary how habits can stick.

Thinking about it, it was indeed odd for such a blossoming girl to call someone else ‘Master’ all day long.

Now that Alice was a proper saint candidate, if she were to casually call him Master in public, she’d probably make headlines and get roasted by the public for it!

“But he is my Master!” Alice said, a bit confused.

Leanna, eager to stir the pot, chimed in with wild ideas: “This is a rare opportunity; just call him whatever you like! Brother, senior, or even Dad…”

“Stop with the nonsense!” Xue Nuo quickly interrupted her.

With how naive the little maid was, she might actually believe it!

On the other hand, Roy didn’t rush to meet up with Charlotte and the others because he had an audience with the true family member.

“Father, what brings you here?”

“Hehe, my child has flourished; shouldn’t I come see for myself? Besides, it’s been a year since we last met…”

The elder father’s words trailed off, clearly hesitant to reveal how much he missed him.

“Life at the academy must be tough, huh?” Karl looked at Roy, his gaze trembling slightly. “At your age, to elevate Iron Blood to Sequence 6, you must have suffered a lot.”

Years ago, when the Lionheart Kingdom faced the war against dragons, even Karl’s bloodline couldn’t improve this rapidly. Setting aside talent, this meant Roy had undergone battles even more arduous than he faced back then.

However, Roy felt a wave of guilt wash over him.

With charming companions and abundant resources, his life at the academy was blissfully perfect, making him forget all about his empty-nested old man back home, even forgetting to send a New Year card until much later!

“The saint trial is a privilege, not just for the White Harbor Church, but also for you, for the prestige of the Lionheart Kingdom, and the cohesion of the entire western continent.”

Roy nodded slowly, serious as he replied, “I won’t let you down, Father.”

However, upon hearing this, Karl just waved his hand with a chuckle: “That’s not what I meant.”

Karl placed a hand on Roy’s shoulder, at that moment, he didn’t resemble a battle-hardened knight but rather an awkward yet loving father.

“Even if it’s significant, you don’t have to take it too seriously. Just give it your all without regrets. Even if it involves the secret of the False King, you don’t need to push yourself. Don’t let the expectations of others pull you along.”

“The Ainbrad family will always be your fallback. Understand?”

“…I understand.”

Roy felt warmth in his chest, but deep down, he couldn’t help but smirk.

Dad, saying that only makes me want to ace the saint trial and show you what I can do!

After meeting with Karl, Douglas and Jason came to congratulate Roy, exchanging some polite words.

After the trip to the Golden Sands, Roy and Douglas had completely buried the hatchet.

As for Jason, let’s just say the feelings were neutral.

Strangely, the South Sea prince looked at him as if he had seen a ghost, leaving Roy utterly baffled.

After having a chat with Roy, Douglas patted Jason on the shoulder, a bit smug: “What did I tell you?”

“Alice is definitely not just a maid, and Roy’s next goal is the Holy Light Church. Let’s witness how he’ll shine!”

Jason struggled to move his mouth but couldn’t find a single word of rebuttal.

The facts were right there; looking at the various representatives surrounding him, even the church respected Roy. Jason had to admit, an alliance of all powers in the western continent was forming before their eyes!

It was a trend that was undeniable. A mere prince from the South Sea couldn’t oppose it, much less refuse to participate without being isolated and suffering losses.

But there was one thing he still couldn’t wrap his head around.

Jason went crazy: “Why on earth would a saint candidate willingly pretend to be a maid beside Roy?!”

Douglas paused for a moment and then said seriously, “Perhaps there’s more to this matter than meets the eye.”