Chapter 8

He had already figured out how he would be rejected. But the man never expected Una Rhodes to agree so readily. He was momentarily stunned before quickly responding, “My name is Murray Potter, son of Archmage Matthew Potter. This is my brother, Elaine Potter. And this is Douglas Kent, the third son of the Minister of Finance.”

Several families have similar backgrounds, so it’s not surprising that they get along well together.

“Since everyone here knows me, Una won’t be coy anymore. This is Prince Eirwen Joneson.” The person introduced themselves voluntarily, clearly wanting to establish a friendly relationship. Of course, Una Rhodes wouldn’t refuse such kindness offered to her. She introduced Eirwen Joneson to them.

The three of them bowed simultaneously and exclaimed, “We pay our respects to the Sixth Prince.”

Enid Johnson nodded, casually raising her hand in a dismissive gesture. “No need for formalities.”

This attitude didn’t bother Murray Porter at all. He found it entirely reasonable and wasn’t embarrassed at all. He asked, “Is Prince Six going along as well?”

Of course I’ll go with them. Ingrid Johnson followed Una Rhodes without showing any expression on her face.

The roast chicken at Zui Hua Lou is truly outstanding. Una Rhodes didn’t arrive too early, but the lobby on the first floor was already full. So, she had to go to the private rooms on the second floor instead.

Una Rhodes had excellent manners. Among all those burly men, she appeared delicate and refined, which made the men around her nervous, afraid of offending this beautiful woman.

“Miss Rhodes, I’ve heard that you intend to enter the civil service. Perhaps we’ll become colleagues in the future. Let me consider this meal as a way of establishing a rapport between us now.” Murray Porter said this, then promptly raised his tea cup to toast Una Rhodes.

Both of them had classes in the afternoon. Una Rhodes didn’t care whether what was in the cup was tea or water, so they raised their cups together.

“Potter, you really flatter me. Just call me Una. Otherwise, it seems too formal.”

The two drank their drinks in one gulp, and the atmosphere became more lively. Murray Porter invited Una Rhodes to dinner, with the intention of establishing a friendly relationship with her. Although General Rhodes didn’t hold a high position, the fact that the king was Una Rhodes’s uncle made her someone many people wanted to befriend.

If Una Rhodes doesn’t go to study at Shangshu Fang now, then, considering her family background alone, it’s unlikely that Murray Potter will even be considered as a potential suitor for her.

Enid Johnson stood by, acting as an emotionless backdrop.

The conversations among those people mostly revolved around poetry and songs, or the current political situation. Enid Johnson had no interest in poetry, and the political situation was certainly not a topic she wanted to discuss. So, she focused on the food at the Drunken Flower Pavilion before her.

Although he was technically a prince, those in the palace were very good at reading people’s expressions. Ingrid Johnson wasn’t favored by anyone. It was already fortunate that she’d grown up at all. She’d never even tasted such delicious food before.

If not for knowing that she couldn’t lose face for the royal family, Ingrid Johnson would never have restrained herself as much as she does now.

“Potter, you’re joking. I’m far from as intelligent as you all say. It’s just that hard work makes up for lack of talent. If I really had a photographic memory, I’d probably laugh myself awake in my dreams.”

Una Rhodes joked with Murray Porter while keeping an eye on Enid Johnson.

Seeing that Enid Johnson’s gaze kept lingering over the roast chicken, yet she still hadn’t picked up her chopsticks, he understood what she meant and handed her the steps.

“Sixth Prince, the roasted chicken at Zuihua Tower is truly excellent. Although it can’t compare to the imperial kitchen in the palace, it’s still worth trying.” With that, Una Rhodes even used her chopsticks to serve Ingrid Johnson a piece of chicken leg.

Enid Johnson’s eyes lit up instantly, though she remained reserved in appearance. She took a small sip and said, “Not bad.”

It’s just those stubborn little kids, thought Una Rhodes, with a slight smile on her face.

Murray Porter, his brother, and Douglas Kent had other matters to attend to, so they left first. Only Una Rhodes and Ingrid Johnson remained in the private room.

“It’s a rare occasion for me to go out. Do you have any other dishes you’d like to try?” Una Rodes treated Ingrid Johnson like a little friend. She didn’t have any siblings, so having a little child around was something that seemed quite new and interesting to Una Rodes.

Enid Johnson put down her chopsticks and said carefully, “There is no more.”

At the same time, I wrote in my mind that Una Rhodes liked well-behaved children. Although it went against his usual cold demeanor, it didn’t seem so unacceptable when it came to Una Rhodes.

It’s really useful, I must say. Una Rhodes cleared her throat slightly, a little embarrassed. “Speak properly!”

Her tone became slightly more forceful unconsciously. Enid Johnson’s polite smile immediately froze, and she reverted to her expressionless state. She angrily crossed out the words in her notebook.

……

Etiquette, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics constitute the six arts of a gentleman, and they are also essential skills that men must learn.

Dressed in comfortable riding and shooting attire, when Una Rhodes arrived at the shooting range, Murray Porter and the others were already there.

With her hair, which reached her waist, tied into a high ponytail, Una Rhodes looked absolutely stunning. Women as beautiful and stylish as Una Rhodes are truly rare.

During the range check, Enid Johnson was nowhere to be found.

She didn’t take it to heart. Una Rhodes didn’t think her relationship with Ingrid Johnson was close enough to warrant asking about her whereabouts.

Focusing on getting used to the longbow in her hands, Una Rhodes’ relaxed demeanor made Murray Potter wonder if the bow she was holding might be defective.

Although the Three-Stone Bow is suitable for beginners, it’s not something that a weak woman like Una Rhodes can easily handle. Even Murray Potter, a man, took a month of practice before he could use it properly.

One target per person. Una Rhodes stood on a raised platform, aiming at the target in front of her with one eye, estimating the distance.

“Let go!”

Arrows after arrows were shot from the platform at the targets. The master stepped forward to check each one individually.

“Douglas Kent, Third Circle; Gao Ying, Sixth Circle; Murray Porter, Fourth Circle; Elaine Porter, Seventh Circle…” The instructor walked over to Enid Johnson’s target and mercilessly marked the deficiencies in the record book. Then he went over to the target of the class’s only female student.

Una Rhodes covered her eyes with her hand. Without her master needing to say anything, she could see that the target was completely empty.

“Una Rhodes,” the master said, pausing for a moment. “Miss the mark.”

“Pfft!” Murray Potter was the first to lose his composure. He stood quite close to Una Rhodes. Even though he covered his mouth, Una Rhodes could still hear the faint laughter.

Real numbers are shameful.

It was at this moment that Enid Johnson appeared at the entrance to the shooting range. As she stopped in place, it was possible to see drops of water flowing down from her pants and forming small puddles on the ground.

“I’m late.”

Pressing her lips together, Enid Johnson’s face showed obvious embarrassment. The gazes of the other trainees only made things more uncomfortable for her.

Una Rhodes was the first to notice something unusual. It was early autumn at the time. Although the weather wasn’t cold, Enid Johnson could still catch a chill if her clothes got wet.

Jumping down from the high platform, Una Rhodes took off her coat and headed toward the entrance of the shooting range.

Una Rhodes was older and taller by half a head than Enid Johnson. She gently pulled Enid Johnson into her arms to comfort her, and also draped over Enid Johnson the clothes that carried Una Rhodes’ fragrance.

“Go change your clothes first, to avoid typhoid.”

Rubbing Enid Johnson’s hair, Una Rhodes got up to ask her master for leave, then left the shooting range with Enid Johnson.

Leaving Murray Potter and the others behind in stunned silence, they continued to practice archery with grim determination.

Enid Johnson obediently followed behind Una Rhodes. From time to time, a faint fishy smell emanated from her body, which annoyed Una Rhodes slightly, though she said nothing.