Chapter 301 (1): Feeling Like I’ve Won

In the misty night, a black sedan slowly came to a stop outside an upscale restaurant. Wayne, dressed in a black suit and looking every bit like a proper gentleman, strode into the restaurant with Mona following him in formal attire.

She looked strikingly similar to Megan in a suit, her posture upright and her mannerisms professional. Aside from having longer hair and wearing glasses, there was almost no difference between her and Megan.

Clearly, Wayne was cosplaying as Auston. He wouldn’t even need makeup to play the scumbag. He just had to rein himself in... He just had to put in some effort to amplify his flaws.

By a window on the third floor, Wayne met his poor relatives—the family of Bernthal Lando. The head of the family was joined by his wife, Jennifer, eldest son, Orlin, second son, Naren, as well as his third son, fourth son, and fifth daughter...

In short, he had a big family. There was also a whole clan of thirty to forty young people who were in the same generation as Wayne on the family tree, as if they wanted the advantage in numbers.

Bernthal was Auston’s uncle. Though Auston called him a distant relative, they were quite closely related; they had simply lived far away and hadn’t been in touch for years.

As Wayne belonged to the same generation as Bernthal’s grandchildren, Bernthal was quite displeased to see him approach with that arrogant air.

Auston was the head of the Lando family, so Bernthal had to show him respect even though he was of a younger generation. But what gave Wayne the right to look down on everyone? He was Auston’s heir, but only someone like Bernthal’s grandchildren.

Bernthal felt slighted and humiliated, but didn’t show it. His smile remained amicable as he initiated the greeting, “You must be Wayne. You really do look like Auston, young man. I thought you being his illegitimate son was only a rumor, but it’s true.”

Though decades old, Bernthal was young at heart and only looked about ten years older than Auston.

His words dripped with sarcasm, the barbs giving Wayne a lackluster impression. He turned to Bernthal’s imposing eldest son, Orlin. “Sir, you have an impressive bearing that truly befits the Lando family’s name. You must be the head of the household, Grandpa Bernthal.”

“...”

Bernthal’s smile stiffened. His self-control was impressive in preventing him from scowling.

Orlin’s eyes widened. Sensing his father’s anger, he hurriedly explained, “I’m not—I’m your uncle, Orlin Lando. This is my father, Bernthal Lando, the actual head of the household.”

“It can’t be! This old man looks completely ordinary, without your presence and ambition. You must be the family head.”

“I’m not!”

“But you will be. Compared to you, your siblings are nothing.”

“...” xN

The crowd stirred. Several people rolled up their sleeves, ready to come over to teach Wayne a lesson.

Eyes glinting, Wayne snapped his fingers. Mona adjusted her glasses and stepped forward to stand by him.

“Enough! Why are you squabbling with a young boy in public? You’ve disgraced the Lando name.” Bernthal huffed, scolding everyone and telling them to return to their seats.

“Wayne, I came to Londan because Her Majesty summoned me. Why didn’t Auston come? Didn’t he understand Her Majesty’s order?”

“Is this your first day in Londan, Old Man? Don’t you know about my father’s relationship with the Queen?”

Wayne scoffed. Seeing the well-dressed spectators around them, clearly wealthy or of noble roots, he pointed at them and said, “Ask around. Who doesn’t know that my father was Her Majesty’s first love? All of Londan know their relationship.”

“...” xN

We don’t know anything. Please elaborate!

xN

These spectators were all helpers whom Bernthal had invited to support him as witnesses. Wayne’s claim piqued their curiosity. They didn’t dare gossip about the Queen, but they were at least bold enough to listen to the Queen’s gossip while they were playing innocent onlookers.

Wayne knew that the Queen’s spies were definitely among them, and possibly informants from other Tulip Families; even the Prince and Princess might have planted their people.

It wasn’t easy for nobles to maintain the dignity of high society, so it was perfectly reasonable for them to sell the same information to three different parties.

Knowing that, Wayne deliberately raised his voice, “I’ll be frank with you. After the Prince Consort’s early death, my father, Auston, has been summoned by Her Majesty late at night to discuss state affairs until dawn quite frequently. He’s her most trusted official.”

“Know your place and don’t mention Her Majesty in front of me. My father has seen her in person more times than you’ve seen her photographs!”

“You think Her Majesty has summoned you here for your benefits? Ridiculous. If she weren’t worried about the other Tulip Families being dissatisfied, you would never return to Londan in your lifetime.”

Arrogant and disrespectful to even the monarch. This kid won’t last long!

xN

Everyone came to the same conclusion about Wayne, offering silent condolences for his future. But thinking about how shrewd Auston was, it didn’t make sense for his blood to be such a fool. Unless...

Wayne was telling the truth!

The restaurant fell deathly silent. The Bernthal family sat dumbfounded, and the onlookers froze with knives and forks in their hands. It was so quiet that even a pin drop would be audible.

“Ahem, I spoke too much. I shouldn’t have mentioned all that.” Wayne pulled out a chair and sat down in a brazen manner, raising an eyebrow. “It doesn’t matter, though. The Queen has been and will always be the sky to Londan. What I just said wouldn’t get out of this restaurant.”

His unexpected action left Bernthal dumbfounded. He accepted the handkerchief that his wife handed him and hastily wiped the sweat from his forehead, leaning on his cane as he sat down across Wayne.

The seating arrangement put Wayne in the circle of the Bernthal family. He should be surrounded and in danger like a lamb encircled by a pack of wolves, but Auston’s ambiguous relationship with the Queen made it seem like Wayne was occupying the center stage, with Bernthal and his family reduced to extras orbiting him.

Bernthal didn’t believe Wayne. He didn’t believe that the pure and virtuous Queen would maintain a relationship with Auston. After all... he knew that Prince Douglas might still be alive.

“Old Man—no, Bernthal, I’ve come today bearing the Lando family’s goodwill. Auston told me to take good care of you. I didn’t believe him when he said that our relatives from the countryside were coming to beg for food from the main family. But now...”

Wayne scanned the room and lifted his chin slightly. “Indeed, you all are in a rather shabby state. The way you dress and present yourselves makes one wonder if the word ‘noble’ is supposed to mean ‘plebeian’.”

“...” xN

Bernthal and his family fell silent. Many of them, especially the third generation of the family, had indeed made a fool of themselves when they first arrived in the big city of Londan. It had taken a large chunk of their wealth to acquire formal attire for tonight’s gathering. They had thought that they had dressed up sufficiently, but they lost confidence after Wayne’s comment.

Have I really been a disgrace to nobles?

Dejected, Bernthal compared Wayne to his family and had to admit that Auston had a competent son. “You’ve gone too far, Wayne. At the end of the day, I am your—”

“We’re all nobles, so enough with your emotional appeals. Talking about feelings costs money, which I can afford. But can you?”

Wayne cut Bernthal off before addressing a waiter nearby, “Serve the dishes and put the expense on my tab. I don’t want the best food, but the most expensive food.”

The manager nodded. Though Wayne was being arrogant and annoying, this was Londan, where money made one king. If the manager were the Lando heir with a father who had intimate access to the Queen’s bedroom, he would be even more arrogant than Wayne.

The tables had turned. Now Wayne was the one hosting the Bernthal family for dinner. He considered it money well spent. He smiled wordlessly as he watched their conflicted expressions. They wanted to have the food, but worried about their pride.

“Kekekeke—”

Mona stood behind Wayne the entire time, serving as his bodyguard, secretary, lover, and server. Whenever Wayne showed a domineering side, she had a look in her eyes that suggested she believed it well within his rights.

Faith made one steadfast, while religion made one foolish.

Bernthal tasted nothing of the authentic Francan cuisine. All the lines he had rehearsed were useless now.

He talked about having the Queen’s backing, to which Wayne said that Auston had bedded the Queen. When Wayne dared to say what he didn’t dare mention, how could he possibly continue the conversation?

Fortunately, he had arranged for the restaurant to be filled with his people. Wayne had ventured here alone, bringing only one secretary...

Secretary?

Bernthal suddenly remembered the information that the royal spies had provided him freely—Auston’s secretary was quite formidable in combat. What about Wayne’s? Was she also a significant threat?

Still, with so many people watching, Wayne wouldn’t actually hit Bernthal. If he did, even better. Bernthal would just lie down and make a fortune.

Bernthal felt a wave of shame. They all shared the Lando name, but while Auston and Wayne only had to sell their conscience to make money, he had to sell his dignity. As a noble, he was truly a failure.

“Mr. Bernthal, is that you?”

An unfamiliar voice reached Bernthal’s ear. He looked up in confusion at the man who had invited himself to the table. Bernthal rose to his feet instinctively. “I’m Bernthal Lando. Forgive me for being away from Londan for too long to recognize you.”

“It really is you. Have you forgotten? I’m John, a priest of the Church of Moonlight. We had drinks together at a banquet.” The man named John approached Bernthal warmly and shook his hand tightly, as if they were old friends reuniting.

Did we?

Bernthal didn’t remember, but that didn’t stop him from having a sudden realization. Receiving a warm hug from his old friend, he soon started reminiscing about the banquet that year.

As Bernthal talked about the past, he realized that the Queen had to have arranged John’s presence to pressure Auston.

Recently, the Church of Moonlight had made inroads into Londan and was in a honeymoon phase with the royal family. If the Queen made the request, the church wouldn’t mind sending a priest to assist Bernthal. Yes, it all made sense now.

“Hahahaha—”

Bernthal laughed heartily. His memory of his old friend John instantly became clear.

That’s right. We’ve had a drink together back then!