381 Resolute
Emma’s POV:
I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or sincerely complimenting me. According to my previous experience, they would scold me first.
After a series of boring small talk and under my mother’s impatient and numerous hints, my father finally got to the point.
“You’re going to be twenty-five soon, my daughter. I was already married to your mother for three years at your age.
“We know that young people nowadays aren’t as eager to start a family as we were back then, but as a noble, you should still retain some ancient ethics, right?
“Father,” I interrupted him impatiently. “If you have something to say, say it, Father. What are you here for?”
After being interrupted by me, my father’s expression wasn’t too good, but he still pretended to be calm for his purpose. “You know, many children from noble families don’t care much about their lifelong events, which makes us, as parents, inevitably anxious. So, we formed a private club dedicated to solving young men’s and women’s lifelong affairs.”
My mother hurriedly interrupted my father, “And you, my daughter, don’t know how popular you are among the unmarried boys. Those young and rich Counts and Duches are all in love with you. As long as you agree, baby, you can immediately become a Countess or Duchess. You will enjoy endless wealth and glory for the rest of your life. Your father and I will also be able to rise to heaven! I’ve brought all their portfolios. Why don’t you take a look? You’d better choose an auspicious day to get married this year. If you get married after twenty-five years old, you’ll be a joke to your aunties…!”
Looking at their eager faces, I felt nauseated.
“So, you’re here to tell me that you signed me up for a blind date club without my knowledge, and you even leaked my information so that people can pick and choose me like I’m a cabbage?”
My mother frowned disapprovingly. “Don’t make it sound so bad. This is just normal social behavior. Since ancient times, blind dates have always been like this.”
f𝗿e𝙚𝙬ℯ𝚋n𝚘ν𝗲l. 𝐜𝐨𝗺
“Enough!” I interrupted her loudly. “I don’t care about the past or present. Those things have nothing to do with me. Now, I’m telling you to stop all activities related to me without my permission! Be it a blind date or any other nonsense, I don’t need you guys to add to my troubles!”
“How can you say that, child?” My father was furious and slammed the table. “Be humble! We are your parents.”
“Be humble?” I rolled my eyes sarcastically. “Be like my cousins, serving their parents with their knees bent, and when they are old enough, like a female horse that has been bred, they will marry a random idiot?
“I say, it’s time for you to open your eyes and see the situation in reality, right? I’m no longer the little girl that you guys could casually push around. I’m the Crown Princess’ attendant and the trainee secretary of the Lycan King. In the entire family, other than Grandfather, I’m the person closest to the center of power. Do you really think you can control everything about me just because you’re my parents? If you still have such thoughts, Grandfather is right. Such a childish descendant can’t inherit the family’s title!”
My father suddenly stood up, his face red like an angry bull, his nostrils twitching. He raised his hand as if to give me a slap but stopped at the last moment.
He finally remembered that this was the palace, not a place where he could do as he pleased. After a long time, he gritted his teeth and said, “Are you still with that filthy boy? Is it because of him that you’re not willing to go on blind dates?”
“It has nothing to do with anyone else. I’m indeed still in a relationship with Rhode, but why should I explain it to others?”
My mother screamed, “I knew it!” I knew it! Damn it, if I had known that there would be such a day, I wouldn’t have sent you to the palace to be the princess’ study companion! Look at what you’ve become! You’re arrogant, rude, and unvirtuous. You don’t look like a noble lady at all! Oh goodness, what sin have I committed that you have to bestow such an unfilial daughter to torture me!”
“I can date and marry whoever I want because I have the status, the power, and the capital. I don’t care if he’s a prince or a beggar. If I want to, I can do whatever I want.”
In the face of their bitter accusations, I only looked on coldly and did not say a word.
The clock rang at noon. I interrupted their never-ending complaints and coldly said, “If that’s all you’ve come to say, then please leave. It’s noon, and my colleagues and I still have a briefing before lunch.”
I stood up and was about to leave when my father stopped me. He said in disbelief, “You’re leaving just like that? You’re not going to give your mother or me any explanation?”
“What other explanation do you want?” I sneered and said, “If I have to say it, I’ll say that from now on, you shouldn’t be so self-righteous as to interfere with my life. A normal parent wouldn’t want to play with their child like a puppet. If you want to transfer your dissatisfaction with power to me, I can only say that you’ve got the wrong idea.”
