Ignoring James's defense of him, Xiao Ping looked towards Fiona. He wanted to sever her energy and humiliate her in front of everyone here, but he stopped when he heard the person with the black mask say:
"Stop. We didn't come here to fight!" said that person, then added: "I apologize for what happened!"
Hearing his words, Fiona stopped manifesting more ice daggers, hid them all, and sat calmly in her seat. But this time, she didn't look at Xiao Ping; instead, she looked at James, who had displayed an extremely powerful aura towards her earlier—an aura she thought only she had felt.
"You apologize for what happened? That's not enough. I should scratch her mask like she did to my new one!" Xiao Ping said coldly. James looked at him but didn't stop him because he genuinely wanted to know what Xiao Ping was thinking.
"There's no need to take a scratch so seriously!" said the person with the black mask.
"Haha, yes there is! You stopped me from getting up earlier so she could attack me? That means there's a scheme behind it!" Xiao Ping said with all cunning.
I wish it were a scheme; I would have really killed you then! Fiona thought to herself.
"And why would I want to trap you in such a stupid scheme?" said the man with the black mask, his patience running thin with the farce Xiao Ping was putting on.
"Why would you want to trap me? You should ask yourself that... What you need to do is answer my question first: Why do you come to this place and ask the first person you sit with about Prince Eduardo? I know you won't answer unless you're someone trying to gather evidence against the prince to use it against him."
Xiao Ping said before adding in a cold, low voice after leaning his head close enough to that masked figure: "Or... you are the prince himself!"
Hehehe, it seems Ping has figured it out too! James laughed inwardly.
"You...! How did you know? Were you following us?" said Fiona, looking at Xiao Ping and James with even more caution.
"Following you? Good grief, why would I do that?" Xiao Ping leaned back and said: "Rather, I should say: Why were you exposing yourself?" He said it in a low voice, not wanting the others to hear that the beloved prince of the kingdom had come to one of the unofficial power holders' hideouts.
"Man! How long has it been since I last met someone as intelligent and analytical as you!" Prince Eduardo suddenly said, not giving Xiao Ping an answer as to why he was exposing himself in front of him.
"Let me ask you a question, you mysterious and analytical person!" said Prince Eduardo.
"Go ahead, I won't mind, given that you are His Imperial Highness the First Prince. So, speak!" Xiao Ping replied calmly.
"Are you two the same people who went... to the church yesterday?" asked Prince Eduardo.
"You could say that!" This time James replied and continued: "If it's you who's following us and not us! That changes everything in the equation... And also, that fake priest and bishop are your followers!"
"Became so!" said Prince Eduardo while looking at Fiona beside him and continued: "I didn't know there were two such distinguished and hidden individuals in my humble city!"
"Thank you for your wonderful praise!" said James with a friendly face.
"And likewise, we didn't know there was a high-ranking noble like you who enjoys wandering around places of ill repute!" Xiao Ping suddenly said.
"Haha, that's just a hobby of mine here! But I didn't expect to have such a good encounter like this." Prince Eduardo replied.
"Would you believe me if I told you my partner wanted to meet you? At the birthday party at the end of next month!" James suddenly said, hitting Xiao Ping's shoulder and continuing: "But I! told him it was impossible to meet you. Oh, the beauty of fate to have brought you together at the same table!"
"Really? Why would a mysterious person like you be eager to meet me?" Prince Eduardo asked while turning his gaze towards Xiao Ping.
Can you keep some of my private thoughts... and never broadcast them? Tsk! Xiao Ping grumbled at James's action but soon said: "I wanted to have a friendly conversation with you, but... it seems I've already had one, so I no longer desire it!"
"Very good!" said Prince Eduardo as he... suddenly reached into his coat and threw a golden card towards Xiao Ping, who caught it quickly.
"Is this..." Fiona said, disbelieving the prince's action.
"What is this?" asked Xiao Ping.
"It's a special royal invitation card. It grants you temporary baron status for entry to the party, and you can also bring as many people as you want with it! ... The most important thing this invitation does is get you past the walls of the noble district.
With this, you can attend the party and have a wonderful conversation at that time. Also, consider it a token of apology! Is this sufficient?" said Prince Eduardo as he rose from the table with Fiona after hearing a servant call him to enter the auction hall.
"Yes, thank you for your generosity!" said Xiao Ping as he and James also stood up, after being called by the same long-haired servant who had made their wooden masks earlier. He placed the royal invitation in his coat pocket with indifference.
You ignorant fool! That invitation you're holding and putting in your shabby coat pocket is worth more than your life as a human! Fiona thought while looking at Xiao Ping from the side.
"Are you two invited as well?" asked Prince Eduardo while looking at Xiao Ping, who had put the special royal invitation in his coat pocket with complete nonchalance.
"Yes!" replied James, who was standing next to Xiao Ping, and they began walking towards the cafeteria exit... behind the servant leading them to the auction hall.
"What is your purpose in attending here?" asked Prince Eduardo.
"Just to see if there's anything worth buying, nothing more, nothing less!" Xiao Ping replied, then continued: "And you?"
"Just to listen!" Prince Eduardo said with perfect composure.
"Who is that woman?" Xiao Ping asked.
"Oh, you mean my fiancée!" the Prince replied.
"Fiancée? So what is she doing here with you in such a place? And also, be careful with her; she might be difficult to tame in bed!" Xiao Ping said in a sarcastic joke, speaking to Prince Eduardo in a low voice so Fiona wouldn't hear.
"Hahaha, don't worry, we're far from such things. Also, she told me earlier she wouldn't do such things before marriage!" Prince Eduardo replied.
"Oh, I see! I misjudged you! But wait, I haven't heard any news about you getting engaged? Does that mean you haven't revealed your engagement publicly yet? Don't tell me you plan to announce it at your birthday party?" Xiao Ping said while his eyes narrowed.
"Man... why are you so quick with analysis and deduction like this? You explained it as if you were in the same place with us. Yes, you're right. I will reveal my engagement publicly at the party next month!"
"But why did you tell me before all the people you intend to tell at the upcoming party?" Xiao Ping said suspiciously.
"I don't know why, but I think you are a special and mysterious person at the same time! That prompted me to tell you... Don't you find that intriguing?" Prince Eduardo turned his black-masked head with its cold red eyes towards Xiao Ping as they walked down the long corridor.
"Yes, very intriguing!" Xiao Ping said, then continued sadly: "How is the Princess? She must be in a bad state!"
"And what good would knowing the Princess's condition do for you?" asked Prince Eduardo.
"Then, just forget about it!" Xiao Ping said coldly.
"Very bad!" Prince Eduardo suddenly said and continued: "She hasn't opened her bedroom door for about a day... She was also refusing to eat, but after her close maid threatened to kill herself if she didn't eat... she agreed to eat but hasn't allowed anyone to enter."
Is this what befell that beautiful Princess? This is unbelievable! Xiao Ping thought to himself, remembering how the Princess had apologized to him when her carriage splashed a little rainwater on him on the road. "Reality truly shows no mercy!"
"Yes, it truly shows no mercy!" Prince Eduardo replied as he stopped with everyone else halting in the corridor and looked ahead, seeing a giant door decorated with ancient and strange patterns on its structure.
"It seems we've arrived!" James approached Xiao Ping and continued: "Behind this door lies the auction hall!"
"Yes, that seems suspiciously clear!" said Xiao Ping.
…
End of Chapter ~ To be continued