"Quiet, gentlemen! That's enough. I really can't do anything about this matter. If Sabina refuses to
come out and see you, then I can't force her to do so even if I am her father," Elvis said as his eyes
gleamed with annoyance. In fact, it was not because he didn't want to, but because of his daughter's
stubborn temper. If she didn't want it, then there was nothing the family could do to reach an agreement
with her, especially when it was about match-making.
"You need to do something about this, Chief Elvis. Please, there must be something you can do. All of
us have traveled such long distances just to meet Miss Sabina. Please, at least let us see her. Let us
show her our appreciation!" Leonard suggested immediately. They thought they might still get a chance
to show Sabina how much they appreciate her despite Sabina not showing up. Moreover, they thought
they could at least leave her an impression in case she changed her mind in future. But as the clock
ticked and without any sign of Sabina, it seemed that they were just pouring water into a sieve and
would leave the area empty-handed.
Upon hearing Leonard's proposition, the people echoed their thoughts and nodded their heads.
"Well..." Elvis said, as soon as the crowd quieted down. "Okay, I'll try once more. I'll send someone to
ask her opinion about the matter. But if she refuses again, then I'll be at the end of my rope! No more
bothering her!" He heaved a deep sigh after gesturing his hands into a cross.
Not long after, Elvis waved at a servant, who came up to him immediately and whispered into the
servant's ear. Immediately, the servant went out to Sabina.
Meanwhile, Elvis served all the guests with various teas and desserts while waiting for news from his
daughter. A few moments later, the servant returned and bowed his head at his Chief. Then, he
reported, "My Chief, Miss Sabina said she will only see one of the gentlemen this time. But under one
condition—he must be able to catch her Duchess Silver first! Miss Sabina has let Duchess Silver out,
and it's in the courtyard as we speak."
Hearing this exciting news made the crowd immediately noisy as they exchanged their thoughts.
"Oh, what is she trying to do?" Elvis smiled bitterly and said, "Pardon me, but I think my daughter is just
kidding. Please don't take it seriously. You are all seniors after all, even if you're here for her today.
Such a behavior offends against good taste, anyway. So, please don't!"
Amidst the sea of voices, Leonard loudly replied, "I have no objection to her request, sir! I'd like to try!"
His voice sounded confident, despite knowing that Sabina's Duchess Silver was a rare kind of spiritual
beast. After all, he felt that with his current strength, it would not be too hard for him to catch the beast.
On the other hand, the others looked at each other with apprehension on their faces. But somehow,
they all agreed to try. After all, it was better to have the chance than not.
Meanwhile, seeing that everyone agreed, Elvis had to drop down his idea of talking them out of it and
didn't say anything at all.
Soon, Elvis led the people who were so eager to see Sabina all to the courtyard in front of the three-
floor pavilion where Sabina stayed.
At that moment, Duchess Silver was waiting for them in front of the pavilion. Soon after, it raised its
head arrogantly and shifted its gaze to Elvis and the others who were coming towards it. However, it
seemed that it was not shy at all when it came to facing the strangers.
Upon noticing such heavy traffic in front of the pavilion, a maid walked out of there and approached
Elvis with further instructions from Sabina.
"My Chief!" She stopped in front of Elvis and bowed her head. Then, she turned to the people behind
him and announced, "Miss Sabina would like to tell you all that you can use whatever method you can
in this task, as long as you can catch Duchess Silver. Once completed, I'll lead you into the pavilion to
see her. Moreover, I am here to remind you that Miss Sabina will watch your performance on the third
floor."
Immediately, heads turned to look up the third floor. There, they saw a delicate figure behind the gauze
curtain. Despite the distance, they all knew that it was Sabina.
At that moment, the crowd's morale seemed to soar in an instant. All of them soon rubbed their hands
and popped their fingers in preparation for the fight.
"My Chief, Miss Sabina invited you to come inside." The maid stretched her arm, gesturing Elvis to
follow her.
"Sure." Elvis cleared his throat. "Thank you all for cooperating with my daughter's sudden request." He
shook his head helplessly and with a little embarrassment as he walked inside the room. All the people
here today were having fame and prestige in the Holy Dragon Empire, and only Sabina, his daughter
and General Marcia's apprentice, dared to play such a game with them.
On the other hand, he also understood that a single slap would never be able to make a sound. They
said that they were here for Sabina, but their true intention was really to play up to the Ji Clan and
General Marcia. In fact, Elvis had persuaded them to give up, but they only turned a deaf ear to the
request. Such being the case, then he had to let them be. At that moment, Elvis could not do anything
but sigh in dismay and walk straight into the pavilion.
Meanwhile, on the third floor, Sabina was sitting in front of a messy chess table, where the pieces
seemed to be at a stalemate. She was waiting for her father to join her.
"Father, do you think someone will catch Duchess Silver before we finish this game?" Sabina said as
she looked at her father with soft and delicate eyes.
"Why are you going through all this trouble? Just ignore them if you don't feel like to see them. Just say
the word, and I will handle them for you. You know it's not good to embarrass them in this way."
Meanwhile, Elvis sighed again because he remembered why Sabina ran away from home that year. He
couldn't forget it easily as it lingered in his heart and tortured him. There was never a day when he felt
not guilty, so he decided to make up to Sabina in every way possible. Now that she took the initiative to
return home, he would definitely never do anything to put her into a pickle ever again.
"Father, you don't have to. People holding such an idea will come and visit you in an endless stream.
As a Chief of a Clan and as a father, I do not think that it is appropriate for you to protect me all the
time. Therefore, we need to find a solution to turn them down." Although Sabina looked calm, a trace of
disgust could be seen flashing through her eyes.
"Yes, it is true that people will come as long as you're not engaged. It's getting worse since Alston, the
eldest prince, took charge of the state affairs instead of the emperor. In fact, a lot of clans, who had
varying opinions with him, were suppressed cruelly. It's only natural for the remaining anxious clans to
find themselves a back-up. In this way, it may be possible for them to get rid of the incoming disaster.
Moreover, out of the entire Holy Dragon Empire, only the Ximen Clan and our clan possess such
influence. Well, most especially our clan, for that matter. Moreover, your elder sister is nominally
Alston's wife, and she is regarded as the empress. So, it's understandable for them to make friends
with our clan," Elvis said seriously, as his tone carried a little dissatisfaction when he mentioned
Alston's name.
"If he goes on like this, then he will ruin the Holy Dragon Empire sooner or later," Sabina grunted.
"Hey, don't talk like that," Elvis hurriedly stopped her and frowned in disappointment.
"Others may be terrified by his cruelty, but not I," Sabina said candidly. She did not hide the fact that
she hated Alston since long ago.
"Gossip is a fearful thing. The position of our clan is very subtle now. We'd better not do anything that
will make people misunderstand us. Especially now that your sister is the empress," Elvis warned, with
the furrow between his eyes getting even deeper.
"But I don't think Alston cares about her that much. If he has shown any respect, my sister wouldn't
have left the Palace City and returned home a year ago. Now, she refuses to go back there. What does
the title of empress do us any good?" Sabina's voice turned cold. She felt sorry for her elder sister, and
apart from that, she was suffering from guilt. Her elder sister had to marry Alston because she had run
away. It should have been her and not her elder sister in that position. Back then, her clan had no other
choice but to marry a daughter into the royal family. For so many years, Alston had never had any
feelings for her elder sister, so she secretly returned to the Ji Clan a year ago.
"I do not want to discuss this topic further." Elvis waved his hands. To him, what was done could not be
undone, and it was too late to do anything.
As soon as both of them became silent, a burst of screams reached their ears. Apparently, many
people had been tortured by Duchess Silver.
"Sabina, I think that's enough. Come on, save some for them!" Elvis advised with a slight smile.
"If they don't even have the ability to catch my beast, how do they expect me to put themselves in my
eyes?" Sabina sighed, and then her voice turned faint. "Perhaps, the one I'm waiting for will never
come." Her thoughts slowly drifted away, like flowing water.
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