The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 1191 Ch.1190 Illegitimate Daughter

It's quite a secret that most villagers don't believe in 'dragons'.

Both Rupert and Theodore had been absolutely certain that the villagers would have unwavering faith, and had even imagined what kind of rejection 'heretics' would face here.

However, it does not.

They did live long lives, and they certainly lived happily...

Indeed, there is no truly real faith—whether you believe in the Father of All Things, the torrents of the seasons, His Majesty the Gold Coin, or dragons, birds, ants, and flies—dance your dance well, sing your song well, love your family, friends, and art…

That is all, and only that.

Rupert could understand it, but found it hard to accept.

She seemed to be recalling some embarrassing past events, sipping the red wine from her wooden glass one sip after another. Theodore, seeing this, quickly snatched it away and changed the subject:

"...And what about Mr. Mondes' daughter?"

The women seemed to pity their mayor (a rare sight in other parts of the Empire. Theodore had traveled far and wide and heard mostly resentment).

When he mentioned his 'non-existent' daughter, he went on and on:
"...His son is neither obedient nor bright, and as stubborn as a buffalo. Ever since his big fight with his father, he hasn't come back—I heard he's done something great far away, something beneficial to society and the country; I also heard he's gathered a couple of cronies to carry out a sabotage campaign..."

The women chattered away.

"There are also rumors that he..."

The voice dropped a few decibels.

"He said he likes men."

Rupert lowered his eyes and snatched back his glass, while Theodore coughed a few times indifferently.

The woman gave the brother and sister a strange look:
"Some people say he's dead. Who knows? Even if he were alive, he'd never come back. Think about it? If you have children, but they never come home, how can your parents function normally?"

She told them that Bruno Mondes had created the image of a well-behaved and obedient daughter because he was devastated by his son's departure.

It's just a matter of the last year or two.

A story of something lost and found, about an illegitimate daughter who was left to wander.

"He always told us that Eva was frail and sickly and didn't like to see people—but he knew perfectly well that she didn't have any 'daughter' at all!"

The woman next to her tugged at the sleeve of the woman who was speaking, implying that she shouldn't speak so 'viciously' behind her back.

"Oh dear... why bring up such pitiful things? Now that I've finished, shouldn't you and your sister also tell us..."

The woman named Lily looked embarrassed, but still managed to stand up despite being shoved by several women, and walked over to Theodore—they were cheering her on from behind, and Rupert gave Theodore a smiling look:
You promised this.

Theodore: ...

"...Sir, my husband died a good death."

The woman muttered to herself, afraid that the news of her husband's death would give Theodore wild thoughts.

How could a man who often prides himself on being a 'gentleman' and is teased by Roland as a 'knight' possibly refuse a woman with no ill intentions in this situation? If he were to humiliate her, who knows how his friends would ridicule her behind her back.

Theodore sighed inwardly, suppressing a certain emotion, and put on a smile that was neither too close nor too distant.

He stood up and reached out his hand to Lily.

Can I?

And then Theodore led the young women into the swaying crowd.

Next up is Rupert.

“We won’t let either of the siblings get away with this.” Several women teased, pushing Rupert’s shoulders and shoving her off the chair onto the floor, before swarming into the crowd.

Rupert was not given a chance to speak.

She met Theodore with his perfect smile on the dance floor.

And then there's Roland Collins, that big, sweaty idiot who's jumping around like that—what makes him so into it?
"Lulu! Come quick! I learned a duet dance from a mutant!"

Rupert pretended not to see him, turned around expressionlessly, and let the women pull her along, 'wriggling' like a disabled person with difficulty walking—but no one laughed at her.

"Lift your foot! Girl! You don't need to mop the floor!"

Really.

Rupert would rather go back and face the non-existent Eva.

…………

……

"You said it yourself."

“I mean: if I had to choose between ‘dancing’ and facing ‘that girl’—I’ve already danced! Collins! Do we really have to pick a fight with a monster? She might not even be human…”

The four sweaty Londoners all received good reviews: Roland Collins and Theodore, in particular.

During this time, quite a few women pursued them (Theodore received more and more direct 'love confessions' because of Harida's presence).

Rupert was led by the hand of the women to Theodore, who even advised him that as an older brother, he should take his sister out to see more of the world—that overly shy and introverted girls cannot find happiness.

After the dance, Theodore felt more exhausted than fighting a high-ring ritualist.

Ms. Lily's gaze was too intense.

"Aren't you curious? Eva Mondes, the girl who doesn't exist..."

“I’m not curious at all.” On the way back, Rupert seemed very reluctant when the topic of Mayor Mondes came up—in Rose’s words, Roland was just like her, always heading for danger.

Clearly, Rupert is not that kind of person.

Her education taught her that nothing was more precious than her own life.

Her surname didn't require her to take any risks.

"Are you afraid?"

"What?! Me? Haha, I'm scared? Me? A 'Beneventor'? You mean, I, a member of the Benevento family, the most talented ritualist of the past decade as recognized by the Elite Art Association, a second-ring member who received combat training from a retired military intelligence lady, would be afraid of some inhuman...something...? I'm scared? Would I?"

Theodore and Halida exchanged a silent glance.

Roland looked at her intently: "You're just scared."

The girl blushed.

“Let’s confront them now. Benevento will not fear any… Mr. Collins, I can tell you the truth: even if an eight-ring were before me, I would not bow down to the wrath of power… My dignity and pride will not allow me to do so.”

Roland blinked. “Are you really going? Actually, Theodore, oh, and Harida, and I... we all believe you—you, Rupert Benevento, would never be afraid of a weird, non-existent girl...you would never be trembling with fear and trying to come up with some better excuse to leave early…”

"Who wouldn't believe you, Theodore, Harida?"

Rupert seemed to be going mad, his voice shrill: "Ha! Mr. Thackeray? Miss Harida? Ha! How foolish! Risk aversion is the instinct of truly intelligent people, it should be ingrained in their bones—I'm not forcing you to master this skill... Fine! Fine!"

She took a deep breath.

"I hope you don't think your dark skin is some kind of magic bullet..."

Roland hesitated, "Maybe... let's forget it, Lulu. Of course, we both want to—"

"Go now, immediately."

"Lulu?"

"immediately!"

(End of this chapter)