A wave of utter disgust washed over Eleanor, leaving her stiff and covered in goosebumps. "Act normal," she said, her voice flat.
Luke immediately straightened up, his expression turning slightly wounded. He watched Eleanor, who was focused on her phone, and pushed a coffee toward her. "So... getting married?" he asked, switching topics.
Eleanor glanced at him. "Is that what Sky told you?" Luke nodded vigorously. Eleanor sighed. "Whatever. Interpret it how you want."
"Are you planning to take that job?" Eleanor looked up at him, puzzled. Luke usually made a point of staying out of the affairs of the major families.
Luke stared into his coffee, silent for a long moment. He took a sip before seeming to reach a decision. "Do you remember the benefactor I mentioned from six years ago?" he asked, looking at Eleanor. Understanding dawned on her face. "It was Ethan Shaw. Back then, I was being hunted. They believed my misdiagnosis killed their leader. They didn't need proof; they just wanted me dead as retribution."
Eleanor looked at Luke, her eyes filled with pity. So that's why he became so insecure six years ago.
"Stop. Don't look at me like that. It's weird," Luke said, rubbing his arms uncomfortably.
Seeing Eleanor had no further questions, he brightened. "Sweetheart, I heard there's a fantastic restaurant nearby. Shall we go try it?"
Eleanor checked the time and nodded. They left the cafe together.
Imperial Kitchen
Bamboo Grove Private Room
The lighting in the private room was soft and warm. The round table was laden with exquisite dishes, their steam carrying tantalizing aromas. A server gently placed the final dish on the table, bowed, and exited, leaving the room in a quiet intimacy broken only by their hushed conversation and the gentle clink of chopsticks against porcelain.
Luke picked up a crystal-clear shrimp dumpling with his chopsticks and placed it in Eleanor's bowl, a smile playing on his lips. "Your favorite."
Eleanor paused for a beat, then her eyes curved into happy crescents as she picked it up and ate it.
They shared a smile, the atmosphere between them close and relaxed. The neon lights from outside filtered through the sheer curtains, making the small room feel exceptionally cozy.
Meanwhile, Cordelia Griffin had finally grown tired of shopping. "Let's get something to eat. I'm exhausted."
Lucien and Ethan had always indulged Cordelia's whims. If she said east, they would never dream of going west.
"Where to, my dear lady?" Ethan asked, joking as he gave a slight, playful bow.
"To the Imperial Kitchen, at once!" Cordelia replied, playing along with a regal air.
"At your command!" Ethan walked ahead with his head slightly bowed, playing the part for a few steps.
Lucien watched the two of them immersed in their role-play, shaking his head with a quiet, amused chuckle before following.
Imperial Kitchen
"Manager Zhen, my usual private room," Cordelia stated authoritatively.
Manager Zhen, clearly not expecting her today, looked slightly flustered. "My deepest apologies, Miss Griffin. Your usual room is occupied today. However, the Inkstone Studio across the way is also very popular. Perhaps you would consider trying a different ambiance today?"
Hearing her regular room was taken, Cordelia felt a pang of disappointment, but there was little to be done. "Fine, we'll try the Inkstone Studio today."
Manager Zhen breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, leading them to the room.
Outside the Inkstone Studio, Lucien's gaze swept indifferently over the opposite room—the Bamboo Grove—before he entered.
The moment she sat down, Cordelia ordered, "Just bring me my usual dishes."
Manager Zhen smiled and bowed slightly. "Right away, Miss Griffin."
"Still, the Bamboo Grove is better. The view and style here simply don't compare," Cordelia complained.
Ethan, accustomed to humoring her, readily agreed with everything she said.
Lucien had had enough and stepped out of the room to get some air.
Hallway, Imperial Kitchen
Eleanor happened to be walking back from the restroom toward her private room when she saw a familiar figure.
Lucien turned and his eyes met hers.
Eleanor had intended to pretend she hadn't seen him, but Lucien clearly wasn't going to let that happen.
He raised a hand in greeting. "Miss Sullivan."
Seeing he had acknowledged her, she dropped the act. "Mr. Lucien."
"Having dinner here, Miss Sullivan?" Lucien asked. It was somewhat late for a meal.
"Yes, meeting a friend. We're running a bit late," Eleanor replied succinctly.
Lucien looked at her meaningfully before giving a slight nod.
Ethan, noticing Lucien hadn't returned, came out to look for him. "Lucien, the food's—" He stopped when he saw Eleanor. "Well, hello there. Fancy seeing you here at this hour?"
"My friend and I happened to be free at this time," Eleanor said, her tone neutral as she looked at Ethan.
Just then, Luke, wondering where Eleanor had gone, opened their door.
"Sweetheart, why are you still out—" he started, then followed Eleanor's gaze to the two tall, aristocratic-looking men standing before them. His legs nearly buckled. He had seen their faces before—in a file from Mrs. Mu. These were his potential clients.
Lucien's sharp ears caught the term. He slowly enunciated the word, "Sweet...heart? Is that for you, Miss Sullivan?"
Eleanor hurried to explain, her face flushing with embarrassment. "It's just a nickname between friends. Please excuse our informality, Mr. Lucien."
A flicker of displeasure stirred within Lucien. The word "sweetheart" echoed uncomfortably in his mind.
Ethan watched with clear amusement. Cordelia, hearing the commotion, also stepped out.
"What's going on? The food is getting cold," she said, looking at the group. Then her eyes landed on the figure across the hall. "Cecilia!" she exclaimed in surprise, stepping forward and linking her arm with Eleanor's. "What are you doing here? You should have told me you were coming!"
Eleanor opened her mouth to speak, but Cordelia cut her off.
"Cecilia, your style today is..." Eleanor tried again to interject, but Cordelia continued, "...so edgy! It's completely different from your usual look. Then again, with a face like yours, you can pull off anything."
Finally, Cordelia paused. Eleanor seized the moment to speak, a hint of impatience in her tone. "Miss Griffin, I'm Eleanor Sullivan. Cecilia's sister." She finished with a polite, tight smile.
Cordelia stared at Eleanor, utterly embarrassed. "Oh! I'm so sorry! You and your sister really do look like two peas in a pod, just like the rumors say. I couldn't tell for a moment!" She looked Eleanor up and down.
Lucien watched Eleanor, his expression thoughtful.
"Have you eaten yet, dear? Why don't you join us?" Cordelia asked warmly, gesturing toward their room.
Eleanor politely declined. "No, thank you. My friend and I have some things to attend to. We should be going." With that, she and Luke turned and walked toward the exit without a backward glance.
Watching them leave, Cordelia couldn't help but remark, "The contrast between those sisters is incredible. The older one is so approachable, but the younger one... it's like she has a 'keep away' sign plastered on her." She then herded the two men back into their room for dinner.
Outside Imperial Kitchen
Luke was still reeling. "Elle... those people back there..."
"Lucien Griffin, Cordelia Griffin, Ethan Shaw," Eleanor listed, her frustration evident. She had just wanted to relax, and now this.
Luke felt a chill. Those two were his prospective employers. He had very specific rules for taking jobs. This was not ideal.
While Luke was still lost in thought about the men from the restaurant, Eleanor spoke up. "I'm heading back." She walked away without looking back.
"Be careful!" Luke called after her. "Call me if you need anything. I'll be staying in the Capital for a while."
Eleanor simply waved a hand dismissively in response.