L raised her face and looked at London with an aggrieved expression. One the one hand, she could understand the sincerity of the young man in front of her, but on the other hand, she felt disappointed with herself, because it turned out that her career hadn't been the result of her own efforts.
"Does Pammy know?" L asked quietly.
"She only found out two months ago when she caught me and Jan talking in the hospital. She's innocent. I forced her to help me."
"Hmm..."
"I really just wanted to help you because I felt guilty, Honey. But then, after we met again several times, I felt something different for you. I've never been in love with another woman, only to you. I felt this was my destiny when I realized you were pregnant with my child.
I was determined to be responsible for you both. That's why I prepared everything for you and Lily." London explained again. "Because you were still rejecting me, I couldn't reveal my identity to you."
"Are you afraid I'll only accept you because of your wealth?" L asked. "I know, I do have that kind of reputation. I'm indeed materialistic... I now understand why you kept your identity as London Schneider a secret. You have to protect your family's wealth from materialistic gold diggers like me."
London smiled at L's words. He shook his head slowly. "I don't mind if you're really materialistic and wanting my wealth, although now I know you're not really materialistic like you claim to be.
As I told you, when you were hospitalized, after you fainted, I was willing to be used by you. You can use my body, my wealth, the influence of my family has, whatever it is. I don't mind. Besides, if we get married, my wealth will also be yours anyway. So, I have absolutely no problem with that."
L was astonished to hear that. "Eh... what? You kept your identity a secret not because you're afraid of gold-diggers like me?"
"No. It's not like that at all." London gave an increasingly mysterious smile. "I kept my identity a secret because only the woman who wants to marry me can know who I really am. This concerns the secrets of my family and our whole clan."
"I don't understand..." L became very confused.
London pulled L's hands into his l.a.p and squeezed them gently. "Honey, are you willing to live forever with me and Lily?"
London tried to hold back his laughter when he saw L's confused expression. He became exasperated and pinched her little nose. "Are you confused?"
L nodded slowly. Her black eyes seemed to be filled with questions.
"I'll tell you everything because you're Lily's mother. Please listen with an open mind and don't interrupt me. After I'm done, you can think about it properly and give me an answer."
"What answer?" L asked in surprise.
"Later. You'll find out yourself." London held L's hand with both of his hands and squeezed it softly as the story began. "Are you ready to hear the craziest story you'll ever hear in your life?"
Finally, L nodded. "Okay."
"Honey, my family is actually a part of the Alchemist clan. I'm now 28 years old, but as you can see, my face looks a little younger than my age. Ten years from now... even a hundred years from now, my face won't change, because..." London uttered the next sentence slowly while watching L.'s reaction. "My family are immortals. At least until now, no Alchemist has aged or died of illness."
"This joke of yours isn't funny..." L chided after London finished his sentence. The girl's voice sounded disappointed. "I thought you would say something important and serious, but you're just joking. Why don't you take me seriously?"
"Sssh... you're so disobedient, eh? I already told you not to interrupt me."
"I didn't interrupt you. You've stopped talking just now."
London massaged his forehead. "You get what I mean. I'm not done talking yet. You don't believe me? Do you think I'm just joking? Now ask me how old my father is."
L shrugged. "About 50 or 60 years old..."
"You didn't ask. You concluded it yourself."
"Ugh... all right, Sir. How old is your father?" L finally asked, relenting.
London smiled and looked at L very seriously. "My father is 470 years old now, almost 5 centuries-old... But my father isn't even the oldest human being on earth today. There's Uncle Lauriel. He's now nearly 600 years old. They've been living for a ridiculously long time.
All their lives, my father and Uncle Lauriel have explored every corner of the earth, so they know a lot of things. They also mastered a lot of languages because they've explored the earth and learned new cultures all their lives."
L was still shaking her head. "If it's true that your father is so old, why are you still young?"
"Well... My father used to be a womanizer. He changed his women once a month. Anyway, my father used to be a jerk. He was a changed man after meeting my mother. They met around 30 years ago and immediately fell in love. As a result, my sister, Aleksis, was born. Then came myself and Rune."
L frowned at the name Rune. Subconsciously, her lips sighed in surprise. She remembered meeting Rune at the Schneider family mansion a few weeks ago. Immediately, her memory went back to the man who looked very similar to London there. She remembered that at that time, she thought that the man was London Schneider.
Wait... if this man sitting next to her was the real London Schneider, then... who was that guy from back then?
L's lips half-opened when she was about to ask London, but she couldn't find her voice.
"You must remember now. You've met my father and mother." London seemed to be able to read L's mind and immediately confirmed her suspicions.
L half-screamed, pressing her lips with both hands. Her eyes went round so big.
Gosh! Then... the young man and woman she called Mr. and Mrs. Schneider at that time were... the parents of the man beside her?
Why did they look so young?
Is... London really telling the truth?