"!!!" Evelina's expression softened with surprise. 'Perhaps he's not as bad as I thought,' she mused with a smirk, as she also casts a knowing glance at the empty wall, "Looks like you'll need more training..." she remarked before following Eli out of the room.
As soon as Eli and Evelina made their exit from the room...
"I suppose Her Majesty didn't choose a weak man," a voice echoed from the wall, revealing the same fox woman who had been lounging on the bed as she emerged gracefully from the wall's surface.
"It seems like you've stirred up quite the commotion... He seems really angry now!" Lyra, still reclining on the bed, remarked casually as she glanced at her original.
"I suppose I shouldn't have tested..." the Lyra who emerged from the wall admitted with a hint of regret before snapping her fingers.
'Snap'
The room's appearance underwent a metamorphosis akin to an old television screen flickering before transitioning into a sophisticated office space adorned with elegant furnishings.
"I told you, he's just a pervert!" Amber Fox, positioned in a corner of the room, chimed in with a smug expression, her arms crossed confidently.
She was confident that Eli only ran away due to her mother's seductive power.
Lyra Fox exchanged a knowing look with her daughter, shaking her head in a mix of disbelief and disappointment at Amber's impulsive nature.
"What? Mom?" Amber furrowed her brow, puzzled by her mother's reaction and the sudden change of atmosphere.
"Sigh... Because of your impulsive actions, I almost missed out on a significant opportunity to advance my position," Lyra lamented with a wry smile, conveying a sense of regret but also resilience. Explore stories on empire
"Mom, what are you talking about?" Amber pressed for further clarification, her curiosity piqued.
"My dear Amby, you're too young to fully understand the complexities of these matters. Your haste almost jeopardized a valuable chance... Now, I'm uncertain if he'll even consider our proposal," Lyra explained with a composed demeanour as she settled onto a nearby sofa, gathering her thoughts and composing herself after the unexpected turn of events.
Lyra had been using illusions to test Eli, prompted by her daughter's warning that Asher Eli was untrustworthy and potentially deceitful. Despite already having gathered significant information on Eli's products through her extensive network in the upper echelons, Lyra remained curious about his plants' capabilities.
She had managed to obtain samples of the products that were making waves in the Flora continent, and upon trying them, she was astounded by their exceptional flavour, surpassing even dishes made with high-quality raw ingredients she typically procured.
"I am sorry!!" Amber's voice rang out, surprising Eli as she bowed her head before him.
"Hmm?" Eli's eyebrows raised in curiosity. He had a feeling he knew what she was apologizing for, but he wanted to hear it from her.
Amber's lips twitched with unease. She knew Eli likely already understood the reason behind her apology, yet she felt compelled to express it....
'This man is truly a vexation,' she thought, bracing herself before continuing, "I'm truly sorry. My mother tested you because I told her you might be an untrustworthy and backstabbing person."
"Hmm..." Eli nodded, indicating his understanding. He recognized the lingering doubt and distrust in Amber's words, 'She still clinging on that day... ah' he thought and said,
"I don't care," Eli waved off her concerns dismissively.
"H-Huh?" Amber was slightly taken aback by his response, not expecting such nonchalance.
"It's not like I'm angry about being tested. Your mother has every right to ensure she's making correct decisions," Eli explained casually, his demeanour surprisingly calm.
"O-Oh, I see," Amber breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders.
But her relief was short-lived.
"However..."
At Eli's continuation, Amber's heart sank, and she braced herself for his next words.
"... She owes me one."
"W-What do you mean?" Amber asked, a sense of dread creeping over her.
Eli simply smiled enigmatically and walked away without offering any further explanation.
"W-Wait!!" Amber called out, but Eli paid her no heed as he disappeared from sight.