CH 444

Claire looked strangely earnest as she actually bent down and plead to someone even younger than her. It was something unimaginable, which was enough to show her sincerity.

Unfortunately, Lin Xiao didn’t buy it.

“Sorry, no.”

“… Why?”

Claire didn’t expect Lin Xiao to reject her so quickly, he didn’t even give her any time and threw all her sincerity out the window.

She had prepared a lot and thought of a lot of lines because she knew Lin Xiao wouldn’t agree so easily, since it was so important no one would be willing to do it.

But all of her plans went to waste, and he didn’t even give her any room to bargain.

“What do you mean why? I don’t want to, I’m lazy, I guess those are all reasons. I’m not your subordinate, so I have to obligation to help you.”

“Hah?” Claire almost choked, “Okay, even if you don’t want to help, and you’re too lazy to, you should at least think about it, right? Why did you reject me outright?”

“I need time to reject you?”

“But you didn’t even finish listening to me! Lin Xiao, I won’t make you help me for nothing, I’ll definitely give you a satisfactory reward, even if you’re not you can make suggestions and we can negotiate… but you rejected me without even listening, why?”

“… Because I knew that you didn’t come to me for anything good!”

“W-what?”

“Claire, today you wore make-up for the first time ever, wore earrings and jewelry and it seems your clothes are also newly custom-made. If I’m not wrong, you’re also carrying a scented sachet… am I right?” Lin Xiao squinted and questioned.

“Eh? … S-so you could tell?” Claire held onto her mouth in panic and retreated speechlessly.

No, rather than panic, pleasant surprise would be more apt.

Earlier, the reason she was fidgeting and looking around so much was partly because of her ridiculous request, and the other reason was because of her appearance…

Claire has maintained many beautiful swords and spears but never knew how to care for her appearance. Because she wasn’t used to make-up, her appearance wasn’t too different from usual and she didn’t know whether Lin Xiao would notice the minute changes or would completely ignore them, then that would be a wasted effort.

But now, Lin Xiao noticed, which meant her efforts didn’t go to waste and so she relaxed. But at the same time, she felt another uneasiness. Since Lin Xiao noticed the changes, what is she like in his eyes now? Was she still a female version of Caesar? Or did she become a slightly cuter schoolgirl?

“Ah! Of course, I could tell, so I knew you didn’t have any good intentions!” Lin Xiao didn’t know about what Claire was thinking and continued, “Claire, do you think I would fall for your honey trap just because you dress up a little? Hmph, do you think I’m a man who only thinks with my lower half?”

“Isn’t that exactly what you are…” Claire quickly followed up again, “Then are you saying I’m more beautiful to the point of a honey trap?”

“Hah?”

“Hm… strictly speaking, it would be a very beginner-level honey trap, just barely good enough.”

Claire had eye shadow, did her eyeliner, applied blush, and even had lipstick, it wasn’t very professionally done, but it was suitable, and her faint make-up highlighted her natural beauty.

Other than that, her accessories were also quite tasteful, especially her small milk white pearl earrings, paired up with a Japanese-style schoolgirl uniform shirt and short skirt. She radiated youth and her long blonde hair that wrapped around her right shoulder was like the sunlight.

“Not bad, at least you’re a woman now.”

“Really? Thanks…”

“You’re welcome, cough… wait! Aren’t we getting too off topic!”

Lin Xiao suddenly realized something and tried to drive her away.

“Hurry up and go, I won’t help you with the rebels.”

“But Lin Xiao… I’ll give you benefits! Money, ranks, I can give you anything within my power!”

“But I don’t want anything.”

“How is that possible? You’re very poor right, so I can give you a lot of money and even land, and make you a lord! As long as you can help me, I can do anything!”

“Uh… don’t say it like that, it’s not like you can do anything, right?”

“What do you mean? … Okay, I understand. Lin Xiao, as long as you help me, after this is all over… you can even have me if you want!”

“Hah? You?” Lin Xiao almost choked after hearing that, “Please stop messing around, I don’t want you, just forget it.”

“But… “

Lin Xiao already didn’t want to bother with her so he sat on his bed and stared at the wall, he would rather look at a wall than at her.

“Lin Xiao, I don’t get it… why aren’t you willing to help me? I won’t send you onto the battlefield, I just want you to be my helper and give me advice.”

“… Because I’m lazy.”

“Lazy? Okay… even if you won’t be my helper, can I ask you for help with just one thing?”

“No.” Lin Xiao rejected her before she could even ask.

“I have to attend the war meeting the day after tomorrow with the Grand Marshall and the other generals.”

Claire ignored his rejection and tried to get him to listen.

“Lin Xiao, my father is very ill, and only I can represent him, but I don’t know anything about warfare and the generals all have their own views, so I don’t know how to get them all on the same page… so I can only ask you for help!”

She wasn’t supposed to deal with the rebellion, but who could have known that her father would fall ill and all these responsibilities would fall to her? With Claire’s strong personality, she wasn’t afraid of pressure and heavy burdens, but this time she had no choice.

She could direct the investigators and deal with the plague, but leading soldiers and fighting a war with those officials and generals were completely different. If she was forced to the meeting, she might not be able to say anything and make a fool of herself. She was forced to a dead end and could only advance, and Lin Xiao was her only hope in doing so!

Lin Xiao had guts, knew strategy and he was eloquent, if it were him, he could surely get those noisy generals to come to a mutual understanding.

Claire knew that if Lin Xiao agreed to help, he would do his best, even if he was from Lombard Kingdom, but he was her savior and she trusted him.

“Lin Xiao, I don’t need you to help pacify the rebellion, I just hope you can help me convince those generals during the meeting… can you just help me with a small request like that?”

“No, I still can’t… just go.”

Lin Xiao faced the wall and resolve himself. It’s not that he couldn’t feel Claire’s sincerity, but he just couldn’t help. But even if he had the power to help, why should he?

Was she a loved one? Did she have anything to do with him? Also, he was the one who saved her, not the other way around, so why should he help her?

Of course, he wasn’t one to say those things, but there was actually another deeper reason for why he rejected Claire.

It’s just that, he who fell into thought while staring into the wall didn’t notice that girl start tearing up when he rejected her once again.