Cici stood calmly in place, her smile at the corner of her lips purely formal.
"Sorry, I'm not interested in knowing," Cici replied, her clear eyes meeting Miss Clarence's. "I just need to do what's required of me. The banquet is about to start—do you have any other requests, Miss Clarence? As long as it's something the castle can accommodate, we'll do our best."
"I want Yin. Is that possible?" Miss Clarence challenged, glaring at Cici. "Tell me, what exactly is your relationship with Yin? How did you meet him? Are you his woman?"
Cici laughed softly. "Sorry, that's confidential. As for your first question, he's a person, not an object. I have no say in the matter."
After saying this, Cici nodded politely to Miss Clarence and turned to leave.
Watching Cici's retreating figure, the usually unbeatable Miss Clarence was so furious she rolled her eyes.
Just an Asian woman, and yet she dares to act so arrogant in front of her!
She was British nobility—nobility!
She was true aristocracy!
Cici wasn't the least bit hesitant or shaken by Miss Clarence's words.
Livia clearly didn't want to talk to Cici, but those two little princes were just too tempting. She had no choice but to swallow her pride and seek out Cici herself.
"I just wanted to ask what your relationship is with those two little princes..." Livia said, her face awkwardly turning away.
Cici smiled and replied, "You mean Ethan and Miles? They're my sons."
"You're lying! You're still so young, you can't be older than fifteen. How could they be your sons?" Livia pouted, unconvinced.
Cici couldn't help but laugh.
This time, it was a genuine laugh, not just a polite smile.
Being accused by a hostile little girl of lying about her age almost felt like a win.
"Thanks for the compliment," Cici said with a laugh. "But I'm actually twenty-six, about to turn twenty-seven. So having sons their age isn't that strange, is it?"
Whether she was trying to provoke this proud little noble, or she truly saw Ethan and Miles as her own, Cici answered naturally.
She didn't want those two children to be motherless.
Once she realized Cici really was the mother of the two princes, Livia looked utterly deflated.
She’d recklessly offended the princes’ mom...
Just then, someone approached from outside. Cici quickly said, "If you don’t leave now, you’ll be found out! For a noble to be thrown out of the manor would be quite disgraceful."
Livia spun around and dashed off.
Cici couldn’t help but smile brightly.
Turning around, Cici went to find the butler to finish the final preparations.
As soon as she returned to the hall and before she could get back to Charles Yin, she heard a charming voice from outside: "Dropping by uninvited, Charles, I hope you’re not angry?"
Cici turned and saw a tall, slender man slowly appearing at the entrance.
He had striking red eyes and features so sharp they were almost otherworldly.
Charles Yin’s eyes narrowed instinctively at the sight of him. Then he stood up with a smile and walked over. "Earl Field, of course not. You’re a guest we could never invite enough. But you’re rarely in England—what brings you here today?"