Eat Well Before the Journey

"...Our Felix and Grace really are incredibly fated." Serena Xi sighed emotionally.

"Yes!" Lena replied with a smile, looking at Felix. "I heard from Grace that they were classmates during their advanced fellowship at the Eastern Alliance, and now they're even fellow disciples!"

Grace glanced at Felix and gave him a big, toothy grin.

Felix, as usual, remained expressionless and ignored her.

"...For Grace to have the Imperial Pharmacist as her master, and such a talented senior brother like Felix—she must have accumulated great fortune over three lifetimes!" Lena added.

Serena Xi smiled and said, "How about this?"

"What do you mean?" Lena asked.

"I see Grace is still young, so she probably hasn't been engaged yet, right? How about we arrange a marriage between our children?" Serena Xi looked at Grace with satisfied eyes. "The more I look at Grace, the more I like her!"

"Ah?" Lena was instantly a bit embarrassed.

"What is it?" Serena Xi asked. "Don't tell me she's already engaged?"

"...Yes!" Lena said. "His Majesty granted Grace a marriage—"

"Oh, don't worry about that!" Serena Xi said. "With Grace's talent, she'll never be limited to a tiny Vermilion Kingdom! In a year, she'll be able to leave here and, like Felix, go to the Eastern Alliance Headquarters! By then, will the Vermilion Emperor really be able to control who she marries?"

"But..." Lena looked apologetic. "Grace and her fiancé have a very strong relationship."

Hearing this, Serena Xi took Grace's hand and said, "Grace, if you're already married, I won't say anything more. But if you're not, maybe you should consider our Felix! You're in the same profession and so fated—I really think the two of you are a match made in heaven!"

Grace glanced at Felix, who sat stiffly, his ears burning red.

She smiled and said, "I—"

"Sorry, I'm late." Suddenly, a voice interrupted Grace.

Everyone turned to look. A tall figure blocked the doorway—handsome, commanding, and dazzling even while standing still. His presence seemed to outshine the world, making everything else fade into the background.

Serena Xi's face changed and she abruptly stood up. "You are—"

"General Evan Xiao of the Vermilion Kingdom." Evan Xiao cut her off.

Then he walked straight over and sat down next to Grace, adding, "Grace's fiancé."

Serena Xi's gaze lingered on his face, thoughtful.

Felix also looked at Evan Xiao.

So this is Grace's fiancé...

Not that impressive!

"Madam, my father-in-law was kept by His Majesty for a meeting today, so he probably can't make it. I hope you understand!" Evan Xiao said.

"Your father-in-law?"

"Grace's father," Evan Xiao replied.

Serena Xi suddenly smiled. "No problem."

"Uh... Auntie, Felix, eat up!" Grace felt inexplicably awkward and tried to urge everyone to eat.

"That's right! Eat up, so you'll be ready for the road ahead," Evan Xiao added.

Eat up, so you'll be ready for the road... Why does that sound like a line from a Farewell Wine scene before an execution...?

Grace bit her lip and snuck a glance at Evan Xiao, not daring to say anything.

He definitely heard that just now.

"Grace's senior brother." When Grace stayed silent, Evan Xiao, surprisingly, started acting as host. "Grace never mentioned you to her family, so I'm not sure how to address you?"

Felix replied expressionlessly, "Felix."

"Senior Felix, let me toast you!" Evan Xiao stood up and poured a huge bowl of wine for both Felix and himself.

Then he drained it in one gulp.