Chapter 1004: Disgusting Stench
Chapter 1002 of "Primordial Villain With A Slave Harem" introduces new challenges: The Child of Reckoning understood very well that she was being poked fun at, so... Keep following!
The Child of Reckoning understood very well that she was being poked fun at, so she didnât bother responding. Many of her temporary âsistersâ begged to be allowed to do her makeup, but she refused all of them.
Ayameâs statement earned her quite a colorful remark sent privately into her head. Something about her makeup making her look like a night companion for hire, and that the nobles will think Quinlan brought her as a gift to thank the king for the invitation.
Naturally, this earned Iris a colorful response of her own, and just like that, the two resumed their perpetual bickering.
Then the dogkin suddenly sniffed the air deeply, and her head turned toward the bigger chariot. Her face scrunched as if she smelled something beyond rotten oozing from that direction.
Blossom reached for his hand needily and planted her nose into his shoulders, wishing to overwrite the horrible smell with the one that was emitted by her beloved master.
"Am I being ignored, I wonder~?"
Selendra mused with a polite smile, though any such sentiment didnât reach her eyes. She clearly hated being ignored, even if for but a single second.
"I must apologize; ignoring you wasnât my intention, my lady. I was merely stunned for a moment by your beauty. The portraits donât do you justice."
Quinlan took her gloved hand with graceful motions and placed a chaste kiss upon it. It was the proper gesture, the kind nobles adored.
A gleeful giggle escaped Selendraâs lips. It was light and full of feminine delight. A real smile, one not forged for social manipulation, briefly graced her painted face. Her eyes, once flat and sharp like polished glass, shone with real warmth for the first time.
"My, my~ You have a good eye for beauty, I see," she said, letting her gaze wander across the women behind him. "Itâs clear you know how to appreciate the finer things in life... judging by the company you keep."
Her eyes narrowed as she studied Quinlan again. "I donât recall meeting you before, though. Iâm sure Iâd remember such an imposing-looking man among the sea of wimpy noble men..." Her gaze lingered on his firm biceps, specifically, the one currently occupied by a dogkin, who was still pressing her face into him so that she wouldnât have to smell the foul stench Selendra and her mother emitted. "Yes... definitely something Iâd remember."
Then she paused, squinting up as if she noticed something odd, something she somehow missed when he leaned down to kiss her hand.
"Is that... a cat on your head?"
Quinlan didnât bother glancing up. "Yes."
Selendra blinked. "A black cat... asleep... on your head?"
"Yes," he confirmed again, entirely unfazed. "Is there an issue? She wanted to come with us, and I didnât have it in me to refuse."
She stared a second longer before laughing aloud, releasing a delicate, amused, and intrigued sound. "Alright... yes, I definitely wouldâve remembered you."
He offered a faint, amused smile and bowed his head slightly. "The nameâs Black. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
At that, Selendraâs brow arched. "Lord Black?" she repeated. "Masks and aliases in the noble district? Didnât you read the invitation letter? And I see a beast as well as an elf in your group, you do realize they have to be collared at all times, correct? Itâs beyond rude to the king to bring slaves to his birthday party. You might even lose your heads."
"Weâre... special guests of sorts," Quinlan replied smoothly, ignoring most of her remarks.
A sharp scoff cut through the conversation as a new participant joined the conversation..
"Special guests? You?" The voice came from behind the golden silk curtains of the larger chariot. The tone was full of disdain, every syllable dripping with venomous entitlement. "Even duke families like ours enter through the same gates as the lesser families and undergo the same inspections. No one is treated special, as per our âfair to allâ king desired."
She said the âfair to allâ part as if it were ridiculous. Treating mere baronets with the same level of respect as duke families? Preposterous!
Quinlan didnât change expression, nor did his posture stiffen. He merely turned toward the voice with calm, impeccable manners he practiced while waiting for his mana to recharge during the steamy smithing sessions he held with Kaelira.
"I wouldnât dare lie to such important ladies as yourselves," he said respectfully. "If Iâm not mistaken... do I have the honor of speaking with the renowned Maerina Ravenshade?"
A moment of silence followed. Then came the bored reply: "You do. Now get lost, stop wasting my time."
Quinlanâs expression didnât even twitch, though the same couldnât be said for some of his women. Feng especially didnât appreciate the tone of the woman.
Selendra, meanwhile, burst into another amused giggle, utterly delighted by how her mother dismissed him like a beggar at a feast. She clutched her parasol and turned to Quinlan with mischief in her eyes, clearly proud of the example her mother set.
"Sheâs the golden standard I aspire to follow~ Isnât she such a perfect role model?"
"She is. No wonder you turned into such a fine young lady, Miss Selendra~" Vex spoke up with a giggle of her own. If anyone knew the woman, theyâd instantly be able to tell she thought of the pair as beyond trash. A pile of stinking shit she unfortunately encountered while out on a stroll with her hubby.