Lewis mengambil telepon itu, dan wajahnya menggelap sekilas setelah meliriknya. Keira juga mengerutkan kening. Kehampaan langka melanda udara di antara mereka.
Keira membaca pesan teks itu sekali lagi. Isinya, "Tugas ketigamu adalah membuat Scott Martin jatuh cinta padamu dan menikah dengannya demi aliansi."
Scott Martin… Nama itu terdengar sedikit familiar. Kebetulan, Keira bertemu dengannya di Clance tidak lama ini; dia orang asing yang baru pulang dari luar negeri. Sepertinya dia belum menguasai bahasa asli dan sering menciptakan momen memalukan. Keduanya hampir tidak punya interaksi; penugasan tugas ini aneh tanpa alasan jelas. Apalagi, Keira dan Lewis sudah bertunangan, yang jadi pembicaraan kota, membuat tugas ini mustahil baginya.
Wajah Lewis jadi pucat pasi, dan dia mengepalkan tinju sambil menatap Keira. "Keira, tugas-tugas dari Keluarga South memang aneh. Tugas pertama suruh Mary menikah dengan Ellis tiba-tiba, dan tugas kedua suruhmu bekerja sama dengan lima keluarga besar. Tugas ketiga ini terlalu konyol!"
Keira merenung. "Tugas pertama bertujuan memanfaatkan hubungan Mary dan Ellis untuk mengikat Keluarga Olsen, yang sebenarnya tumpang tindih dengan tugas kedua. Jadi, meski Mary dan Ellis sudah cerai, situasinya tidak berubah. Kurasa Keluarga South hanya ingin aku menjaga hubungan kerja sama yang baik dengan lima keluarga besar. Alasan spesifiknya tidak jelas. Tapi Scott Martin ini, siapa dia?"
Lewis menjelaskan dengan wajah muram, "Aku sudah riset soal pria ini sebelumnya." Saat dia di Oceanion, Scott Martin mengejar Keira, dan Lewis menyuruh Tom menyelidiki pria itu. Ternyata pria ini datang ke Crera cuma untuk menembus pasar Crera, dan soal keluarganya… Lewis menjelaskan ringan, "Di luar negeri, mereka dianggap bangsawan. Keluarga South ngasih tugas itu ke kamu mau supaya kamu menjaga hubungan baik dengan setiap keluarga bereputasi? Kenapa mereka lakukan itu? Bukankah tugas-tugas yang mereka berikan terlalu aneh?"
Keira mengangguk. "Aku setuju."
Lewis batuk kecil, menatapnya. "Jadi, keputusanmu apa?"
Keira melirik dia dan melihat pria itu terlihat agak gelisah. Keira menundukkan mata. "Hidup mati ibuku tidak pasti, jadi tugas ini pasti harus aku laksanakan…"
Mengucap itu, dia merasakan Lewis jadi sedih. "Berarti kamu mau menyerahkanku?"
Keira tersenyum. Lewis orang acuh tak acuh, sulit dipuaskan. Kenapa dia selalu kelihatan seperti pihak yang tersakiti? Itu bikin dia merasa sayang. Dia buru-buru jelasin, "Bukan itu maksudku. Aku mau kontak Scott Martin dan liat dia mau apa."
Mata Lewis penuh rasa sedih yang lebih dalam. Keira mengayunkan tangan. "Jangan liat aku kayak gitu. Aku cuma mau negosiasi kemitraan bisnis sama dia. Lagipula, meski aku coba bikin Scott Martin jatuh cinta, bukan berarti dia akan! Aku bukan Helen of Troy! Aku nggak bisa bikin setiap pria jatuh cinta!"
Kata-kata itu buat menenangkan Lewis, tapi begitu selesai bicara, tiba-tiba suara dengan bahasa Crera yang kacau datang dari belakang. "Nona Olsen! Benar-benar kamu!"
Keira tercengang. Dia perlahan menoleh dan melihat Scott Martin pakaian jas warna cerah, wajah penuh gembira, mendekat cepat. Lalu, memanfaatkan Keira yang kaget, dia meraih tangan Keira. "Nona Olsen, benar-benar kehormatan bagiku bertemu lagi denganmu di Clance! Saat aku pergi dari Oceanion, aku agak ragu dan nggak sempat pamit ke kamu langsung. Aku nggak pernah duga kita bisa bertemu lagi di sini!"
Keira nggak tau mau bilang apa. Dia naluriah menatap Lewis dan melihat ekspresinya menggelap. Lewis melangkah maju dan meraih tangan Scott Martin, coba tarik dari tangan Keira, nada dingin es. "Tuan Martin, halo, aku nggak ingat ngundang kamu ke pesta ulang tahunku. Gimana kamu bisa masuk?"
Scott Martin pegang tangan Keira erat, abaikan kata Lewis. "Nona Olsen, pepatah Crera kuno bilang, 'Pertemuan ditakdirkan takdir layaknya pernikahan terikat benang ribuan mil!'
Keira bilang, "Tuan Martin, pepatah itu nggak cocok dipakai antara kita berdua."
"Begitukah?" Scott cuma tertawa. "Menurutku cocok banget!"
Keira cepat tarik tangannya, dan saat Scott mau mendekat bilang lagi, Lewis melangkah di antara dia dan Keira. "Tuan Martin, kamu belum jelasin gimana kamu masuk."
Dengan itu, Charles bilang, "Aku bawa dia masuk!" Dia jalan ke sana dan high-five Scott, tertawa. "Tuan Martin rencana mau kembangkan lahan kerja sama dengan Keluarga Olsen, jadi aku baru-baru ini komunikasi sama Tuan Martin. Karena hari ini ulang tahun Lewis, wajar aku bawa dia!" Ngomong itu, dia menoleh ke Keira. "Keira, yuk main game di sana."
Keira naluriah melirik Lewis. Mereka bergerak ke sofa dekat itu, dan begitu bergabung, mereka lihat kerumunan anak muda berkumpul, main game. Mereka asik game tim berbasis mobile. Lima orang per tim, dan mereka main ranked match. Charles langsung ikut main bawa Scott Martin. Keira condong ke samping, mengamati Scott dekat.
Lewis ikut, bergumam datar, "Pria ini pasti nggak naif. Dia pasti simpan rahasia. Kalau nggak, Keluarga South nggak bakal suruh kamu menikah dia. Dia bisa jadi salah satu jahat di dalam Keluarga South!"
Keira diam. Dia batuk halus. "Ya sudah, dekatkan dia dulu terus liat nanti."
Mendengar itu, mata Lewis jadi gelap. Sejenak kemudian dia bilang, "Kamu benar. Aku suruh orang terus selidiki keberadaannya."
"Baik."
Keira lalu sentak dagu. "Gimana caranya bikin orang suka, jadi temen, terus minta dia bantu aku?" Yang paling dia kekurangan sejak kecil itu temen. Karena cara dibesarkan, dia nggak pandai komunikasi atau bikin temen. Temen sedikit yang punya ya temen dekat Keira atau yang identik mendekatinya. Bikin temen proaktif sekarang terasa agak sulit, kan? Meski kelihatannya Scott Martin cukup antusias sama dia…
Sambil Keira mikir, Lewis batuk. "Kamu bisa puji dia lebih banyak."
Keira tanya nasihat tulus. "Gimana caranya memujinya?"
Lewis angguk sedikit. "Liat beberapa cowok itu…" Keira lihat lima cowok main game sambil ngecas kasar. James bilang, "Doomfist itu kenapa? Nggak bisa gerak dengan benar?" Charles bilang, "Sial! Doomfist, kamu ngapain? Bisa nembak sniper nggak?" Dua saudara Olsen lain juga marah ngecas, "Dia nggak berguna! Serius, dia tau main nggak?"
Keira, yang belum pernah main game ini dan nggak ngerti caranya, melirik Lewis, yang batuk halus. "Kamu bisa puji pengasuhannya."
Keira langsung angguk. Setelah satu ronde game, Scott tersenyum dan taruh HP-nya sementara empat lainnya wajah muram, lanjut ngecas dan keluh. Lewis lalu angguk ke Keira. Keira langsung buat gestur "OK", batuk halus, dan perlahan mulai, "Nah…" Kelima gamer langsung menatapnya sekaligus. Keira melirik Scott Martin dan bilang santai, nggak pandai memuji orang. "Cuma game, jadi nggak usah begitu emosian. Kalian berempat harus belajar dari Tuan Martin."
Charles langsung tanya, "Belajar apa?"
Keira perlahan bilang, "Aku lihat kalian tadi terus ngecas Doomfist, tapi Tuan Martin nggak bilang satu kata pun sepanjang waktu. Temperamen seperti itu mengagumkan!" Setelah pujian itu, dia bahkan angkat jempol ke Scott. Lalu, dia curiga melirik Lewis. Lewis nahan senyum di sudut bibir. Keira tiba-tiba sadar ada yang aneh, lalu liat ke lima pria, cuma lihat keempat saudara Olsen kedip mulut. Scott wajah malu dan jelasin pelan, "Nah, sebenarnya, aku yang main Doomfist."
Keira tercengang. Dia berdiri canggung. "Kalian lanjut. Aku pergi cek yang lain dulu."
Setelah dia pergi, James langsung bilang, "Keira, kalo nggak bisa puji orang, mending jangan puji sama sekali."
Keira bingung. Charles juga diam-diam bilang, "Keira, pujianmu bagus. Cuma jangan ulang lagi lain kali!"
Keira memelototi Lewis, cuma lihat dia meledak tertawa. Baru dia benar-benar paham Lewis ngejek dia! Dia melotot Lewis dan lalu coba mendekat ke Scott Martin buat bilang beberapa kata, tapi tak terduga, begitu dia mendekat, Scott cepat lari seolah malu.
Keira heran. Lewis mengangkat alis. Keira tanya, "Kenapa dia lari?"
"Dia malu hadapin kamu setelah kehilangan muka di depan cewek yang disukainya."
Keira nggak tau mau bilang apa. Dia nggak tahan cubit Lewis. Dia yang lakuin kejahatan, dan dia yang jadi kacau balau!
Pesta berakhir cepat, dan sebagai tuan rumah, Lewis pribadi antar Keluarga Olsen pulang. Keira mau tinggal tanya soal Keluarga South ke Nenek Horton, jadi dia ikut. Pesta sukses, tuan rumah dan tamu senang. Setelah tamu penting pergi, Keira dan Lewis bersama naik ke kamar Nenek Horton di lantai dua.
Sudah malam, tapi Nenek Horton belum tidur. Lihat mereka masuk, dia undang duduk di sofa dan tanya, "Mau tau apa?"
Keira langsung ke pokok. "Nenek, ceritain dong soal Keluarga South. Ceritanya gimana, sebenarnya?"
Mendengar itu, Nenek Horton seolah tenggelam dalam kenangan. "Ah, Keluarga South. Mereka sebenarnya keluarga yang sangat misterius…"
Chapter 504
….
Lewis took over the phone, and his face darkened instantly after a glance. Keira also furrowed her brows. There was a rare heaviness in the air between them.
Keira looked at the text message once more. It read, “Your third task is to make Scott Martin fall in love with you and enter into an alliance marriage with him.”
Scott Martin… This name sounded slightly familiar. Coincidentally, Keira met him in Clance not long ago; he was that expatriate who had returned from overseas. It seemed he hadn’t mastered the native language and often created embarrassing moments. The two had hardly any interaction; the assignment of this task was inexplicably strange. Moreover, Keira and Lewis were already engaged, which was the talk of the town, making this task fundamentally impossible for her.
Lewis’s face turned ashen, and he clenched his fists, looking at Keira. “Keira, the tasks from the South family are really odd. The first task was to have Mary marry Ellis out of the blue, and the second task had you cooperate with the five major families. This third task is just too preposterous!”
Keira pondered. “The first task aimed to use Mary and Ellis’s relationship to bind the Olsen family, which actually overlaps with the second task. Hence, even after Mary and Ellis got divorced, the situation didn’t change. I think the South family simply wants me to maintain a good cooperative relationship with the five major families. The specific reasoning is unclear. But this Scott Martin, who is he?”
Lewis explained with a grim face, “I have done some research on this guy before.” When he was in Oceanion, Scott Martin pursued Keira, and Lewis had Tom look into that man. It turned out this guy came to Crera just to penetrate the Creran market, and as for his family… Lewis explained lightly, “Abroad, they are considered nobility. Is the South family issuing you that task trying to have you maintain good relations with every reputable family? Why would they do that? Aren’t the tasks they are issuing a bit too strange?”
Keira nodded. “I agree.”
Lewis coughed slightly, looking at her. “So, what will your decision be?”
Keira stole a glance at him and saw the man looking somewhat uneasy. Keira lowered her eyes. “My mother’s life and death are uncertain, so this task is definitely something I must do…”
As soon as she spoke, she could feel Lewis become dejected. “So you’re going to give me up?”
Keira smiled. Lewis was an aloof, hard-to-please person. Why did he always look like the aggrieved party? It made her feel quite sorry for him. She hurriedly explained, “That’s not what I mean. I want to contact Scott Martin and see what he’s up to.”
Lewis’s eyes were filled with an even more profound sense of sadness. Keira waved her hands. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m just going to negotiate some business partnership with him. Besides, even if I try to make Scott Martin fall for me, that doesn’t mean he will! I’m not Helen of Troy! I can’t make every man fall in love with me!”
The words were meant to comfort Lewis, but just as she finished speaking, suddenly, a voice with broken Creran came from behind. “Miss Olsen! It really is you!”
Keira was dumbfounded. She turned slowly and saw Scott Martin in a light-colored suit, his face brimming with joy as he approached quickly. Then, taking advantage of Keira’s startled state, he took her hand in his. “Miss Olsen, it is truly my privilege to reencounter you in Clance! When I left Oceanion, I was a bit reluctant and couldn’t say goodbye to you in person. I never expected us to meet again here!”
Keira didn’t know what to say. She instinctively looked at Lewis and saw that his expression had darkened. Lewis stepped forward and grabbed Scott Martin’s hand, trying to pull it apart from Keira’s, his tone ice cold. “Mr. Martin, hello, I don’t remember sending you an invitation to my birthday party. How did you get in?”
Scott Martin held on to Keira’s hand tightly, completely ignoring Lewis’s words. “Miss Olsen, an old Creran saying goes, ‘An encounter is predestined by fate just like a marriage is bound by a thread across a thousand miles!’”
Keira said, “Mr. Martin, that proverb isn’t suitable for use between the two of us.”
“Is that so?” Scott just laughed. “I think it’s perfectly fitting!”
Keira quickly withdrew her hand, and as Scott was about to come closer to say something else, Lewis stepped between him and Keira. “Mr. Martin, you still haven’t explained how you got in.”
With that, Charles said, “I brought him in!” He walked over and high-fived Scott, laughing. “Mr. Martin is planning to develop a plot of land in collaboration with the Olsen family, so I’ve been communicating with Mr. Martin recently. Since it’s Lewis’s birthday today, it was only natural for me to bring him along!” Having said that, he turned to Keira. “Keira, let’s go play some games over there.”
Keira instinctively glanced at Lewis. They moved toward the sofa nearby, and just as they joined in, they saw a crowd of young people gathered around, playing a game. They were engrossed in a mobile team-based game. There were five people per team, and they were engaged in a ranked match. Charles immediately joined the game with Scott Martin in tow. Keira leaned to the side, watching Scott closely.
Lewis joined her, murmuring flatly, “This man is certainly not naive. He must be hiding some secrets. Otherwise, the South family wouldn’t have arranged for you to marry him. He could very well be one of the villains within the South family!”
Keira fell silent. She coughed softly. “Anyway, let’s get on his good side first and then see what happens.”
Upon hearing this, Lewis’s eyes darkened. After a moment, he said, “You’re right. I’ll have someone continue to investigate his whereabouts.”
“Alright.”
Keira then touched her chin. “How do you gain someone’s favor, become friends, and then get them to help me?” What she lacked the most since childhood was friends. Due to her upbringing, she wasn’t good at communicating or making friends. The few friends she had were either Keira’s close girlfriends or those who took the initiative to befriend her. Making friends proactively now seemed a bit difficult, didn’t it? Although it seemed like Scott Martin was quite enthusiastic about her…
As Keira pondered, Lewis coughed. “You could compliment him more.”
Keira sincerely asked for advice. “How should I compliment him?”
Lewis nodded slightly. “You see those few guys…” Keira saw five guys playing games while cursing loudly. James said, “What’s with that Doomfist? Can’t you move properly?” Charles said, “Damn! Doomfist, what are you doing? Can you even hit a sniper shot?” The other two Olsen brothers were also angrily cursing, “He’s useless! Seriously, does he even know how to play?”
Keira, who had never played this game and didn’t quite understand how it worked, glanced at Lewis, who coughed softly. “You can compliment his upbringing.”
Keira immediately nodded her head. After one round of gaming, Scott smiled and put down his phone while the other four looked upset, continuing to curse and complain. Lewis then gave Keira a nod. Keira immediately gave an “OK” gesture, coughed softly, and slowly started, “Well…” All five gamers turned their gaze toward her at once. Keira glanced at Scott Martin and said unhurriedly, not being good at complimenting others. “It’s just a game, so there’s no need to be so irritable. You four should really learn from Mr. Martin.”
Charles immediately inquired, “Learn what?”
Keira slowly said, “I saw you guys were continuously cursing at Doomfist just now, but Mr. Martin didn’t say a single word the whole time. Such temperament is awe-inspiring!” After her praise, she even gave Scott a thumbs up. Then, she sneakily glanced at Lewis. Lewis was trying to suppress a smile at the corner of his lips. Keira suddenly realized something was off, then looked at the five men, only to see all four Olsen brothers twitch their mouths. Scott had an embarrassed look and slowly explained, “Well, actually, I was the one playing Doomfist.”
Keira was dumbfounded. He stood up awkwardly. “You guys continue. I’ll go check out something else.”
After he left, James immediately said, “Keira, if you can’t compliment someone, then you better not do it at all.”
Keira was perplexed. Charles also quietly said, “Keira, your compliment was great. Just don’t do it again next time!”
Keira glared at Lewis, just to see him burst out laughing. It was then she truly understood that Lewis had played her! She glared at Lewis and then tried to approach Scott Martin to say a few words, but to her surprise, as soon as she got close, Scott quickly scurried away as if he was embarrassed.
Keira was surprised. Lewis raised an eyebrow. Keira asked, “Why did he run?”
“He’s embarrassed to face you after losing face in front of a girl he fancies.”
Keira didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t help but pinch Lewis. He had done his naughty deeds, and she ended up in a terrible mess!
The banquet came to an end quickly, and as the host, Lewis personally saw the Olsen family out. Keira wanted to stay behind to inquire about the South family matters from old Mrs. Horton, so she accompanied him. The banquet was a success, with both hosts and guests enjoying themselves. After the important guests had left, Keira and Lewis went together to old Mrs. Horton’s room on the second floor.
It was already late, but old Mrs. Horton hadn’t gone to bed yet. Seeing them coming in, she invited them to sit on the sofa and then asked, “What do you want to know?”
Keira went straight to the point. “Grandma, please tell us about the South family. What’s the story with them, really?”
Hearing this, old Mrs. Horton seemed lost in her memories. “Ah, the South family. They’re actually a very mysterious family…”
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