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Forget?
Dika's expression faltered for a moment, but soon he sported a smug smile.
"Hahaha, maybe the young lady really forgot. Ten years ago, I visited your family's territory. Back then, you were just a five or six-year-old girl. Who would have thought you'd grow up to be so graceful? Hehe, I even held you in my arms."
Mengdie was sure, this guy was lying. Ten years ago? I've only been in this world for three months, where did the ten years come from? And you held me?
But regardless of his lies, Mengdie guessed the issue was with the clothes she wore and the eagle-embossed decorative sword on her waist. This sword was blunt, more like a decoration. Since it was attached to her belt, Mengdie didn't bother removing it and just wore it as it was. But she never expected that this sword would lead to her being mistaken for someone else!
"Ah... yes... maybe. I was too young then, I don't remember clearly, haha... hahaha..."
Mengdie nervously echoed the lie. Anyway, it was important to hide her identity for now. Otherwise, being kicked out of the city and missing the auction meant she might never see her ruby necklace again.
Seeing Mengdie's forced laughter, Dika's smile grew wider. He was very confident in his handsome appearance and seeing her smile, he thought he had a chance, and straightforwardly reached out to wrap his arm around Mengdie's waist, pulling her into his embrace.
"Come, it's been so long since we met, let me hold the beauty I once knew."
This move made Mengdie very sensitive. Men usually hugged each other around the shoulders and patted each other's backs. It was only when embracing a woman that they would wrap around the waist. It was this gesture that instantly lowered Mengdie's impression of him, along with the lecherous smirk on his lips. Mengdie swiftly stepped out of his embrace and stood aside.
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"Yes, it's been a long time. Please excuse me."
Mengdie was about to bow but quickly realized it wasn't appropriate and changed her gesture, mimicking the governor earlier with one hand behind her back and the other over her stomach, bending slightly in a bow before turning to leave.
Unfortunately, Dika wasn't so willing to let Mengdie leave...
"Sweetheart, did you forget? You're here today representing the Pierre family to discuss business with me. Why leave as soon as you see me?"
Mengdie's steps halted awkwardly, internally cursing the naked young nobleman. Just attending the ball would have been fine, why involve in business? What are these nobles thinking, creating trouble for me?!
"How could you... forget?"
Mengdie's lips twitched unwillingly as she turned back, feigning a smile, "I didn't forget! How could I forget? Hahaha... Yes, I'm a member of the Pierre family, and today... I'm here to discuss business with you, haha... hahaha..."
Mengdie laughed, but cold sweat ran down her back.
(This impertinent girl, she disrespected me that day and beat me so badly. Did she ever think she would fall into my hands? But the Pierre family has been thinning in recent generations, who would have thought they'd produce such a beautiful girl? ...Hehe, she seems intimidated by my status, shouldn't be too hard to subdue.)
Dika patted Mengdie's waist, and although she resisted, she didn't want to cause a scene in front of so many onlookers and had to suppress her anger.
"Since you haven't forgotten, how about we discuss it in my study? I think... we will have a very pleasant cooperation."
Mengdie's smile grew more awkward, reluctantly nodding. She didn't want to at all! She was in a rush to find the auction venue and had no time to discuss business with this unknown man! Cursed luck, being reborn as a woman, losing all her strength, and now being held back by someone's clothing? Infuriating... infuriating! You wait, Yama. When I return to Earth for the next Martial Arts Tournament, I'll make you pay!
Frustrated, Mengdie had no choice but to follow Dika. If she weren't so preoccupied, she might have noticed the fearful expressions of the many women they passed by. Unfortunately, she didn't see, or perhaps even if she had, she wouldn't have found it odd.
After winding through corridors, climbing two flights of stairs, and reaching the inner parts of the castle, Dika talked non-stop about mines and economics to Mengdie, who understood none of it and could only agree nervously. Finally, they stopped in front of a large door, which Dika introduced as his private study.
"Come, Miss Mengdie Pierre. Do you have any objections to us purchasing your family's mines?"
Once in the study, Dika invited Mengdie to sit on a sofa while he stood with his hands behind his back, examining documents on the table with a sharp gaze. The royal family had long coveted the largest reserve of magic stones discovered by the Pierre family, a once declining noble family allocated to a remote mountain area. Despite several negotiations and even assassination attempts by Dika's men, the Pierre family remained unfazed. Bound by legal limitations, Dika couldn't outright seize the mines with military force. Recently, the family had even hired a private army of mages with the wealth from mining. Dika was pained to see this lucrative opportunity slipping away.
But...
How could Mengdie know all this? She pondered over Dika's words, utterly clueless. To escape as soon as possible...
"Alright, I have no objections. You can buy it."
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