Emily Foster bustled back and forth, only to end up feeling a bit embarrassed herself. She turned around, lit the oil lamp, propped open the window, fetched a jug of wine from the wine jar, and came to the wine table:

  “The wine is cold, but the weather isn’t chilly. There’s no more food to go with the wine, I’ll go prepare something for you, sir.”

  Ryan Bennett simply wanted a drink and had no other requests. He shook his head and said:

  “It’s late, no need to trouble yourself. I’ll just have a couple of cups on my own.”

  There weren’t any fresh ingredients in the backyard, and Emily Foster couldn’t really prepare anything, so she nodded along.

  Outside, a fine rain drizzled down. The dim lamp flickered in the empty hall, leaving just a man and a woman alone.

  Emily Foster stood in the shop, not preparing any food, but she couldn’t just stand there dumbly watching Ryan Bennett drink, nor could she join him. After thinking for a moment, she took a small stool and sat at the entrance of the tavern, gently asking:

  “From what I saw during the day, you seem to be from the family of Assistant Minister Zuo. Why come to Linhe Lane for a drink so late at night?”

  Linhe Lane was near the docks, a place where all sorts of people mingled—not exactly a good neighborhood. Normally, no wealthy young master would come here for leisure.

  Ryan Bennett took a sip from his wine bowl and shook his head:

  “In a few days, the consort selection will be held. My family’s been pressing me, so I wanted to find a quiet place to stay for a while.”

  Emily Foster asked curiously:

  “The princess choosing a consort is a good thing—so many people are scrambling for the chance. Why drown your sorrows in wine? Are you afraid you won’t be chosen?”

  Ryan Bennett looked a bit helpless: “Didn’t Miss Foster say that if I go, the princess will definitely pick me?”

  Emily Foster actually did think so. Especially after Ryan Bennett had drawn his sword to help her during the day, she felt that if the princess didn’t choose such a chivalrous and handsome young man, she must be blind.

  “So you don’t want to be the consort?”

  “What’s so great about being a consort? Miss Foster, you’ve lived in the capital for a long time—don’t you know what a consort’s life is like?”

  “……”

  Emily Foster furrowed her brows, recalling that the consorts she’d seen all had high status, always surrounded by attendants when they went out, and everyone treated them with respect.

  But then, Ryan Bennett himself seemed to have high status already, and he’d come today with quite a few attendants. His elders also held high official rank.

  Emily Foster didn’t really know what a consort’s life was like, but she could imagine the relationship between husband and wife.

  The princess held great power and status, so she certainly wouldn’t follow the traditional rules of male superiority. The wife would be strong and the husband weak, her family stronger than his. As the husband, he’d surely have to swallow his pride. Aside from the consort’s prestigious title, it didn’t seem much different from marrying into the wife’s family.

  Thinking this through, Emily Foster understood a bit. She stood up, walked over to sit across from him at the wine table, propped her cheek on her hand, and sighed:

  “That’s true. You’re young, handsome, skilled in martial arts, and your elders hold important positions. Anywhere else, you’d surely stand out. To go be a consort—even the princess’s consort—seems like such a grievance.”

  Ryan Bennett finally heard something comforting, but the matter was already settled and he had to go. It didn’t feel right to keep complaining. He chuckled softly and changed the subject:

  “Miss Foster, you flatter me. Even if I wanted to, there’s no guarantee I’d be chosen. By the way, Miss Foster, how come you’re running this shop all by yourself?”

  Emily Foster heard this and shook her head with a smile:

  “What else could I do? My parents passed away early, leaving just me. I don’t trust others to help, and there’s no one to help anyway.”

  Ryan Bennett’s smile faded, and he looked a bit apologetic:

  “Sorry, I spoke out of turn.”

  “It’s nothing, everyone on the street knows. My relatives used to make things hard for me, but thanks to Old Brooks’s kind heart—he scolded them good and proper—things finally settled down.”

  Emily Foster smiled with her lips pressed together, then raised her hand to point at a cluster of buildings in the distance:

  “Old Brooks lives over there. Don’t mind his loose tongue—he’s actually a good person. Today, he almost got into trouble on the street, and it was thanks to your chivalrous help that he was saved.”

  Ryan Bennett had only helped because it was within his power, nothing to be proud of. He just smiled it off and asked:

  “Miss Foster, you’re probably older than me. Why not find yourself a reliable husband?”

  Emily Foster frowned, but seeing that Ryan Bennett’s eyes held no teasing or disrespect, she replied in a playful tone:

  “You’re just a teenager, asking your elder sister if she’s married—isn’t that a bit inappropriate?”

  Ryan Bennett was simply curious, with no other intentions. He raised his hand:

  “My apologies. It’s just that Miss Foster doesn’t look like someone who’d have trouble finding a match—I was just curious.”

  Emily Foster showed a hint of pride, raised her eyebrows, then stood up and returned to her seat at the door, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation.

  Ryan Bennett realized he’d accidentally killed the mood and didn’t say more, planning to finish his wine and take his leave.

  But just then, Emily Foster, sitting at the tavern entrance and gazing at the rain-soaked street, suddenly noticed a shadow moving near the ruins where the beast had rampaged earlier that day.

  !!

  Emily Foster had been terrified earlier and was still shaken. She quickly stood up, her face pale, and ran to Ryan Bennett’s side, pointing outside. She didn’t even dare to make a sound, only signaling frantically with her eyes, almost pulling Ryan Bennett up to shield her.

  Ryan Bennett’s expression changed slightly, thinking another beast was causing trouble. He grabbed the sword on the table and cautiously poked his head out the window.