Chapter 256
Her voice was so soft that only Chen Ce could hear it.
"Hmm, you did very well." Chen Ce offered the back of his hand, and Chen Ce's flushed face immediately pressed against it.
The sounds from the kitchen quickly stopped, followed by footsteps.
A split second before Lux returned to the living room, Tianna reverted to her previous expressionless, cold-eyed demeanor.
Lux was completely unaware.
She didn't even notice that a pair of legs had crossed over her from under the table.
They were stationed at Chen Ce's side.
"Come, Auntie..." Lux nervously served Tianna tea first.
The latter accepted the tea but didn't drink it—only after Chen Ce also accepted the tea and took a sip did she follow suit.
The instant Lux turned her head, she glanced at Chen Ce while using her nimble pink tongue to swirl the tea.
When Lux looked at her again, she immediately put down her teacup.
"Aunt... what brings you here...?"
"Well, I want to tell you two things." Tianna covered the blush on her face with her hand, her posture appearing thoughtful. "First, I won't force you to learn any more aristocratic etiquette—you can do whatever you want from now on, and I will support you unconditionally."
"Huh...?" Lux was a little incredulous.
She glanced at Chen Ce again, her eyes trembling. She wondered if Chen Ce had used force to coerce her aunt.
But soon, Tianna told her, "Don't worry, Mr. Chen Ce didn't force me to do anything, nor did he make any agreement with me—I did it entirely voluntarily."
This statement is a double entendre.
But of course, Lux could only glean one layer of meaning. "Really... really?!"
"Hmm." Tianna nodded gently, Lux immediately shouted "Yay!" excitedly.
She was too young and naive... She believed everything her aunt said, completely oblivious to the absurdity of it all.
"The second thing," Tianna continued, "Is that your former uncle-in-law— Eldred, the commander of the Mageseeker Order —has been arrested for plotting a rebellion, and I will be implicated as well... I probably won't be able to serve as Grand Marshal anymore. I'll likely have to bear a lot of infamy."
"Huh...?!" This news made Lux look incredulous again.
In contrast, Tianna simply sipped her tea. "It's alright, let's leave it at that. You don't need to ask about the details, just know this is enough."
"But... but..." Lux's face was full of surprise.
Tianna stopped talking about it and said, "Alright, that's all we have to say. We should leave now."
"Huh... so fast...?" Lux was still a little stunned. "Chen Ce, he..."
"Mr. Chen Ce has some matters to attend to with me." Tianna stood up indifferently.
"But..." Lux clearly wanted to persuade him to stay—after so long apart, she wanted to chat and interact with Chen Ce more.
Tianna seemed to have noticed the girl's little scheme.
Her gaze grew even colder.
"Don't disturb Mr. Chen Ce while he's doing his business, Luxanna..."
Tianna reached into the pouch of her armor.
Holding her dog leash...
On the other side of Great City of Demacia.
Ahri lay lazily on the bed, basking in the sun.
She closed her eyes, almost falling asleep from the bliss.
Suddenly, her fluffy fox ears stood up.
It's like a radar suddenly receiving some kind of signal.
For some reason, she suddenly had a bad feeling...
Foxes are canines.
She suddenly felt...
It seems another canine is trying to steal her food...
Chapter 106 Ahri: I told you you liked this kind of play
Most of the matters in Great City have been resolved.
The leader of the Mageseeker Order Eldred, was arrested and imprisoned. In his insane state, he revealed the identities of many of his accomplices, and it's likely that all the dirty deeds he's committed will be exposed sooner or later.
Most of the bad things that have happened recently can be attributed to him.
Since carrying one item or ten items is the same as dying anyway, it's better to include them all to give the public an explanation.
The credibility of the Demacia government has declined, but fortunately, the old King Jarvan III issued a timely decree—abolishing the ban on magic.
It must be said that this was largely thanks to the speeches and marches that Eldred had planned beforehand—many people hated this law so much that it was naturally a good thing it could be repealed.
Furthermore, as soon as Jarvan III returned to the throne, the two major threats to Demacia's north and east withdrew their troops, leading to speculation that those two countries were very wary of the old king.
It could also be due to some other transaction...? I'm not sure.
Regardless, Jarvan III's arrival did give Demacia a chance to breathe again, and that achievement is undeniable.
The government's credibility has been somewhat restored.
Jarvan III can now properly be his king.
But of course, he is no longer "the king of Demacia"—he can only be a king under surveillance.
Before issuing new laws, he had to have Chen Ce's people review them first; he also had to inform Chen Ce in advance about the formation of any army; and the same applied to all major events in the kingdom... He even discovered that recently, many "outsiders" with legitimate identities had suddenly appeared in Great City.
Some Ionia.
Some of them were highly skilled boxers, while others were skilled swordsmen. They established numerous boxing gyms or dojos in various corners of Great City, inviting people from all walks of life to learn from them at extremely low prices.
Even... some prestigious families went to show their support... Chen Ce never said those were his people, but Jarvan III who wasn't out of their mind could figure it out—those nobles were probably lured there through Tianna's connections.
They are trying to win over the nobles of Great City, and then "keep an eye on the king"...
That's terrifying.
Jarvan III aged considerably in just half a month.
But Chen Ce, the one who "started" all of this, didn't care at all.
He is now returning to his hotel with a relaxed and carefree attitude—along with his obedient and well-behaved dog.
He stood below the inn, looking up at the room upstairs. He knew Sona should still be there, and the rooms next door were occupied by Ionia.
Sett, Yasuo, Yone, and others are probably busy right now, but someone naturally lazy is definitely lounging around on top, slacking off.
Long time no see... Ahri.
I promised her before that I would bring her from Ionia once things stabilized... It's been so long, but now I finally have the chance.
"This hotel is practically our own now..." Chen Ce thought with a touch of emotion, noticing that it was full of his own people.
No sooner had she finished speaking Tianna nearby, immediately asked in a fawning tone, "Should we buy it? The dog has lots of money... Master..."
She spoke the second half of her sentence very softly, so that no one else could hear her.
But her presence here, given her status, is already enough to attract attention.
"Either is fine." Chen Ce smiled and led Tianna upstairs under the astonished gazes of the crowd.
Pushing open the door, a 36D girl with blue pigtails came into view.
The other party immediately showed a look of surprise.
Clearly, she was puzzled by Tianna's arrival.
She herself did not like this arrogant woman, and could even say she hated her—her adoptive father's sacrifice was inextricably linked to this Grand Marshal, and her mother also deeply disliked the Grand Marshal's arrogance, hostility, and opportunism.
[Chen Ce...] Sona stood up from the bedside, her beautiful eyebrows slightly furrowed.
"It's alright, Tianna is one of us now." Chen Ce stepped forward and hugged Sona, the full and soft feeling was both familiar and appealing to him.
The latter also enjoys it.
But... Tianna... she's not a good person...
"That's in the past, Sona."
[Huh...?]
"Tianna now."
[Good girl...? I don't understand...]
Sona's gaze towards Tianna still held hostility and wariness, as if she feared that the other woman might suddenly do something bad to them.
It wasn't until Chen Ce turned around and extended a hand to the high and mighty Grand Marshal that this happened.
The Grand Marshal, who had been cold and arrogant, immediately revealed an expression of infatuation.
Then... she quickly took off her armor in front of the two of them.
There was even a hint of... anticipation in those practiced movements?
Clang, clang, clang... In no time, the entire heavy suit of armor fell to the ground.
Sona could also clearly see the metal object around Tianna's neck.
That's... a collar...?
"Woof..."
Tianna then uttered another sound that shattered Sona's worldview, and then actually put the chain connecting the collar into...
In the mouth...
She gripped the chain, crawled forward on her knees like a dog, and finally obediently placed the chain in Chen Ce's outstretched hand.
"Woof woof..."
[Chen Ce...?!] Sona was stunned.
Chen Ce simply and frankly admitted, "After the defeat at the front, our respected Grand Marshal voluntarily became my dog."
[Ah...] Sona was still full of surprise.
Chen Ce didn't offer any further explanation.
The matter of the well-behaved dog Tianna... of course, cannot be told to outsiders, and it's best not to reveal it openly to Lux, who is also from the Crownguard family, in the short term—after all, they are family, and she needs some time to gradually accept this fact.
As for those close to them like Sona, there's no harm in speaking your mind.
[Chen, Chen Ce... I can't... understand...] Sona shook her head, looking somewhat frightened.
She watched as the woman she once considered unattainable knelt at Chen Ce's feet, licking the back of his hand, and for a moment she couldn't accept it.
There's even a bit...
A little...
[Why is she keeping licking you...?] Sona tugged at Chen Ce's hand, trying to stop them. [This is insane... Have you already... done something even more outrageous...?!]
"Hmm? Isn't it normal for a good dog to lick its owner?" Chen Ce smiled and reached out to stroke Tianna's head.
The latter was forced to stop, but his eyes glanced at Sona.
A look filled with anger and hostility.
Sona sensed that look and became even more certain that something was going on between the two of them—they were definitely playing something very... very perverted...!
[Chen Ce... you can't do this...!] Sona quickly grabbed one of Chen Ce's hands, trying to pull him away.
Tianna adopted a posture as if she were about to launch an attack—even though she remained kneeling.
"Let go of my master...!"
[Grand Marshal, you should have your own dignity. You are a human being, not a dog...!] Sona gestured in sign language.
Tianna didn't quite understand, but she could roughly guess what she meant. "I'm just my master's good dog...!"