Everyone looked at Charlotte, but Charlotte was doing everything he could to keep his spirituality from exploding. His soul was nowhere inside his body, making him look like a "classic scumbag"—at such a critical moment, he stared up at the sky, his mind wandering beyond the heavens.
Anne took a deep breath and silently encouraged herself. Anne, you know how much Mr. Mecklen has done for you. You know he was not like this before, yet he changed so much for you. He must be struggling too, but you cannot blame him. Now is your time to fight.
Anne looked around at all the "competitors" in the room and said, "Love must be mutual. I believe in Mr. Mecklen, I believe in myself, and I have an incomparably firm faith in destiny, so..."
"Who else?"
"I'll give you all one chance to join the duel."
"Miss it, and it's gone!"
For the first time, Anne Brittany displayed the commanding presence of a queen. She challenged Sophia Garland, Menilman Su Mei, Princess May Guillaume, and Adora Mesu to a duel.
Anne did not believe everyone would be as shameless as Sophia Garland, that little bitch who would issue such a brazen challenge in public. She had decided to take a risky approach: force the other competitors to back down first. Then dealing with Sophia Garland alone would be much easier.
As soon as Anne finished speaking, Princess May Guillaume quietly said, "Count me in."
After saying that, she walked over to Charlotte, lifted her heavy black veil, revealing her delicate little chin and rosy lips. She gently kissed Charlotte Mecklen on the lips, then lowered her veil again and strode away, leaving the stunned crowd behind.
Seeing Menilman's unfocused eyes, as though she had fallen into deep thought, Adora thought, *I