262: 6.22 Maia's Ideal Type

6.22 Maia's Ideal Type

A muffled shriek escaped her lips as she stood up abruptly, almost toppling the chair behind her. Her eyes were sparkling in awe and wonder, hands clasped tightly over her mouth. "Oh goodness, damn it—" What came out of her lips next was a string of curses that made even Jillian — who had spent half of his life mingling with rough soldiers and confident when he said he had heard all the harshest curse words there were — wince and had to painstakingly curb the urge to chuck the woman out of the window. He glared at her. What was up with this weird woman? Why was she looking at Regius with those huge, starry eyes?!  1

"You're real!" She shrieked excitedly, almost buzzing out of her skin due to excitement. "Well, I know that you're real but you can't really trust the rumors without seeing it in person, you know? And Heavens, what a gorgeous man you are! Nobody has told me that you're so…" Unable to find the adequate word, she merely flailed her hands over Regius, looking as if she was on the verge of breaking into tears. "Oh fuck, you're really here. I still can't believe it? Can you pinch me? Can somebody pinch me please? I feel like I'm dreaming. I've always thought you are a woman!"

Jillian couldn't resist coming to Regius' defense. His tone was dripping with venom as he hissed sharply. "So what if he's a man? You have a problem with that?"

"Oh please, don't be such a sensitive prick." Maia waved her hand offhandedly. Jillian stared at her in disbelief. What did she just say? And how long did she intend to keep staring at Regius?! "Everyone's saying that a ghost has fallen in love with you so I automatically thought that it's a female ghost. Don't worry." She added hastily. "I don't have that kind of prejudice toward same-sex relationships. Oh wait, you not only have the same sex, but you're of different realm as well! Goodness, can this get any more romantic?!"

Jillian gritted his teeth. "Are you done yet?"

Maia demurely sat down, combed her messy hair with her fingers and cleared her throat, unabashedly pretending that Jillian didn't exist. Her eyes could only see Regius and Regius, bright and curious. A faint blush dusted her cheeks and she waved nervously. "Hi there, I'm Maia."

"Don't you dare flirt with him!" Jillian slammed his palms on the table.

"Do you have something to say, handsome ghost? Wait, do you have a name?"

Lu Yizhou resisted a smile. "Call me Regius."

Jillian's head snapped to him in betrayal, as if demanding, "How can you give her your name just like that?!"

"Regius…" Maia sighed dreamily and rested her cheek on her palm, lips curving into a goofy smile. Goodness, it's such a pity that this gorgeous man had become a ghost. Look at that face, that hair, that elegance, such a treat for sore eyes after long minutes of looking at the Duke's hideous face! "That sounds perfect."

Jillian abruptly stood up, expression thunderous. His whole body was shaking with uncontrollable rage. How dare she… Nobody was allowed to talk to Regius or look at him with such lecherous eyes except Jillian! "Get out. Now."

Maia's smile slipped from her face and she too, put on a scowl. Did he think that he was the one who could order someone around like that?! "Does this room belong to you? Do you have your name carved into the chair? What right do you have to tell me off?"

"You—"

"Sweetheart," Lu Yizhou put his hand on Jillian's elbow and in an instant, Jillian's anger wilted like paper drenched under the rain. He really stood no chance at all against this man, didn't he? "Let's listen to what she has to say, okay?"

Jillian's bottom lip jutted out an inch. If Regius called him sweetheart with such a sweet tone and looked at him with such a gentle gaze, how could he bear to refuse? Jillian sat down with a huff, not before dragging the chair so Regius and his hips were pressed together tightly. In the next moment, he felt Regius holding his hand beneath the table and Jillian immediately forgot what he was angry about. He focused on the coldness of Regius' palm and played with the man's slender fingers, tracing the shape of his knuckles and blunt nails.

Maia covered her eyes and squealed, almost hysterical. "You guys are so sweet! Ugh, you're going to kill me sooner or later!"

Lu Yizhou turned to her and put on his default business smile he had learned from the first world as CEO Lu. "Miss Maia," Maia let out a short scream at that and Lu Yizhou continued saying, "You're talking about an arranged marriage earlier? I personally think that's quite a good idea."

Jillian subconsciously tightened his hold. Lu Yizhou turned to him and chuckled genuinely this time. "Do you think I will ask you to marry her? Jillian, am I such a heartless person?"

"You're not a person, though." Maia chimed in and promptly clamped her mouth shut when Jillian's glare shifted to her. 

"Of course, you're not." Jillian let out a frustrated huff. "You don't understand, Regius. I can already see it coming. His Majesty might agree with this proposition depending on what the barbarians can offer but he doesn't have any direct descendants. I am not trying to boost myself but I believe that I am the most eligible bachelor in the country to fulfill such a bargain." Jillian chuckled wryly. "His Majesty will definitely ask that of me, Regius."

"Umm…" Maia raised her hand to pull the two men's attention. "Excuse me, can you not talk about my marriage as if I am not even here? I would like to assert once again that you're definitely not my type, General. If I have to marry in, I want to find someone I like, okay? For example, someone who is tall, handsome, attentive, strong and gentle, has good humor and a smile as blinding as the sun. It's even better if his hair and eyes are light in color, like my late mother's brown ones." Maia's shoulders slumped down slightly in woe. "It will be perfect if such a man indeed exists."

Lu Yizhou hummed thoughtfully. "Then, if there indeed exists a man like that with an honorable status within the country, you will be willing to marry him, right?"

Not to mention Maia, even Jillian was looking at him in confusion. "What are you talking about, Regius? I will know if there's a gentleman like that in our country."

Lu Yizhou merely offered him a conspirational smile. "Just wait and see."

The perplexing discussion they had in the tea shop ended in such a manner. Maia left with spring in her steps and hope blooming in her heart. Somehow, she had an inexplicable belief that Regius' words could be fully trusted. Anyway, she had already achieved what she came here to do. Not only had she managed to confirm the rumors, she had even succeeded in convincing the General to give her tribe a chance! 

That very same day, Maia secretly returned home after promising that she would request a talk with an elder whom she trusted to be the most forthright in voicing his disapproval with the war. 

Jillian and the troops continued on their journey toward the border and settled in the basecamp. All the while, Jillian couldn't stop brooding in the discussion they'd had in the tea shop. He trusted Regius, he really did. But no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't match anyone in the country with Maia's ideal type. The night before they commenced the war, Jillian couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer.

"Do you have a candidate in mind, Regius?" Jillian murmured after Regius drew back slightly from the kiss. "Tell me."

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