A few days later, Arabella brought Julius to meet her "elder brother."
Julius, anxious, had not slept the entire night. At dawn, he began to dress, repeatedly checking the carefully prepared gift he had brought for the visit.
He was a rich young man, though he had left home with the ambition of saving all beings.
Yet, all beings suffer. Beyond the love and care offered in spirit, there is also the need for material aid, for the support of livelihood and wealth.
The missionary was a figure of great poverty, but Julius was definitely an affluent missionary.
He spent his family's wealth to help the suffering masses, perhaps even more merciful than his belief.
Arabella had two older brothers, both young, but they looked completely different from her.
Perhaps the boy resembled their mother, and the girl resembled their father. He had never seen Arabella's parents, so he could only guess in his mind.
Arabella's older brother was a man of striking presence, his posture upright and sharp, like a javelin. Yet, he was overly stern, rarely smiling or speaking in jest. When he looked at someone, his gaze was intense and formidable, carrying an almost suffocating sense of authority.
Arabella's second brother was completely different. When he smiled, it was like a gentle breeze, and he greeted him with warmth and enthusiasm. His appearance was strikingly handsome, his eyes bright and captivating, his figure graceful, and his manners elegant.
Arabella's two brothers looked completely different from each other as well.
What a strange family.
"Come, Julius, you are visiting for the first time, try my cooking," Albatross said with a smile, as he brought out several plate of meal and personally handed one to Julius.
Julius was flattered. He stood up straight, took the plate with both hands, and smiled with joy.
Was Arabella's second brother treating him so kindly because he had been accepted?
With a heart full of joy, he raised the fork and took a bite of the meal.
And then—there was nothing more.
With one bite, he almost lost his soul.
The bowl of overly sweet yet bitter food nearly made him gag, but fortunately, his good upbringing kept him from losing his composure, and he managed to maintain the proper etiquette.
He secretly looked around. Arabella's eldest brother silently ate his meal without saying a word, while Arabella herself was enjoying the food, her face showing a rare expression of satisfaction.
How could Arabella eat something so sweet?
"Eat slowly, don't choke. I know you like sweets. Is it good?" Albatross's gaze was as gentle as water, watching Arabella, and he even reached out to wipe away the crumbs at the corner of her mouth.
So Arabella liked sweet food. Julius recalled when he had coincidentally encountered her near the sweet cake stall.
He watched the gentle and considerate second brother of Arabella and couldn't help but feel something was odd—his care for his sister seemed more like the affectionate gestures one might show to a lover.
He reflected on himself, feeling that his behavior with Arabella was not nearly as intimate. The reason, he thought, was that he was too bound by etiquette, always thinking of saving the best for the wedding night.
Had he been too old-fashioned?
Julius had adhered strictly to etiquette for over twenty years, but now he began to doubt his own principles.
No wonder Arabella always looked at him with such cold indifference. He felt a flicker of unease, unable to help but tighten his grip on the fork, instinctively fixing his gaze on her. Arabella remained oblivious, not even sparing him a glance. She simply continued eating her meal, lost in her own world.
A sly glint flashed in Albatross's eyes as he glanced at Julius's plate, which was filled with extra ingredients.
It was indeed sweet, but in his plate, Albatross had poured half a jar of sugar.
Even though he was just a tool used by Arabella, he still carried the title of her fiancé.
He was extremely displeased! Arabella's life had an "unwedded husband," and even if it was a fake one, it kept him tossing and turning at night.
He knew he was sick—mad sick!
The pain pierced his soul, and he was on the verge of losing control.
Raven watched coldly as the two men vied for her attention, thinking they were both fools. Arabella had no room for love in her eyes; trying to win her over with affection was futile. It would be far wiser to increase their own worth, to make themselves more useful and valuable..
Although the two brothers of her family never explicitly said they would give their precious sister to him, they seemed not to oppose it, and everything depended on what the sister wished.
The brothers were so protective and obedient to their sister; this family of three truly shared a deep love for each other.
*
Two days later, Julius set off alone to return home.
Arabella said she would go with her older brother, as she couldn't go alone to meet his parents before marriage.
After forcing down the overly sweet meal that nearly made him sick, Julius spent the next two days feeling light-headed from the sweetness.
He felt as though his whole body was coated in sweetness, unable to stop himself from silly smiles on his way home, as though he had been poisoned by sugar.
While Julius was lost in his happiness, he had no idea that the her residence he was heading to was now filled with a tense atmosphere.
Arabella was packing, aware that this trip carried both risks and profits. As she was leaving her territory, she had to ensure that everything was foolproof.
"Don't you really need me to go? After all, I'm your second brother." Albatross reached out, wrapped his arm around Arabella, and nuzzled her fair cheek like a large, affectionate cat.
Arabella checked the performance of her gun, smiling as she replied, "This time it's not for leisure. Stay here and help me watch over things, okay?"
Albatross's eyes lit up, and he spun Arabella around, his voice full of surprise, "You trust me to stay here and guard the base?"
Arabella smiled softly as she pressed her red lips to his. Albatross was a strikingly handsome man, and beautiful people always seemed to inspire a little more leniency in others.
Although it was often said that Arabella had raised Albatross, in truth, it was his natural good looks, intelligence, and capability that made him destined to carve out his own path.
After a lingering kiss, Arabella cupped Albatross's face in her hands. She hid the tangled thoughts in her mind, smiling with utmost sincerity. "You are mine, and I trust you, of course. This time, the headquarters cannot afford any trouble."
A foggy layer passed over Albatross's eyes, and he forced a smile as he voiced his concerns, "Actually, every time you go away, I worry and fear all night."
Arabella gently stroked his head, her thoughts already drifting toward how to strengthen the defenses at the main base. Yet, her words were still sweet as she reassured him, "Don't worry. I'm the reincarnation of a demon from Hell, I won't die so easily."
"Don't—let's go quickly, we can't mention that word," Albatross said, first covering her lips with his hand, then leaning down to kiss her passionately, as if to set the world on fire.
Just a touch from her made him feel like he could burn, igniting at the slightest spark, ready to pour all his pure passion and emotions into her.
Before leaving, Arabella left a group of trusted people at the base. Just as the people's well-being is the foundation of the nation, the base was her backup plan.
"Take good care of the home," Arabella said to Nicholas, keeping her request simple—just handle the finances and watch over the house.
As usual, Nicholas nagged a little and then shoved a amulet into Arabella's hands as she was about to leave. "Take this. It'll bring you protection on your journey."
Arabella glanced at the ugly amulet hanging in front of her neck, then shifted her gaze to Nicholas's eyes, beautiful and radiant like the galaxy itself. In the end, she said nothing and quietly accepted it.
With such a beautiful owner, his young man must have always been this attentive, reminding and caring for her every time she left.
Arabella stopped at the front of the expedition team, and with a wave of her hand, the fully equipped squad silently fell into step behind her.
Raven led the people in small groups to smuggle across, with Abyss's cooperation, they successfully got the people and weapons ashore.
There was still no sign of Arabella.
When the sky turned blood-red, Arabella, clad only in thin clothing, crossed the icy waters, her figure cutting through the howling winds of the dark night. As she climbed to the peak of the mountain, the road ahead stretched far and vast, all of it needing to be paved with blood beneath her feet.
After this transaction, she had finally planted a solid foothold in the direction of Scalien.
