Chapter 001: The Stunning Eileen
The door was thrown open abruptly, and Du Fan couldn’t help but frown. Given their status, who would dare to come here and cause trouble?
But when he glanced at Alex and Jerome’s expressions, he saw both of them wearing a smirk. Du Fan felt a slight stir in his heart but said nothing, merely observing quietly.
Then, Du Fan suddenly detected a faint fragrance coming from the open side door. It was different from the vulgar scents in the hall—subtle yet unforgettable!
Soon after, a graceful figure rushed in through the side door.
This woman was completely different from the previous two. She wasn’t wearing any seductive clothes but simply a knight’s outfit, tailored perfectly to highlight her delicate and exquisite figure, giving her an air of elegance.
Her hair was casually draped behind her, and though she wore no makeup, her eyebrows were like new moons and her face resembled peach blossoms. With just a glance or smile, she far surpassed the two women who had entered earlier.
But that wasn’t her most attractive feature. What truly caught people’s attention was that her casual attire didn’t resemble that of a courtesan at all—she looked more like a spoiled noble lady.
She carried a long knight’s sword at her waist, and there were faint beads of sweat on her forehead, yet she seemed unaware of it, staring intently at Prince Fischer sitting in the center of the pavilion. After a moment, she walked over, knelt down, and said, “Your Highness Fischer, Eileen pays her respects…”
It was standard knightly etiquette—so perfect that Du Fan couldn’t find a single flaw.
Prince Fischer looked pleased upon seeing her, but as a prince, he still maintained his royal composure. He nodded slightly and waved his hand casually, allowing Eileen to sit beside him without any signs of eagerness.
Du Fan understood immediately—Prince Fischer must have come here mainly for Eileen. It was surprising that he preferred such a woman rather than refined noblewomen… Could this be the so-called “uniform allure”?
Yet Eileen’s every move was natural and graceful, exuding an air of elegance that was both captivating and extraordinary—truly a rare beauty in this world.
At this moment, the other three already had women by their sides, leaving only Du Fan sitting alone, which made him seem somewhat out of place. Jerome’s attention had shifted away from the woman beside him. He glanced at Du Fan and smiled, saying, “Lord Du Fan, you’re truly lucky. When we came here before, that lady refused to see anyone no matter what… You must know the rules here—unless she agrees, we can’t force her… That’s why I’ve always admired her greatly! It seems things will go well today since Lady Shalin hasn’t returned after being inside for so long.” Although Alex said nothing, a glint appeared in his eyes. Prince Fischer glanced at the two of them and laughed, saying, “Whether one can meet that lady depends on luck. She only agrees to see people when she’s in a good mood… Not even I have met her, let alone you two. If we really manage to see her today, we should thank Lord Du Fan!” With that, they exchanged glances and burst into laughter. Du Fan smiled bitterly inwardly, but he also felt a hint of expectation. Any man, no matter how pure and upright his heart may be, can’t pretend much when in such a place. Besides, Du Fan wasn’t originally a chaste gentleman, so he certainly wouldn’t refuse. Moreover, from what Prince Fischer and the others said, “that lady” seemed to be no ordinary person—probably the most famous beauty in this place… As he was thinking, Lady Shalin came in through the main entrance of the pavilion, smiling. She bowed and said, “Prince Fischer, Eileen is in a good mood today and has agreed to see guests. Please wait a little longer.” Prince Fischer looked surprised and couldn’t help but glance at Du Fan, saying, “Lord Du Fan, it seems your luck is truly extraordinary!” Du Fan smiled, not knowing quite what to reply. Just then, Lady Shalin stepped back a few steps to outside the pavilion, clapped her hands gently, and left with a smile. Immediately after, the side door of the pavilion was pushed open again, and a woman slowly walked in.
The woman was dressed in a purple long dress, with no other decorations—utterly plain. Her golden hair, untamed, hung loosely behind her, and her face was bare of makeup; she clearly came out without any adornment. Yet as soon as she appeared, all the women in the pavilion, including Eva, paled in comparison! Though unadorned, she exuded a subtle beauty. Her eyes, as beautiful as stars on a moonlit night, casually swept over several men in the room before settling on Du Fan, and a smile suddenly appeared on her face. That gentle smile illuminated her face, making everyone feel as if they might melt under its charm. Aside from Prince Fisher, who still wore a half-smile, both Jerome and Alex showed expressions of astonishment. The woman stood there, gazing at Du Fan for a long time—neither greeting nor speaking, just watching quietly. After a while, she slowly walked toward him. Her graceful figure moved with each step, casually yet mesmerizingly so, leaving Jerome and Alex utterly captivated. Alex, who was straightforward, felt the urge to stand up, but the woman beside her held him tightly, preventing him from moving. She stepped forward until she stood above Du Fan, then suddenly opened her lips and said softly, “This must be Lord Du Fan… Having lived in the capital for so long, I’ve naturally heard of your fame—your reputation as the most devout person in history is well-known. I, Eileen, have always admired you… I’ve tried to find you many times but failed… I never expected to meet you today… Yet now that I have…” At this point, Eileen seemed extremely disappointed. She sighed and said, “They say seeing is better than hearing… But right now, it seems better not to have met at all…” With unmistakable disappointment, Eileen stared at Du Fan as if trying to see through him. Du Fan wasn’t an ordinary person either, but under such stunning attention, he felt his mouth grow dry—not because he was weak, but because she was simply too beautiful…
And her undisguised disappointment made one’s heart pound nonstop, as if one really were a heartless and ungrateful person who had betrayed her greatly. Du Fan remained stunned for a long time before finally sighing and saying, “Miss Eileen… what do you mean by this?” Eileen stared at Du Fan for a moment, then sighed again and said, “Once considered the most pious in history, what a magnificent figure… but today, I see that you’re just another flirtatious young master who seeks pleasure everywhere…” At that point, Eileen stopped looking at Du Fan and turned to walk away slowly, seemingly ready to leave. Prince Fischer and the others seemed equally astonished by her stunning beauty and were speechless; none of them spoke up as they saw her about to leave. It was Du Fan, however, who, after Eileen’s gaze left him, no longer felt that sense of urgency. After thinking about her words—though mild in tone—the sarcasm in her voice far outweighed her disappointment. What kind of person was Du Fan, to suffer a loss in such a place? Determined, he sneered and said, “I, Du Fan, who enjoys chasing after women, am indeed not a good person… But others can say that about me, while you, a woman from a brothel, a woman of loose morals… with your lips kissed by countless men, how do you have the right to judge me?” Hearing Du Fan’s words, Eileen was shocked. She had intended to leave but suddenly turned back to him, gave a sad smile, and said, “So that’s how I am seen in the eyes of Lord Du Fan…” Before she could finish speaking, a tear slid down from the corner of her eye and landed gently on the dust. The expression on her face would break anyone’s heart. Du Fan was stunned. He had said those words casually, but seeing Eileen’s extremely sorrowful expression, his mind went blank, and he could only hear his own heart pounding loudly! Prince Fischer beside him couldn’t hold back anymore and said, “Du Fan, you’ve misunderstood… Miss Eileen…” Before he could finish, there was suddenly a “crack” sound—the originally closed door of the pavilion flew open, hitting the doors on both sides, and then a figure strode in!