Chapter 276: The Weather Is Different
Chapter 276: The Weather Is Different
Of course Emily didn't want Kumb to completely forget Mia, but even though Kumb was no longer "Kai," every time he looked at her, his eyes were full of love.
Besides, Kumb also showed genuine warmth and care toward Arian - these things couldn't be faked.
So kind-hearted and soft Emily didn't even take out the photo album with her parents' old pictures from her luggage. Suddenly, she felt that the past didn't matter so much anymore...
When faced with real, tangible love, asking for too much would just seem greedy. Better to cherish the peace and stability right in front of her.
Meanwhile, back in Emerald City, Tyler couldn't sit still anymore.
James had been in a coma for seven days with no signs of improvement. The monotonous beeping from the monitor made his heart race with anxiety.
He started calling Emily frantically, over and over again.
But all he heard was the message saying the call couldn't go through.
How could he know that as soon as Emily arrived in Lumaria, she had handed all her contact information over to Kumb to manage?
She had wanted to completely disconnect for a while and escape the troubles of Emerald City. But right after landing in Lumaria, James's calls kept coming non-stop, making her more and more annoyed each time she answered.
Before, when people couldn't find James, they'd call Tyler, or Louis, or if all else failed, Emily.
But now Emily and James had separated. She had no idea where James was or what had happened to him - she could only worry helplessly on the other end of the phone.
Seeing Emily bothered by all these calls, Kumb simply suggested she hand over her phone and contact information to someone else to manage, so she could stay peacefully in Lumaria.
Emily was tired too, so she went along with Kumb's arrangement. Just like that, she completely cut off contact with Emerald City, and naturally Tyler's calls couldn't get through anymore.
Actually, Kumb had intentionally wanted Emily to cut all ties with Emerald City - he didn't want those troubles bothering his daughter anymore.
That evening, Arian sat at her vanity applying hand cream. Looking at Kumb in the mirror, she hesitated for a long time before speaking up.
"What you're doing - if Emily finds out, won't she blame you? After all, you're hiding this from her, cutting off her contact with them."
Kumb unusually took out a cigar from the drawer. He held it between his fingers without lighting it, just walked to the window, gazed at the deep night outside, and slowly shook his head.
"I don't care. I just want her to be well and not suffer anymore.
When she called me this time, I could hear tears in her voice. It broke my heart.
I'm her father - the person in this world who should protect her most.
She won't tell me what she's been through, and I don't dare push her. I can only do everything I can to make her happy.
Since Emerald City is where she got hurt, where people who made her sad live, better to let her completely let go. That's what's truly good for her."
He paused, turned to look at Arian, with a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.
"Or do you also think I'm being too controlling?"
Arian put down her hand cream, quickly walked over, gently wrapped her arms around Kumb's waist, looked up at him with gentle yet firm eyes.
"How could I?
I also hope Emily can stay peacefully in Lumaria, always with you and me.
I think the idea you mentioned before is great - Emily and Duke James's marriage was built on deception from the start.
If we change Emily's citizenship to Lumaria, their marriage would naturally become invalid, and all those troubles would just disappear.
Plus, in the Lumaria royal court, there are plenty of nobles with good backgrounds and character. We can definitely find Emily an excellent young man who'll truly treat her well,
so she can live a stable, happy life forever. Don't you think so, honey?"
Kumb lowered his head, gently resting his forehead against the top of Arian's head, his voice full of tenderness and comfort.
"Darling, that's exactly what I think too. Thank you for understanding me so well, and for caring about Emily so much."
The room was quiet, moonlight streaming through the window, wrapped in a gentle warmth.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away at Emerald City Hospital, Tyler looked at James still sleeping in the hospital bed, looked at the endless wind and rain outside the window, and finally dialed Ruby's number...
He knew that trying other methods was useless. To wake James, the only way was to somehow bring Emily back from Lumaria, even if it meant breaking through Kumb's many obstacles.
Ruby: Since you've made up your mind, go ahead and do it. I've got your back, Tyler.
Tyler: Thank you, Queen Ruby.
Lumaria · Prince's Residence
Kumb had the area around Emily's private cottage filled with irises.
Watching the workers busily grafting and pruning, Emily sat on the second-floor balcony with a book, her chin resting on her hand, slowly enjoying the view.
Before long, some handsome men who didn't look like workers started appearing in the garden.
They varied in age - the older ones looked to be in their early thirties at most.
The younger ones even looked like high school students.
Emily wasn't someone who enjoyed crowds or socializing much, and since there were only men outside, she put down her book and planned to retreat to her room.
But Arian happened to walk into the room just then.
Servants behind her carried afternoon tea, the group gracefully entering.
"Is the sunlight outside too harsh, Emily?"
Arian took the Earl Grey tea the servant handed her.
The bone china cup clinked crisply against the saucer.
She held the delicate handle with her fingertips, took a gentle sip.
The warm tea slid down her throat, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.
Every movement displayed the elegant bearing of a royal family member.
The sunlight outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was just right, golden rays spilling across the lawn, making the blooming irises look even more beautiful and vibrant.
After spending so much time together, the distance between them had long since dissolved, and they'd grown quite close.
Emily could clearly feel that Arian genuinely cared for her.
Not only did she take care of every detail of daily life, but she'd also mentioned several times in casual conversation that she wanted to propose to the Lumaria royal family that Emily be named crown princess of Lumaria.
But every time Emily heard this, she'd instinctively avoid the topic.
She held the book in her lap, her fingertips gently brushing the pages, her brow slightly furrowed.
"I always feel it's too soon."
Arian was only in her thirties, in her prime - there was no rush to name an heir.
Besides, the current King of Lumaria was in excellent health and could govern for many more years. There was no need to decide on a successor so early.
Arian fully respected Emily's attitude and didn't rush to pressure her into agreeing.
She just patiently tried to persuade her, time and again,
hoping she would face up to her identity and future.
Emily held her book, shaking her head at the sunlight outside the window, her voice as soft as the breeze.
"No, the weather's lovely, even better than Emerald City's weather."
She put down her book, her gaze drifting into the distance, as if she could see through mountains and rivers to what Emerald City looked like.
"Emerald City should be entering its rainy season now, right? I imagine right now, there's probably strong winds and heavy rain there."