Chapter 3 My Fiancée

Who is she? Norton, briefly distracted by Lucille's beauty and striking figure, quickly shifted his focus to her injuries, discerning that she was a combat artist. Her demeanor, however, remained unbothered by his gaze. Lucille casually sat down on the edge of the bed and handed him a glass of water. Norton took it, downing the water in one gulp. Only after he had finished did Lucille speak, her tone calm and composed. “Nice to meet you, Norton. I'm Lucille Jadeling—your fiancée.” “What? My fiancée?” Norton froze in disbelief. Admiring her beauty was the furthest thing from his mind now. Fiancée? Where on earth did this come from? Before he could process her words, Lucille leaned into his arms and said softly, “I wanted to give myself to you last night, but you were too drunk. Now that you're awake, look at the beautiful sunshine outside. Let's not waste this wonderful morning!” Then, without warning, she kissed him. Startled, Norton reacted instinctively. Despite the unexpected situation, as the revered War Overlord Ares, his self-control was impeccable. He quickly placed his hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her away. “Ms. Jadeling, what are you doing? It's inappropriate for men and women to get too close like this. Please, don't act impulsively!” Norton said firmly. “Don't you think we should have a serious conversation first?” “You claim to be my fiancée, but I don't recall us ever getting engaged. Do you?” His tone softened slightly. “I, Norton, am not a frivolous man! Treating you this way wouldn't be fair to either of us, don't you think?” Lucille's expression darkened, and her anger flared. “What do you mean? So I'm a frivolous woman?” she snapped. “Fine! I'll show you just how frivolous I can be!” Before Norton could react, Lucille threw herself onto him, cupping his face with her hands and pressing her lips to his in a fiery kiss. She was furious. She, the dignified seven-star War Goddess, had humbled herself for this man only to be rejected. But worse than the rejection was the implication that she was a woman without principles! That was unbearable. Norton froze as an electric sensation coursed through him. For a brief moment, an urge to flip her over and pin her down seized him. But the thought of her injuries brought him back to his senses. He pushed her away more firmly this time. “Ms. Jadeling, calm down! Please don't misunderstand me—that's not what I meant!” Norton said hurriedly, trying to defuse the situation. “And you—doing something like this with your serious injuries—are you trying to kill yourself?” Lucille paused, visibly taken aback. “You can tell I'm injured?” she asked, her tone laced with suspicion. “Of course I can. It's obvious. Anyone could tell you're unwell just by looking at you,” Norton replied matter-of-factly. “I don't believe you. Then tell me—what kind of injury do I have?” Lucille asked, her curiosity piqued. She didn't believe Norton could tell. Her internal injuries were so subtle that even the National Miracle Doctor hadn't detected them immediately. Is he an expert not so famous? Lucille had done her homework before coming here. She knew Norton had been in prison and that he had just found out that his wife had been cheating on him. Every piece of information she had gathered painted him as an loser with a criminal record. Still, as the disciple of her savior, she had harbored a sliver of hope that there was more to him. Norton met her gaze and spoke confidently. “You've sustained internal injuries, damaged three meridians and seven vessels, and there's blood statis in your lungs.” “In traditional medicine, we emphasize observing, listening, taking one's pulse, and making inquiries. Any halfway-decent traditional medicine practitioner can detect such things. My medical skills are quite good, actually. From observing your physical condition, facial features, and the brief contact we had, diagnosing your injuries wasn't difficult,” he explained. Lucille stared at him, stunned. He had only needed a glance and a brief touch to accurately diagnose her injuries. She was no medical expert, but the accuracy and ease with which Norton described her condition left her utterly astounded. Perhaps he isn't a loser like I thought! Lucille was eager to discover what other talents he possessed, “Ms. Jadeling,” Norton continued, his voice measured, “let's settle down and talk this through. First of all, I'm a doctor. I can treat your injuries, but it won't be easy.” He continued, “If you trust me, I'll start acupuncture right away. However, the process will take time. And while we're at it, I think we should address the question I asked earlier. What do you think?” Lucille hesitated briefly but eventually slid off his lap and sat beside him. Her voice was steady as she said, “Fine. Ask your questions.” “All right, let's get straight to the point. Ms. Jadeling, you claim to be my fiancée. Do you have any proof of our engagement?” “No formal proof, but this ring matches the one you're wearing. It's our token of promise. Also,” she added, “if I mention a certain name, you'll know exactly who I'm talking about. Dorian Lovell.” “Dorian Lovell?” Norton's eyes widened. “You know my master?” The sight of the ring and the mention of his master's name jogged Norton's memory. He recalled something his master had told him five years ago when they first met in prison. His master had said he would find him seven wives. At the time, Norton hadn't taken him seriously. But now, everything clicked into place. His master had even given him the ring he still wore—a ring that supposedly matched those of his fiancées. But Norton always only had Lillian in his heart, so he never took his master's words seriously. He hadn't expected it to actually be true! Lucille went on to recount how Dorian had saved her and her father four years ago, and how her father had promised her hand in marriage to Norton in gratitude. After hearing her story, Norton had no choice but to believe her. “So, that's how it is,” Norton murmured. “I never expected this.” “Ms. Jadeling, can you help me contact my master?” he requested, “Don't misunderstand—I'm not rejecting you. You're a beautiful woman, and any man would be lucky to marry you. If we do get married, I'll dedicate my life to treating you well. But this is all so sudden, and you're seriously injured. If my master treated you, I'm sure it would go much faster than if I did it!” Norton wasn't being entirely truthful. He'd lost contact with Dorian and would very much love to meet the latter again. It'd be great if Lucille could get into contact with Dorian for him. Lucille shook her head. “No need. As my savior's disciple, I trust your medical skills. Besides, I already owe him too much. How could I trouble him further?” “Moreover, he has left Lableoton long ago. If you can't contact him, how could I?” she added. “You don't need to worry. My injuries will heal in time. Even if it takes a lifetime, I trust you.” “But...” Norton hesitated. Lucille was too perfect, too beautiful. This happiness felt almost like a dream.He was afraid this dream would suddenly end! Lucille, sensing his unease, said firmly, “I don't like men who hesitate. Whether it takes a lifetime or not, I trust you to find a solution. And even if you can't, I won't blame you—or leave you.” Naturally, Lucille wished for Norton to heal her injuries, yet she couldn't help but hope the process would last a lifetime. In this way, she could forever stay by his side, free from the troubles that plagued her at home. “All right, Ms. Jadeling,” Norton said at last. “Lie down. I need to start acupuncture to clear the blood statis in your lungs. You'll need to remove your clothes.” Lucille slipped out of her nightgown without hesitation, her delicate figure leaving Norton momentarily dazed. See no evil, see no evil! Whatever, I've already touched her earlier. This is nothing! After forcing his thoughts to clear, Norton steadied his hand, picked up the silver needle, and pierced it into Lucille's chest.