There is always a rival who wants to attack me

Autumn in the Cattelan Empire has a taste of grace and luxury.

It's like a knight who has taken off his golden armor, shed his burden, but he can't lose his glory, making people intoxicated in that charming style inadvertently.

Baimu Garden, Imperial Military Academy

Luo Lisi was sitting at the table enjoying a rare afternoon tea.

Pure white feather gauze, elegant demeanor.

Under the slanting sunlight, even if someone praised her as an angel, it would not be too much.

Taking a small sip of the tea in the cup, Luo Lisi was very satisfied with her appearance.

"Are you sure those rumors are true?" She casually asked the beta maid who was waiting carefully behind her.

She had heard too much about Li Xi.

Although she hadn't met him formally, she could still tell from it that he was a poor boy who had nothing to do but study.

"Of course." The disgusting expression on the maid's face was very obvious: "It is said that the poor breath coming from him can be clearly heard even if it is a province away."

"Heh." With a meaningless sneer, Luo Lisi was noncommittal to the maid's words.

Seeing that her complexion was still not very good, the maid put down the teapot in her hand, leaned over and whispered in her ear: "Actually, miss, you really don't need to pay too much attention. So what if it's your own child? If you don't get close to each other for a day, how can you get along?" Is it better than your 20 years of careful companionship? Besides, there is still the young master doting on you! That is the real master of the Odyssey van Klein family in the future."

"Also..." Thinking of her brother's unconditional doting on her, Luo Lisi smiled lightly and put the cup on the table.

So what if a person who has no noble education has noble blood flowing through his body?

The impoverished upbringing had engraved rough manners in his bones.Even if it is a god, it cannot change him overnight, so how can it pose a threat to her status.

However, she really wanted to know how the mother who had always paid attention to words and deeds would face this strange son from the slums.

She made a look at the maid at the side, and Luo Lisi quietly hinted that she had placed three sets of tableware of different materials on the table.

"Mom is coming out soon after changing clothes. You should pay attention to your walking and talking. After all, the important person who will be here later, don't lose the demeanor of the Duke's mansion."

There was a hint of jealousy hidden in Luo Lisi's words.

Even the blood relationship has not yet been proved, and the Duchess cares so much.It's just a small meeting, and you have to carefully organize your clothes and makeup before the meeting.Such prudence made her feel more and more neglected.Especially thinking that I have been cautious for so many years, but in the end I am still just a substitute.As soon as the original owner came back, he immediately became dispensable, which made her even more upset.

Must be an elegant and noble young master?

It's really ridiculous!

Thinking of the expectant look of the deacon and the duchess when they talked about Lorraine, she felt very absurd.

Where does this unreasonable belief in Li Xi come from?Could it be based on the blood of the Old Schwank family on them?

Stretching out her fingers to push the empty cup away from herself, Luo Lisi secretly hid her disdainful look.

Right now, Li Xi is like an insignificant plaything to her, and she can take care of it with ease.

Heh, an inferior person from the slums actually dared to rob her of fame and status, so she had no choice but to cut off his future prospects first.

The etiquette of Cattelan nobles is very complicated, even food and tableware have strict rules.Anyone who makes a mistake will be regarded as a laughing stock of ignorance, especially since this is still the public domain of the Imperial Military Academy.

As long as he makes a wrong step in this trip today, tomorrow the entire Emperor Star will know about the stupid things that happened to him!At that time, even if Li Xi regains his noble status, it will only be a family stain.

Seeing the anxious appearance of the Duchess who had returned to the table, Luo Lisi's heart was sour with an evil pleasure.

She was very much looking forward to how the adoptive mother, known as the "model of aristocratic etiquette", would feel when she saw her own son's vulgar gestures.

Will he scold Li Xi like scolding himself?

This is not intended to make things difficult, but a little prank aimed at human nature!

Loris thought, raised her hand, and covered the smug smile on her lips with a handkerchief.

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The waiting time always passed very slowly, and the Duchess's eyes showed a bit of anxiety.Even Luo Lisi was a little impatient.

At this time, the maid who was looking for someone finally came back. She brought the people behind her forward and said respectfully, "Duchess, Miss, Master Lorraine has arrived."

The maid's words interrupted Luo Lisi's contemplation. She looked up and was shocked.

Unlike the rumors, the young people strolling over are very eye-catching.

The uniform of the Political Department of the Imperial Military Academy made his slender body particularly flexible and slender.

With a calm posture, every move is as elegant and decent as an etiquette textbook.

The silver-rimmed glasses on the bridge of the nose are calm and detached, and the tear mole at the corner of his eye adds a bit of glamor to him.

This is a man who is so flawless from head to toe that it is impossible to fault him.

And this man turned out to be the legendary Lorraine!

Luo Lisi opened her eyes wide in surprise, unable to believe this fact at all.

The previous rumors about his vulgar behavior have reached the point where everyone knows, but when she actually saw him with her own eyes, she would rather think that those rumors were just deliberately discrediting him because she was jealous of his excellence.

Li Xi's strong appearance put enormous pressure on Luo Lisi's heart.

This must be an illusion, she kept hinting to herself in her heart.

There are many people who are rich and jaded, but Li Xi is one of them.

Reluctantly clutching the hem of the skirt, Luo Lisi tried hard to make the expression on her face natural.

"Good day." She took a step forward to say hello, her chin slightly raised, trying to suppress him with the aristocratic aura on her body.

"Good day." But Li Xi responded with a smile, without any restraint.

Ever since Li Xi appeared, the Duchess could not hide her excitement, especially when she saw his elegant posture, the Duchess couldn't control the turmoil in her heart.

Unable to resist getting up and leaving the seat, she walked up to Li Xi herself, "You are Lorraine?"

"Yes, hello. I have just been notified by the principal, so I am a little late. Excuse me, what can you do for me?" Ignoring Luo Lisi's look, Li Xi politely asked the Duchess .

"It's nothing important...it's just..." The Duchess felt very close to Li Xi's familiar spiritual power. She suppressed her tears, but her voice became hoarse, and she didn't know what to say for a long time.

Seeing this, the deacon accompanying her carefully helped her arm.

Only then did the Duchess calm down, cleared her throat, and threw out the excuse she had prepared a long time ago: "I read your paper published in the "Academic" monthly magazine, and I am very interested in the views in it, so I have an excuse to chat with you .”

"You are too famous, but it's just a family's opinion, it's nothing." Li Xi's tone was gentle and humble.

He carefully helped the Duchess to open the chair, and his attitude was gentlemanly but not attentive, which made people feel very appropriate.

Li Xi's actions made the Duchess feel much calmer.Although all the cells in her body were clamoring, the one in front of her was her long-lost young son.But reason keeps warning in his mind that he must be calm.

Calant nobles, bloodlines are above all else, and should not be confused.

So she couldn't do anything until she got the exact proof.

Seeing the Duchess' unnaturalness, Li Xi smiled gently and sat on the empty wicker chair beside her.

The maid took this opportunity to serve the refreshments that had been prepared.

The delicate silver crystal dinner plate was placed in front of Li Xi, and she glanced at him with an extremely contemptuous look, as if she was silently provoking.

There is no doubt that this woman is Luo Lisi's confidant.

Looking at the pastry on the silver crystal plate.

The crystal clear glass sugar ball on the top is wrapped with sweet and tangy chocolate sauce.In the middle is a sponge cake baked with Calais cheese.At the bottom, the shortbread made of chopped nuts and caramel is crispy and delicious.

This is a special delicacy from the province of Flanders. With a cup of full-bodied black tea alone, it can comfortably kill a whole afternoon of doing nothing.

"The chef's new creation, the most popular refreshment right now." Luo Lisi smiled and sat on the wicker chair, with a flash of interest in watching a show in her eyes.

She was waiting for Li Xi to show fear.

The Duchess at the side didn't notice it, and said to Li Xi with concern: "It's hard work to rush here after class, so let's have a little something to rest."

"Thank you for the hospitality." Li Xi readily accepted.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a special meal from Flanders.Although the taste can only be called passable, it is a kind of food that really tests the diners' understanding of etiquette, and it will not be easily served on non-important occasions.

Luo Lisi's purpose is too obvious.The Duchess was still immersed in the emotions of seeing her parents and children, and couldn't extricate herself from it. She didn't notice the small gestures of her adopted daughter's deliberate embarrassment, but the older deacon behind her showed a bit of worry on her brows.

The people around were also silently watching Li Xi's movements.

Although the Duchess has already booked the entire Baimu Garden in order not to be disturbed, there are still many maids and attendants who are part-time school students.

They have all heard the rumors about Li Xi, and they are all secretly expecting him to make a fool of himself in front of the Duchess.

Although they don't know the complicated relationship between Li Xi and the Duke's Mansion, it doesn't stop them from being jealous.

Also born as a commoner, why is he qualified to be appreciated by the nobles and reach the sky in one step?

Li Xi lowered his head halfway, taking a panoramic view of everyone's ugly postures from the corner of his eyes.

Looking at the three neatly placed tableware, he picked up the smallest silver table knife among them, and gently smashed the shell of the thin glass candy.

The thick chocolate sauce mixed with glass sugar shards flows on the sponge cake, exuding a sweet aroma.Putting the knife aside, Li Xi changed to a white ivory spoon and started to taste from the top.

"It tastes good." After taking a sip, Li Xi put it down and didn't continue.

The metallic texture of silver tableware will destroy the aroma of Carras cheese, and only white ivory, a natural material, can perfectly match the food.As for putting down the spoon after taking a bite, it was also because of the special way of eating this cake.

The chocolate sauce in the glass sugar shell will permeate the entire sponge cake, making the taste of the cake more varied.

Plan failed.

Luo Lisi was very disappointed by Li Xi's perfect performance, and his natural noble temperament made her even more jealous.

Especially when I think of my 20 years of hard work in order to meet the requirements of the Duchess, I have carefully studied the position of my fingers when I sit down.Even so, it often attracts the Duchess's pickiness.

But Li Xi can do it flawlessly without any effort. Could this be the power of blood?

Luo Lisi secretly clenched her fingers hidden under the table.This feeling of wanting to show off, but being overwhelmed casually by others is very uncomfortable, making her feel like she has been slapped invisibly.

"Mr. Lorraine seems to be very familiar with this kind of food, but I remember that you were born in the slums of Star Aquamarine." For some reason, Luo Lisi couldn't help but expose Li Xi's background, and saw that the duchess looked at him. With the surprise and contemptuous eyes of the servants, the depression in her heart finally eased a lot.

Birth is Li Xi's biggest stain.

The ghetto is the darkest place in the entire universe.

Dirty, dark, sinful, promiscuity are the words there.

No one who comes from anywhere can maintain his purity, especially Li Xi is a very beautiful omega.

The atmosphere in the air became condensed, and everyone's suspicious eyes fell on Li Xi.

They all seem to be secretly guessing whether such an elegant young man who seems to be an elite, after taking off his clothes, will be like those sluts in lower-class areas, as long as he spends money, his body can bloom.

But Li Xi didn't feel any embarrassment about this at all, instead he nodded generously and admitted: "Yes, the orphanage at No. 23 Xilin Street in the slum is my hometown. As for these etiquettes, there are many old nobles in Seablue Star. work for them over there."

Li Xi's generous attitude is neither humble nor overbearing, and Li Xi does not feel inferior because of his humble background.His unhurried attitude made Luo Lisi extremely angry, but it also made the Duchess feel distressed.

"Your etiquette is very good." The Duchess stared at his face, with mixed feelings in her heart.

"It's a great honor to receive such a compliment from you." He calmly responded to the Duchess, and Li Xi couldn't bear to look at her gloomy face.

This is nothing more than a mother who longs to be close to her child.

With a low sigh, he found a suitable topic to talk to her: "I heard that you like Aiboya black tea very much? This clear taste from the top of the Silolan snow mountain is indeed very suitable for a noble and elegant woman like you .”

"It's okay." The Duchess put down the half-empty teacup, trying to regain her chaotic thoughts.

Her mind is not here at all, and she can't taste the taste of black tea in its entirety.

"I like you, just have a drink." Luo Lisi set up the tin pot with a spout to fill the cup for the Duchess at the right time, and at the same time ordered the maid to pour tea for Li Xi, "Student Lorraine may rarely have the opportunity Taste this delicacy, and take this opportunity to order more!"

Her tone concealed sarcasm, and she also despised Li Xi's unnutritive compliment in her heart.

Alboya black tea is just the most common drink in Calant's aristocratic life, but it made him feel as if it was exclusive to a lady.

Sure enough, the inferior citizens are so superficial and ignorant.

While thinking, Luo Lisi showed off her precise tea art skills.

"It's not a reception. Your words may be inappropriate." The Duchess frowned, and gave Loris a disapproving look.

She finally realized that something was wrong with this adopted daughter, and Luo Lisi's words always seemed to have the meaning of running on and suppressing Li Xi.

Even if it came from a slum, there is still her own blood in her bones, what right does she have to look down on?

This kind of thought made the Duchess very uncomfortable, and she looked at Luo Lisi with a bit of coldness in her eyes.

Realizing her gaffe, Luo Lisi hurriedly sat aside and didn't speak anymore.

Li Xi continued to chat with the Duchess about other topics.

In the following time, Luo Lisi failed to get the slightest attention.

The Duchess's thoughts had already completely focused on Li Xi, and Li Xi also talked gracefully, showing off his profound knowledge in a timely manner.

The atmosphere between the two was very harmonious, and there was a faint sense of warmth.

As time passed bit by bit, Luo Lisi's mood also became more depressed.Li Xi seemed to be doing nothing, but actually suppressed her everywhere.

Whether it's the superior speech and demeanor, or the natural intimacy with the Duchess, she feels redundant.It's like an awkward background board, sitting here just to highlight the intimacy of their mother and son.

Before Li Xi appeared, such a thing had never happened.

Jealousy and embarrassment are like heart-wrenching demons, quietly eating away at her mind.

Loris lowered her head uncontrollably, hiding the intense hostility that was about to overflow from her eyes.

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It was a pleasant conversation with the Duchess and the time flew by as the next class was about to begin.

After using up the remaining cakes on the plate, Li Xi put down the tableware to express his intention.

"Lorraine," the Duchess hesitated for a long time, and finally asked the question that had been hidden in her heart, "How have you been doing these years? Did you suffer a lot?"

"No." Li Xi shook his head, with a look of nostalgia in his expression, "Actually, life in the slums is not as terrible as you think. Although I am poor, backward, and hungry, I work with my own hands. Even with the label of an inferior citizen on his body, he can still stand upright and survive.

It is enough for me not to kneel like a beggar to survive.So, you don't have to pity me too much. "

Li Xi's indifference made the Duchess choke up, and she couldn't help asking, "Then have you ever resented your family?"

"No." Li Xi shook his head again, "The orphanage remembers the origins of every orphan very clearly. If they really want to find me, they just need to check and find out. When I was young, I still had fantasies, but later I I understand that I have been completely abandoned. But even so, I have nothing to complain about. I haven’t seen each other since I can remember, and I have no love. How can I hate? What’s more, my ss’s spiritual power is also Inherited from them, after all, I have a skill, and I have not suffered too much grievance. So how can I have any resentment? To me, my parents are just strangers who are related by blood. "

The Duchess couldn't bear Li Xi's words, she lowered her head and covered her face and wept.

It was all my fault, the Duchess kept blaming herself in her heart.

If she had been able to keep looking, if she hadn't adopted Luo Lisi as a substitute in order to escape, then his little Lorraine would not have grown up so hard.

Li Xi sat motionless on the wicker chair, looked at her pained appearance with cold eyes, but had no intention of comforting her.

On the other hand, Luo Lisi supported the Duchess, and said righteously: "How can you do this! Don't forget, you would never have come to this world without the mother who gave birth to you. How can you treat yourself as an indifferent stranger? people?"

In Luo Lisi's opinion, what Li Xi did was the most stupid.Facing his own biological mother, he could say such things as a stranger, and even if he knew each other in the future, he would still have a knot in his heart.

Sure enough, inferior citizens are short-sighted.

But Luo Lisi's words also made Li Xi feel very ridiculous. He gently blew off the foam on the top of the black tea, and he asked in a gentle tone: "What about you? Dear Miss Luo Lisi Getarisa Odyssey Vank, For you, is it closer to the Duchess who brought you up in good clothes and rich food, or the Madame Geta Lisa who brought you into this world that you miss more?"

"You are arguing and trying to change the subject with such ambiguous words!" This was an unsolvable question, and Luo Lisi couldn't answer it at all.No matter what she said, she could only push herself into an extremely embarrassing situation.Damn despicable villain, Luo Lisi stared at him with resentful eyes.

"Heh, how can you be so forceful?" Putting the teacup on the dining table, the floating foam also dispersed.Li Xi raised half of his brows, and a trace of cold sarcasm flashed in his slightly squinted eyes: "I heard that you seldom go back to Getalisa's house since you were sensible, and even if it's New Year's Day, it's just a casual thing. Send some gifts back. You are dissatisfied with my remarks, but you are also the same. The biological mother is still alive, and the way of expressing intimacy is only so cold. Not to mention that I have no father or mother since I opened my eyes. orphan?"

The surrounding atmosphere became condensed, and even the Duchess raised her head and quietly looked at the two people who were fighting each other.

Luo Lisi, who was forced to be speechless by Li Xi, realized for the first time that her vocabulary was so poor.This kind of duel with the chips in her hands made her very uncomfortable, and the look the Duchess cast on her made her unable to move an inch.

Just as she was about to retort, the deacon beside the Duchess pulled her arm.

Loris had no choice but to take a step back, and stood behind the Duchess with lowered eyebrows.

Even a dispute depends on the feeling of people's faces, it is tantamount to being ridiculed and bowing your head, as devoutly thanking as listening to an oracle.

Such a humble gesture made Luo Lisi feel humiliated.

"A real lady won't pester people loudly in the street." Taking a deep breath, Luo Lisi comforted herself in this way.Only by thinking this way can she feel better.

And Li Xi stopped talking and stopped talking.

The quiet Baimu Garden was suffocating, Li Xi exhaled lightly, and wiped the corners of his lips with a silk handkerchief.

Seeing that the Duchess was still in pain, he walked up to her, took away the cold teacup in her hand and replaced it with a new one, and poured her a cup of hot tea.

Unlike Luo Lisi, he did not add sugar and pure milk to the black tea, but added brown sugar and hand-cut ginger slices.

"You look emotionally agitated, which is not good for your health. Brown sugar and ginger can help calm you down quickly, pardon my presumption."

The burnt aroma of brown sugar dilutes the bitterness of Alboya black tea, and the slightly spicy ginger slices cleared her mind a lot.

"Thank you, you are really a considerate and good boy." The Duchess said with a sob, Li Xi's closeness made her feel a lot better.He was right, the relationship between them now was no different from that of strangers.Even though there is an indelible blood connection, the 20 years of separation has indeed made them lack the bond of family affection.

Tightly holding Li Xi's hand, the Duchess felt more and more that she owed him a lot, and she didn't even know how to make it up.What's more, right now she can't even say that she is his biological mother.

"Don't praise me like that." Seeing the struggle in her eyes, Li Xi blinked at her deliberately, using a brisk tone to relieve the solemn atmosphere, "I'm just showing off to you my excellent talent in using table knives."

While talking, Li Xi flicked the silver cup wall with his slender fingers like jade.

With a crisp sound of "ding", the thinly sliced ​​ginger slices floated up from the bottom.

The Duchess was amused by his appearance, and her mood relaxed a lot, and the sadness in her eyes also dissipated.

Glancing at the time, Li Xi got up again, and solemnly kissed her hand, "It was very interesting to talk to you, but I still have classes, so I have to leave first. I hope you and Miss Luo Lisi can Have a nice afternoon."

The half-closed eyelids covered the faint moisture in the eyes.After Li Xi finished speaking, he turned and left.

The subtle change in his expression did not escape the eyes of the Duchess.After he walked away, the Duchess said to the old deacon choked with sobs: "Look, Daisy, my little Lorraine seems to know already, otherwise he wouldn't comfort me in this way..."

"Yes!" The deacon handed over the silk handkerchief and echoed her, "The young master has always been a very smart child."

Looking at the Duchess who was still immersed in the memories of her meeting with Li Xi just now, Luo Lisi couldn't bear it anymore, so she simply asked her maid to leave quietly.

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The sunset of the Cattelan Empire can always make the withered grass emit golden brilliance.

This is an astonishing beauty, even the well-informed Li Xi couldn't help but stop and watch.

"Lorraine!" Suddenly came a shout from behind.

Li Xi turned her head, it was Luo Lisi.

"Why, you still have something to do with me? Dear Miss Loris Getarisa Odyssey Van Klein." Li Xi's tone was very gentle, but the tone of deliberately pronouncing his full name was full of sarcasm.

"Do you know something?" Luo Lisi couldn't help asking.

"Know what? Does it mean that you deliberately exposed my background just now, deliberately designed to make me look ugly in front of the Duchess and be disgusted by her? Or does it mean that I already know that I am the youngest son of the Odyssey Van Kle family whose identity was usurped by you? " Li Xi's expression was very careless, but the words he said were so cruel that it made people tremble with fear.

"You did it on purpose!" Luo Lisi suddenly realized.Ever since Li Xi appeared, she should have thought that all of this was just his disguise.He may have been aware of his identity from a very early age, so he deliberately dominated public opinion and let himself relax his vigilance, even the previous coincidence with his mother was deliberately arranged.

"What do you want to do to me?" Such conjectures made Luo Lisi feel Li Xi's unfathomable, she stared at him with wide eyes and fear, like a timid bird with tears in her eyes. rabbit.

Simple, weak, timid, coupled with a beautiful appearance, such qualities are enough to make her arouse the pity of all men.

Unfortunately, this does not include Li Xi.

He smiled slightly, walked up to Luo Lisi, and looked down at her.

Li Xi's expression was very calm, neither cold nor malicious, but the coercion hidden under the calm made people breathless.

It was the arrogance and nobility of a great nobleman that Luo Lisi had tried hard for 20 years but failed to imitate, but to Li Xi, it seemed to be deep in her bones, and it was revealed naturally without deliberate effort.

Luo Lisi subconsciously took a step back and held her breath.

He raised her chin with one hand, and took out a silk handkerchief with the other hand to gently wipe away her tears.Looking at Luo Lisi's panicked eyes, Li Xi's words like a sympathizer's whisper became more and more tender and caring: "Could it be that you haven't been targeting me all this time? Just because of such a trivial vanity."

Completely controlled by Li Xi, Luo Lisi stiffened her back and didn't dare to move, until Li Xi's hand left her skin, she said in a low voice: "That's because you want to take my things. I You have worked hard for 20 years to get to where you are today, why do you want to snatch them all when you show up? It's not fair!"

"Fair?" The corners of the elegant thin lips are upturned, even when smiling, there is a bit of indifference and aloofness, the narrow red phoenix eyes under the silver-framed lenses are narrowed, Li Xi's eyes are also full of pity and contempt, It was an undisguised mockery: "Miss Geta Lisa, you seem to have overlooked a detail. Every ounce of superiority and luxury you take for granted now should belong to me."

"So what?" Luo Lisi raised her chin in embarrassment, and retorted: "But right now I am the eldest lady of the Odyssevank family, and you are just a poor boy from the slums of Planet Aquamarine. The blood test did not come out Before, you were a low-class citizen, I only needed to move my fingers, and I could make your bones disappear!"

"It seems very reasonable." Li Xi nodded casually, "But I'm afraid you don't have the courage to do so."

Putting the handkerchief that wiped her tears just now in her hand, Li Xi tidied up the folds of her cuffs, and gracefully gave a gentlemanly salute: "Sorry, honorable Miss Getalisa, I don't have much time, I have to go Yes. Today's meeting was very pleasant, and I look forward to the next meeting. I hope that your dignity will not be diminished by then!"

The meaningful hint made Luo Lisi's face very gloomy.She tightly grasped the silk handkerchief in her hand, tore it up and threw it on the ground.

Every word Li Xi said was like a nail nailed into her heart, making her chest ache.

Having been a stand-in doll in the Duke's family for so many years, it has been difficult and not heretic.She has been serving the duchess carefully for more than twenty years, trying her best to please the duke's family every day, and she can even give up her preferences because of catering.

But why, just because of Li Xi's return, she could only retreat behind the scenes and lose everything she had?

The huge gap made Luo Lisi very unwilling.

Especially when she thought of how much the Duchess in Baimu Garden valued Li Xi, that kind of jealousy and resentment made her breathless.

Powerlessly reaching out to cover her face, Luo Lisi tried her best to control her emotions so as not to lose her composure in the street.

And on the side of the path not far behind her, a tall figure with a gloomy aura stared at the direction of the conversation between the two...