BXBX NOVEL Chapter 161: Wrong time, Right Place (1)
But the internet, usually a sea of endless information, was eerily silent on this topic.
Each query led to a dead end, as if the world had collectively decided to shroud this mystery in silence.
With a resigned sigh, he pocketed his phone, only to have his gaze snag on Elina, the maid from earlier.
She moved with a grace that belied her station, each step a study in poise. "Elina!" he called, his voice slicing through the morning calm.
Elina stopped, her steps halting with a soft rustle of her skirt, her surprise fleeting before she masked it with practiced professionalism.
Turning, she approached with measured steps. "Is there anything I can help you with, sir?" Her voice was the embodiment of calm, but her eyes held a flicker of curiosity.
Wang Xiao nodded, a plan forming in his mind. "Can you lead me to Josephine\'s room? I have something I need to ask her," he said, his tone even.
Elina hesitated, her eyes flickering with a hint of uncertainty. It was unusual, this early in the morning, yet the princess had made her instructions clear - she was available for him. With an inward shrug, Elina nodded, "Of course, sir. Please follow me."
She led him through the winding hallways, their footsteps a soft patter against the marble floors.
Stopping outside the queen\'s quarters, she pointed to the next door. "The princess\'s room is right there. She prefers not to be disturbed by servants."
"Thank you," Wang Xiao replied, his hand already on the doorknob, his actions void of hesitation.
Elina\'s eyes widened slightly as he entered without a knock, a breach of protocol that sent a ripple of shock through her. \'Did he just...?\' She watched the door close behind him, her mind a whirlwind of scandalous possibilities.
\'Could the princess have...?\' The thought lingered, unsaid but heavy in the air as she turned away, her steps a soft echo in the grand hallway.
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As Wang Xiao stepped into Josephine\'s room, the air shifted subtly, a silent acknowledgment of his unannounced intrusion. The room, bathed in the soft glow of morning light, was a harmony of elegance and simplicity. Gossamer curtains danced gently in a lazy breeze, and the walls were adorned with fine art that whispered stories of a past era.
But it was the emptiness that struck him the most. The room, though filled with luxurious furnishings—a four-poster bed draped in satin, a mahogany writing desk, a chaise lounge by the window—held no sign of Josephine. It was as if the room was holding its breath, waiting for its occupant to return and breathe life into it.
Wang Xiao moved further inside, his footsteps muffled by the plush carpet. His eyes scanned the room, seeking clues, answers, anything that might unravel the mystery of Marcus\'s cryptic warning. *\'Curse women...\' What did it mean? And why was Josephine not here?*
His gaze fell upon the desk, where an array of papers and a half-finished letter lay. He hesitated, a battle between curiosity and respect for privacy waging within him. Finally, curiosity won. He edged closer, skimming the visible lines of the letter, but they offered no insights, just mundane correspondences, and the language was foreign which he can\'t yet understand.
A sense of frustration began to build within him.
He turned to the window, looking out at the sprawling palace gardens.
The beauty of the view did little to soothe his restless thoughts.
Wang Xiao\'s reflection stared back at him from the glass, a man caught between two distinct worlds.
He let out a sigh, feeling the weight of unanswered questions pressing down on him.
Just then, a sound caught his attention. A faint rustling, like the whisper of silk against silk. He turned sharply, but the room remained as it was—empty, save for the lingering echoes of its absent mistress.
[There is someone beside the door], Yin Yue\'s voice echoed in Wang Xiao\'s mind, instantly heightening his senses.
His eyes narrowed, a mix of caution and curiosity flashing through them.
No sooner had the warning registered than the door beside him creaked open, revealing a scene he was wholly unprepared for.
Creak!
Josephine stood there, emerging from the bathroom, her figure draped in nothing but a white towel that clung to her like a second skin. Her silver hair, wet and shimmering, cascaded down her back, strands sticking to her damp skin. Water droplets clung to her eyelashes, glistening like tiny jewels under the soft light.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Their eyes locked, a myriad of emotions flickering through Josephine\'s gaze – surprise, confusion, and a hint of vulnerability he had never seen in her before.
Recovering from her Intial shock, Josephine, wrapping the towel more securely around herself, took a step forward, her posture regaining its usual poise. "Wang Xiao...?" she said, a trace of wry humor in her voice.
"So early in the morning, can\'t you grant me a rest after such a hectic day yesterday?" She spoke, not knowing why such ambiguious words coming out of her mouth, a faint redness of her cheeks.
Recovering quickly from the initial shock, Josephine managed to inject humor into the unexpected situation. "Wang Xiao...?" she said, her voice laced with wry amusement. "So early in the morning, can\'t you grant me a rest after such a hectic day yesterday?" Her words flowed with a surprising ease, even as a faint blush tinted her cheeks.
Wang Xiao\'s gaze inadvertently traced the line of her slender legs before darting up to her face, a brief, unguarded thought flashing through his mind. \'Not bad...\' But he quickly refocused, concealing any untoward reaction. Opening his mouth to speak, he said, "I just wanted to take a look around and find you. Don\'t really have many acquaintances here in the palace...
And that old goon, Marcus, he is too much to bear..." His hands casually inspected her desk, maintaining a veneer of calm.