Facing Qingden's gaze, Elodie looked away unconsciously, her eyes wandering in mid-air.

After hesitating for a while, she hesitated and said:

"Well... no matter what, he is my father... Although I am very afraid of him, but..."

Before she finished speaking, Qingdeng interrupted and said:

"Elody, you are obviously very smart, why have you become so confused now?"

Qingdeng shrugged as he said this, showing helplessness.

"My question shouldn't be that profound, right?"

"It's nothing more than 'thinking' or 'not wanting'."

"But you have been answering questions incorrectly since just now, and you have yet to give a positive answer."

"You don't need to say so many irrelevant things."

"You just need to tell me if you 'want' or 'don't want'?"

After saying that, Qingden straightened his face and his expression became extremely serious and serious.

Elodie's eyes began to dodge again.

"I...I...I..."

Miraculously, as time passed, every time she said the word "I", the confusion in her eyes faded a little, her tone became firmer, and her eyes no longer wandered around.

"I...I...I don't want to go back to my father!"

At the end of her words, her voice suddenly rose and her momentum was astonishing.

“I’m very happy here!”

"I have precious friends, a career I like, and a peaceful life."

"There's more... there's more... there's more..."

Somehow, she suddenly got stuck.

While repeating "yes", she carefully raised her eyes and looked at Qingdeng quietly, and the faint red clouds flew up to her cheeks.

"We have... we have our respected teacher!"

"My life today is a thousand times better than before!"

"No matter what happens, no matter what my father says or does, I will never go back with him!"

Looking at the blond girl who had made up her mind and no longer hesitated, Qingden curled her lips and showed a hearty smile.

"Okay, I understand your wishes!"

After finishing speaking, Qingdeng let out a sigh of relief.

"Elodie, to be honest, I don't care about your past identity."

"No matter you are an ordinary folk girl or a noble princess, in my eyes, you have only one identity, and that is my precious apprentice."

"I'm very happy to hear the answer 'I don't want to' from you."

"Elodie, I can't bear to leave you."

"No matter what, I don't want you to leave me."

As soon as Qingden finished speaking, Elodie was stunned on the spot.

"I can't bear to leave you", "I don't want you to leave me"... these two sentences echoed repeatedly in his mind.

The red clouds that had been suppressed just now flew up to her cheeks again.

In panic, she quickly lowered her head and acted like an ostrich to prevent Qingden from noticing the color of her cheeks.

Qingdeng, who was minding his own speech impassionedly, did not notice anything unusual about the other party at this time.

"Okay, now that we have a common opinion, let's go and meet your father!"

"Speak to him clearly and tell him directly: Your daughter doesn't want to leave with you, please go back by yourself!"

"I don't care who your father is."

"Even if your father is the real King of France, you can't even think about taking anyone away from the King of France!"

After saying that, Qing Deng stood up vigorously.

When Elodie saw this, although there was still a slight blush on her face, she stood up resolutely and responded to Qingden with the same high-spirited momentum.

Immediately afterwards, the two left the courtyard, stepped onto the corridor one after another, and went straight to the room where their father was.

However... after walking a few steps, Elodie's facial expression gradually became filled with fear.

The psychological weakness that has been accumulated since childhood will not simply dissipate with a few words.

Her emotions are faithfully conveyed to her steps.

Qingdeng heard the footsteps behind him getting fainter and softer, so he turned his head and looked back.

After realizing that Elodie had some stage fright, he smiled slightly:

"Elodie, don't worry, I'm here."

"When you meet with your father, I will be by your side the whole time."

"So you don't have to be afraid."

Listening to Qingdeng's encouragement, Elodie's expression became slightly better.

Afterwards, the two continued to move forward.

"..."

Elodie, who was half a body behind Qingden, had been secretly observing Qingden's naturally swinging right hand since just now.

At the beginning, it was just ordinary observation.

But gradually, her expression and behavior became weird.

He pursed his lips, swallowed, and showed a bit of struggle in his expression, as if he was saying to himself: "No", "No".

Finally, she seemed to have made up her mind, took a deep breath, then suddenly stretched out her left palm and held Qingdeng's right hand firmly.

"Hmm? Elodie?"

Qingden couldn't help being stunned, stopped, turned his head, and cast a surprised look at Elodie.

Elodie lowered her head to avoid Qingden's gaze and explained hesitantly:

"Well, well...I'm a little scared...so...master, can I hold your hand?"

When Qingdeng heard this, he couldn't help but laugh:

"If this can make you feel at ease, then I'm more than happy."

Qingden had no doubt that he had it, so he increased his strength and held Elodie's hand firmly.

The two of them started moving forward again.

Elodie looked directly at the hands she and Qingden were holding each other, her expression looking a little dull.

To her, Qingdeng's hands were very big.

Her hand was wrapped in the other person's big slap, giving her an indescribable sense of security.

In the blink of an eye, the "fear" in his cheeks gradually dissipated, replaced by "settlement" and "happiness".

Abruptly, Qingdeng, who was walking in front, suddenly asked:

"Ah, by the way, Elodie, I haven't asked you your real name yet."

"Since you are a French noble, then 'Elody Angoulême' shouldn't be your real name, right?"

"As far as I know, French nobles all have the word 'German' in their names."

"Elodie, what is your real name?"

Qingdeng's question brought Elodie back to her senses.

The matter has come to this, and there is no need to continue to hide it.

She shook her head hurriedly to get rid of the chaotic thoughts in her mind, and then replied seriously:

"Well, yes. Elodie Angoulême is indeed my pseudonym."

"My real name is Alice d'Orléans."

Suddenly, Qingdeng's body shook violently.

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Chapter 1: "Miss Wu is my best friend!"
Chapter completed!