His Contractual Mistress

Jacob came back to his senses when they arrived on the 10th floor. They stepped out of the lift, then took the hallway toward the left wing of this hospital. 

They made a stop halfway to watch the city lying in front of them. Standing near the floor-ceiling windows, Jacob and Fred discussed the progress of the constructions in the entire city.

Later on, Jacob brought up another topic. 

"Fred, can I ask you one question?" 

Fred turned his head in his direction, then nodded. "Of course." 

"Why did you leave the Alliance?" Jacob was serious when he asked this. 

Fred pondered for a moment before he smiled at him and replied, "I realized I want a peaceful life away from anything." 

"Is that what you reason out to the elders?" Creasing his forehead, Jacob wanted to confirm if Fred was serious. 

Fred nodded. "Yes. And I guess after three decades, they were still as hard-headed as before." 

Jacob chuckled. "Yeah. They were even more nosy. They couldn't see that we were now living in a new era. It means a lot has changed already." 

"I pitied the father and son to deal with them," Fred muttered. "But those two made a lot of progress in these past decades. They were able to make a reformation of the entire Mafia into a clean association." 

"This is how Nicholas and Shun envisioned the whole new thing. To have peace in every country, the best action to do is to place the most capable of handling the matters of every territory by introducing a Law that leads to the new reform association," Jacob explained to Fred, who he was nodding the whole time.

He concluded, "But because of that, many members have a secret alliance to revolt against the present Emperor." 

"Yeah. They couldn't continue their illegal activities anymore because Shun implements a Law," Jacob concurred. While Hailee is growing up, he was also dealing with them.

That is why Hailee was actually in danger, the reason she needs a lot of knights around her growing up.

"Hmm... It's a brilliant move, actually." Fred's remarks, he carried on. "To tell you the truth, I can't take the doings within the old association, the reason I want to go out. Nicholas asked me to stay to help him fight his battle, but when I have Vincent... I contemplate what life I am giving him? Also, with my wife's character, she would nag me nonstop. However, the Lopez family is a member of the association. Hilda hated it." 

"I heard, it angers the Elders. They are opposed to letting you go when you hold an amount of information about them," said Jacob.

Fred replied, "Yeah. I actually have had this fear all my life that maybe one day, the elders send the missionaries to annihilate my family." 

"That cannot be. The Shen family is one of those protected by the Alliance. They cannot threaten you." Jacob assured Fred. This is one of many things he must learn about the High Royal Family secrets. 

"Well, thanks to my ancestor, Emperor Xing," said Fred with a total relief on his face. It's been too long since he lost direct contact with the Alliance. 

He added, "So I'm thinking of facing the Elders myself. As the doctor has advised, my future daughter-in-law should stay resting and avoid stressing herself. I will deal with the Elders. It's about time for them to meet my son." 

"I think that's a brilliant idea." Jacob supported this. "Those old geezers needed to be replaced on their seats." 

"Are you willing to take one?" asked Fred to Jacob. 

"How about you?" Jacob scrutinizes Fred's face, waiting for his answer. 

On the other hand, Fred shrugged a shoulder and said, "I'm too old to start over. Vincent is also not interested in the association." 

"Well, the same as my daughter. Hailee didn't take it seriously when she was in training under Shun. She also doesn't like to get involved in the High Royal Family." 

"Huh. They're a match made in heaven." Fred quoted. He glanced at Jacob and said, "Unless our eldest grandson would have the interest." 

"Yeah. The Alliance only accepts direct descendants if I want to retire." Jacob replied. He will not force his family member to step in, but the Elders need to be replaced soon. Some of them still support those revolting in the association. 

"I'll bring my son to Hungary on one of these days. I will request Lady Isabella's audience," said Fred afterward. 

Jacob gaped at Fred. He had questions inside his head, but he wasn't sure which one he must mutter. 

Fred, on the other hand, could guess what was in Jacob's mind. 

"It was Lady Isabella who backed me up to be freed from the elders' scolding." He explained and shared a little story about that. 

"I see. No wonder they let you go. Once Lady Isabella makes the decision, no one should question that. No one in the elders should offend her," Jacob retorted. He went on, "Do you know she foresees my daughter will build a city?" 

"I believe that…." 

"Did she tell you what she foresees in your future?" 

"Before I left, she told me to raise my son well. That's all. I think it was a riddle, right?" He doesn't understand yet until recently. 

And whatever was on Fred's mind. It was what Jacob was thinking as well. 

"Did she foresee the fate of our firstborn?" asked Jacob meaningfully. 

Fred was thinking the same as well. "Probably she did." 

"Hmm… She told me an arrow is pointing at a king. This riddle is something, but I thought about it. My daughter is Sagittarius, and your son is Scorpio." said Jacob. 

Fred contemplated this. Of course, he is familiar with the constellation. It was what his elders and ancestors relied on. 

"I didn't know you were interested in Zodiac?" Fred's tone was teasing.

"I was researching about that riddle, and those I consulted give me this answer," Jacob explained. 

"Oh…."

But who knows? If it is coincidentally or even the stars telling them that those two are destined for each other. 

Sagittarius is pointing his arrow at Scorpius' heart. 

"So it means your daughter shotted an arrow to my son's heart when they met four years ago?" Fred asked; his tone remains to teases Jacob. 

But Jacob made a confused face. 

"Four years ago? I thought it was five years ago," said Jacob. It can sense the confusion in his voice. 

Fred blinks. He was surprised to hear this. "Really? Where?" 

Jacob replied, "Hailee said it was when your son had his therapy at Shun's Medical Facility." 

Surprised written on Fred's face. That was when Vincent almost died in the car accident. He was in a coma for a few months. 

"What a fate…" he muttered.