Novel Full Chapter 104: Why Did You Have to Provoke It?
Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Why Did You Have to Provoke It?
The dramatic scene drew gasps of surprise from the crowd.
Justin Donovan and the others stared wide-eyed in astonishment, their gazes fixed on the white pigeon that had landed on Arabella Donovan’s shoulder. It held its head high and puffed out its chest, preening its feathers as if no one else was around.
After a long moment, he finally found his voice and asked with difficulty, "Arabella, you said this bird is your master’s messenger pigeon? The master from your Sacred Temple?"
"That’s right. His name is Snowy, and he’s my master’s messenger pigeon. When I was on the mountain, Master always used him to communicate with his old friends. I never thought it would be my turn. But..."
Arabella Donovan turned to look at the pigeon, which was obviously a size larger than before she’d left the mountain. The corner of her mouth twitched. "Snowy, what has Master been feeding you? How did you get so fat?"
The pigeon froze mid-preen, then fluttered to the top of Arabella Donovan’s head and started pecking away furiously.
As if she’d expected this, Arabella Donovan expertly shielded her head and scrambled away, shouting for mercy as she dodged the attack.
"I was wrong, I was wrong! You’re not fat at all. You’re... pleasantly plump! Plump!"
Unfortunately, the pigeon seemed immune to this particular excuse. It gave her two more sharp pecks before flying back to her shoulder, where it tilted its head up at a forty-five-degree angle, wearing the haughty expression of someone who had just disciplined a misbehaving child.
Arabella Donovan rubbed her slightly aching head, unable to resist another snarky mutter. "Looks like it’s not just your body that’s grown bigger—so has your temper. Ow! Stop pecking, stop pecking! I was wrong! I was wrong! I really know I was wrong!"
After another chaotic scramble, the pigeon finally settled down and returned to Arabella Donovan’s shoulder. By then, not a single one of her hair ornaments remained.
Fortunately, Hector Donovan, their chief stylist, had been reliable. Considering it was their coming-of-age ceremony, he had thoughtfully given them braided hairstyles.
So now, even without the ornaments, her hair wasn’t messy in the slightest. Otherwise, Arabella Donovan might have had to spend the rest of her birthday with a bird’s nest for a hairdo.
The rest of the Donovan family could only wonder, ’Why did you have to provoke it?’
They looked again at the white pigeon, perched on Arabella Donovan’s shoulder, still as arrogant and supercilious as ever.
The onlookers: "..." ’This is insane. We’re actually seeing disdain and disgust in a bird’s beady little eyes!’
Seeing that the girl and the bird had finally settled down, Eloise Donovan cleared her throat and asked the question on everyone’s mind.
"Arabella, that thing in your hand is..."
Arabella Donovan glanced down at the brocade bag in her hand, her eyes curving into a smile. "It must be my birthday present from Master."
"A birthday present?" Eloise Donovan leaned forward curiously. She was eager to see what kind of gift Arabella Donovan’s legendary master had sent, but she worried that asking to see it would be rude.
Arabella Donovan didn’t mind, however. Seeing Eloise Donovan’s curiosity, she simply tipped the contents of the brocade bag into her hand.
As she did, everyone present was taken aback.
"Are these... copper coins?"
Lying in Arabella Donovan’s palm were five small, round Copper Coins, each thinner than a modern coin. They were strung together with a red cord that was tied into an intricate little knot, making the whole thing look both exquisite and striking.
Just as Eloise Donovan spoke, the pigeon on Arabella Donovan’s shoulder, having finished tidying its ruffled feathers, bent down and nuzzled against her neck.
Arabella Donovan seemed to sense what was coming. Her smile faltered slightly as she reached up to touch the pigeon’s little head.
The next moment, the pigeon flapped its wings and began its journey back the way it came, wobbling leisurely as it flew out the main gate.
Arabella Donovan watched it leave, her gaze lingering until the pigeon had disappeared beyond the outer courtyard. Only then did she pull her attention back to the birthday present in her hand.
"These are Five Emperors Coins."
"Five Emperors Coins?"
Arabella Donovan nodded, lifting the small string of Copper Coins.
"Five Emperors Coins are a type of Magic Artifact made from Copper Coins minted during the reigns of five different ancient emperors. They’re used to ward off evil and misfortune, and to attract wealth and good fortune."
"As we all know, ancient emperors were considered True Dragons, Sons of Heaven who ruled by divine mandate. Copper Coins, being a testament to their policies and actions during their reign, naturally absorbed some of their energy and aura. The wiser and more renowned the monarch, the stronger the power imbued in the coins."
Arabella Donovan carefully inspected the five Copper Coins, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"This set my master sent me must be a Greater set of Five Emperors Coins. The coins were all minted under the decree of renowned, wise rulers from different dynasties, so their effect is doubly potent. If you carry this, it’s guaranteed to keep evil spirits and treacherous people at bay."
As she finished speaking, Arabella Donovan herself froze for a moment.
’Could it be that Master foresaw what would happen to my cousin, and sent me this specific gift for that reason?’
Warren Jennings and his son both started, their gazes locking onto the string of Five Emperors Coins with a newfound intensity.
Regardless of her master’s intentions for the gift, there was no doubt it would be useful for Eugene Jennings now.
Arabella Donovan had already been willing to help, and now, with this in her possession, she felt even more confident.
"I can try to help with my cousin’s situation," she said, "but my knowledge is limited. I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to solve his problem."
"Don’t worry, that’s alright. We’re at our wit’s end, so we have to try everything we can for a glimmer of hope. If you can really help Eugene, you’ll be a savior to our whole family. And if it doesn’t work out, we absolutely won’t blame you."
That put Arabella Donovan’s mind at ease for the moment. She handed over the Five Emperors Coins, which were still cool in her palm. "This can attract good fortune and ward off evil. Take it back and have my cousin wear it for a while. If there really is some malevolent entity causing this, this artifact should be able to suppress it to some degree. As for the rest, we can talk after I’ve seen him."
Warren Jennings and his son accepted the coins as if they were a priceless treasure, wishing they could sprout wings and fly back to Brynn that very instant.
Seeing that they had more or less finished their discussion, Mr. Donovan stepped forward to make a final decision. "In that case, I’ll contact Director Quillan shortly and have him make the arrangements. You two need to find out if Eugene’s condition is stable enough for a transfer, and what you’ll need to do to cooperate if he is. If Eugene is well enough, we’ll have him transferred here. That way, if something happens, we’re all here to help. But if a transfer is really impossible, then we’ll just have to have Arabella make the trip over there."
Arabella Donovan had no objections and agreed to the proposal.
Because of Eugene Jennings’s situation, the Donovan family had lost their enthusiasm for celebrating. But with so many guests present, they, as the hosts, couldn’t simply neglect everyone, no matter how heavy their hearts were. That would be far too rude.
Just then, Mrs. Donovan—who had earlier gone upstairs to help Rochelle Rowland after she lost her composure—finally came back down, accompanied by a few other female relatives.
The moment she reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw her brother and her nephew, and her eyes lit up. "Brother! Brandon! You’re here. Where’s my sister-in-law? And Eugene? Why didn’t they come with you?"
Then, as if noticing something, her brow furrowed. "What were you all just talking about? Why the serious faces?"