Chapter 474: "Hi, Wife!

“But don’t worry, we’re already at the door.”

Howard was practically jumping up and down with anxiety. “How can I not be worried? If you’d taken any longer, my dad would have skinned me alive!”

“You should have seen the look he just gave me. If our esteemed guest wasn’t here, he would’ve definitely gotten up, landed a few punches on me, and banished me to the bathroom to think about what I’d done!”

Sean chuckled. “Are you exaggerating?”

“Not one bit!”

Howard grumbled, “You’re still laughing? Get a move on!”

Sean said quickly, “We are, we are! Look up at the sky…”

At his words, Howard looked up to see a “shooting star” streak across the darkening sky. Trailing a long, broom-shaped tail of light, it drew closer and closer, finally landing right in front of him.

It was Sean and Elise.

“You’re three minutes late.”

“Luckily, the Duke is gracious and doesn’t fuss over such things, so it probably won’t be a big deal.”

“When you go inside and meet everyone, remember to apologize first thing.”

Howard nagged like a mother hen as he dragged Sean into the house.

Sean, however, sharply caught that one word—”Duke.”

‘Well, I’ll be damned,’ he thought. ‘This esteemed guest is actually a Grand Duke of the Empire?’

‘The Grev Family, a minor Viscount Family, is actually doing business with a Grand Duke?’

‘I’ve really underestimated them.’

‘I just wonder which Grand Duke it is.’

Sean would find out soon enough.

Howard led him into the house and, with a sheepish grin, made the introductions to his father, mother, and Daeli. “Sorry to keep you all waiting.”

“These are my two friends.”

“Mr. Sean and Miss Elise.”

Then he whispered to Sean, “That’s the esteemed guest of our Grev Family, the Clan Leader of the Blazing Angel Family, Daeli Duke.”

Whether it was because Daeli’s disguise was too good or because a certain someone was too dense, just like last time, Sean failed to recognize his own wife. He noticed Daeli in her seat at a glance and was struck by her beauty. ‘What a gorgeous woman!’

Only then did he seem to process what Howard had said—

‘Wait a minute…’

‘The Clan Leader of which family, again?’

‘The Blazing Angel Family?’

‘Duke Daeli??’

Sean: “???”

At the same time, Daeli, who had her head lowered in thought, lifted her eyes to look at Sean.

Their eyes met.

In that instant, the air froze.

This wasn’t an illusion; it had literally frozen.

Daeli never would have dreamed that she would be here, at the Grev Family home, at the most ordinary of dinner parties, and meet the man she had longed for day and night for centuries.

Her Tier Ten Magic Power was as vast as the ocean. Daeli lost her composure for a moment, and her aura leaked out, causing the surrounding air to solidify.

Her emotions could affect her surroundings—this was just one of the terrifying aspects of Tier Ten.

Also “frozen” was Sean.

For he saw Daeli’s appearance beginning to change.

And only he could see it.

That face, already as beautiful as a poem or a painting, began to blur. It gradually reformed into a set of features even more delicate and beautiful—and far more familiar to Sean. Sean’s eyes widened, his heart began to POUND. A deeply hidden longing flickered in his eyes, but it was overshadowed by the sheer terror of someone with nowhere left to run—

He had rushed back with Elise as fast as possible precisely because he was afraid of being late and leaving a bad impression on the Grev Family’s esteemed guest. And it turned out that guest… was his wife??

Ever since arriving in Austin Castle, Sean had been painstakingly careful, even using a fake name when asking for news, terrified of attracting the attention of the Blazing Angel Family. And now, so much for that…

Thanks to his dear old friend Howard, he had just walked right into a trap.

If only Howard hadn’t been so mysterious and just given him a hint—he wouldn’t have even needed to say much, just mention those three words, “Blazing Angel Family”—he never would have come to this dinner.

He would have run as far as his legs could carry him!

Did he not miss Daeli?

That wasn’t it.

Sean actually missed her very much.

‘But now is really not the time for a reunion!’

Howard, thinking Sean was just stunned by Daeli Duke’s beauty and status, nudged him and whispered with a sly wink, “What do you think? Quite the surprise, huh?”

Sean: “???”

‘Surprise my ass!’

‘What a terrible choice in friends! I’ve been completely led astray!’

Daeli had revealed her true face to him, which obviously meant she had recognized him. Gazing into her eyes, which shimmered with unshed tears yet burned with a scorching intensity, Sean had only one thought.

‘I’m screwed!’

‘Is it too late to run?’

Deluding himself, Sean turned to slip away. “Sorry, everyone, I just remembered I have something I need to take care of…”

“Stay.”

Daeli used just that single word to root Sean to the spot.

Viscount Mockray sensed that something was amiss. He exchanged a glance with his wife and asked tentatively, “Daeli Duke… are you acquainted with my son’s friend?”

“Acquainted?”

Daeli laughed softly. “We’re more than just acquainted.”

“All these years…”

“Have you been well… wherever you’ve been?”

That simple question sent a flood of memories washing over Sean, taking him back to the Era of Polymath and the first time he met Daeli.

Yes, after all these years, Daeli had never forgotten him.

Perhaps the Blazing Angel Family had never given up their search for him either.

They only failed to find him because he was on the farm.

To be loved so ardently and for so long by a woman… even someone with a heart of stone would be moved.

But then he remembered how Daeli had always doted on Elvire. She didn’t mind suffering herself, but she would never let her little sister be wronged. And he… had accidentally ended up holding this precious treasure in his arms. At that thought, Sean was too terrified to move.

Standing beside him, Elise was even more terrified to move.

Right now, she felt even more hopeless than Sean.

‘I’m so dead!’