Chapter 874: Chapter 41: Sister-in-law, your sister is awesome!

After avoiding that strange contact, Ulu suppressed the unfounded thoughts rising in her heart and took the lead to change the subject:

“You and Xili’s matter, I’ve already heard about it.”

“So, you’re here to help her get her face back?”

Luo En raised an eyebrow.

Unexpectedly, Ulu gently shook her head:

“Of course not, I should be the one to thank you. Without your help, the Demon Extermination Task couldn’t have been completed successfully. With Xili’s temperament, who knows what kind of trouble she might have stirred up.”

Luo En was a bit surprised upon hearing this:

“She has to serve me according to the bet, you don’t object?”

“Fair is fair, she must shoulder the trouble she caused herself. I’m neither her parent nor a relative, where do I have the right to meddle? Besides, it’s a lesson learned; this may even help change her impetuous nature, which can be a good thing for her future growth.”

Ulu answered indifferently, then a touch of a smile appeared in her emerald-green eyes,

“Besides, that girl admires you a lot. She probably can’t wait to go on adventures with you, so she doesn’t have to return to that cage at Sintra Palace. She finds it more painful than death to learn court etiquette from the maids day in and day out.”

Luo En then came to a realisation.

No wonder Xili, knowing well she had to work off her debt, signed the contract so readily. It turns out, like Celebrian, she’s a rebellious young girl looking for an excuse to run away from home.

Luo En countered: “Aren’t you afraid I’m a bad person?”

“I have a rough understanding of the contract, and the demands aren’t excessive. Plus, she has been under your care along the way.”

Ulu maintained her smile, her gaze reflecting a wise insight into the facts,

“Furthermore, if you really had bad intentions, the girl would have gotten herself into deep trouble on the night she tried to attack you. How could she have safely made it back to Heather Island? Obviously, your character is beyond question, and I feel at ease entrusting her to you.”

This sincere response, along with the well-founded analysis, made Luo En’s favorable impression of the female bartender climb without him realizing it.

Having grown accustomed to the Nordic World’s proclivity for fighting at the drop of a hat, it was rare to encounter such a rational and enlightened character.

Moreover, whether in tone or etiquette, the other party’s demeanor exuded an ease and elegance befitting a lady from a noble family, making for a very comfortable association.

However… what does she mean by entrusting her to me?

Luo En looked back at Xili, who was obliviously gulping down Honey Wine at the table and couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and helplessness.

Adding it all up – the Warner Divine Race Princess Freya, the Asa Divine Race Princess Hela, the Dwarf Clan Princess Eden, the Elf Clan Princess Celebrian, the Giant Clan Princess “Angelboda”, and now this Human Kingdom Princess Xili… he was practically running a princess haven.

“She’s the princess of Sintra, following me around on a whim?”

“Her temperament is not suitable for a princess; it’s good for her to gain some experience with you first. As for the Empress and her teacher Yenifa, I will explain to them, please rest assured.”

Ulu gave another thoughtful answer.

At the same time, her hands danced gracefully like a butterfly through flowers, mixing Honey Wine, Malt Wine, fruit juices, and other drinks in various proportions. Quickly, she concocted a cocktail shining with seven layers of iridescent light and pushed it towards Luo En:

“[Bifrost], please enjoy. This one’s on me, as thanks for taking care of the child on the road.”

Overwhelmed by the hospitality, Luo En gladly accepted the cocktail named after the “Rainbow Bridge”, lifting the crystal glass to carefully taste.

The drink was refreshing and sweet to start, rich in its complexity in the middle, and had a long, smooth aftertaste – indeed a fine beverage.

Encountering the familiar cocktail from memory, Luo En, cheered by the slight buzz of alcohol, requested bartending tools and some ingredients from Ulu and casually prepared a blue cocktail:

“[Margarita], as a gesture of reciprocation.”

Ulu picked up the glass in surprise and took a sip.

The taste was sweet and sour, rich in flavor, with a refreshing lemon zest and a unique aroma of fruity wine. The nuanced addition of a pinch of sea salt made for a masterful touch, enhancing the layered complexity of the cocktail.

After finishing the drink, Ulu was utterly impressed, praising Luo En who stood before the counter sincerely:

“You really are knowledgeable, even mastering such a niche skill as bartending.”

“Just a little bit, you are the real expert here.”

Luo En, somewhat embarrassed by the praise, responded modestly.

He was merely picking up techniques from future mixology masters but considered Ulu, the one before him, the true innovator who grasped the art out of nowhere and self-taught.

Yet, Ulu mistook this for Luo En’s humility and her admiration increased. She couldn’t help but chuckle behind her hand:

“It’s rare to find someone as modest and as accomplished as you. Now I understand why Xili holds you in such high esteem. If I were her age, I would definitely be following behind you as well.”

“Ulu Auntie!”

Mentioned and teased repeatedly, Xili could no longer pretend to be an ostrich, she turned her head to object, her pale face slightly flushed from the alcohol.

The two adults at the bar exchanged a knowing smile, finding the situation quite amusing.

Under the scrutiny of four sets of eyes, Xili couldn’t hold out, waved her hands repeatedly, and embarrassedly tried to change the subject:

“Enough, Aunt Ulu, let’s talk business. I’ve already completed your request, so now, as per the agreement, shouldn’t you tell me what I want to know?”