This exclamation startled Zia Sutton, but it didn't frighten Thea Shaw.
The voice was extremely pleasant, if not for the hint of menace, it was clearly a deep, soothing male voice that was a pleasure to the ears.
In the Women's Respect Country, the sound-obsessed Empress would certainly not let it pass.
—Tsk, she had already returned, she couldn't keep thinking about that place!
They turned their heads, and the tall shadow of a man loomed near the corner of the Ford Family's eaves.
His face was hidden in the dark corner, making it impossible to see, but he exuded a chilling aura that made one's skin crawl.
The man's presence was overwhelmingly strong, even without seeing his face, his aura sent a shiver down Zia Sutton's spine as she faintly thought he looked familiar, and she asked softly, "Who are you?"
Thea Shaw didn't see anything, nor did she sense the man's intimidating presence.
At first glance, she was struck by the open collar of the man's shirt—an offense to propriety!
The man wore a black shirt, but it wasn't fully buttoned, the top two buttons were open, revealing a solid, subtly lit chest under the moonlight, and an elegant collarbone was visible. Just a glance showed he had a great physique.
Instinctively, Thea Shaw turned her eyes away.
Zia Sutton saw her reaction and thought she was scared, immediately saying, "Don't be afraid, he might also be a guest."
He looked like some wealthy young master.
Thea Shaw: I'm not scared, I just think he's quite improper.
She knew her thinking was wrong, but she had diligently adhered to the Women's Respect Country's rules for thirty years, and as the Great National Master, the taboo of looking at men's bodies was ingrained in her bones, not something easily changed.
Virtue not only bound men, but also entangled her—
She'd need to look at hundreds of male models before her original sense of normalcy could gradually return.
Seeing her attitude, the man standing under the eaves chuckled softly again, "Afraid of me?"
The voice was grippingly pleasant, though it always carried an inexplicable hostility, making listeners shiver from within, and Zia Sutton had a vague sense of foreboding.
This feeling was very reminiscent of Landon Ford, the heir of the Ford Family.
His scalp was tingling.
Couldn't be that unlucky, there was no rule against guests here, how come he hadn't crossed paths with Landon Ford in previous years?
Landon Ford was famously temperamental in Aethelgard.
Many admired him, but none dared to flirt, people craved beauty and power, but avoided madness.
This indirectly proved Landon Ford's significant intimidating power.
The man took a long stride and walked out from under the eaves.
The shifting light revealed his face, with exceptionally deep and captivating features enhanced by the moonlight's chill, yet the subtle hostility in his expression was unmistakable.
"Ford—"
Zia Sutton immediately felt her throat tighten, nearly scared out of her wits.
He was just an ordinary rich second-generation, how could he hope to confront someone as domineering as Landon Ford?
"Don't come any closer!"
Seeing him approach, Thea Shaw wore a look of wanting to see but not daring to, she couldn't help but notice he was such a charming monster!
The physique was also great, but Thea Shaw couldn't look at it. She closed her eyes, trying to maintain a stern expression and said earnestly, "If you're coming over, button up first, boy, your reputation is most important."
The originally advancing Landon Ford immediately stopped.
He raised an eyebrow, sizing up the beautiful girl in front of him who had closed her eyes, pretending she dared not look at him.