Smelian didn't know where his mother's confidence came from. 'What would she think if she knew I still haven't received Duke Lu Xia's favor?'
As he thought this, a sarcastic smile touched his lips. "Mother, I have been with Duke Lu Xia for a long time, and she has never once shown me her favor."
With that one sentence, the smile on Lady Rafaelde's face fractured. She stared at Smelian in disbelief, and when she spoke again, her voice cracked. "How is that possible?"
She couldn't believe it. 'A female who keeps a male by her side without touching him? Even if Duke Lu Xia isn't promiscuous and the rumors are false, it's impossible she wouldn't have favored Smelian at all after so long.' She was well aware of the effect the beauty of the Rafaelde family males had on the Empire's females. That was why she couldn't believe Smelian's words.
But she also knew that Smelian wouldn't lie to her about this. That made her even more confused. 'Why could this be?'
