My esoteric uncle Jules

Chapter 170 Meeting with Prince Dorr
Inside the reception room, the firelight from the fireplace illuminated the gilded wallpaper, and a faint aroma of tea filled the air.

Jules and Prince Dorr sat facing each other on either side of a carved wooden table, on which sat an exquisite silver tea set, steam rising gently from the teacups.

Prince Dorr picked up his teacup, gently blew on it, and wore a gentle smile.

"Your Excellency Jules, this is a black tea from the Ceylon highlands, a royal reserve, with only a few dozen pounds produced each year. Its flavor is extraordinary."

Jules glanced down at his teacup, picked it up expressionlessly, took a small sip, then put it down, his tone flat:
"tasty."

Before this, he had imagined many times what it would be like to meet Prince Dorr.

However, no amount of imagination can compare to the direct experience of being up close.

He had expected that when he saw Prince Dorr, no matter how much he suppressed it, an unnamed rage would surge within him.

But at this moment, there is only calm—a calm that is somewhat chilling.

Prince Dorr's smile remained unchanged, but a scrutinizing glint flashed in his eyes.

He put down his teacup and said casually:

"Actually, I was already looking forward to your arrival when I learned about you from Uriel a few days ago."

Yule's eyes flickered:

"Oh? What makes you so sure? That I am worthy of His Highness's concern?"

“Hehe, you may not know this…” Prince Dor stretched and looked at Jules with a smile, “Very few people know my bride. Even with my abilities, I can’t find any trace of her upbringing.”

"You know her, so you must be someone extremely important to her, right?"

Upon hearing this, Jules narrowed his eyes slightly.

Although Prince Dorr never showed any malice, he never dared to let his guard down.

The other party's words were clearly a test.

But he simply took a leisurely sip of tea and said calmly:

"Maybe, but we'll have to ask her in person."

Prince Dorr's radiant smile faded somewhat:

"Your Excellency need not be modest. I have spent some time with her and have some understanding of her."

In her eyes, you are undoubtedly the most important person to her, without exception.

His words were so certain, as if he were asking a question with an answer already provided.

Jules paused, his hand holding the teacup still, and raised an eyebrow slightly:

"Oh? Has she mentioned me to you?"

Prince Dorr chuckled, shook his head, and spoke in a relaxed tone:

"She didn't say it outright, but the occasional expressions she gave me a clue. Lolita may not say it, but she can't keep things to herself; after all, she's still just a little girl."

Upon hearing Prince Dorr's words, Jules almost couldn't resist the urge to unleash a torrent of curses.

A little girl? You know she's a little girl, and you still have the nerve to marry her?!
Even a fool knows it's coercion!

But he remained expressionless, only responding with a smile.

Prince Dorr paused, his gaze sweeping over Yule with a hint of probing:

"Your Excellency Jules, what is your relationship with her? Old friends? Family? Or... something else?"

He wore a kind smile, as if he simply wanted to find an answer.

Jules remained expressionless, but inwardly he sneered.

Prince Dorr's every word was aimed at digging into his secrets, but he was already used to this kind of tug-of-war.

He put down his teacup and said calmly:
"They're just old acquaintances, a chance encounter. His Highness seems quite concerned about her affairs?"

Prince Dorr's smile froze slightly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes:
"I naturally have to take the bride's matter to heart—Uriel mentioned the other day that he met a mysterious man in Blankogg who claimed to know Lolita and said some... intriguing things, and wanted to introduce him to me."

He leaned forward slightly, speaking casually:

"I guess that person was you?"

Jules nodded calmly, his tone utterly unperturbed:
"Yes, it is indeed me."

Prince Dorr's eyes narrowed for a moment, then he smiled again, leaned back in his chair, and picked up his teacup to conceal his expression.

“Interesting, Your Excellency Jules. Even the most elegant and ancient nobles are far inferior to you in their speech.”

When they saw me, they either trembled with fear or fawned over me. I'm quite curious, though, what exactly do you want to do here?"

Jules' lips curled into a slight smile:

"I was just invited to see old friends and join in the fun—after all, as a friend, I couldn't possibly miss such a joyous occasion, could I?"

Prince Dor chuckled:

"Of course, of course..."

Inside the reception room, the firelight flickered, and the atmosphere was subtly tense.

The two looked at each other, each lost in their own thoughts, and the aroma of tea gradually dissipated in silence.

After a long pause, Jules finally spoke:

When will the wedding take place?

Prince Dorr casually swirled the tea in his cup:

"Maybe a month from now, maybe longer, who knows."

Yule frowned and said:
Why has it taken so long?

"Hehe, since some things couldn't be finalized, it's naturally inconvenient to hold the wedding. After all, this is a major event for the royal family and the empire," Prince Dor said with a smile.

Jules pondered for a moment and said:

"Can I see Lolita?"

Upon hearing this, the temperature in the entire room seemed to drop to freezing point in an instant.

He stared intently at Prince Dorr, as if trying to read something from his eyes.

This was actually the most important purpose of his trip.

He wanted to see Lolita in person to confirm her current situation!

Prince Dorr suddenly smiled, which "melted" much of the tense atmosphere:

"As her friend, you are naturally allowed to see her, but it's not so convenient right now."

It's a very standard script, so standard that you can't find a single flaw.

A hint of coldness flashed in Jules' eyes, but his face maintained a calm smile:

"Inconvenient? Your Highness, since Lolita is your fiancée, she must be in this manor. It shouldn't be difficult for me to see an old friend, right?"

Prince Dorr's smile remained unchanged as he gently set down his teacup, his tone still gentle:

"Your Excellency Jules may not know this, but Lolita has been unwell recently and is currently resting. She is not fit to receive guests at the moment. I will arrange for you to meet once she is better."

Jules sneered inwardly, but he suppressed his emotions and said calmly:
"When I left London, there should have been another friend with Lolita, but I haven't heard from her since, and I wonder where she is now?"

Prince Dorr shook his head and said calmly:

"I haven't heard of her. Maybe she left on her own. When I first met Lolita, she was all alone."

He spoke in a very dignified manner, showing no trace of lying.

Or perhaps, for Prince Dorr, lying had become as easy as eating and drinking.

If Jules hadn't known Matilda so well, and hadn't received the message she left behind, he would have almost been fooled. He nodded calmly and said:

"Is that so? That's a real shame."

He sighed and shook his head. Seeing this, Prince Dorl approached him feigning concern and said:
"Don't worry, since she's also Lolita's friend, I'll find a way to send someone to find her."

"You've just returned to London. Do you have accommodation? If not, would you mind staying here for now?"

"Then thank you very much, Your Highness." Jules nodded.

He actually came here only to probe Prince Dorr's background and find out about Lolita's current situation.

But the fact that the opponent was defending so tightly made him feel something was off.

Lolita is one thing, but Matilda—not a single piece of information about her has been revealed to this day.

Jules only recently discovered this. Although Lolita's information was kept under tight control, some of it still leaked out, but as for Matilda, there was absolutely no way to find out anything about her.

He absolutely refused to believe the other party was dead. If he were dead, how could he have had the time to pass on such an important message about the resurgence of the tide to him not long ago?

Moreover, Holmes himself said that he had seen Matilda from afar at a royal dinner party.

Although he didn't know how Holmes had gotten in, he was certain that the other party wouldn't lie to him.

Matilda must be in this royal estate!
"We need to find out where she is now..." Jules' eyes flickered slightly as he finalized the next plan.

Prince Dorr's attempt to suppress news of Matilda ironically gave him a reason to meet with her.

……

"Hehe, greetings to His Highness the Prince?"

Uriel sized up Jules, who was slowly walking towards them from a distance, and smiled:

"Judging from your expression, it seems the result was pretty good?"

Jules responded with a faint smile:
"It's alright. I might stay here for a while. His Highness asked you to arrange accommodation for me."

Uriel was taken aback, then saw Prince Dorr step out from behind Jules.

Although his expression was calm, it appeared dignified to him.

"Your Highness, rest assured, the mission will be accomplished!"

He straightened up instantly and then bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle.

Prince Dorr nodded and said:
"Go ahead, don't let the guests spoil the fun. There's a dance party tonight, so remember not to let the guests miss it."

"Your Highness, rest assured!" Uriel nodded and bowed.

After Prince Dorr had walked a distance, he turned to look at Jules, his obsequious expression vanishing instantly, and said indifferently:
"Come with me. Remember, although you are His Highness the Prince's distinguished guest, you are ultimately just a guest, understand?"

His words even carried a hint of threat and tension, making Jules want to laugh.

Is she afraid that she will steal his thunder?
If it weren't for the fact that it wasn't a good fit, he would have really wanted to say, "I have no interest in competing with you for the right to be a dog."

Led by Uriel, Jules left the Prince's residence and officially entered this magnificent royal estate.

Uriel led Jules through the manor's stone paths, flanked by neatly trimmed rose beds, with the faint sound of a fountain in the distance.

He walked quickly, occasionally glancing back at Jules with a wary look in his eyes.

"You're lucky. His Highness the Prince personally received you and even let you stay."

Uriel's tone was somewhat sarcastic:
"However, don't think that you can do whatever you want in the manor. There are many rules here, and you should know the consequences if you take the wrong step."

Jules smiled faintly, his tone calm:

"Thank you for reminding me. I just want to see an old friend and won't cause any trouble."

Uriel snorted and said nothing more, leading him to a three-story building.

The exterior walls of the building are covered with ivy, and warm yellow light shines through the windows, giving it an elegant and understated appearance.

"There are a lot of guests at the manor right now, and there aren't enough rooms. But the conditions here are not bad, so don't be picky."

Uriel pushed open the door and threw down a bunch of keys.

"Don't be late for the ball at seven o'clock tonight. His Highness the Prince doesn't like people who are not punctual. I will send someone to pick you up in advance."

Jules took the key and nodded, saying:

"understood."

Uriel turned and left, his back view revealing a hint of resentment.

He even turned around from time to time, his eyes filled with doubt.

Why does it feel like His Highness the Prince isn't at odds with Jules as he imagined, but rather like old friends catching up?
He felt that his position was being challenged and threatened.

Moreover, if Jules were to reveal the whole truth about his search for the bronze mirror, wouldn't all the boasts he and His Highness had made be exposed?

He couldn't even imagine how His Highness the Prince would punish him.

On the other side, Jules entered the room, closed the door, and looked around.

The room was simply yet tastefully furnished, with a fresh bouquet of flowers on the wooden table and a neatly made bed.

He walked to the window, pushed it open, and his gaze swept across the depths of the manor.

The main house in the distance was brightly lit, and servants could be vaguely seen moving back and forth.

He squinted, calculating in his mind.

The ball is an opportunity; with so many people around, it might be a chance to find out Lolita and Matilda's whereabouts amidst the chaos.

Prince Dorr was extremely cautious, and the news about Matilda was particularly strange; there must be something hidden.

Uriel had also arranged for servants to tidy up his room, so Jules didn't do anything and instead used the time to think quietly.

Although the meeting with Prince Dorr was brief and did not seem to reveal any directly valuable information, it was of great significance to Jules.

Although it wasn't said, this attitude itself speaks volumes.

Moreover, after meeting Prince Dorr, he discovered that the other party was indeed as mysterious and powerful as rumored.

He didn't feel any pressure from Prince Dorr when he spoke with him.

But he knew that the other party was a powerful high-level lamp-wielding extraordinary being, possibly at the fourth level or even higher.

Their ability to conceal themselves further demonstrates how formidable the enemy is.

“Oh, Matilda…”

Jules rubbed his temples and couldn't help but sigh.

Leaving aside Lolita, who was at the center of the storm, even just looking at Matilda, who was on the edge of the storm, he couldn't imagine what she had gone through in those days.

He felt that Prince Dole had definitely pressured Matilda – in his conversations with the Prince of Wales, he also learned that Prince Dole was extremely lecherous, and if he saw Matilda, there was no reason why he wouldn't have some wicked thoughts.

But judging from the current situation, Matilda clearly has not given in.

Perhaps for this reason, Prince Dorr kept Matilda out of the public eye, intending to keep her secretly imprisoned there.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and a servant's voice came from outside:
"Is this Mr. Jules?"

“It’s me, please come in,” Jules said calmly.

The servant entered, bowed to Jules, and said with a smile:

"Could you please stay in the room next door for a while? I need to tidy up the room, and it might be in your way."

“Okay.” Jules didn’t think much of it and got up to leave.

But as he was leaving, he suddenly heard a new surge of blood appear out of nowhere in the servant's tool bag.

Moreover, it was even more turbulent than that of the servant!
(End of this chapter)