Kindness?
Shelter? Safety?
Had they forgotten where she had been imprisoned here for an entire month? Had they forgotten why she was here?
The praises continued endlessly.
The more they spoke, the more confused Jillian became. However, she saw their game. They were turning black into white so that City Lord stayed free of crime, and they could get her outside without any problem. This was a defeat that they would be forced to drink.
Her reputation could also be saved if people came to know that the City Lord had saved her. This was killing two birds with one stone.
Honestly, she looked at her parents with some surprise, glancing at them with a glimmer of respect.
Eventually, City Lord Davis raised an eyebrow.
"What exactly are you here for?"
Jillian Hayden’s father immediately smiled, "We have to come to express our gratitude and also wish to formally present a marriage proposal as we give our Jillian to you, City Lord Kain."
The hall fell silent.
Jillian Hayden’s smug smile slowly left her face.
"This..." City Lord Davis looked shocked.
Her father continued, "Our daughter has always admired capable men, and we believe the City Lord is the finest choice. We sincerely hope the City Lord will accept. If you do so, our humble Hayden Family will firmly support your rule in this city."
"Yes, yes." Her mother nodded eagerly, "Our daughter already belongs to you. It is just that we wish to make this formal and allow her to be faithful to you. We will support your rule regardless, as we bring the Hayden Family to the heights we enjoyed back in our era once more."
Jillian Hayden’s gaze turned distance. A glaring sound filled her ears as though her eardrums were going to tear.
Tears flowed from her eyes without stopping as the light in her eyes died. All hope she had was gone, dead and buried. Her parents had buried it themselves, making her react with a smile that was not a smile.
"Do you two wish death unto me?"
She slowly straightened her back as she smiled at them.
"You-" Her mother narrowed her eyes, appearing worried, "I told you not to speak nonsense. The City Lord is an honorable protector of our city. How can you say that marrying him is pushing you to death?"
Her father also looked stern, "Daughter, we know we were wrong, but at this point, there’s no better option for us, for you. A poor man knows he’s just poor, but a poor woman knows she’s just with a poor man. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can decide your own life someday. You won’t be able to obtain a good match like this and instead end up in an even more unfavorable position."
"What are you talking about?" She pointed at City Lord Davis, "He... he is hundreds and thousands of years older than me, perhaps even millions!"
Her mother frowned, "Child, you’ve suffered too much and become confused. The Saint only wished to guide you, and the City Lord rescued you. He’s your benefactor, and age rarely ever matters once everyone becomes an adult, so the Hayden Family is more than willing to repay. There’s no change to these events. Do you understand?"
On the other hand, her father grabbed the ring from her hand that not even the City Lord bothered with before turning around and smilingly handing it over to the City Lord.
"Here is our dowry. Please accept this marriage."
City Lord Davis remained motionless as he stared at them, his gaze on Jillian Hayden.
He then reached out his hand and took the ring, "You’ll have my answer in two days."
"Many thanks, City Lord! The Hayden Family is forever indebted!"
The father and mother fell to their knees, literally kowtowing to their son-in-law. They tried to invite Jillian Hayden, but she was unresponsive, the light in her eyes appearing to have been snuffed out. She wasn’t even looking at her parents anymore but at the ceiling, her thoughts unknown.
Davis felt it was very... dark.
He had the urge to kill her parents for her, but wasn’t this precisely the scenario he had hoped for?
The moment he heard that they appeared here, he already knew that they were going to beg him to accept Jillian Hayden so that they could rise from their fall, but it seemed like Jillian Hayden thought otherwise- hope otherwise.
It was just the way they went about it that really opened his eyes, since he could tell that they cared about her but not as much as keeping the family alive, not to mention they wasted the chance Evelynn gave them, as she had spared them on the account that he wanted Jillian Hayden spared.
"You two can leave now."
He said, nearly releasing the disgust in his soul to his voice.