Chapter 32 - The Permafrost is Melting


    "Oh my goodness, it''s udina Rigal!" Edna eximed in surprise when she saw udina standing in


    the room with Arthur.


    Edna had heard all about the previous night''s incident and had even seen a video of Arthur being


    chased by the police. However, she never expected to see udina in the same room as him. When


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    sheid eyes on the famous celebrity, whom she had only ever seen on TV before, her excitement


    soared sky-high.


    "Ah..." Arthur replied, then he turned to udina and introduced her. "This is Edna, my personal


    assistant."


    "She is so cute!" Edna gushed, then walked up to Arthur and grabbed the hem of his sleeve. "Mr.


    Gardner, can I get a picture with her?"


    udina then shed a small smile when she saw Edna, "Hello, Ms. Edna," she said softly, dipping her


    head in a polite greeting.


    udina was taken aback when she saw Edna, who looked truly stunning as a woman. Her radiance


    and cheer were tangible, and her sophisticated air made her seem like a celebrity. Yet, here she was,


    merely a personal assistant to Mr. Arthur. "Could he have found a public figure to be his assistant?,"


    udina mused.


    "Mr. Arthur," udina remarked, "I must say I''m rather surprised to find someone of Ms. Edna''s quality


    assisting you. If it weren''t for the fact that she''s your assistant, I''d think she was a famous celebrity!"


    udina then strolled slowly towards Edna, her face lit up with a bright smile, "Would you like to take a


    picture with me?" she asked, eagerly awaiting Edna''s response.


    Edna beamed with delight and nodded, "I absolutely adore your songs. You are incredibly friendly."


    udina''s lips curved into a smirk. "Thank you so much, I didn''t expect Mr. Arthur to have an assistant


    as kindhearted as you, Ms. Edna."


    Arthur quietly observed udina and Edna, noting that they were deeply engrossed in their


    conversation. He felt confident that he could leave the two of them alone and that he could proceed


    with his morning activities. Just as he was about to turn away, the two girls called out to him.


    "Mr. Gardner!"


    "Mr. Arthur!"


    Surprised, Arthur turned his head and said, "Yes?"


    "Why don''t you take a picture with us, boss?" Edna then smiled and suggested.


    udina also smiled in agreement.


    Arthur shook his head, saying, "I''d love to take a photo with the two of you, but if anyone were to find


    out that udina is staying here, it could be very dangerous for me."


    "Then," udina responded confidently, "This photo won''t be posted anywhere, so no one will find out,


    correct?"


    Edna nodded quickly in agreement. "Please, boss..." she pleaded.


    Arthur nodded, and the two girls rushed up to him, Edna on his right and udina on his left. Edna


    eagerly grasped Arthur''s arm while udina tentatively took hold of it.


    Arthur attempted to ster on a smile for the picture, but he looked a bit stiff.


    "Can you smile more naturally, boss?" Edna asked, a hint of teasing in her voice. udina let out a


    small giggle in response.


    After a few more photos, Arthur was ready to go. "I''m heading out for a morning jog," he dered.


    "Wait, Mr. Arthur!" udina called.


    He turned to face her. "Yes?"


    "I''m being collected shortly, so I may not be here when you return. However, I would like to invite you


    and Ms. Edna to my solo concert in the near future. Would you two be interested in attending?"


    udina''s invitation elicited a smile from Arthur. "Of course, Edna and I would be delighted toe,"


    he said. With a hint of fondness in his voice, he added, "And we''ll cherish you."


    Arthur waved goodbye and departed, leaving Edna and udina alone in the room. They settled on


    the living room couch and began chatting amiably.


    "So when I saw that car chase," Edna said with a cheerful face and a warm smile, "I was really


    nervous. If I hadn''t met Mr. Gardner in person, I would have thought it was a scene from a movie."


    udina chuckled at Edna''s words, her cheerful demeanor and personality always lifting the mood.


    "Hum, hum..." she nodded in agreement.


    "I closed my eyes tightly, my body tense. He was driving like a professional race car driver," she said,


    "and the speed of the car was so extreme that I thought I was going to faint. All I could do was close


    my eyes."


    "He really is like a hero, isn''t he?" Edna said with a warm smile, her eyes twinkling in admiration.


    udina nodded in agreement, her lips curving into a pleasant smile. "Yes, I guess he is so unreal,"


    she said, then chuckled lightly. "He''s like James Bond - he can do it all! He can even drive a car like a


    professional."


    "You know what, Ms. udina," Edna continued, "I was just a waitress at this ce before Mr. Gardner


    came and purchased it."


    "Waitress?" udina tilted her head, her brow furrowed in confusion, as she attempted toprehend


    Edna''s words.


    "Someone as beautiful as you couldn''t just work as a waitress, right?" udina said, trying to think of


    other roles that Edna could take on. She could easily be a supermodel with her beauty and


    perfect body shape. Moreover, she was very confident and well-spoken, so she could make a great


    host or presenter.


    "Yes," Edna responded thoughtfully. "Mr. Gardner came to my rescue when I was about to be let go


    from here. But then, to my surprise, he offered me a job to be his assistant. I''m sure you thought he''d


    be like other wealthy men, didn''t you?" She shook her head. "But he''s really kind and treats women


    with respect."


    Edna nodded once more. "I heard what happened to youst night. They were going to sell off your


    virginity at an auction, and as a female I understand how that must have made you feel. I''m sure that if


    Mr. Gardner was to rescue you, it is out of genuine concern. That''s what I believe," she said


    reassuringly.


    udia nodded slowly, her expression solemn. "Yes," she said softly. "I shudder to think of what might


    have happened to mest night if it hadn''t been for Mr. Arthur. He put himself in danger toe to my


    aid, and I owe him an immense debt of gratitude."


    "I think you don''t need to worry too much," Edna reassured udina. "He appears to be the type of


    person who wants to lend a helping hand to those who are unfortunate. For instance, he rescued the


    cleaning service here at the hotel that had been mistreated by the manager, and he did it without


    asking for anything in return."


    "I see," udina said, her admiration evident. "He sounds like a very kindhearted person."


    "He certainly is," Edna agreed, nodding her head.


    She then sighed in relief, "Forgive me if I seem to be ttering my boss too much; this is simply my


    personal opinion, regardless of the various things he has done for me."


    udina smiled brightly, listening intently to Edna''s every word. "I''ve had such a great time talking with


    you," she said, her face aglow with pleasure. "I really hope we can be friends and chat about even


    more topics in the future."


    A few minutester, udina departed from the Golden Chamber Hotel, and with that, Arthur''s initial


    meeting with the snow white princess came to an end.


    [Host, do you anticipate receiving a notification from me that reads, ''You have got a partner! udina


    Rigal''?]


    [It was, unfortunately, apparent that udina lived up to her title of "The Frozen Heart Princess"]


    [Don''t worry, Host. You''re doing great. The permafrost is melting, but it''s happening very slowly.]