She quickly lifted the quilt, found a loose pajamas and put it on herself. When she went downstairs, she saw Xia Yibing holding two large paper packages, with fragrance wafting from them.
"You're awake." Xia Yibing grinned when she saw her.
"I bought meat patties, eggs... and vegetarian patties as well. Just take whatever you want."
Hitzfeld was stunned: "...You should buy more original materials and let me make it!"
"That's too much work... I think I'll have something else to do in the evening. I'll have to wash dishes and pots after going through all the trouble. I might as well just buy something."
She said it lightly, but Hitzfeld could tell she was thinking of her.
Otherwise Xia would not have woken up before her.
She wanted me to sleep a little longer...
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"nothing."
Hitzfeld lowered his head, using his drooping hair to hide his expression.
She just thought life like this was pretty good.
It would be great if it could continue like this.
Xia Yibing was not particular and asked her to eat first and then wash and brush her teeth. But Hitzfeld couldn't stand eating like that and insisted on washing before eating.
When we were almost done eating, the doorbell rang.
After sending the girl upstairs to change her clothes, Xia Yibing opened the door alone under Daryl's gaze and found an old acquaintance standing outside the door.
Alfred saw the food packages on the table through the gap, took off his hat and asked, "Are you planning to stay here?"
"Yes."
"It's going to be quite noisy these days."
"It's up to you to intercept."
"Now that you're the director, you've learned how to order people around..." Alfred shook his head speechlessly, "You should be thankful for the ideas Madeline left behind before she left, otherwise it wouldn't have been so easy."
Before the Pierre went out to sea, in order to conceal her whereabouts, Madeleine had people build a lot of scaffolding on the archway to disguise it as being under construction and repair.
One third of the scaffoldings have not been removed yet. It was precisely because of them that many people who "heard that Earl Xieyang had an office nearby" came back empty-handed and wandered around for a long time without finding the place.
"You never come to visit unless you have something to ask."
Xia Yibing poured a cup of hot water for her old colleague.
Except for a few exceptions, the veteran agents of the Security Bureau basically only drink water.
"Tell me, what's the news?"
"This is a message from the White Shadow Palace, asking you to hurry up and finish the job." Alfred picked up the teacup and took a sip.
"Let me say one more thing: this is not the case you are investigating now."
If it's not a jewelry theft, then it's the Secret Keeper Ceremony.
Xia Yibing thought about it and nodded: "I'll discuss it with her. If she has no objection, we will do it as soon as possible."
The world is really different now.
Alfred shook his head, feeling sad that she now even dared to disobey the royal transfer order. He kept asking from the side to find out about their experiences and gains in Aisha Continent, but Xia Yibing pushed him back tactfully.
"Just say it if you have something to say, Alfred."
Xia Yibing glanced at the clock.
It's almost nine o'clock.
How can the Shadow Lion people reminisce about the past like this?
He must have other requests.
"Is such that."
Alfred coughed when his thoughts were exposed.
"Someone asked me to repair our relationship, and maybe it was because I'm older..."
"Annual rings?"
“…It’s her.”
"Unless she comes to apologize to me in person," Xia Yibing concentrated, "don't even think about it."
"Oh, don't be like that. I heard that. That's not a contradiction."
"Alfred, you are now a security agent, and I am the chief of security."
"Ok."
Alfred raised his hands over his chest.
"……forget it."
Only then did Xia Yibing smile and took an oil-paper bag from the table and handed it to him.
"Meat pie."
"Thank you."
The old crow took a big bite of the biscuit and said incoherently: "But this is not the only message she wants me to convey."
"She also asked me to remind you - especially her - not to ignore the special talents she possesses."
"……What's the meaning."
Xia Yibing said she didn't understand.
Isn’t Aisuen’s special talent the divine eye... They all took a life-threatening risk in Aisha Island not long ago. It’s impossible for him to come and criticize them now. Could Nian Lun be so stupid?
"If my guess is good."
Following the voice, Hitzfeld changed his clothes and went downstairs. "She is reminding me of something that only His Majesty and I can do."
Are you talking about Xieyang?
Xia Yibing's heart immediately tightened.
In this case, it's almost Eternal Night. Aisuen was confirmed to be able to control the Mechanical Sun in the God War, and even in Erwin's evaluation, he did better and more perfectly than her.
So is this what the tree rings mean or what Alvin meant?
Are they planning to let Aisuen take charge of the mechanical sun in the future?
Thinking that this might be what "Count Xiyang" meant, Xia Yibing's expression changed constantly, leaving Alfred confused.
He originally wanted to ask who the woman upstairs was, but seeing the atmosphere, he was sensible and just slipped away.
"Aisun..."
Ignoring the sound of the door closing, the woman stared at Hitzfeld as he walked down the stairs, seeming to be hesitant to speak.
The girl's outfit was very much to her liking, a pure black tight dress with white lace sewn on the lining. The black stockings wrapped around her legs were relatively dark brown in color so that they were not indistinguishable from the hem of the skirt. She also had a black waistcoat on her shoulders. If she added a black veil, she would really look like a nun.
But she had no mood to appreciate it at this moment.
She is more concerned about the division and appointment of this position.
"That's what Alvin meant."
Hitzfeld hadn't finished his meal, so he picked up a vegetarian cake and started eating it, talking as he ate.
"It's obvious... Alvin wants me to inherit Xiyang, but Nian Lun doesn't want to. This is testing our attitude."
"Why would she not want to?"
Xia Yibing frowned.
She is a bit hypocritical: she was worried that the girl would be forced to do hard labor before, but now she hears that this may not be the case, and she is not willing to accept it and has to be on guard against this side.
The achievements made by the Tree People are less than a few years ago. What right does she have to be unwilling?
"That's not what I said."
Hitzfeld quickly shook his head.
"If...I mean if..."
"If I am willing to ascend the throne...Annual Rings and the Tree People will definitely stand firmly on our side and unconditionally support all our ideas."
"But I am not... after all, do you understand?"
"The person sitting in that position is Alvin. She must know that Alvin doesn't care about these things, but that doesn't mean she can't do it... She has to show it."
"Then this invitation——"
"There should be two meanings." Hitzfeld looked out the window.
"On the one hand, they are testing our attitude, and on the other hand, the Tree People also want to seek help from me."
"Ah..." Xia Yibing groaned, "She doesn't look like someone who would beg for help..."
"She will."
The girl looked up and made eye contact with the mechanical apostle upstairs.
"It's because we have an expert master in mechanical engineering here."
"In order to make Xiyang go further."
“It’s worth the price.”
Chapter 24 Prelude Serenade
As if to confirm Hitzfeld's speculation, a few minutes later they received a notice: the car to pick them up to the White Shadow Palace was already downstairs.
Xia Yibing looked at the time. It was only a few minutes until nine o'clock. Even for Wayne Port, this was not a good time for revelry. There would definitely be fewer people on the street than during the day.
It seems that the Wheel of Fortune is very understanding. It left them some time to catch up on their sleep and rest, and also took into account their privacy needs by not sending a car to pick them up after seven o'clock.
Judging from the relationship on the surface, the monarch's treatment of his subjects has already surpassed the utmost in humanity. Xia Yibing was too embarrassed to complain even if she was on guard. She went upstairs to wash up, changed into a light brown windbreaker and went downstairs.
Seeing her again, Hitzfeld's eyes lit up.
Just because of her change in hairstyle - she didn't expect that Xia also put her hair up, although it was not a formal bun, just tied with a hairband, and two strands of hair hung down from her temples in a wild way, which looked a bit incongruous, but it was the first time she saw such a style on a woman.
It's really unique... Xia usually likes to tie her hair into a ponytail to make her look more proud and lively. The bun enhances her proudness, and coupled with her habitual pursed lips and seductive eyes, it adds a lot of desire to conquer her.
Hitzfeld had not expected such an effect. She was surprised and worried and asked, "Will this be too conspicuous...?"
"There is no clear rule about how women should tie their hair." Xia Yibing was very satisfied with her stunning expression, and pretended to be indifferent and spread her hands: "It is said that only women use it... But if I want to, who dares to say it?"
Hitzfeld was moved, knowing that she was practicing what she had declared before.
Their relationship... this "secret information" will undoubtedly be semi-publicized through various channels. The common people will most likely not receive this information, but the nobles and officials will definitely reconsider their attitude towards them.
Regardless of the impact, this is necessary. Because they are really old enough, Hitzfeld himself is already 19 years old and will be visited by the nuns who are urging children. Although Xia Yibing has cut off the possibility of marrying someone because of the binding force of the oath, who says that she must get married?
This circle has always been quite chaotic. And the position she holds is too important. Hitzfeld can imagine those scenes: as long as she doesn't reject too thoroughly in the flattery and trickery directed at her, from the next day on, there will be a steady stream of boys and girls sent to her through various channels and methods.
This would undoubtedly be very annoying. Even though she knew very well that Yi Xia's obsession with her would not allow her to even look at anyone else, she would still feel uncomfortable, and the thought of it made her feel suffocated.
Now...she was going to make the relationship "semi-public." That meant that all the suffering that Hitzfeld had been prepared to endure might no longer exist.
No one who wanted to please the security chief would be so blind as to offer her a chance for a romantic encounter when he knew she already had a lover.
The same goes for Hitzfeld herself. Even without considering her own will - that is, she had tied her hair up a long time ago, I guess not many people would dare to risk offending the security chief and approach her from an emotional perspective.
That would save a lot of trouble and effort... Hitzfeld didn't say it, but she was relieved in her heart. She hoped that those people would be more considerate and not have some bloody plot that would make everyone unhappy.
"If you want to eliminate this kind of temptation, it's impossible." Ms. Yusilian's voice came from my ears, "Because not every couple is loyal to each other, even in same-sex love... No, it should be said that because it is same-sex love, many people prefer to mess around."
"Teacher." Hitzfeld tilted his head. "Can I understand that you are talking about yourself?"
"The relationship between Harwin and I has been tested by fire! How can this be compared?" If the lady had the nerve, she would be so angry that her nose would be crooked: "No matter which of us got along well with her, we were hostile and antagonistic, but we also fought side by side! Is the trust brought by this kind of life and death trial something that any lover can have?"
"It seems to make sense."
"That's exactly what happened!" Ms. Yusilian said angrily, "People like us are rare! Whether it's me and Harwin or you and Imaar... we are rare in human society!"
"What's wrong?" Xia Yibing frowned. She found that Hitzfeld was whispering again, "...Is that old crow laughing at me?"
"No, ma'am, she just offered some suggestions based on experience." Hitzfeld quickly tried to smooth things over and stood up.
