Chapter 819 Xia De's Grand Plan
Miss Daniste and Xia De talked about many things, so it wasn't until 10:30 that Xia De ended the projection and returned to the guest room in Miss Jialinna's mansion.
The small orange cat, lying on the soft bed, had long grown impatient, meowing and jumping onto the carpet. Xia De bent down and picked up the cat, initially thinking Mia wanted to play with him for a while, but then realized that this cat most likely wanted a late-night snack.
The Outsider had heard terrifying rumors about orange cats' weight both in his hometown and in this world, so he had always been very careful when feeding the cat. But since he adopted this cat in the Summer, not to mention its weight, even changes in its physique were almost unobservable. Sometimes, Xia De envied Mia's metabolism, where she didn't gain weight no matter what she ate, but then he remembered that even gluttony couldn't affect him, so he also didn't gain weight no matter what he ate.
He pushed open the door and left the room, intending to get some late-night snacks and check if Leia and Miss Jialinna had finished their discussion. Just as he turned the corner of the corridor with a maid, he saw Leia approaching with a team of maids, with Tifa leading the way.
It was already quite late. Miss Jialinna had to go to the City tomorrow morning to attend a report at the council, and for the sake of her skin, it was time for her to rest. The Witch was going to take a bath now, and Tifa was leading Leia to see Xia De.
Only then did Leia realize that the so-called guest room where Xia De was staying was right next to the Witch's large bedroom.
She stared at the Detective holding the cat for a long while, then snorted without saying anything.
Afterward, she went to the dining room with Xia De. Of course, Her Highness the Princess would not eat again so late; this was not only due to good habits but also to maintain her figure.
Tifa still had to go to Miss Jialinna's side, so she quickly excused herself, but left the Old Butler of the manor.
Leia sat beside Xia De, watching him eat and feed the cat, while asking what exactly happened in Middlesburg on Wednesday night. But Xia De did not recount his own experiences; instead, he asked:
"I have two stories here, one about love between life and death, and one about kinship spanning two epochs. Do you want to hear a story, Leia?"
Leia asked with a smile:
"Are they true stories?"
"Of course, they are true. Perhaps I will also appear in the stories, but I am merely a passerby in them, providing insignificant help to the protagonists."
Leia nodded, gently swept the hair from her ear behind it, then rested her right arm on the table, cupping her cheek with her hand:
"You can start telling them."
Holding a teacup, Xia De first recounted the life of Joey Barton and the story that unfolded in death. He concealed many unimportant details, especially battle details; the focus of the story was Joey Barton's love and his insane obsession.
Upon hearing that Barton wanted to resurrect the dead and break the Balance between life and death, Leia shook her head repeatedly; hearing that Barton abandoned his body and entered the waters of death as a soul, Leia was moved but still felt he had done wrong; and upon hearing that the defeated Barton curled up on the water's surface, crying loudly, then looked up and saw his beloved, whom he had longed for day and night, Leia suddenly turned to look out the window, not letting Xia De see her expression:
"Don't mind me, you continue the story. This story is very interesting; Dorothy will like it very much."
Even Xia De knew that this sentence should be understood as "I like it very much." Although she and Dorothy both disliked tragedies, moving love stories were still exceptionally captivating.
What happened after Marilyn Handel appeared was impressive: the departing soul wanted to take the curse with it, leaving only memories and thoughts that time could not erase for the living. But the living person willingly offered bone, flesh, and soul, ultimately allowing both to walk out of death together, bearing the curse of death, to atone for that sin.
The life of the person who lived in reverse was told in reverse chronological order, but when he finally reached the end of his life, he gained the opportunity to complete his life's journey again, attached to his beloved. All things come to an end, but at least he truly changed the course of life.
Even though this was a story he experienced as an observer, Xia De felt an endless melancholy in his heart after telling it again:
"So, people are very complex. It's difficult to define a purely good person and a purely bad person. Joey Barton is a very good example. Leia, Mr. Barton's actions were undoubtedly wrong, but just in terms of the story, do you think this ending is a tragedy or a comedy?"
Leia still gazed at the starry sky outside the window. The air in the suburbs was good, and on a late autumn night, the vast Milky Way stretched overhead:
"It's hard to evaluate, but... it is indeed a good story. When Dorothy hears this story, she can write it into the hamilton detective story collection, serialized as a long novel, or just included as a special chapter in a published book, as a means to attract readers. So, what about the second story?"
Her voice was very soft, and her mood was also affected by the story.
"The second story is related to the Red Butterfly I once mentioned. Do you remember the fifth epoch banquet? That's where the Red Butterfly nursery rhyme came from. I once told the first half of this story, but please forgive me, this time I still have to start from that banquet..."
The story of Grace and Helen, although spanning a longer period, was far less complex than the previous one.
Xia De narrated while eating his late-night snack, and Leia's expression remained consistent. Even when Xia De finally introduced the Mystic Lock of the sleeping princess, praising that their lessons had truly worked, and that the characteristics of the sleeping princess were very similar to the Writer and the Princess's Summoning Miracle, Leia's expression still didn't change.
Finally, the story arrived at the cliff on the mountain top under the inverted Milky Way. Xia De watched the girls, watching one illusory Red Butterfly after another fly out of their bodies, along the path of shattered light leading to the night sky, flying with countless souls towards the silent waters in the sea of stars:
"It's a pity I'm not good at painting, otherwise I would definitely paint that scene. It was truly beautiful; I will remember it for many, many years."
Xia De said regretfully. Leia then spoke, her voice very soft:
"So, you were indeed in the City where the gods descended on Wednesday night, and even at the center of the story as an audience... an audience to these scenes... Seeing your high spirits, I think you ultimately saved them, right? Because of a kiss?"
This topic was a bit awkward, but Xia De still nodded. Although he didn't mention the gods, Leia should have guessed that the appearance of the gods was related to the Red Butterfly Twins. However, Leia would not ask for more details; she knew some things she shouldn't know.
"It should have been that unknown Old God who saved them, and I only did a very small job to make them stay."
He raised his right hand, thumb and forefinger together, leaving only a small gap:
"It's pretty much like that."
"So, in the early hours of Thursday, you risked great danger to return to Sicar Mountain just to save them?"
Only then did Leia turn her head, shifting her gaze from outside the window to Xia De's face.
"That's only one reason."
Xia De showed an excited expression:
"There's a more important reason, Leia, and this is a surprise for you. I specifically saved it for last. Although I didn't expect to meet you here, I've always carried it with me."
Xia De placed the heavy red metal pendant from his pocket onto the table. It was the pieced-together Red Butterfly pendant. Although its surface showed no signs of rust, its ancient and weathered appearance, having endured the passage of time, could not be concealed.
"This is..."
Her Highness the red-haired Princess hesitated, guessing the truth but completely unable to believe it.
"Grace and Helen can help you. This is also why I was determined to go up the mountain that night... Of course, not wanting to see them die was also an important reason."
Xia De said, pushing the pendant towards Leia. Mia glanced at the pendant and showed no interest.
"This was the gift the Twins received at the end of the fifth epoch banquet. With this as proof, they received help from the twin gods. Later, this pendant was held by Grace and Helen, accompanying them through countless cycles, from the fifth epoch to the sixth epoch."
This was the complete story of the Red Butterfly, and as Xia De narrated, the whisper element on the pendant seemed to be affecting reality. Xia De immediately stopped the story:
"Now, this belongs to you and Dorothy. I have named it sage-level relic - 【Crimson Butterfly】. Holding it, you and Dorothy can have a full day of completely normal contact every 21 days, without any cost."
Xia De's face was smiling:
"Besides that, there should be other effects, but you need to explore them yourselves. I participated in the Red Butterfly's story, not to gain a reward, but I still received this gift in the end. It's just that this gift is more suitable in your and Dorothy's hands than in mine."
Xia De was truly happy. Although this didn't completely solve the problem between Dorothy and Leia, it was at least a very good start:
"You see, I said I would help you, and I did."
Leia looked down at the relic in front of her, then looked up at Xia De:
"Come here."
She said to Xia De, so Xia De leaned his head over. Leia hugged Xia De, holding him tightly.
Xia De was somewhat embarrassed:
"You don't have to do this; it's what I should do."
"Xia De..."
Xia De felt his shoulder getting wet, and he knew without being told that Leia was crying.
"However, I suggest not going directly to Dorothy. You can give her a surprise. A dramatic ceremony would not waste all my hard work in bringing this relic, which is a story spanning two epochs."
Xia De added, and the red-haired girl hugged him tightly, even making Xia De feel a little breathless.
"Spanning two epochs, just for..."
"Leia, I've thought of a good plan, very dramatic, but it requires your cooperation. Tomorrow is Saturday. After leaving Doctor Schneider's place in the afternoon, I will temporarily hold her back, and you will... Oh, I really can't breathe a little."
Leia slightly loosened her arms, then kissed Xia De. It was a kiss with the taste of tears, and although Xia De had tasted it before, each time felt different.
"Cough cough!"
Leia was really kissing seriously. Even when Miss Jialinna, wearing a nightgown, stood at the dining room entrance and coughed softly, she seemed to not hear it at all.
"You see, Hamilton of Thunder Jeed is indeed amazing. You only left less than half an hour ago, and he has already tricked silly little Leia."
The Witch shook her head and said to the smiling Tifa.
