At the end of her words, Dorothy blushed and avoided looking at Xia De. Xia De guessed that if Leia had said this, the Princess would definitely not have been so shy. The difference in personality between Dorothy and Leia was quite obvious.
"I didn't sleep on the sofa; I've moved into the master bedroom over there, which used to be Sparrow Detective's bedroom. I'm currently tidying things up, and the side bedroom will be used as a guest room from now on."
Xia De said, then led Dorothy to his new bedroom and turned the knob of the gas lamp on the wall.
"You see, the room here is larger and has a separate walk-in closet. As the owner of the house, there's no reason for me to keep living in the side bedroom."
"Xia De, you finally figured it out."
Dorothy said with a smile.
"Leia and I even talked about it in our diary before, how strange it was that you left the master bedroom empty. I just hope that after moving into the master bedroom, the curse here won't affect you."
"I don't believe in any house curses. Nothing can make me leave my own house!"
"Meow~"
The cat also chimed in; Mia also loved this home. As for Xia De moving to a new bedroom, it had no effect on the cat; as long as it was in the house and next to Xia De, it could sleep anywhere.
"Just be careful yourself. The location and living environment here are indeed very good. Also... Yesterday morning, Leia and I met Luvia here."
She said softly. Xia De knew this topic would come up sooner or later. He only wished he could also obtain the so-called Water of Wisdom at this moment.
"Yes, Luvia told me. Before the 24 hours ended, did you and Leia have fun playing in the city?"
Dorothy then smiled.
"It was great. We went to many places and even bought winter clothes together, but Leia put all those clothes in my apartment. Her winter attire is handled by the royal tailor at Yodel Palace... Oh, Xia De, about Luvia, don't you have more to tell me?"
Xia De knew he hadn't successfully changed the subject.
"Um... I know it's my fault. I wanted a bit too much."
Dorothy tucked her golden hair behind her ear.
"Of course, I know you're at fault, greedy Knight. I wanted to ask, is Luvia angry with us? Yesterday morning, I didn't even dare to look at her expression, and Leia was a bit worried too."
"Luvia seems to be... a little angry?"
Xia De couldn't quite say. Seeing him like this, the Golden-haired girl was very dissatisfied.
"You don't even care about such things. Then what were you and Luvia talking about when you were together? Even if we can all tolerate your greed, Xia De, you have to consider the relationship between us, right? Next time I see Luvia at Doctor Schneider's... Oh, just thinking about that scene makes me feel a bit ashamed."
"This..."
"What did you two do last night?"
The Golden-haired girl asked, her face slightly red. Xia De thought for a moment and said with certainty:
"Puzzles."
Dorothy was stunned.
"Is that some kind of code word?"
"No, no, it really was puzzles, but besides that..."
Dorothy closed the door.
"Knight, the double tango can only happen once every 22 days. Tonight, let's have a solo dance. I also want to know how you and Luvia..."
She paused deliberately, then re-emphasized:
"Puzzles."
Xia De explained awkwardly:
"Puzzles, it really was puzzles. But we have to agree, you and Leia must not suddenly..."
The Writer covered Xia De's mouth, gently bit his lip near his ear, and then said:
"Xia De, I'm not that generous."
(Luvia is divining...)
Because he was punished by Tree Father and couldn't use the time key for three weeks, there was no rush to open the key he got from the Gap mountainside. Xia De officially entered a period of rest, which meant reading at home daily, waiting for clients, and occasionally visiting Luvia or Dorothy.
Of course, before Priest Augustus returned on Sunday afternoon, Xia De still did a few things.
For example, on Wednesday, he went to the Lebert Bookstore, which collaborated with the Steam Bird Daily, to attend Dorothy's new book launch event. The event was not large, and Dorothy was very happy that Xia De could come.
On Wednesday afternoon, he took the hamilton detective story collection to Middlesburg, gave two books to Grace and Helen, and attended Miss Aurora's farewell dinner that evening.
Under the name of the Duchess of Carson Rick, the banquet invited many nobles and wealthy merchants from Middlesburg. When the banquet was at its liveliest, Miss Aurora even drank a few glasses alone with Xia De on the large terrace on the top floor of the manor, looking at the starry sky.
She was in high spirits tonight, and probably a little drunk, as she blushingly and unsteadily made Xia De promise to visit her in Carson Rick when he had time. Afterward, she boldly asked Xia De about the current stage of his relationship with Jialinna.
"Oh, madam, we have a very normal relationship... but we have kissed before."
So, under the moonlight on the terrace, the Witch with brown wavy long hair put down her wine glass, cupped Xia De's face, and kissed him deeply, then hesitated and pulled away, looking at the wine glass in Xia De's hand with a hint of disdain.
"Hmm? So you're not drinking red wine, it's grape juice?"
Xia De only learned from Jialinna on Thursday that a Twelfth Order Witch like Hivi Aurora was simply incapable of getting drunk.
"That woman..."
The red-haired Duchess snorted coldly, looking quite displeased.
Xia De came to Jialinna today for a rare metal called "Sin Scar Metal." After completing the previous time key, besides Knowledge of Vampires, he also gained Knowledge about the Great Sins. Therefore, he knew how to link the sloth rune to the Great Sin Chains.
Once successful, not only would the effect of the Great Sin Chains be greatly enhanced, but sloth, gluttony, and greed would also be strengthened together.
Sin Scar Metal was an important item for holding rituals. Its refining process was related to the souls of sinners and was a prohibited item according to the Orthodox Church. It was also difficult to buy this controlled substance on the black market, which was why Xia De sought help from Jialinna.
"Speaking of which, about Leia, there's something I want to ask you."
The Duchess picked up her teacup. The two were now sitting under a grape trellis on the east side of the manor courtyard. A sunshade blocked the not-so-harsh autumn afternoon sun. On the white round table were afternoon tea and snacks, as well as a sleeping cat.
Around them stood young maids dressed in uniform. The grape trellis above their heads no longer had the green vines of Summer, and the landscape shrubs in the further garden had long since become bare.
Tobesk officially enters winter around mid-November each year, which is mid-frost descent month. Today is the 31st day of withered leaf month, and winter is getting closer.
Just then, two somewhat plump cats, one pure white and one dark blue, ran over from a distance. These were pet cats kept in the manor, usually responsible for catching mice, as mice were still common residents in both cities and the countryside in this era.
They probably saw their owner here, which was why they ran over.
But before the two cats could get close, Mia, who was napping on the round table, suddenly raised her head. The small orange cat squinted, saw its kind, and stood up with astonishing speed, its tail wagging, but the three rings strung on its tail did not move.
Mia looked down at them, her whiskers trembling slightly, and let out a threatening meow:
"Meow~"
The threatening sound to its kind was not ignored despite its small size. The two plump manor cats seemed genuinely startled, hesitating and not daring to approach, until they were carried away by the maids arranged by Tifa.
Jialinna was also amused by this scene and asked Xia De again:
"Yesterday, I met Leia at Yodel Palace. She seemed a bit off."
"What's off?"
Xia De asked while patting Mia's little head. Galina Cavendish glanced at him and asked in a low voice:
"Knight, how does the Cavendish Princess taste?"
Tifa, standing behind her, seemed to be holding back a laugh, while the surrounding maids' faces were slightly flushed.
Xia De's face immediately turned red.
"How did you..."
"I have my ways, but I really didn't expect little Leia to abandon even the dignity of a royal lady and be so bold. And you, Hamilton of Leijiede, you're truly bold."
The Witch teased. Xia De put down his teacup and sat up straight.
"I will take responsibility. Even if she's a Princess, and her father disagrees, I will..."
"I'm not talking about that."
The Witch interrupted Xia De.
"Of course you'll take responsibility. Even if you don't want to, I believe Leia will find a way to make you. What I meant by bold is that you actually dared to provoke her. Leia's ambition is enough to burn herself and everyone around her. Of course, I also appreciate this kind of ambition; it makes young girls more charming."
"Leia's ambition? Yes, I know, but I believe she will get what she wants."
Xia De shook his head.
"And, I am also willing to help him."
The Witch chuckled, not sure what she wanted to convey.
"But in any case, the young Knight and the ambitious Princess have finally made a further breakthrough in their relationship. In contemporary court novels, this is an incredible turning point in the story. Even in undignified court romance novels, this is a turning point... Oh, Xia De Hamilton, you can be considered a relative of our Cavendish Family."
She suddenly said.
"Cough, cough~"
Xia De, who had just picked up his teacup, choked.
"Relative?"
Tifa walked behind Xia De and gently patted his back. Mia looked at him worriedly, and Jialinna covered her mouth, revealing a very ladylike smile.
"What kind of relative is this?"
Xia De took the handkerchief Tifa handed him.
"Yes, what kind of relative is this?"
The Witch said softly, looking Xia De up and down.
"You need to be prepared. My nephew, Larus III, wants to see you alone within two weeks."
"Hmm?"
Xia De was stunned, and his hand petting the cat trembled slightly.
"He..."
"It has nothing to do with Leia."
The Witch said with a smile. Xia De guessed she said that on purpose.
"In the middle of next month, the Second Princess of Carson Rick, Margaret Anjou, will visit Tobesk. Given the political relations between the two countries, and the unpleasant events that occurred in Tobesk during the Summer, MI6 has received a very important mission to ensure the safety of that Anjou Family Princess in our country."
"What does this have to do with me? Shouldn't that be Chief Anlos's business?"
Xia De asked hesitantly, then remembered giving a suitcase containing a differential engine to a Princess of the Anjou Royal Family at the Middlesburg train station, but he wasn't sure if it was the Eldest Princess or the upcoming Margaret Anjou.
"Of course, it concerns you, Xia De. Aren't you MI6's ace agent?"
"Me? Ace?"
Xia De pointed to himself, frowning slightly.
"Who said that?"
"Dak Anlos said that."
Xia De's superior valued him greatly, especially after he obtained intelligence about Carson Rick during the Great City Player period.
"So, the King is summoning me for the Princess's security work? But for something like this, it shouldn't be my turn, right?"
"It's probably another special mission, not just security. Since a member of the Anjou Family is coming here, they will definitely bring some secrets and tasks with them. Perhaps my nephew is planning something again."
She slightly moved her shoulders, then raised her hand to refuse Tifa coming to massage her shoulders.
"These are minor matters. I think you should be able to handle them yourself. What I want to tell you is that the Thirteenth Seat of the Council will come to Tobesk with Margaret Anjou. So, after their arrival, I won't contact you for a while. I need to determine the Thirteenth Seat's attitude towards you."
"A new Great Witch is coming to Tobesk? That is indeed a big deal."
Xia De immediately nodded, noting this matter, then remembered that the Princess he saw at Mi Fort train station also had the power of a Witch. At that time, he had also asked Grandma Cassandra about Witches, but the Old Witch had not told Xia De the other party's identity.
"I don't know who the other party is..."
"A very young girl, I remember she's only twenty-one this year, and she's been a Great Witch for less than three years."
Jialinna said. She wouldn't voluntarily disclose any information about Great Witches to Xia De, but since the other party was coming to Tobesk, there was no need to hide it.
"Emma Sylvia, Ten Rings, proficient in mathematics, etiquette, and modern medicine, but is actually a Witch who masters spatial power. She currently serves as the math teacher and private doctor for the Anjou Royal Family's Princesses, which is why she will accompany them. She also has a very good relationship with the current Carson Rick Queen and close ties with the Anjou Family. Yesterday, she stated in the Council that she would come to Tobesk, but she wouldn't bring too many followers."
Jialinna briefly introduced her, then added:
"She became a Great Witch for a very short time. Although she is also Ten Rings, if she were to fight with Grandma Cassandra, who is also Ten Rings, Grandma could easily kill her, not only because she is a very young girl, but also because she is more like a scholar than a Ring術士. Emma Sylvia usually doesn't speak much in the Council, and I don't know her particularly well."
