Free Web NovelChapter 1999: Chapter 1999: Interrupted Dinner
"Yes, miss, where would you like to dine?"
The loyal Head Maid asked.
"The garden pavilion, it’s just right for two people. Don’t forget to bring the wine from the ice bucket; the snow hasn’t completely melted yet, and such a view in the evening of Rain-Prayer Moon is not common."
She instructed, then asked Shard:
"Would you mind dining outside with me?"
"Of course not."
They stood up, and the cat, afraid Shard would leave it behind, used its paws to cling onto Shard’s hand, making him hold it.
"Speaking of which, what else did you do today besides meeting the Guardian of the Earth? Now that the Green Lake battle is over, and the Chosen of Space story has come to an end, can’t you stay at home, so I... Lecia and I can come find you?"
As they walked towards the door, while the maids tidied the dining table behind them, Miss Galina asked again.
Shard blinked, hesitated a bit, and then whispered:
"Today’s activities... playing with butterflies."
Since there was a new addition to the household, he wouldn’t hide it from other ladies. First, he would observe Miss Galina’s reaction, then he would find a non-awkward way to inform Luviya, Lecia, and Dorothy.
"Butterflies? At your age, you’re still like a child and a cat."
The witch casually remarked but then noticed Shard’s unusual tone. She closely observed his face, paused as if she’d realized something, and then asked:
"Wait, oh, my God. Shard, when you say ’playing with butterflies,’ you don’t mean what I think, do you?"
Though Shard didn’t speak, his expression confirmed to Galina Cavendish that that’s indeed what he meant.
The witch did not comment on Shard’s relationship with Grace and White, as she didn’t consider relics similar to her, nor did she regard the Red Butterfly Maiden as human. Hence, their inclusion in the family wouldn’t affect her relationship with Shard.
Miss Galina was concerned about their power. The Duchess wasn’t aware of the full story of the Red Butterfly Twins, but she knew just how terrifying Cassandra’s two teachers were.
Before the current Dark Great Witch, Grace’s contact with Helen and the Witch Council was quite frequent. If not for their repeated devotion to waiting for a 22-year cycle, they might have impacted the entire Sixth Era’s Witch Council from behind.
Given their ability to maintain the sealing of Sicarl Mountain, the twins’ mental state and reason were always beyond the normal level of humanoid relics.
Hence, Miss Galina was quite respectful of Shard’s actions, even with a hint of worry, as interacting with humanoid relics was unprecedented.
As she and Shard descended the stairs and walked out of the mansion, led to the back garden by the maids, she expressed concern for Shard’s health and any potential impacts. At first, Shard thought she was sincerely concerned, but as their conversation went on, he realized she was delving into more detailed questions.
Looking at Miss Galina’s expression, it was a mix of inquiry with curiosity, curiosity with subtle boldness and embarrassment. When she finally reached unsavory details with her questions, Shard stopped responding seriously:
"Hmm... are you truly worried about me?"
"It’s an academic discussion. Though I know you’re always bold, I didn’t expect you’d dare to venture into this..."
The garden restaurant still needed arranging, so Shard invited the Red-Haired Duchess to walk with him in the garden as a sunset stroll.
With a cat, they talked about many things; Miss Galina mentioned her upcoming busy work, while Shard spoke about his meeting with Miss Danester.
"That ’Red Moon Witch’ truly values you,"
She watched the distant sunset, speaking as she stood with Shard under the garden grape arbor:
"Even almost completely sure you’re the God Summoner, there’s no intention to expose you. I’ve heard about your Academy’s librarian story; she probably holds a complicated view of you."
As she spoke, she glanced at Shard, who, with Mia, curiously looked up at the grapevine on the arbor. Grapes typically mature after July; it’s only May now, so they’re not yet ripe.
Before dinner began, Shard mentioned the new room additions Grace and White made to No. 6, Saint Delan Square, and how he needed room decorations and furniture.
Miss Galina, naturally interested, offered to handle the room furnishings for Shard, intrigued by the hidden subsidiary space, telling Shard not to worry about compensating her:
"I can tell what you’re thinking just by looking at your expression. If you dare bring it up, then don’t even think about entering my bedroom for the next month... half a month... a week... three days."
The appetizer plates had been taken away, and the main course was just served. She tilted her head and smiled at Shard, who was sitting opposite her and raised her wine glass:
"Life is more fun like this. I wonder how long this calm will last. After dinner, shall we go together to..."
A maid hurriedly ran across the front courtyard, interrupting her words. Tifa received the letter from the maid and handed it to the owner of the estate.
The latter glanced at the seal on the wax, slightly frowned, then opened it. After reading, she apologized and looked at Shard:
"I need to go into the city, to Yordle Palace to handle some things."
"Is it very urgent? Why not finish dinner first? You shouldn’t deal with things on an empty stomach."
"Indeed, it is very urgent."
She shook her head slightly, regrettably looking at Shard:
"I finally get you to accompany me for dinner, and I unexpectedly got interrupted. When I leave later, you must not leave until I return; I will definitely be back before eight o’clock, you absolutely mustn’t go."
"Rest assured, I have nothing else to do today."
He picked up the cat, waving its paw to bid goodbye to the lady opposite, while Mia stared at the plates below, showing great interest in the rare Elnock Prairie veal steak.
"There will be plenty of time to have dinner together from now on; since the Green Lake matter is settled, I can relax for a while."
"Yes, but tonight was really wasted."
She spoke unhappily but still instructed the maid to prepare attire and a carriage for the outing:
"I’ll leave Tifa behind. Later I’ll meet my troublesome nephew, so I won’t really need her. You continue dining here. After you finish, just do whatever you like around the estate, or discuss with Tifa about what furniture you need for your new room... Why not give me the Crystal Shoes? I really worry that when I come back at night, there won’t be a man waiting at home for me."
Speaking, she displayed a delicate expression, clearly feigned.
Regarding the Crystal Shoes, although Shard was concerned about his reputation and didn’t want others to know, after the battle at Green Lake, he had no choice but to explain his method of survival to prevent worry.
In any case, Miss Galina left during dinner, leaving the romantic sunset dinner for Shard alone.
Quite a few maids remained in the estate, including the black-haired Head Maid, at least five people standing outside the small pavilion in the garden, making Shard feel increasingly awkward about continuing dinner.
Probably noticing Shard’s discomfort, Tifa主动提议返回餐厅.然而这需要女仆小姐们重新摆好餐桌,且这座庄园没有吃凉掉食物的规矩,所以这餐算是浪费了,于是夏德还是在这里与小米娅一起结束了用餐.
虽然他对面的椅子一直空着,但绝对没有任何姑娘对这个位置有过觊觎,毕竟女仆们都很忠诚.
少了一个人让晚餐氛围略显欠缺,但庄园厨师的手艺仍然值得称赞.吃完晚饭,天色也差不多完全黑了.夏德便带着米娅,与蒂法一起去了庄园的书房,讨论家中的新房间需要什么家具.
夏德原以为这只是小事,没想到一个小时就这样过去了.期间已经到了城里的嘉琳娜小姐还派人送来了信件,告诉夏德她八点大概也无法回来,但九点之前肯定能回来,一再叮嘱他绝对不要离开.
"Miss Galina is really busy. Was it the same when you were in the County of Saradiel?"
He asked, sitting on the couch by the tea table in the study, where a hand-drawn room layout decoration map was spread.
As for Tifa, she insisted on not sitting on the couch earlier, even when discussing the map on the table with Shard, she would bend beside him or lift the hem of her intricate maid skirt to kneel down on one knee.
She didn’t mind any intimacy with Shard but refused to overstep the rights belonging to Miss Galina, maintaining her elegance and propriety as the Head Maid.
"Life in the County of Saradiel is much more relaxed. Although the palace there is bigger, the manpower is also more plentiful." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
She spoke, turning to glance at the corner wall clock in the study, then naturally walked to the window to draw the curtains.
She then looked at the other two maids at the door, who smiled and retreated together, closing the door from outside.
Shard watched the black-haired girl walk towards him, stopping at the "entrance" created by the couch and tea table.
The closure of the curtains and door seemed to deepen the light emitted by the gas lamp shaped like blooming roses with crystal pendants at the bottom. Although Shard couldn’t predict the future, this naturally shifting atmosphere made him aware of what would happen shortly.
