Free Web NovelChapter 2033: Chapter 2033: The Whereabouts of the Gemstone
The lively birthday party continued from dusk until late at night. To make the atmosphere even more festive, the maids from the manor also joined in to liven up the mood.
The sumptuous food, entertaining party games, and the laughter when everyone shared their stories made the joyous atmosphere last until late.
Megan and Audrey were the first to leave. They used a special relic to temporarily come to Tobesk, but had to leave when the time came;
Iluna was the second to leave since she had work the next day. The slightly intoxicated girl held onto Shard’s sleeve before leaving, saying some words nobody could understand. However, Miss Galina suspected whether she was truly drunk;
Grace and Helen were the third to leave. Although the Red Butterfly Maiden could stay by Shard’s side and leave the confines of Milestone, they still couldn’t stay long;
Angelina was reluctant to go, even expressing the desire to join the following party but was eventually sent back to town by her sister and aunt:
"Exercise some restraint, Angelina. How can a princess of the House of Cavendish behave this way?"
These were the words Lecia said as she sent Angelina onto the carriage.
As for those who stayed: Lecia, Dorothy, Miss Galina, and Luviya... the Outlander didn’t quite want to recall what happened that night.
After the birthday party, Tifa handed Shard a program list with a red, hard cover, claiming it was a selection of performances he could choose from next:
"This is the true birthday gift prepared for you by the ladies. These performances are to last approximately a day."
Before opening it, Shard thought Miss Galina had hired a theater group to celebrate his birthday, but what he saw were titles like "Cavendishes’ Collective Dance," "Prize Quiz: Blind Guess," "Princess Writer’s Magic Show," "Fabric Exhibition Experience," "Pair Tango," "Art of Bondage," "Maid Outfit Swap Experience," and "Wine Tasting," names that seemed quite out of place.
Only the last program seemed somewhat normal, "Opera: Four Heroes Defeating the Unclean Knight," though it was unclear if it was a battle of attrition or a joint effort by the heroes.
In any case, it was a rare occasion for Shard’s birthday, and the ladies didn’t mind indulging a bit. In what used to be Shard’s guest room in the manor, now he always stayed in the master bedroom. Within that bed draped with curtains, many stories unfolded afterward.
The ladies seemed to have some prearranged plan, as Sunday night Shard was nudged into that room, and the curtains were immediately drawn. Before Monday evening, the entire Galina Manor, with its doors and windows, remained shut.
Shard possessed the Arcane Technique of "Contact with the Father of the Infinite Tree," so he didn’t miscalculate the time. The enclosed manor prepared a genuine birthday celebration solely for him, and compared to the gifts from the Princess, the Writer, and the Female Diviner during the Year-End Festival, this time the Duchess’s intentions made it much more passionate and bewildering for the Outlander.
And on Monday afternoon, although either Dorothy or Lecia left after the end of the Day of the Red Butterfly, as long as one of them was present, it was as if everyone was still there.
Shard felt as though they wanted to test his physical limits or maybe they genuinely just wanted to celebrate his birthday. However, in this kind of non-spirit-consuming physical activity, the setting didn’t bring him any negative impact. Although the ladies could rely on taking turns to rest and recover their stamina, as the lively party ended, it was just Shard and the blushing maids enjoying the Monday evening dinner.
Freed from the constraints of the manor’s mistress, the maids raised their glasses to jointly celebrate Shard’s birthday during the dinner that day.
Thus, the Outlander marked the end of his first year in this world, and the stories that would unfold in the future were bound to be very long.
The continuous physical activities were mentally exhausting, and though the birthday party only lasted until Monday evening, the girls insisted that Shard rest until Tuesday morning.
In their leisure time, they enjoyed listening to Shard speak words of endearment that they never grew tired of, although Shard himself didn’t consider them as such. Even if they weren’t resting in the bedroom, they could let Shard converse with them about various matters in the study or go for walks on the manor’s lawn together. Although Megan Audrey and Helen Grace were absent, there was still a familial atmosphere.
By Tuesday noon, the family finally had lunch together again. Dorothy couldn’t get up in the morning, as although her soul was dual, her body was singular.
The atmosphere at this day’s lunch was quite harmonious as well. The red-haired, brown-haired, and golden-haired ladies, full of radiance, talked and laughed about interesting life stories, mentioning things related to Shard or not. Shard noticed that Luviya was constantly glancing at him, but when he looked back, she would quickly turn her head away.
As for matters of the birthday party, none of them brought it up again. That was a special commemorative event held to celebrate Shard’s birthday. The girls were a bit shy about it; even though they didn’t mind being playful with Shard generally, for such occasions... if Shard wished to have a similar event again, he would probably have to wait for quite some time.
Perhaps during this year’s Year-End Festival.
After lunch, the violet-eyed girl shyly asked him privately;
"When I used to spend the night at your place, you... weren’t really that happy, were you?"
Shard was puzzled for a moment, then told Luviya to remember to visit No. 6, Saint Delan Square tonight. She showed a fearful expression but nodded before, like Dorothy, bidding Shard goodbye with a kiss, allowing him to watch the carriage take them away from the manor’s main entrance.
In fact, Shard planned to open this month’s Black Time Key tonight and needed to seek out Long-Haired Luviya to inquire about some matters.
In any case, for Shard, the new week officially began on this Tuesday. After lunch, Shard didn’t leave immediately, as he had to wait for Miss Galina to return after attending a Witch Council meeting in two hours.
During the wait, he found the cat he hadn’t interacted with much in the last two days. At first, Mia seemed quite angry with him, but after a few strokes, some afternoon tea snacks, and letting it lie on his lap, the cat returned to normal.
However, the maids serving Shard reading and drinking tea in the study would turn red-faced the moment Shard looked at them and then quickly walk away with their heads down. This almost made Shard think he had suddenly acquired some eye-related arcane technique from the "Book of Pink."
Fortunately, Tifa noticed the maids’ unusual behavior, called them away, and disciplined them a bit, so the maids barely returned to normal:
"Everyone is just a bit ’afraid’ of you, that’s all."
While bending over to pour Shard tea, the head maid explained softly and then, maintaining her bending posture, slightly turned her head. Her light brown eyes blinked at him a few times, and she showed a smile:
"Happy Birthday, Shard."
Shard felt his heart skip a few beats:
"Thank you."
"Vanessa, Emma, and Hevy wanted me to wish you a happy birthday. Also, Vanessa indeed gathered information about the ’Hope Diamond.’
After the afternoon meeting, Miss Galina returned from the Council and brought good news for Shard. He put down the "Mind Compass" given by Miss Danester on Green Island and saw the Duchess sitting on the study sofa, seemingly not very pleased about it.
"Shard, that relic wouldn’t be conveniently in Tobesk. If you truly want to find it, you’ll probably need to go to another area again."
Shard shook his head indifferently:
"No worries, I’ve rested for a whole month; it’s time to move around a bit. Where is it? The New World, the Old Continent, or the archipelago region?"
He held the cat and asked, and the Red-Haired Witch pointed to the map hanging in the study:
"Old Continent’s West Coast, Moon Bay Region."
Shard slightly frowned:
"It’s so far, and it’s Carsonrick."
"City of Wealth - Moon Bay City. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with it; although the Moon Bay Region is Carsonrick’s land, it has considerable autonomy. The city coalition council formed by wealth-seizing nobles controls most of the area’s power. The nobles, seated on gold chairs crafted from wealth, and a few rich merchants make that seemingly glamorous city have unknown darkness surging below its surface."
Miss Galina stated and gave a vivid example:
"You can view the nobles of Moon Bay as beggar versions of the Witch Empress."
Shard laughed. The Outlander had discussed that city with Lecia recently, and because of Sparrow Hamilton’s matters, he already had some understanding of Moon Bay. Thus, a detailed introduction wasn’t necessary:
"But it’s also a paradise for Old Continent adventurers who don’t want to go to the New World. If you wish to stand out in a city piled with gold and Steam Revolution technology, gears and cogs turning, there’s always an opportunity. Of course, provided you’re not used as the city’s flesh lubricant. So, where exactly is the ’Hope Diamond’? Or what’s the vague clue?"
"Read the letter Vanessa gave you yourself."
Miss Galina handed the envelope to Shard, and Shard asked, a bit puzzled:
"I remember items can’t be easily transferred in the Council, right? Whoever brings the item can only be taken by the owner, not other witches."
"That’s how it was, but now Vanessa and the Megan Sisters have advanced to Twelfth Rank, enabling more functions in the Council."
She sighed with melancholy:
"We Grand Witches can’t compare to those Fifth Era witches who were at least Thirteenth Rank, and some even reached demigod status. Hence, the Council has many restrictions on us; the spatial power left by the Ancient God is far more than what exists now. As for the Council’s full features, perhaps only His Excellency the Speaker knows them all."
Shard then opened the letter, which contained not much information. Miss Benanis, through her friends in the Moon Bay Region, found out that about twenty years ago, a local diviner claimed to have found that relic. However, subsequent investigations by the church and multiple forces yielded no results.
No one could confirm whether that Unclassified Level Relic was truly owned by the diviner. Given its level 0 status, when the church heard of this twenty years ago, they wanted to ’protect’ the individual, but unfortunately, the diviner got wind of it and escaped early.
But the accurate message confirms the diviner is still in the Moon Bay Region. Though it’s uncertain when they returned, finding that person might uncover the current whereabouts of the ’Hope Diamond.’
