Chapter 2306: Church, Morning, and Departure

Chapter 2306: Chapter 2306: Church, Morning, and Departure

"So, you lost."

Early Thursday morning during breakfast, Shard suddenly said this to Luviya, who had just sat down beside him at the dining table while reading the newspaper.

Miss Diviner blinked in bewilderment:

"What do you mean lost? Are you saying my breakfast isn’t as good as Dorothy’s? Oh, Shard, I’ve been practicing a lot..."

Shard hurriedly said:

"No, no, what are you talking about? I equally respect and admire every girl willing to make breakfast for me, and sincerely thank and love all of you."

These words made Luviya blush a little, but at least her expression turned into a smile:

"So where did I lose?"

"Last night, halfway through, didn’t you insist that I put Mia in the wardrobe? Before going to bed, you didn’t say that; when I suggested testing your opinion about Mia not going to the wardrobe, you said it wouldn’t bother us. But look, even you aren’t used to being watched by it."

The cat licking the goat milk lowered its head when it heard Shard mention its name, turned quickly, and trotted over to nuzzle Shard’s hand... very half-heartedly, then swiftly returned to the milk bowl to continue licking.

As for Luviya, she lightly slapped Shard because of his words, with a face half blushed and half annoyed:

"Who knew Mia wouldn’t sleep properly at night? When I said I didn’t mind it, I meant it would curl up beside us sleeping, not stand by the pillow, staring at us wide-eyed... In the dark, its eyes can even glow. Who can tolerate that while having eyes staring at them without blinking?"

Shard thought for a moment:

"Maybe it’s not curious, just thinks you’re bullying me."

"Oh, Shard, who’s really bullying who?"

After breakfast, Shard and Luviya entered the morning of Tobesk together. The carriage took them to Dawn Chapel located at Dawn Square, and they soon met Priest Augustus in the church.

The visit was ostensibly for Shard to find out what task he had been assigned in the upcoming ’Holy Prayer Day,’ so Priest Augustus also gave Shard the materials originally prepared to be sent over the weekend.

When Shard and Luviya left the church, the violet-eyed girl nodded worriedly:

"Yes, Priest Augustus is also a candidate for the seventh The Chosen One. It’s impossible to determine the sequence, only knowing it’s not particularly high."

"So, when should we tell the priest about it?"

Shard asked, and Luviya, holding his arm, shook her head:

"You decide; although I know Priest Augustus earlier, you’re the one who knows him best. However, I suggest that if you manage to obtain the Angel-Level Longsword today, you shouldn’t immediately hand it over to Priest Augustus. You can hold it yourself or have the witches keep it safely."

"I understand. Given the priest’s current condition, it’s best not to have too much contact with such relics."

Neither of them planned to find a carriage but intended to hold hands and walk back to Saint Delan Square in the early morning mist. Such leisurely times were few, and they cherished the moment.

Shard and Luviya eventually parted ways at Saint Delan Square, as Luviya headed to work at the Prophet’s Society, and Shard planned to take Mia to Moon Bay.

But upon opening the door, surprisingly, there were people inside. Going upstairs, he found Lecia and Miss Galina in the study room, while Miss Maid was busy in the kitchen.

"Good morning, Lecia, didn’t you say you wouldn’t see me until the exams were over this weekend?"

Shard bent down to place the cat on the floor, handed his coat to Miss Maid, and asked.

The red-haired girl came out of the study room, with her green eyes smiling:

"Look at what you’re saying, Shard. How could I not come to see you?"

She said, wrapping her arms around Shard’s neck, ready to kiss him, but was stopped by Miss Galina behind her:

"Lecia, let me have a word with our Mr. Knight first, don’t rush."

The Duchess also stepped out of the study room:

"Shard, can I use this house’s study room every day until the end of this week?"

"Of course, isn’t this home?"

Shard asked, guessing the answer along with the ladies of the House of Cavendish.

"But what’s going to be done here? Yordle Palace renovations?"

Shard joked, and Lecia let go of Shard’s neck:

"Renovations aren’t necessary; it’s just that with the Earth changes and Light changes, such disasters are increasing. Although the probability is small, to prevent these events from occurring at Yordle Palace, one of my siblings had a tragic accident there, and the Church plans to re-establish safety rituals at Yordle Palace."

The Duchess nodded as well:

"Yes, it should be handled this week. And since a ritual setup is required, the Peace Church intends to thoroughly purify Yordle Palace again, like ’sweeping the floor clean before tidying the room’.

My nephew can’t reject this suggestion either, since it’s for the good of the Royal Family, so I can only temporarily move out to work. It wouldn’t be good if the Church’s detection ritual finds something."

Lecia also pointed to herself:

"I’ll move some of the forbidden items from my room here; they’re already downstairs. I’ll be at No. 6, Saint Delan Square during the day for the next few days. Father has already come up with an excuse, saying I’m going to the countryside for a vacation. Galina comes here too, and we don’t have to worry about gossip."

She glanced at Shard:

"I’ll settle here for a few days as I prepare for exams peacefully. We’ll move out temporarily on Saturday, so it won’t disturb your group’s test here."

"No problem, stay as long as you want, I have many rooms here."

He then looked at Mia, thinking whether to let the girl from Moon Bay take care of it or have the ladies at home do it.

But Shard remembered that Galina and Lecia were here for a reason, so he decided to take it to Moon Bay, where Tifa and Little Liana could keep it company, and the cat wouldn’t feel lonely.

Bidding farewell to the ladies of the House of Cavendish, Shard set off for Moon Bay. Upon arriving at the Belindel Estate, he coincidentally saw Emilia yawning on the second-floor terrace, as if sunbathing. When she lowered her head and saw Shard, recalling how she just yawned, the Elf Girl quickly ran away from the terrace.

It seemed the witches indeed involved her in last night’s research tests with the Empty Bottle Fruit and Exotic Light Source.

Miss Belindel had already left, Miss Benanis and Miss Sylvia were both absent, and Miss Swift had gone to the Cassandra Auction House. Only Tifa and Miss Eles were at the estate now, with the former busy in the basement with the maids from the Two Southern and Northern Countries, and Miss Eles waiting to set out with Shard to find that sword.

Shard had originally planned to greet the Little Princess and the Elf Girl and then set off, but Miss Eles called to Emilia:

"Bring the Unicorn and come with us. Having you along might make things smoother."

"Me?"

The girl with pointed ears pointed at herself, and seeing Shard didn’t object, she immediately nodded excitedly:

"Please wait a moment, I’ll change clothes and head out. Little Liana, come with me, we’re going out!"

After resolving the Demon affair, Shard had told her she could go out anytime, but to avoid causing trouble for Shard, she hadn’t ventured out once, only planning with Angelina to stroll downtown this weekend.

Being invited to an adventure now made the Elf Girl thrilled at the time.

The red-haired Little Princess watched Emilia leave and then looked pitiably at Shard and Miss Eles.

Since Shard didn’t know the current situation of the Angel-Level Relic, he left the decision to the blue-eyed girl.

The latter regretfully shook her head:

"Sorry, Miss Cavendish, we can only take Miss Sianod this time; it’s not safe there."

"I understand, I’ll go to the basement and help Tifa and the others then."

She nodded gently and saw the trio to the estate’s back door, watching the Little Unicorn happily climb into the carriage. Clutching a handkerchief, Angelina waved to them in farewell. Only when the carriage was out of sight did she clench her fists with pursed lips.

Meanwhile, on the other side, as the carriage departed the estate, Miss Eles shared news with Shard:

"Shard, do you remember Tuesday night at Margaret’s Manor when we encountered that person who seemingly suffered from a heart attack due to a cursed relic and fell from the second-floor terrace?"

"You mean Mr. Leonard Baldwin, the director of the Moon Bay City Hall Bridges and Roads Department?"

Shard asked, and the girl sitting opposite him nodded, while Amelia widened her eyes, gazing out the window at the city.

"Yes, because you asked Miss Belindel to keep an eye on it, she informed me this morning that Leonard Baldwin has still passed away in the hospital."

Shard raised an eyebrow:

"Due to another heart attack?"

The blue-eyed girl shook her head slightly:

"Not clear yet; reportedly, he died in his sleep. The body is still under autopsy, but they’ll likely just find a concealed illness. Since no supernatural phenomena were involved, the Church hasn’t paid attention."

"But the Whisper Element we felt then couldn’t have been an illusion... let’s first find that sword."

He patted the long, slender case he carried, drawing the attention of the small creature lying in the carriage. Despite resembling a fishing rod in appearance, it actually contained the [Night Watchman].

The carriage took them out of the city and reached a small farm belonging to the Belindel Family in the north. After borrowing two horses, Emilia rode side-saddle behind the Unicorn while Shard and Miss Eles rode toward the countryside.