Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 833: Relationships Among Relatives

Chapter 833 -833: Relationships Among Relatives

By the end, Dorothy blushed and avoided looking at Shard. Shard guessed that if it were Lecia saying this, Her Highness the Princess wouldn’t be so shy. The difference in character between Dorothy and Lecia was quite obvious.

“I didn’t sleep on the sofa. I’ve already moved into the master bedroom over there, which used to be Detective Sparrow’s bedroom. I’m tidying things up recently, and I’ll use the side bedroom as a guest room from now on.”

Shard said, then led Dorothy to his new bedroom, reaching out to turn the knob on the gas lamp on the wall:

“Look, this room is bigger and even has a walk-in closet. As the owner of the house, there’s no reason for me to live in the side bedroom.”

“Shard, you’ve finally come around.”

Dorothy said with a smile:

“I used to tell Lecia in my diary that it was really strange for you to leave the master bedroom empty. I just hope that living in the master bedroom won’t let the curse here affect you.”

“I don’t believe in any house curse, and nothing can make me leave my own house!”

“Meow~”

The cat chimed in as well. Mia also loved this home very much. As for Shard moving to the new bedroom, it made no difference to the cat. As long as it was home and near Shard, she could sleep anywhere.

“Just be careful. The location and living environment here are indeed excellent. By the way… yesterday morning, Lecia and I ran into Luviya here.”

She said softly. Shard knew this topic would come up sooner or later, and he wished he could have had some of that so-called Water of Wisdom at this moment:

“Yes, Luviya told me. Did you and Lecia have fun in the city before the 24 hours were up?”

Dorothy smiled:

“Very much so. We went to many places and even bought winter clothes together. But Lecia left all those clothes at my apartment; her winter wardrobe is handled by the royal tailors at Yordle Palace. Oh, Shard, do you have nothing more to say about Luviya?”

Shard realized he hadn’t successfully diverted the topic:

“Well… I know this is my fault. I’m asking for too much.”

Dorothy tucked her golden hair behind her ear:

“Of course, I know you’re at fault, greedy knight. I’m asking if Luviya is mad at us? Yesterday morning, I didn’t even dare look at her face, and Lecia was worried too.”

“Luviya seems to be… a little angry?”

Shard couldn’t say for sure. Seeing his uncertainty, the blonde girl was very dissatisfied:

“You don’t even care about such things. Then what do you talk about when you’re with Luviya? Even if we can tolerate your greed, Shard, you should consider our relationships, right? The next time we see Luviya at Dr. Schneider’s place… oh, just thinking about that scene makes me want to hide.

“This…”

“What did you do last night?”

The blonde girl asked with a slight blush. Shard thought for a moment and then confidently replied:

“Jigsaw puzzles.”

Dorothy was stunned:

“Is that code for something?”

“No, no, it was really jigsaw puzzles, but apart from that…”

Dorothy closed the door:

“Knight, we can only do the double tango every 22 days. Let’s have a solo dance tonight… I also want to know, how did you and Luviya…”

She deliberately paused and then repeated:

“Jigsaw puzzles.”

Shard awkwardly explained:

“It really was just puzzles… but let’s agree, you and Lecia must not suddenly…”

Miss Writer covered Shard’s mouth, gently bit her lip near his ear, and then said:

“Shard, I am not that generous.”

(In Luviya’s divination…)

Due to being punished by the Tree Father and unable to use the Time Key for three weeks, Shard didn’t need to rush to use the key obtained from Interstice Mountain. He officially entered a period of rest, mainly staying at home reading and waiting for clients, and occasionally visiting Luviya or Dorothy.

Of course, before Priest Augustus returned on Sunday afternoon, Shard still did a few things.

For example, on Wednesday, he went to the Leibert Bookstore, which partnered with the Steam Bird Daily, to attend the launch event for Dorothy’s new book. The event wasn’t very large, and Dorothy was delighted that Shard came.

On Wednesday afternoon, he took the Hamilton Detective Stories to Midshire Fort and gave a copy to Grace and Helen, and attended Miss Aphrola’s farewell dinner that evening.

Under the title of the baroness of Carsonrick, the banquet invited many nobles and wealthy businessmen from Midshire Fort City. During the most lively part of the banquet, Miss Aphrola even had a few drinks with Shard alone on the large terrace of the manor, looking at the starry sky.

She was in high spirits tonight and probably a bit tipsy. With a flushed face, she wobbly made Shard promise to visit Carsonrick when he had time, and then boldly asked Shard about the current state of his relationship with Miss Galina.

“Oh, ma’am, we have a normal relationship… but we have kissed before.”

Under the moonlight on the terrace, the witch with long, wavy brown hair set down her wine glass, cupped Shard’s face, and kissed him deeply. After hesitatingly pulling away, she looked at Shard’s cup with some disdain:

“Hmm? Were you drinking grape juice instead of red wine?”

On Thursday, Shard learned from Miss Galina that a Twelfth Rank Witch like Hevy Aurora couldn’t possibly get drunk.

“That woman…”

The red-haired Duchess snorted coldly, looking quite displeased.

Shard came to see Miss Galina today to ask for a rare metal, the Sin-Scarred Metal. After completing the last Time Key, he gained not only knowledge of the vampire kind but also knowledge about the Great Sin, thus learning how to link the Sloth Rune to the Great Sin Chain.

Once successful, not only would the Great Sin Chain’s effect be greatly enhanced, but Sloth, Gluttony, and Greed would also be strengthened together.

Sin-Scarred Metal is an essential item for conducting the ritual, and its forging process involves the souls of sinners, making it a prohibited item by the True God Church. It is also very difficult to acquire in the black market. That’s why Shard sought help from Miss Galina.

“Speaking of Lecia, there are some things I’d like to ask you.”

The Duchess picked up her teacup. The two were now sitting under the grape arbor on the eastern side of the manor courtyard, a parasol shielding them from the mild autumn sun, with afternoon tea and snacks placed on the white round table, along with a cat napping.

Young maids dressed in uniform stood around, and the grape arbor above no longer had the green vines of summer. The gardening shrubs in the further courtyard had also turned bare.

Tobesk typically enters winter officially around mid-November, the middle of Frostfall Moon. Today was the 31st day of the Month of Withered Leaves, and winter was approaching.

At this moment, two somewhat chubby cats ran over from afar, one pure white and the other deep blue. These were the manor’s pet cats, which were also responsible for catching mice, as rats were still common in both cities and countryside in this era.

They probably came over seeing their owner here.

But before the two cats had a chance to get close, Mia, who was napping on the round table, suddenly lifted her head. The small orange cat squinted at her peers and stood up at an impressive speed, her tail swaying while the three rings hanging from it didn’t move at all.

Mia looked down at them, whiskers trembling, and let out a threatening cry:

“Meow~”

The menacing sound, despite her small stature, did not go unnoticed. The two plump cats in the manor seemed truly frightened, hesitating and not daring to approach. They were later carried away by the maids arranged by Tifa.

Miss Galina was amused by this scene and asked Shard:

“I met Lecia at Yordle Palace yesterday. She seemed a bit off.”

“What was off about her?”

Shard asked while patting Mia’s small head. Galina Cavendish glanced at him, lowered her voice, and asked:

“Knight, how does the princess of the House of Cavendish taste?”

Tifa, standing behind her, seemed to be holding back laughter, while the maids around them blushed slightly.

Shard’s face turned red:

“How did you…”

“I have my ways. But honestly, I didn’t expect Little Lecia to forgo even the decency of a royal lady and be so bold… And you, Rejed’s Hamilton, you are quite daring as well.”

The witch teased, and Shard put down his teacup and sat up straight:

“I will take responsibility. Even if she is a princess and her father disapproves, I will still…”

“I’m not referring to that.”

The witch interrupted Shard:

“Of course, you will be responsible. Even if you didn’t want to be, I believe Lecia would find a way to make you. What I meant by daring is that you actually dared to get involved with her. Lecia’s ambition is enough to burn herself and everyone around her. Of course, I do admire such ambition—it makes young women more charming.”

“Lecia’s ambition? Yes, I know, but I believe she will get what she wants.”

Shard shook his head:

“Moreover, I’m willing to help her.”

The witch chuckled lightly, leaving her intent unclear:

“But in any case, the young knight and the ambitious princess have finally made a breakthrough in their relationship. This is quite a turning point in contemporary court novels. Even in the less respectable royal romance novels, this is a turning point… Oh, Shard Hamilton, we could be considered relatives of the House of Cavendish.”

She suddenly said.

“Cough cough~”

Shard, who had just picked up his teacup, was suddenly choked:

“Relatives?”

Tifa walked up behind Shard and gently patted his back. Mia looked at him with concern, while Miss Galina covered her mouth and smiled ladylike.

“What kind of relatives?”

Shard took the handkerchief handed to him by Tifa.

“Yes, what kind of relatives indeed?”

The witch said softly, scrutinizing Shard:

“You need to be prepared—my nephew Larus III wants to meet you alone within two weeks.”

“Huh?”

Shard froze, his hand shaking as he petted the cat:

“He…”

“It has nothing to do with Lecia.”

The witch smiled, and Shard suspected she mentioned it intentionally.

“In mid-next month, the Second Princess of Carsonrick, Margaret Anjou, will visit Tobesk. Given the political relations between the two countries and the unpleasant events that occurred in Tobesk over the summer, MI6 has a significant task to ensure the safety of the Anjou Family’s princess in our country.”

“What does this have to do with me? Shouldn’t it be Director Anlos’ responsibility?”

Shard asked hesitantly, then remembered when he had handed a briefcase containing a difference engine to a princess of the Anjou Royal Family at Milestone Train Station. He just wasn’t sure if it was Elder Princess Samuel Anjou or the soon-to-arrive Margaret Anjou.

“Of course, it has to do with you, Shard. Aren’t you MI6’s ace agent?”

“Me? Ace?”

Shard pointed to himself, frowning slightly:

“Who said that?”

“Dark Anlos.”

Shard’s superior held him in high regard, especially after obtaining intelligence during the ‘Big City Player’ period about Carsonrick.

“So, the Kingdom summoned me for the princess’s security? But shouldn’t such a responsibility fall elsewhere?”

“Probably for another special task. It’s not just about security. Given that the Anjou Family member is coming here, she’ll likely bring some secrets and missions as well. My nephew is probably planning something.”

She slightly moved her shoulders, then raised her hand to decline Tifa’s offer to massage her shoulders: freeweɓnovel.cøm

“These are minor matters. I think you can handle them yourself. What I want to tell you is that the Council’s Thirteenth Seat will come to Tobesk along with Margaret Anjou. So, after they arrive, I will not contact you for a while. I need to determine Thirteenth Seat’s attitude towards you.”

“The new Grand Witch is coming to Tobesk? That is indeed a significant matter.”

Shard immediately nodded and noted this, then recalled that when he had met the princess at Milestone Train Station, she also had the witch’s power. At that time, he had asked Granny Cassandra about the witch’s identity, but the Old Witch did not reveal it to him:

“I wonder who she is…”

“A very young lady. I recall she is only twenty-one this year and has been the Grand Witch for less than three years.”

Miss Galina said. She wouldn’t voluntarily reveal any information about the Grand Witch to Shard, but since the other party was coming to Tobesk, there was no need to hide it any longer:

“Emma Sylvia, Ten Rings, proficient in mathematics, etiquette, and modern medicine, but she is a witch who masters spatial power. She is currently serving as the mathematics teacher and personal doctor for the princesses of the Anjou Royal Family, which is why she is accompanying them. She also has a good relationship with the contemporary queen of Carsonrick and close ties with the Anjou Family. Yesterday, she explained at the Council that she would be coming to Tobesk but won’t bring too many followers.”

Miss Galina provided a simple introduction and then added:

“She has been the Grand Witch for a very short time. Although she is also at the Ten Rings, Granny Cassandra could easily kill her if they fought. This is not only because she is very young but also because she is more of a scholar than a Circle Sorcerer. Emma Sylvia seldom speaks at the Council, so I do not know her particularly well.”