Yin Luna carefully controlled the "little sun" in her hand to extinguish:
"In just one week, I can't do any better. For now, I can only temporarily summon a small ball of light like this."
“That’s already pretty remarkable.”
Xia De praised, Yin Luna smiled, and Miss Jialina asked:
"What high-level magic are you eyeing?"
"My initial idea was the Eternal Blazing Sun, but later I realized that even if I learned how to throw the 'sun', my spirit was still far from enough. So, I set my sights on the power of the sun, but it's still a long way off."
"Not bad, you can try to expand the volume of that ball of light."
Although Miss Jialina just nodded, Xia De could see that she was very satisfied with Yin Luna's performance. Although on the surface it was Xia De who introduced Yin Luna to study here at Witch, and Yin Luna was even reluctant to call Miss Jialina a teacher, both of them valued this relationship equally.
That afternoon, Miss Carina talked to Shade about the Randall Valley, and Shade also explained his current progress to her. The focus was naturally on the "Guardians of the Randall Valley". The three people known so far were all deceased undead spirits, and before this, even the Witch Council did not know that there was such an "organization" in the Randall Valley.
"Although from the current situation, they are on our side, we cannot completely trust them. There must be corresponding reasons for their outstanding abilities and strange inheritance methods. Before you fully understand them, Xia De, don't put too much trust in them."
Witches are always cautious.
The witch who came back on Friday would naturally attend Ajelina's birthday party on Sunday. Miss Carina even wanted to give Yin Luna an invitation, but was rejected by Yin Luna.
They spent the whole afternoon together in the warm and comfortable study room of the manor. Although there were guests visiting, they were all rejected by Miss Carina. When it was time for dinner that day, Yin Luna had to go to the church for a meeting, so she left early, and Xia De had dinner alone with Miss Carina.
During the banquet, the witch complained to Shade:
"I heard from the maid who stayed at the manor that you seldom came here during the time I was away. Why, do you feel that my place is not as comfortable as your home?"
"It's been really busy lately."
Shade explained, and took out the manor key that Miss Carina had left for him and wanted to return it, but the witch refused:
"Do you have anything else to do tomorrow? If not, stay at the manor tonight and don't leave."
"Tomorrow morning I plan to go to Randall Valley to deliver some things. It will only take an hour or two to complete. I have to go to our group study meeting at 1pm... Mia, would you like to stay?"
The cat, who was busy eating, didn't respond to him, so Shade agreed to stay overnight. Miss Carina took the handkerchief handed to her by Tifa and wiped the corner of her mouth, then looked at Shade who was looking at the fish soup, with his right arm resting on the table, holding up his slightly tilted head, and a smile and subtle shyness in his golden eyes:
"Would you like to stay in my room tonight?"
"Ahem, what?"
He patted his chest hastily:
"I'm sorry, I lost my composure... Is this the kind of invitation I was thinking of?"
He looked up to confirm. The witch still had that lazy and relaxed look on her face.
"It's up to you to decide. Although I still have some concerns, and no other witch has ever done such a thing. But judging from the current situation, if I don't act in time, sooner or later I will find that I have become the last one. So, tonight... it's all up to you."
The beautiful golden eyes stared at Xia De, and these eyes had never brought such pressure to Xia De as they did at this moment.
But Shade shook his head:
"Since you still have concerns, I don't think you need to rush. Wait until you have figured it out, Miss Carina. This is what I... what I expect. Besides, I promised Resia that if I'm with you... at least I'll let her know."
“Is the former the main reason, or is the latter the main reason?”
The witch asked with a smile, and Shade thought for a moment:
"Both are reasons. The former is because I don't want to go against your wishes, and the latter is because I once made a promise."
"You see, he always manages to come up with answers that satisfy everyone."
Miss Carina said to Tifa who was standing nearby, and the black-haired maid just listened quietly, as if nothing happened between her and Shade.
"Little Leicia still has some tricks up her sleeve, but you're right."
The witch said with a hint of regret, then waved to Shade:
"Move the chair closer to me, why are you sitting so far away?"
Tifa picked up the empty wine glass, wiped the red wine bottle in the ice bucket, and poured the crystal clear blood-red wine into it.
The red-haired Duchess tapped the cup with her index finger and looked at Shade with a reserved smile.
The opportunity to be alone with Tifa happened just before going to bed that night. At that time, Miss Carina was in the study processing some documents that had just been sent from the Yodel Palace, and Shad returned to his room on the third floor after taking a bath in the manor's bathtub.
Of course, Mia would not go near a wet place like a bathtub, so she returned to the bedroom early to wait for Shade. It jumped around on the neatly made bed, and Shade picked it up and wanted to say good night to Miss Carina before going to bed, but before he left the room, Tifa came over with two maids.
The two maids brought clothes for Xia De for tomorrow morning, put them in the closet and left. Before leaving the room, they smiled and closed the door.
Tifa stayed in the room, and after the door was closed, she walked over and gently hugged Shade, but soon let go:
"I've been busy all day and haven't had a chance to talk to you."
The black-haired maid lifted the hair beside her ears and looked at Xia De seriously:
"You were right to reject Miss at the dinner table just now. Miss was not prepared, but she heard that you and Miss Benanis were getting along very well and she felt a little threatened. I know her very well, and I will give you a hint when she is ready."
She straightened the collar of Shad's pajamas, and Shad held her hand. Tifa raised her head and looked at him from bottom to top:
"Why, do you want me to unbutton my shirt?"
The dark brown eyes blinked:
"There is still some time, if you want..."
She placed her hand on the button just below her neck.
Shade had to admit that he was tempted for a moment, but he had other things on his mind:
"Actually, I want to ask you something."
As he spoke, he pulled out a book from the star-colored bookshelf and opened it. Inside was a color picture of Hella Oxenfurt's strange maid in Oxenfurt Manor. The maid's dress was very old and yellowed:
"Take a look at this style of maid skirt. In what era was it popular?"
He handed the book to Tifa, and as the maid looked at him with a reproachful expression, he added:
"After confirming this, could I ask you... to stay here and help me make the bed?"
Tifa nodded slightly, glanced at the book and gave the answer:
"This kind of maid dress was popular in the early days of this era. I have only seen it in history books. It is not quite appropriate to say that it was in the early days of the Sixth Era. This style of maid dress was popular between 400 and 800 of the Common Calendar. However, because the purpose and environment of maids' dresses rarely changed, the style is very similar to the current style, but there are still some differences in the details."
She professionally pointed out the difference between the two to Xia De, and then added:
"No respectable family would let their maids wear such outdated skirts. Even if they are nostalgic for the past, they would not let their maids wear such skirts when entertaining guests. According to your description, the Oxenfurt family either knows nothing and bought old clothes from a thrift store for the maids to wear, or they have other special reasons."
"Sixth Era 400 to 800?"
Shad frowned slightly. The badge he won in the horse riding competition when he visited Oxenfurt Manor was identified by Old John as an item from the lost "Kingdom of Stonewell" period, and that kingdom was destroyed around this time.
Destroyed by unknown evil.
"It seems that I really need to consult Dr. Schneider tomorrow."
But today is still a break, and these worries can be thought about again later:
"Tifa, you've been a great help!"
The maid shook her head slightly, her dark brown eyes looking closely at Shade's eyes:
"So, noble knight, how would you reward this loyal, reliable, and beautiful maid?"
She moved closer to Shade, but Mia, who had rich experience in the past, escaped from Shade's arms before the soft squeeze came.
The two pairs of eyes looked at each other, and the harmonious atmosphere reached its peak. Tifa stretched out her arms and put them around Shad's neck, and Shad also stretched out his hand.
However, this charming atmosphere did not last long, as a cough was heard at the door:
“Ahem.”
The door was clearly closed, but it was opened silently at some point. Miss Carina, who had changed into her nightgown, stood by the door. The two maids who were supposed to help guard the door looked at them from behind her rather embarrassedly, while the two people who were too absorbed in the room did not notice at all.
"I was just dealing with some paperwork when you guys came together. Ha, the sneaky maid and the duchess's knight... I hope I didn't disturb you."
The witch walked in, Tifa blushed and let go of Shade's neck, and after quickly buttoning her collar, she lowered her head and pursed her lips, and stood beside the Duchess. But Shade clearly saw that she bit the left side of her lower lip and smiled and winked at him.