Chapter 234
The most important thing was that the tearing pain in her head had finally subsided. In its place was a dull ache that came and went—much better than before.
Perhaps it was because she hadn’t slept so comfortably in a long time, but now, lying in bed, Xia'er felt completely limp and had no desire to move at all.
She turned her head slightly and glanced at Aivina, who was already dressed and standing by the bed. Aivina was looking down, her expression cool and detached as she regarded Xia'er.
"Are you going to have breakfast?"
Aivina put on her glasses and asked, her demeanor returning to its usual indifferent state, though her words still carried a hint of concern.
So last night’s troubles were indeed related to the drinking?
"Yes," Xia'er nodded.
She had hardly eaten anything the night before and had slept straight through until morning. Now, she felt as if her stomach was pressed against her back from hunger.
Perhaps her weakness was indeed related to not having eaten.
"I’ve already had someone bring breakfast. Just get dressed and come down," Aivina said as she walked toward the door. When she reached it, she seemed to remember something and turned back to Xia'er, asking, "Do you have time later?"
"Yes," Xia'er nodded again.
With the incident resolved and the simulation having reset, this was likely the most free time she would have for a while.
"There’s a banquet this afternoon. Will you accompany me?"
Aivina thought for a moment before adding, "There should be plenty of food."
A banquet... a noble gathering? Or perhaps an extraordinary gathering? Either way, Xia'er wasn’t particularly interested...
"Come with me."
Noticing Xia'er’s hesitation, Aivina spoke up firmly.
It was just an ordinary noble banquet, after all. Aivina wanted Xia'er to relax a bit and not dive headfirst into other matters again, so she asked her to accompany her.
It was definitely not because Aivina found it boring and wanted Xia'er to keep her company.
"Alright," Xia'er agreed with a nod.
Now, looking at Aivina, who appeared as cold as usual but occasionally showed a hint of firmness, Xia'er felt a bit of novelty.
Last night, Aivina had been anything but firm... so soft and shy, it was almost endearing.
The contrast was quite striking.
After Aivina left, Xia'er walked over to the wardrobe, picked out a clean outfit, and made her way downstairs. The dining table was already set with a feast.
---
Ahem, I originally planned to write eight thousand words tonight, but I got home late after working out, and I have a match to watch later. To avoid missing the upcoming feast, I can only painfully post four thousand words.
I promise to add more tomorrow! Starting with 6K!
Go, future me!
Good night!
---
Chapter 140: A Message Once Seen in the Simulation.
Aivina sat across from Xia'er, her right elbow resting on the table, her palm cradling her cheek as she watched Xia'er eat.
It was clear that Xia'er was very hungry. Though she ate quickly, her manner was graceful, making it a pleasure to watch. Just seeing her eat made Aivina feel hungrier herself.
Despite the absence of any noble rules or etiquette, the atmosphere was comfortable and relaxed.
Taking advantage of Xia'er’s eating pause, Aivina glanced around the now somewhat empty kitchen and the adjoining living room, surveying her surroundings.
So this is where Xia'er used to live?
Xia'er came from the Bell Tower Alley district, but the harsh environment didn’t seem to have affected her much... she didn’t look like someone from the lower class at all.
Though Aivina had no intention of looking down on those from the lower classes, everything Xia'er displayed still left her feeling somewhat incredulous.
As Xia'er finished her meal, Aivina asked, "There’s still some time before the banquet. Do you have any plans for the rest of the time?"
Xia'er set down her knife and fork, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and thought for a moment before replying, "I plan to visit the Church of the Goddess of Salvation, then check in on my sister, Adele, and Amy."
For the time being, Xia'er had no special plans aside from paying her respects to the goddess and letting her family and friends know she was safe.
"After you check in, let’s go buy you a proper dress," Aivina suggested, glancing at Xia'er’s outfit. "You don’t have a decent dress yet."
Aivina had intended to say "clothes," as she viewed Xia'er’s garments merely as rags meant to cover her body.
This wasn’t an exaggeration; Aivina believed Xia'er should wear nicer clothes to look cuter, rather than treating clothing as mere coverings.
After all, looking good could lift one’s spirits.
"Buy a dress?" Xia'er asked, looking at Aivina. "For the banquet?"
"Yes," Aivina nodded.
"Alright."
Xia'er didn’t refuse. After all, she only had a few outfits, and aside from some expensive school uniforms, the rest were starting to look a bit faded.
Previously, when attending formal events like those at the Dedton Manor, she had worn Aivina’s clothes, which were a bit oversized and not particularly fitting.
Now, Xia'er didn’t feel any anxiety about the currency. With first-tier potions and the replication ritual, she could easily find Tara in the simulation to help her out, so there was no need to worry about potions.
In fact, she could even ask Aivina to help her sell some of the potions she had left, exchanging them for cash to facilitate her actions.
"I thought you would refuse," Aivina remarked, slightly surprised by Xia'er’s quick agreement.
But then again, it made sense. Xia'er had always spent money quite liberally; whether it was thousands of pounds or hundreds, she would quickly blow it all and then have to borrow from Aivina.
Her spending habits didn’t seem typical for a girl; rather, they resembled those of a reckless gambler, living as if there were no tomorrow, determined to squander every last penny before death.
Thinking of this, Aivina couldn’t help but remind her, "Xia'er, you need to save some money."
"Save money?" Xia'er took a sip of her red tea, looking puzzled. "Why?"
To be honest, Xia'er had no intention of saving money.
Whether it was horse racing, gambling, or smuggling, money came in quickly. If she needed it, she could just operate in the simulation; she hadn’t thought about saving at all.
"Are you collecting potions?"
Instead of answering Xia'er’s question, Aivina countered with one of her own.
This was easy to guess, as hardly anyone would buy five or six potions in one go like they were at a wholesale market.
"Yes," Xia'er nodded, not hiding this fact. She was indeed collecting potions.
"If you want to collect all the potions, there’s one type you’ll need to save enough money for," Aivina said, pausing to think before speaking mysteriously. "It starts at around ten thousand pounds."
"How much?"
Upon hearing that figure, Xia'er thought she must have misheard. After hesitating, she asked, "Fourth-tier?"
Seemingly pleased with Xia'er’s shocked expression, Aivina continued, "First-tier."
"What type?"
At this point, Xia'er was completely bewildered. There were indeed a few rare types, but she hadn’t expected the price to be so outrageous.
This was first-tier? The black market at Dedton Manor only sold for 800 pounds.
At this, Aivina stopped playing coy and explained, "The 'Performer' potion is actually only about 1,000 pounds, but there are conditions for purchase."
"One of the conditions is that it’s only sold to nobles—which means you’d at least need to donate or bribe for a baron title."
"The current price for donating a title is probably over ten thousand pounds... assuming someone is willing to accept that money and put your name before the queen."
The 'Performer' potion was actually controlled by the royal family? To buy it, one had to acquire a noble title?
"What about the black market? Dedton Manor? Or could you buy it for me directly?"
Xia'er suggested a few possibilities, tentatively asking.
"You might not be aware of how to obtain the 'Performer' potion," Aivina shook her head and said, "Even I would find it nearly impossible to get."
Table of Contents
