Chapter 684
A notebook, a pocket watch, a pen, and a bottle of portable ink—beyond these, there was only a peculiar badge left.
The badge bore an emblem that resembled a six-pointed star, but the edges of the star were drawn with soft, flowing lines, giving it the appearance of liquid in motion.
At the top of the star, one point was slightly elevated, standing out awkwardly from the others.
Was this...
The Church's emblem?
Perhaps it was a clue.
Xia Er examined the notebook; it seemed to contain only a few recipes, with no useful information to be found.
After confirming that the pen and ink were in good condition, Xia Er instructed Tara to halt the search and wait for Duke Charles's arrival.
Less than ten minutes later, Duke Charles arrived, accompanied by Aivina.
As soon as she entered, Aivina wanted to jog over to Xia Er, but upon seeing the corpse on the floor, she slowed her pace.
She sat down beside Xia Er, not saying a word. Aivina understood the unspoken agreement; she knew Xia Er was about to discuss something important.
During this time, Aivina had been quite puzzled by Xia Er's actions, yet she chose to trust him, aware that matters from different worlds could be complex... her feelings were just a tangle of emotions.
"Your Excellency Xia Er," Duke Charles greeted with a slight nod before glancing at the body on the floor, asking, "What happened here...?"
"Please look into all his records for me," Xia Er replied, her gaze fixed on the corpse. "This matter is crucial, and it would be best if you conducted the investigation discreetly."
"An investigation, huh..." Charles didn't hesitate much, nodding in agreement. "I'll do my best."
The rapid rise of the Russell family was undoubtedly driven by Xia Er, who had become something of a family member to Charles. Naturally, he wouldn't refuse her request.
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Chapter 349: The "Virtuous" Wife
"When do you need it by at the latest?"
"If possible, within ten hours would be best."
"…Understood."
Charles stood before the corpse, observing it closely for a moment before kneeling down. With a swift motion, he used a small knife to sever the already half-sawn head from the body, wrapping it in his coat before rising.
He gave Xia Er a slight nod and quickly left, carrying the severed head with him...
In an era where household records lacked visual documentation, confirming a person's identity from just a corpse within ten hours was no small feat, even for a transcendent being.
Only after Charles had departed did Xia Er collapse onto the sofa, tilting her head slightly to rest against Aivina's shoulder, closing her eyes.
Continuing the anchor point cycle no longer held much significance; Xia Er had exhausted too much mental energy, and resting within the simulation wouldn't help her recover.
What she needed now was to minimize her mental consumption as much as possible.
Sensing Xia Er's mental fatigue, Aivina gently supported her shoulder, nudging her slightly before allowing her head to rest on her lap.
Once in this more comfortable position, Xia Er's drowsiness deepened, and she quickly fell into a deep sleep.
It was now the dead of night. Aivina brushed Xia Er's hair behind her ear, gazing at her profile.
When had Xia Er dyed her hair black? And her eye color had changed too...
But she looked beautiful nonetheless...
Aivina lifted her gaze toward Tara, gesturing toward the oil lamp.
Tara instantly understood Aivina's intent, tiptoeing over to extinguish a few lamps, dimming the light in the hall.
Afterward, Tara closed the door and drew the curtains. At the moment the door shut, the sounds of the wind and insects outside faded, plunging the room into silence.
Now, Aivina found it inconvenient to move. She raised her hand to summon Tara again, pointing toward Xia Er's feet.
This time, Tara quickly grasped Aivina's meaning, though her actions hesitated slightly.
Finally, Tara swallowed hard and approached the other side of the sofa, kneeling down gently to help Xia Er remove her long boots and white stockings. Then, she lifted Xia Er's legs and placed them on the sofa.
Tara was careful not to make any noise, as if afraid her movements would wake Xia Er. Once she finished, she silently sighed in relief.
Next, without needing Aivina's prompting, Tara went upstairs to fetch two blankets. She draped one over Xia Er and handed the other to Aivina.
Though it was summer, Ansu's summers were not hot, and the temperature difference between day and night was significant, so warmth was still a concern at night.
After completing these tasks, Tara stepped aside, glancing at Aivina, seemingly seeking her next instruction, only to find Aivina smiling gently and nodding in appreciation.
Was this a thank you for everything she had done?
This... seemed to be the first time Tara had seen Miss Aivina smile at anyone other than Xia Er.
Was this recognition of her efforts?
Tara took a deep breath, bowing her head slightly in respect toward Aivina before crouching down to pick up Xia Er's shoes and socks, heading toward the laundry room to fetch her a fresh pair of socks and shoes.
Hmm?
Aivina watched Tara leave, puzzled.
Now a third-tier "Soulwalker," Aivina could accurately gauge a person's thoughts and true emotions through their body language and expressions.
But was it really necessary to be so happy and excited just for taking away dirty shoes and worn socks...?
However... Aivina had indeed noticed all the little things Tara had done over the past year.
From Aivina's perspective, she initially thought Tara was just an orphan from North Ansu that Xia Er had taken in, only to later realize that she was a protector assigned to Xia Er by the "Witch's Society."
At first, Aivina had some reservations and dissatisfaction with Tara, as she had always felt uneasy about the "Witch's Society," believing the organization was merely using Xia Er.
But after a year of gradual interaction and multiple encounters with Tara, Aivina had let go of her previous misgivings.
It seemed that Tara wasn't just dutifully serving Xia Er because of the organization's orders; she appeared to be genuinely loyal to Xia Er, both in action and thought.
After becoming a "Soulwalker," Aivina had even conducted a small test on Tara using her abilities, discovering that Tara's loyalty to Xia Er was alarmingly high.
Thus, Aivina eventually felt completely at ease with Tara's presence, realizing that having her around was not a bad thing.
There was just one thing... she could sense some hidden emotions behind Tara's loyalty, though she couldn't quite pinpoint what they were.
But it certainly didn't seem to be anything malicious.
Aivina lowered her head, studying Xia Er's face in the dim candlelight.
Seeing Xia Er sleep so soundly, Aivina felt as if she too was being infected by her tranquility, experiencing a wave of drowsiness.
She rested her right hand on Xia Er's shoulder, leaning back slightly against the sofa, closing her eyes as she drifted into a light sleep.
Time passed, and Aivina felt Xia Er's head shift slightly on her lap. She opened her eyes to find Xia Er yawning.
"Ha..."
Xia Er turned onto her back, lying flat on Aivina's lap, squinting her eyes as she looked up at Aivina, saying, "Good morning..."
"You could sleep a bit longer," Aivina replied, glancing at the clock. "It's only four in the morning."
"Don't say things like 'sleep longer'..." Xia Er's voice was still a bit lazy as she smiled. "I might just fall back asleep..."
"More sleep would be good for you... hmm?" Aivina, also just waking up, noticed that Xia Er's mental energy didn't seem to have recovered much from her sleep.
"It's fine, just a normal occurrence..." Xia Er slowly turned over, propping herself up on the sofa as she tried to sit up.
The brief sleep hadn't restored Xia Er's energy; instead, it had made her drowsiness even more pronounced.
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