Chapter 77: Seeing Madame Pualis Again (First update, seeking monthly votes)

Outside the Viceroy's residence, the building transformed from a castle.

Lu Mian passed through the garden, arrived at the entrance, and said to the manservant guarding there:

"I have something to see Madame Pualis about."

The manservant, wearing a red jacket and white trousers, looked him up and down a few times and asked cautiously:

"What matter?"

This kid isn't here to play a prank, is he, taking me as a target?

Lu Mian "heh"-ed:

"This isn't something you can know."

Why are you, a servant, managing so much? What is your surname, what is your name, how many children have you given birth to?

The manservant hesitated for a moment, deciding to report to the lady and let her decide whether to see this kid.

Lu Mian stood at the entrance and waited for a few minutes, seeing the manservant walk back and say to him:

"The lady wants you to go to the small parlor."

Lu Mian was no stranger to that small parlor. He had followed his sister to the castle several times and had been entertained there, so without guidance, he walked toward the correct room himself, and the manservant instead became his "follower."

Sitting on the sofa in the small parlor drinking black tea and waiting for a while, Lu Mian saw Madame Pualis appear at the entrance.

This lady was wearing an exquisite black corset dress today, with a shawl of the same color draped over her shoulders, a slightly tilted small lady's round hat on her head, and a diamond necklace inlaid with gold hanging on her chest.

Lu Mian found it a bit familiar. After careful recollection, he realized this was the attire Madame Pualis wore when she visited his home and "seduced" him in the cycle before last.

Is she doing this on purpose? Lu Mian muttered while greeting with a smile:

"Good morning, Madame Pualis."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he suddenly discovered that the person following Madame Pualis wasn't the personal maid Cassie, but the "Midwife" who died at Ryan's hands yesterday.

The "Midwife" was wearing a gray-white dress, her eyes were dull, there was no expression on her face, and her skin color was slightly greenish, exactly the same as when Lu Mian saw her in the garden yesterday evening, just without the pruning tools.

Not bringing the personal maid but bringing the "Midwife"? Doing it on purpose, right? Lu Mian couldn't help but mutter in his heart again.

Madame Pualis smiled slightly:

"It should be noon now."

She then sat on the single sofa representing the master, while the "Midwife" stood at the side.

"If one hasn't had lunch, it can't be considered noon." Lu Mian argued forcefully.

At the same time, his heartbeat quickened, suspecting that Madame Pualis brought the "Midwife" over to question him about yesterday's matter.

If he couldn't handle this well, and those three outsiders didn't restart the cycle in time, Lu Mian suspected he would have to be a "daddy" for a few minutes or even ten minutes.

Madame Pualis swept a glance at him, her bright eyes like rippling lake water, carrying an indescribable smile.

This lady asked casually:

"Is there something?"

Lu Mian decided to be direct and said seriously:

"Lady, you should have noticed that we are trapped in a time cycle."

While speaking, he kept staring at Madame Pualis's face, paying attention to her expression.

If the other party revealed emotions like surprise, astonishment, or confusion, he would immediately add "Haha, just kidding" and then start from some abnormalities to see what this lady's attitude and inclination were, and finally consider whether to tell her about the time cycle.

Of course, if Madame Pualis had an expression of "you actually discovered it" or "my secret has been exposed," then he would have to try to run away quickly.

Although the hope of escaping under those circumstances wasn't high, how would he know if there was hope without trying?

Madame Pualis looked Lu Mian up and down for a few seconds and said with a smile:

"It seems you have also found a boss."

She wasn't surprised by the term "time cycle," nor did she show an expression of incomprehension or confusion, which was equivalent to tacitly admitting that she knew what the current situation was.

Boss? This is a usage Aurora likes in her books. Does it now mean the existence that grants the gift? Lu Mian interpreted Madame Pualis's words in his heart.

He believed that the other party had a "boss" and obtained protection, which was why she could retain a certain amount of memory in the cycle.

Lu Mian then laughed, pretending to be relieved:

"It seems I don't need to spend a lot of time explaining."

"What exactly do you want to say?" Pualis asked with a smile.

The "Midwife" stood beside her, motionless, like a statue.

Lu Mian had already prepared his words and busily utilized his eloquence:

"People outside already know about Cordu's abnormality. If we don't break the cycle in time, this place will definitely be completely destroyed, and everyone will die.

"Everyone is already on the same boat. Only by gathering all strength can we keep the boat from sinking and have hope of finding the key to the cycle and returning to normal life.

"Lady, we don't have much time left. Let's cooperate."

Madame Pualis listened with a faint smile from beginning to end, without interrupting Lu Mian's narration.

At this moment, she chuckled:

"Who told you we are on the same boat?"

Ah? Could it be that you are the one trying to sink the boat? Lu Mian was startled in his heart.

Madame Pualis maintained the smile from just now and continued:

"Why should I cooperate with you? Once a specific time arrives, I can leave this place."

This... Lu Mian was stunned and even felt a bit ecstatic:

"You mean, you have a way to escape this time cycle?

"Just need to wait for a specific time node and do something?"

Madame Pualis nodded slightly, picked up the white glazed porcelain teacup, took a sip, and didn't provide any additional answer.

It's good to have the protection of a hidden existence... Wait, this isn't the first cycle, why is she still here? Could it be that the previous cycles didn't reach that specific time node before restarting? Hmm... This explains very well why she didn't pursue us sneaking into the castle and killing the "Midwife." She was worried that going to trouble those three official Beyonders would cause one of them to forcefully trigger the key and restart the cycle... Lu Mian instantly understood some of his previous doubts.

He suspected that Madame Pualis was also waiting for the arrival of the twelfth night.

As thoughts raced, Lu Mian revealed a smile:

"I wonder if you can take Aurora and me out of this cycle?"

What official investigator? I don't know them!

Madame Pualis looked him up and down with amusement:

"Why should I help you?"

"Didn't you say love..." Lu Mian stopped voluntarily before finishing his sentence.

He originally wanted to mention the love-related words Madame Pualis had spoken, hoping the other party would soften her heart and save Aurora and himself, but because the target of that lady's affection was likely his sister, he really couldn't say it.

If the person Madame Pualis liked was himself, Lu Mian, who didn't care about face, would have already played the love card, and for this, he could offer his body and be a daddy to the other party's child.

Hmm, even if he had to give birth himself, he could grit his teeth and endure it, as long as Madame Pualis took him and Aurora away from this cycle.

Madame Pualis's expression changed slightly, and she was silent for a few seconds before saying:

"Are you trying to say that love is hard to understand, that even though you hope she dies because she made a mistake, you still can't help but save her?"

Lu Mian didn't answer. He heard that the personal pronoun Madame Pualis used was "she."

Madame Pualis didn't expect him to respond either, sighing gloomily:

"But what if you can't save her?"

Can't save her... Lu Mian's heart sank slowly, as if he had been thrown directly into an icy lake in early spring.

Adjusting his breathing, he asked for confirmation:

"You mean, when that time node arrives, you can only leave by yourself or take away a specific few people, but that doesn't include Aurora and me?"

Madame Pualis nodded gently:

"You can understand it that way."

It seems I still have to rely on myself... Lu Mian sighed secretly, forcefully pulling himself together.

The experience of hope appearing and instantly shattering really wasn't pleasant.

He thought for a moment, curled his lips, and said with a smile:

"Lady, those three outsiders and I are going to explore the church underground in a moment. At that time, if any accident happens, or if anything happens, the cycle might restart early, not even reaching the Festival of Offerings."

Let alone the twelfth night.

Madame Pualis narrowed her eyes slightly and slowly raised her chin:

"Are you threatening me?"

"No, I'm just reminding you." Lu Mian smiled very sincerely, his state very relaxed.

This was on the surface; the actual situation was that his heart was full of unease, worried that Madame Pualis would be completely enraged by this, and then he would have to stay in the castle to have children, and in a quarter of an hour, those three official investigators would restart the cycle if they couldn't wait for him to come out.

Madame Pualis stared into Lu Mian's eyes for several seconds, and seeing that he never showed any signs of retreating or dodging, she suddenly smiled and said:

"You really are an interesting person. It would feel quite good if both you and your sister became my lovers."

Without waiting for Lu Mian to respond, she turned her head to look at the "Midwife":

"You destroyed one of my 'Warlocks,' and I didn't hold you responsible. That's already merciful enough. You actually expect me to provide help?"

"Warlock"? Lu Mian noted this term and said sincerely:

"Not help, but doing something beneficial for everyone."

Madame Pualis was silent for a few seconds before revealing a smile again:

"I won't go with you to explore the church underground, but for Aurora's sake and your courage, if any change really occurs, I will provide a bit of help depending on the situation."

Lu Mian was already very satisfied to be able to talk to this extent. He stood up, imitated the posture of those gentlemen in his sister's books, pressed his hand to his chest, and bowed:

"Praise you, my lady."

Madame Pualis giggled:

"Shouldn't it be 'my sun'?"

She was referring to the sentence "Lady, you are my sun" that Lu Mian said in the cycle before last.

Lu Mian felt a bit embarrassed instantly, but fortunately, he had never cared about face and pretended not to hear, leaving the small parlor directly.

…………

After descending the hill where the castle was located and entering Cordu village, Lu Mian saw Franca, Ryan, and Valentine coming to meet him.

"How is it?" Franca asked with a smile.

Lu Mian told the key points of his conversation with Madame Pualis and added at the end:

"This is already the best result."

"Not bad. Even at the most dangerous time, one can still look forward to someone providing help." Ryan nodded.

Lu Mian turned to ask:

"Did you receive a reply?"

Before he went to the castle, Ryan had already reported to the higher-ups that Madame Pualis wasn't a true member of the Rochefort family and that there was a photo of Prit in her room.

Franca exhaled and answered for Ryan:

"The higher-ups reminded us to consider the possibility that Prit became a woman through some potion or some power."

"As expected." Lu Mian said "Mm" and asked about the next plan, "When are we going to the church underground?"

Ryan had already thought it through and said in a deep voice:

"Now."

PS: First update, seeking monthly votes~

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 78 =====