Chapter 1137

The morning of Wednesday, the first day of the First Month of the Year 1854 of the Common Calendar, began in a family atmosphere that was slightly awkward but inexplicably harmonious.

The awkward moment was when everyone was woken up early in the morning by Little Mia in the wardrobe, and the girls tacitly pretended to be asleep; the harmony lay in the fact that when Xia De returned to the living room after washing up, he found the three girls humming songs and preparing breakfast together.

This was the most important breakfast of the year, and the clever hostesses would never be stingy about showing off their skills.

And while they were making breakfast, Xia De, who was considered a nuisance, sat on the sofa in the living room, holding the cat and a teacup, reading the newspaper while waiting.

"I thought that since I have passed my first year in this world, you would say something."

He sighed softly in his heart, and "she" replied in his ear with a smile:

【You have already found your own way to celebrate, and besides, the past time has already passed; you have to face brand new challenges, don't you?】

"Yes, even more arduous challenges."

For the beginning of the year, this scene was truly quite leisurely and comfortable. Although Xia De hoped that his life could maintain this rhythm for the whole year, the dream from last night had already signaled that he could not remain idle.

Fortunately, Doctor Shi Nai De was indeed a professional. Although Xia De had invaded the girls' dreams last night, Princess Lei Qianya, Dorothy, and Luweiya had not noticed it. The shy girls did not mention what happened last night at all, as if everyone had rested in their own separate rooms.

Xia De shifted his gaze from the newspaper to examine the house that belonged to him, comparing it with the dilapidated scene in his dream. His eyes then looked at Little Mia; he still thought that a cat with amber eyes looked cuter:

"But was the cat that appeared in the dream really Luweiya's other self, and did I really see it; or, like Princess Lei Qianya's dream, was the cat in the dream just a product of my own thoughts?"

Regardless of whether the cat was real, that dream was definitely not just a dream. On the night when 1853 ended and 1854 officially began, the Outsider touched the truth of the world. Although it was somewhat unacceptable, he had to face this fact regardless.

He still needed to perform a ritual to verify his final conjecture and sort out the sequence of time. After that, new adventures would also unfold. The old year ended, the new year began; the low-tier ended, the mid-tier began, and the prologue to a new story had already been opened. Next, he might face more dangers, but fortunately, he was no longer alone.

"So, what else was discovered last night?"

He asked softly in his heart.

【Through the deep contact last night, you touched the mysteries of her soul.】

【Luweiya Anate's other self is entangled by a powerful time curse, and her soul is severely damaged.】

【It can be confirmed that the reason Luweiya Anate is entangled by the curse is because of her other self.】

"She" whispered important information in his ear. Xia De's hand stroked the cat's ears; the cat was lying obediently on Xia De's lap waiting for breakfast, having already anticipated that it would be a sumptuous feast.

"I already knew these things, so, does her other self have an independent soul?"

【Yes, but the essence of the soul is exactly the same as her own.】

These words verified Xia De's long-standing conjecture, so he asked the key question:

"Can this degree of soul damage be treated?"

Xia De asked in his heart while continuing to look at the newspaper in his hand.

On the newspaper, there was a special report on His Majesty the King's speech in parliament yesterday morning. The front-page headline was, of course, a large photo of His Majesty the King waving his right hand, but Xia De could see half of Princess Lei Qianya's body at the edge of the photo.

Being able to follow her father and appear at the year-end festival speech to all citizens was of extraordinary significance to Princess Lei Qianya. And because this morning's newspaper reprinted the full content of His Majesty the King's speech, the paper was two full pages thicker than usual.

However, the King's speech did indeed explain the recent situation in Delarion in 1853, and reading the report was a very meaningful activity.

【Using special coins, the time and civilization attributes of the currency itself can accelerate the healing speed of her soul. The power of inexplicable fate makes it so that every time you witness the story of a Chosen, the healing speed of the other self can be significantly increased.】

Xia De nodded and looked at the busy figures of the girls in the kitchen, his brow furrowing slightly:

"Then... is it possible for her to devour the real Luweiya?"

This was what he really wanted to ask, and "she" indeed smiled gently:

【She is her; although her other self is special, it is indeed another self. Besides suicide reversal, have you ever heard of a Ringed Shushi's other self being able to devour the self in return?】

This put Xia De at ease; the coexistence of the two Luweiyas would not have any hidden dangers. But this also meant that after a brief moment of leisure, he would have to set off for a brand new city. This time, the destination was the "City of Spring"—Randel Valley City, located in the southwest of the Old Continent. A brand new journey would surely lead to brand new stories.

Thinking about things in his heart, he continued to flip through the newspaper. And "her" voice did not stop:

【Detected prying from fate.】

"What?"

Xia De stood up at once and walked quickly toward the bedroom, wanting to take out the 【Twenty-Sided Die of Fate】. It was not that no one had divined him before, but no one had ever truly been able to "see" him. And since "she" had sent a reminder, it meant that someone was truly about to see his true face.

【No need to be nervous; the prying from an unknown source has only touched the very edge of the truth. As long as divinity still resides in your soul, you need not worry about anyone being able to find you through divination.】

Xia De felt slightly relieved. After sitting back down, he looked toward the window:

"Who is prying at me? The Church? The Truth Society? Or some other organization?"

There was no answer to this question, but the multiple appearances of the "God-Awakener," as well as the fact that he was now recognized as the Chosen of "Wisdom and Knowledge," destined that people would try every means to find the true identity of this thirteen-ring Ringed Shushi.

Xia De's future actions would have to be even more careful.

The first breakfast of the New Year was very sumptuous, the atmosphere at home was also very good, and everyone tacitly did not mention what happened last night. And when breakfast was over, Luweiya smiled and said goodbye to Xia De:

"There are still some things at the association."

Although the Divination Association was also on holiday during the year-end festival, Luweiya, as a Ringed Shushi of the association, still had many things to deal with. Of course, through last night's dream, Xia De also understood that this was a deal made by Princess Lei Qianya and Luweiya to facilitate the smooth progress of the Day of the Red Butterfly.

He saw Luweiya downstairs before going out with Princess Lei Qianya and Dorothy.

This Day of the Red Butterfly, which began around eight o'clock last night, would naturally end around eight o'clock tonight. Princess Lei Qianya had already arranged all the itineraries to spend the first day of 1854.

Although Miss Miss Jia Lin Na helped to cover for her, it would be strange for Princess Lei Qianya not to show up for a whole day. Therefore, before lunch that day, Princess Lei Qianya temporarily left Xia De and Dorothy, but after less than half an hour, she appeared by carriage with Ajielina.

The little princess was wearing a sky-blue long dress today with a pink bow tied in her hair, and she greeted Xia De quite enthusiastically after seeing him.

And Princess Lei Qianya calling Ajielina over was, of course, not because she wanted another person in their date, but simply because she wanted Ajielina to prove that she had been with Princess Lei Qianya all day.

So after having lunch in a private room at a high-end club in the east of the city, Princess Lei Qianya let Ajielina go find Miss Miss Jia Lin Na first, and would call her back when they went to the opera in the evening.

The little princess had a premonition that she would likely have to watch the door again tonight.

In short, for Xia De, the first day of 1854 was quite pleasant. He temporarily put aside his worries and played in the city during the year-end festival with Princess Lei Qianya and Dorothy—the church, the art gallery, the City Hall square; the three even went to the Three Cats Inn. Princess Lei Qianya really wanted to see the lives of ordinary people in the city on this memorable day.

The end of this day was at the Queen Maria Opera House. According to royal custom, on the first day of the New Year, members of the royal family would go to the opera house together to enjoy the opera. And given the large number of children of His Majesty the King, it was impossible for everyone to be squeezed into the same box.

If it weren't for Xia De, Princess Lei Qianya would have insisted on staying by Queen Diana's side. But since the Day of the Red Butterfly had not yet ended, after exchanging pleasantries with her father, mother, brothers, and sisters, she took Ajielina to the independent box she had chosen.

Her Highness the little princess bit her lip as she watched her sister and the beautiful blonde writer sit intimately with Xia De, while she herself hugged Little Mia and consciously retreated to the room on the side with the maids.

But before parting that night, Ajielina did not forget to give a year-end festival gift to Xia De, whose clothes were somewhat disheveled. At that time, Princess Lei Qianya and Dorothy were still in the box tidying their clothes and having the maids help them fix their hair and clean the room.

The little princess stopped the knight who had come to retrieve Little Mia and gave out a gift that was not expensive. It was a festival greeting card she had made for Xia De by hand; a small paper spring structure she made would pop out a smiling face stuck to the spring when opened. The inside of the card was made of multi-layered cardboard, and by pushing and pulling the paper strips on the side, some images could be made to move.

Although the level of craftsmanship was somewhat clumsy, it did indeed reflect her sincerity.

"Your Highness, this is truly unexpected; it is my honor."

Xia De accepted the card; this gift was a very pleasant surprise. While the little princess stood with her hands behind her back, looking at him somewhat bashfully, he reached into his pocket and took out the crystal-clear ice crystal flower (Note).

Under the gaslight, the translucent ice crystal petals shimmered with a clear light. Ajielina looked at the flower in Xia De's palm in surprise, and Xia De said apologetically:

"I didn't put it in a gift box beforehand... However, it can remain for several months at room temperature without melting. I hope you like it, Your Highness—Happy Year-End Festival."

"Happy Year-End Festival!"

Ajielina wanted to take the flower in surprise, but after the maid behind her gave a kind cough as a reminder, she reached out her hand reservedly and let Xia De pass the flower into her palm.

"Knight, after my birthday next month, I will be seventeen."

She looked at the flower and said in a low voice:

"I don't mean to invite you to the birthday party... you must come... I mean to say, Father, he will likely arrange my engagement this year..."

"As long as you don't want to marry the other party, I will find a way."

Xia De said; this was his promise. But he also knew that Princess Lei Qianya could not just let this go. Although she was strict with this sister on weekdays, Princess Lei Qianya also had deep feelings for Ajielina.

Having received the "promise," the little princess smiled. She continued to lower her head, staring wide-eyed at the crystal-clear ice crystal flower in her hand.

Thus, the first year the Outsider spent in this world officially ended. Holding the cat, he walked through the corridors of the opera house. Although he still faced challenges, his steps were no longer as heavy as when he had first come to this world, walking alone and terrified through the streets and alleys.