Chapter 1623

"What's wrong with you today? Rushing to bring Angelina here for breakfast early in the morning, and looking so restless."

Sunday morning, at the Galina Manor outside the city, the Duchess sat on the sofa in the study with a teacup, frowning her beautiful eyebrows, looking at Lei Qianya opposite the coffee table.

The princess pursed her lips and said nothing, tilting her head to look out the window as if there was some beautiful scenery there, while her face showed an uneasy expression. So the witch teased again:

"You look like someone put a pea under the sofa cushion. If you're uncomfortable, how about I have Tifa get you another cushion?"

After she finished speaking, the black-haired head maid really wanted to go prepare a cushion, but was stopped by Lei Qianya:

"No need, I just..."

She was too embarrassed to talk about what happened at Xia De's house last night, and it wasn't convenient to talk about what "phantom pain" was—actually it didn't hurt, but asked:

"Have you decided on the time to go to the Green Lake area?"

"Yes, the negotiations have been going on for half a month, it's time to set off. Today is Sunday, the plan is to leave before next weekend. There are many accompanying personnel, so the movement is slower. At that time, many people will go to see us off; this kind of treatment isn't something you get every time."

She smiled and looked at her two grandnieces:

"Lei Qianya, it's impossible for you to go to the Green Lake area with me; your father won't allow it. But Angelina, do you want to go with me? Just consider it gaining some experience."

The little princess was a bit tempted, but still looked at her sister. Lei Qianya didn't care:

"Decide for yourself, but if you really go, it's definitely not for you to play."

The ladies of the Cavendish family were talking when the maid outside the door knocked to inform them that Xia De had come to visit and had already entered the courtyard by carriage.

The red-haired Duchess showed a brilliant smile on her face, got up to let Tifa check her attire, and then went downstairs with a smile to welcome Xia De.

Lei Qianya and Angelina sat still. Five or six minutes later, they saw them come back together. Tifa held the roses Xia De brought and hugged Mia, while the witch held the small gift Xia De gave her—a metal gradient red rose.

This was made of metal pieces from eight relic derivatives; the gift wasn't very precious, but it was unique enough.

Although Lei Qianya knew yesterday that Xia De wasn't that angry anymore, seeing Xia De now, she was still worried and guilty. She stood up from the sofa, pursed her lips not knowing what to say, and only after Angelina finished greeting Xia De did she say hesitantly:

"Good morning, Xia De... sorry."

The witch who walked to the sofa with Xia De raised an eyebrow, looking back and forth between the two. Xia De also looked at Lei Qianya:

"Last night, what did you promise?"

"Won't do that again. Even if I really have to do such a reckless act, I will tell you clearly in advance."

She said, so Xia De walked to her and hugged her gently. This action was more effective than any words. The red-haired princess finally breathed a sigh of relief:

"Absolutely, absolutely won't be a next time."

Xia De let Lei Qianya and Angelina come here last night, of course, not to let Galina, an elder, lecture Lei Qianya again, but to confirm whether Angelina Cavendish, who was on the verge of awakening, was going to study at the Zalas Academy or follow the witch. Lei Qianya and Miss Galina had already discussed this point and had also consulted Angelina's own opinion.

"The royal family appearing with two Ring Mages in the same generation is the first time since the establishment of Delarion. From my standpoint, I don't really want Angelina to become a witch; although this means power, it also comes with a price."

Miss Galina said, still looking at Xia De and Lei Qianya with great interest, guessing what happened yesterday.

Lei Qianya sat opposite Xia De, with Angelina beside her. The sorrow she had since coming this morning finally disappeared, but her performance at this time was still strange; she blushed as soon as she looked at Xia De. But besides the two of them, no one else here knew why.

She also said to Xia De:

"Angelina herself wants to become a witch. After testing, she indeed possesses unique talent. But the problem now is, Great-Aunt Galina said that all the Great Witches have no intention of recruiting apprentices."

Xia De looked at Angelina. The 17-year-old princess in a sky-blue long dress had some disappointment on her face.

Miss Galina explained:

"For a Great Witch, a formal apprentice means a possible successor in the future. Just like I have been cultivating Tifa; if there are no accidents, I won't recruit a second apprentice for decades. Other Great Witches are in similar situations; either they don't intend to cultivate new apprentices, or they are not suitable to be Angelina's teacher."

She shook her head:

"Sylvia is the youngest Great Witch; she doesn't have a single apprentice now. I asked her, but unfortunately, Angelina's math grades are not good, at least not reaching excellence by Sylvia's standards. The Great Witch of Space doesn't want apprentices who are bad at math. Moreover, it is also difficult to judge whether she has space talent now."

"So, you plan to let Angelina enroll in the Zalas Academy?"

Xia De asked, pointing to the sky, which represented the floating city.

Lei Qianya nodded:

"Yes, let her enroll in the Zalas Academy after she formally awakens. However, although she cannot become a witch apprentice for the time being, she can become a witch's follower and give her a portion of the witch's power."

Possessing a witch's power is not without a price; Lei Qianya had never considered this matter, but Angelina looked ready.

"The Speaker agreed to this approach; she thinks maintaining a connection with the royal family is a good thing. Since Angelina wants to be close to the council, the Speaker is also happy to do so. Moreover, it will be easier to come into contact with the witch's power when awakening, and the price paid will be smaller."

The Duchess said again, and Lei Qianya thought of other things:

"After Angelina formally awakens, Father won't worry so much about her marriage. After all, the value of a Ring Ringed Ringed Shushi in the family and an ordinary princess is completely different. Angelina, the thing you have been worrying about is finally over."

"Sister, I don't want to go to Zalas to study, can I stay in Tobesk?"

Angelina was of course happy about this, but she didn't want to leave just like that. When she spoke, she glanced at Xia De. Lei Qianya of course understood her sister's thoughts:

"Of course you can, you can become a correspondence student like Xia De. I chose to switch from a formal student to correspondence because I didn't want to stay in the Academy; after all, being away from Tobesk means being away from the political center. But you have to think it through, that floating city is really good, and the experience of living with alien races and classmates isn't something you can have at any time... That's all for the future; you haven't formally awakened yet."

"Future things can be planned later; I think it's good as it is now."

The witch said, pointing to the door decisively, and said in a commanding tone:

"Alright, your business is done. Lei Qianya, Angelina, go back to the city now. The weather is so nice today, girls shouldn't stay here and waste spring time."

She held Xia De's hand who was sitting beside her, the smile on her face very thick:

"Xia De is here to date me today, don't delay my time either. When I leave for the Green Lake area next week, I won't be able to see him."

The expressions on Lei Qianya and Angelina's faces were very similar at this time. And before Lei Qianya bid farewell to Xia De, she was quite reluctant. The reckless act of her and Dorothy last night had left a deep lesson for these two girls. In Xia De's view, this could be considered a good thing; at least there wouldn't be a next time, he was very sure of this point.

As for Lei Qianya worrying about being disliked by him, he could also understand this feeling of gain and loss. But this matter would be completely over in a few weeks; a family wouldn't have contradictions that couldn't be solved.

As for the date with the witch on this Sunday afternoon, it lasted until about three o'clock. The recently busy Duchess Galina Cavendish also needed to adjust her state. After driving away the princesses, seeing that the weather was nice today, she took Xia De and her maids out for horseback riding and outings.

Although the area of Galina Manor was only within the walls, in fact, most of the nearby farms, orchards, and land were hers.

The Duchess took Xia De to confirm the boundaries of her land, raced horses on the forest paths in early spring, walked in the orchard, and returned to the manor at noon to picnic on the grass in the courtyard.

In the afternoon, they read books together in the study, talking about fresh topics in their respective lives, and planning the action plan for the Green Lake area. Even the arrival of Iluna, who came to study every week at about 1:30, couldn't disturb the witch's good mood.

When Iluna pushed the door into the study, she happened to see Xia De sitting on the chair behind the desk, and the witch sitting sideways on his lap kissing him, which made Iluna a bit unhappy. However, looking at Iluna's expression, she no longer had the hesitation and panic when she suddenly visited Xia De on Friday noon; she had completely returned to her normal state.

The witch didn't postpone Iluna's class today because of her date with Xia De. Coincidentally, Xia De was also there, so she guided Xia De and Iluna to practice against each other. This was of course no longer the cold weapon fighting Xia De had with Sister Daelin, but a real battle between spellcasters.

Xia De and Iluna both intended to hold back, and neither used high-power miracles, but the afternoon training was still very effective. Iluna also pointed out Xia De's "giantization" attack method again, and the witch also gave her own thoughts and suggestions, which were very useful.

Just, around three o'clock, the eunuch servant from Yodel Palace sent a letter, asking Miss Galina to go into the city to see His Majesty the King:

"There are really many things recently."

Even if reluctant, she had to leave. So Miss Galina arranged for Iluna to complete the new witch secret technique learning task she left behind in the manor, and then let Xia De wander around the manor, or go to the bedroom to rest; the date was to last all day, and she couldn't let Xia De go now. She didn't take Tifa into the city either, but let her head maid take good care of Xia De and Iluna in the manor.

And when the Duchess and the other two maids left by carriage, and Iluna took the parchment recording the brand-new witch secret technique to the basement to prepare for the ritual, the black-haired head maid gently tugged at the corner of Xia De's clothes at the entrance of the manor mansion:

"Xia De, what are you going to do next?"

Xia De turned to look at her. Tifa's smiling dark brown eyes were very beautiful.

He thought for a while:

"Don't know if Mia's nap is over. Or, reading in the study and waiting for Galina to come back is also good."

Tifa's beautiful eyes continued to stare at him, only there was a hint of hesitation and charming expression in the depths of her eyes:

"Any other plans?"

She winked playfully at Xia De, so Xia De also winked:

"You mean..."

She pursed her lips and smiled, then took Xia De's hand and signaled him to follow her. The two soon arrived at the second room on the right on the third floor. This was very close to the master bedroom and was Tifa's room. Although her status was a maid, she didn't live with other maids, and Miss Galina never really regarded her as her maid.

This room was very similar in layout to the guest room Xia De had lived in before, only with some decorations unique to girls' rooms. The interior decoration wasn't that luxurious, but it had Tifa's own style in its simplicity. The desk was tidied up very neatly, and her apron was draped over the back of the chair pushed into the desk. On the wall were some landscape paintings, and the only photo was a group photo of Tifa, who looked no older than 13, and the Duchess.

There was a special fresh fragrance in the room that wasn't in the corridor. This was Xia De's first time entering here, but he couldn't observe the room more carefully before the maid in a black and white maid dress walked backward, looking at Xia De with a smile, while using her body to push against the door, closing the door.

There was a rose-red glow on her face, a color more tempting than any cosmetic. Her big eyes looked at him, one hand behind her back, deliberately pausing to let him see the slight movement of her shoulder, before clicking the door locked, and the other hand raised to undo the first button under her collar:

"Since the Duchess is away for now, we..."

In short, this was indeed a very interesting and leisurely spring weekend afternoon.

PS: Please vote, the double at the beginning of the month ends on the 5th.