Chapter 2469: Returning Home and Guests

Time is a very interesting thing. Given the same number of rotations of the clock hands, sometimes A Jie Li Na feels time passes very quickly, and sometimes she feels it passes very slowly.

Examples of time passing slowly are quite easy to find, and as for examples of time passing quickly, besides immersing oneself in an ocean of books, this summer's holiday trip to Moon Bay was the same.

Ever since she learned she would be leaving Moon Bay this Saturday, it felt as if there was a countdown ticking away every moment before her eyes.

Ai Mi Li Ya's departure on Thursday made the countdown jump in speed, and Fiona transforming into a red dragon on Friday to carry Shi Shi Misi Fei Lian An Na directly to Tuo Bei Si Ke made A Jie Li Na feel her chest tightening with nervousness because the countdown was about to end.

The *Radiant Messenger* was currently docked in the coastal waters of Moon Bay. She stood on the deck of the giant cruise ship, watching the red dragon and the silver dragon fly toward the east together, comforting herself in her heart:

"At least there is one more day; at least I can see the sunset of Moon Bay one more time."

And so, as if in the very next second, time reached Saturday morning, and she had already arrived at the Moon Bay train station.

The number of people returning to Tuo Bei Si Ke on this trip was quite large, and Countess Bei Lin De Er, who had voluntarily covered the expenses, had chartered the first four carriages of this Moon Bay-Tuo Bei Si Ke special train.

By the time A Jie Li Na came to her senses, she had already been led by the hand by Duo Luo Qian into her small compartment. Although she didn't occupy an entire carriage by herself, she didn't care much about the journey ahead:

"Alright, now we really have to leave Moon Bay and return to Tuo Bei Si Ke."

A Jie Li Na sighed dryly; in front of her sister, she didn't mind revealing her sadness.

And so Duo Luo Qian, who was actually Princess Lei Qianya, gently hugged her sister:

"Be strong, A Jie Li Na. Besides, aren't you looking forward to returning to Tuo Bei Si Ke to see Father, Mother, and your sisters again? Speaking of which, Mother's due date is next month.

Oh, and don't think that just because you're crying now, I won't check the homework I assigned you when you return to the Yo De Er Palace."

This sentence effectively pulled the little princess out of her sorrowful and reluctant mood, and made her understand that no matter where she went, she could absolutely never escape the shadow of her own sister.

Although this worry diluted her reluctance, she still looked out the train window. After all, the next time she wanted to come to Moon Bay might be a very, very long time from now.

On the other side, because Jia Lin Na had already returned to Tuo Bei Si Ke, and Princess Lei Qianya felt that Difa had worked hard enough on this Moon Bay trip, she told Difa she didn't need to act as a maid to take care of her or A Jie Li Na on this journey. Therefore, the black-haired maid was currently settling her luggage in her own compartment.

Xia De had originally been with Lu Weiya, wanting to see the living environment in the carriage, but Lu Weiya soon "drove him away" on the pretext of wanting to say goodbye to Shi Shi Misi Bei Lin De Er alone.

The two female fortune-tellers still had many, many things to say, and they had their own secrets.

Shi Shi Misi A Fu Luo La and Shi Shi Misi Yi Lai Se, together with Megan, who was originally going to Tuo Bei Si Ke with Xia De, stood at the door of the second carriage discussing the situation in Tuo Bei Si Ke. As for Margaret, who had come quietly to say goodbye to everyone, she stood with her two teachers, Shi Shi Misi Xi Er Wei Ya and Fan Ni Sha, watching those boxes containing precious alchemical materials and relics being placed one by one into the guarded cargo carriage.

Xia De went to chat with Priest Ao Gu Si and Doctor Shi Nai De for a while, and was then found by Difa, following her into her compartment.

The "room," which was not particularly large, appeared somewhat dim because the curtains were drawn. When Xia De pushed the door open and entered, the beautiful blonde head maid from the Southern Kingdom was already sitting by the bed, and Xia De understood why Difa had asked him to come:

"I've said goodbye to everyone else these past few days, but I haven't found the time to say goodbye to you, Ma Di Er Da."

It wasn't that Xia De had forgotten, but Ma Di Er Da had been truly busy.

"It's alright. You are the master; there is no need to say goodbye to me alone."

The blonde maid said softly with her head lowered. Even without Difa pushing him from behind, Xia De knew to walk up and give Ma Di Er Da a hug. Ma Di Er Da struggled symbolically for a moment before whispering:

"Xia De, don't forget me... and the Young Lady."

Difa left the room silently.

"Of course I won't forget you. From my home to the manor, it's only a little over half an hour by carriage. If you see me visiting suddenly one night, don't be surprised."

She nodded gently in Xia De's arms, then bit her lip before shyly taking the initiative to kiss Xia De.

Then, as if she had suddenly realized what she was doing, she let out a small "Ah" sound. She wanted to leave but was held by the wrist by Xia De, and this time Xia De took the initiative to kiss her.

Because the train would be departing soon, Ma Di Er Da was held by Xia De while they whispered sweet nothings for a long while before she reluctantly said goodbye to him.

When the blonde maid left the room, she indeed saw Difa standing in the carriage corridor watching her with a smile. Ma Di Er Da blushed a little but still said softly:

"Thank you."

The black-haired maid smiled and shook her head slightly:

"We are the same."

She then said goodbye to Ma Di Er Da and returned to her own compartment.

Xia De was, of course, still inside rather than having suddenly disappeared. Seeing Difa walk in, he said to her:

"Once you return to Tuo Bei Si Ke, you should be busy again. Although Jia Lin Na hasn't spent the night at my place these past few days, every time I went back to collect the morning newspaper and milk, I saw in the letters she left that she's been very busy lately. She can't do without you."

"Sharing the Young Lady's worries is what I should do."

Difa remained heroic and spirited, but in this enclosed space with only two people, Xia De felt it was a bit strange for her to speak so seriously:

"Do I need to say goodbye to you?"

He also hugged the maid in front of him, and she wore a faint smile on her face:

"I don't think so."

Outside the carriage was the bustling train station; they certainly wouldn't do anything here. Xia De just hugged her and whispered in her ear:

"You've worked hard on this Moon Bay trip too. Since no one is thanking you, is there anything I can do for you, Difa?"

"Sir, I am just a maid."

"In front of me, do you still need to say such things? Haven't we always been... having a secret affair?"

And so those beautiful black eyes blinked with a smile:

"When we return to Tuo Bei Si Ke, can you fulfill a wish for me?"

Under the gaze of those eyes, let alone one wish, even ten wishes would be impossible for the Outlander, who considered himself to have a firm will, to refuse.

But those were things for later. When the train carrying the young ladies disappeared into the distance amidst the sound of the steam whistle, Xia De, standing on the platform, realized that the next time he saw them would be next week.

"Then let's go back too."

The countess beside him said with some melancholy, then looked at Xia De:

"Xia De, you don't need to go back with us; hurry home."

"I want to emphasize again that it's not that I'll never come back just because the Moon Bay business is over."

Xia De said very seriously. Shi Shi Misi A Fu Luo La smiled from the side, and Shi Shi Misi Yi Lai Se patted Xia De on the shoulder:

"We certainly know that, but isn't the most important thing now to go home and host Shi Shi Misi Fei Lian An Na and the others?"

The ship girl said very seriously:

"You must not neglect those two ladies. You can come to see us whenever you want, but after all, they cannot stay in the Sixth Era for long."

Yesterday afternoon, Xia De, who had fully mastered "Transfiguration-Dragon," flew directly from Moon Bay to Tuo Bei Si Ke with Fiona.

The giant dragon's flight speed was quite exaggerated, and with a demigod witch helping to cover their tracks, they didn't have to worry about being discovered as long as they didn't fly directly over the church.

Therefore, at 4:30 yesterday afternoon, Xia De and Fiona, having experienced such a long-distance flight for the first time, landed at the Jia Lin Na manor in the south of Tuo Bei Si Ke. By evening, Shi Shi Misi Fei Lian An Na and Fiona, who helped carry the suitcases, had already walked into St. Deran Square with Xia De.

When Xia De took out his keys, the sun was setting, and most of the square was dyed a warm orange. Just then, his next-door neighbor, old Mr. Shi Shi Misi and his wife, happened to be returning from running errands.

The former secretary of the Kingdom's Ministry of Finance had a very good relationship with Xia De, so he asked curiously:

"Mr. Hamilton, these two ladies are..."

"They are my distant cousin and her student; they will be staying with me for a while."

Xia De introduced them with a smile, and old Mrs. Shi Shi Misi smiled and complimented:

"This lady looks truly extraordinary; are you a teacher?"

"Yes."

Shi Shi Misi Fei Lian An Na replied, looking quite interested in Xia De's neighbor as well.

Therefore, the two ladies from the Fifth Era spent the night at Xia De's house last night. Jia Lin Na's maids had already cleaned all the rooms in the house in advance, ensuring that no matter how Xia De arranged things, he would not lose etiquette.

And in the end, Shi Shi Misi Feilian chose the room for the two of them, which was Room 2 on the second floor.

That room is mirror-symmetrical in space to Room 1 where Xia De lives; although the living room is now the location of the door to the 【Keeper's Hall】, the other rooms can be used.

So Shi Shi Misi Feilian stayed in the master bedroom of Room 2, and Fiona stayed in the side bedroom of Room 2. After they put away their luggage, Galina and Lei Qianya, who had rushed over in a hurry, hosted a banquet at home to entertain the two ladies.

Therefore, on Friday night, Xia De spent the night at home with Little Mia for the first time in a long while, slept in his own bed again for the first time in a long while, woke up looking at the familiar ceiling for the first time in a long while, and this morning, he ate breakfast made by Fiona with Shi Shi Misi Feilian before heading to Moon Bay.