Chapter 3647: Ajerina's Dream

Number six Saint Delan Square did not turn on a single lamp because of the disturbance outside; a moment later Xia De lowered his voice and said to the Princess and the maids:

It looks like the Church's ring sorcerers are carrying out a mission at Saint Delan Square, but not on our side—it's the neighbor diagonally across the square that's in trouble. Judging by the elemental reaction, the leader is at least an Eleventh Ring, so something major must be happening nearby.

The last time Saint Delan Square's night saw such a serious incident was the first "Dice Story Collection" event at the turn of autumn and winter in 1853:

"I'm not entirely sure whether they're containing a relic or hunting cultists, but it has nothing to do with us. The Church's team has the situation under control, so let's just pretend we don't know what's going on."

Princess Lei Lei Qianya stood at the bedroom door, somewhat worriedly wrapping her arm around the shoulders of Ajerina, who was still clutching a pillow. Both Princesses now wore their long hair loose, and both were looking at the same person:

"They shouldn't be knocking on our door in the middle of the night, right?"

"They shouldn't. Even if they conduct an investigation afterward, they'd wait until after dawn, unless it's a special situation like the plague on the snowy mountain..."

He turned away from the curtain:

"You don't need to leave this house. Even if someone comes to the door, I'll open any door for you, and you can just hide inside for a while. However, since we don't know exactly what's going on, let the three maids stay in the side bedroom next door. Lei Lei Qianya, have Ajerina stay in this room too."

This was essentially announcing "the night is over," but Princess Lei Lei Qianya didn't complain about it:

"Alright, and anyway your bed is big enough—that's an unexpected benefit."

As she said this, she went to arrange things for her own maids and Ajerina's maids, and instructed them not to sleep too deeply tonight. Xia De hesitated, then added:

"Xiao Miya and I will sleep on the floor."

"Meow?"

The cat turned around to look at Xia De, and Princess Lei Lei Qianya was also displeased:

"Xia De, this is your house. If other people found out I made you sleep on the floor, what would they think of me? Besides, what kind of impropriety are you trying to avoid? You were cuddling with Grace and Helen together..."

"Alright, alright, I get it."

Princess Lei Lei Qianya then had the maids come into the room first to tidy up the bedding; in the wardrobe there were the neatly stacked brand-new quilts and blankets that Miss Miss Difa and the others had put away. Once everything was arranged, the house returned to calm. Ajerina, who had felt dizzy since Princess Lei Lei Qianya said "together," only now noticed that she wasn't lying beside her sister, but rather...

She gripped the edge of the blanket with both hands, staring fixedly at the ceiling, feeling that this night was truly magical.

"Meow~"

Then she heard Xiao Miya's cry; the cat was clearly displeased that the little Princess had taken over its spot.

Because she was overly excited and harbored some kind of anticipation, although Ajerina closed her eyes early, she couldn't fall asleep for a long time. With her eyes closed, her other senses became heightened, so she could clearly feel the gradually steadying breathing of Xia De, Xiao Miya, and her own sister beside her.

Of course, she could also sense the faint sounds outside the window.

"One day, I'll sleep in this bedroom by myself, not together with my sister."

Ajerina had her own grand ambition; to her, that day shouldn't be too far off. Lying under the blanket, at first she actually didn't dare to move much, but later she gradually began to shift her somewhat stiff fingers and body, and after finally moving closer to Xia De, a faint smile appeared on her face:

"I have to brag to Yi Lu Na and Emilia about this later."

So she gradually fell asleep amid various strange thoughts. In her dream, she seemed to hear the clatter of dice hitting the ground, and then saw a patch of thick, strange white fog.

She walked alone through that white fog for a long time, and as the fog finally dissipated, she found herself standing in a room styled like a ruined castle's bedchamber.

The ceiling of that room was very high, and on the enormous bed before her, a "giant" with a somewhat familiar face was now opening her eyes and looking down at her from above.

"Huh? Isn't that me?"

Ajerina thought in wonder. She didn't feel afraid, but was astonished that if the other's body were scaled down proportionally, her height would seem to far exceed her current self:

"Did I dream of my future self? So I can still grow taller, right?"

And the "Ajerina" lying on her side on the enormous bed asked at this moment in a somewhat weary voice:

"Ajerina Cavendish, what is your fate?"

The little Princess blinked, feeling the question was too profound for her current self:

"I don't know... as long as Sister and Xia De are by my side, anything is fine."

She answered uncertainly, so that weary yet exceptionally clear voice asked again:

"Having passed through the mist of chaos and met me under the guidance of fate, you don't even know what you want?"

Ajerina tilted her head, looking at her "grown-up" self:

"I know what I want—as long as Sister and Xia De are there, that's enough. Nothing else matters. Fortune or misfortune, poverty or wealth, even if the world really did come to an end, I wouldn't care.

Sister and Xia De are what truly matter to me. I know that even Mother will one day leave me, but they promised me they would always stay with me."

The eighteen-year-old Miss looked up at her grown-up self:

"Are you not satisfied with this answer?"

The "Ajerina," with her enormous body and an ancient bronze crown atop her head, answered:

"The God of Chaos summoned the mist, concealing thirteen sanctuaries. The fact that you, as you are now, can pass through the mist means you have begun to touch your true talent. Go—you still do not understand the power you possess, do not understand the fate that awaits you.

Chaos is not mere disorder; it is the unmanipulated, authentic state of nature, the cause of all things, the result of all things. Go, Ajerina—one day you will understand."

"Wait!"

Ajerina immediately said loudly:

"I've seen plots like this before. Next I'll probably wake up, open my eyes and see Xiao Miya stretching, then find that I had a strange dream but don't remember what happened in it.

Since you seem to know a lot of things, why not give me more information? For example, the story of fate is happening right now—what can I do to help Sister and Xia De?"

Ajerina actually wasn't sure whether this was her own dream or something else. After a brief silence, the queen lying on her side on the enormous bed said softly:

"Sovereignty and war; the third fate that should have followed was 'Loss.' Your whole life you have been trying to hold onto the things beside you, but you will keep losing what is important to you, until in the end nothing remains, and all your efforts are in vain.

But fate has already changed. The moonlight not only left behind the world's chosen savior twins, the audience below the stage has also turned their gaze toward you. This time, at least you will not lose this... Yes, Sister neither departed in one possibility, nor went mad in another possibility because of her departure. Sister will shield you from the storm.

You have already obtained a happiness you never had before; you no longer need to challenge that damned fate. Fate has already changed—the third fate is chosen by you yourself. Ajerina, what is your greatest hope for the future?"

This question the little Princess could answer:

"Save Xia De together with Emilia and Yi Lu Na!"

"'Salvation'?"

Queen Ajerina Cavendish on the enormous bed sat upright, spread her arms, and made a hugging gesture. Ajerina was somewhat at a loss, after all the difference in their sizes was really too great.

But then she discovered with surprise that the embrace was getting closer and closer to her, and she really was being pulled into the other's arms:

"Am I getting bigger? Or is she getting smaller?"

Ajelina and Ajelina held each other tightly, and then the petite Ajelina was gently kissed on the forehead by the comparatively mature queen.

"Meow~"

Amid the soft meowing, Ajelina groggily opened her eyes and saw little Xiao Miya stretching beside her head.

The cat very obviously gave Ajelina a look of "contempt," then flicked its tail and darted across her body, landing on the floor before leaving the bedroom.

"Oh, it's daylight."

The still-drowsy Ajelina finally climbed out of bed, and only after looking around the room did she recall the events of last night:

"When did I fall asleep?"

"Ajelina, if you're awake then get up quickly. We're going back to Yodel Palace for breakfast — the carriage Auntie sent is almost here."

Princess Lei Lei Qianya, wearing a nightgown, stood at the bedroom doorway to remind her, looking as though she had also just gotten up not long before.

"Okay, Sister... I think I had a strange dream last night."

Ajelina said slowly, reaching up to scratch at her own long red hair.

Lei Lei Qianya laughed and asked curiously:

"What did you dream about? Xia De? What did you and he do in the dream?"

"I don't think it was Xia De, I can't remember clearly."

The little Princess clearly remembered that when she opened her eyes, the memory of the dream was still very vivid, but now those memories were like the tide at ebb, leaving only faint traces:

"I remember... it seems someone kissed me, and it was a woman."

Then she noticed her own sister looking at her with a very worried expression, and Ajelina immediately explained:

"No, that's not what I meant... I don't remember, it's just a little... sadness?"

As she spoke she stepped into her slippers and left the bed, and while walking toward the washroom she was still thinking about that forgotten dream.

Little Xiao Miya was at this moment standing on the back of the sofa; the cat's amber eyes glanced at the kiss-mark on Ajelina's forehead that glowed with a strange chaotic hue, and then it continued looking toward the stairway, waiting for Xia De to return from downstairs with the newspaper and goat's milk.