Chapter 3982: Chapter Four Thousand and Twenty-Five: Belindel's Resolution

"Wiger, what are you doing? Weren't you going to the washroom? Why did you come here?"

A voice that didn't belong to this residence appeared outside the door. Wiger's expression changed, and she lowered her voice to say to Xia De:

"Go hide inside."

Then, without giving him any chance to argue, she pushed Xia De into the actual changing room inside, and only then opened the door to let Bella·Belindel come in.

The Countess of Moon Bay looked around the room curiously:

"Oh, an indoor hot spring? Wiger, you really know how to enjoy yourself. But what are you doing here?"

"Bella, why did you come down?"

Wiger said, somewhat embarrassed:

"Let's go back to the study."

"I just suddenly had a feeling that I should come down and take a look. Don't blame your maids and housekeeper; they couldn't stop me."

Bella's gaze swept casually over the closed door on the inner side:

"Forgive me for wandering around your home as I please. It seems even for a diviner, inspiration isn't always reliable."

After scanning the room once, she finally looked at that closed door again:

"Wiger, what's over there?"

The Great Witch of Chaos twitched the corner of her mouth:

"Bella, this is my home, so please leave me some privacy. Cough, cough, sorry, cough, cough, cough."

She began coughing violently. Miss Bella supported her worriedly, then called over the maids at the door who didn't dare come in:

"Hold Wiger steady. I still feel there's something very important behind that door; it might even cure you."

Then, unexpectedly, she let go of her colleague. Wiger had no way to stop her and watched as Bella strode quickly to that door and yanked it open.

Xia De, standing deep inside the doorway, smiled and waved at this Great Witch of Fate who had a beautiful birthmark between her brows. Bella's face also broke into a smile from the heart. However, at this moment she had her back to Wiger—whose heart was about to leap out of her throat—and was blocking that door, so Wiger couldn't see inside, nor could she see her expression.

"Alright, there's nothing there. I'm just being overly nervous. My apologies, Wiger."

Saying this, Bella closed that door again and went to check on Wiger's condition. And this countess, who had been in high spirits ever since the Moon Bay incident, said again before Wiger could grow suspicious:

"Recently, traitors have appeared in the Church of Creation. Wiger, perhaps there are similar traitors in our organization too. After all, even the Zhengshen Sect can have problems."

"The Church and we are not the same. The thirteen of us are very united."

Wiger said hurriedly, afraid that this colleague with powerful divination abilities might really see through something:

"I think we'd better go back upstairs. I'll arrange dinner in a bit. The Speaker and Audrey should be arriving soon too."

"Alright, but I'd like to go to the washroom to touch up my makeup. Is there a washroom on the first floor?"

"There is. Laura, take the Countess to the washroom."

The housekeeper led Bella out of the room. Wiger confirmed they had gone far away, then hurriedly turned and walked toward that tightly shut door. After opening it, she directly hugged Xia De:

"You scared me to death just now. That lady just now is the Great Witch of Fate; her intuition is astonishing. Although I know your illusion magic is also very powerful, I still almost thought she would discover you."

Xia De had nothing to say to this:

"What did she come here to do?"

Wiger continued holding Xia De and refused to let go:

"Today, the Speaker brought the Great Witch of Wisdom to the local Papacy. Because of her identity, Fate couldn't show herself before the Church, so she came to my place first, saying she wanted her to help me investigate my mother's relics. But I guarantee they'll definitely leave by Saturday evening."

She kissed Xia De hard on the side of his face, her eyes filled with regret and reluctance:

"The next time I see you will be the day after tomorrow."

Saying this, she pointed to her own cheek. Xia De smiled and leaned his head over. Unexpectedly, Wiger seized this opportunity and, quite decisively, thrust her head forward and kissed Xia De on the lips. Then, like a fox that had stolen a chick, she covered her mouth and giggled softly—but soon began coughing again.

"Alright, alright, you should hurry back to the study."

Xia De gently patted her back:

"With so many Witches here, your pressure should ease a bit. When I come over again on Sunday, I should be able to bring the protective charm that prevents the Spark's invasion."

Wiger nodded, tugging at Xia De's sleeve:

"It's a deal. You must come over on Sunday."

"Of course. Then see you Sunday, Wiger."

"See you Sunday... Next week, the Parliament will also send a Miss to stay at my place for a while, though it will be a bit later in the week. The Witch you know may have already told you about this... See you Sunday."

She packed the leather goods Xia De was preparing to take back into a box and handed it to him. Seeing that this time Xia De wasn't leaving by tossing the glass slipper, but had cast a spell and used spatial movement to depart, she assumed Xia De still had other matters to attend to in the city, such as meeting friends to gather intelligence.

But in reality, the Xia De who had disappeared from before Wiger appeared behind Bella the next moment.

The first-floor washroom of the Fragrant Residence was much larger than the one in Xia De's home. The walls were covered in cream-white and pale-gray embossed wallpaper, and the floor was laid with plain square ceramic tiles.

Bella was standing in front of the white porcelain pedestal basin, washing her hands with water from the brass faucet. Hearing the sound, she wasn't surprised at all. She looked up at the brass-framed frosted mirror before her and smiled at Xia De's reflection:

"Barging into a washroom occupied by only one lady like this—truly ungentlemanly, Xia De... What if I really were... changing?"

Xia De had only just thought of this possibility after casting the spell, and he felt a bit awkward. But Bella wasn't accusing him, merely teasing. After drying her hands with the towel hanging nearby, she turned with a smile to look at Xia De:

"A reminder—you still have Wiger's lipstick mark on your cheek."

Xia De then walked closer to the mirror. Bella had already taken down the towel, dampened it, and helped Xia De wipe off the lipstick mark. Then she herself kissed the same spot. Only then was the countess satisfied:

"This trip was arranged on short notice by the Speaker. It happened that I had nothing on near the weekend, so I came along with the Speaker and Megan. They should still be at the Papacy now and will probably arrive at Wiger's place around dinner time."

Wiger had already mentioned these things just now:

"Going back tomorrow? In such a rush?"

Bella put on a sorrowful expression and said:

"This is Wiger's territory. She's got you on her mind for a tryst and doesn't care a bit about collegial bonds. What can I do about it?"

Xia De didn't defend Wiger, but reached out and embraced Bella:

"This trip has been hard on you. As for Wiger's mother's matter, for now we can only rely on the diviners' divination to find clues."

"Megan and Audrey have crazy ancestors, Wiger has a mysterious alchemist mother—everyone has very strange relatives~"

Bella said, kissing Xia De's cheek again, then took a deep breath and held him tight:

"I really envy Luvia and Miss Jia Lin Na... I don't know when the next time I'll see you will be."

Then she whispered in Xia De's ear:

"Last night after the meeting ended, I went to the place in Moon Bay where the opera troupe lives to discuss matters with Vanessa, but Hylis stopped me, and said Vanessa was already asleep... She went to your place, didn't she?"

Xia De, holding Bella, pressed his lips together for a moment, and did not lie:

"Yes."

"Miss Jia Lin must have been at your place too, they really have no shame."

The great witch of fate had actually sensed this matter long ago; at this moment she was only truly confirming it from Xia De:

"Miss Jia Lin is a fox guarding the henhouse, she made her move long ago and I'm not surprised at all. I just didn't expect even Vanessa to... it must have been Hylis who helped her, Vanessa herself might not have had such courage, but Hylis is a very bold Miss."

She guessed the truth quite remarkably, but Bella did not blame Xia De; she believed it was all the fault of her own colleagues:

"You have to busy yourself with things here during the day, and at night you still have to 'comfort' the two of them, they really don't know how to cherish you."

But in fact last night there were more than just two great witches; fortunately Bella did not continue this sorrowful topic:

"Go on, Xia De, go back, the Chairman will be here in a moment."

"Bella..."

Xia De released her, gazed into the witch's golden eyes for a moment, then took the initiative to kiss her. Countess Belendel of Moon Bay of course gave the most passionate response; after the kiss ended, both of their faces were flushed, and Bella bit her lip to control her breathing rhythm:

"The next time we meet, I'm afraid it will be a long time again, remember to think of me, Xia De."

Xia De did not use words to make a promise; he merely lowered his head slightly and kissed the birthmark on Bella's brow.

Bella's face instantly turned even redder; she pushed Xia De away and waved goodbye to him. Only after Xia De tossed the crystal slipper and went home did she turn around and turn on the faucet again, this time splashing water directly onto her face to calm herself down.

"Honestly."

Bella, with water droplets on her face, looked up at herself in the mirror, then saw that she was biting her lip, looking quite dissatisfied. Not dissatisfied with Xia De, but dissatisfied with Miss Jia Lin and Vanessa, and perhaps others she didn't know about:

"If you all can, then so can I..."