As promised, during dinner that day, the Duchess hosted Xia De at Sophia Manor’s dining room.
The table was filled with silverware and plates, and Xia De, therefore, became acquainted with more dishes and experienced the extravagant life of top-tier nobility in this era.
Compared to dangerous adventures, this was truly “broadening one’s horizons.”
The species in this world were extremely similar to those in his hometown, and the different cooking methods also brought him some completely new flavors.
The dish that impressed Xia De the most was “Coldwater Port Ice Fish”; the stewed fish was placed in hot fish soup, but inside the fish’s belly was frozen cream, and inside the frozen cream was caviar.
The mix of cold and warm flavors, along with the fish’s umami, created a unique taste that brought out the best in the fish, cream, caviar, and soup.
Unfortunately, Xia De didn’t like caviar, so he didn’t like this dish.
Compared to this elaborately prepared fish, Xia De preferred the white bread served as a side dish.
He had eaten so much bread in this world, but it wasn't until this time that he truly tasted the flavor of his hometown.
Under the candlelight, Leia saw Xia De’s stunned expression and thought there was something wrong with the bread, so she immediately had a maid nearby check it.
Xia De shook his head, telling the maid not to come over:
“Thank you very much, Leia.”
The Duchess blinked, not understanding what Xia De meant.
But seeing his happy expression, she didn’t ask further.
After all, Xia De always seemed to have many secrets.
Halfway through dinner, a middle-aged man in a Delarion Army uniform, looking hurried, knocked and entered.
He lowered his head and handed Leia a folded letter, then turned and left, never looking at Xia De from beginning to end.
Xia De didn’t curiously inquire about others’ affairs, but Leia voluntarily told Xia De the content of the letter:
“It’s a letter from Tobesk.
Father intends to sign a new trade agreement with Carson Rick next Monday, allowing the export of previously controlled Type III special alloys.
Oh, this special steel is the main material for steam cannon barrels and super-high-power steam engine pistons.
Although both countries can manufacture it, Delarion’s craftsmanship is better.”
As she spoke, Mrs. Hels, the middle-aged maid standing behind Leia, handed the Duchess a box of matches.
Leia nodded apologetically to Xia De, stood up, and went to the window.
The young maid who had been standing beside Xia De handed her an empty plate.
Leia used a lit match to ignite the letter in her hand, then placed it in the plate, and only after confirming that the letter had completely turned to Ashes did she turn and return to the dining table.
She said nothing, and Xia De asked nothing.
Xia De understood that having the Cavendish surname brought not only noble birth, abundant wealth, and power unimaginable to ordinary people.
“Thinking about it this way, among the Ring術士 I know, only Miss Jialinna seems to live the most comfortably.”
“But she carries the curse of the witch.”
“She” reminded Xia De softly in his ear.
Xia De nodded, swirling the grape juice in his glass:
“Indeed, no one’s life is perfect.
My current life is already good enough.”
It was eight o’clock in the evening when Xia De, soaking wet, returned home.
After dinner, Leia had wanted to keep Xia De for a while longer to discuss “the little match girl” with her, but Xia De was thinking of his cat at home, and Dorothy was still house-sitting for him, so it would be inconvenient for him to return too late.
As he walked up the stairs, Dorothy, hearing footsteps, stood on the second floor looking down with Mia in her arms.
Seeing that it was indeed Xia De returning, Mia showed extreme excitement.
She immediately broke free from the Writer’s hand, then bounced and walked down the stairs, but when she got closer and saw Xia De was soaked, she hesitated on the higher steps.
This cat actually turned around and went back up the stairs the way she came, then was hugged by the Golden-haired girl who couldn’t help but laugh:
“Good evening, Xia De, look, your cat is so heartless.
Oh, tell me quickly, did you swim from your basement to Coldwater Port?”
“You guessed right.”
Xia De dried his hair with a towel he had placed on the shoe rack beforehand:
“Did you eat dinner?”
“Of course, I did.
Leia told me she would invite you to dinner, so your cat and I had to sort out our own meals.”
“Mia isn’t my cat yet.”
Xia De said softly, and walked into the second-floor room with Dorothy.
She wasn’t planning to stay here.
It was late, and after simply tidying her personal belongings, Dorothy, who had been house-sitting, prepared to leave.
But before leaving, she also said one thing:
“Do you know what Mia likes to do when you leave her alone at home?”
“Probably sleep on the sofa?”
Xia De guessed.
“No, no, today when I was at your house, she acted very strange.”
The two stood in the downstairs entrance hall, Xia De planning to take a bath after seeing Dorothy off.
“What’s wrong with her?”
Xia De pointed upstairs and asked suspiciously:
“Did she suddenly fly? Suddenly talk? Or suddenly gain some extraordinary ability?”
He hadn't forgotten that this cat had once absorbed divine power.
“Of course not, why would you think that?
Mia really likes to go to room number two on the second floor.”
That is, the room where the mass suicide case once occurred, and which still has no furniture.
“I don’t know what she wants to do either.
After following her in, I could only see her sniffing around everywhere…”
The Golden-haired girl lowered her voice:
“Xia De, you don’t have mouse holes in your house, do you?”
“Absolutely not possible.
My kitchen can’t even support Mia and me, how could it support mice?
And, Dorothy, do you really think that timid cat has the courage to bother mice?”
Dorothy thought for a moment and also laughed:
“Then that’s fine.
Oh, when are you going to see Leia next, have you arranged it with her?”
“I’ll go again on Monday.
There’s nothing for me to do there right now.
I still need 15 credits, and even if I defeat an evil god in Coldwater Port, I won’t get a single point.”
It was Wednesday night, two and a half days until Saturday afternoon.
Xia De wasn’t particularly flustered.
Tomorrow, Priest Augustus invited him on an adventure, and Iluna was also returning.
As long as he completely contained a Document-level or higher relic, and then paid with a small mercury bottle, 15 credits could be fully satisfied.
If not, he could even ask Miss Jialinna for help; the generous Duchess would surely be happy to assist.
Thus arrived Thursday.
Xia De woke up half an hour earlier than usual, and getting out of bed woke the cat curled up sleeping by his pillow, which made her very displeased.
Today was the day Iluna returned from the Sun Church’s Holy See.
The brown-haired girl’s brave performance on the night of the divine descent in Tobesk proved her identity as The Chosen.
This return to the Holy See was, firstly, to receive rewards, and secondly, for the old gentlemen stationed at the Holy See to discuss The Chosen with her.
The train was expected to arrive at Tobesk Station at 7:30 AM, but because trains in this era were never on time, Xia De planned to leave earlier.
He hastily finished his breakfast.
Seeing that the cat, whose routine was very punctual, hadn't woken up yet, he placed cat food and goat’s milk next to the dining table for Mia to eat directly later.
Then he grabbed a newspaper and his coat and hurried out.
Yesterday’s rain in Tobesk only lasted half a day, and this morning even the roads were completely dry.
Today was the first day of August.
Xia De came to this world at the end of June.
June was called Sunlight Moon, and the July that followed was called thunder moon because July had more rain.
August also had a beautiful name, which was Flourishing Flower Month.
This was the middle month of the year, and also the last month of Summer.
Flowers would bloom most profusely in August, and various places in the Old Continent also had celebrations and customs based on this.
Of course, this couldn't be seen in the City.
It was only 6:20 AM when he left, but sitting in the carriage and looking out with a newspaper, the City was already bustling.
The lower-class citizens rushing to support themselves and their families would not enjoy the morning like Xia De, who had flexible working hours.
In this progressive and crazy era, most achievements were actually accomplished by those who were accustomed to seeing the City at five or six in the morning.
The carriage passed the street where Xia De was shot half a month ago and dropped Xia De off at the entrance of Tobesk Station.
Xia De waited for a while at the post office next to the station, and the purple-eyed Diviner also arrived.
“Good morning, Xia De!”
Hearing the greeting, Xia De put down the newspaper in his hand and walked over with a smile.
“Is there any big news in the newspaper?”
Luvia seemed to be in a good mood today, showing no lingering effects from the divination two days ago.
“There’s no news in the newspaper.
The Mayor’s speech, partial road maintenance closures in the southeastern suburbs of Tobesk, the Peace Church soliciting poems for Armistice Day… but there’s news from Coldwater Port.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Is it related to seafood?”
Luvia asked.
Xia De pointed to the street-side restaurant that was already open:
“We can talk here.
It’s not something that can be explained in a word or two.”
Iluna was returning from the Holy See, and her friends from the Ring術士 team would also come to pick her up, so Xia De and Luvia had already agreed with Iluna to meet at the street-side restaurant after she greeted her friends.
While waiting, during the leisurely morning, the Outsider and the Diviner sat by the window table discussing Xia De’s experiences in Coldwater Port yesterday.
Although the City was still foggy, it was much better than rainy weather.
Luvia listened carefully to Xia De speak until 7:20, when many dust-covered people carrying luggage suddenly poured out of the station entrance.
The two looked out the window together:
“The train arrived early after all!”