yournovel 026. The adult world is no easy feat.
026. The adult world is no easy feat.
A casual suggestion turned out to be a powerful skill...
Xinlai couldn't help but sigh, talent really can make up for all the gaps: even in a field that has never been touched before, it can awaken people from their dreams.
Once Eve officially becomes a witch and her talents are fully awakened, she will be able to handle not only magic, but also physical skills and swordsmanship with ease.
We need to work even harder...
We can't afford to be outmatched by Eve and end up being trampled underfoot by her...
"It's actually quite useful."
Xinlai looked at Eve with admiration in her eyes.
Eve looked like a little purple cat being praised, her chin slightly raised and her little mouth gently pouting, as if to say, "Hmph, I'm so awesome, aren't I?"
Xinlai didn't expose her, letting her be smug.
As Eve sat on the futon, watching Xinlai unleash that chillingly powerful blazing slash with just a few words of guidance from her, her surprise far outweighed her pride.
This hardly qualifies as having mediocre talent...
While the Blazing Slash isn't some closely guarded secret, it's far from being something everyone can do. Those who can execute it are at least formal knights or intermediate warriors.
Sin Lai hadn't even passed the tests for a prospective knight or a regular soldier...
He clearly has some talent in swordsmanship. Or rather, his foundation is so solid that with just a little guidance, his skill can improve by leaps and bounds.
"As the third prince of the Golden Radiance Royal Family, why don't you find a high-level swordsmanship instructor?"
Eve voiced her doubts. After observing for a while, she realized that Xinlai's every move didn't seem to be from a standardized training program, but rather something she had figured out little by little on her own.
This is clearly inconsistent with the status and power of a prince...
Xinlai pursed her lips and shook her head.
"Hiring a high-level swordsman costs a lot of gold coins... Do you really think the prince's monthly salary is that much?"
"Isn't that right?" Eve asked in surprise.
"..."
Although the prince was exempt from taxes, his daily expenses were terrifying. Even the maintenance of his carriage and the few white horses were very expensive, not to mention all sorts of other miscellaneous costs.
For example, listening to music requires renewal fees, cloud storage for study materials requires renewal fees, cars need gas and maintenance, and houses require utility bills and property management fees...
When you need someone to do something for you, you have to bribe them and give them gifts; when you need to attend a banquet, you have to buy a formal suit and leather boots...
Having a wife means she needs to buy clothes, cosmetics, and handbags; cooking requires grocery shopping; the kids need to go to school, have tutoring, and go out to play…
……
How easy is it to live in the adult world?
Three hundred gold coins a month, which is enough for an ordinary person to last a lifetime...
But relative to this social class, it might not even be as much as Eve's weekly allowance as the only daughter of the Tanstain family.
In addition, Sinlai did not want to exploit the people in his territory, so he naturally had a hard time.
"You don't understand." Xinlai shook her head with a helpless and bitter expression.
"..."
Eve found this statement somewhat... well... ambiguous.
It's like Xin Lai saved money for a very long time, spending money everywhere, yet they still bought her a bunch of high-level cultivation resources.
That bastard...
Why are you so concerned about me...?
This thought unconsciously reminded Eve of her father.
That man, with his extraordinary swordsmanship, took command of the border city defense army at the age of twenty-five, repeatedly made military achievements, founded the Tanstin family, and established himself in both the military and political circles.
They truly treated Eve with utmost care, as if she were afraid she would melt in their mouths or fall from their hands.
Now, at forty-nine years old, his fate remains a mystery...
……
……
In the latter half of the night, Xin Lai practiced for another two or three hours, but she couldn't hold on any longer. After taking a shower, she fell into a deep sleep.
Eve, meanwhile, immersed herself in meditation, continuing to hone her arcane and spiritual skills.
For someone like Sinlai, meditating for one or two hours is the limit; it cannot replace sleep at all.
But for Eve, meditation is rest, and it's even more effective than Xinlai lying in bed.
"Others cultivate themselves even while sleeping, what about you?"
Can't you even overtake on a curve?
……
……
Four days later, on the morning of [date missing].
Xinlai got up very early, meditated, trained, and then took a bath and changed clothes.
In the early hours of the morning, Marquis Tanstin was escorted to the royal city, imprisoned in the dungeon, and awaiting trial.
Lady Tansteen remains missing.
Sinley recalled the plot of "Elegy of Asgard," and realized that her diary seemed to mention her whereabouts...
But right now, things are at a critical juncture, and Simeon and Lorenz's factions are still secretly searching for Eve;
Although the Angelic Cult's attack failed, they would never give up easily, since once Eve became a witch, the witch's heart would be useless.
Going to Lady Tansting rashly would only leave a loophole.
However, we could try to smooth things over with the Marquis of Tanstin.
He summoned Eve, who was still in the meditation room, and had her stand in front of the bedroom's French windows with a cup of morning tea.
Although King Bermelt was the highest-ranking knight in Asgard, he was getting old and his rule was becoming increasingly corrupt.
Marquis Tanstin has been recalled to the capital, and soon the original Asgardian epic will appear on the border, triggering a "barbarian invasion," with the Stevie people's harassment escalating.
The Golden Glory Royal Family is beset by internal and external troubles.
This is also the fundamental reason why Simeon has been making moves lately...
He had long coveted the throne.
But this seemingly precarious situation is merely the prelude to "The Elegy of Asgard".
Dragon plague, monster horde, enemy invasion...
Now that Eve is in his hands and Vivian is completely subdued, Xinlai is not yet strong enough to rival Galund and Simien's power in the royal family. However, in order to prevent the Marquis of Tanstin's old subordinates on the border from causing trouble and to avoid Simien's purge after his ascension to the throne, he must find a way to take that position.
"Knock knock".
"Enter."
The embossed door and the wall have been restored to their original state, costing less than fifty silver coins.
Eve pushed open the door and entered, her long purple hair piled high, still wrapped in that thick robe, completely covering herself, the hem of her skirt covering two-thirds of her calves, only revealing a section of her fair ankles.
It's obvious they're on guard against someone.
Seeing Xinlai standing in front of the French windows, Eve didn't stand on ceremony and sat down on the sofa, putting her legs together and her hands obediently on her knees, her purple eyes quietly looking at him.
After a moment of silence, Xinlai slowly sipped her tea:
"Your father arrived in the capital last night."
Eve's pupils contracted slightly, her hands on her knees tightened slightly, and her robes wrinkled.
"Why say all this..." Her eyes were devoid of light, as if to tell Xinlai that she no longer cared about anything except her own life.
"I'm going to see your father later." Xinlai put down her teacup. "Is there anything you'd like to say to him?"
The purpose of this trip is twofold: first, to test the Marquis of Tanstin's attitude towards the royal family; and second, to let the Marquis of Tanstin know that Eve is still alive and in his hands.
Even if the Earl hated everyone in the royal family, he wouldn't touch him because of Eve's safety.
It can be considered self-preservation.
Eve looked up, stared at him for two seconds, and understood his intention.
From the age of twelve until now, at nineteen, she has never seen her father again.
The temptation Sin Lai offered was... too great.
She had to weigh the pros and cons.
After a long while, Eve opened her mouth slightly, but did not make a sound.
"Have you thought it through?"
Xin Lai straightened her clothes in front of the mirror and pointed to her coat: "Come and fulfill your duties first—"
Before he could finish speaking, Eve stood up from the sofa, silently took off her coat, walked behind him, and draped it over his shoulders.
His technique was much more skillful than before, though still a bit clumsy. When he raised his head, he bumped into Xin Lai's hand, and when he was putting his sleeves on, he didn't control his movements well and ended up bumping into Xin Lai...
But at least I'm dressed now.
She heard soft breathing behind her, and Xinlai nodded in satisfaction.
"sensible."
"I……"
Xin Lai turned around, meeting his slightly upturned purple eyes, raised an eyebrow, and tugged at her clothes: "Nothing? Then I'm leaving."
The relentless pressure finally got Eve to speak, although her desperate expression clearly indicated that she had gone through a long internal struggle.
"I...I want to go with you."
Xinlai was taken aback.
The requirements are quite high.
"No." He refused decisively and turned to leave.
Eve trembled upon being rejected, then lowered her head; she had expected this.
She is now a caged canary, and her situation may even be worse than that of a caged canary, so how could she dare to hope that Xinlai would treat her like a young lady?
But Xinlai suddenly stopped, as if she was thinking.
"Not at least not now."
His tone was serious, "Your magic fluctuations are unstable. Wait until you become a witch."
He paused for a moment:
"Besides, I haven't bought you any clothes yet. You can't go to see your father wearing what you wore last night, can you?"
"..."
Eve paused, then looked up and met Xinlai's eyes... gentle, yet with an unapproachable coldness.
Despite wearing a disgusted, deadpan expression, he didn't completely refuse Eve's request.
Eve felt a little flustered by Sinley's intense gaze and quickly lowered her head, looking at the soft carpet.
"Oh……"
That bastard... he's not actually that much of a nuisance...