Chapter 40

When Talli returned home that night, listening to the soft patter of rain outside, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

The first reason was the approaching sacrificial date. Due to the illusion blocking incident, the Fred family head had specifically postponed the time for the sacrificial ritual passed down through generations. This undoubtedly gave her more time to prepare. However, on the other hand, it also increased the uncertainty of the situation.

The second reason was that she didn’t know how to handle the issue of Dusk’s departure. Although the other party had agreed to leave this world with her, she wasn’t sure whether to take him to the center of the world.

It was a dangerous proposition.

Talli knew very well that her chances of failure were high, but she didn’t want to drag Dusk into this matter.

Perhaps he could wait somewhere temporarily.

Talli silently turned over.

After all, returning home was her idea and plan. Dusk might be able to share in the joy of a successful plan with her, but he should never bear the consequences of a failed plan alongside her.

She closed her eyes.

She could still vividly remember the afternoon when Dusk looked at her, bathed in the soft afternoon light, with the shimmering glow reflected in his eyes. His long eyelashes seemed to be coated with crushed gold, and the tip of his nose, as straight as if it were made of stone, nearly brushed against her chin. In his ruby-like eyes, her expected silhouette was reflected.

At that moment, he seemed to freeze as well. The rattan chair stopped rocking.

His pupils reflected his emotions. It was a barely perceptible emotion, like an iceberg hidden beneath a layer of ice, only a corner or perhaps floating bits of ice were visible.

Small pieces of ice floated on the red sea.

Soon, they began to flow.

Deritz smiled at her, his eyes curving, his Adam’s apple moving up and down on his long neck beneath the collar of his clothes.

He said to Talli:

“Good.”

With that single word, Talli felt her heart begin to settle.

The courage she had to speak gradually filled her chest.

Yes, she and Dusk were partners who could rely on each other, give each other support, and save each other’s lives.

They had shared hardships and life-and-death situations.

If she couldn’t trust him, who else could she trust?

The soft, fuzzy feeling of his fingertip touched her hand, sending warmth from her palm to her heart.

The softness of his belly, his unguarded posture.

Talli closed her eyes.

She knew that Dusk would always be by her side.

—

The next day, Talli woke up very early the next day. She gave Deritz the address of the Knight Order Association and asked him to go pick up his uniform.

As for her, she had to endure the efforts of the maids for the entire morning.

“How strange… Miss Talli seems so eager to dress up this time, waking up so early. I remember last time at the grand banquet to welcome the princess, when many royal nobles came, the second miss wasn’t as excited as this.”

“Is there something important going on? Or… is she meeting some important person?”

“Miss Talli stays in the mansion every day, who would she need to meet? There’s nothing significant on her schedule either.”

“Well, not to mention other things, after the second miss’s scars healed, she can finally wear these beautiful dresses. It feels oddly satisfying…”

“The second miss saved so many people this time and made great achievements. When I went out shopping last time, I overheard some of the young noblemen and ladies talking about how, when our miss’s injuries are fully healed and she returns to school, they’ll throw a celebration party for her!”

“When I went to the bakery and laundry, I could feel that our miss’s reputation has improved a lot! After all, she’s cute and capable. If she earns the family head’s favor in the future, maybe we can benefit from it too!”

—

All morning, Talli felt like she wanted to rip her ears off from the constant whispers of these people.

Especially after awakening her elven magic bloodline, her hearing had become extraordinarily sharp.

Around noon, she had two pieces of candy to settle her stomach.

Finally, the maids were done with her grooming. They tidied up the room in a flowing manner, packed everything up, and one of the maids led her to the mirror, pulling back the curtain.

“She looks like a piece of art!”

“My eyes have been cleansed by spring water. Oh, gods…”

“I feel like if I look at her for any longer, I’ll be killed by her cuteness.”

“…”

Isn’t that a bit exaggerated? These girls who are so obsessed with the dressing game.

But…

Talli’s hand touched the mirror, feeling the reflection of the young girl in it.

Compared to her initial youth and naivety, she had grown a lot over the long years. She had gained some height, and her figure was no longer as thin as before, revealing a faint, youthful curve.

Talli picked up a longsword. Her maids held up a blue parasol for her.

“He should be arriving soon.”

She pushed open the door. “It’s time to leave.”

—

The uniform she had chosen for him miraculously fit perfectly.

The young man stood in front of the mirror, slowly fastening his belt and smoothing out every slight crease in the sleeves and collar of his clothes.

Talli knew his size and measurements, just as he knew hers.

He could easily trap her in his arms with one hand, or he could choke her by the throat with just one hand. Including the way he lifted her, holding her weight, her delicate wrist, and slender waist.

Her defenseless sleeping face when she rested in his arms.

She was the one who was truly unguarded.

As Deritz put on his black armored gloves, he looked at his reflection in the mirror.

When he appeared before Talli, he always blurred his gender traits. A handsome young man with gentle smiles and long hair, with no aggressive movements or animal-like instincts.

He always knew what kind of person Talli would let her guard down around.

And so,

When he changed into the knight’s uniform today, his gender traits were for the first time, unmistakably obvious.

Deritz took his sword, turned, and walked out the door.

This time, he would meet her as a knight.

In the back garden.

On Talli’s side, she was sitting under the shaded pavilion, bored and waiting, when she heard the chattering voices of the maids growing louder.

The sound of long boots walking along the shaded path, the “rustling” sound.

“Oh my, so handsome…”

“When did such a handsome knight come to the Fred estate?”

“It feels like even the royal family would pale in comparison to his beauty.”

Talli froze slightly.

She thought that when people first met Dusk, most would describe him using words like “handsome.”

A beautiful fox, a cunning fox.

Her impression had remained on that level.

But when she raised her eyes, she realized.

—Such a beautiful, almost sharp face, under the ruby-red eyes and gem accessories, looked exquisitely gorgeous yet distant. Like a bloodstained longsword wrapped in a fitted knight uniform, with one shirt button undone at the collar, revealing a “Dusk” collar beneath his throat.

Broad shoulders extended down to his slim waist, secured with a metal belt. His long legs stepped down in black military boots, exuding a cold luster.

After his smile faded, the young man became even more imposing.

He walked through the shaded trees and came to the outside of the pavilion.

Talli stood up, walked up to him, and slipped a candy into his hand:

“You didn’t have lunch, did you? Are you hungry? Here, have something to eat.”

Deritz took the candy from her palm. Unwrapping the glassy candy wrapper, the sweet fragrance of the candy lingered on his tongue.

Just like her today.

Her black hair was half tied up, the other half styled into a girl’s bun at the back of her head. Her bright, clear eyes looked up at him, like violet flowers swaying in the sunlight. Her crimson lips were soft and moist, as if touched by the sweetness of the candy.

The maid behind her held the umbrella, casting a small shadow over her. She wore a light purple skirt, with a thin veil lightly draped over her. A butterfly, embroidered with purple and gold thread, lightly landed on the hem of her skirt, as if about to take flight in the next second.

Deritz looked into her eyes and then lowered his lashes, kneeling before her on one knee.

He softly recited the oath.

Talli drew the long sword from its sheath and rested it on his left shoulder.

A few seconds later, after Deritz finished reciting the oath, his shoulder lightened. Deritz lifted the hand before the girl and kissed the back of her hand.

It carried the unique fragrance and softness of the girl.

Deritz lifted his head and saw the smile that filled her eyes.

“It seems like something’s still missing, doesn’t it?”

Talli said, bending down in front of him. Her right fingertips gently touched his chest, pressing down on the uniform’s collar on his left side. Her fingers slightly sank into the fabric.

“There’s a mark missing here.”

As she spoke, she took out the knight’s badge and gently pinned it on him.

Deritz felt as if a butterfly briefly landed on his chest.

Where the butterfly left, violet flowers bloomed on the soil of his heart.

“Alright.”

Talli happily looked at the badge, inspecting it once more. “It suits you perfectly.”

Deritz stood up.

He reached out and touched the metal badge. Even through the gloves, he could still feel its weight and distinct edges.

Talli dismissed a few of the maids, took his hand, and continued walking down the small path.

“Dusk, the time I met you, and bought you, was for this day. It’s just a little different from what I imagined.”

Deritz: “You didn’t expect me to appear in human form, did you?”

Talli: “Yes.”

She was enjoying this rare, leisurely, and relaxing walk before the sacrifice. “I always thought my knight would be a monster.”

“Because I once said I wasn’t sure if I could tame a human, make him fully loyal to me, never betraying me. So, at that time, I chose you. To be honest, when you became human, I had already mentally prepared myself to let you go.”

Talli continued walking, and the “rustling” sound stopped. She paused, her footsteps halting.

“At that time, by the campfire, I thought that if you couldn’t be tamed, I would let you go. Because the sunk cost at that moment wasn’t too great. After you left, I would still have the chance to find another monster. But you didn’t choose to leave me.”

“Later, we became companions who could trust each other. I’ve thought more than once, Dusk, what would have happened if you had left me back then—you were such a proud and unreasonable little fox.”

Talli turned around, smiling at him as the light filtered through the gaps in the trees.

“Later, I realized I didn’t need to think so much. Because perhaps our meeting was simply a process of mutual taming.”