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"It's okay to burn it, although it's expensive, it's not more than I can afford."
Lecia said indifferently, and upon hearing her sister speak in such a way, Angelina couldn't help but smile:
"Mr. Hamilton, Sister Lecia is quite wealthy. Not long ago, she spent a fortune on a ruby necklace..."
She consciously closed her mouth.
Then, after Shard had gone to quickly brush his teeth and wash up, Lecia asked him for his thoughts on the story and handed over several books for him to read.
[Sleeping Princess] corresponds to nurous Spirit Runes, and Circle Sorcerers like Lecia and Dorothy, who are skilled in the Enlightennt Elent, can obtain a variety of Spirit Runes, but Lecia must ensure that Shard receives [Sleeping].
An hour of teaching took place in the study, and since the maids and Angelina were ordinary people, they could not listen in. So, Angelina road around Shard's ho and finally sat on the couch flipping through "The Queen and Her Lovers" from the bedside in Shard's bedroom.
When Lecia and Shard walked out of the study and saw what her sister was reading, she imdiately scolded:
"Angelina, what are you reading?"
Shard had rarely seen Lecia angry, and it was clear that Angelina was extrely afraid of her sister as she stood in front of the couch with her head down and hands behind her back, not daring to speak.
"And Shard, why do you have this book?"
After scolding her sister, Lecia turned to Shard. "The Queen and Her Lovers", while a legally published work, was infamous for its extensive explicit content among legal publications.
"Um... it's complicated."
Shard attempted to explain, but if he were to really delve into it, both princesses would be having lunch here. After all, straightening out the relationships among Sparrow Hamilton, the Gray Falcon, and Shard was definitely not sothing that could be explained in a sentence or two.
"n of this age, really..."
She muttered under her breath, then asked:
"What ti is it now?"
The maid standing by the wall imdiately took out a pocket watch to check:
"Your Highness, it is now eight twenty-nine in the morning."
"It takes at most ten minutes to return to Yordle Palace by carriage from here, then subtract the ten minutes for touch-ups. That ans we have about ten minutes."
Lecia nodded, instructed the two maids to get busy in the kitchen, and then pulled Shard down to sit on the couch.
She sat next to Shard, with Angelina seated on a smaller couch to the side, and a cat lying on Shard's legs.
"What are you going to do?"
Seeing the look in the red-haired girl's eyes, Shard sensed so dangerous intent. He had seen similar expressions in the eyes of the girls around him many tis before.
"Did I not tell you last ti? This ti, I hope I can use my own lips..."
Her right hand reached behind Shard's head, then embraced him and kissed him. Her body pressed down bit by bit until she was practically pinning Shard against the back of the couch. The expensive dress didn't care about getting wrinkled as it made contact with Shard's clothes on the rather cheap couch, and her long red hair almost covered Shard's ears.
This forced Mia to jump onto the coffee table, owing at the two people, probably trying to protect Shard.
"Sister Lecia really likes kissing."
The Little Princess said, her face turning slightly red as she attempted to rise and step away, but then she heard a muffled voice:
"Stay seated here until we leave."
That was Lecia's voice.
"Why?"
```
"This is your punishnt."
Angelina snorted:
"Really."
But she still sat down, her face flushed as she eyed the shaless couple across from her.
"How do I feel that you didn't co this morning for my lessons, but for that ten minutes of kissing?"
These were the words Shard whispered into Lecia's ear as he escorted the Princess and her entourage downstairs.
"What's wrong with rewarding oneself once in a while amid a busy life?"
Lecia asked, while the maids walking in front held two bottles of wine, gifts prepared by Shard after discovering that the fruit wine he made was quite good.
After seeing off the two Princesses, Shard took a cold shower at ho to cool down, prepared lunch for Mia, and then set off for Midshire Fort once again.
Stepping out of the Ruined Tower, he breathed in the fresh air of Sicarl Mountain. He first practiced swinging his sword a hundred tis in the open space in front of the tower, then descended the mountain to head for the city. The weather in Midshire Fort wasn't great today; he felt the strong wind in the mountains and the sky was gloomy.
Once in the city, the gloomy sky combined with the urban smog created a terrifying darkness. Although it was only ten in the morning, the sky was eerily dark. Apart from the familiar acrid sll in the air, there was also a heavy dampness, signaling an impending rain.
Shard stood at the intersection of Saint Kara Avenue and Oak Street with a copy of the "Sicarl Post," waiting for Priest. They had agreed to et around ten, but Shard waited until half-past ten before he saw the Priest hurrying over;
"Sorry, there's just too much going on at the church."
He handed Shard two parchnt docunt bags:
"One is information on your Arcane Technique, and the other is on Interstice."
After saying that, he rely exchanged a few words with Shard about the dreadful weather and inford him how to keep in touch within Midshire Fort. Priest Augustus then hurried back to the church, evidently very busy.
Shard, holding the two docunt bags, found a tavern with a street view nearby and sat down to check the information in both docunts. Among them, the information about the Arcane Technique related to "True Death," Priest Augustus astonishingly provided four:
The first, "Eye of Death Peering," is a passive Arcane Technique. When encountering an entity that will surely die within three days, it is possible to see strange black streams emanating from them. This technique is not only related to death but also to Fate, and the death perceived can be changed. If the death is successfully averted, the black streams disappear; however, this is usually difficult to achieve.
This is Advanced Sorcery that can only be learned at the Eleven Rings level, but the Priest knew that Shard possessed many Arcane Techniques that Low Ring Sorcerers shouldn't know. Therefore, he inford Shard about this technique, hoping he would try his luck.
The requirents for learning "Eye of Death Peering" aren't high—only requiring an inherent power related to the eyes—otherwise, peering into death will attract the reverse peering of death. As for the ritual materials required to learn the technique, Priest Augustus estimated it would cost around seventy pounds, quite cheap in comparison to its effect.
"To see the Fate of death and even change the Fate of death?"
Shard imdiately shook his head:
"No, no, no, this Arcane Technique is too dangerous."
He had long learned to respect Fate—so things are better not known. He preferred to face an unknown but exciting life and adventures.
"The truth, eh?"
"I am already terribly afraid of things like changing Fate. I can even imagine, one day, suddenly seeing black streams appearing on soone close to . After going to great lengths to save them, they would still die in the final monts due to so ridiculous accident... So, rather than changing it, it is better to comply with Fate and believe that I can write my own destiny."
The second, "Inspiration of Death," allows one's spirit to capture so hints before encountering an imminent death.
For instance, if one is to be burned to death, then it may be possible to see so strange illusions in the flas when facing a stove. If one is to be stabbed to death, an accidental cut may occur while using a dinner knife. If falling from a great height...
"No, no, no, this Arcane Technique is not for . To know of one's impending death in advance is just to be mocked by death ahead of ti."
Shard shook his head again, not even finishing reading the information on this technique before turning to the next page.
He sincerely hoped that the next Arcane Technique provided by Priest would not be related to foreseeing the death of others or himself. Instead of foreknowledge of death, he preferred techniques that could easily send others to "True Death."
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