novelonline Chapter 3908 A Special Candlelight Dinner
Chapter 3908 A Special Candlelight Dinner
Chapter 3908 A Special Candlelight Dinner
These clay figures, which look like living people, are clearly Vanessa's work; the witch of the earth is very good at manipulating these things.
However, Shad stood at the door but couldn't see Margaret, nor did he see any new photos.
At the far end of the banquet hall, before a floral archway adorned with irises, two clay figures, dressed in the groom's and bride's suits, embraced tightly. The early spring afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, bathing them in a warm glow—a truly heartwarming scene.
The guest figurines were all given human faces, except for the bride and groom who were embracing, who had no facial features. However, because they were embracing, Shad could not see their faces, so the lack of faces did not spoil the atmosphere.
None of the clay figures noticed Shad's arrival. He stood at the doorway for a while before hearing Margaret, who had come from the corridor behind him, stand beside him and say:
"Both teachers and Hillis originally suggested that I dress up as a bride, stand under that flower arch and wait for you, so that after you have seen my life, I can stand at the end and receive your embrace, but I refused."
The dress the blonde princess was wearing was still beautiful, but it paled in comparison to the "bride's" gown:
"The reason I declined is not because I think I am unworthy of the position, but simply because I feel it is not the right time yet. Fairy tales always end with the wedding of the prince and princess, and after that, there are no more wonderful stories."
But Shad, I hope to hold your hand and create many more wonderful stories together. Our journey won't end here.
Shad turned to look at her, and Margaret looked at Shad as well. After a moment of eye contact, Shad spoke:
"To be honest, you were really cute when you were a child."
The princess, who had been keeping a serious expression, immediately lost her composure:
"You, really!"
She nestled into Shad's arms, then looked up and continued:
“I am different from Lacia Cavendish, I cannot always be by your side and have so many stories with you; I am also different from the great witches, I cannot use my power to help you and go on adventures with you.”
So today, I hope you can find me yourself, and then learn more about me before you meet me.
Ms. Benedict and Ms. Sylvia actually offered other suggestions, such as working together to create a fairy tale world in the book so that the two of us could go on an adventure there; or they could create some accidents so that you could appear as a hero after resolving them.
I rejected all of those ideas. What you're experiencing now is actually my own interpretation. Since the future hasn't been created together yet, I might as well show you my past and let you know everything about me.
Her eyes sparkled. Although she had the noble status of a "princess" in the eyes of ordinary people, Margaret Anjou was somewhat inferior compared to the other girls around Shad.
She was just an apprentice, not a witch, and didn't have much of an advantage compared to the other apprentices, each with their own unique characteristics—this specifically refers to Tifa Servette. Even compared to the girls around Shad who weren't witches or apprentices, she considered herself somewhat inferior to them.
After all, whether it's Lacey, Dorothy, Silithus, Emilia, Daniste, Ellie, and so on, they all have their own unique strengths, while Margaret only has the identity of "princess".
The stranger understood Margaret's thoughts almost instantly. He grasped her hand and asked her:
“It was very novel for her to show me the past. You know, I still don’t know what Galina looked like when she was a child, and she refused to tell me any information that might involve her actual age.”
Shad wasn't trying to praise Margaret by belittling others; his meaning was simple:
“Margaret, since you don’t despise my promiscuity and greed, how could I possibly think that a girl who truly loves me is worthless?”
He didn't offer that theory that "every soul is different":
“Actually, every time you confess your feelings to me or decide to give yourselves to me, I feel very guilty. Yes, don’t laugh, I mean I really feel guilty. Although I no longer hesitate or waver because of this, I still know that what I do will hurt you.”
"No, at least it didn't hurt me."
"The blonde princess emphasized."
Shad then asked softly:
"Since the atmosphere is so fitting, then Margaret Anjou, Princess of Carsenrick, the most beautiful rose of Velendale—"
He released the princess from his arms, but then extended his right hand to her:
"Would you like to take my hand and continue walking on the path called life, to witness this dangerous and bizarre era together?"
The princess raised her right hand, but did not immediately place it in Shad's hand. She also asked:
"Then, Shad Hamilton, knight from Delarion, and caller of the Silver Moon. Can you promise that once you hold my hand, you will never let go?"
"Yes, Margaret, I promise."
"Then, Xia De, I hope you will keep your promise. If you dare not keep your promise, I will go and complain to the teachers."
She still didn't put her hand on Xia De's hand, but instead wrapped her arms around Xia De's neck and kissed him.
At five o'clock in the afternoon, the early spring sky had already darkened. When Shad and Margaret, dressed in a long gown, emerged from the building and entered the small garden, Sylvia and the other girls had already disappeared.
The carpet stretched from the building entrance all the way to the dining table on the lawn in the center of the garden, with short, thick red candles placed in cylindrical glass containers on both sides of the carpet.
The sorceresses cast a spell to make the garden bloom as if in the height of summer, so Shad took Margaret's hand and led her along the red carpet across the stream that led to the island, through the black iron archway at the garden entrance, and all the way to the center of the lawn.
Outside the lawn, glowing "empty bottle fruits" hang from the branches of small trees, while fireflies summoned by illusions flutter around the lawn.
A sumptuous meal has been laid out on the square table covered with a white tablecloth, and the bright golden flames of the candlesticks on the table provide just the right amount of light for tonight's candlelight dinner.
"Speaking of which, did you also arrange this dinner? I'm ashamed to admit that I had to make you arrange these things; this should have been my responsibility."
Shad spoke to Margaret, whose face was slightly flushed but smiling, and she gently shook her head:
“This was arranged by Ms. Sylvia and Ms. Bennett; they said it was a coming-of-age gift for me.”
She didn't give Xia De a chance to ask:
"Please sit down. These ingredients were all purchased in advance, and I hope they suit your taste."
"Don't worry, the atmosphere and you right now are enough to satisfy me. Let me adjust the brightness of the light source and release some butterflies. Wait a moment, I'll pull out a chair for you, my princess, please sit down."
A food cart was parked next to the dining table. The three-tiered cart was filled with appetizers and dishes other than the main courses. Ice buckets wrapped in velvet contained champagne and red wine.
Shad reached for the wine bottle, but Winnie, dressed as a maid, emerged from the darkness. The radiant maid smiled at Shad and Margaret before pouring wine and setting out the dishes.
Judging from Margaret's expression, she clearly knew in advance that Winnie would be there.
The sunlight grew weaker and weaker, while the moon gradually moved from the horizon to its zenith. The rain in Willendale had stopped, and on the "island" in the middle of the river, one by one, the lights of countless homes could be seen being lit up, until the complete outline of the "City of the Center," Willendale, was drawn.
Fireflies danced around the dining table. Margaret's exquisite makeup remained visible despite the approaching night, for the moonlight had been summoned here by Shad. She smiled softly as the cutlery clattered gently and the candlelight flickered slightly. The two chatted about their lives after the battle of destiny, their recent plans, and also about the past and the future.
Margaret is now ready to advance to the seventh ring. Although her advancement speed is not particularly fast under the joint tutelage of Vanessa and Sylvia, her foundation is exceptionally solid.
She talked to Shad about the other witch apprentices, mentioning how they exchanged letters regularly. She talked about the homework Vanessa had recently given her and how she looked forward to the next opportunity for everyone to reunite.
During dinner, Margaret even spoke with Shad about her father, the current King of the Kingdom of Carsenrick, "Lion" Ryan. Compared to the King of the North, Shad knew very little about this King of the South.
Margaret told Shad that her father loved playing chess and that when he first met a minister or an important member of the kingdom, he would most likely invite them to play a game of chess. He would also use "chess" as an excuse to invite important members of the kingdom to meetings.
“Recently, my father has been playing chess a lot with the gentlemen in the War Department and the people in the army.”
Margaret said that Shad didn't want to discuss anything too serious on an occasion like tonight:
"Is your father as passionate about chess as I am about playing cards?"
The golden-haired princess smiled, a smile more beautiful and captivating than the roses in the vase beside her.
“Your passion is more genuine. After all, your father is the king, and he has many things to consider in his daily life. To him, playing chess may just be a tool.”
Speaking of "tools," she thought of her illegitimate sister who died in Vistalin, and although she felt a little sad, she didn't say it.
"Thinking about the Vesta Forest?"
Across the candlelight, Shad asked, and Margaret, gazing at his handsome face, first bit her lip lightly before softly asking:
"How did you know? Shad, have you recently learned mind-reading?"
Xia De smiled:
“After spending a lot of time with people, I sometimes find myself able to read their expressions. Margaret, if you're thinking about that sister, I can take you to see her in the afterlife. We saw her spirit in the woods, and she wouldn't mind talking to you again. Besides, she's probably worried about how her brother is doing.”
Margaret shook her head:
"No, it's best not to disturb the peace of the deceased."
She composed herself and continued gazing at Shad's handsome face in the candlelight:
“Let’s not talk about this tonight. Come on, Shad.”
She raised her glass and clinked it against Xia De's across the table, and Xia De initiated a new topic:
"Silris told me that after the winter break, the Golden Dawn Opera Company will head to Moon Bay. Vanessa will also be going to Moon Bay then. Once the war begins, there will probably be some friction between Moon Bay and Velendale. Has Vanessa given any instructions on this?"
Margaret shook her head:
"My teacher knows my identity, so she won't give me any orders about this kind of thing. She doesn't want to put me in a difficult position. Besides, as a princess, I don't really have much influence over anything."
Although Lacia had many siblings, the influence she wielded in the North was far greater than that Margaret wielded in the South. Margaret was only ahead in the line of succession to the throne, a position Lacia could not match.
Shad nodded:
"However, I don't think you'll be able to relax. A great war is about to begin, and your father will definitely entrust you with some responsibilities, and with responsibilities comes power."
The two chatted idly as they ate. As the candlelight dinner drew to a close, perhaps due to drinking a little too much red wine, Margaret's face flushed slightly, but she still spoke to Shad:
"Although I refused Professor Benanes's offer, she still sent it as a gift. It was forged by combining the memory power of Sirius, the clay puppet of Professor Benanes, the spatial power of Professor Sylvia, the 'Lock of the Witch' you mentioned, and a relic."
Although the "Puppet Master's Script" eventually disappeared, Professor Benedict left behind another relic that could be used to construct a story.
She paused slightly:
"Shad, could you help me get it from the study on the fourth floor? I'd like to tell you about the coming-of-age gift my teachers gave me while we're having dessert. It's not as real as the Mystic Lock Demon Queen Kingdom you mentioned, but it's an assignment left to me by a teacher who also possesses a Mystic Lock, and it's the path I'll be walking from now on."
"Of course, please wait a moment."
As he spoke, Shad stood up, then used his spatial senses to locate the study on the fourth floor and vanished. Only Margaret and Winnie remained on the garden lawn. The ice maid, who hadn't spoken until now, softly inquired:
Are you sure you still want to do that?
The princess's face turned even redder:
“Winnie, wasn’t this your advice? Why are you asking me again? Things have come to this point, there’s no turning back. Please help me before Shad returns.”
"Ok."
"And another thing."
“No one but Shad and you and I will know. So, Miss Margaret Anjou, please give me all your clothes, I will clean them for you, he will be back soon.”
Unaware of the conversation in the garden downstairs, Shad entered the study and immediately noticed a heavy, gold-red book on the desk. The four elements intertwined in this object—it was indeed a remarkable item.
"Constructing a fairy tale world in a book? Vanessa and the others have really created an amazing alchemical artifact."
Xia De sighed, but because this large book was imbued with spatial power, Xia De was worried that rashly using spatial teleportation with it would cause problems—meaning the item itself would malfunction. So he took the book and chose to go downstairs via the stairs.
The whole trip took Shad less than five minutes. But when he crossed the garden gate again and came to the lawn, he found that the scene in front of him was different from before.
The crystal-clear maid had vanished, and delicious desserts were laid out on the moonlit table, but Margaret was not sitting in her seat.
The moonlight illuminated that pure white body, making it hard to say whether the tablecloth or the blonde princess was whiter.
The desserts were placed in all the appropriate places, and the blonde hair that had been tied up earlier had fallen loose, hanging down from the edge of the table. Perhaps because the holy moonlight, drawn by Shad, still shone here, the scene didn't look strange; it even seemed somewhat holy.
Xia De didn't know why he came up with that adjective.
The princess gazed silently at the moon, already waiting for Shad's arrival. She heard Shad stop his footsteps, but also heard him pause for less than two seconds before walking back to her.
The table is now a bit longer than before, making it easier to place the "plates". The two chairs have also been combined into one and placed next to the long side of the table.
Margaret stared intently at the moon, afraid that she would faint from embarrassment if she met Shad's gaze. She already regretted taking Winnie's advice after she asked her how to make tonight more romantic and different from everyone else's ideas, but as she had just said, it was too late to change anything now.
“Margaret, there’s really no need for this.”
As Xia De, sitting at the table, smelled the enticing aroma, he muttered to himself. Now that he had seen a lot, he felt his heart beating a little too fast.
Margaret remained silent, actually afraid that if she made a sound, she would faint from embarrassment.
Shad then nodded slightly:
"Alright then, thank you for the hospitality."
He didn't sit down immediately, but instead walked around the table to admire the view carefully before pulling out a chair and sitting down. The beauty under the moon was magnificent and breathtaking; such a scene could only exist in reality. Even if Flora were to describe the scene, it would never be as awe-inspiring as seeing it with his own eyes.
He picked up the brand-new silver cutlery that was resting on the edge of the "plate," but then put it down after thinking about it:
"Then I'll start eating."
Cream adorns the mountain peaks, pudding is sprinkled on the plains with their small indentations, and cherries fall perfectly there.
Winnie must have gone to great lengths to arrange all this, but after Margaret began to tremble uncontrollably, Shad gave up enjoying the dessert alone and also fed Margaret the "afternoon tea snacks" that the witches had tasted before—Margaret's trembling was definitely because the early spring night was still chilly.
PS: This part of the story will end in the next chapter.