"Laine, you've become stronger, I can barely recognize you."
"...But you're still the same as I remember, Veronica." Laine smiled casually.
Hearing what she wanted, the witch's smile bloomed like a summer rose.
The two of them took a stroll around the business street and bought a bunch of things. Marinburg's geographic location meant night didn't fall so quickly, but by the time they returned to Amber Avenue 53 with all their purchases, it was already dark.
"Oh! This is fantastic!" Veronica entered the house, with its lavish decor, sandalwood furniture, and carpeted fine wood floors. Clearly, Mueller not only cleaned the place but also sent over many living supplies.
The spacious living room was sufficient to host numerous guests, with all the furniture complete, and the long table in the dining room was laden with silverware. Veronica happily toured the entire first floor before returning to Laine's side: "Tell me, Laine, did you catch some dirt on the Duke of Marinburg? Otherwise, why would he give you this house?"
"I can't really say, as long as you're satisfied." Laine thought about how at noon Teresa was in the same situation, and now it was Veronica instead, giving him a feeling as if a lifetime had passed. Men don't have high requirements for living places, but living well is naturally good.
Following the wooden stairs, the two walked up to the second floor. Veronica naturally pushed open the master bedroom, then started placing her belongings in the room, hanging clothes in the wardrobe, pulling open the curtains, and lighting the magic lamp.
Has she already considered herself the mistress here?
"What are you standing around for? Put your things down, and then tonight we can go up to the third-floor balcony to enjoy the breeze, or... you can stay on the second floor if you prefer." The witch stood in the bedroom, letting the oncoming sea breeze blow her hair and dress.
Unlike Teresa's aloof beauty, Veronica felt radiant, this woman's beauty like a summer rose, radiant, beautiful, but thorny.
Veronica is a wizard apprentice who emerged through constant scheming and struggle. In certain aspects, she's much more fearsome than the smoothly raised Teresa. Laine had witnessed her methods, her grasp of atmosphere and dynamics far surpassed the ordinary.
Looking out the window, in the distance, the lighthouse provided direction for night ships, the port bustling with ships coming and going from everywhere. This is Marinburg, a city thriving with vitality and charm all around the clock, attracting creatures from all over the world.
"We'll be staying here for a while. Remember, no spells or alchemy in the house," Laine first raised his hand, emphasizing tediously: "If you don't like staying here, you can always move back to your mansion."
"I promise you," the witch turned, looking aggrieved: "After months without seeing you, is this what you say to me? Do you subconsciously find me troublesome?"
Feign! Keep feigning! Laine didn't even respond to Veronica's words: "Stay here if you like, tomorrow we'll attend Duke Schultz's banquet in Marinburg. If nothing unexpected happens, we'll meet our target there, Agneda Krausner, the president of the Aesthetic Society."
"A very beautiful woman," Veronica sat on the soft couch in the bedroom, lazily signaling Laine to sit beside her: "She's never sought a husband, although men of all kinds in the city have tried pursuing her, all failing, even many great nobles are infatuated with her beauty, longing for her."
"That's normal, beauty is always appealing. This time, cooperating with Teresa, although there are aspects I'm not satisfied with, surprisingly it's acceptable, so I feel you have some..."
Before Laine could finish his sentence, Veronica grabbed the pillow beside her and threw it at Laine's face.
The White Wolf Knight quickly reached out to catch it: "I didn't say anything wrong."
"Enough, Laine, I don't want to talk about this, Trovik's conditions are much better than mine, she has excellent family background and strong lineage. You see those two Wizard Towers outside? Whenever Lady Aurora nods, she can transport cartloads of gold from their family vault to build them, but for me? I only have you, Laine." The witch's tone softened, she reached out her hands to signal him to hug her.
Laine sighed inwardly, knowing this partner, despite having acting skills, indeed faced disadvantages compared to Teresa's conditions and lineage. Over the years, for a foothold in the Jialan Council, she must have sacrificed so much, only relaxing slightly two years earlier when she became a legendary wizard under Laine's gaze.
In such circumstances, the Jialan Council pushing Teresa to take her place undoubtedly hurt Veronica's sensitive nerves. And the only person she could trust and vent to was Laine, just as she understood Laine, Laine understood her.
Through the silk dress, Laine hugged the woman into his arms: "You live too stressfully."
"Don't tell me that, you have ambition too, and it's bigger than mine." Veronica didn't appreciate his kindness, she just reached out her black lace-covered hand, stroking the man's handsome face: "Don't lie to me, you can't deceive me."
"Everyone carries responsibilities and duties, it's my fate," Laine soothed: "The recent goal is to capture that Fallen Hunter hiding in Marinburg..."
"True, but that's not the focus right now."
"Then what's the focus?"
His lips were sealed with two soft pads. The source of thɪs content is Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
... (Omitted below) ...
The next day, as daylight broke.
In the morning, a cold sea breeze blew into the second-floor room, Laine awoke from sleep, the fireplace still burning, sparks flying, and when he reached out beside him, found Veronica wasn't there.
"Ouch~" He pressed his head up, the Jialan Witch had already changed into a pink rose crochet half-skirt outfit, her jewelry replaced with pearl earrings and an emerald necklace, the neckline of her long dress held high by her proud figure.
The skirt reached about fifteen centimeters above the knees, her long slender black silk legs admired by the man, today she wore red strappy high heels, unlike Teresa who doesn't like wearing stockings, Veronica always had them close by, partly due to her independent nature and the distance she maintained before others.
As for the other reason, Laine thought it might be related to him.
The woman lay on the soft couch, rubbing her aching waist: "Had enough fun? Get up, help me rub, it hurts."
"Hahaha!" Laine laughed endlessly, his face full of unabashed pride. The man washed up quickly, changed clothes, then helped the witch rub her waist: "It's just a reunion, don't be surprised, here, let me help you."
"So I don't get it, what's good about those Demon Hunters? Why do council members always mingle with them? Those Demon Hunters are smelly, always dealing with Chaos creations, and have no money. Is my partner not a hundred times better than those Demon Hunters?" Looking at her partner, Veronica felt a sense of pride she couldn't express.
"Try finding another partner ?"
"That's why I acted quickly! Remember when we first met? Back then you were just a Ranger Knight, coming alone to Celestial Vault Castle to deliver something to Member Dietlinde, and then..." Veronica rubbed her sore waist while reminiscing.
"It's certain your friends can't find partners like me... Well, I need to go to the Saintess Order this morning to hand over Bireg's head to the Lady. Do you want to join me?" After rubbing for a while, with noticeable relief, Laine asked.
"Of course, also, it's too lonely with just the two of us in this house, can we visit the slave market to see if we can buy a few maids?" Veronica stood up, with the man's assistance, then put on her high heels with his help: "My apprentice named Catherine can also be a maid here."
"We'll discuss that later; first, I must correct a mistake you made before we go out," Laine said seriously.
"What mistake?" Veronica already sensed what it might be but deliberately made him say it.
"This skirt is too short!"
"Mm-hmm, narrow-minded partner, let me tell you, do you think I like wearing such a skirt to go out? Who else can I wear it for at home?"