Laine walked to the side of the Lake Fairy as instructed: "My Lady?"
"伸出你的右手,我的冠军 (Extend your right hand, my champion)." The Lake Fairy indicated for Laine to extend his right hand. She reached out with her slender jade-like fingers, removed flowers and ribbons from herself, and carefully wove them into a bracelet, slipping it onto Laine's wrist: "Happy Winter Festival! My champion."
"Happy Winter Festival! My Lady!" Laine gently kissed the back of the Lake Fairy's hand, which was as smooth as mutton jade.
One person and one god exchanged a smile, and then the Lake Fairy disappeared from the room in dazzling white light.
Laine respectfully saw off the Lake Fairy and then went downstairs. He noticed Amelia staring blankly upstairs, and he joked: "What's wrong? Trying to guess what the Lady and I talked about?"
"No! Not at all!" Amelia's face turned red, and she instinctively retorted.
"It was nothing, just chatting with the Lady of the Lake." Laine shrugged, casually sitting in an armchair in the first-floor living room: "Amelia, it's really just the two of us now."
"Yes, it's just the two of us." Amelia absentmindedly replied to Laine, then said nothing more.
"Ah~ people come and go, even gods. In the end, the reliable one by my side is still Alfred. Let's invite him over for a turkey dinner tonight!" Laine didn't know why he wanted to say more, perhaps because Amelia, this little maid who could listen but wouldn't say much, was a great confidant.
"Trustworthy friends are always rare and precious." Surprisingly, Amelia's response was more peculiar. The rightful source is NoveIꜰire.net
"By the way, Amelia, my task is completed now. Fallen Hunter Belte is dead, and the Aesthetic Society has been sealed off, so you don't have to stay with me anymore." Laine took out an iron pot, directly heating it with spiritual energy to make himself a cup of hot milk: "Of course, I won't force you to leave. Whether you want to stay or go, it's up to you!"
"I said I would repay your kindness, and I will stay as long as you don't chase me away." Amelia placed her small hands on the hem of her long skirt on her knees, answering earnestly, her beautiful eyes blinking, looking pitiful, like someone nobody wanted.
"As long as you don't intend to leave, you're always welcome here, Amelia." Laine lifted his cup and took a large sip of hot milk: "The premise is that you're a maid."
"If Mr. Laine has no other needs, I'm just a maid." The little maid held her skirt, carefully answering, knowing what Laine meant.
After eliminating Belte, Laine's life experienced a brief period of tranquility. He spent most of his time residing on Amber Avenue, occasionally doing things for Schultz as Marinburg's Guardian.
About two weeks later, Marinburg welcomed its annual Winter Festival.
Early in the morning, snowflakes like goose feathers started to fall in Marinburg. Dark skies and gusts of cold wind were frequent. Every year, it almost always snowed during the Winter Festival, yet this couldn't dampen people's enthusiasm. Amidst the snow and cold wind, successes or failures, happiness or sadness from the past year all became the past. The new year was about to unfold with the arrival of the Winter Festival. People decorated their houses with various adornments. On this day, no matter how garishly dressed, no one would laugh at you, as everyone tried to dress up to celebrate the Winter Festival's arrival.
Except this year, Marinburg's Winter Festival seemed somewhat desolate. The eradication of the Aesthetic Society's impact was felt in all aspects of Marinburg. Many artists and minstrels felt insecure under the scrutiny of the Sea God Knight and the Iris Guard. Choosing to lay low, the atmosphere of the annual grand festival was significantly diluted.
Early in the morning, Laine woke from his dream. Snow was flying outside the window, while inside, the temperature was just right. The fireplace was still working, the unburned wood emitting red flames. Laine, upon waking, didn't immediately rise but instead lingered in bed for once, savoring the warmth of the winter bedding.
Because only during this time of year, whether farmers, city dwellers, or nobles, would they not be reprimanded for staying in bed, as even the Emperor of the Empire had the right to laze in bed. Starting today, the two-week Winter Festival holiday was a national enjoyment. Most court affairs, unless during war or emergency, would temporarily cease. Nobles' time would be filled with banquets, hunting, and various social events. This is why Laine, despite his fame, would temporarily not receive invitations, as traditionally, new enfeoffments generally waited until spring.
Leaning against the pillow, Laine reminisced about the past, his time living with his foster father Norman in Nord Autune Territory. Norman was a bad-tempered, odd character, yet within his strict demands for Laine was a deep paternal love and hope for Laine's future success. Every year during the Winter Festival, the family would enjoy a turkey dinner and his foster mother's delicious baked apple pies.
Thinking of this, Laine couldn't help but feel a faint longing for his foster parents, wondering how they were doing this year.
Ah~ if Veronica were here, I could do this, and that, and then... Laine daydreamed for a while before deciding to get out of bed.
After washing up and coming downstairs, Laine found Amelia already dressed in her maid outfit and busy working. The little maid had impressive work efficiency. Despite being the only one, she still kept the three-story mansion impeccably clean.