Whispering Verse

Leaving Priest Augustus at Dr. Schneider's place, Shade returned home in the evening with worry, but did not expect Dorothy and Luvia to be there. Shade also told them about Priest Augustus, and the writer and the fortune teller were also very worried.

Luvia even proposed to do a divination for Priest Augustus, but the divination card she randomly drew represented "light".

The meaning of this card is "a hopeful future", which can be regarded as one of the best divination results for divination, so Luvia reassured Shade that if the priest really encounters other situations, they will all help. .

Luvia actually did not leave that night, but participated in Shade and Dorothy's classes.

Every Saturday night in the past month, although Dorothy or Lesia would appear at Shade's home, in fact, they did not conduct too many learning activities during the Saturday classes during this period. There are more entertainment activities.

Now that they have been resting for a month, the writer and the princess are also interested in starting a new study. They believed that they were actually choosing the fairy tale lock for Shade, because they were the ones who started the course every time, and then Shade would obtain the fairy tale secret lock after two to three months.

"So what is the content of this study?"

Luvia, who was sitting on the side of the desk, asked with great interest. The gas light in the study illuminated the faces of the two girls. The warm family atmosphere made Shade even more grateful to Detective Sparrow for staying with him. this house.

"My low-level and middle-level sublimation words are "Match Girl" and "Cinderella", and Lesia's low-level sublimation words are "Sleeping Princess". Shade has already studied these three stories. Next time it’s Leziya’s sublimation words in the middle circle.”

Luvia already knows the secrets of the writer and the princess, so this topic can be discussed directly in front of her.

"It's a fairy tale about mermaids, oceans and love. It just so happens that Lesia is also teaching Agelina similar content. We have a lot of related materials in hand."

"Speaking of which, has Agelina chosen the low-level sublimation word?"

Shade asked curiously. The princess of Delarion joined Zarath Literary Academy, so naturally she didn't have to wait half a year to read Zarath Literary Academy's "Code of Ascension".

Dorothy nodded:

"It was chosen this week, and the witches all agree: silence of mind, clearing the fog, and seeing the truth. [Mind] [Silence] [Mist] [Eye], and Agelina's own core spiritual rune [Reality]."

"So it seems that Zarath Academy of Literature and the Witch Council intend to make Agelina a ring warlock with strong perception?"

Luvia asked:

"The Word of Ascension Prophet Association also has it. If she is willing, she can even gain access to some divination knowledge."

"Yes, the professors at Zarath School of Literature believe that Agelina's perception and soul sensitivity are extremely high, and the [real] spirit rune is more suitable for her. Her situation is different from ours, and she is neither like Shade" Geniuses of moonlight spells and time investigation are not natural diviners like you, Luvia, nor are ring warlocks like me and Lesia who specialize in enlightenment elements. They are also good at perception, although the inspiration is too high sometimes. Dangerous, but most of the time it helps her avoid danger.”

Shade also nodded, agreeing with her.

Then the writer lady brought the topic back to tonight’s study:

"The fairy tale called [Mermaid Princess] has long been known to every household, so there are many versions of the story that have been passed down to this day. But it is generally divided into two parts. The first part is about a mermaid princess who lives on the bottom of the sea and meets a prince who is drowned at sea. And rescued him; in the second part, the mermaid princess paid the price to become a human, but in the end she failed to get the love of the prince."

After saying this, Dorothy still shook her head;

"That girl is really stupid. She has so much power. Even if she wants to snatch him, she still wants to snatch the prince back. But she actually watched the prince get married and blessed them. I even doubted whether she was too innocent."

Luvia snickered on the side, while Shade suspected that Lesia said this, which was in line with the character of the "domineering" princess.

"This story is indeed very famous, and I have heard of it too. Speaking of which, Miss Aurora's family has been friends with mermaids for generations. During the Battle of Green Lake, she even asked mermaids to help. She didn't know that the mermaid race itself has no influence on the mermaid race. What do you think of the story? Maybe this is also a story that really happened."

Shade said, and Dorothy thought for a moment:

"This is a very interesting research direction. Lesia and I have not seen similar papers. However, the mermaid race lives in the sea. In the sixth era, it is rare to talk to human ring magicians. This is not very easy to investigate. Lecia has two mermaid scales in her hand, and I can bring them to our study next week, which will help us feel the power of the sea."

Shade originally thought there were other arrangements tonight, but he didn't expect that the night class lasted until after 9:30, and "Teacher Louisa" actually got up and said she was going to rest.

She wasn't joking. After washing, she actually went to the first floor with Luvia. When Shade was holding the cat on the first floor and watching the girls waving to him and saying good night, Luvia even warned:

"Shadow, don't knock on our door tonight. If you respect the girls, just spend the night in your bedroom with your cat."

Shade believed that the expression on his face at this moment must be wonderful, but since both Dorothy and Luvia rejected him, he did not go downstairs that night. Therefore, it was rare that little Mia was not locked up on Saturday night. into the closet.

After a peaceful night, at 6:30 on Sunday morning, the sound of a cat meowing woke Shade up on time. The stranger stretched out his hand and pressed the cat's head. The small cat knew that Shade had woken up, so it squatted there and stopped making any sound.

"The 22nd of the Sunshine Moon, today is Sunday, a year ago it was Saturday."

He looked at the now very familiar ceiling, and then thought that one year ago today, this was Sparrow Hamilton's bedroom, and the same detective was lying in the same position at this time. One year ago today, on the side of the bed, a foreigner who had just "awakened" was panicking because of the unfamiliar environment.

"That was an early morning too."

He continued to think in his mind, but the cat next to him started barking impatiently. It was urging Shade to get up quickly instead of lying in bed and wasting his life in a daze.

"I know, I know."

He sat up from the bed, waved his hand, and the curtains opened automatically, revealing the gray morning scenery outside the window.

"A year ago, I got this house here, got [The Impermanent Silver Moon], and also heard your voice."

Someone chuckled in my ear, and the gentle smile cleared away the tiredness when I first got up.

【Do you need me to say something? 】

"She" asked softly, and Shade said while putting on his slippers:

"OK."

[When the cold wind in early summer dispersed the heavy fog, the strangers woke up again on the shining silver moon. The adventures of the past year have made you tired, but the strength and emotions that have settled in your soul have also enriched you. After passing the first year, the wind blows the fallen leaves into the second year. This world, the sixth era, the summer of 1854, the day when the silver moon shines, good morning, I wish you like this world, my dear stranger. 】

Shade's mood suddenly became very good, and even his steps out of the room became much lighter.

Surprisingly, a hot breakfast was already placed on the dining table, but there were no girls making breakfast on the second floor. And when Shade went downstairs to find Luvia and Dorothy for dinner, the two girls were actually gone.

I went to get goat milk and newspapers outside the door, only to find a letter in the milk box.

There was no stamp on the envelope, and there was no return address written on it. The content of the letter was spelled out one by one using words cut out from newspapers:

[The Detective of Tobesk:

Your cherished treasures have been taken away by me and hidden in every corner of this city. You must find them all before sunset, otherwise]

The words in the crooked newspaper are too big, so after reading this part, you have to turn to the next page.

[Otherwise you will not be allowed to attend tonight's party. The first clue is in this letter, and you will be able to find it with your wisdom.

Note: Remember to have breakfast before searching, don't run around the city hungry. Your babies won't be hurt by your late arrival, so don't worry. 】

"A challenge for famous detectives? A unique way to celebrate a birthday, but I feel like they are treating me like a child."

Shade thought to himself and walked up the stairs with the things in his hands:

"Let's leave after eight o'clock."

[Did you find the first clue? 】

"It's so simple. You can tell by touching the materials of these newspaper clippings that they all come from the Steam Bird Daily. The newspaper office starts work at eight o'clock. If you go there too early, there will be nothing to do."

At eight o'clock sharp, Shade, wearing a black coat and a brown deerstalker hat with little Mia on his shoulders, arrived at the Steam Bird Daily newspaper office in the University District. But after entering the newspaper office, apart from greeting acquaintances, he did not find any girls he knew well. He even learned after asking that he was the first outsider to enter the newspaper office this morning.

However, after careful inquiry, I learned that the newspaper received a strange anonymous letter this morning. After asking for permission, Shade opened it and saw a riddle written inside:

[It looks like a painting but not a painting; it looks like a mirror but not a mirror. During the day it is a painting, and at night it is like a mirror. 】

"Window. Sorry."

The puzzled detective walked to the window and saw the carriage parked at the door of the newspaper office downstairs. Shade went downstairs, and sure enough he saw Dorothy smiling happily at him at the carriage window. The carriage obviously belonged to Miss Carina. The driver looked normal, but was actually a maid dressed in men's clothing.

After getting on the carriage, Miss Writer kissed the side of his face, but then another person in the carriage, Luvia, pulled Dorothy aside.

The girl with purple eyes in a black dress hugged Dorothy's neck. With her right hand under the white lace cuff, she placed a sharp silver table knife in front of the writer's neck.

The girl in black skirt said to Shade:

"Oh, detective, I didn't expect you to solve my mystery so easily. But you are still a step late. Now, I am going to hide this blonde girl again. Go, get out of here quickly. I found the first one like you. Don’t be complacent, you will never find your other treasures.”

Shade blinked:

"What would you do if I wanted to fight you here?"

As he spoke, he grabbed Luvia's hand holding the knife. The purple-eyed girl did not struggle, but smiled and said:

"Then let's fight."

The car started slowly and drove into a side alley, and the two girls in the car had already grabbed Xia De's arms. Amidst the meowing of cats, workers carrying a pile of boxes happened to stack those boxes at the entrance of the alley, blocking the parked carriage.

Half an hour later, the carriage left the alley, and the detective, whose face was covered with lipstick marks and whose clothes were disheveled, was "kicked" out of the carriage because he "failed" in the fight.

He hurriedly arranged his clothes, and then caught the handkerchief floating out of the carriage compartment.

"Miss Carina's perfume."

He knew it after a slight sniff. He watched the workers blocking the alley carrying boxes away, and then noticed the twelve strangely arranged stitches in the lower left corner of the handkerchief:

"This is the star map of the Southern Cross? Oh, I know, Lucky Southern Cross Club!"

So the detective, who had tidied his clothes, adjusted his mood and took the unhappy cat with him to the club on Glass Mountain Avenue in the north of the city, where Shade and Miss Carina first met.

As expected, that club that has now become a "kidnapping accomplice" will not let Shade enter easily. From the moment he entered the door, the detective with the cat defeated a total of 7 maids with Rhodes cards before entering the third floor, and completed the final multiplayer card game with three maids including Tifa at the stairway of the third floor. Bureau, was allowed to enter the room deep in the club.

In that dark and familiar study, Shade met the beautiful duchess. Similarly, a purple-eyed female fortune teller wearing a long black dress has also arrived here in advance.

Tifa temporarily retreated with the maids, and the two ladies who were drinking tea and chatting just now also put down their teacups:

"Oh, detective, detective, maybe I really underestimated your ability. But so what if you find your second treasure, she still fell into my hands after all."

Shade doubted that Dorothy had written all these lines. Luvia spoke them as if she were reading lines from a stage play.

The fortune teller in black skirt took out the silver table knife again and put it against the neck of the duchess, who was smiling happily:

"Help me, detective, I will give you everything I have to repay you."

"Yes, I'm here to save you."

With that said, Shade put the cat on the sofa, took off his coat and hat, and reached out to the kidnapper and the duchess.

The fight in the room continued for more than an hour again. When the disheveled Shade walked out of the room holding the cat, it was already eleven o'clock that morning.

The maids outside the door were laughing, but they still helped Shad tidy up his clothes under the leadership of Tifa, wiped off the lipstick marks on his face and neck, and sprayed perfume to cover up some strange smells.

After finishing this, Shade still wanted to talk to the two ladies inside the door, such as having lunch together, but the maids surrounded him and returned to the first floor. The black-haired maid said seriously:

"Detective, your lateness caused you to miss the second treasure. Fortunately, the loyal maid took down the key clues when the owner was taken away. The clues are cats, and there are three of them. The detective's wisdom will definitely be able to help Let's bring back the poor mistress."

The girls laughed again, and Shade nodded to Tifa:

"I know, this time it's the Three Cats Hotel."

The Three Cats Inn, like the club, is in the north of the city, so it can even be reached quickly on foot.

Because it was already noon, there were quite a lot of guests at the Three Cats Hotel and the business was quite busy. When Shade walked in, he glanced around and saw no familiar girls, so he went to the female shopkeeper, Mrs. Sangmei, for help.

When the middle-aged woman wearing an apron saw Sha De coming over, she immediately smiled:

"I don't know what you are doing, but young people today are really good at playing. Listen, young detective!"

Her rich voice almost scared the cat on Shade's shoulder:

"Yes, a strange stranger did appear here today. A strange lady who imprisoned two butterflies in a cage, wore a black dress full of malice and curses, and rented the room upstairs."

As she said that, she put the key into Shade's hand and winked at Shade:

"Detective, I don't want bad people living in my property. Please help me get rid of her."

Shade then took the key to the third floor and opened the door to the room. Grace and Helen, who were sitting on the sofa talking, saw that it was Shade who opened the door and immediately kicked him out:

"Get out quickly, get out quickly, the kidnappers haven't arrived yet, you can't come in."

"Wait a minute, can't you just leave Middleburg so easily?"

"Oh, get out quickly, the kidnappers haven't arrived yet!"

Of course, Luvia hasn't arrived yet. She should still be cleaning up and washing up in the club. Shade deliberately tested whether she could get in front of him every time.

So Shade went downstairs to have lunch with Mia first, which took twenty minutes. When the door to the room was opened again, Luvia had arrived this time.

Behind the purple-eyed fortune teller, the pitiful girls in white and black skirts had their hands tied together. Their blue eyes looked at Shade with a look of help.

Shade wanted to step forward, but was glared at by Luvia, so he asked:

"It seems that this time, I came a step too late. So, you want to threaten me with a knife again?"

"No, detective, you have been against me so many times today, I want to punish you."

The purple-eyed girl said, pointing to Helen and Grace:

"I'm going to humiliate you three. Now do as I say or I'm going to hurt them with a knife. You have no choice. Now, take off your coat and put that dangerous cat aside."

The knight of justice originally just wanted to rescue the butterfly sisters who were captured by the "bad guys", but in the end he did various things under coercion.

And by the time he took a shower and left the room with Mia in his arms, it was almost two o'clock in the afternoon.

The cat lay in his arms with a stinky face, perhaps regretting following the detective out today.

The next clue is not here. The detective who was kicked out again left the Three Cats Hotel by following the last clue left by the butterfly sisters before their "coma", a red butterfly that only he could see. Walking less than a hundred steps north along the street outside Psalm Square, we stopped in front of the gate with a kerosene lamp hanging at the door.

This is the theater in the north of the city where Dorothy once brought Shad, and the Jasmine Opera Troupe performed here.

After paying the 8 pence ticket, Shade followed Hongdie and walked in. After watching the slightly vulgar stage play "The Serpent of Love" performed in the afternoon, he received a quill and understood what he was going to do next. Where to go.

He took the cat to Quill Street where Dorothy lived. After knocking on the door of Building B at No. 211, the landlady looked him up and down before letting Shade in.

Dorothy rented the entire third floor, but the first thing Shade saw was Lesia sitting on the sofa, and then he saw the writer lady holding a knife and wearing a very familiar black skirt. The latter said:

"Detective, you do it again."

"I'll interrupt, why did you change the actor? Is this Luvia's dress? Where is Luvia?"

Miss Writer frowned slightly, dissatisfied with Shade for interrupting her:

"Don't talk nonsense. Luvia has performed three performances and is going to rest. Do you think she is the same as you? Now I will take over her. This time the Red Butterfly Day starts from now. You remember the date. Next time you Let’s arrange it.”

Her Royal Highness the Princess on the sofa coughed twice and signaled them to return to the topic, so Dorothy continued:

"Detective, you have found clues and traced her here again, but this beautiful princess is still my prey. If you want to take her away, you must defeat me."

Lesia said cooperatively:

"Detective, you can definitely defeat this woman, right?"

The writer lady snorted:

"Your Highness, shut your mouth. You have been kidnapped by me now. Just watch here and let me compete with this detective."

"That's not right, Dorothy, although we are one, you cannot eat alone."

After saying that, she actually stood up, and then walked towards Shade with Miss Writer.

Dorothy did not fulfill her promise this time. Even though Shade defeated them, he still failed to get his princess back. At around three o'clock in the afternoon, he walked out of the apartment and returned to Quill Street. The cat that was lying on the windowsill taking a nap just now was sleeping soundly in his arms. The last clue was the last words Lecia said to him before leaving:

"The girls of the Cavendish family will not give in."

"It's impossible to have the Cavendish Yodel Palace, Miss Carina's manor."

This time, Shade didn't even need to rent a carriage. The carriage that had been waiting for him had already arrived at his side.

We took a carriage and arrived at the manor on the northern outskirts of the city. The place looked no different from before. As soon as they entered the mansion, they saw Megan being dragged upstairs by someone. But Megan was out of town, and Shade was surprised that she could come.

So the detective investigated all the way and finally came to the bedroom in the manor that belonged exclusively to the duchess.

The maid outside the door took away little Mia, and opened the bedroom door. Shade was shocked by the red and brown hair hanging down everywhere, making the whole bedroom look like a spider's nest.

If you look carefully, it is obvious that the witches have allowed their hair to grow to the limit, and then it has spread like silk and satin throughout the bedroom.

When Shade walked out of the hair hanging from the ceiling, spreading and intertwining, and came to the bedside, he saw Miss Carina in a black dress holding a table knife and pressing it against the neck of the brown-haired witch on the bed. :

"Detective, although you found the last treasure, you also fell into my trap."

"Changing actors again? Oh, I mean, what trap?"

The red-haired witch smiled and dropped the knife. Megan also sat up, holding her hand at the same time. Audrey, who was hiding under the quilt, also appeared with a smile:

"I'm so sorry, detective. In fact, I was the one who directed all this and deliberately lured you here exhausted after a day of running around."

"And now, you still have the strength, are you ready to face the final enemy?"

Red, brown, and brown, the three people's long hair gathered towards the bed under control, and then it really seemed like a trap, entangling Shade. The witches smiled and took his hand:

"Let's see where you hide now."

In the evening, the setting sun dyed half of the sky red. Shade, who had been busy all day in a practical sense, walked out of the manor's bath while wiping his hair with a towel.

The maid led the way, and after entering the manor's dining room, the white tablecloth was already filled with gold and silver utensils and delicacies, and a huge five-layer cake was placed in the center of the table. On the top of the cake, there is a chocolate-made sign featuring a detective in black and an orange and white kitten.

Luvia, Lesia, Dorothy, Carina, Megan, Audrey, and Helen Grace, all dressed in gorgeous gowns, were already waiting for him in the restaurant. Even Agelina and Iluna stood with them with a smile.

Seeing the protagonist of the banquet arrive, the ladies who were standing at the table chatting and laughing just now picked up the wine glasses at the table. Under the crystal chandelier, their eyes sparkled as brightly as their jewelry.

The foreigners a year ago are now wondering at dusk whether they can still receive relief food in time, but the foreigners a year later no longer have to worry about this problem.

"Shadow, happy birthday."

They raised their glasses together and said, Tifa, who was helping to hold little Mia, pushed Shade gently, so that Shade was surrounded by the ladies who came:

"Shadow, happy birthday."

"Shadow, happy birthday."

Light and smiles surrounded him, and the outsider felt like he had been lost in the congratulations. I don’t know if the blurred lights were enchanted by magic, but those familiar faces, laughter, and this night will surely remain in his heart forever.

[Xia De, happy birthday. 】

"She" also whispered in Shade's ear at this time.

"Is this really my birthday?"

When Luvia pulled his sleeves to cut the cake, Shade asked in his mind.

[Is this important? 】

One year later, "her" laughter is still as pleasant as it was at the beginning. Like the light night wind, like the gentle night moon, and more like the gentlest shadow in Xia De's heart.

Yes, it doesn't matter at all.