Chapter 138 - 133: The Best Gift
The carriage came to a steady halt on the gravel path of Baron Kaman’s mansion.
Xiaolan clutched the corner of her clothes, her palms slick with sweat.
Through the carriage window, she could see the beautiful building and the young noble lady standing at the entrance to welcome them.
Xiaolan knew her younger sister was here.
Velin was the first to disembark. He walked up to the young noblewoman and, with a very natural gesture, reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair that the wind had mussed behind her ear.
"Lilia, thank you for waiting," he said, his tone gentle.
Lilia shook her head, her clear eyes looking past Velin to the anxious figure inside the carriage.
"Brother, you should come back and visit more often," she said softly, then cast an encouraging smile at Xiaolan. "She’s waiting for you inside. Go on."
Those simple words gave Xiaolan endless courage.
She gathered her skirt and practically ran from the carriage.
Passing through the marble foyer, she immediately spotted the figure standing on the landing of the staircase. It really was Xiaoling!
She was more than a head taller than Xiaolan remembered, with an upright posture. She wore a perfectly tailored maid’s uniform, its collar starched stiff.
Her younger sister just stood there quietly, like a graceful white narcissus.
Xiaolan’s steps slowed, her heart pounding violently in her chest.
She walked up to her sister, so overcome with emotion she didn’t know what to do with her hands. As if presenting a treasure, she took her gifts out of a coarse cloth bundle.
"Xiao-Xiaoling... look, I brought you... something to eat..."
She opened a small, rough wooden box. Inside were a few candied fruits she had traded her merit points for.
In Newly Town, these were a top-tier luxury.
"And this, for when it’s cold at night..."
She then pulled out a scarf she had stayed up all night knitting. The stitches were a bit crooked, and the wool was coarse.
Xiaoling didn’t look at the gifts; her gaze remained fixed on her sister’s face.
It was only then that Xiaolan finally got a clear look at the details of her sister’s attire.
She saw the small, silver thorn-flower brooch pinned to her collar.
Although she didn’t know it, this signified that Xiaoling was already the head maid of the Baron’s Mansion.
Just from the look of the brooch alone, Xiaolan knew it was more valuable than everything in her bundle combined.
An immense sense of shame washed over Xiaolan.
’Is this really my sister?’
’This uniform, this brooch... compared to them, the things in my hands look like they were dug out of the mud.’
’In Xiaoling’s life, these things are probably worse than what even the city’s craftsmen use...’
’I... I’m such a failure as an older sister.’
Her face flushed beet red, and she subconsciously tried to hide the items behind her back.
Just then, Xiaoling’s tense expression quickly softened.
She rushed forward and threw her arms around her sister, burying her face deep into her sister’s dusty shoulder as muffled, suppressed sobs began to sound.
"Sister... you came back... that’s better than anything..."
"You’re alive... that’s the best gift of all..."
Xiaolan froze.
She felt the dampness on her shoulder and the trembling of her sister’s body.
All her feelings of inferiority and shame melted away in that embrace. She dropped the things in her hands and hugged her sister back tightly.
The two of them wept in each other’s arms.
At the top of the stairs, Velin had just used [Inspect] on Xiaoling. Unfortunately, she didn’t possess a rare bloodline like Xiaolan’s.
He then turned to Lilia. "It seems they need some time alone. I’m going to pay a visit to Uncle Leman."
...
Count Leman’s study was as tidy and functional as ever.
On the enormous military map of Green Vein City, there seemed to be many new markings.
Velin pushed a small, exquisite box to the center of the desk.
Count Leman raised his eyelids and opened the lid with great interest.
Two pills, shimmering with a deep blue light, lay quietly on a velvet cushion.
"I’ve named it ’The Last Knight’s Grand Tournament.’"
Count Leman’s eyebrow twitched slightly, a cryptic smile on his face.
’What a name, full of youthful fantasy.’
But the disdain in his eyes was fleeting; instead, he began to examine the two pills more seriously.
His nephew had been corresponding with him frequently of late, asking about potion theory and key points for commercial production.
Velin calmly explained, "It can allow those old and frail gentlemen to relive the peak moment of their lives."
Leman knew what he was referring to. The family had been in the potion business for over a hundred years, and there had been no shortage of people who had tried, but they had never found a material that could affect an Extraordinary physique.
"Velin, the market doesn’t believe in stories, only results," Count Leman said calmly, slowly turning the jade ring on his finger. "I will assess the true value of this gift of yours."
He picked up one of the pills and handed it to the old butler standing behind him.
"Feed it to ’Old Iron Tusk.’"
Old Iron Tusk was a Level 3 Magical Beast, an "Iron Tusk Mastiff" that was so old it had lost all its teeth. It was the battle pet that had made the Count famous in his youth.
The old butler bowed slightly and took the pill with both hands.
"As you command, Master. Should I observe and record the results?"
"Of course."
Leman waved his hand, dismissing Velin.
Velin turned and walked straight out of the study without another word.
He knew that, at the earliest, a carriage from the Earl’s Mansion would come to summon him tomorrow morning.
...
Xiaoling’s room was clean and tidy, filled with sunlight and the faint scent of flowers.
Xiaolan sat on the edge of the bed, letting her sister comb her dry, messy, pale-gold hair with a walnut wood comb.
"Is life in Newly Town very hard?"
Xiaoling’s tone was gentle, and her movements were slow and careful.
"N-no, it’s not hard! Lord Velin gave me a job, and he’s even training me personally. He said it can activate my bloodline..."
Completely unguarded, Xiaolan poured out the whole story of how Velin had "saved" her, "guided" her, and found her sister, her voice filled with gratitude and admiration.
In her telling, Velin was a strict and mysterious, yet benevolent and gentle savior.
Xiaoling listened quietly, her hand never pausing its combing, but her expression grew increasingly strange.
’Personally "guiding" those kinds of movements?’
’And he made a special trip to bring my sister back to Green Vein City?’
’Then there’s that young lady from the Golden Sail Commerce Association, Caroline, that my sister mentioned...’
’This sounds just like one of those Knight novels Miss Lilia reads...’
Xiaoling’s mind instantly started turning. Looking at her naive and timid older sister, she felt a mix of love and exasperation.
’Such a good opportunity... how can she possibly seize it, acting like this?’
’She can’t be an assassin her whole life, can she?’
’No, I have to help her!’
"Sister," Xiaoling said, putting down the comb. She moved to stand in front of Xiaolan and, looking her straight in the eyes, asked seriously, "How do you feel about Lord Velin?"
"I... I..." Xiaolan was caught completely off guard. Images flashed through her mind: Lord Velin’s focused gaze, the restrained touch as he corrected her posture, and those training movements that left her feeling embarrassed and helpless... Her face went WHOOSH, turning completely ripe red. She was so flustered she couldn’t speak, only shake her head desperately.
Seeing her sister’s reaction, Xiaoling understood completely.
A motherly smile, unbefitting her age, appeared on her young face. ’Oh, sister, you’re so easy to read.’
’But this feeling is too fragile. That Lord Velin is surrounded by "powerful rivals." You definitely can’t do it on your own, sister.’
’I have to forge a lock for you that no one can break, a lock that will make him feel heart-wrenching pain if he even thinks of abandoning you.’
"Mm, you’re tired, sister. Get some rest." Xiaoling and Xiaolan fell asleep in an embrace. "From now on, I’ve got your back."