Audrey quickly stepped back into the room and shut the terrace door behind her.
"Every time the ship sets off, a bunch of black soot always falls from that huge smokestack."
This was something of a hallmark of this era.
Moments later, the ship began to tremble slightly. It pushed through the water, slowly pulling away from Pritz Harbour, and gradually picked up speed as it made its way toward the open sea.
Lilith immediately sat upright with great solemnity, ready to face the inevitable seasickness. But aside from a little swaying at the start, it really didn't feel all that different from being on land.
Which left her conflicted.
Was this...going to keep her Big Cat from eating a rat after all?
Once the Emerald reached a steady cruising speed and stabilised, Edward looked toward Audrey—who was now disguised and holding the butterfly-dog-ified Susie in her arms—and offered, "Wanna go for a stroll?"
"Sure."
Just as she was about to open the door, an image flashed through Edward's mind—a person had just sprinted past the doorway at high speed.
So he waited a few seconds before opening the door and stepping out. That person was already gone, but he caught a glimpse of two figures chasing after them—
One of whom looked a little familiar, though he couldn't quite place where he'd seen them before.
"What's wrong?" Audrey peeked her head out, curiously glancing side to side.
"Nothing. Someone just happened to pass by right when I was opening the door. Almost ran into them. Let's go."
The two walked down the tastefully decorated hallway, eventually arriving at the ship's central hall—a vast, luxurious space filled with dining tables, gaming tables, a bar, a dance floor, and all kinds of entertainment for guests. Naturally, none of it was free.
"Wanna try some of the food first?"
The dining area was already more than half full. Dishes had started arriving at some tables, and mouthwatering aromas wafted into the air, spreading all around.
As soon as they sat down, a server came over to pour them each a glass of aperitif and handed them a menu.
"Good day to you both. The Emerald's head chef is from the Hall family's household—he specialises in Loen cuisine, though some of his Southern Continent dishes are quite popular too."
Edward immediately turned to Audrey with a grin.
To think that working at the Hall family estate was enough to make someone a selling point.
Impressive.
Audrey glanced at the chef's picture on the menu and exclaimed with realisation, "Oh, it's him! His steak's not bad. Worth a try. Let's see..."
She looked at Susie. "Let's do...six portions. And these few Southern Continent dishes, bring me one of each."
"Of course. Please wait a moment."
The server couldn't help but glance at Audrey again. To have tasted this chef's cooking, one either had to be a returning Emerald guest—or have dined at the Hall estate.
His gut told him it was the latter.
Once the server left, Audrey leaned in and whispered, "He only ever made Loen food during the years he worked at my place. I'm curious how his Southern dishes turn out."
Just then, seven or eight sailor-looking men carried instruments onto the performance stage. A few formally dressed musicians followed. After bowing to the guests, they took their positions and began to play.
The music was sometimes lively, sometimes tender, clearly meant for dancing. Before long, some guests paired up and made their way to the dance floor, gracefully swaying to the rhythm.
Edward turned and saw Audrey smiling at him.
"Mr. Edward, aren't you going to invite me for a dance?"
"Uh…"
He looked a bit embarrassed.
"I'd love to, but…I don't know how."
"Perfect. I'll teach you."
"Alright!"
Ever since his advancement to Trickmaster, his dexterity and coordination had greatly improved. A slow-paced social dance like this shouldn't be too difficult.
Edward stood up right away, mimicking the other gentlemen as he bent forward slightly and extended a hand.
"My beautiful lady, may I—"
He didn't even finish his sentence before another hand suddenly extended toward Audrey.
"My beautiful lady, may I have this dance?"
Edward: "???"
What the hell?
Who's this guy barging in like this? Trying to force a classic face-slapping scene from a cultivation novel or something?
But to his surprise, Audrey took that outstretched hand. Her expression showed a mix of astonishment and mild frustration.
"Alright."
Edward turned his head and saw the man.
He was dressed in classic noble fashion, with a handsome face and golden hair. No matter the angle, he looked like a perfectly sculpted classical statue.
And crucially, Edward recognised him.
He had seen this man before—at the Hall estate, the very first time he came to the world of mystery.
The Hall family's eldest son.
Audrey's older brother—Hibbert Hall.
"..."
Edward quietly sat back down, looking very well-behaved as he watched the siblings step onto the dance floor.
Lilith leaned in curiously and whispered, "Edward, that other big cat just took Audrey away! Aren't you gonna go get her back?"
Butterfly-dog Susie muttered, "He's Audrey's older brother."
"Ah?"
Edward picked Susie up and asked in a hushed voice, "What's he doing on this ship?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
"I thought you were always secretly keeping an eye on things?"
Susie blinked.
"I only know that the Earl Hall found out a long time ago that Audrey often sneaks off to visit you."
That much, both Edward and Audrey had already guessed.
"Sigh…I wonder if her brother being on this ship is a coincidence—or if he followed her here on purpose."
——
On the other side, the siblings had already begun to chat as they danced.
Audrey pressed her lips together.
"Brother…don't tell me you just happened to be passing by?"
Hibbert smiled slightly.
"Sister, shouldn't you be in your room right now?"
"I—I'll be back there tonight."
"So that means during the day, you're spending time with another boy?"
"Edward is a good friend of mine."
"Oh? Just a friend?"
Audrey frowned slightly. "We're just friends—for now."
A flicker of anger flared in Hibbert's emerald eyes. "You're spending practically every day with him, and you still say you're just friends?"
Audrey was baffled. "So what is it that you want? Do you want us to be just friends, or something else?"
"I want…"
Hibbert took a breath. "I'd prefer if the two of you were complete strangers."
"Hmph!"
She gave a soft snort, then narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "So…the ship didn't leave earlier because you were still boarding? Did Father send you here? Are you here just to watch me?"
"I'm going to Bayam for a business deal."
Liar.
You're just here to keep an eye on me.
Audrey thought for a moment, then asked, "Since you're already here, does that mean I don't have to return tonight?"
"You don't."
He nodded. "I booked a suite and saved a room for you. Just stay there tonight."
Audrey narrowed her eyes and thought for a second. "Fine."
Hibbert breathed a sigh of relief. Judging from her current state, it didn't seem like she had suffered any sort of loss at that guy's hands—yet.
"So, what are you two doing in Bansy this time?"
"It's Edward who's heading to Bansy. I'll be heading home once we arrive."
Hibbert was stunned for a second before his brows knitted. "Is Bansy dangerous?"
"Mhm, Edward said it seems to be polluted by some kind of mysterious power."
"Then why is he still going?"
"Mm…think of it like he's hunting for treasure."
"Hmph!"
He grumbled in dissatisfaction. "I really don't see what's so great about becoming a Beyonder. Alfred only did it because of his position. And you—why would you give up the life of a pampered noble lady, just to take on the risks of madness and loss of control? Do you know how much stress that puts on Mom, Dad, and the rest of us?"
Audrey's expression softened as she heard that. "Thank you for your concern, Brother. But…there are some things I can't tell you just yet. All I can say is, becoming a Beyonder is beneficial—for me, and for the Hall family."
"…"
Hibbert was silent for a moment. "Actually, even without you saying anything, I've picked up on some things. Back in Backlund…no, Loen in general…things might stop being safe, and soon."
As one of the wealthiest families in Loen, the Halls didn't know about George III's plan to become a god, nor were they aware of Adam's ushering of a new era. But they could read signs of shifting tides—like changes in international economics—and from that, they could sense that trouble was brewing.
The Earl of Hall had already predicted that the Kingdom of Loen might soon face war. That's why he had been preparing contingency plans. If a major crisis broke out, they'd be ready to evacuate immediately.
As the music ended, the siblings stepped off the dance floor. Hibbert waved his hand impatiently.
"Alright, go back now."
Audrey hesitated for a few seconds. "Don't want to come say hello?"
Hibbert clenched his jaw. "No need."
"Fine then. See you later, Brother."
When Audrey returned to the table, the dishes they had ordered earlier had already been served.
"Edward, can I start eating now?"
Lilith turned to Edward with her big bright eyes.
"Go ahead."
Edward stepped forward and pulled her chair out for her. "Your brother…?"
"He's going to Bayam on business and just happened to see me," Audrey said with a little wrinkle of her nose. "Next time I go out, I'm going to completely change my appearance. No one's going to recognize me."
"Alright, eat up. It'll get cold."
———
By the time they finished their meal, the sky had darkened. The two stood at the edge of the deck, watching the dark blue waves roll gently under the night sky. Every so often, silver-white flying fish would leap out of the water and glide briefly through the air.
Lilith's round eyes sparkled as she stared at the flying fish, her little paws twitching like she was trying to catch them. Her small mouth kept babbling with curiosity—
"Edward, how do fish fly?"
"Can cats fly too?"
"Miss Lilith wants to fly!"
"That way it'd be easier to catch mice!"
Susie, still in her butterfly dog form, lay to the side silently observing the people walking past. She couldn't help but mutter, "Then you'd better become an owl."
"Owl?"
Lilith shook her head instantly. "Miss Lilith doesn't like owls. They're too noisy!"
Edward and Audrey exchanged a smile. They really did feel like a married couple taking their child out for a vacation. Beautiful scenery in the distance; a noisy kid by their side.
"Hm?"
Edward's gaze sharpened as he noticed two figures weaving through the crowd. One of them was that familiar silhouette he had glimpsed earlier.
At that moment, the two figures turned and walked toward them. One was a man in a grey wool coat and a gentleman's hat. He had a full beard and held a pipe in his mouth. His grey eyes were strikingly familiar.
The other was a woman in a hooded black robe, wearing blue eyeshadow and blush, exuding a strangely enchanting beauty.
After a moment of confusion, Edward identified them—Dunn and Daly!
But what were they doing here?
Since Edward had changed his appearance, Dunn didn't recognise him. After scanning the deck briefly, the two turned around and headed back into the cabin.
"What's the matter?"
Audrey followed Edward's line of sight and saw the pair as they walked away. "Are they Beyonders?"
Just then, Daly seemed to sense something and turned her head, meeting Audrey's gaze. Audrey remained calm, offering a polite smile and a nod.
"The man in the wool coat is my former team captain from Tingen. The woman is a Nighthawk from the Church of the Evernight."
"Huh? But didn't Captain Dunn fake his death to leave the Nighthawks?"
"He's probably not acting under official orders right now. And as for that lady…well, let's just say, it's mutual pining between the two of them."
"Ah?"
Audrey's gossip senses tingled. "Tell me everything—right now."
———
[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.