The sky gradually darkened.
The afterglow of the sunset fell upon the windowsill.
Aililan finally put away her paper and pen, stretched with a big yawn, and said, “Another hard day for me!”
Economy and governance, as people call them.
What’s imagined, what’s written in books, what others say—when put into actual practice, they’re completely different things.
Aililan admitted that perhaps she had some rather advanced ideas, but due to the limitations of her era and this world, it was unrealistic to apply many methods mechanically.
Still, she was eager to learn. All the books she’d brought from the Sanctuary Library were being diligently read.
At the same time, she was humble enough to seek out Bishop Wilma whenever she encountered confusion in practice.
“Mm-hmm.”
“Cough, cough, cough—”
A soft cough came from by the door.
Theresa appeared somewhat embarrassed, lowered her head, and said, “Miss Aililan, are you about to leave?”
Aililan smiled gently and said, “Yes, it’s getting rather late.”
Theresa looked even more troubled. “Um…”
Aililan was a bit puzzled. “Miss Theresa?”
“Ah, um, I… I just wanted to ask, Miss Aililan, would you like to stay for dinner before you go? It’s nothing fancy, just some ordinary food.”
Aililan: ?
What’s gotten into this blind girl today?
Soon, she had a flash of realization—it must be because Theresa saw how much she did today and wanted to thank her. Well, that’s not necessary!
But seeing Theresa’s conflicted expression, Aililan’s heart softened, and she said, “Then I’ll trouble you, Miss Theresa, to prepare an extra portion for me for dinner.”
Theresa’s expression lit up, and she nodded solemnly, “Alright, of course.”
If she were just eating by herself, using coarse wheat flour to make some tough, dry black bread would have been enough. But now, she was hosting Miss Aililan!
Theresa took out her treasured fine flour.
Kneading, fermenting—she moved quickly and skillfully.
As if it still wasn’t formal enough, Theresa solemnly took out a piece of cured beef brisket, as well as some carrots and potatoes.
She soaked and cut the beef brisket into pieces.
Then added in the carrots and potatoes.
Gradually, a delicious aroma filled the house. Aililan sneaked a piece to eat.
Theresa scolded playfully, “Miss Aililan, it’s not ready yet!”
Aililan exaggerated, praising her, “It tastes this good even before it’s done? I can’t even imagine how delicious it’ll be when it’s finished!”
“It’s not as good as you say.”
“How could I possibly fool you?”
“Of course you wouldn’t fool me… I, I didn’t mean that, I’m not, I didn’t want you to praise me… As long as you like it.”
The pure-hearted blind girl simply couldn’t out-talk Aililan. Theresa also knew that her cooking wasn’t as wonderful as Aililan made it sound, but that didn’t stop her heart from blooming with joy after hearing those words.
Someone who knows how to talk.
No wonder she’s liked wherever she goes.
After darkness had fully fallen—
The delicious dinner was finally ready.
Three slices of bread and a bowl of beef brisket soup—it was an absolute luxury.
At least for Theresa, this was the best she could offer.
Aililan started up with her glib tongue again.
“It’s so delicious.”
“As long as you like it.”
“With such amazing cooking skills, Miss Theresa, whoever marries you in the future will be so lucky!”
“You, you…” Theresa’s cheeks flushed, whether from the praise or something else, and after a while she lowered her head and said while eating, “If you like it, Miss Aililan, I can make it for you every day from now on.”
Aililan thought she was just being polite, so she smiled and didn’t tease her further.
After the meal—
Aililan took a moment to digest.
There was some commotion outside.
“Aililan Sain—um, Miss, someone from above is here.” Arkernard knocked on the door to report.
Aililan hadn’t returned home so late, and with that recent assassination attempt, she wasn’t in a hurry, but plenty of people were worrying on her behalf. She didn’t want any more trouble cropping up!
Aililan replied, “I know, I’ll be out right away.”
At that moment—
Theresa, hearing the voices, came out from the inner room holding a half-washed dish in her hands.
“Miss Aililan?”
“Haha, it’s nothing, just some of my friends.”
“Ah, your friends?”
“Theresa, you don’t need to worry. They won’t bother you, I swear.”
Theresa seemed to be thinking about something. Suddenly, she straightened up and said nervously, “Um, please wait for me a moment.”
Aililan stepped outside and said, “Alright.”
She had no idea that after she closed the door—
Theresa became flustered, wanting to change into another set of clothes. But she knew that no matter which she chose, there were always patches on them.
None were any better than what she was wearing now.
And because Aililan was visiting—
What she was wearing now was already one of her best.
After thinking it over, Theresa seemed to come to a decision. She scooped up some water and splashed it over her face, washing away the dust and grime that hid her beauty.
Theresa didn’t know why she was doing this—maybe it was because she’d heard that Miss Aililan’s friends were coming and wanted to make a good impression!
At the very least, she couldn’t let herself look impolite, with soot smudged across her face.
She hoped that Aililan’s friends wouldn’t mock her for her poverty or appearance.
Outside—
Aililan was feeling a bit helpless.
Because there were a lot of people who’d come!
Not only Bishop Wilma and a few others, but also that cocky, blonde-haired person she extremely disliked and dreaded.
Fina Nisi looked somewhat worried, but mostly there was a predatory greed in her eyes as she said, “Aililan Sain—”
Aililan lowered her voice and said, “Don’t call me Saintess out here.”
“Fine, but how can you still be out so late?”
“So much to handle in the Slums today.”
“With your noble status, you shouldn’t waste your efforts on those slum dwellers.”
“Then, Fina Nisi, tell me, where should I be ‘wasting’ my energy? On endless banquets, or mingling with the nobility?”
“But those slum dwellers—?”
“Enough. Every other word is ‘slum dweller’—are they not people, too?” Aililan retorted, raising her voice, “Look me in the eyes and answer! Are slum dwellers not human?”
The atmosphere grew tense.
It also startled the girl inside the house.
‘Creak—’
“Um…”
From the crack of the opening door came a voice as beautiful as a nightingale.
Fina Nisi suddenly stiffened all over—just hearing the voice, she knew it belonged to a beautiful girl.
Aililan turned to open the door a little, and in the next moment, a face appeared in the gap—somewhat reserved, a little helpless, like a child who’d done something wrong, conflicted, yet as angelically beautiful as could be—appearing before Aililan’s eyes.
Aililan was dumbstruck.
Heck, an angel.
Heck, that’s Theresa!
Heck, there’s a blonde outside too.
Heck, …