Whispering Poems

Chapter 3197 1854 Year-End Festival
Margaret sighed softly. The hot spring gave her fair neck a nice blush:
"It's not that we couldn't win, but we were already facing pressure from Draerion in the north, and the coastal areas of the Kingdom of Lagsen, the predecessor of the Principality of Lagsen, were rich in brave and combative soldiers. In addition, the development of the United Kingdom's navy was somewhat backward at the time, and the Kingdom of Lagsen not only occupied the Gulf region, but also had a series of small islands in the south of the Gulf as the last base of resistance.

So in order to avoid wars on both the north and south fronts at the same time, our ancestors gave up the idea of ​​using force to swallow up the area on the west coast of the Falling Star Bay, and instead made peace with them at the cost of the Kingdom of Lagsen giving up part of its territory and downgrading to a principality. "

Margaret concludes:

"That piece of land is also the only area in the southern part of the Old World that the United Kingdom has never conquered. Some years ago, some people in the country pushed for the agenda of making the Principality of Lagersen a part of the United Kingdom, but in the end, the matter was left unresolved."

"I think my trip to the south won't allow me to come into direct contact with someone like Grand Duke Lagerson."

After all, when Xia De went to other cities, he spent most of his time hanging out in the downtown area, the docks, or the forests - except for Moon Bay.

"That's not necessarily the case."

Carina smiled and walked closer to Shade, so Vanessa, who was originally on Shade's right, made way for her, and Carina naturally moved over:
"Margaret and Resia probably don't know. I just heard rumors that Grand Duke Lagson intends to mediate the conflict between Carsenrick and Delarion."

Everyone present was startled, and Leisia asked suspiciously:

"Why does that old man think he has such ability? Doesn't he think too highly of himself?"

"Actually, you can just call it arrogant."

Karina reminded, but she agreed with Leisia's opinion:

"Small countries have their own way of dealing with the world. Of course, it is also possible that the Principality of Lagson is so arrogant that it thinks it can become a chess player. But in my opinion, both Leicia's father and Margaret's father should send some people over."

"why?"

Emilia asked curiously, and it was Shade who gave his opinion:

"Although everyone knows that a war is coming, it is still necessary to see the other side's attitude and cards before the war."

"Yes, that's the truth. But when the representatives of both sides meet, I'm afraid there will be arguments and accusations again. The princess's death and the human trafficking in the capital are two major cases that have not yet been closed."

No one was talking about such heavy topics in the hot spring. After seeing little chocobos occasionally peeking out of the woods next to the hot spring, Shade asked about the current maintenance status of the "Moon Sanctuary".

This stronghold in the forest has basically been built, and the girls who are stationed here on a daily basis are selected from the followers of Sylvia, Flora and Xiwei.

Talking about this topic, Shade, who was hugging Jialina and Xiwei, asked:

"I have been here several times since the battle in the woodlands. You all know that, don't you?"

"You want to ask if we know who followed you?"

Xiwei asked, and everyone laughed, which made Shad think that everyone seemed to know about it.

In short, it is really a great experience to soak in a hot spring with everyone in the deep forest on a year-end night with light snow.

While soaking in the glowing hot spring, Shade was still wondering if there would be any sudden accidents nearby so that everyone could solve them together. Unfortunately, after the Battle of the Woodland, there was nothing else happening in Vista Woodland for the time being, so there would be no lucky person who needed half of the members of the Witch Council to solve the problem.

I don't know whether the girls had discussed it in advance or had a tacit understanding, but they took turns appearing next to Shad, being affectionate with Shad for a while, and then replacing others. Even Miss Haley Aurora, who was the least familiar with Shad, was pushed over by Xivi once.

Shy girls like Iluna and Miss Swift usually just sit there with Shade with blushing faces, while bolder ladies like Lecia and Carina like to do some little tricks underwater.

Xia De was not sure whether everyone had noticed their behavior, but tonight was the end of the year, and even outsiders were willing to empty their minds and believe that everything that happened today was reasonable.

The lively hot spring party lasted until eleven o'clock, and then everyone came out of the pool, changed clothes and prepared to go back.

It’s a pity that Margaret couldn’t follow everyone back to Tobesk. After all, she had to greet her parents tomorrow morning according to custom.

When we got home, it was already half past eleven and Grandma Cassandra had already gone to bed. After discussing with Miss Swift, everyone decided to wake Grandma up later.

So, just like yesterday, everyone sat down in front of the fireplace in the living room and chatted casually during the remaining time of 1854. However, this time Luvia no longer agreed to let Shad sit on the carpet, but let him hold Mia in the middle of the long sofa facing the fireplace.

The girls were either sitting on the sofa, or leaning against the sofa armrests, or sitting on the armchairs prepared by the maids, or sitting on the cushions in front of the fireplace.

Although no one asked Shad to speak again, he couldn't help but tell the story from the summer of 1853 to the present. It was not only a story about himself, but also a story related to everyone present.

Time passed quickly during such casual chat. The flaxen-haired girl went to wake up Grandma Cassandra at around 11:45. Soon after Grandma sat down, the sound of fireworks began to emanate from the city, which had originally quieted down.

The maids carried trays and distributed teacups or wine glasses to everyone in front of the fireplace. Shade stroked Mia with his left hand, and gently held the teacup he used at home with his right hand, looking at everyone here:

"nineteen"

Iluna, Emilia and Ajelina sat together in front of the fireplace, comparing the size of the cups in their hands.

".eight, seven"

Leicia sat on the right armrest of the short sofa where Karina was sitting and secretly cast a coquettish glance at Shade, obviously planning something in the near future.

".Six, five"

Tifa stood behind the short sofa with the maids who had finished their work. The maids would celebrate the end of 1854 with their masters here.

".Four, three"

Grace and Helen squeezed into the same chair, with Miss Elizabeth beside them. The boat girl looked at the scene in front of her and seemed to be missing something. Maybe she could ask about it later when she had the chance.

".Two, one"

【So what are you thinking about? 】

"She" suddenly asked at this moment. Xia De raised the teacup in his hand high, smiled and did not answer the question:

"Happy end of year!"

"Happy New Year!"
All the wine glasses and tea cups were raised together, and amid the crackling sound of various fireworks outside the window, they welcomed the arrival of the year 1855 of the Universal Calendar of the Sixth Era together with Shad.

The snow was still falling, and the clock struck midnight, shaking the night sky, distant and deep. He did have some worries and concerns when he asked the question just now, but today was the end of the year, and the stranger didn't want to think about those things.

Having spent the second year in this world that had become familiar to him, as he raised his glass with his family at this moment, all he could think of was holding all of their hands tightly.

Amid the fireworks, the bells, the girls' congratulations and discussions, and the cat's unhappy meows, the scene before my eyes became more vivid and warm, and "she" smiled and said:

[Present world, the Sixth Era, the year 1855 of the Universal Calendar, winter, the month of birth.

The bell of the year-end rings for the second time, and the girl you see when you raise your glass in front of the fireplace is the one you care about. Stranger, you have gone through spring, summer, autumn and winter, experienced wind, frost, rain and snow, and tasted the ups and downs of life. When you come to the new year again, the last five chapters of the whispering poem have already opened the corners in the wind and snow.

The next scene after the winter wind blows is fate, a fate that goes back and forth but will eventually return to the starting point. The Ouroboros is the circle of fate, and the double-edged sword is both a gift and a price. When fate shows its edge to you, what is your choice, to open your arms and face the sword light, or to wave your long sword and hold the sword to meet it? 】

"Wait a minute, why do I have to face it head on? Can't I just dodge it flexibly?"

Xia De raised his own question, and "her" whisper was still light:
[After all, even you can't escape the so-called fate. 】

After spending the night together at midnight, the girls who usually don’t stay up late went back to their rooms to rest. There are other activities waiting for everyone tomorrow, so this year-end festival is not over yet.

Of course, Iluna, Emilia, and Ajelina would definitely have a night talk, but as long as they spoke in a low voice, no one would stop them tonight.

Tomorrow morning, Lesia and Ajelina will appear at the Yodel Palace, but they plan to get up early so as not to miss their stay tonight like Margaret.

Of course, although no one followed Shard to the bedroom when they stood up from the fireplace, when the lights in the windows of No. 6 and No. 7 on Saint Teresa's Square went out one by one, the girls who were looking forward to the real "activity" tonight also began their own actions.

Because Xia De knew in advance that someone would come tonight, he did not go to sleep immediately after turning off the bedroom light. Instead, he arranged a cat bed in the closet for Xiaomia, then turned on the gas table lamp at the bedside and started reading.

【Guess who is the first to arrive? 】

"Dorothy and Leicia."

Just as he finished thinking, Xia De suddenly frowned because he heard a slight noise coming from under the bed. Normally, he would not consider the possibility of haunting his home, but after the [Fate Casino] incident, he began to suspect that anything could happen in his home:
"But isn't it a bit too much to have a haunting on the night of the end of the year?"

(End of this chapter)