In the blink of an eye Eve had come to this world for nearly five years.
This was also almost the time Eve had spent at Boyun Manor.
Time could change many things.
It could change stance.
It could soothe the human heart.
When a person lived to a certain age, no longer held a sense of novelty toward the world, and gradually felt those irreconcilable contradictions within the laws, he only then began to think of himself, only then wanted to understand himself.
He thought of that day-after-day cycling life and the death that would inevitably come, and asked himself: Does life have meaning?
In such thinking he felt despair and for a time even thought this was his end.
But as long as he could truly face it calmly and accept the unpredictability of fate, he would discover life had in fact only just begun.
Facing death he no longer compromised.
He rediscovered the world, recognized the imperfectness of life, admitted the universality of contradiction.
Thus the world would once again become rich in charm.
Eve, living again, observed the new world with precisely such an attitude, reshaped herself, and blended into it.
Here there were people who cared about her and whom she cared about.
She toward this world was finally no longer a stranger from another land.
The most solemn festival of the year in the nation of Klijin was in autumn, called the Festival of Rising Light.
In this world there were two moons.
The slightly brighter one presented a faint purple halo and appeared in winter and spring.
The slightly dimmer one presented a golden yellow and appeared in summer and autumn.
Because they were similar in size, Eve had once thought they were one, until she saw the two appear in the sky at the same time and only then discovered a common-sense blind spot she possessed.
The Festival of Rising Light was the festival celebrating the alternation of the twin moons.
The celebration lasted twelve days in all.
In these twelve days the gold moon would first appear in a position near zenith, while the purple moon appeared on the eastern horizon.
As time passed the purple moon moved day by day toward zenith, while the gold moon retreated to the western horizon.
The whole process lasted exactly twelve days.
Most countries of Featherland would hold all kinds of celebratory activities in these few days, only the length of time and festival customs differed.
This day was the sixth day of the Festival of Rising Light, also the most important day.
Early in the morning Mogi and several farmhands carried two newly slaughtered fat cattle back from the pasture.
Those friends of his had long gathered in the backyard.
This time coming with these old friends were also the women and children of their households.
These people prepared to gather here for a meal at noon, then go together to the capital in the evening to take part in the celebration.
Eve was naturally also present.
At this moment she wore a set of brown riding clothes, her black hair simply tied in a ponytail, and had a white apron over her body.
In her hands she held a razor and was boning and sinew-stripping a lamb leg.
Comino Kenaka was a gentleman living in the city, a spice merchant, very wealthy.
His belly and neck were a little bloated, yet other parts were not fat.
Ordinarily he was solemn and rarely smiled, yet whenever he saw Eve he always behaved rather cheerfully.
This point perhaps even he himself had not noticed.
He had three sons and two daughters, yet the junior he liked most was Eve.
Perhaps only because Eve had never shown him an impatient look—he liked to chatter to acquaintances, chatter about his past or those recent annoying matters.
Whenever he drank wine this chatter would become incoherent, long-winded, and endless.
Sometimes even those old friends of his could not quite endure it, yet Eve could maintain patience from beginning to end.
Having such a listener instead let him notice his own loss of composure.
Several times Comino even spoke of those few thefts, false accounts, and muggings of his youth.
Eve listened and actually did not show much aversion.
Once more, he was a little drunk and actually said to her he had become infatuated with a woman in the city, and also said he was sorry to his wife.
This time before he had time to look at Eve’s reaction he himself was dragged by several old partners into the nearby grass to reflect.
After sobering up he also felt this matter was truly a little shameful, so for a good two months he dared not go to Boyun Manor to see Eve.
Comino released the clamp on the hose.
Clear red wine flowed from the barrel along the pipe into a glass cup.
He poured himself a cup, then poured a second and set it on the large wooden table before Eve where raw meat was placed.
Eve said thanks and took the cup with sticky hands, drinking more than half in one breath.
This little girl’s bold posture made the guests not far away look on in startled uncertainty.
The wine was made from grapes produced at the manor.
The brewing time was not long, thus the alcohol content was not high, with threads of sweetness.
Wine just taken from the cellar was very cold, very suitable for relieving heat.
Eve savored the rich fruit aroma in the wine and at the same time slowed the movements of her hands.
“Look, those few from Yad County over there. They think I’m doing something bad,” Comino said to Eve.
“They don’t know you. They must think I’m encouraging a child to drink.”
“Even if I’m of age, pouring wine for a young lady is likewise not a good thing,” Eve said with a smile.
“Now you say you’re a girl again, haha.” Comino sat on the chair beside her.
He was dressed meticulously and when sitting still carefully patted the chair back.
“That kick you gave Jivanti back then didn’t look like something a young lady could do. I still find it funny whenever I think of it. That coward rolled his eyes and fainted right away…”
The moment this matter was mentioned Eve wrinkled her brows.
She said, “That was still the first time in my life I met a rogue.”
“Wasn’t he just a rogue.”
“You mentioning this makes me remember to ask. What happened with that matter later?” Eve asked him.
“You don’t know?” Comino widened his eyes in surprise.
“That bastard Mogi didn’t mention a bit?”
“He wanted to tell me, but the moment he started I interrupted him, and later he never mentioned it again.” Eve’s expression was a little unnatural when speaking of this matter. “That stretch of time that matter disgusted me badly. But now it’s fine.”
“All right. You want to know now?”
“Since you brought it up I’ll ask in passing. You must have helped the most with this matter, right?” Eve narrowed her eyes, wearing a look of “I see through it.”
“Hehe, it was me and Roz who did it. That day after Jivanti fainted from pain he was first sent to the town clinic, but the clinic couldn’t treat him, so he was sent to the capital military hospital… That kick of yours was really not light. The doctor who took over shook his head at first glance and said there was no saving it.”
Eve silently drank a mouthful of wine, nodded, and listened to him continue.
The year before last a newly rich man named Jivanti, taking advantage of Eve being alone, started playing the rogue toward her.
It was evening.
Eve was waiting on a street of a town near the capital for Mogi and them to purchase supplies needed for camping.
Jivanti had drunk a little wine.
After seeing Eve he could not move his feet.
At that time Eve wore an indigo long skirt and sat on the steps opposite a tavern.
Whether in dress or behavior she was very ordinary, yet because of her outstanding beauty she looked very striking.
Jivanti thought she was only some family’s daughter in the town, so he went forward to tease.
His method was also simple and crude—seeing no one on the street, he directly took off his own pants and drew close—this person was truly a little outrageous.
Eve first froze at this scene, then alarm and anger mixed, blood rushed up, and she flew a kick right between his two legs.
Although she wore a long skirt then, on her feet she wore a pair of riding boots.
That pointed and hard heel stamped fiercely on this person’s vital spot.
After kicking Eve regretted it.
She was after all still afraid of trouble.
“You look at how sullen Roz usually is, yet he also has acquaintances inside the military hospital, and the friendship isn’t shallow. He had people inside give Jivanti a little something…” Comino spoke while watching her expression.
Seeing she had no abnormality, he continued. “Before long that thing of his turned black and rotted, and was cut off entire by the doctor.”
Comino saw she kept silent, so he asked her, “Finished listening. Feel it’s not interesting?”
“I was originally interested, but after hearing you finish I feel it’s not interesting again. But I still have to thank you and Roz.”
“All right then. Let’s talk about something else…”
Footsteps sounded above the steps.
Nanfen wore a pale-yellow formal dress and hurried toward outside the house.
At a glance she saw Eve in the courtyard.
Nanfen had now also thought it through.
Eve was born destined to be a special case: let her be happy.
As long as she could behave like a person on formal occasions, then some out-of-line actions in ordinary times could all be tolerated.
After all, relying only on her appearance, even if she set fire to someone’s house it was possible she would be pardoned.
But today she could not be allowed to act wildly.
Thinking this, she walked toward where Eve was.
Those old friends of Mogi saw her coming in a fierce manner and hurriedly gave way to the side.
The sudden quiet all around also made Eve sense a trace of abnormality, so she turned her head.
“Do these another day,” Nanfen said to her in a small voice. “Not today. Today that brother of yours is coming back.”
The brother Nanfen spoke of was Minxi’s real elder brother, the eldest son of the Dakren family, Lug Dakren.
Eve had only seen him a few times in the first year she came here.
Later she heard he had followed an expedition fleet to the Eastern Continent.
Two and a half months ago a letter had been sent back saying he would return to the country around the Festival of Rising Light.
Today Nanfen finally confirmed the news of the expedition ship entering port.
Eve jumped down from the wooden board used to raise her height, pulled off the apron, drained the wine in her hand in one drink, and followed Nanfen toward the porch.
“You go take a bath first. When you come out I’ll change your clothes,” Nanfen said as she walked. “Lug may also bring a few friends over, so today you must stay by my side. I can only say I hope no trouble arises.”
Eve smiled a few times with a stiff face.
She understood Nanfen’s meaning.
A woman’s beauty was an inborn precious wealth, yet this wealth grew on the neck.
Anyone could see it, so naturally there were people who wanted to try whether they could take this wealth as their own.
Their methods were even more various.
After all, trying had little cost.
“How about I just stay at home. What do you think?”
“What are you saying. Minxi isn’t home now either. Do you want me to go receive Lug alone?”
“Isn’t Mogi going? Just the two of us?” Eve was a little surprised.
“He said he’s not going. I can’t persuade him.” Nanfen sighed.
“What’s wrong? Is he still angry?”
“Angry isn’t quite it. I feel he just can’t put down his face. This father and son are the same temperament. Back then when Lug wanted to go to sea Mogi already pressed him with the matter of inheritance, yet he still stole out overnight.”
“True. Lug has come back now. He has nothing much to be angry about. I see his mood today is still quite good.”
Hearing these words Nanfen could not help laughing once. “All right, go.”
When an hour later Eve walked out of the room again, she had already put on a purple formal dress embroidered with black patterns.
Nanfen had braided a red silk ribbon into her hair plait, then laid that waist-length hair over her left shoulder and hanging before her chest.
The bright red silk was faintly visible hidden under glossy black hair.
Paired with that face white with a moist sheen, there was rather a bit of the temperament of a recluse noble.
Besides this Nanfen had also prepared high-heeled shoes and breast pads for her to make up for the deficiencies of her figure—all the dressing seemed only to conceal her laxness and childishness.
The carriage already waited at the door.
Eve held her skirt hem and boarded the carriage, seeming already accustomed to all this.
It could not be called liking nor aversion.
After a long time it became customary.
A person in childhood more or less receives the teaching of the world and society’s shaping of character (including but not limited to etiquette in treating people, closeness and distance between people, behavioral boundaries society divides by gender, and so on).
Eve was likewise so.
After she came to Boyun Manor she again underwent a process of re-teaching.
That is to say, to adapt to the new world the rules had to be learned again.
This was the first step taken to blend into this world.
When this step was taken Eve had no choice but to adapt to new rules and play a new role.
This road would certainly go farther and farther—when everyone said you looked good in a skirt, it was also hard to insist on your own view.
Lug was now in the capital.
Yesterday he had dinner together with the crew at the shipowner’s home.
He had people send a letter to the manor in advance saying he would return before this afternoon.
After Nanfen learned of this matter she said she would go into the city to receive him.
Boyun Manor and the capital were not far apart.
Sitting in a carriage would take a little over two hours.
When the two arrived at the capital Feimeng it was only around ten in the morning.
Lug and his three friends of the same age had long been waiting near the city gate.
After Eve followed Nanfen down from the carriage she stayed by her side watching and did not open her mouth to speak.
Lug was twenty-two this year.
Like his mother he was born with golden hair, yet his hair was grown even longer than his mother’s.
Slightly curled hair scattered down his back.
Paired with his great height he looked rather a dashing big boy.
Eve recognized him at a glance among the four.
Although she could not remember his appearance clearly, among the four only he had golden hair.
The moment mother and son met they embraced.
After separating Nanfen tightly gripped his hands.
Before saying a single sentence tears pattered down.
Lug while gently comforting her used his sleeve to wipe her tears, seeming already used to this kind of scene.
After comforting his mother he turned his head, glanced at Eve, and smiled at her, counting as a greeting.
Eve responded by nodding.
“These two are partners who looked after me on the journey, Faen and Gokekai.” He introduced them to his mother and sister.
“And this one, although you haven’t seen him, the moment I say it you’ll know who he is. He is my former schoolmate. After going to sea we still kept letter exchanges. The letters sent to the family were also entrusted to him to forward.”
“Oh, it’s Lisk, right?” Nanfen suddenly understood.
“Truly too grateful to you. And these two as well. Lug had never gone far from home. Thanks to everyone taking the trouble to look after him.”
“Nothing of the sort. We were only helping each other.” Lisk was of similar height to Lug.
A smile always hung on his face.
At a glance he was a person easy to get along with.
Several people exchanged civilities for a while.
After Lug discussed the schedule a little with his partners he boarded the carriage with Nanfen and Eve, preparing to go home.
Lisk, Faen, and Gokekai stayed in the city to continue strolling and playing, waiting until evening for Lug to enter the city and meet them.
The plan was after the celebration ended to follow him to the manor to stay for a time.
After watching the carriage leave, the three young men looked at one another, seeming all to have something to say.
“Who is that young lady?” Faen opened first.
“Probably his sister,” Lisk said.
“Minxi? I seem to have heard him mention her,” Gokekai said.
“Not Minxi. Another one. Lady Dakren’s goddaughter, naturally also Lug’s sister,” Lisk corrected.
“Lady Dakren seems to have forgotten to introduce her,” Faen said.
“I feel the lady may not have intended to introduce her,” Gokekai said.
“We’ll be able to see her again in the evening, right?” Faen said.
“Should be able to.” Gokekai’s eyes lit up.
“I feel you had better have less contact with her,” Lisk said. “You’ve been away many years. You may not know much about her reputation.”
“How?” Faen’s heart tightened. “Her reputation isn’t good?”
“It’s also hard to say whether good or not. That she’s outstanding is certain, yet she’s also very alien…”
“Alien how?”
“These years many people have pursued or harassed her, but basically few had a good end. Either they were beaten by some unknown thug, or driven out of the city, or directly beaten injured or crippled by Miss Eve herself…”
Lisk lowered his speaking voice. “You just saw her appearance. It’s also my first time seeing her. Originally I still didn’t quite believe she would have such great charm, but now I understand. Even risking a beating to speak with her would be worth it.”
“You said beaten by her herself?” Faen suspected he had heard wrong.
“What’s strange about that. Mister Dakren served as the person in charge of the relic rescue work of Garden Academy that year. Isn’t it very normal that Miss Eve has good skill?”
“Then why can’t Lug fight at all?”
“How would I know that…”
The three paced slowly back into the city, and the topic also gradually shifted from Eve onto Lug this rich young master.