Chapter 98: You Were So Adorable as a Child

Truly soft and cute!!!

Edward thought for a moment and said, "Hmm…I'm a guest of your father's."

"Oh."

She nodded, then straightened her little face and declared very seriously, "Even if you're my father's friend, you shouldn't barge into a lady's boudoir without permission!"

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry, Miss Audrey."

She lifted her chin slightly, sounding like a little grown-up. 

"It's alright. I forgive you."

Then she turned back to her easel and resumed painting.

"What are you drawing?"

"A landscape!"

Little Audrey had clearly already grasped the basics of painting. From the canvas, one could vaguely make out the Hall estate and garden.

"This looks like your family's garden, doesn't it? Why not paint some other scenery?"

She puffed out her cheeks in displeasure. 

"Daddy won't let me go outside! Last time, Brother Hibbert snuck me out, and Daddy gave him a big scolding. He got so miserable!"

The Earl Hall's reaction wasn't hard to understand.

"Alright, stop bothering me and go away!" 

"Goodbye, Miss Audrey."

Edward opened the door, and the scene shifted again. A burst of graceful piano music drifted into his ears.

This must be the piano room.

Audrey was seated before the grand piano. Her ten fingers danced across the keys like little sprites, nimbly playing a very familiar tune—ahem, which was probably yet another masterpiece by Emperor Roselle.

Edward approached quietly. This version of Audrey looked about eleven or twelve years old, wearing a small formal dress. She sat with perfect posture, her expression composed, already hinting at the dazzling gem she would one day become in Backlund.

The piece came to an end.

A middle-aged woman appeared, clapping enthusiastically. Her face beamed with praise. "Marvellous, Miss Hall. You're the fastest learner I've ever seen when it comes to piano!"

Audrey gave a polite nod, her face adorned with the standard, practised smile.

"Thank you, Teacher, for your guidance."

As the piano teacher's image faded from view, the smile on Audrey's face gradually disappeared as well. She glanced cautiously around the room, then gave a dramatic sigh, shook out her sore fingers, and mumbled, "Ahh, my fingers are so sore…"

She tugged uncomfortably at her dress. 

"This outfit isn't comfy at all, either."

She got up and walked to the side.

The scene shifted once more.

Nobles in splendid attire filled the hall. Audrey had grown taller again. She now wore a glamorous gown and navigated the crowd with practised ease, gracefully responding to everyone she met.

Each interaction had its own version of a smile—from the curve of her lips, the size of her eyes, to the subtle movement of her cheeks—all executed with exacting precision. And yet, none of it looked even slightly fake.

After gently turning down a series of social advances, Audrey made her way to the Earl of Hall's side and took his arm, listening to him chat with people about topics she didn't understand. She took the opportunity to space out and gaze out the window for a brief moment. But when someone nearby brought up her name, she instantly snapped back into character and offered a sincere, radiant smile.

The scene changed again.

Still wearing the same gown, Audrey leaned back against the door as she quietly closed it. She let out a long sigh, then dashed to the window and flopped onto the soft bedspread.

"Ughhh, I'm so tired…"

Rip!

Her expensive dress tore along the seam. She scrunched up her face. 

"Ugh, now I'm gonna get scolded again…"

She abruptly sat up, and the surroundings changed once more.

Now she looked six or seven years old again, happily running and shouting after a slightly older boy.

The next scene: the two children stood with their heads lowered, being scolded.

Compared to little Audrey's serious face, the boy was clearly unconcerned. He even made funny faces at his sister behind the adult's back.

The scenes continued to shift. Edward quietly observed each moment from Audrey's childhood—her frustration with etiquette lessons, her exhaustion at banquets, her joy when her brother took her out for wild adventures, her embarrassment when pursued by noble boys, and her delight when she first met the little golden-haired dog, Susie.

Of course, Edward hadn't forgotten the purpose of this visit. With every change in scene, he carefully examined the environment, sensing for any anomalies—any signs that an old wizard might be lurking behind the scenes.

But—there was nothing.

Then, the vision shifted once more.

In a room both familiar and strange, a boy in Hogwarts robes appeared in a rush—

Edward saw himself.

This was the very first time they had met.

Audrey stepped out of the washroom, face full of nervous anticipation. Edward suddenly heard a fleeting thought flash across her mind—

"Ah! Is this the prince from a fairy tale come to rescue the princess? Just…not a very handsome one."

Thanks for your honest review!

Edward perked up, eager to hear her next thoughts.

But just then, the door slammed open, and another Audrey rushed in and grabbed his wrist—then ran for her life.

Everything around them flashed rapidly, like a slideshow on fast-forward, until a burst of brilliant light flashed by.

Edward opened his eyes and found himself back in the room. Audrey was gripping his wrist tightly.

They locked eyes for a few seconds.

She calmly released his hand and asked, "Did you notice anything unusual?" 

"Nothing."

Edward shook his head. 

"Let's hope it's not that Salazar hid it too deeply…or that the grade of this mystical item isn't high enough."

"Don't worry," Audrey said reassuringly. "You said it yourself—when it comes to mental abilities, the Spectator is the strongest among all Paths. Once I advance to Psychiatrist, I'll examine myself step by step."

"Good. If you ever sense anything out of the ordinary, no matter how small, take it seriously and pray to Mr. Fool immediately!"

"Mhm! Got it, Mr. Edward!"

"Ahem, right."

Edward cleared his throat a few times, then casually said, "You were…really cute when you were little."

"…"

Audrey averted her gaze, pretending she hadn't heard a thing.

The two of them, along with the cat, sat on the sofa and started watching Tom and Jerry. Lilith curiously glanced between the two humans, clearly confused.

Better to focus on Tom Cat.

———

After the two of them had watched dozens of episodes of Tom and Jerry, Edward returned to 88 Minsk Street. By then, it was already late at night.

After washing up, he patted Lilith on the head, turned off the gas lamp, and went to sleep.

Lilith the cat stayed up a little longer in the dark, parkouring around the room by herself. Then she quietly lay down next to Edward's pillow, grooming herself as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

Time crept toward dawn.

Several figures silently approached the building. They skillfully pried open a window and slipped inside. At the leader's signal, three of them headed straight upstairs toward the bedroom while the remaining two pulled out some explosives and began placing them around the house.

"Ah!!"

A scream rang out from upstairs moments later.

The two men downstairs immediately drew their guns, ducked into cover, and trained their sights on the stairway.

"Meow~"

A small black cat strolled gracefully into view.

The two froze in confusion.

In the next second—the cat was gone.

"Meow~"

The sound came from behind them. One of the men turned around and saw a dark blur hurtling toward him. A sharp pain shot through his throat before he lost consciousness.

A few seconds later, another scream, and the second man collapsed, unconscious.

Click.

The gas lamp on the first floor flickered on again. Edward stood there in his pyjamas, and behind him floated the unconscious bodies of three burly men in black coats—clearly members of the Zmanger Gang who had followed Klein during the day.

"Well done, Lilith."

Edward handed Lilith a small dried fish treat and gave her head a rub.

"Why didn't you kill them?"

Lilith tilted her head, her voice innocent and sweet as she asked her cruel question.

"They trespassed on Lady Lilith's territory. Bad, bad cats."

"They do deserve to die."

Edward's gaze fell on the explosives they'd been trying to install. 

"The gang has gone this far? Just because I've been in contact with Klein and the others, they're already resorting to explosives?"

"But…killing just these few won't solve the real problem. I prefer more permanent solutions."

He pulled out the green crystal.

"Going after the Zmanger Gang boss now—is it dangerous?" 

"Going after the Zmanger Gang boss now—is it dangerous?"

——

Seven repetitions later, the green crystal began rotating counterclockwise.

"Not only is it not dangerous…it's beneficial?"

This…

If not for [Genius on the Left], Edward would've assumed someone had interfered with the divination.

"Well, if that's the case…Lilith, stay here. I'll be back soon."

"Okay~!"

———

[Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.