Backlund, Empress Borough, Inside the Hall familyâs luxurious mansion.
Audrey had just tried on three selections of evening gowns today, and she was sitting on a cushioned chair, wondering how they could be matched with her accessories and which one she was more inclined towards. She also pondered over her motherâs opinion.
At this moment, she suddenly saw an endless grayish-white and a blurry figure watching down at everything from high above appear before her eyes.
Immediately after that, she saw another figure. It was a praying figure that had been shrouded by the gray fog. Her ears resounded with the corresponding words.
Instead of being alarmed, Audrey was delighted. Her unease and worry that there wasnât a Tarot Gathering today was instantly quelled.
As expected, it was nothing! Oh, Mr. World really has a psychological problem. He mustâve been under immense stress recently. Itâs no wonder he booked an appointment in advance⌠Audrey sighed as she began to consider when she was free.
As she pondered, she scanned the maids who were busy in her room and the golden retriever, Susie, who was sitting by the door.
Audreyâs lips curled up slightly in an irresistible manner as she bowed her head and secretly prayed in response:
ââŚPlease tell Mr. World that Iâm currently free. He can determine the time and location. Uh, as long as itâs not night time and doesnât exceed the boroughs west of BacklundâŚâ
In regards to this, the golden retriever who was observing the maidsâ work seemed to sense someone looking at her. She suspiciously turned her head and looked in Audreyâs direction. However, it failed to discover any problems.
âŚ
Above the gray fog, inside the palace that looked like a giantâs residence.
Sheâs free at any time⌠Periods when itâs convenient to head out⌠Wonât leave places sheâs familiar with⌠Klein rubbed his temples as he interpreted Miss Justiceâs reply.
His first reaction was that it was best done today or tomorrow, and to have her determine the location. Then, he could use Creeping Hunger to Teleport there, but he soon thought of a problem.
Dwayne Dantès was part of the Nighthawksâ investigations. It was very possible that he was being monitored; therefore, rashly Traveling could easily expose him.
Wait a few days, or⌠Klein seriously thought about it as he conjured The World Gehrman Sparrow and prayed once again:
ââŚPlease inform Miss Justice that letâs do it today. Above the gray fog.â
âŚ
Ah? Audreyâs eyes widened. She found that the answer provided by Mr. World exceeded her expectations.
How was she supposed to get Susie to be her stand-in!?
Besides, there are many details that Iâm unable to see or clearly sense while inside Mr. Foolâs palace. It will seriously hamper any psychotherapy⌠Audrey calmed her sense of alarm as she posed her doubts from a position of viability and requested Mr. Fool to pass it on to Mr. World.
Before long, she received a reply again.
ââŚI will request Mr. Fool to remove those restrictions. Weâll use other means to conceal our true appearancesâŚâ
That can be done? This is the special treatment one gets from being Mr. Foolâs Blessed? Hmm, our continuous communication is almost like a conversation. Iâve really troubled Mr. Fool. And âHeâ seems to almost allow us to indulge in it⌠Audreyâs thoughts raced as she stopped finding excuses.
ââŚAlright. Letâs do it between 11:30 to 12:30 tonightâŚâ
She didnât believe that she would have anywhere to be alone before the end of her birthday ball.
âŚ
At the same time, in a building at 39 BĂśklund Street.
Hazel was looking at the selected evening gown in boredom as she listened to her motherâs repeated exhortations.
She was to accompany her parents to attend Miss Audrey Hallâs birthday ball.
Just as Hazelâs thoughts were wandering and her mind gradually turning blank, she saw a grayish-white rat appear by the door. It was frantically waving its paws.
This⌠Hazel patiently listened to her mother repeat herself one more time before finding an excuse to return to her bedroom.
After she closed and locked her door, the grayish-white rat appeared from somewhere and arrived by her feet. It sat there in a rather comical manner.
âIâve discovered something wrong with the surroundings!â
The rat had sent vibrations in the air to speak with human words!
Hazel wasnât surprised at that as she asked in puzzlement, âWhatâs wrong?â
The grayish-white rat raised its right forepaw and pointed out the window.
âThere are Beyonders from the Church of Evernight investigating this street. Itâs at a rather large scale.â
âWhat are they looking for?â Hazel asked with a slight frown.
The grayish-white rat slowly inhaled and said, âHow would I know? But itâs definitely something very serious.
âThis way, they might very well discover something wrong with you.â
Hazel asked, feeling somewhat worried and confused, âHow did they make the discovery? Werenât the clues in the sewers blasted away? Werenât the corresponding problems dealt with?â
The grayish-white was momentarily unsure about what to say. A few seconds later, it vaguely replied, âOfficial Beyonders have plenty of strange but effective investigation methods⌠In short, Iâll have to deal with your dream. This is where itâs easiest to divulge things.â
Hazel looked down at the rat as her knitted brows relaxed.
âAlright thenâŚâ
Donât look so unwilling! It wasnât easy for me to accumulate this bit of strength, and now itâs going to waste once again! Is this street cursed? First it was that Demoness with a strange condition. Following that Hero Bandit Black Emperor appeared. Now, thereâs some baffling and unknown situation that made the Nighthawks pay serious attention to this street! the grayish-white rat squeaked in frustration.
âŚ
At half-past seven in the evening, Hazel accompanied her parents, Member of Parliament Macht and Lady Riana, to Empress Borough and entered the Hall familyâs residence.
As it was a birthday ball today, she didnât manage to directly meet Miss Audrey Hall. All she did was quietly stay by her parents side as they exchanged pleasantries with Earl Hall, Lady Caitlyn, and Lord Hibbert Hall.
To her, these respected aristocrats were, in essence, the same as commoners. Therefore, she didnât appear notably reserved. Her actions and tone were rather liberal.
If it wasnât because of her motherâs repeated exhortations, Hazel even believed that the beautiful dance floor, the murals with high artistic value, and the elegant and outstanding statues were more worthy of respect.
As she smiled at the people she knew and didnât know, Hazel finally waited until the ball began. She saw the star of tonightâs show. Miss Audrey Hall held the arms of the earl and earlâs wife as she walked out of the room on the second floor before arriving at the railings that faced the dance floor.
Hazel scanned her and habitually ignored her appearance as she observed the matching of her gown and accessories.
However, her gaze wasnât able to move away. On the chandelier hanging high above, whale oil candles produced light that came with dreamy colors. When shining on the eighteen-year-old Audrey, it made her emerald-like eyes, pure and indescribable face, and lustrous gold hair seem to glow. It made her gown and accessories lose their luster.
Hazel was momentarily caught in a daze. She failed to hear what Earl Hall had said until the melody filled the floor as she snapped out of her daze when Audrey Hall began the opening dance with the earl.
The always proud her had suddenly felt a little inferior. She felt that even if this striking lady didnât possess any Beyonder powers, there was no way Audrey was inferior to her.
Hazel pursed her lips and looked around. She realized that everyoneâs gaze had been grabbed. The only difference was that they all had different feelings about the situation.
Phew⌠Hazel heaved a sigh of relief.
That night, she didnât act that arrogantly again. However, she yearned to leave at every minute of the night. She wanted to head home to busy herself with her matters to obtain more magical and powerful abilities.
Finally, the ball came to an end as Hazelâs family bade farewell to the family and walked to the door.
On the way out, Hazel couldnât help but look back. She saw Miss Audrey standing along the sides of the dance floor with a faint and beautiful smile as she expressed her gratitude to each and every guest that was about to leave.
She seemed to remain under the spotlight.
âŚ
After the end of the birthday ball, Audrey took off her accessories and changed into her sleeping gown before entering her bathroom.
As she looked at the white steam emanate with her bathrobe beside her, Audrey wasnât in a rush to soak herself inside. She first sat in the corner and prayed to Mr. Fool to indicate that she was ready.
In about ten seconds, she saw crimson light surge at her like a tidal wave, drowning her.
Above the gray fog, Audrey appeared by the side of the long bronze table.
This time, she didnât see Mr. Fool who was enshrouded in gray fog. She discovered an ancient confessionalâit was a brown crate that was one and a half times the height of a person. There were doors on both sides, and a wooden plank separated the area in between them.
I thought Mr. World would request Mr. Fool to conjure a wall which we will use to communicate across⌠Although itâs essentially the same, a confessional is cramped and dark. He really doesnât know how to consider a ladyâs feelings! Yes, I would find it odd if Mr. World did that⌠As Audrey suffused a smile, she walked to the ajar door of the confessional. She bent her back and entered before sitting down with her legs bent sideways.
After closing the wooden door, Audrey, who was treating a patient in the true sense of the word for the first time, suddenly felt a little excited.
Immersed in darkness, the environment and her mood made her loosen up from the many rules she had to abide by. She curled her lips and reached out her fingers and gently tapped on the wooden partition.
âHello~ Mr. World, are you there?â
Sitting cross-legged opposite her, Klein was infected by Miss Justiceâs cheerful tone. His emotions relaxed as he said, âYou may begin.â
This time, he didnât use the gray fog to enshroud himself but had turned himself into Gehrman Sparrow.
Indeed, Mr. Worldâs mental state isnât too good. Heâs too tense and worried⌠Audrey sensed him first and then used a Psychiatristâs Placate.
A gentle, invisible wave emanated over as Klein instantly felt a cool, refreshing morning breeze blow at him during a hot summer day. The frustrations and feverish feelings within him suddenly vanished.
Seeing Mr. World having made an obvious recovery, she secretly heaved a sigh of relief and asked softly, âHave you had any nightmares lately?â