Chapter 241 Audrey's Coming of Age Ceremony
As the end of the year approaches, the turbulent currents in Backlund's dark places seem to have stopped, and everything is calm.
Whether it is the nobles, the wealthy businessmen or the workers and civilians, they are all preparing for the arrival of the new year, with rare smiles on their faces.
But there are still a large number of people who can only stay in their homes, looking at the smiling crowds on the streets outside with envy.
It's always like this during the Chinese New Year, some are happy and some are sad, but this year's sadness is particularly strong.
The arrival of the New Year also diluted the assassination of Duke Negan some time ago, and the war clouds that may sweep across the southern continent have also been reduced a lot.
The villa where Mrs. Germanni is.
"Do you have any wishes that you want to realize during the Chinese New Year this year?"
On the balcony on the second floor, Moraka hugged Mrs. Germanni's waist from behind, with an intimate gesture.
"Yes, but do you have the ability to help me achieve it?"
"As long as it's not about Baron Hasta Campbell, I can find a way to help you complete it."
"Then forget it."
"..."
Moraka looked helpless and sighed, "Your mother gave a death order, asking the people of the Witch Cult not to disturb your beloved lover, and I suffered the consequences last time."
"She is also your mother."
"But you are the only one who looks like her. You are the daughter he really has high hopes for, and I am just an item that can be discarded at will."
Moraka reached out and stroked Mrs. Germani's familiar and unfamiliar face. Once upon a time, she also hoped to have such a face.
Now she is glad that she has another face. It is too heavy and too unfree to bear such a face.
"Item? Do you deserve it?"
A cold voice came, and then a figure fell behind Moraka and pinched her chin.
"Haha, what are you doing here!"
Moraka showed a very disgusted expression on her face.
"I always dislike your expression."
Seraphina released the hand that was pinching Moraka's chin and turned to look at Mrs. Germani who was a little anxious.
"Are you still so afraid of me?"
"This is awe."
Mrs. Germani lowered her head slightly, not daring to look at her mother.
Seraphina glanced at the two of them and said lightly: "I will live here for the next few days."
"Haha, an immortal witch also wants to learn to celebrate the New Year like others?"
Moraka made a sarcastic remark and naturally received a loud slap in the face.
"Who allowed you to talk to me in this tone?"
"I'm not always like this?"
Moraka's stubborn appearance made Seraphina feel funny. She longed for maternal love and deliberately chose to torture herself in this way in exchange for her mother's attention.
Sometimes she would play with Moraka, just as a daily interaction between mother and daughter, and sometimes she would deliberately ignore her, making her fall into pain.
A witch can only truly grow up in such an environment.
"I'll go down and have someone prepare a new room."
Madam Germani spoke quickly to prevent the conflict between them from escalating again.
Moraka reached out to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth and sneered: "Why are you still staying in Backlund? According to the plan, you should have returned to the South Continent to participate in the war."
Seraphina said disdainfully: "Plan? What plan do you know? Ignorant speculation."
She was indeed going to return to the South Continent after finishing her business in Backlund, cooperate with other members of the organization, and then set off a war from south to north on New Year's Eve.
But strangely, the originally agreed New Year's Eve war changed, and it was unknown where a sentence came from that the war would be after the New Year.
Even the original oracle deliberately sent down an oracle and emphasized this sentence.
For
Therefore, she had time to stay in Backlund.
But this kind of thing is obviously not something a Sequence 7 witch should know.
"Are you really going to stay here for the New Year this year?" Moraka, who had been silent for a long time, trembled in a tone, with a little caution and expectation.
"My daughter, don't you want me to stay?"
"..."
Moraka's face changed several times, and finally said coldly: "I just don't want you to disturb the world of two people between me and Germani!"
Pah!
Moraka's delicate face was slapped again, but she didn't seem to be angry about it.
...
Time passed quickly, and the end of the year was approaching in a blink of an eye.
December 31, 1349, Friday.
In addition to welcoming the New Year, there is another major event worthy of attention and concern in the Backlund noble circle today.
Earl Hall's daughter, Backlund's most dazzling pearl, Audrey Hall, will truly come of age in a social sense.
The dinner was naturally extremely exaggerated and luxurious. Even the queen came, and there were many other royal members, including two princes who had not yet decided on their marriage.
It has long been rumored that when Miss Audrey, Backlund's most brilliant pearl, reaches adulthood, she will be engraved on the crown.
The appearance of the queen tonight seems to confirm the credibility of this rumor.
As the protagonist of tonight's banquet and the absolute focus, Audrey, dressed in her best clothes, stood in the lounge, waiting for the New Year's Eve party to begin.
Her face did not show any expression of happiness, joy, or excitement. Instead, she frowned and sighed, and her bright eyes flickered faintly.
In front of her was a newspaper with the following words:
"...According to preliminary statistics, more than 36,000 people died directly in the smog, and the subsequent spread of the plague took away more than 80,000 people, including young children and strong teenagers..."
"The dock area was the hardest hit area in this smog incident. The death toll alone accounted for 60%, and the number of people suffering from serious illness has not been less than 20,000 so far."
"The kingdom has allocated a huge sum of money to help the workers who lost their jobs in the dock area..."
Audrey could not see the content after that.
Her eyes were fixed on those numbers. The smog incident actually caused the death of more than 100,000 people!
How many people are there in the entire Backlund?
At this time, she will welcome her coming-of-age ceremony in this magnificent villa, under the cordial introduction of the queen, in front of a large group of gorgeously dressed nobles.
This is what Mr. Hasta said, the attributes that she has at birth will not be transferred because of her own thoughts.
Audrey couldn't help but close her eyes.
At this time, Earl Hall and Countess Hall came in and praised at the same time: "You are more beautiful than everyone tonight, baby, it's time to go out, the queen is waiting for you."
Audrey opened her eyes and smiled elegantly. Accompanied by her father and mother, she left the lounge and came to the party hall.
She walked all the way to the highest platform, and in the stunning eyes, she handed her hand wearing elbow-length white gauze gloves to the queen.
The queen led her to the edge of the platform, and smiled at all the guests, saying, "Although this is a dark period in Backlund's history, we still have a gem that illuminates the entire city. Her wisdom, her beauty, her character, and her etiquette are impeccable."
"Tonight, I will formally introduce her to you."
"Miss Audrey Hall."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Outside the French window, fireworks were launched.
On the last night of 1349, Audrey officially became an adult in social terms.
Standing on the platform, Audrey maintained an elegant and generous smile, looking at the nobles who were applauding below.
Were they simply happy for their adulthood, or were they applauding to echo the queen's speech, or was this just a courtesy they were accustomed to?
When her eyes fell on Mr. Hasta in the crowd, she was 100% sure that Mr. Hasta was sincerely blessing her adulthood.
Her eyes did not stay for too long. After a glance, she looked at the night sky outside the French window, where clusters of fireworks rose, very beautiful and dreamy.
If it weren't for the shocking figures in the newspaper, she might have naively believed that the outside world was no different from the world she lived in.
After the queen finished introducing herself, Audrey left the platform and began to greet the nobles, whether they knew her or not, familiar or unfamiliar.
She always maintained her elegance, even though it was very tiring.
Especially when she saw Susie hiding in the corner, looking at everyone with an aloof gaze, her heart was even more tired.
Susie noticed the envious gaze from Audrey, and she got up and moved to a position where Audrey couldn't see her, and continued to look at everyone as an audience.
"Susie, do I need to prepare any gifts for you for the New Year?"
A familiar voice came from behind, and Susie subconsciously stopped shaking her tail, but soon continued to shake her tail lazily.
For Mr. Hasta, it was not as afraid as before, and it could get along with him calmly.
"In fact, I think with your wisdom, you should study the works of Emperor Roselle on thought in depth, which must be very suitable for you."
"Woof!"
Susie's heart was moved.
It had mentioned this to Audrey before, but Audrey ruthlessly rejected it, saying that it should not read too many books now, let alone contact some strange ideas.
Now Mr. Hasta's words made it feel that it had met a soulmate.
Last time, it was Mr. Hasta who kept mentioning Roselle, so it looked for opportunities to read the books left by Roselle and was deeply fascinated by it.
Unfortunately, it can't open its throat now and talk freely with Mr. Hasta about its impressions of the book of Emperor Roselle.
It can only watch Hasta being called by Hibbert to drink and socialize.
Susie, who was not disturbed by anyone, continued to lie in the corner of the second floor and continued to observe everything that was happening here. It was the best audience tonight.