nycdaug Chapter 82: 《The Libertine Count and the Elven Maid》
Chapter 82: 《The Libertine Count and the Elven Maid》
Due to their extremely high efficiency, the two managed to return to Graystone Town with their bags full of spoils before the sun had completely set.
After submitting the quest items at the guild counter, the heavy coin pouch once again fell into Lance’s hands.
Today’s total earnings amounted to 14 silver coins and 16 copper coins.
This income had doubled compared to yesterday, already surpassing what he could earn by locking himself in the attic and desperately crafting Hemostatic Ointment all day.
As expected, high risk came with high reward—and high efficiency was a multiplier of wealth.
The two walked out of the guild hall and arrived at the plaza outside.
Lance skillfully counted out half the coins and handed them to Cecilia.
Just as he was about to wave goodbye like yesterday and head home to deal with his long-protesting stomach—
“Senior, can you wait for me?”
Cecilia suddenly called out to stop him.“Hm?”
Lance paused and turned back, somewhat puzzled.
“Alright, go ahead.”
Though he didn’t know what she intended to do, he still nodded.
Cecilia hugged the coin pouch and trotted into a nearby pastry shop that was still open.
Through the glass display window, he could see her pointing and selecting several pastries that looked overwhelmingly sweet.
Before long, the girl came out carrying a large stack of paper bags.
She quickly walked up to Lance, took out several of the most generously portioned bags, and stuffed them into his arms without explanation.
“This is?”
Lance instinctively caught them. Warmth from the freshly baked pastries spread through his arms, and a rich creamy aroma lingered at the tip of his nose.
He hadn’t expected there to be a portion for him.
“You taught me this, Senior.”
Cecilia tilted her head up, her red eyes beneath the cloak curving into crescent moons as she smiled.
“Sharing food is the simplest way to build relationships. And we’re friends too.”
There was actually another reason she hadn’t said aloud.
While they were processing the Stone-Shell River Crab materials at the riverbank earlier, she had clearly heard several “gurgling” protests coming from his stomach.
Although he had pretended nothing was wrong, the sound had been far too obvious in the quiet riverside.
He must have consumed too much energy during the battle and endured hunger the entire time.
Thinking of this, the smile in her eyes grew even brighter.
Lance looked at the pastries in his arms, then at the pure smile on the girl’s face.
The twilight seemed to cast a soft golden glow around her entire figure.
At that moment, Lance felt as if his vision had been dazzled.
Somewhere deep in his heart, something seemed to soften.
“Thank you.”
He tightened his hold on the paper bags, his tone sincere.
“Then… since we’re friends now.”
Cecilia clasped her hands behind her back, leaning slightly forward as she looked at him expectantly.
“Friends call each other by name. You haven’t told me your name yet, Senior.”
“I only know your codename is Raven.”
That was true.
From the moment they met until now, aside from signing his name on that unnoticed commission sheet, he had never formally introduced himself.
Lance freed one hand and extended it toward the girl in front of him.
“Lance Lott.”
“Lott?”
Hearing that surname, Cecilia paused for a brief moment, a trace of confusion flashing through her eyes.
She subconsciously repeated the surname.
“What’s wrong? Is there something strange about my surname?”
Lance asked, slightly puzzled.
“No! It sounds very nice!”
Cecilia quickly shook her head, and that fleeting confusion vanished instantly.
She extended her fair and soft hand, shaking Lance’s large hand.
Her voice was clear and pleasant.
“Cecilia Rosenthal.”
“Then we’re officially friends now, Senior Lance.”
Their hands clasped briefly before separating.
“See you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.”
After parting with Lance, Cecilia carried the remaining pastries and happily made her way toward White Oak Manor.
Returning to the second floor of the manor—
As she pushed open the door, warm yellow light greeted her.
Yuna was lying inelegantly on the sofa in the living room, holding a thick book above her face while letting out silly “hehehe” laughter as she read.
Judging by the colorful cover, it was clearly not any serious magic textbook, but rather one of those popular light adventure novels on the market.
Hearing the door open, Yuna sprang up like a startled rabbit.
“Why are you back so early?!”
She hurriedly hid the novel behind her back, her face showing a trace of panic from being caught.
“Today’s mission went quite smoothly, so we came back early.”
Cecilia paid no attention to her roommate’s little actions.
She walked to the table and placed the pastries down.
“You seemed to like these flavors yesterday, so I bought some more for you today.”
“Oh right, Yuna, why didn’t you go to your internship today?”
Yuna looked at the food on the table, then at Cecilia’s relaxed expression, and couldn’t help but sigh.
“So nice…”
She plopped back onto the sofa, stuffed a pastry into her mouth, and complained indistinctly.
“Don’t even mention it. I only found out when I went there today—the team leader said that to maintain their condition, their team rests for a day after each mission.”
“So I didn’t go to the internship at all today. I just lay around in the dorm all day.”
At this point, Yuna leaned closer with curiosity.
“What about you? Did anything interesting happen today?”
Hearing this, Cecilia’s eyes immediately lit up.
Scenes of today’s exhilarating coordinated battle surfaced in her mind, along with the image of Senior giving her a thumbs-up under the sunset.
That intense urge to share surged up, making her want to grab Yuna and talk for three hours straight.
But she glanced down at herself.
Although she had used Cleanse, the lingering psychological discomfort from walking through muddy terrain still remained.
“I’m going to wash up first—then I’ll tell you everything!”
Suppressing her excitement, the girl carried her change of clothes toward the bathroom.
For spellcasters, a single Cleanse could remove all dirt.
But a spell was still just a spell—it could not replace the mental pleasure and relaxation brought by warm water enveloping the body.
Especially for Cecilia, who had grown up accustomed to a refined lifestyle, bathing was an essential daily ritual.
“Mm-hmm, go ahead.”
Yuna nodded obediently, putting on a look of “I’ll wait here patiently.”
Watching Cecilia hum as she entered the bathroom and hearing the door lock—
The obedient expression on Yuna’s face instantly disappeared.
She skillfully pulled out the novel she had just hidden behind her back.
Based on her observations over the past few days, with this young lady’s bathing and skincare routine, it would take at least half an hour.
That was more than enough time for her to finish this chapter.
Yuna adjusted into a comfortable position and reopened the book.
While stuffing pastries into her mouth, she read with great enjoyment.
Entertainment in this other world was just this simple, unadorned—and somewhat dull.
And on the brightly colored cover of that book—
There was a bold illustration of a voluptuous long-eared elf nestled in the arms of a black-haired young man. The two gazed at each other affectionately, set against an ambiguous pink background.
Below the title was a line of smaller text:
《The Libertine Count and His Elven Maid》