Chapter 679: Lanchi's Wager with Talia

Chapter 679: Lanchi's Wager with Talia

Three days passed.

On an afternoon, at four o'clock.

In the fourth district of Pariet, the city of flowers, stood the mansion of Count Baptiste.

Christina lounged lazily on a sofa in the parlor, holding a book and listlessly flipping through its pages now and then.

"Yawn."

She yawned, uncaring of her demeanor as a young lady, and then shook her drowsy head.

Being at home had its perks; she could be as casual as she liked, and her family wouldn't fault her for it. After all, she had been brought up with the knowledge that, as the eldest daughter of the Baptiste Count, she was entitled to act on her whims.

Aside from a trip to the Crystal Orchid Avenue shopping district after lunch, she had returned home and was now feeling the afternoon lull.

"Why aren't they here yet?"

She glanced at the clock and murmured to herself.

Every day at half-past three in the afternoon, it was time for the butler, Loch, to give young Master Kyle his lessons, and they would finish at four o'clock sharp.

Normally, by now, the brown-haired, green-eyed butler would have walked with purpose through the hallway and likely passed through the parlor on the first floor, which connected the stairs and corridor.

Just thinking about it made Christina's eyelids feel heavy.

Maybe she should take a quick nap.

The afternoon sun in the courtyard of the Baptiste Count's mansion cast a deep golden-orange hue, accompanied by a hint of floral fragrance, filling the parlor of the mansion with a riotous, dreamy light.

Just then, Christina noticed a figure walking through the parlor.

"Loch, come here!"

She quickly sat up straight, roused herself, and beckoned to him.

"Miss, what can I do for you?"

The butler, with his brown hair and green eyes, noticed the young lady on the sofa and adjusted his course, walking towards the direction of the parlor's carpeted floor.

Lanchi had just finished giving Kyle his lesson and was about to go over the work of the other servants in the mansion.

Young Master Kyle's fashion design lessons were half an hour long, four times a week, amounting to two hours of extra work for the butler.

The half-hour lessons not only helped the student focus but also facilitated better digestion of the material and allowed for the assignment of exercises for practice and self-reflection.

"Wait here for me, I'll be right back,"

Christina said and then quickly ran off in the direction of the stairs to the second floor.

"Take it easy,"

Lanchi seemed unhurried, a little concerned that the young lady might trip.

But it seemed like the young lady hadn't heard him at all.

So he simply stood there, holding the book in one hand and casually flipping through it.

The book he held was a Possen translation of the 'Genesis Record,' borrowed from Kyle.

No matter how time raged on, only this book had survived the passage of hundreds of thousands of years.

Each language's translation offered a unique interpretation of the ancient text.

While Lanchi couldn't learn the divine arts described in the 'Genesis Record,' ever since he had seen the ancient version in the Blood Moon World, he had been intrigued and wanted to compare different versions, always finding new insights.

Not long after.

Christina returned, true to her word.

However, this time, she had brought a red-haired maid with her from the second floor.

It seemed the maid had been in the middle of cleaning a room when the young lady had pulled her along.

"Look at how she's changed!"

Christina proudly straightened her posture, hands on her hips, as she presented her personal maid to the butler.

Behind Christina stood Inoan, her long bangs covering her right eye, and her faintly visible purple eyes observing those in front of her. Even with her hair tied into twin tails, her crimson locks flowed down to her waist.

Although Christina had offered to cut Inoan's hair, the maid seemed reluctant.

Perhaps having her face partially hidden gave her a sense of security.

Her attire was the classic maid outfit of the Possen Kingdom, a monochrome ensemble with a meticulous bow, and a prominent ruby at her chest, which perfectly complemented the crown-like fabric on her head.

Inoan's furrowed brows suggested a lingering worry.

"Oh, so you're finally willing to wear the headpiece today?"

Lanchi smiled warmly at Inoan, greeting her.

On her first day at the Count's mansion, Inoan had been very reluctant to put on the maid outfit, and she absolutely refused to wear the maid's headpiece, as if it were her final stand.

That morning, when Lanchi had been teaching Inoan about her work, he vaguely recalled that she hadn't been wearing the headpiece.

"I just don't want people to say that Miss Christina brought back an inferior maid,"

Inoan replied, her voice thick with obvious displeasure and impatience.

"Why would anyone say that?"

Lanchi raised an eyebrow, surprised by her words.

The people in this household were kind; they wouldn't bad-mouth Inoan.

Inoan often seemed taken aback by their goodwill.

And there was no issue with her work ability; she was just starting to learn, so there might be some initial clumsiness.

"It's because of that Viscount. When he found out Inoan was a girl, he became even more ruthless in his ridicule,"

Christina added angrily.

That man had even mocked Christina for picking up such 'trash.'

"Viscount Hammond?"

Lanchi inquired.

"Yes, him!"

Christina nodded.

Their opponent that night had been Charles Hammond, Viscount Hammond, Inoan's former employer, who headed the Hammond Financial Group, providing a range of financial services in the Southern Continent, including investment banking, asset management, and insurance.

The wealthy Baptiste family had a long-standing acquaintance with the Hammond family, occasionally collaborating but mostly competing against each other.

The previous week, Christina had not only caused him to lose an important commission but had also defeated him through Inoan's efforts. Thus, when Charles Hammond, Viscount Hammond, saw the two of them together, he seethed with resentment.

"I was so angry, if he'd kept running his mouth for a few more seconds, I would have had Inoan teach him a lesson, and at worst, we'd have spent a few days in jail together."

Even now, Christina's anger hadn't completely dissipated, and she stamped her foot to emphasize her point.

Ironically, Inoan, who stood beside her, looked quite calm, as if the previous incident hadn't affected her at all.

"The insults I threw back at him were pretty mild!"

Christina had a short temper, and she hadn't held back when she'd retorted to Viscount Hammond, showing no respect to the elderly noble.

Later, after they had returned home, Christina noticed a change in Inoan; upon closer inspection, she realized that Inoan had started wearing the headpiece.

"Violence is not the answer, Miss. You mustn't let the idea of spending a few days in jail become your go-to solution."

Lanchi's expression turned serious as he admonished her.

"Oh... okay."

Christina never imagined that one day, she would be lectured by her own butler.

However, no matter how she looked at it, Butler Loch seemed to have an unexpectedly law-abiding personality.

"In a situation like that, you can ask me to negotiate with Viscount Hammond on your behalf, demanding appropriate compensation, damages for mental and emotional distress, a public apology, and so on. If all else fails, we can resort to legal means and thoroughly investigate and report every aspect of his company's business. High-leverage financial companies like theirs are prone to sudden collapses, and if problems arise, we can even consider a benevolent acquisition of their company."

Lanchi shared what he believed to be a more reasonable approach with Christina, hoping to provide her with some insight on how to resolve similar issues in the future in a more harmonious manner.

"God, stop making a hostile takeover sound so innocent and wholesome."

Christina understood a bit about their family business, and she knew that hostile takeovers were illegal. Moreover, the laws of the Possen Kingdom explicitly stated that hostile takeovers were not considered legitimate business practices.

Looks like taking advice from Butler Loch wasn't a good idea after all.

"Inoan already knows how to clean rooms, and she's picked up the basics of maid etiquette pretty quickly. She remembered all the pointers you gave her."

Deciding to change the subject, Christina proudly boasted to Loch about Inoan's progress.

"..."

Inoan, who was standing quietly behind Christina, neither confirmed nor denied her statement. It seemed that until she received further instructions, she wouldn't make any unnecessary movements.

"Look, she's become a proper lady now."

Lanchi glanced at Inoan and offered a warm smile as he complimented her.

Inoan, however, averted her gaze, seemingly displeased.

"Alright, Inoan, if you have any questions for Butler Loch, go ahead and ask."

Christina gently patted Inoan's shoulder and gestured for her to sit on the sofa as she spoke.

"How can I recover my memories?"

After sitting down, Inoan looked at Loch, who had also taken a seat across from her, and asked the question that had been on her mind.

"Why are you suddenly asking me this now?"

Lanchi slowly closed the book he had been holding, his eyes fixed on her.

"..."

Inoan remained silent, offering no explanation for her sudden inquiry.

"It's only natural to panic when you have no memories. Inoan doesn't want to live as someone without a past."

Christina sat down beside Inoan and spoke to Lanchi, her tone conveying her concern for her maid.

"Indeed."

Lanchi nodded and reopened the book, his eyes scanning the pages.

Inoan's body was like that of a monster; her injuries had healed at an incredible rate, and she had quickly shed her bandages.

However, her internal injuries were another matter, and they hadn't healed yet.

Additionally, while she seemed to possess immense magical power, she had no understanding of combat techniques. In a sparring session with Tata, who was possessed by Lanchi, she had been easily defeated in just a few moves.

Not only were her wounds still fresh, but she had also forgotten how to use her strength effectively.

Initially, Christina had considered having Inoan participate in competitions to earn some money, which they could then split between them. However, given the current situation, she decided that it would be best to let Inoan perform some regular chores around the mansion instead.

"..."

Christina had no idea what the butler was thinking at that moment, nor could she tell whether he agreed or disagreed with her previous statement.

"To help you regain your memories, the doctor said that you would need a strong mental stimulus or to be exposed to familiar objects or environments, which might trigger the revival of the injured areas of your brain."

Lanchi had reviewed Inoan's medical report and discussed her condition with the attending physician.

"So, to recover my memories, I have to go through some hardship?"

Inoan frowned once again.

She couldn't feel pain, and even if someone were to abuse her, she wouldn't find it unbearable; she simply didn't want to die.

"That's the theory, so your situation is quite complex, and it may be difficult for you to recover your memories."

Lanchi nodded as he provided an explanation.

"Inoan, don't worry. I'll take you to see the best doctors," Christina assured her, her voice light and gentle, like a web of concern wrapping around the air around them.

Lanchi was aware of Christina's affection for Inoan; after all, Inoan was the first servant that Christina had personally hired.

Moreover, Inoan looked good in any outfit, and when they had first returned home, Christina had taken her to her room and spent a long time choosing new outfits for her. Inoan had hesitated at first, but after being told that her wages wouldn't be deducted, she had eventually accepted the new clothes.

"If I can't remember, then forget it."

Inoan's expression remained neutral as she spoke.

As long as she remained in the Baptiste Count's mansion, she felt safe and believed that her enemies wouldn't be able to find her. If she could continue living like this, that would be enough.

"Who knows? Fate is unpredictable. When you desperately want to find something, it may elude you, but when you start to fear finding it, it may come knocking at your door."

Lanchi flipped through the pages of the 'Genesis Record' and happened to reach the final chapter on fate and reincarnation. He recited the passage softly.

"Me? Afraid?"

Inoan's lips curled upward as if she had just heard a joke, and she laughed unconsciously.

"First, you need to understand that fear is not necessarily a bad thing. Like pain, which I mentioned to you before, it can be uncomfortable, but it's essential."

Having finished reading the Possen translation of the ancient text, Lanchi closed the book and addressed the red-haired girl sitting across from him.

"What do you think is the most important emotion?"

He gently raised his index finger, pointing at the colorful flowers outside the French window in the courtyard, as if these flowers corresponded to each emotion.

"Joy?"

Inoan asked.

"This question can be answered in many ways, and each answer can be correct, depending on one's perspective."

Lanchi nodded solemnly, his hands clasped together and resting on his knees.

"However, the more concise the answer, the easier it is to overlook something crucial—that every emotion is significant."

"Why do you say that?"

Inoan had lost her memory but retained basic knowledge—how to eat, how to walk, and how to count.

Similarly, she felt that she had never heard the things Loch was saying now.

"When you crudely categorize emotions into positive and negative, or simply label them as good or bad, you tend to ignore a lot of things due to our innate tendency to seek pleasure and avoid pain."

Lanchi's words were slow and filled with a hint of worry.

"You may detest yourself when you're feeling down and even cruelly force yourself to do things you shouldn't during times when you should be allowing yourself to feel low. It's like being injured and needing to rest and recuperate, but instead, you ignore your wounds."

Each word seemed carefully weighed, as if considering whether these words were suitable for Inoan at this moment.

"On the contrary, if you clearly recognize the significance of each emotion, you will accept the way the world works. You will also find it easier to treat yourself and others with kindness, just as day turns to night. Every physical and psychological reaction you experience is normal and serves as an important signal."

These days, Lanchi had been giving Inoan daily counseling sessions.

Christina sat by, listening, a little concerned.

After listening for a few days, she tentatively concluded that there weren't any problems, and she even picked up some skills in comforting others.

At first, Inoan had been very resistant to listening to Butler Loch's words. This pure, natural kindness made her feel very uncomfortable, as if she were seeing something she had never seen before, and it filled her with fear.

Later, perhaps because she gradually started to feel a little more at ease with Butler Loch, Inoan stopped resisting and mostly listened to him without saying a word.

...

An hour later, it was almost time for the butler of the Count's mansion to get off work.

Lanchi picked up his briefcase and walked through the guest hall again.

Inoan had already gone to work.

Christina still lay lazily on the sofa.

Noticing Lanchi, Christina ran over to him.

"Thank you, Loch."

She patted Lanchi's back lightly, seeing him off.

Of course, she was also thanking him for helping her untangle Inoan's emotional knots.

In this mansion, Inoan still maintained some distance from the others, except for Lanchi and Christina, whom she trusted and gradually allowed to stay close to her.

"Miss Christina, I feel that she is obviously more dangerous than me. Why do you like her so much but still resist me?"

Lanchi asked, puzzled, as he looked at Christina.

"Your ability to get close to people so quickly is scary. It feels like no matter where you are, you can quickly get along with those around you."

Christina leaned back slightly, warily sizing up Lanchi,

"But Inoan feels like a wounded wolf that I picked up... and now she's become like a cub, so this is a good opportunity to tame her?"

Christina said uncertainly.

"So, you prefer to nurture someone rather than have them fall into your lap, is that it?"

Lanchi shook his head dejectedly, as if no one liked him.

"Tsk, look at how much my family relies on you."

Seeing the butler's dejected look, Christina curled her lips,

"By the way, if she regains her memory, will she suddenly stop recognizing me?"

Christina asked immediately after.

She was a little afraid that all her efforts would be in vain, that one day Inoan would suddenly treat her as a stranger again and disappear from her life, which would break her heart.

"No matter what kind of past she recalls, the memory of her time with you will remain forever in her mind. Perhaps, for someone with her original violent personality, it might feel like a contamination, but true happiness and joy cannot be faked, and she will crave more of it."

Lanchi explained with a smile, reaching the door and bowing slightly to her.

During this time, he had realized that Miss Christina seemed to have very few close friends.

Most people regarded her as a villainous young lady, similar to Young Master Kyle, without even getting to know her first.

On the other hand, Inoan was like a blank slate, and the first person she saw when she opened her eyes was Christina, so she trusted and relied on her.

Having a maid like Inoan, whom she had rescued, Christina now treated her like a treasure and wanted to become good friends with her.

"I understand."

Christina smiled and waved at Lanchi, wishing him a pleasant evening.

Hearing these words from the butler, she finally felt relieved.

...

As the sun sank in the sky, the evening arrived, casting a golden hue on the streets of Pariet.

Along the streets tinged with the colors of the sunset, there was a small road leading to the cultural district and the Platinum Forest Palace Spiritual Hotel.

Lanchi and Talia were on their way to find a restaurant.

"We have to get up early tomorrow, probably at seven, so can we head back early today?"

Lanchi looked at Talia, who was holding the cat, and asked.

Logically, Talia had waited for him patiently all day, and even after turning into a magic card, she hadn't made a sound or caused any trouble, remaining quieter than the Great Lover Poet. Now that work was over, she probably wanted to stroll through the Flower City of Pariet.

The Platinum-level Card Maker exam would begin on the weekend.

Tomorrow, Friday, they didn't have to go to work at the Baptiste Count's mansion, but they had to go to the Southern Continent Card Maker Association's Pariet branch to report to Countess Rosalinda and understand the exam proctoring arrangements.

"No problem, you go to sleep, and I'll wake you up in time.

Talia replied nonchalantly, "Now, every day I wait for Lanchi to wake up."

If she strayed too far from Lanchi, it would increase the sustained consumption of her magic power, and she wouldn't be able to keep track of his condition. What if she unknowingly depleted his magic power? That would put Lanchi in danger.

"You even have an alarm clock function?"

Lanchi turned his head to look at her.

"When Huberian was in school, I would make breakfast for her and call her to wake up. Sometimes she had low blood sugar and would struggle to get up in the morning."

Talia looked ahead at the road and replied.

"Then I won't set an alarm."

Lanchi muttered to himself, sounding a little lost.

Could Talia even cook? And Talia's seemingly virtuous and motherly habits were something he couldn't accept!

"I always help Asina in the kitchen, so I know a thing or two. But when I'm by myself, I don't bother cooking properly. It's not worth the effort, and it's easier to just buy takeout unless I'm cooking for others. That's when I'll put in the effort."

Talia was too lazy to stay angry at Lanchi and explained to him.

He would ponder this level of damnation several times a day, unintentionally.

After Talia finished speaking, she ignored Lanchi.

Lanchi continued to find his way as usual.

Over there, this way—

He seemed to change his route without any direction, yet his steps were completely unwavering.

Talia looked up at his profile, always curious about how long it would take for him to memorize a map.

If she were the one leading the way, she would probably make a wrong turn at least once or twice.

When the two finally stopped walking, they had turned down several small roads in the cultural district and entered a particularly bustling main road, waiting at a traffic light.

Waiting for the signal to change.

It remained unchanged for a long time.

"By the way, is that girl really okay?"

Talia suddenly asked.

She felt that something was off about Inoan.

The one who had fought Inoan was her.

Lanchi, who was possessed by her, couldn't sense the discordant strength within Inoan.

Although Lanchi and Christina hadn't found any criminal records for Inoan, based on Talia's experience, the more normal someone seemed, the more suspicious they were.

"I think she's fine. Inoan seems to have serious mental trauma and character flaws, but she doesn't seem dangerous at the moment. I think she can be taught how to treat others well and how to function normally in society."

Lanchi looked at Talia with confusion.

"Your biggest flaw is that you have too much faith in yourself and others. You always seek the most extreme and optimal solution, which is a cognitive mode that can be your downfall."

Talia had wanted to talk to Lanchi about this for a long time.

After traveling with him, she realized that this problem was particularly severe for him.

She knew that Lanchi wouldn't categorize Inoan as a certain type of person based on superficial information. Instead, he would view Inoan as an individual, judging her solely by what he saw and felt.

While his approach was correct, it didn't mean he would always be right.

"But do you think I should be hostile towards Miss Lisancey?"

Lanchi hesitated for half a second as he stroked the black kitten and spoke to Talia.

"..."

Talia didn't know how to respond for a moment.

They had met Miss Lisancey on the floating castle airship when they first arrived in Pariet. Lanchi's trust and lack of prejudice had saved Lisancey. If it had been someone else, they might not have been so determined to help Lisancey, a demon and a cursed one at that, with the executioner Nigel approaching.

Now, Inoan was the same. Her identity was unknown, and she was full of potential.

Yet, Lanchi didn't hesitate to stick to his previous choice.

Talia could understand Lanchi, but she didn't agree with him.

"Now I know why the two of us can never get along."

Talia spoke up.

"Why?"

Lanchi asked curiously.

"You always have this mysterious confidence, pursuing the most extreme and optimal solution. As for me, I prefer stability and certainty. The optimal solution, in my opinion, is not about walking a tightrope."

Talia's golden eyes lifted to meet his, and she transmitted her thoughts to him,

"When I hesitate, you're decisive, and when I'm decisive, you hesitate. That's why our rhythm is always off."

Their cooperative card-making had made little progress so far.

"I see."

Lanchi nodded, appearing a little dazed, but he agreed that this made sense.

During this time, they had gradually figured out why their cooperation was so poor.

Technically, they understood each other very well, and logically, they should have mastered their collaboration after a few tries.

However, the actual reason for their poor coordination was that their thinking patterns clashed, or their natural compatibility as partners was extremely low.

If neither of them compromised or acknowledged the other, then achieving perfect cooperation in card-making was impossible.

"Let's make a bet."

Lanchi snapped out of his thoughts and suggested,

He was referring to the matter with Inoan.

"Sure, let's see who's right."

Talia didn't need further explanation; she understood his meaning through their shared thoughts—

Whoever won would have the other listen to them, and the loser would change their pace to accommodate the winner.

"Why does this sound like a bet between an angel and a devil, meow?"

Cat Boss, perched on Lanchi's hand, looked back and forth between the two, listening to their discussion.

"I believe that no matter what her past is, I can save her as long as she gives me this chance."

Lanchi asserted confidently.

Or perhaps this opportunity was a gift from the Goddess of Fate.

"Then I guess your idea will only bring about her destruction, or perhaps you couldn't save her from the start. You're not omnipotent; there are some people you can't save."

Talia added.

Although Talia had never seen Lanchi fail terribly, she was looking forward to it.

She wanted to see the confident Lanchi shatter like glass one day.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end