Chapter 872: Lance's Mysterious Encounter with a Black-Haired Woman

Chapter 872: Lance's Mysterious Encounter with a Black-Haired Woman

The afternoon sun cast a gentle and languid glow, infusing the air near the restaurant's window with a dreamy ambiance.

"Ah."

Lance cut a tender piece of pan-fried beef with his fork, dipped it in sauce, and brought it to Talia's lips.

Talia opened her mouth shyly, and soon a spoonful of food was fed to her, with Lance's hand supporting the spoon to prevent any mess.

"Did we skip a lot of steps and jump straight to the main course?"

Talia asked between chews, swallowing the food.

As delicious dishes were served, they both indulged in feeding each other without a care in the world.

Only after they started eating did they realize that in the past, they would have debated for ages, but now, with the feeding going so smoothly, Talia felt a new kind of embarrassment.

"Or should we go for a walk and come back for dinner later?"

Lance suggested.

"No, let's focus on the task at hand," Talia shook her head, continuing to savor the familiar dishes at the Cologne Bridge Inn Restaurant.

After leaving the Platinum Palace, they followed the planned route to a nearby restaurant.

The main hall was illuminated with dazzling lights, reflecting off the pure white tablecloths and silverware. From their sofa by the window, they could see the serene view of the Serene River. The azure water shimmered like a dream, putting them both at ease.

"Do you need me to carry you this time?"

Lance asked provocatively.

He had learned how to deal with Talia's current attitude.

Even though their overly intimate behavior attracted envious and teasing glances from others, Lance paid them no mind.

This was a direct confrontation between him and Talia.

The cowardly would be spun like a top.

"!"

Talia paused her meal for a moment.

Despite entering the feeding mode after they started dining, Talia still struggled to relax, her body tense.

Lance seized this opportunity to tease her.

He noticed her stiff posture.

The more Talia thought about it, the more she felt like cursing Lance.

"Do you want me in human form, cat form, or... should I stay in human form but you treat me like a cat?"

Talia leaned closer to Lance, whispering her question without hiding her shyness.

After speaking, she meowed softly in Lance's ear, her voice barely audible.

"..."

Lance's fork lightly touched the porcelain plate.

He hadn't expected Teacher Talia to be so relaxed today.

If this continued, they might relive their first date.

"Would you be mad if I accidentally read your weight?"

Lance hoped Talia would be more rational.

"..."

Talia clenched her fist. She wanted to scold Lance, but she was afraid he would be satisfied. His real-time reading ability was like that of a beast. Could he even differentiate between her weight and the weight of the food she was consuming?

"Because I'm using a spell to quickly break down the food into stamina and mana. It's my recovery magic."

Talia sighed, patiently explaining to Lance.

"Then why doesn't your mana recovery benefit me?"

Lance was surprised by this revelation.

Mana always flowed to those who had an abundance of it.

Talia had been draining his mana, but for her, mana was a surplus resource.

"There's no other way. After the demon fusion, although I'm the conscious controller as the earring holder, my physical traits lean more towards the fused demon. So, just like Lan Fu, I no longer have a mana bar. Even if I recover mana, I can't transfer it back to you."

Talia explained the epic equipment mechanism they had already studied together, "Unless you become my servant, then I can give you my mana, and your mana consumption is so low that it's unlikely you'll ever use up all of my mana."

Talia thought for a moment and felt that it would be more reasonable for Lance to be her servant.

"Then wouldn't we be like Tamisha and Ranklos?"

Lance recalled the story he had dreamed about after the Blood Moon Cataclysm, where Ranklos became Tamisha's servant.

"Yes, that's the kind of partnership that has strength. Don't you think our mana supply and consumption are completely reversed?"

Talia seriously discussed this with Lance.

Although she knew the topic had veered off course, she tacitly continued the new conversation with Lance.

There would be plenty of opportunities to feed each other at home; there was no need to torture each other in a restaurant.

"That's true."

Lance imagined what it would be like if they switched roles. Talia might even take on the demeanor of a demon lord.

"Am I not a demon lord now? Am I not the cutest demon lord in history?"

Talia questioned him.

"..."

Lance couldn't hold back his laughter, and his hand trembled as he picked up the fork to continue feeding Talia.

"Answer me! Didn't you say I was cute? You've said it several times, and I remember it clearly!"

Talia eagerly took the food that Lance handed to her and asked, "What is it?"

Lance's feeding motions were so skilled that even without holding her, she felt as if he understood her completely. The food he chose was so perfect for her that she felt like melting.

"Tata, you know, compared to your talent, Lan Fu's efforts are worthless," Lance said, feeding her while occasionally wiping the corners of her mouth with a napkin, his words full of admiration.

"I think you just want to act in a play with me again, but I can't reward you this time," Talia replied, initially sitting upright but gradually relaxing as time passed, trying to clear her mind to reduce her embarrassment. She simply opened her mouth, chewed, and followed Lance's actions.

The clock's hands moved slowly, and the sun gradually set.

At this moment, Lance truly felt like Talia was like a soft, small cat, or perhaps even a large feline.

Even without jumping onto him, she snuggled up next to him.

"Tata, I still have a question," Lance said, unsure of how much time had passed in the restaurant, only knowing that customers had come and gone in waves.

Only they remained, still sitting by the window, eating a lunch that was almost dinner.

"Ask away," Talia said, having already prepared herself mentally.

"Since you have a magic spell to quickly break down food, why did you still gain weight?" Lance asked, genuinely curious.

"!" Talia snapped out of her food-induced trance, her face turning red as she looked up at him.

"That's because I was too thin before. When I was wandering, I didn't eat well at all. Didn't you notice?" she explained.

"I think so," Lance replied, initially thinking it was because she had eaten too much, and even with Talia's unique magic, she couldn't completely control the excess calories.

"No, really, it's not that," Talia said, at a loss for words. She continued eating the food Lance fed her, sensing his thoughts.

She paused, then patted her stomach.

Clearly, she hadn't gained weight, indicating that the slight weight gain over the past two years was natural and harmless.

"Hmm," Lance noticed her gesture and her thoughts, politely suppressing a smile.

"You..." Talia wanted to scold him but stopped herself.

Today, she had to endure.

She grabbed Lance's wrist and placed his hand on her flat stomach.

"See, I don't have a belly. Feel for yourself," she said, letting go and allowing him to sense it.

"..." Lance received another set of incorrect parameters.

There weren't many people who could cause Lance's brain to freeze, but Talia was undoubtedly the strongest of them all.

He could never guess what Talia would do next.

...

Far away, on a small boat by the river, Rosalinda rowed leisurely, with a black cat perched on her head. She occasionally rowed back and forth.

"What are they talking about? Tata's face just turned so red," Rosalinda wondered, catching glimpses through the cat's telescope, seeing Talia and Lance chatting and interacting.

Unfortunately, they were too far away on the Serene River, and using scouting magic would surely be noticed by Lance and Talia in the restaurant. Even in her disguise, she could only watch from a distance with the cat.

"Meow..." The Cat Boss struggled to describe what Lance and Talia were doing, unable to imagine what they were up to.

It could only send the telescope to Rosalinda using telekinesis, allowing her to see for herself.

"My goodness, what are they doing?!" Rosalinda felt her face flush just from watching.

The last time she saw Lance and Tata, they had enjoyed pinching each other's waists. Now, in the restaurant, they showed no restraint, and Lance was touching Talia more intimately.

"I... I wouldn't dare to imagine Duke Mikaya doing this to me, even if I were drunk," Rosalinda covered her face and twisted her upper body in embarrassment.

"Meow..." The Cat Boss thought that Rosalinda's failure was understandable.

The Duchess had been missing for over a decade, and she had had numerous chances to revive her. Yet, she still hadn't won over Duke Mikaya. Was there something wrong with her strategy?

...

The light and shadows in the Cologne Bridge Inn Restaurant shifted with the passing time, and the distant river was bathed in a golden-orange hue. Only Lan and Talia remained, tirelessly feeding each other.

The sun slowly sank below the horizon, painting the Flower Capital of Pariah in a magnificent crimson.

The restaurant had already started welcoming dinner guests.

Lance and Talia's lunch was finally coming to an end.

The waiter enthusiastically served them dessert.

Usually, the manager would be annoyed by customers occupying a table for so long on a weekend, but these two were different—they were genuinely high-spending guests.

The restaurant's signature dessert was a chestnut cake made with fresh chestnuts from the Aquidan Mountains in the Bosson Kingdom. Each bite was filled with the sweet flavor of chestnuts.

Lance cut the cake into small pieces and fed Talia one bite at a time.

The cake was coated with a layer of crispy almond slices, and the inside was made with freshly picked raspberry puree as the main ingredient. It was light and airy, like a cloud, and with each small bite, Talia could taste the sweet and sour flavors of raspberries.

As their lunch neared its end, they both felt that their date was coming to a close.

"Dating is so simple."

Talia felt like she had become a dating expert, sipping her tea.

The next time she guided Miss Zhu Zhu, it would be even more effortless.

It had been a while since she last contacted Miss Zhu Zhu. Once they returned to Ekerite, she must find time to meet with this friend whom she had never met offline, and have a proper meal together.

As the afternoon turned to dusk, Lance and Talia concluded their feast with black coffee and floral tea.

"Welcome back, and we hope to see you again soon."

Before departing, the waiters presented them with a gift box of matcha and mango pastries, a complimentary treat from the restaurant. Talia blushed and quickly accepted it, hurrying out.

The more courteous the staff was, the more embarrassed she felt.

These waiters had witnessed their affectionate display throughout the entire afternoon.

"Let's find Ifatiya and Mikaya. We can ask them about fun places to visit in the Flower Capital tonight, or maybe they can take us for a tour of the Paros Realm."

As Lance and Talia stepped out of the restaurant, the late afternoon sun bathed Pariera in a golden glow, transforming the city into a picturesque scene.

It wasn't a holiday, but Mikaya and Ifatiya, as frequent visitors to the Flower Capital, would likely know more about its attractions than they did.

"Oh, right, they're probably in Paros Sector 6 today. Aetius is hosting them at the Holy Silver Vine Arena. They might be planning to watch the competition."

Talia remembered that Baroness Rosalinda had mentioned earlier that Aetius was meeting an important guest at the Holy Silver Vine Arena.

It was at this very arena that Talia and Lance had first met Aetius, who was now one of the arena's main organizers. With the recent demise of Lord Perlman, the tenth district lord of the Paros Realm, Aetius, as the representative lord of the Paros Realm and a demon close to humans, had gained even more influence in Pariera.

The arena was also the place where Aetius had first encountered Mikaya and Ifatiya. Initially, she was just a contracted competitor, but her talents were later discovered by Mikaya and Ifatiya.

"The Holy Silver Vine Arena, it's been a while since I've been there."

Lance vividly recalled the arena where the Platinum Cardist Exam was held and where he and Talia had once fought in an underground boxing match.

They strolled along the street, surrounded by ancient buildings and stone brick walls that glowed warmly in the sunset.

No longer holding hands, they walked side by side with newfound ease.

Gradually, they left the bustling downtown area and turned onto a secluded path.

The narrow path wound its way upwards, lined with ivy cascading down like a waterfall on both sides.

Without the need for conversation, they both knew what to do next.

They were all too familiar with the route outside the Kollon Bridge Inn, the memory of their last visit there still fresh in their minds.

Montmartre Heights was the highest point in the entire Flower Capital.

As they ascended the path to the heights, the breathtaking view of Pariera unfolded before them. Not only were there comfortable benches for relaxation, but they could also overlook the stunning sunset.

Compared to other districts in Pariera, Montmartre Heights in North District 3 was exceptionally high, even the Serene River couldn't flow upstream here. The area boasted picturesque winding paths, towering sacred churches, a plaza where painters gathered, and lively nightclubs.

By bypassing Montmartre Heights, they could directly reach a convenient transportation hub and take the city's rail system straight to the Holy Silver Vine Arena in Sector 6.

Within minutes, they had reached the highest point of Montmartre Heights.

Leaves had accumulated along the path, and children played and ran on the small trail. In the distance, middle-aged men in formal attire read newspapers.

The vast cityscape of Pariera stretched out before them, and the setting sun slowly melted into the horizon, painting the sky pink like a burning sunset.

"Life is like a vast wilderness, and it's beautiful when you gallop through it."

Talia, relishing this moment of leisure, sighed.

The gentle evening breeze ruffled their hair, carrying a faint scent of roses that was soothing to the soul.

She rarely experienced such tranquility and wished it could last forever.

"How about we go back for dinner?"

Lance glanced at the clock tower and suddenly asked.

Although they had just finished lunch, it was now dinner time.

"I'm quite full. If we go back, it's your turn to feed me."

Talia found Lance's suggestion suspicious.

She was incredibly full, rarely having eaten so much before.

It was all Lance's fault for feeding her so much. When she was with him, she felt like she had lost all self-control.

"No, it's fine."

Lance shook his head.

He was always concerned about Talia getting hungry, but he didn't need her to feed him.

Just imagining Talia feeding him made him feel like she would become like a mother nursing her child.

"Are you embarrassed, Lance? Are you imagining me nursing the child during the day and you at night?"

Talia teased, poking his cheek and smiling mischievously.

"What kind of nonsense are you talking about?"

Lance widened his eyes and turned his head to look at her.

"I meant breakfast and dinner, don't get any funny ideas!"

Talia immediately realized the double entendre in her words and quickly clarified.

She soon realized that the more she explained, the more confusing it became. Slowly, she turned away, no longer gazing at Lance's face.

Fortunately, their lunch together today was relatively normal. If they were back in Ekerite and their friends discovered them feeding each other all afternoon like the last time, they might as well flee this world.

The setting sun casts a veil of light over Talia's exquisite features, her eyes reflecting the city's dusk, as if memories flow through her mind.

Unknowingly, time has passed in this beautiful city, and every moment recalled is now vividly clear.

"Can we visit more places together in the future?"

Talia seems tired from all the fuss, perhaps well-fed, her tone returning to its usual calm, no longer bantering with Lance.

Lance doesn't respond, simply raising his hand and flicking his little finger.

Talia stares at Lance, hesitating for a moment.

Then, a smile tugs at her lips, and she reaches out to hook her little finger with his.

...

The clouds gradually dissipate as the sun sinks below the horizon.

The sky over Flower Capital transitions from a splendid tangerine to a deep indigo, and under this near-night sky, the two ride to Pariera, near the border of Paros Realm.

Pariera's North District 6, the Holy Silver Vine Arena, is approximately 25 kilometers from Pariera's city center, easily accessible via a convenient public transport system.

As the designated venue and multi-functional stadium for the Holy Grail Servant Championship, the Holy Silver Vine Arena is always bustling. Even if not employers or contestants, there are numerous spectators who enjoy watching the matches, placing bets, and even borrowing money for a small gamble—win big, lose small.

Its advantageous location not only serves the Pariera region's athletic and cultural activities but also facilitates spectators from the entire Bosson Kingdom, even internationally.

However, just a kilometer further north lies a sparsely populated district.

Merely because the Holy Silver Vine Arena is adjacent to the entrance of Paros Realm.

The second floor of the Holy Silver Vine Arena.

The corridor outside the Executive General's office.

"It's close to Paros Realm, convenient for them to travel back and forth."

Upon arriving at the arena, Talia learns from the staff that Aetius has been here all afternoon.

Passing through the northern gate with ancient spatial barriers, one enters Paros Realm, and the northern districts 7 to 10 of Flower Capital are demon territories.

Ordinary residents of Flower Capital who reach the arena's vicinity won't venture further into Paros Realm, as in the demon realm, humans no longer receive special legal protection, and demons are no longer strictly restricted from harming humans.

This Holy Silver Vine Arena can be described as a truly "border-realm" landmark building.

"Since Aetius isn't accompanying Ifatiya and Duke Mygaya in the audience, they must be here."

Lance looks towards the distant Executive General's office door, communicating with Talia in his mind.

Here is the core office area; loud voices are not allowed, and one should maintain quietness.

"Hmm."

Talia and Lance lock eyes, finding no answers, only heading towards the office to investigate later.

Gradually...

Ifatiya's voice becomes clearer.

"Hahaha, the sister and brother-in-law seem like a pair of silly lovers!"

At the sound of these words, the two freeze in their tracks.

"Were they just at Cologne Bridge Inn Restaurant all afternoon? Wow, wow..."

The voice of a mysterious woman also reaches them.

She seems equally astonished.

"Don't worry, there's even more explosive content ahead."

Aetius tantalizes the mysterious woman.

They had only watched the first half of the date, and Talia's riding skills were yet to be shown.

"But, Ifa, you said I'm your sister-in-law, and you want to steal my man, is that really okay?"

Aetius turned to look at Ifa, who was still smiling and sitting on the sofa, as if she had no heart and no lungs.

Lance and Talia subconsciously rushed towards the direction of the boss's office.

They must stop Ifa and Talia from seeing that scene of feeding each other!

"No problem, I'm actually your sister-in-law, and now I'm really going to be your daughter, haha!"

Ifa was still leaning against the sofa and laughing.

However, at this moment, the boss's office door was opened.

This hundred-square-meter spacious office had two doors, and the floor was made of century-old oak wood, inlaid with patterns in the Bosson style. A two-meter-diameter rosewood desk had an antique oil lamp made of pure brass. Except for the cowhide paper documents waiting to be signed, there was no one in front of the desk.

Beside the colored glass mosaic floor lamp, three very different women were sitting on the sofa.

They were all staring blankly at the suddenly opened door.

Lance and Talia were staring blankly at the three people in the office.

Aetius, as always, had silver-white hair that fell like a waterfall, and her sky-blue eyes were clear and gentle.

Ifa had just stopped laughing and patting her legs.

But besides that, Ifa had another woman beside her who seemed extraordinary.

Even in a non-combat state, she maintained a serious, heavy, and restrained temperament. Her eyes showed a hint of playfulness and thought, but when sitting on the sofa and relaxing, her eyebrows also relaxed slightly, revealing a few minutes of gentleness and composure.

That upright sitting posture and tall figure showed nothing but her good upbringing and self-discipline.

The moonlight shining in from the window hit her, reflecting her fair skin, deep facial features, and soft black hair. Perhaps she was the most beautiful person here.

But when she saw Lance and Talia, who suddenly rushed in, her eyes gradually became filled with the urge to escape.

At this time, everyone in the room seemed to have ten thousand eyes.

Time seemed to have stopped.

Lance and Talia stared at the mysterious black-haired woman, and they were now afraid of others seeing their entire last date.

"Ifa, you said I'm your sister-in-law, and you want to steal my man, is that really okay?"

But Talia was more concerned about another question.

She heard the words she couldn't consider other things.

"This..."

Ifa moved her sitting position on the sofa, trying to use her body to block Lance from seeing the black-haired noblewoman.

She didn't know how to immediately explain to Talia that she was actually picked up by the Demon King, the orphaned daughter of the Ninth-Seal New King.

They were originally enemies, but later, by accident, they became sisters, and she was also tamed, becoming a princess who gave up revenge.

Ifa became more and more nervous.

But at this moment, she couldn't take care of herself anymore; the more important thing was to protect the black-haired noblewoman behind her.

Aetius also tried to lower her presence, avoiding attracting their attention, and hurriedly reached for the remote to turn off the still-playing video.

Finally, Ifa gritted her teeth, ready to hug the black-haired noblewoman and escape through the window.

Some things can be explained later!

Now, I can't chat with them anymore.

Just as Ifa's legs were about to take off, ready to run.

"Surprise! Aetius, Tata, I'm here with Little Black Cat!"

Baroness Rosalinda's cheerful voice sounded from outside the door.

She held Little Black Cat and jumped into the boss's office through the back door.

After stalking them for a day, she no longer pretended.

She just wanted to meet with Aetius, Lance, and Tata after a long separation!

Plop.

The cat fell to the ground.

Baroness Rosalinda stared blankly at the two shadows on the sofa.

This woman, with a completely different appearance, height that seemed to be ten centimeters shorter, and a much slimmer figure, had black hair and black eyes that Rosalinda couldn't mistake.

Seeing the black-haired figure, she only felt incomparably fortunate that the person had returned.

But unexpectedly, Ifa also appeared.

Whenever she saw Ifa, Rosalinda only wanted to hold back her tears and run away.

For her, seeing them kissing without pulling silk was considered a success.

"No, no problem..."

She said so, but her voice was trembling, as if her heart had been stabbed with a knife, and her tears couldn't help but fall.

Baroness Rosalinda wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and turned her head, not letting others see her embarrassing appearance.

Aetius didn't know what to do, feeling helpless, looking back and forth.

In the end, Ifa could only grab the black-haired noblewoman and escape through the window.

Only the people left in the office watched as the entire floor-to-ceiling window glass shattered and fell.

Then, they completely disappeared.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end