Miss Witch's Forbidden Book Secret

Tia didn't know if this was a family trait. Tia also sensed this trait in Lady Edwina.

I tend to be a little indulgent and doting on the people around me.

Therefore, Tia is willing to indulge and spoil Annie a little more. If Vera wanted to play with Tia Nuannuan for three hours, she would have already shaken the seawater in Vera's head and asked her if she was sober.

The banquet is at eight o'clock. This kind of banquet is not like the highly political banquet at Golden Moon Bay, so there is no need to arrive early. It would even be better to arrive a little late.

Annie clapped her hands in satisfaction and finished tidying up the girl sitting in front of the dressing table.

Tia stood up, holding onto the armrest, and said, "That's about enough. I'll go tell the maids to remember to bring Eleanor some food tonight. Otherwise, she won't log off even if she's starving while she's soaking in the deep sea."

Anne asked curiously, "Isn't Eleanor going?"

"The official theme of this banquet is to welcome the Anti-Corruption Bureau. The founders of the Edith, Gawain, and Willen families who are attending have little to do with Eleanor, not to mention the remaining councilors and wealthy businessmen. So she doesn't have an invitation. But if she does go, there won't be any problem."

After all, she's a legitimate princess. Even if Eleanor were to sneak into the banquet hall and devour all the cakes, fruits, and drinks, leaving the nobles hungry, they would all just smile and flatter her, saying, "Princess Eleanor has such a good appetite..."

However, Eleanor was definitely not in the mood to go.

She was attending another banquet.

Eleanor projected her soul into Frynn Bonaparte and was playing an immersive first-person role-playing game in Iris. She had already attended the Grand Council meeting at Fontaine Palace, completed the main quest, and was now enjoying a free meal and drinks at the councilor's charity dinner while exploring new maps.

I have absolutely no interest in going back to the starting village to complete the daily tasks.

When Tia arrived at the master bedroom, she frowned slightly. She first dived into the deep sea to share her vision with the two spirit ravens, and then had them come to Eleanor's side. She saw Eleanor at a charity gala trying to find an alchemist NPC to accept a quest to forge an alchemical weapon for herself.

After Eleanor finished her conversation.

In the bedroom, Tia ruthlessly cut off the ritual on Eleanor's body, waking her up, and scolded her like a mother who found her child staying up late playing games instead of sleeping.

Because Tia discovered that the ritual on Eleanor had been going on for almost eight hours!

The doll ritual wasn't a heavy burden for her, but it was quite different for Eleanor.

Even though Eleanor has some resistance to "dual identity" and "consciousness confusion" because of her [Glassy Glow].

The soul projection ritual that lasts for such a long time on the doll is also a considerable burden on the body and soul.

It's practically an internet addiction.

It needs to be electrified.

Tia pinched Eleanor's cheeks and stared at the bewildered princess, repeatedly emphasizing the need to end the ritual regularly for meditation to restore her spirits. Then she gave a long list of classic cases of curing internet addiction curses, such as the Thunder King, to intimidate her. Only then did Eleanor raise her hands in surrender.

Although Eleanor earnestly insisted that she was completely free of the legendary internet addiction curse, Tia still went upstairs to prepare several bottles of calming and spiritual-harmonizing potions for her.

After the potion was prepared, Tia placed it on Eleanor's bedside table before going downstairs and boarding the carriage that had been prepared for her with Anne.

Chapter 452 The Sanctuary on the Great Ice Plain

In the northwest corner of the Regency, opposite the City Hall, two nearly 73-meter-tall white spires soar into the sky, standing like towering guards before a throne amidst the Regency's buildings, the tallest of which are only twenty meters high.

The White Rose Palace, guarded by its spires, is a private property belonging to the royal family. It was built under the leadership of the Edith family, the founders of the nation, and funded by the citizens. It was a symbol of the citizens of the Great Silver Castle's hope to welcome back the Holy Lord decades ago.

When it comes to Edith, the founder of the nation, aside from the Edith family heir who married Princess Lilibe, Tia first thinks of the church's large-scale industrial plan and the "Edith Building" at Saint Laurent University.

Now we might also need to add labels like "car company" and "frightened Peter."

However, as the earliest supporter of the church's industrial plan, the Edith family was indeed a leader among the founding nobles. The investment vision of each patriarch was quite unique, thus making great achievements in the fields of light and heavy industry and trade.

The current Duke of Edith is also Eleanor's cousin, and is also related by blood to the Duke of Willen—the relationships are a bit complicated, but in any case, they are all related in some way.

As Tia chatted with Anne along the way, her thoughts wandered, and the conversation drifted off into all sorts of strange things, like genetic advancement. Soon, the carriage slowly came to a stop outside the White Rose Palace.

—Although Queen Elizabeth did not choose to stay here, important royal and government banquets are occasionally held here.

Anne, arm in arm with Tia, arrived at the gates of the White Rose Palace, adorned with golden ribbons. She nodded gently to the attendant and said obediently, "Aren't we a little late?"

A waiter in a smart tailcoat and white gloves stood smiling in front of the door. He glanced at his watch, then pushed the door open and said, "Of course not! Miss Mercury, and Miss Sulph, you've arrived at just the right time. In fact, a little early."

"Sir Roman originally thought you two would arrive later. After all, Her Excellency Sulph is the highlight of this banquet. Duke Willen arrived even earlier than you, and he would probably be quite surprised to see Her Excellency Sulph."

Anne smiled and said, "Aunt Willen would be quite surprised if she saw Tia."

Tia nodded slightly and said, "I did come here this time to experience the charm of the Mystic Duke."

Unlike other nobles who showed little interest in supernatural powers, the Duke of Velen, Rashina Velen, is a legendary figure who rose to prominence through mysticism and scholarship.

She inherited her family's fascination and interest in the occult, and reached Sequence Four at the age of thirty.

Unfortunately, Duke Velen never again advanced in rank or actively expanded into the deep sea.

Because what Rasina Weren sought was not supernatural power, but knowledge itself. She was passionate about collecting occult texts and spending her time at home searching for lost texts in the deep sea at depths of up to 30,000 meters.

The Grand Library of the Royal Cathedral contains nearly 30,000 rare books donated by the Duke of Wellen.

It is said that the Duchess's knowledge was so vast that it rivaled that of a library, thus earning her the title of "the unmoving library."

Meanwhile, many scientific expeditions, including the Tianfang expedition team in which Avina participated, were also sponsored and funded by the Weren family.

—Therefore, he has some connection with Tia.

The waiter smiled and nodded, extending his hand. “Miss Mercury, Miss Sulph, please come with me. The Duke of Wellen is drinking with Prince Wilson and Sir Roman. I think you will see him soon.”

Tia followed a few steps behind the waiter, shoulder to shoulder with Annie, and the two unconsciously intertwined their fingers and held hands.

The waiter then led the two through the corridor and gently knocked on the door of the side hall.

Before the knocking even started, Tia could already hear Roman cursing inside.

................

"Your Highness Wilson! You told me that you were only going to host a welcome party for our lads and commend their achievements. How come the Willen and Edith families are here too!"

"I also saw those merchants who were rubbing their hands like flies and those industrial nobles who wanted to meddle in everything!"

Roman glanced at Prince Wilson, who was well-proportioned with short, dark brown hair, and then at Duchess Rashina, who was engrossed in reading a book. He couldn't help but complain bitterly.

Rashina has long hair that is a gradient of deep purple and black due to deep-sea pollution. She wears a priest's robe, but her skin is not well-maintained. She is somewhat pale because she often stays at home, and her belly is also a bit protruding.

Before Wilson could speak, Rashina complained, "Wilson, Albert didn't tell me we were going to the Great Icefield to divide the spoils. Because of your affairs, I wasted most of the day. I could have used that time to drill through an interesting node in the deep sea."

Wilson asked, bewildered, "What node?"

"I don't know! But the physical location is in Silver Castle, it seems to be some kind of soul projection, connected to the Iris Flower. This is really interesting, I'd like to go and peek to see if they're spies for the Iris Flower."

When it comes to her professional field, Rashina becomes very talkative.

Wilson, as if grasping at a straw, quickly steered the conversation towards espionage. "This is a serious matter! Rashina, I need to ask you for help with this..."

Roman stubbed out his pipe and abruptly interrupted, "Don't change the subject, Wilson. We're talking business. Where's the discipline of the Royal Navy?"

Wilson said helplessly, "Roman, I didn't do this. It was my brother who arranged it."

"I don't care who arranged this. Albert made a complete mess of the banquet. Those in the know understand that this is a gathering to divide up the minerals of the Great Icefield, but those who don't might think it's a press conference about flushing toilets and toilet plungers! It's full of flies."

"And you didn't tell me at all that everyone except Rasina and me knew!"

"Alright, alright, Roman. We have compensation on our end too."

Wilson could only say, "And it's not just for you, but also for Rasina and our new lady, Lady Sulph, who's here to support us."

Roman then snorted and said, "Tell me."

Rashina put down her book and said helplessly, "I don't want anything..."

"If you don't want it, I can give it to Lady Sulph. However, I think you'll certainly be very interested. As for the specific details of the compensation, that's a message from the Palace of Wisdom—"

Wilson paused for a moment, then said, "What about the sanctuaries that have emerged on the Great Icefield and the large number of rioting spirits?"

Rashina's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she stopped abruptly from saying what she had just spoken.

Roman paused for a moment upon hearing this, before he could speak—

　—Knock knock knock!

The door to the lounge was pushed open, and a waiter entered, bowing slightly, and said, "Your Highness Wilson, Lady Rashina, and Lady Roman. Miss Sulph and Miss Mercury have arrived."

-

Chapter 453 The Shadow of Avina

"Sulph, and Anne? Were you two friends before?"

Wilson saw the two people enter and suddenly realized what was going on. He tapped his forehead with his finger and looked at Roman, saying, "I was wondering who was accompanying Sulph when you said she was from Newport News. It turns out it was Anne!"

Tia could tell that this prince, who spent most of his time abroad, was indeed somewhat lacking in knowledge about current events in the country.

However, it's understandable. Wilson's eyes didn't have the kind of spiritual brilliance that superhumans have, they were just ordinary people.

This makes it difficult for him to dive into the deep sea and obtain information from afar in a timely manner while on the ship.

Rashina glanced at Tia a few more times, then exclaimed in surprise, "This is Sulph, who was awarded the medal last year? But I heard... uh..."

She had some private dealings with Princess Lilibey, and Lilibey even complained to her that Eleanor almost ruined Tia's investiture ceremony last year!

There was an underlying implication in his words that Tia and Eleanor were dating.

But how come the Mercury family's daughter is here?

what is this?

Rashina glanced at Wilson again, swallowed her words, and then asked impatiently, "I heard you've already advanced to Sequence Three? You've obtained Ulrich Bonhoeffer's legacy? Did you inherit any knowledge?"

"Roman told me you got his Moon Tower. That's an amazing place! Ulrich's 'Work on the Creation of the Soul of the Homo Man' was completed there. That creation wasn't like the autonomous dolls and artificial shells we have now, but genuine intelligent, not just intelligent, life forms. Could I go there and stay for a few days sometime?"

Roman shrugged and shook his head, saying, "I'm afraid that won't work."

"I can pay!"

"Madam, this isn't about paying or not. The actual structure of the Moon Gazing Tower has long since collapsed; in fact, there's nothing left there."

Anne nodded in agreement, saying, "That's true, Aunt Willen. I went to the Moon Tower too; it's become an oyster farming base for the locals."

"Ah, this is really..."

Rashina was momentarily dazed, then smiled at Tia and said, "It's still a pleasure to meet you, Miss Sulph. Rashina Willen, I think Anne has already introduced me to you. I'm the honorary librarian of the Grand Library and the current duke of the Willen family. To be honest, your promotion really surprised me; you were only a few ranks when you were awarded your knighthood..."

Wilson, who was standing to the side, came to his senses and said with slight surprise, "Is Lady Sulph a knight awarded by my mother? But that makes sense. When I was at the naval base, I heard Perrick say that he assisted in the ritual to remove Eleanor's curse."

"I really have to thank you for this."

What a coincidence!

He'd heard from Albert a few days ago that Eleanor had recently started seeing a knighted girl. He had to revise his views on women.

In the past two years, two women have been awarded the Knight's Cross—this is the first time in history.

In the past, it would have been more like one every four or five years.

Wilson didn't take the matter too seriously. He had a waiter bring two chairs to the lounge, invited Tia and Anne to sit down, and then said sincerely, "Let me introduce myself, Lady Sulph. I am Wilson Moen. I recently heard about your promotion. May the Father of All Things be with you."

Wilson sat down, gently patting his chest, then looked at Anne and said with a smile, "Yes, and little Anne, our little angel. The last time I saw you, you were following Eleanor around eating a lollipop."

Anne was immediately embarrassed.

There's a sense of awkwardness, like "I used to hold you when you were little."

"However, I don't think you're here to hear my flattery—let's be frank, gentlemen. Duke Edith and Albert will handle the people in the banquet hall; I'm here to relay messages for my brother and Lady Bernice."

“Traces of numerous false gods and sanctuaries have emerged on the Great Ice Plains, and a large number of spirits have fallen into a state of frenzy.”

Tia and Annie exchanged a glance, their pupils both slightly contracting.

No wonder.

No wonder they specifically invited her. It turns out that besides simply announcing her promotion, there was another purpose behind it.

Whether it's a false god or a sanctuary, all nations on the continent have an obligation to send saints to investigate in order to prevent disaster from occurring.

He's only just been promoted and he's already being forced into manual labor!

And then there's the Duke of Wellen. It's normal to invite the Edith and Gawain families to dinners; both are established powers based on commerce. But Duchess Rashina is a complete shut-in; she wouldn't be specifically invited to a regular banquet.

Wilson felt incredibly unlucky and grumbled at Rashina:

"That's why your brother specifically asked you to come. The scholars at the Great Icefield Observatory have absolutely no clue about this anomaly."

Tia, the only saint present, spoke directly and questioned, "When I came in just now, Your Highness said that this message was sent by the Palace of Wisdom."

“That’s right, it was a message that the Great Prophet conveyed to us through the Celestial Empire.”

"Can we be sure of its authenticity? The words of prophets are always half true and half false."