NABC Chapter 4288 The Sleeping Miss Belle
Chapter 4288 The Sleeping Miss Belle
Chapter 4288 The Sleeping Miss Belle
It was getting late, so Shad didn't stay at Fragrance Mansion any longer. After saying goodbye to Vigo and Agelina, he took Flora back home.
Because of Iluna's birthday, St. Teresa's Square No. 6 was very lively tonight. Although Luvia had set off for Moon Bay again, Dorothy, Galina, Daniste, Emilia, Iluna, Ellie, Winnie, and Tifa were still there.
When Shad and Flora returned home, the girls and ladies were still awake, of course, but Winnie had already arranged rooms for everyone. The three young women would be staying together in the master bedroom of room number two next door that night, and Winnie and Tifa had already made their beds.
Dorothy, Galina, and Daniste were also given rooms, though they probably wouldn't be sleeping in those rooms tonight.
Flora paid no attention to anything else and quickly resumed painting the dragon egg. Mia had been with the egg for the past few days, but the cat seemed unwilling to be painted, so she ran off after Flora set up her easel.
But it quickly ran back and lay on the egg, refusing to leave, because the cat had heard Shad mention that he was going to give the cat a bath soon, and Mia really disliked taking baths.
Because they arrived quite late that evening, Flora was still painting even after everyone else had gone home to rest around 10 PM. Denise, still in her pajamas, tried to persuade Flora to go home for the night and come back the next evening, but Flora, holding her paintbrush, refused without turning around.
“I’ve also been invited to a banquet tomorrow night, so I probably won’t have time to paint this picture again. I need to seize the inspiration I had today. Denise, don’t worry about me. You all go and rest. I’ll leave quietly after I finish today’s work. Just pretend I don’t exist.”
Denise wasn't worried about Flora's health problems from staying up all night painting. The artist had a "previous record," and Denise didn't want Flora to be so close during her nighttime activities. One painting was enough.
So she repeatedly tried to persuade her, and finally even Galina, who was worried about being disturbed, stepped in to persuade Flora to go home for the night. The artist had no choice but to regretfully put down her paintbrush.
“In that case, we’ll have to come back on Sunday, Galina. You don’t really need to worry about me finding out your secret. I already know what you and Shad did.”
The Duchess was somewhat surprised, but upon reflection, any slightly perceptive witch would have guessed it. After all, if Shad lived in a city where another great witch resided, Galina wouldn't believe that Shad's closest colleague could refrain from doing anything.
"So, do you want to stay? If you're shy, we can leave tonight."
After thinking for a moment, Jialina extended an invitation, the meaning of which was clear to everyone.
Flora glanced at her and shook her head in refusal:
“These ordinary days are not suitable for doing anything memorable. You’ve chosen the right day for yourself, and I’ll do the same. So I’m leaving now. You guys should also let Xia De get some rest and not always like this.”
Apart from Dorothy, who was standing at the door with a slightly flushed face, Daniste and Galina looked normal.
Flora assumed everyone would rush to Shad's bedroom after she left, but after Flora's departure, Daniste and Galina exchanged a glance, and the latter spoke first:
"Since Winnie has arranged a room for me, I'll rest in the side bedroom tonight."
Like Galina, Daniste, who also had long, flowing red hair, said:
"There's no need to trouble Winnie tonight. I'll be sleeping with my teacher and Mia. It's been several days since I slept with my teacher, and I miss her very much."
Seeing that they all said that, Dorothy also wanted to say that she could go to the third floor, but Galina stopped her:
“We can’t really leave Shad to rest alone. Go to Shad’s place and do whatever you want. Shad has been troubled by his dreams these days, and we hope someone can watch over him at night, so that someone can notice if he behaves abnormally.”
Dorothy nodded shyly, knowing that Danesther and Galina had given her the opportunity:
"I'll keep an eye on Shad, don't worry. When Luvia left, she hinted to me that Iluna might go to Shad tonight. Actually, we can give the opportunity to Iluna."
Jialina laughed:
“Iluna? I bet she’ll get tired of playing with Emilia and Ellie and start thinking that even though Luvia gave her a hint, it’s too late now, so she should just wait until next time. I know Iluna too well, Dorothy, she won’t go to Shad tonight.”
As it turned out, Galina was right. The nineteen-year-old girl was still thinking about Luvia's hints before entering the bedroom, but after she had finished her pillow fight with Emilia and Ellie and realized it was already 11 p.m., Iluna had to accept that it was too late and she shouldn't go out.
Luvia later remarked that young women need more courage.
Tonight belonged to Dorothy, but the writer didn't do much with Shad. After having a late-night snack with Lacey and gathering materials for making "Star Drops," she went to sleep with Shad. Shad thought he would continue to have strange dreams tonight, but after falling asleep with Dorothy in his arms, he had a rare dreamless night and slept soundly until the next morning.
The biological clock that Xiaomia had cultivated made him open his eyes precisely at 6:30 a.m., and he only realized that it was Saturday when he looked at the ceiling.
"Shad, are you awake?"
The girl in his arms murmured something, but her eyes were still closed, so Shad kissed Dorothy's forehead:
"It's Saturday today, you can sleep a little longer. Breakfast won't be until 7:30."
The reason we're having breakfast at 7:30 this morning is, of course, because apart from Shad, Mia, and the hardworking maid, no one wants to get up at 6:30. The girls actually find it hard to understand why Shad follows Mia's biological clock, while the outsider just thinks that getting up on time is a good thing.
Today is Saturday. Since he needed to attend a meeting with the doctor in the afternoon, Shad took a trip to Arcadia after breakfast, as is his usual routine.
His original intention was to leave if there was nothing else going on there today. But when Shad arrived at Fragrance Mansion, he saw that Vigo and Flora both looked anxious:
“Shad, you’ve come just in time. The narcolepsy has struck, right here in this house.”
Xia De was startled:
"Who hasn't woken up? Eve or Adelina?"
Eve had a mechanical problem with her heart, and Adelina had been abducted by her "mother," which is why Shad asked those questions.
But Flora answered anxiously:
"It's not them, it's Charlotte."
Charlotte Bell is of a higher rank than Adelina and Eve, and she's even preparing to advance to the seventh ring. She's likely the highest-ranking ring sorceress they've encountered who has suffered from "Sleeping Beauty" besides Shad himself, but Flora, as her teacher, isn't surprised:
"Charlotte's soul is more sensitive than that of a normal Ring Mage. This doesn't mean she has stronger perception, but rather that she can sense changes in the soul and its elements more delicately. This is usually considered a positive talent, but it also makes her more vulnerable to attacks on the soul, mind, memory, and dream levels."
Miss Belle was born "dead," and although she survived, she gained a very peculiar talent as a result. Flora even said that she believed her apprentice's talent for death was stronger than her own.
However, none of these things could wake Miss Belle up now. This morning, Miss Rowling noticed that she hadn't gotten up on time, and then everyone realized that she had fallen into a "sleeping disorder".
Viggo had already distributed potions to everyone as a precaution, but it seemed the potions weren't very effective. And no one could have imagined that Miss Bell would be the first person affected by that dream; she hadn't even been to the outer city recently.
Flora knew that Shad would definitely have a solution, so she took him to Miss Bell's room. The girl was lying quietly asleep on the bed, her pale face making her look like Sleeping Beauty from the story.
Shad placed his hand on Miss Bell's forehead to sense her, then nodded:
“No problem, she hasn’t been in a coma for long, I should be able to wake her up.”
"Should we set up a dream initiation ceremony now?"
Wei Ge then asked, explaining that she had already been preparing before Xia De arrived.
Shade shook his head:
“No need for that. Although the dream curse is powerful, it doesn’t only target Miss Bell. Besides, the time she was affected was short, and her connection with the dream isn’t particularly strong right now. Entering the dream isn’t necessary; I have other methods.”
Shad extended his right hand, pointing his fingertips at his chest and rotating them clockwise:
"The Key to the Gate: The Sleeping Princess"
Then he stood by the bed, leaned down, and gently kissed the sleeping girl. In that instant, the room seemed to transform into a princess's bedroom in an ancient palace, and Miss Belle, lying on the bed, was no longer wearing a thin nightgown, but a gorgeous long dress.
The two witches and the other girls in the room looked around curiously, but as Shad straightened up a moment later, the brief illusion vanished.
"Fairy Tale Lock, that's really amazing. The plot of that fairy tale is indeed about using a kiss to awaken the cursed girl."
Amidst Viggo's exclamation, Miss Bell's eyelashes fluttered a few times, then she opened her eyes blankly. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Flora, completely unconcerned that Shad had kissed her apprentice, simply asked with concern:
Charlotte, how are you feeling now?
Seeing that the girl on the bed wanted to sit up, Shad helped her up. Miss Bell took a while to recover before saying:
"Teacher, I feel like I had a very long dream. I feel a little dizzy now, but it's probably because I slept for too long. I'm fine."