Purr's Curse!

For a protected VIP, every meal was strictly rationed. Her food had to be inspected beforehand, and apart from that, she was not permitted to touch food from any other source—this was the most fundamental security regulation. Never mind whether ordering a second cart after having one wheeled in would look strange; more importantly, looking at the itinerary, there was simply no time left for her to order another meal. If they failed to set out at the scheduled time, today's entire itinerary would risk cancellation. And so, on an empty stomach, Ophelia finished changing her clothes and stepped out. When Karen saw Ophelia again, he was momentarily taken aback. She was dressed in a long black gown, a red hood draped over her head, a string of pearls around her neck, and brown leather boots on her feet. This attire instinctively brought Purr to Karen's mind, and he did not believe it was a mere coincidence. Such an ensemble had been very fashionable over a century ago, but in the present day, it had long fallen out of style. "Well, Mr. Karen?" Though starving and facing the very man who had wheeled away her food cart, Ophelia still maintained her elegance, even twirling once before Karen. "It seems to be missing a lady's cane." "Your cane, Miss." A cane set with a red gemstone was presented to Ophelia by Xinla. Karen smiled faintly. "Perfection." Ophelia laughed. "I feel Mr. Karen is always on the same wavelength as me." "Serving you is my duty." Going down the elevator, Karen wondered whether this might be because both of them practiced the Dark Moon Blade, creating a mutual resonance between them. The stirring of the spell within him last night could never have been an accident; Karen felt certain it was related to this young lady of the Dark Moon family before him. It was still the VIP vehicle from yesterday, still with Peige as the driver. Miss Ophelia sat in the middle on one side, flanked by the martial practitioner and the maid, while Karen and Fanny sat across from them. The car started up and pulled away from the hotel. Fanny spoke up. "It's quite a distance from here to Allen Manor. We'll do our best not to dawdle on the way and arrive early." Ophelia said, "No hurry. Even if I don't need rest, those responsible for protecting me—and your unseen colleagues around us—must certainly need to rest and eat." Fanny smiled. "No need. We've already had breakfast. Everyone ate their fill." "..." Ophelia. Leaving the city behind and entering the suburbs, the scenery outside the car window opened up considerably. "How long have you been in the Church of Order, Mr. Karen?" Ophelia asked. "Not very long in the Church of Order, but I have believed in Order for quite a while." "So what is Mr. Karen's current rank?" "An auxiliary member of a Whip of Order squad. A God's Servant." "An auxiliary member?" Ophelia seemed puzzled. "It's hard to imagine you're merely an auxiliary." "Miss, you are the first assignment I've had since joining the Whip of Order squad." "It's my honor." "The honor is entirely mine." "Have you considered other paths, Mr. Karen?" "What do you mean, Miss?" "If all goes as expected, once the talks conclude, a mission belonging to the Church of Order will be established on Dark Moon Island. Would Mr. Karen be interested in taking on the responsibility of spreading the Light of Order to Dark Moon Island?" A foreign posting, a chance to build credentials, smoothing the path for future promotions—it truly was an excellent route. If Karen were purely a God's Servant, this would be a faster way to build qualifications, and the young lady had already signaled her willingness to put in a good word for him. "I'm sorry, Miss. If there is an opportunity in the future, I would love to visit Dark Moon Island and admire its charming scenery, but right now, I'm not looking to settle down comfortably." "That's quite all right. Is Mr. Karen thinking that he is still young?" "Yes. I've always felt that youth is capital meant to be squandered, and I want to stay in York City to keep squandering it." "Actually, I envy you. Back on the island, I always yearned for the outside world." "It's a besieged fortress. Those inside want to get out, while those outside want to get in." "A besieged fortress? I like that metaphor. Yes, Dark Moon Island is a besieged fortress. The only chance I had to leave was probably marrying Mr. Leon from last night." The grandson of York City Region's Chief Bishop from last night? Ophelia leaned on her cane and tilted forward slightly. Skipping a meal had not yet diminished the curvaceous grace of her figure. "Tell me, Mr. Karen, should I marry Mr. Leon?" The maid Xinla's lips twitched. She felt her young mistress's attitude toward this Whip of Order member had gone entirely too far. Karen was also taken aback by the question. A major affair like a political marriage was hardly something someone of his rank should evaluate. Still, since Miss Ophelia had asked of her own accord, he could answer relatively freely. After all, the conversation was confined to this car. The two people beside Ophelia wouldn't snitch, nor would Fanny or Peige. Seeing Karen remain silent, Ophelia continued, "Everyone believes an alliance between Mr. Leon and me would benefit both Dark Moon Island and the Church of Order." "Miss, allow me to state something rather obvious." "Heh, please, go ahead." "Whether to marry or not, I believe you have the power to decide, Miss." Ophelia nodded. "Yes. The clan hasn't put too much pressure on me." Not putting too much pressure meant the elder stratum of the Dark Moon clan was split roughly half-and-half between support and opposition. Through marriage, Dark Moon Island could gain greater freedom and expand its influence accordingly; however, marriage had side effects, dragging Dark Moon Island into the grinding whirlpool of church rivalries. Especially now, various omens seemed to indicate the gods were awakening. If this momentum persisted, wars between churches might well become inevitable. "What do you think of Mr. Leon as a person?" Karen asked. Ophelia shook her head. "Decent enough in other regards, only... a bit childish." With that, Ophelia looked at Karen and said: "If Mr. Leon could swap places with you, Mr. Karen, perhaps I might consider trying to like him—or at least find it easier to persuade myself to accept the arrangement." "Are you thirsty, Miss?" Xinla reminded her. "Certain words of yours could very well bring Mr. Karen trouble." Xinla's remark was indeed accurate, not purely meant to demean Karen. Any man hearing his match say such a thing would probably loathe the man who outshone him to the core. And the other party was the Chief Bishop's grandson, while Karen was merely a God's Servant. Fanny responded, "There are no snitches in our squad." "So you're questioning Panmiel's and my loyalty to Miss Ophelia?!" Panmiel was the name of the female martial practitioner. A faint smell of gunpowder began to spark between both sides, while the two subjects of the discussion remained remarkably calm. "What are you thinking, Mr. Karen?" Ophelia asked. A smile touched Karen's lips. "I finally understand how my girlfriend felt back when our families arranged for us to meet." "I think I'm starting to envy your girlfriend." "Miss, your situation and Mr. Karen's are not the same," Xinla said. Fanny raised an eyebrow and reminded her, "Our Church of Order adheres to the principle that under Order, all are equal." "Xinla, the next time I am conversing with someone, could you refrain from interrupting? Do you take me for an immature child who constantly requires your lectures?" "No, Miss. Please forgive me." Ophelia looked at Karen again and saw he still wore a smile. He was genuinely not upset. Did he really have such an even temper? Naturally, Karen would not be angry. Diss had chosen Allen Manor for a marriage alliance out of multifaceted considerations; but if Diss had chosen Dark Moon Island instead of the Allen family... He doubted that when middle-aged Diss appeared over Dark Moon Island via a teleportation array, the Dark Moon clan would have refused the proposal. It was just that Karen would never have had his current growth, let alone his current freedom. Much like facing a shop clerk's contempt when she assumed you couldn't afford something, if you truly had enough riels in your pocket, you wouldn't feel offended, nor would you bother throwing money around to prove a point. You would probably just smile, turn, and walk away, pitying her a little instead. Diss had left him many things: Purr, an evil god... Yet the most precious thing Diss had left him was the ability to look this world in the eye as an equal, no matter how lowly his current status or cultivation realm might be. This was not stubbornness born of self-deception, nor a mask forged by habit, but genuine tranquility. Xinla turned her head and apologized to Karen: "My apologies, Mr. Karen. I ask your forgiveness for my earlier offense." Looking at her, Karen smiled. "There's no need to apologize. I didn't quite catch what you said just now." It was a very polite, diplomatic response, but it carried another interpretation as well. At last, through ravenous waiting, Allen Manor arrived. "A very exquisite manor," Ophelia remarked. "One can glimpse the Allen family's past prosperity from here." For a lady of the Allen family to romance an ancestor of hers, she first had to be worthy of meeting that ancestor, at the very least sharing the same table for conversation. Karen felt a wry amusement. He had promised Eunice he would visit often, yet here he was back so soon. What was funnier was that next, Old Anderson and the others would have to act as if they didn't know him at all. Having received advance notice from the Church of Order that the visitor was a young lady from the Dark Moon family, Allen Manor had staged a welcome even grander than the one for Her Majesty the Queen. Still, the car pulled up right before the castle rather than being directed around back. Karen got out first and offered a hand to assist Ophelia down. Right then, he heard a hollow rumbling sound—seemingly originating from her stomach. Ophelia kept an entirely composed expression, walking over to Old Anderson after stepping out. Old Anderson personally came forward to greet them. The reception was grand, yet he did not grovel. "The Allen family welcomes the arrival of the Dark Moon, and welcomes the presence of Order." "Greetings. Please forgive this hasty visit," Ophelia bowed earnestly in return to Old Anderson. "And thank you for your grand reception. May the friendship between the Dark Moon and the Allens endure forever." Next came the standard introductions customary between old family acquaintances. Karen made no deliberate effort to hide himself, for there was no need. After all, in previous years Allen Manor had deceived the Raphael family entirely by putting on an act, making them believe that although the Allen family had declined, they still retained some latent power; thus the Raphaels had held off on dealing a death blow, fearful of a fight to the bitter end. When it came to acting, the Allen family under Old Anderson's lead were absolute professionals. Still, Karen wondered whether he could find an opportunity to slip upstairs and see Eunice. Yet he had no idea where the captain and the others were concealed. What if he crept upstairs only to be spotted by a teammate lurking in the shadows? The captain had said that everyone in the squad had secrets and that he wouldn't pry into Karen's, but that didn't mean the captain was blind. After entering the castle, Karen, Peige, and Fanny followed behind Ophelia as Old Anderson led her through the patriarch's study, offering detailed introductions before portrait after portrait. This was the ancestral glory of the Allen family. Old Anderson spoke with deep emotion, growing so moved that he even began to weep, reproaching himself for failing his ancestors and letting the family sink into such a state. Clearly, having received Karen's prior hint, Old Anderson stuck closely to the script. Karen felt that Old Anderson at this moment looked strikingly like an old village head facing an inspection team of poverty-alleviation officials. Ophelia took the initiative to comfort Old Anderson, voicing a promise that the Dark Moon family would assist the Allen family, which even touched upon... maritime trade routes. This had to be one part of the upcoming talks between Dark Moon Island and the Church of Order. Each took what they needed, and commerce between them was an indispensable link. When implemented on the ground, even getting a tiny crumb of that trade would represent considerable wealth for the Allen family today, not to mention a boost to their prestige. When introduced to Rekar and several other Allen ancestors, Ophelia mentioned that she had heard stories about them on Dark Moon Island as well. Clearly, the Allen ancestors had once left behind many tales and legends across the high seas. Taking advantage of this, Old Anderson dabbed at his tears a bit longer. Finally, the main event arrived. When Ophelia asked whether there was a portrait of Miss Purr Allen, Old Anderson brought her before the painting. "Is this... truly Miss Purr?" Ophelia had noticed the painting the moment she walked in. It was truly impossible to miss: while all the portraits hanging along the vast study walls were humans, this one alone was a black cat sitting on a chair. Standing behind Ophelia, Karen struggled to hold back his laughter. He could clearly see Ophelia's embarrassment, because her current outfit and the cat in the portrait could hardly be called similar—they were practically identical. Karen figured that back in that palace on Dark Moon Island, there had to be portraits or sculptures of Purr, but definitely not in the form of a cat. Though she had turned into a cat, legends of her still circulated throughout the world. Old Anderson coughed awkwardly. "Ahem... this ancestor, she... she had a rather free-spirited nature." Ophelia took a deep breath, and her profound awkwardness dissolved into a burst of laughter. She doubled over, laughing until tears welled in her eyes. "Forgive me, forgive me. I mean no disrespect to Miss Purr whatsoever. It's just that I suddenly realized what sort of extraordinary lady she must have been to enchant my ancestor so completely and leave him infatuated for a lifetime." Ophelia was sentimental. Through this painting, she seemed to glimpse Purr's soul—a fascinating, free-spirited, unconstrained soul that paid no heed to worldly conventions. Even in such a solemn, dignified setting, she had faced it with playful irreverence, surely knowing this portrait would hang here forever for posterity to revere. Yes, only such a lady could be worthy of her ancestor's love, only someone like her could move him so deeply. Before this portrait, Ophelia seemed to see a reflection of herself, finding a certain guidance and resonance. Karen spoke up. "I believe we should allow Miss Ophelia to gaze and pay homage in peace. What do you think, respected Mr. Anderson?" "Oh, certainly, as it should be." Old Anderson immediately led the others out of the room. Karen signaled Peige and Fanny to step out as well, leaving only Ophelia and her two companions in the study. ... A short while later, Boge pushed a dining cart over, as Karen had earlier whispered to him in passing, "I'm hungry." Karen walked over and took the cart. As he was about to push it into the study, Fanny and Peige stopped him. "Has the food been inspected?" "I've tasted it all; it's fine. Mostly, I heard Miss Ophelia's..." Karen pointed to his stomach. "More importantly, I seem to have wheeled out her breakfast cart before she even got to eat." At that, Fanny and Peige felt awkward as well. Karen didn't know whether the captain and teammates lurking in the dark would feel awkward hearing this, given that everyone had shared in eating it. For security personnel to eat their charge's food down to the last scrap while leaving her to starve—if word got out, it would be thoroughly humiliating. Peige and Fanny hurried to open the study door for Karen, who wheeled the cart inside. Seeing the dining cart rolled in, Ophelia's mouth dropped open, but she quickly shut it and swallowed. At this moment, she felt as though Karen were radiating light! "This is afternoon tea provided by the Allen family. Please enjoy it first, Miss. Once you have finished, we will head to the cemetery." With that, Karen turned and walked out of the study. Twenty minutes later, Karen knocked on the door. The female warrior Panmiel opened it. Karen did not enter, instead saying: "Miss, it's time for us to head to the cemetery. Our time is limited, as we need to return tonight." "Very well." Ophelia walked out with a smile on her face, while Xinla glanced back at the dining cart. "Don't worry about the cart, Ms. Xinla. After we leave, the manor servants will clear it. The cart we ate from is also outside." "Right, of course." Xinla quickly followed her young mistress out of the study. Once they were all out, Karen shut the study door. Ophelia also let out a sigh of relief. That Karen didn't go back for the cart eased her mind, as she didn't want him to see the awkward sight of every scrap of food under the white cloth picked clean. Next, led by Old Anderson, the group rode horses to the cemetery. Upon arriving at the cemetery, Karen saw Purr's tombstone. Atop the tombstone was a sculpture of a cat, artificially aged to look weathered by time and the elements. Beneath it on the headstone were two engraved lines: "You once said you and I were like two fish in a pond; even if the water ran dry, we would moisten each other with our breath. Yet I wished even more that you could return to the vast sea, to seek the freedom that belonged to you." "I once kindled a bonfire bright enough to illuminate half the sky, yet I knew that in your eyes, it could not rival half a wisp of radiance from the Dark Moon." Seeing those two lines, tears spilled from Ophelia's eyes. Even Xinla and the female warrior Panmiel shed tears. Clearly, they too had grown up hearing that ancestor's love story. What a free-spirited, headstrong, and utterly lovely Miss Purr! Her love for their ancestor was so profound, yet in the end, he had abandoned her to protect the Dark Moon. Yet she held not the slightest trace of hatred for him; between the lines lay only boundless forgiveness and grace. Standing beside Ophelia, Karen said softly: "Perhaps it is precisely because of love—because one loves so deeply—that one is willing to let the other fly higher and farther." "Our ancestor failed Miss Purr. He owed her far, far too much." Ophelia wiped her tears. "I feel such sorrow for Miss Purr. I've even begun to resent my ancestor. He shouldn't have done this—he truly shouldn't have treated a woman who loved him so deeply this way." "I believe this legendary romance can finally find closure here. Your ancestor should be able to find peace, and Miss Purr's soul in heaven will receive true solace. "You said she was once hailed as a genius prodigy, yet chose to lose herself for love. We both understand what the birth of a genius means to a family. "So her heart must have been filled with guilt toward her family as well." Ophelia nodded earnestly. "Yes. The Dark Moon family will make restitution to the Allen family, providing support and financial assistance." Hearing these words, Karen felt reassured and stopped playing on her emotions. Then, led by Ophelia, everyone bowed before Purr Allen's tombstone in mourning. ... "Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!" On the living room sofa of an apartment building in York City's Blue Bridge Community, Purr, who was sipping coffee and enjoying afternoon tea pastries, sneezed several times in a row. She rubbed her nose with a paw and murmured in confusion: "Why do I feel like someone's cursing me?"