Washing her hair with a specially prepared warm flour-water wash, the fine black powder clinging to it gradually dissolved away, restoring its original, flawless snowy-silver hue.
As Taliel helped comb and wash Xilutaiya's hair, she remarked enviously, “Your hair is in such wonderful condition, Tiya. It's always so smooth and straight.”
Touching her own curly chestnut locks, she felt a little discouraged. Still, seeing Xilutaiya in her silver-haired form again filled her with delight.
The two of them spent over an hour thoroughly washing and combing the hair until it fully regained its pristine silver-white sheen. Afterwards, Xilutaiya soaked in a hot bath, washing herself clean from head to toe.
Changing back into the plain white, exquisitely detailed dress she had worn when she first arrived, Xilutaiya stood before the mirror and inspected herself. As she turned slightly, her supple strands drifted in the air.
*I should still bind it a little with a ribbon, or else it'll be too loose,* she thought.
Taking up the blue-and-white ribbon embroidered with cornflower patterns once more, she gathered strands from both sides above her ears to meet at the back of her head, then tied them neatly with the ribbon into a lovely bow. (Referencing Euphyllia Magenta's hairstyle from *The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady*.)
The cascading silver-snow hair and the ribbon set each other off as she walked, fluttering and swaying with an exceptional grace.
Truth be told, her attire from when she had first awoken could hardly be called extravagant, yet it possessed a light, effortless elegance that one could never tire of looking at. It was as though, after searching tirelessly through thousands of blossoms, one had ultimately chosen that very first simple, delicate flower—endowed with a beauty impossible to surpass or forget.
With her hair combed and her dress smoothed, she pulled on her pure white stockings once more, slipped her feet into the well-fitting leather shoes, and fastened the dainty white bow buckles. Standing up, Xilutaiya twirled gently before the mirror to check her appearance.
“Wow, you look completely like a different person!” Taliel clasped her hands together, unable to contain the wonder and joy in her heart.
Though Xilutaiya had possessed silver hair before, she had always kept it concealed. Never once had she bloomed in her full charm as she did today.
“If someone said Tiya was a princess from a foreign land, I bet most people would believe it.” Taliel circled the girl several times, finding the idea more and more convincing.
“Calling me a princess would only bring trouble if I couldn't explain it,” the girl said with a slight shake of her head. Yet as she shifted on the tips of her shoes, reacquainting herself with this long-lost comfort, a strange feeling of distant familiarity crept in.
Barely two or three months had passed, yet it felt as if an entire age had gone by.
Still, today she truly could relax to her heart's content.
***
In the afternoon, peaceful sunlight washed over the streets of the West City District. Beneath lush green tree shades, a carriage advanced leisurely, its varnished teak body catching flecks of luster in the dappled sunlight.
Seated inside the carriage, Xilutaiya kept her hands folded gently upon her knees. Her eyes were lightly closed, while occasional slivers of light filtered through the curtains' slits, resting upon her graceful, snow-white neck and cheek.
“We have arrived, Miss.”
The wheels gradually ceased turning, and the coachman called out to the girl inside in as refined a voice as he could manage.
Though he did not know her identity, from the moment he had accepted the commission and laid eyes on her today, he had been convinced she was of no ordinary birth. Because of this, he had been exceptionally attentive, personally brushing the carriage horse clean beforehand and driving with great care to ensure a smooth, gentle ride.
“Thank you. Please wait here for a moment,” she answered softly.
The door opened, and she stepped down, lightly lifting the hem of her skirt. Behind her walked Taliel, carrying the cloched potted plant covered in black cloth.
Raising her eyes to take in the sprawling estate, through the wrought-iron fence she could see the front garden and the lawn, currently serenely quiet.
Coming before the front gate, Xilutaiya gently shook the hanging bell, which rang out with a clear, melodic chime.
Before long, a maid in a black-and-white uniform emerged from a side door and walked up to the gate.
“May I ask if you have a visiting card?” The maid kept her hands folded over her apron, her demeanor graceful—possessing more poise than some nobles.
“I do.” Xilutaiya produced the visiting card she carried, which bore Scholar Haide's recommendation alongside the note Mailin had used when borrowing the book.
Taking it, the maid opened the card, examined it briefly, and nodded slightly. She then cast a glance behind Xilutaiya at the potted plant in Taliel's arms.
“I shall unlock the gate. Please come inside. As for the carriage, please have the driver wait outside the manor.”
“Understood.” Xilutaiya nodded, then gave instructions to the coachman.
Afterward, she stepped into the tranquil courtyard of the estate, following the maid toward the interior.
For some reason, looking at the maid ahead gave her a curious sense of familiarity. It was not that she recognized the maid herself, but rather the maid uniform stirred an odd recollection, as though many similar figures had existed in her past life.
Unfortunately, she could recall nothing more for the moment. She and Taliel were brought to the front parlor to wait, where the maid served Xilutaiya warm black tea.
“Please wait here a moment and do not wander off. I will inform the Madame.”
“Very well.” She nodded again, watching the maid depart.
Sitting upon the lavish silk sofa embroidered with gold thread, Xilutaiya looked around. Every ornament here was refined and elegant, exuding an air of luxury. Even the walls were hung with tapestries woven with gold thread, while the enamel porcelain pieces arranged across the tables were all remarkably exquisite.
Just as Scholar Haide had said, Madame Falan held an extraordinary status. One could only wonder how Mailin had managed to meet her and borrow the book for her in the first place.
While the two were examining their surroundings, the young maid returned. She said to Xilutaiya, “The Madame has agreed to receive you. Please carry the potted plant to the backyard yourself.”
“As for the attendant with you, she may remain here and rest for a while.” She made a polite gesture toward Taliel.
“Oh, I don't need to come along?” Taliel was slightly surprised, but she handed the potted plant over to Xilutaiya nonetheless.
Cradling the cloched potted plant in both arms, Xilutaiya followed the maid toward the estate's rear grounds.
Passing through the manor's long corridors and turning twice, she stepped out of the western-style mansion and was instantly submerged in a vibrant sea of brilliant yellow.
Beneath a gentle breeze and an azure sky, countless tall sunflowers stood in full bloom. Their broad disks faced the sun, their pale primrose and light gold petals tightly arranged, radiating a fiery, blazing beauty in the sunlight.
None of these sunflowers were ordinary plants; they were entirely 'first-order Blazing Sun' extraordinary flora. In the brightest, most intensely radiant part of that sea of blossoms, there was even a patch of 'second-order Blazing Sun' sunflowers.
Walking through this sea of pale yellow, Xilutaiya felt waves of joyful Blazing Sun warmth radiating outwards, gradually filling her body with vitality and sweeping away her fatigue.
The deeper inward she went, the more pronounced the radiant heat became, until even the air shimmered faintly. By the time she reached the innermost depths, Xilutaiya looked up to find that the sky overhead was tinged with a delicate gold, exceptionally magnificent.
It was then that she finally saw the figure standing amidst the sea of flowers, holding a white parasol.
The splendid parasol was draped with curved swathes of silk, adorned with soft yellow ribbons, and tipped with pearls at the ends of its ribs.
Beneath the parasol stood a woman with her back turned to Xilutaiya. She was relatively tall, dressed in a formal gown of pure white and gold. Outside the billowing bustle, layers of skirt adorned with pale yellow trim fluttered softly in the breeze, forming a graceful silhouette with her figure.
As if sensing Xilutaiya's arrival, she lightly twirled her parasol and turned around.
She possessed pale blue eyes, a few strands of golden hair drifting beside her cheeks, and an unforgettable, dignified grace.
“You must be little Tiya, the one Mailin and Haide spoke of, aren't you?”
“You certainly look like a child anyone would adore.”
With a beaming smile, she gently raised a finger. Countless sunflower petals drifted up on the breeze into the sky, filling the young girl's vision.
So radiant, and so pure.
Chapter 46