Chapter 174 –

The discussion in the room kept up until the light inside the room was gone. Catalina took Elesia with her and went out of the room. They also led Henry to a room where he could sleep. Henry bid farewell to Dolce, before going with them.

Dolce was left alone. She scanned the room. It was quiet and there was a warm feeling as she continues to look at her room. She could remember the days she stayed in this room. This room was her sanctuary. It was her paradise where she can be alone and feel comfortable.

Dolce slid herself down the blanket. She took off her clothes underneath and dropped them on the ground. She was bare naked underneath. Her hair was spread on the pillow. Her eyes reflected the moon’s light. She took a glance at the dim light and closed her eyes.

The next day, she opened her eyes and felt the sting of sunlight. She threw the blanket on her feet and looked at the window. There was still snow falling but it was lesser. She decided to get dressed since it was getting cold. Her fur blanket was quite a miraculous blanket. It allowed her to stay warm despite being naked.

Dolce stretched her arms. The locks of her hair covered her armpits. Her perky butt pointed behind and her round breast was pushed forward. Her body was sexily bent. A bit of wind sneaked into the room. She jumped at the cold wind caressing her thighs.

She looked around. She saw her wardrobe and wore black pants, a coat, and gloves. She carefully tied her corsage and patted her coat. She stretched her legs towards the mirror. She turned around and nodded in satisfaction. Her hair was still messy. So she took a comb and slowly straightened it before tying it into a ponytail. Normally, she would take her time in arranging her hair or clothes. But ever since working for the princess of the demesne, she had started to let go of such tiresome rituals.

She no longer curled her hair and she preferred outfits that she could move easily. She also took the holster of her pistol and arranged the belts on her waist. It was then that the door was swung open. Catalina entered with a silver tray and was about to open her mouth.

“Oh, you are awake,” she said, “and dressed well too.”

“I’ve learned,” Dolce shrugged and sat on her bed. “Is that breakfast?”

“Yes, I was planning to dress you too milady,” she put the silver tray on the table. “But it seems like my little lady has grown into someone who could dress. I am saddened yet proud.”

Dolce curved her mouth. “You speak as if I was someone incompetent in acting like a human being.”

Catalina exaggeratedly posed. “But you would take hours to curl your hair. You would complain about dress and you would always wear nothing but the frilly ones! Indeed, there is some truth about a woman’s purity. There would be change, and I can tell that you enjoyed him well.”

Dolce was about to take the bread and bit on it. She stopped and looked at Catalina was exaggerating her poses. “How vulgar, can you not talk like that when I am trying to eat?” she complained.

“Pardon, I was too excited at the prospect of my little madam’s growth,” she covered her mouth. Then she looked at Dolce promptly. “Your skyship has landed at the grounds, milady. We’ve allowed it to enter the compound. It was attracting attention too.”

“Is that so?” Dolce couldn’t care less. She took a bite of her bread and put on a slice of fried egg. Then she bit on a fruit. “How’s the crew? The ‘visitors’ are not harassing them? You should remind them that they have the authority to shoot those who try to harass them. I made sure of that.”

“The visitors aren’t doing anything, milady. I think they aren’t foolish enough to provoke you at the moment. Your prestige makes them cower, milady.”

“Ah yes,” Dolce touched her chin. “Can I somehow convince you to work as a manager of my fiefs? The Templars are doing a good job and they are sending me the profits. But someone like you looking after my fiefs would be relieving.”

“I decline,” Catalina said curtly. “Milady, I only serve this compound, and I am its blade as well.”

“I see,” Dolce accepted. “Nothing makes the people that live here safer than your presence here. Do you still carry that crossbow of yours? Ah, I have one inside the skyship. I let Elesia and Henry take it to you.”

“Oh my,” she touched her cheek. “I’ve been looking to replace it. You came at the right time.”

“Why not use a gun?” Dolce asked.

“It’s too loud,” Catalina replied with a thin smile. “I prefer a crossbow’s silence.”

Dolce thought and agreed. Catalina was her master and the person who trained her most. She was a femme fatale that worked for her mother. She was someone dedicated to the Alva. Dolce learned that ever since her mother was still young. Catalina had always accompanied her.

One of the reasons that Elesia became Dolce’s servant was because of Catalina. Her mother agreed to such arrangements and thus Elesia was on her side. Catalina has trained Dolce and Elesia since young. So she knew that Catalina preferred crossbows rather than guns. She was good at it. Dolce recalled how she was able to hit a mouse in the dark, and how she was able to kill a group of assassins with a crossbow and a dagger. Guns were a threat but with how things are. Catalina could still contend with them.

“If you want to have a gun,” Dolce said. “Then come to me. I’ll get you one. I am sure that you would love the silenced pistols that the demesne produces. They can suppress the loudness of gunfire. You’d love them, Catalina.”

Catalina raised her eyebrows. She thinly smiled. “Sounds great, I would love to have that kind of weapon.”

Dolce nodded. She turned her focus back to eating. Then, she followed Catalina out and strolled around the compound. After hours of idling, Dolce spotted a flying ship approaching the compound. She could see the symbol of the Alva so she walked near the grounds and watched who it is.