<h4>Chapter 345 ns for the closing ceremony?</h4>


    Lumiere & Lucretia Arc.


    ---


    (POV: Lumiere)


    Evening.


    Now, winter had massively reduced. It was almost nonexistent.


    The time for the closing ceremony had arrived.


    Regrets about the sexy note lingered, but it wasn''t worthining about now.


    I slipped into my exquisite attire for the evening.


    This time, Steria was surprisingly being helpful. Something I found asionally hard to believe.


    When I was depressed, I didn''t see her once. So, seeing her being so helpful now did feel a little off. In the end, I didn''t have a problem with it either way.


    She floated gracefully behind me.


    Her delicate hands deftly intertwined my long locks into a braid, but something in her expression hinted at hesitation.


    I couldn''t directly see her face seeing as she was behind me, but the mirror I was standing in front of made it easier.


    "Wouldn''t it be better to leave your hair flowing freely?" Steria suggested softly— her voice always sounded like a gentle breeze, simply because she barely put any effort into speaking. "It looks so much prettier that way."


    ncing at my reflection in the ornate mirror, I adjusted my garments and contemted her suggestion. "I honestly get what you''re saying, but if I don''t braid it, it won''t be as visually appealing," I replied, assessing the ensemble''s overall effect.


    I was going to be in the presence of other snobby nobles.


    Because of that, I had to look my best. Naturally, I wouldn''t care much about dressing to impress them, but if I didn''t give it my all in the fashion department, it was likely I''d end up disappointing Lilith.


    Steria let out an exasperated sigh. "That''s a lot of hassle just for appearances, isn''t it?" she remarked.


    Chuckling at her remark, I replied, "Indeed, it may be a bit of work, but sometimes making sacrifices to achieve the desired aesthetics is just unavoidable."


    With a sleepy yawn, Steria continued her task, her nimble fingers never missing a strand.


    "You know what?" she asked me.


    "What?" I answered, trying to look back all to no avail.


    "I would''ve loved to apany you tonight, but I''m afraid I''m just too tired."


    You''re always tired Steria, I thought.


    Smiling knowingly, I nodded in understanding. "I expected no less from you," I reassured her. "After all," I shrugged. "You always prioritize rest over everything else."


    "Eh, it is what it is..."


    I wanted to keep the conversation going.


    "You know, I didn''t know you could braid hair..." I began, "Or do much of anything..." my voice took a deep sink in audiblity.


    Pausing momentarily in her braiding, Steria looked at me from the mirror before us, a gentle smile on her lips. "Just because I dislike something doesn''t mean I can''t excel at it, I''m a Goddess after all," she asserted. "In fact, I used to braid Serena''s hair when she was a little girl, long before we crossed paths."


    Surprised by this revtion, I responded with curiosity. "Really?" I questioned, intrigued.


    Steria simply nodded, her gaze distant as she added, "Yeah, but that was around 300 years ago give or take, I don''t really remember much from that time."


    I was sure she could remember, she was just toozy to do that.


    Then...


    An unexpected silence hung in the air.


    I was unsure of how to respond, I finally broke the quietude. "Are you finished with my hair?" I asked, trying to alleviate the sudden heaviness.


    Honestly...


    Was that really the best thing I could say to break the silence?


    Jeez.


    Steria twisted the final strand with finesse and then, with a sense of aplishment, she released her grip. "There you go," she smiled. "Now you look pretty."


    As I examined my reflection in the mirror, taking in the intricately braided hair, I immediately admire Steria''s skills.


    She always said she was too tired to do certain things.


    That was true. But, the amount of effort she put into braiding my hair was very obvious. Maybe it was me overestimating her emotional care, but for some reason, it felt like her heart and soul was poured into braiding this.


    It already felt special to me.


    "You''ve really outdone yourself this time," Imented.


    Steria shrugged in a modest manner, and yet this nonchnce made her modesty seem more like pride. "Well, it was done by none other than yours truly," she quipped.


    I chuckled at her yful response.


    Turning my attention back to my attire, I gave it a final inspection.


    "I think I''m ready to go," I told her.


    Steria''s smile widened, but she shook her head gently. "Not quite yet," she said cryptically, her eyes ncing to something unseen.


    It was my attire she stared at.


    Confusion furrowed my brow as I looked at my outfit again, searching for any missing elements. "But it looksplete," I told her, but in a way, some uncertainty creeped into my voice.


    Suddenly, Steria reached up and removed a golden earring from her delicate ear. Before I could react, she swiftly moved behind me, her fingertips lightly brushing against my flesh. In an instant, she pressed the earring into my left ear, causing an intense pain to rip through my lobe.


    "WHAT THE?!"


    I let out a piercing scream, my hand instinctively covering the wound as blood trickled down my neck.


    "What was that for?!" I eximed, pain strained against my voice. "My ear... it''s bleeding!"


    Steria hovered in the air, a mischievousughter escaping her lips. "Oh, rx," she teased,pletely amused. "It''ll heal soon enough."


    Of course it would, but I''m still a person, jeez.


    She''s crazy.


    But naturally, the wound on my ear closed. Gripping at the edge of my sanity, I red at Steria, rage coursing through my veins. "Why would you do something like that?" I demanded.


    With a carefree giggle, Steria floated closer. "It looks a lot better on you this way," she finally confessed, her words causing my indignation to crumble into confusion.


    "How can it possibly look better?" I questioned, my gaze shifting between my healed ear and the reflection on the mirror.


    I took a long good look, and right after I saw it for myself...


    She was actually... right...


    However, the thought of actually wearing it didn''t quite appeal to me.


    Sensing my hesitation, Steria gracefully closed her eyes and crossed her arms before offering a solution.


    "If you don''t want to wear it as a fashion statement, why not take it as a gift from me?" she suggested, a soft smile gracing her lips.


    This caught me off guard, and I responded, partially surprised, "Oh, thank you then."


    It was the first time she was being this humane...? It felt nice.


    Yawning tiredly, Steria nonchntly added, "Whatever."


    And she''s back to her normal self.


    Resolving to leave, I told her, "Well, I''m about to head out now."


    She floated over to the bed and flopped down onto it, seemingly eager to rx. Curiously, she turned to me and asked, "What was it you needed again?"


    "Eh, I need a portal to Efistes..."


    Steria let out a heavy sigh and snapped her fingers, conjuring a portal before me. As I prepared to step through it, something immediately made me to pause.


    Turning to Steria, I asked, "Hey, you want me to get anything for you?"


    She rolled over, facing the wall, and replied dismissively, "I don''t want anything. Just go have fun."


    Unconvinced, I pressed further, "You''re sure there''s nothing you want?"


    "There isn''t." Her response was ambivalent and dismissive.


    "O... Okay, then," I acquiesced reluctantly.


    After, I stepped into the portal and found myself transported to the streets of Argentia, inside Efistes. Since it was evening, I could freely use my flight. As such, I soared into the sky, en route to the meeting ce designated by Lilith.


    The closing ceremony was going to be done in several ces across the four duchies, it was a matter of which one was the most essible.


    Winter wasn''t fixed, but there was a possibility that even after the closing ceremony that would mark the end of "winter" that there would still be snow nheless.


    It wasn''t fixed but had a certain date region when it urred.


    So, the closing ceremony we were attending was going to be hosted by Lucretia?s family.


    Which meant I was not only going to see her there, but also Viscount Lugnar, the loudest noble I''d evere across.


    Well, either way I shoulde prepared...


    Eventually, I arrived, gracefullynding on the ground as my ck bat-like wings seamlessly retracted into my back.


    My [World Acuity] could easily sense her.


    I knew where she was.


    "Hi there, handsome," I heard her voice.


    And there she was, Lilith, dressed in a stunning two-toned red and ck dress that entuated her beauty. The dress revealed a generous glimpse of her cleavage, and she held an elegant fan in her hand, her smile captivating.


    "Are you ready to go?" Lilith asked me.


    I smiled. "Sure."