Dan went all out in preparing Juliet's birthday, uncovering all the recipes that he learned from those grueling Home Economics subject when he was still studying, Dan unleashed his repertoire and cooked numerous meals that could only be found in the Modern World where he previously lived.
Sweeping his gaze on the sparkling dishes above the table, Dan sighed in relief and satisfaction. His several hours of effort paid off and now he had a banquet that would suit the Headmaster's status. Natalie brought over vats of liquors while Grace prepared the utensils at the table side.
Since Juliet was still sleeping, Dan stretched his body and laid on the floor. Staring at the ceiling, a smile couldn't help but break out on his face. Several months ago, Dan was merely a lonely bastard that no one would care if he died. But now, he had his own family and was even celebrating his little daughter's birthday along with his wife.
Such bliss made him immensely thankful that he died and transmigrated.
"You're tired, here, drink some cold water..." Grace's voice echoed behind him and since he was lying on the floor, when he craned his neck and stared at her figure, his eyes inadvertently landed on her skirt. The enticing and barely visible vital area of a woman ignited Dan's lecherous intents and he subconsciously gulped a mouthful of saliva.
Dan could normally suppress his desires, but unfortunately, ever since Natalie started maneuvering them together, his mind couldn't help but think of her as a member of the opposite sex despite the fact that she was mentally younger than him by several decades.
Clicking his tongue, Dan thought that he should ask Natalie to take care of his desires before it could fully erupt. Receiving the cup of water from Grace's hand. The young maiden steeled her heart and sat beside Dan, A small smile decorated her face.
Dan raised his upper body, drank the water and placed the cup above the table. Glancing at Grace, he realized that the latter's eyes shone in a complicated light of numerous conflicting emotions.
His lecherous designs suddenly dissipated and he lifted his hand and rubbed his head. Grace spent her entire childhood and most of her teenage years in such a dangerous environment and it was only until a month ago did she felt the freedom that she desired the most. Scars would definitely remain in her mind.
Grace's figure trembled for a moment, but she didn't push his hand away and savored the sensation of his gentle touch ruffling her hair. With her eyes slightly narrowing, Dan chuckled and said, "Really, Natalie and you are somewhat alike when it comes to this matter..."
Grace glanced at him and said, "This matter?" Her expression revealed her confusion.
Dan chuckled once again and explained, "What I mean is both of you really wants to be doted upon, especially head rubs, I don't know why but she and Natalie likes to be rubbed in the head..."
Grace went silent and thought, "It should be because we can feel such a deep sense of security when you this kind of thing, young master..."
Dan turned towards him and said, "Sense of security?"
Panic flashed across Grace's visage, "Wait, did I say it out loud?"
Dan nodded his head, "Yep, you said that you can feel a sense of security when your hair is rubbed? Really, women are strange beings..." Dan shook his head with a smile and Grace buried her face between her knees in embarrassment.
The sensation of Grace's silky-smooth hair rubbing across his palms felt as addictive as Natalie's hair and Dan was unwilling to let go. Little did he knew that Natalie was behind them with an ambiguous smile on her lips and with her right-hand thumb lifted towards the skies. She cheered, "Good luck, Junior Sis!"
Humming a tune and in anticipation of having a future sister beside her, Natalie went towards Juliet's room and gave the two some time alone.
Dan kept his motion and Grace became drowsy, smiling to himself, he asked her a question, "Grace, will you mind if you tell me more about yourself? Apart from knowing that you lived in the slums, I seemed to have remembered you mentioning something about having an Elder Sister..."
Grace's expression went bitter, her eyes flashed with melancholy and she sighed as she explained, "Yes, I indeed have an Elder Sister, though I am saying that she's my Elder Sister, she's only older than me by a second..."
Dan became confused, "Older than you by a second, could it be that she's your twin sister?" Grace nodded her head in confirmation, "She's indeed my twin sister, but ever since that fateful day, I haven't seen her again..." Grace lifted a bitter and melancholic smile, her eyes turned wet as she reminisced about the time that she spent with her sister.
"That fateful day?" Dan mumbled in a solemn tone, Grace calmed herself down but she still couldn't suppress the trembling of her shoulders as she said in a somber and despondent voice, "Ten years ago, I and my sister was a visited by a man, that man was the head of a slave caravan."
"Their slave caravan in finding those with potential and he had both of us tested." Grace paused for a moment, she looked reluctant to continue but Dan reassured her with a smile. Her hesitation dispersed and she continued.
"They found that my sister possessed an unparalleled talent for cultivation, but on the other hand I possessed none of the potential that she had..." Her tone sounded complicated and Dan's figure froze, "Being twins with her, most of your features should be identical to her and that includes cultivation talent, it's impossible that she's the only one that has such a talent!"
Dan's words were sound and logical, and this brought Grace doubt and confusion towards what exactly happened at that fateful day. Staring at Dan with widened eyes, she said, "Now that I think about it, my sister and that man seemed to have conversed with each other before the man tested my potential..."
"That's it! I'm certain that your certain made a deal with him so that he won't bring you with him and suffer the same fate as your sister as a slave..." Dan pressed on and Grace's shoulders trembled, "Wait...If that's the case, then sister sacrificed herself so that I won't suffer the same fate as her?"
Her figure violently swayed, and the scene before her became blurry. Her brain felt like it was going to explode from the violent rushes of blood assaulting her head. Dan hurriedly embraced her body, preventing her from falling on the ground.
Grace stared at Dan's figure and tears streamed down her cheeks. As someone who witnessed numerous atrocities throughout her entire life, she was clear about the fate of slaves, especially a female slave who possessed unique traits like her twin sister.
Burying herself into Dan's chest, Grace ignored her embarrassment and poured all of her indignance and grievances into his chest. Dan lifted a complicated smile, rubbing her back, Dan knew that pouring his own ideas and opinions towards someone that was venting out her stress was detrimental.
"It's fine, Grace, you can cry everything out, everything isn't your fault, but if you give up now, then everything will become your fault. Only when one has an unyielding heart could he change his fate for the better..." Dan affectionately whispered into her ears, rubbing her head and back with soothing motions, Grace lifted her head and witnessing her tears and snot covered face, Dan almost busted a gut.
Since it was inappropriate to laugh at this moment, Dan suppressed his laughter and kept his head away from his sight. Grace didn't took offense to this and mumbled. "Change one's fate, that's a sweet thing to hear, but could I really do that? Can a mere mortal like me even change my fate?"
Dan lightly chuckled, "Of course it is impossible for mortals to change their own fates, however, Grace, do you really believe that your potential is just of a mortal? Since your twin sister possessed such a monstrous talent in cultivation, why can't you have it too?"
Grace replied to him, "Young master, are you saying that my sister faked the results with the head of the slave merchant? For what reason, I thought that the reason why she negotiated with him was to prevent him from bringing me along."
Dan shook his head, "Of course, that's the main reason but that's not the true reason why she hid your potential, remember that you're a woman, and if your potential was uncovered along with your sister then both of you may become the cultivation furnace of a certain demonic cultivator, and that's a scene that she didn't want to witness..."
"Cultivation furnace?" Grace's eyes widened in shock and her figure visibly trembled once again, as someone that frequently grips the knife to live, Grace had an inkling about what a cultivation furnace was, and upon realizing this fact, she raised her palm and blocked her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks once again.
"Could it be that..."
"Could it be that my sister became a cultivation furnace?"
She mumbled these words in a grim and disbelieving voice. Dan swiftly moved closer to her and tightly embraced her body, expressing that right now, she wasn't alone and that she had Natalie, Juliet and him as her family.
Nevertheless, Grace still felt sorrowful throughout the entire ordeal and Dan regretted delving into her past, after all, today's occasion was supposedly a joyful one but Grace wore a sore and despondent expression along with her forced smiles.
Finally, the veil of the night descended and the Longinus Household exploded into cheers as a jubilant and merriful atmosphere enveloped the entire room. Mathias and Charlotte joined in the cheers as all of them exclaimed.
"Happy Birthday, Juliet!"
Dan went all out in preparing Juliet's birthday, uncovering all the recipes that he learned from those grueling Home Economics subject when he was still studying, Dan unleashed his repertoire and cooked numerous meals that could only be found in the Modern World where he previously lived.
Sweeping his gaze on the sparkling dishes above the table, Dan sighed in relief and satisfaction. His several hours of effort paid off and now he had a banquet that would suit the Headmaster's status. Natalie brought over vats of liquors while Grace prepared the utensils at the table side.
Since Juliet was still sleeping, Dan stretched his body and laid on the floor. Staring at the ceiling, a smile couldn't help but break out on his face. Several months ago, Dan was merely a lonely bastard that no one would care if he died. But now, he had his own family and was even celebrating his little daughter's birthday along with his wife.
Such bliss made him immensely thankful that he died and transmigrated.
"You're tired, here, drink some cold water..." Grace's voice echoed behind him and since he was lying on the floor, when he craned his neck and stared at her figure, his eyes inadvertently landed on her skirt. The enticing and barely visible vital area of a woman ignited Dan's lecherous intents and he subconsciously gulped a mouthful of saliva.
Dan could normally suppress his desires, but unfortunately, ever since Natalie started maneuvering them together, his mind couldn't help but think of her as a member of the opposite sex despite the fact that she was mentally younger than him by several decades.
Clicking his tongue, Dan thought that he should ask Natalie to take care of his desires before it could fully erupt. Receiving the cup of water from Grace's hand. The young maiden steeled her heart and sat beside Dan, A small smile decorated her face.
Dan raised his upper body, drank the water and placed the cup above the table. Glancing at Grace, he realized that the latter's eyes shone in a complicated light of numerous conflicting emotions.
His lecherous designs suddenly dissipated and he lifted his hand and rubbed his head. Grace spent her entire childhood and most of her teenage years in such a dangerous environment and it was only until a month ago did she felt the freedom that she desired the most. Scars would definitely remain in her mind.
Grace's figure trembled for a moment, but she didn't push his hand away and savored the sensation of his gentle touch ruffling her hair. With her eyes slightly narrowing, Dan chuckled and said, "Really, Natalie and you are somewhat alike when it comes to this matter..."
Grace glanced at him and said, "This matter?" Her expression revealed her confusion.
Dan chuckled once again and explained, "What I mean is both of you really wants to be doted upon, especially head rubs, I don't know why but she and Natalie likes to be rubbed in the head..."
Grace went silent and thought, "It should be because we can feel such a deep sense of security when you this kind of thing, young master..."
Dan turned towards him and said, "Sense of security?"
Panic flashed across Grace's visage, "Wait, did I say it out loud?"
Dan nodded his head, "Yep, you said that you can feel a sense of security when your hair is rubbed? Really, women are strange beings..." Dan shook his head with a smile and Grace buried her face between her knees in embarrassment.
The sensation of Grace's silky-smooth hair rubbing across his palms felt as addictive as Natalie's hair and Dan was unwilling to let go. Little did he knew that Natalie was behind them with an ambiguous smile on her lips and with her right-hand thumb lifted towards the skies. She cheered, "Good luck, Junior Sis!"
Humming a tune and in anticipation of having a future sister beside her, Natalie went towards Juliet's room and gave the two some time alone.
Dan kept his motion and Grace became drowsy, smiling to himself, he asked her a question, "Grace, will you mind if you tell me more about yourself? Apart from knowing that you lived in the slums, I seemed to have remembered you mentioning something about having an Elder Sister..."
Grace's expression went bitter, her eyes flashed with melancholy and she sighed as she explained, "Yes, I indeed have an Elder Sister, though I am saying that she's my Elder Sister, she's only older than me by a second..."
Dan became confused, "Older than you by a second, could it be that she's your twin sister?" Grace nodded her head in confirmation, "She's indeed my twin sister, but ever since that fateful day, I haven't seen her again..." Grace lifted a bitter and melancholic smile, her eyes turned wet as she reminisced about the time that she spent with her sister.
"That fateful day?" Dan mumbled in a solemn tone, Grace calmed herself down but she still couldn't suppress the trembling of her shoulders as she said in a somber and despondent voice, "Ten years ago, I and my sister was a visited by a man, that man was the head of a slave caravan."
"Their slave caravan in finding those with potential and he had both of us tested." Grace paused for a moment, she looked reluctant to continue but Dan reassured her with a smile. Her hesitation dispersed and she continued.
"They found that my sister possessed an unparalleled talent for cultivation, but on the other hand I possessed none of the potential that she had..." Her tone sounded complicated and Dan's figure froze, "Being twins with her, most of your features should be identical to her and that includes cultivation talent, it's impossible that she's the only one that has such a talent!"
Dan's words were sound and logical, and this brought Grace doubt and confusion towards what exactly happened at that fateful day. Staring at Dan with widened eyes, she said, "Now that I think about it, my sister and that man seemed to have conversed with each other before the man tested my potential..."
"That's it! I'm certain that your certain made a deal with him so that he won't bring you with him and suffer the same fate as your sister as a slave..." Dan pressed on and Grace's shoulders trembled, "Wait...If that's the case, then sister sacrificed herself so that I won't suffer the same fate as her?"
Her figure violently swayed, and the scene before her became blurry. Her brain felt like it was going to explode from the violent rushes of blood assaulting her head. Dan hurriedly embraced her body, preventing her from falling on the ground.
Grace stared at Dan's figure and tears streamed down her cheeks. As someone who witnessed numerous atrocities throughout her entire life, she was clear about the fate of slaves, especially a female slave who possessed unique traits like her twin sister.
Burying herself into Dan's chest, Grace ignored her embarrassment and poured all of her indignance and grievances into his chest. Dan lifted a complicated smile, rubbing her back, Dan knew that pouring his own ideas and opinions towards someone that was venting out her stress was detrimental.
"It's fine, Grace, you can cry everything out, everything isn't your fault, but if you give up now, then everything will become your fault. Only when one has an unyielding heart could he change his fate for the better..." Dan affectionately whispered into her ears, rubbing her head and back with soothing motions, Grace lifted her head and witnessing her tears and snot covered face, Dan almost busted a gut.
Since it was inappropriate to laugh at this moment, Dan suppressed his laughter and kept his head away from his sight. Grace didn't took offense to this and mumbled. "Change one's fate, that's a sweet thing to hear, but could I really do that? Can a mere mortal like me even change my fate?"
Dan lightly chuckled, "Of course it is impossible for mortals to change their own fates, however, Grace, do you really believe that your potential is just of a mortal? Since your twin sister possessed such a monstrous talent in cultivation, why can't you have it too?"
Grace replied to him, "Young master, are you saying that my sister faked the results with the head of the slave merchant? For what reason, I thought that the reason why she negotiated with him was to prevent him from bringing me along."
Dan shook his head, "Of course, that's the main reason but that's not the true reason why she hid your potential, remember that you're a woman, and if your potential was uncovered along with your sister then both of you may become the cultivation furnace of a certain demonic cultivator, and that's a scene that she didn't want to witness..."
"Cultivation furnace?" Grace's eyes widened in shock and her figure visibly trembled once again, as someone that frequently grips the knife to live, Grace had an inkling about what a cultivation furnace was, and upon realizing this fact, she raised her palm and blocked her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks once again.
"Could it be that..."
"Could it be that my sister became a cultivation furnace?"
She mumbled these words in a grim and disbelieving voice. Dan swiftly moved closer to her and tightly embraced her body, expressing that right now, she wasn't alone and that she had Natalie, Juliet and him as her family.
Nevertheless, Grace still felt sorrowful throughout the entire ordeal and Dan regretted delving into her past, after all, today's occasion was supposedly a joyful one but Grace wore a sore and despondent expression along with her forced smiles.
Finally, the veil of the night descended and the Longinus Household exploded into cheers as a jubilant and merriful atmosphere enveloped the entire room. Mathias and Charlotte joined in the cheers as all of them exclaimed.
"Happy Birthday, Juliet!"
