The Duchess merely laughed, then fell silent without saying another word. Though Shade did not look at her expression, he knew she certainly did not want anyone speaking to her at this moment. For a full five minutes afterward, until Leisha and Margaret came over, no one stepped forward to make conversation with her.
"Grand-aunt, what kind of expression is that?"
The only one who did not care about the Duchess's mood was Leisha. Seeing Shade and Miss Galina standing neither too close nor too far apart, both silent, she guessed that someone had suddenly become emotional.
After Leisha spoke, Shade felt the atmosphere around them change immediately. He finally turned around and saw the smile on the witch's face:
"A thinking expression. Thinking makes young ladies wiser."
As she said this, she greeted Margaret, then said to Shade in her heart:
"Anros asked you to meet him at the entrance to the washroom just now."
She raised an eyebrow lightly, and Shade's eyes widened slightly.
"Just now? When?"
"About half an hour ago."
She smiled, and Shade frowned slightly.
"Then why didn't you—"
"I knew he would definitely drag you into troublesome matters. Why would I let you go?"
She nodded at Shade with satisfaction, while he became somewhat puzzled again.
"Then now—"
"I've figured it out. No matter what, we cannot possibly live in a peaceful age, and I cannot stop you from risking yourself for others. But at least I am luckier than those witches of the Fifth Epoch. Even if they became demigods, they still could not hold your hand."
She did not reach out to take Shade's hand. She merely looked at him with her golden eyes.
Their conversation just now had been conducted through an unnamed witch secret art, communicating directly in their hearts.