On Saturday morning, Miao Miao entered the massive mansion standing near Saint Hierland Cathedral in the Saint George Borough. This was the residence of the Wills family as magnificent as it appeared outwardly, it was equally disciplined and elegant within.
As she stepped in front of the mansion, the maids politely welcomed her. Richie was already waiting, the traces of excitement on her face even more evident than the day before.
"Aria! You've arrived I thought you might be late," Richie said, stepping forward gracefully.
Miao Miao smiled slightly, "Can such an important client be kept waiting?"
At these words, Richie's cheeks flushed a light pink.
Miao Miao began her work with a professional demeanor taking measurements, finalizing fabric types, and discussing color shades.
"A blend of light ivory and lavender will suit your skin tone best," she said calmly, tapping the fabric gently with her finger.
Richie stood before the mirror, imagining herself, and a smile of satisfaction gradually spread across her face.
"I'll take this one."
Miao Miao finished her work before noon and set out.
*Harvest Church, South of the Rose Street Bridge*
The golden cathedral had a rather attractive spire, and on its facade was carved a sacred symbol of life—a child surrounded by symbols of wheat, flowers, and spring water.
Inside the cathedral hall, the rows of seating benches were neatly arranged. At the very front was a large sacred symbol of life, with candles lit on both sides of the altar. Miao Miao didn't see any devotees on these benches.
Mr. Dont Night was a grain merchant who believed that if the Earth Mother was pleased, the grain in the warehouse would not rot or be infested by insects. He would have the church priests pray for favorable weather. He donated a lump sum of two thousand pounds annually, which Miao Miao had seen in the man's account books.
Since her identity as Aria Nightshade was that of a devotee of the 'Earth Mother,' coming here was a kind of social obligation. But inside her mind, an irresistible curiosity was at work.
Miao Miao sat on a wooden bench at one side of the church. She placed her hands gently over her chest, exactly as described in "The Book of Life." She had carefully mastered this prayer gesture of the Earth Mother's devotees—folding the palms to create the shape of an invisible seed or fruit, a symbol of fertility and creation.
Lowering her head slightly, she closed her eyes. From the outside, she appeared to be in deep meditation, but her ears were alert.
When Miao Miao finished her prayer and raised her head, she felt a massive and powerful presence approaching her. The heavy footsteps caused a slight vibration on the wooden floor.
She looked up and saw the head priest of the Harvest Church, Father Utravsky, standing before her. The Father's frame was so massive and broad that at a glance, he seemed more like a steadfast mountain-warrior than a priest.
Father Utravsky knew Arya only as a devoted follower. He spoke in a mild yet heavy voice, "Peace be upon you, Miss Aria. It is good to see you return to our quiet stillness once again."
Miao Miao stood up gracefully and greeted him with a slight tilt of her head.
"Peace be upon you too, Father," Miao Miao said politely.
"The busyness of life makes us restless, but the tranquility embedded in these church walls draws me back here again and again."
Just then, Miao Miao's gaze fell on the pale man working in the distance. His hair was slicked back, he had red eyes and black hair, and he wore the brown robes of a priest. Miao Miao turned back to the Father with a curious smile.
"Father, it seems you have a new assistant," Miao Miao said in a light tone, gesturing toward Emlyn.
Father Utravsky paused, then looked at Emlyn with his massive frame. Emlyn was currently trying to clean a corner of the altar with a brush, his face full of annoyance as if every speck of dust was a stain on his nobility. The Father smiled faintly a smile reflecting the serenity of an experienced guardian.
"Yes, Miss Aria. Mr. White has recently joined us," the Father said in a low voice. "He is actually learning to see life from a slightly different perspective. Although his pace of learning is a bit slow, I am hopeful that this proximity to nature will resolve many of the complexities in his mind."
Miao Miao adjusted her glasses while looking at Emlyn. She added in a refined yet sharp tone:
"He looks quite hardworking. However, his complexion is so pale that he seems a bit too much of an indoor-lover. Your hard work will surely bring you happiness and prosperity."
Hearing this, Emlyn snapped his head up. His reddish eyes fixed on Miao Miao for a moment—filled with a mix of surprise and a pinch of aristocratic pride. He was perhaps not used to a girl commenting so directly on his physical traits.
Father Utravsky, sensing Aria's subtle observation, let out a hearty laugh. "You've caught it. Mr. White prefers the shade over the sun," the Father said. "But we are all here to help each other, aren't we?"
Miao Miao nodded in agreement. "Of course, Father. Stay well."
As she left the church, Miao Miao thought sarcastically to herself—this vampire wanted to flee from this church, yet in the end, he becomes one of its chief deacons and priests.
What you try to run from always becomes your destiny. And speaking of the Earth Mother, she is actually your ancestor, Lilith.
....
From Saturday afternoon to Sunday evening, the house at Number 13 Minsk Street turned into a miniature battlefield. Miao Miao and Rosie were so busy they barely had time to breathe. Now, she had to go to Mrs. Staelen Sammer's matchmaking banquet.
Hanging in the closet were three gowns she had brought from that house in the West Borough—three types of social masks created for different purposes. Besides, as Aria, she had many more; she was, after all, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant and a fashion designer herself.
The first was a deep purple satin gown—fabric that shimmered in candlelight, with delicate gold embroidery across the chest and layers of lace below. It was clearly a garment meant to be a royal proclamation, making people stare.
The second was a navy blue Gothic-style gown—high collar, tight waist, and a strange cold beauty in the lace of the sleeves. It carried an unsettling mystery mixed with nobility as if the wearer could not be easily read.
The third was a deep burgundy gown—simple in design, with no extra ornaments. But its cutting was perfect, and the depth of the color was such that it caught the eye without holding it. It was ideal for blendid aristocratic, yet silent.
Miao Miao thought for a moment and chose the burgundy dress. She knew that among curious people like Mrs. Sammer, it would be wise to keep herself somewhat hidden.
But as she was carefully taking the burgundy dress down from the closet, suddenly—
*Thud!*
When Miao Miao picked up the object that had fallen to the floor, her heart skipped a beat. It wasn't just any paper; it was a small diary.
It had been hidden in the folds of the burgundy gown in such a way that it was impossible to notice from the outside. The diary's cover was wrapped in dark leather, showing clear signs of age. In one corner of the dusty cover, the letters "**A.N.**" were embossed in very small gold script.
"Aria Nightshade?" Miao Miao whispered.
Miao Miao turned the worn black cover and looked at the first page. There was no familiar alphabet. Normally, her special-ability glasses could translate many complex coded scripts, but strangely, they weren't working now.
"What writing is this? Arya created a specific language for herself," Miao Miao murmured.
Miao Miao stared intently at the geometric square design in a corner of the diary's cover. Her sharp mind began to think rapidly—what could a square mean? A secret vault? A sacred book?....
Suddenly, her gaze fell on the mirror, where her own reflection appeared. "Mirror!" As soon as the word hit her mind, a name flashed through her memory—the famous artist and inventor, Leonardo da Vinci.
"Mirror writing!" Miao Miao uttered to herself, her eyes widening in surprise.