Ch 90: The Day Before The Party

Time arrived on December 31st, the last day of the year, and also the day the Bal family would be performing at the party.

That morning, Phia huddled in Bal’s arms, unwilling to get up.

“Wake up, it’s time to get up.”

Bal lay in bed holding his kitten, but no matter what he said, the kitten wouldn’t get up.

“Mmm…Husband, let me sleep a little longer.”

Phia used the tactic of acting cute, and it was extremely effective. Bal couldn’t resist this adorable kitten acting cute in his arms. He could only stroke the kitten’s little head and softly say in its ear.

“Okay, sleep a little longer.”

“Husband is the best. Mua～”

Phia kissed Bal’s chest, an action that ignited a certain fire in Bal’s heart. He pressed Phia beneath him and began to playfully tease her, and Phia merely wriggled beneath Bal without resisting.

Two hours later, it was already past nine in the morning. After a round of intimacy in bed, Phia and Bal fell asleep and woke up again. She got up from Bal’s arms, but was pulled back.

“What? Aren’t we supposed to get up?”

“It’s cold, let me help you get dressed.”

Bal got up and quickly changed his clothes, then held Phia in his arms. Since last night, the completely naked kitten sat on Bal’s lap, enduring Bal’s playful touches while listening to him as he helped her get dressed.

After getting dressed, the couple didn’t go downstairs; Bal held Phia and lay on the bed.

“The little kitten was very affectionate today, and even actively teased me this morning. What a little flirtatious cat.”

“Nonsense, who actively teased you? I was just sleepy.”

“Yes, yes, yes, Wife is always right. Mua～”

After kissing Phia’s little face, Bal carried her to the study.

“Why the study?”

“To write New Year’s cards to people we know in town. They’ve helped us, so we should thank them.”

Bal took out a stack of cardboard bought from the general store, cut them to the appropriate size with his short sword, and began writing his thanks to everyone and his blessings for the new year.

“Give me a few; I’ll help you.”

Bal handed Phia half the paper. Phia picked up the quill pen, dipped it in ink, and sat next to Bal to write. Compared to Bal’s firm and powerful handwriting, Phia’s was much more delicate. She also drew simple portrait sketches of those she was greeting on the edges of the cards.

The two worked at the desk until noon, when Xiaoguang came to the study to urge them to prepare lunch.

“Hmm? Xiaoguang, why are you back? Is everything alright with Mrs. Zeril?”

Phia was surprised to see that it was Xiaoguang, not Xiaoyue.

“Mrs. Zeril gave me a day off. She told me to prepare well and rest, so I can go with my sister to watch the party tonight. She also told me to tell you not to worry; she will come over this afternoon.”

After listening to Xiaoguang’s explanation, Bal and Phia let Xiaoguang rest well, then followed her downstairs to have lunch.

Lunch today was prepared by Grey and Nia. They gave Xiaoyue a day off, although Xiaoyue didn’t feel tired, she still accepted their kindness. At this time, Xiaoyue had already taken off her maid outfit and changed into her own clothes.

“Master, Madam, you’re here.”

Seeing the couple approaching, Xiaoyue immediately stood up to greet them, but was stopped by Bal.

“Today you should just rest. You still have to take Xiaoguang to the party tonight. Xiaoguang, you go change your clothes too.”

“Thank you very much!”

Xiaoyue bowed to the two before taking Xiaoguang to change clothes.

Nia came out of the kitchen, carrying a plate of already-sliced roast meat. The scent of the roast meat caught Phia’s nose.

“Nia, what is this?”

Nia took off her gloves. She touched Phia’s little head, then rubbed Phia’s little face, and then began to introduce the roast meat.

“Hee hee, this is rock ox beef that I went to acquire this morning. It’s the last day of the year, so I wanted to make the cuisine I learned in God’s Country for everyone to eat. So I spent the whole morning finding the spices just to make this roast meat.”

Just as Nia was about to show off further, Grey’s voice came from the kitchen.

“Nia! Help!”

Hearing Grey’s cry for help, Nia immediately ran into the kitchen, and then Nia’s voice came from the kitchen.

“Idiot! If the pot catches fire, just cover it with the lid. And didn’t I say that this dish has to be made this way to be delicious? Don’t make a fuss.”

Bal and Phia listened to the commotion in the kitchen and decided to have some tea first. At this time, Selena came down from upstairs; she was rubbing her eyes and seemed not to have woken up yet.

“Why didn’t anyone call me? I didn’t eat breakfast; I’m starving.”

“Maybe you were too tired yesterday, and everyone didn’t have the heart to disturb your rest.”

Bal sat on the sofa looking at Selena. The dark circles under her eyes showed how hard she had worked recently.

“Then you could have called me to eat breakfast before letting me go back to sleep. Phia, pass me the teapot.”

Selena took the teapot from Phia. After taking a sip of hot tea, Selena finally seemed to have woken up a little. She looked at the cuisine on the dining table, her eyes shining.

“Wow! Lunch looks delicious. It seems that not eating breakfast also has its advantages; this way, I can fully enjoy the delicacies.”

Bal and Phia exchanged smiles. They hadn’t eaten breakfast either. Poor Selena wanting to snatch food from these two; just thinking about it made it seem impossible.

When Grey and Nia brought out the last dish, Xiaoyue and Xiaoguang also came downstairs. Smelling the scent coming from the dining table, they immediately came to the table and sat down.

With Bal’s call of “Let’s eat,” everyone happily picked up their knives and forks. Nia served everyone roast meat. After everyone ate the roast meat, they all praised Nia’s culinary skills.

After lunch, Bal and Phia returned to the study to prepare the cards.

More than an hour later, after finishing, they leaned on the sofa to stretch their wrists. Nia walked into the study carrying Phia’s violin.

“Sister-in-law, can I borrow your violin?”

“Sure, just return it before dinner.”

“Yay!”

Phia watched Nia happily walk out of the study. She continued to rest leaning on Bal’s shoulder.

After a while, a melodious violin sound came from the backyard. The whole family went to the windows of their respective rooms to look towards the backyard. It was Nia playing the violin in the backyard. The music started fast and tense, like a sign of impending disaster, then became slow and peaceful, like the calm after the storm, returning to daily life, and finally light and cheerful, as if celebrating the coming new year.

Bal and Phia returned to the sofa. Bal lay on the sofa, holding Phia in his arms. Phia quietly rested on Bal’s chest, and soon the sound of her peaceful breathing could be heard.

The winter wind blew across the town, but Bal’s house was very warm. This was not only because Phia used magic to adjust the temperature, but also because of the warmth between people. There was the deep affection between sisters, the sweet romance between lovers, and the enduring love between husband and wife.

Nia’s violin music still echoed in the backyard. Bal and Phia fell asleep to the music, and the Maid Sisters and Selena also fell asleep in anticipation. Grey took a shawl and went to Nia’s side. He put the shawl around Nia’s shoulders and quietly watched her play.

This was a beautiful and warm daily routine before the performance.