Chapter 464: Clearance Method 1 Completed
Chapter 464 -462: Clearance Method 1 Completed
Faye Yardley went straight to Melisande’s boudoir and took the face powder she had mentioned from her Storage Ring. It was packaged in an exquisite aluminum box and looked like a very high-end product.
Melisande’s eyes sparkled. “Faye, where did you buy this?”
“It was a gift from the Young Madam of Lumina. You should be able to buy it there.”
“Lumina?” Melisande thought for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully. “I guess you really do have to get out and see the world to find good things.”
‘Considering the hint mentioned she wanted to peel off the beautiful concubine’s skin,’ Faye Yardley was very supportive. “That’s right. The world is full of things we’ve never seen.”
After having a maid bring a basin of water for her to wash her face, Faye Yardley noticed that Melisande’s features were actually quite delicate. The dark patch on her left cheek was the only thing that transformed a beauty into an ugly woman.
‘You can’t go through life showing people only half your face, can you.’
The patch, now a light brown, was completely invisible once the powder was applied.
With some carefully applied makeup, a charming and beautiful face was revealed to everyone.
Seeing her face, her old nurse actually cried tears of joy.
Only after everything was completely done did Faye Yardley let Melisande look in the mirror.
Unexpectedly, her eyes reddened the moment she saw her reflection. Faye Yardley quickly said, “Don’t cry. It would be a shame if you ruined your makeup.”
Her words made Melisande force her tears back.
Taking a deep breath, Melisande broke into a smile. “Right, Faye’s right. Come on, let’s go see my mother. She’ll definitely be happy to see me like this.”
Before she could even leave, Mr. Shepherd arrived.
When he reached the drawing room and saw his sister, he was completely stunned.
‘Wait, how is this fair? Why am I so plain-looking while my sister gets to be this beautiful?’
Besides, she looked so much like their father now. Jealousy began to fester in his heart.
After all, the women he liked, one after another, would rather become his father’s concubines than give him a second glance.
“Brother, do I look pretty?” Melisande fluttered like a cheerful butterfly to Mr. Shepherd’s side and linked her arm with his.
“Yes, you do. Melisande, you’re the prettiest.”
Faye Yardley sensitively picked up on the change in Mr. Shepherd’s attitude. ‘What’s this about?’ she thought. ‘Is the brother unhappy to see his sister become beautiful?’
‘Crap. The praise I need for my quest… I’m not going to get it, am I?’
Just as she was thinking this, she heard Melisande ask, “Brother, don’t you think Faye is wonderful? She made me beautiful the moment she arrived.”
Mr. Shepherd forced a smile. “Yes, she’s… very good. Your friend is very good.”
[Praise received from the three masters of Shepherd Manor. Task progress: 2/3.]
Σ(⊙▽⊙) ‘Ah? That counts?!’
Faye Yardley was stunned. Even such an insincere compliment counted.
‘In that case, if Melisande asks the same thing when we see Mrs. Shepherd, won’t I complete the quest right away?’
And so, a happy smile appeared on her face as well.
Before they went to see Mrs. Shepherd, Mr. Shepherd gave Faye Yardley a deep look and, at Melisande’s urging, handed her a painted scroll.
Melisande said happily, “Faye, take it quickly! My brother’s paintings are very good.”
“Thank you, Mr. Shepherd.” Faye Yardley didn’t refuse, accepting the scroll and putting it directly into her Storage Ring.
Seeing her Storage Ring, both Shepherd siblings glanced at it with envy.
It was something they certainly didn’t have.
Although Faye Yardley had made several Storage Rings of varying sizes, she had no intention of giving them away as gifts.
Driven by Melisande’s impatience, the group then made their way to Mrs. Shepherd’s residence in the main courtyard of the inner house.
But strangely, Mrs. Shepherd said she was in a bad mood and didn’t want to see anyone.
‘If she won’t see anyone, how am I supposed to get the third compliment for the quest?’
But Melisande had the kind of spirit that wouldn’t rest until she achieved her goal. In any case, thanks to her pestering, Faye Yardley finally got to meet Mrs. Shepherd.
Just like Mr. Shepherd, Mrs. Shepherd was shocked when she saw her daughter. After giving Faye Yardley a deep look, she pulled her daughter straight into an inner chamber.
Left behind in the main hall, Faye Yardley and Mr. Shepherd sat on opposite sides.
Mr. Shepherd looked at the lovely Faye Yardley across from him, unable to stop himself from comparing her to the woman he loved. He concluded that both were beautiful in their own way, but the one before him was beautiful in a vibrant, lively way.
“Miss Yardley, do you have any more of those things that can make someone beautiful?”
Faye Yardley smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry, I only had two. I ate one myself, and I gave the other to Melisande.”
“Is that so? Melisande is quite lucky then.”
The two were making idle conversation when suddenly the sound of CRACKLING and POPPING firecrackers erupted outside. Faye Yardley then saw Mr. Shepherd’s expression instantly darken.
At the same time, Mrs. Shepherd emerged from the inner room, bringing a displeased-looking Melisande with her.
“My apologies for my rudeness just now. I’ve kept you waiting, Miss Yardley.”
Faye Yardley rose and bowed slightly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Shepherd. You are too kind.”
She then took out the congratulatory gift she had prepared for the day.
Mrs. Shepherd’s smile became much more sincere when she saw the item. “Miss Yardley, you are far too polite. Here, take this as a meeting gift.”
After Faye Yardley stepped forward, Mrs. Shepherd slipped the Jade Bracelet from her own wrist onto Faye’s.
[Jade Bracelet: charm +1]
“It’s beautiful. Thank you, Madam.”
Seeing that her happiness was genuine, Mrs. Shepherd smiled and said, “What a good child.”
[Praise received from the three masters of Shepherd Manor. Task progress: 3/3. Task 3 completed. The player may leave the Dungeon at any time.]
Faye Yardley was even happier now. ‘Oh my god, completing this quest was as easy as pie. The ability to leave the Dungeon at any time gives me the confidence I need to keep exploring.’
The newly-wed concubine was expected to serve tea to the lady of the house, so they all waited in Mrs. Shepherd’s quarters for the new bride to arrive.
A handsome, refined middle-aged man in red robes strode into the main hall with a smile. Behind him was a beautiful young woman in a pale pink wedding dress.
Having her suspicions about who they were, Faye Yardley looked from the middle-aged man to Mrs. Shepherd and back. ‘I have to say,’ she thought, ‘the husband and wife almost look like mother and son.’
The middle-aged man came in and sat directly in the seat of honor, then called out gently to Mrs. Shepherd, “Dear.”
His gaze then fell upon Melisande and Faye Yardley, completely skipping over his son, Mr. Shepherd.
His eyes lingered on Faye Yardley’s face for two or three seconds before landing squarely on Melisande. Shock and ecstasy appeared on his face at the same time. “Melisande? It’s Melisande.”
“Father, it’s me.”
The beautiful concubine entered and stood in the middle of the room, her gaze repeatedly darting toward Mr. Shepherd, who was seated on the left. A mixture of guilt, fear, and sorrow churned within her.
“Good, good, good! Truly worthy of being my daughter.” Master Shepherd’s happiness was clearly abnormal.
In any case, Mrs. Shepherd’s expression was not pleasant, while Melisande, on the other hand, was overjoyed.