The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 194 Ch.193 Golden Island
Regarding the recent change in the judge's dress style, the other executors simply attributed it to Enid Jutia's eccentric habits - this is normal, and every ritualist who has set out on the road and gone further and further understands:

The distortion of the soul will be reflected in the character.

And Enid Jutia is an Eighth Ring Ritualist, the pinnacle of the Inquisition.

It's okay for her to be a little 'weird' now and then.

Almost even Fernandez thought so.

Except Roland.

Recently, a large mirror was placed in Enid's office: it was just above the fireplace, with a light silver pattern running through it.

In addition, the usually plain room has a huge wardrobe, a new wardrobe that doesn't look cheap. The exposed wooden boards are carved with patterns of flowers and vines, the paint is dark brown, and the handles are made of silver metal. I don't know if it's real silver.

Next…

It was Enid herself.

This serious judge, who has hardly worn anything other than black and purple for many years, has recently started to try wearing other brightly colored clothes:
For example, a silky bright yellow lace dress, a light blue one-piece skirt, a velvet bonnet, and silk gloves and socks that make the hands and feet vaguely visible.

Including red, tweed slippers that make the snow on the feet look even more stunning, and even something unconventional and only used by indecent women... lipstick.

Roland knew that this had nothing to do with the 'road' because -

"Because you are like that too."

…Um.

Roland had been dressing like a big businessman lately, ready to negotiate with the Queen and buy half the country.

Silver brooch, ironed suit, shiny button boots, rarely used black lacquered cane that Enid originally gave him, silk top hat - the only thing that was sloppy today was because he had to train with Fernandez.

otherwise.

"Otherwise, every day will be like a wedding."

"You two don't need to put pressure on each other, really."
-
I respect Enid, and Enid respects me.

"Replace 'respect' with 'seduce' and it would make sense."

Anyway, according to Wrench, it was just two "idiots" in love who "hadn't confirmed their relationship" but "had a tacit understanding" and were flirting in a way that they understood each other.

Roland was quite happy.

Compared to his own 'boring and dull' suits, he could see a 'brand new' Enid almost every time he came.

Feeling great.
-
I like Enid in house dresses, or street clothes. I now understand what Randolph meant by 'the sculptor's art'.

"How dare you say something so shameless and vulgar?"
-
You taught well.

"That's true."

Roland knocked twice, and after getting permission, he pushed the door open and walked in.

Enid wore a cream house dress today, cinched at the waist - it made her look fuller and smoother.

Especially when Roland came in, she was bending over to light an old oil lamp.

This movement of turning his back to the door made Roland immediately take back the greeting he was about to say. He quickly closed the door with his backhand and stood there quietly waiting for her to "finish".

"I didn't know Fernandez would keep you that long, Roland."

She didn't have her hair tied up, and her brown hair fell on both sides of her cheeks, covering her ears and part of her face; the hem of her skirt was very high, so her translucent silk stockings and soft white tweed shoes could be seen.

The firelight reflected the blush on her face, and her focused and passionate eyes were fixed on Roland.

"Good evening, Roland."

"Good evening, Enid."

…………

……

I don’t know when it started, but the two of them no longer sat opposite each other - the sofa in the presiding judge’s office was particularly soft and sticky.

Roland was trapped inside, letting the tall, mature woman rustle back and forth on the carpet: she took off his hat and put away his cane. She also took the kettle from the small stove and brewed hot tea. She put the prepared tableware in place and turned the double-layered dinner plate so that Roland could more easily take the freshly baked cakes.

——This awkward feeling of reaping the benefits without any effort is mixed with a sense of relief that is hard to explain.

Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

Enid put the teapot down and tucked her loose hair behind her ears, but said nothing.

The gentle light, the occasional popping sparks from the fireplace, and the rising white mist.

Roland liked this atmosphere where it was so quiet that they could hear each other's breathing.

They often sat like this, eating and drinking, without speaking for half an hour.

"…You should hire a maid, Roland."

Enid was the first to break the silence.

She noticed some unironed wrinkles on Roland's collar and pushed them with her fingers. "At least hire a cleaning lady."

She was referring to the lowly cleaning maid.

Five to seven shillings a week, only a dozen pounds a year - but this can save Roland a lot of trouble in ironing, and he doesn't have to have his good mood ruined by his old uncle who doesn't know how to take care of people.

Enid asked Roland if three pounds a week was enough, but Roland asked in return when the money for the last mask purchase was deducted from his weekly salary.

Then Enid started talking about the weather.

Talk about the weather in the evening.

"I came to you today to talk about roads and ring upgrades."

Enid smoothly skipped over the subject of the pound, and without haste, she released her hands, pulling her skirt back tighter—which made the thin fabric fit more snugly.

Coincidentally.

Roland couldn't stare at a certain place and ignore other places like a normal "not blind" person.

Because there are always troublemakers in sight who deliberately use white flames to outline some not-so-decent pictures.

He could only try to ignore it and keep his eyes polite.

"I think Fernandez told you that most ritualists rely on sects, or similar organizations. They draw nourishment from these organizations - including the ring-raising rituals, strange objects, great arts, invisible arts, knowledge about the road or the mysterious world..."

Enid stared at Roland.

She had already wrapped herself in a thin layer of "secret", but she didn't notice that someone was "looking at" her with the same power.

This made the presiding judge a little unhappy.

"But not all ritualists are willing to join the sect and be bound by it." She sighed and 'casually' pulled her skirt to make it tighter back.

"It's, 'Wanderer', right?"

Roland asked.

He really couldn't stand the ghost thing that kept drawing "circles" and "arcs" for him in his sight, so he subconsciously moved his eyeballs and took a look.

Enid's mood improved a lot.

"Yes, 'Wanderers'," she said, "Just like the candles that Fernandez gave to you and Shandel - small secret meetings. Wanderers, those ritualists without sects and organizations, also have their own place similar to 'secret meetings' to exchange knowledge and necessary information."

"In the beginning, it was indeed only the 'wanderers' who went there."

But gradually, due to the special nature of the location, ritualists from many sects joined in.

It's no longer just a place for wanderers.

"Gold Island."

Enid said.

“Also called the City of Gems.”

(End of this chapter)