Eventually...... Still came here.

Re-entering the familiar and unfamiliar Grand Duke's Mansion, Celicia was in a trance for a moment.

Everything is exactly the same as before.

The courtyard was full of people, and nobles, ministers, and local officials who came to report their work came in and walked into the main building. They were a little curious about the beautiful Celisia, but they didn't ask much...... The cold winter air helps people stay calm.

And Celicia, led by a Winter Hand, went to the narrow gate on one side with Longjing Tea, who was dressed in heavy wizard robes.

It's a narrow hallway, and at most two people can walk side by side. On both sides are metal reliefs depicting scenes of war—specially built to protect against contingencies, and to defend against foreign enemies.

Celicia remembers that the relief on this passage is a famous painting called "The Fortified City Does Not Fall". Above is the classic battle of the Dwarves and Giants besieging the Overwatch Fortress...... It was painted by a paper hime and delivered here in person.

But the old grandmother did not accept the painting in person.

After the paper queen left, the old grandmother sent someone to make it into a metal relief. It can switch between two states through the mechanism in the Grand Duke's Mansion - causing the enemy soldiers in the corridor to continuously reduce their physical strength, or to constantly heal the wounds of your own soldiers in the corridor.

And it also has an early warning function.

It operates on a whitelist basis – unless a designated person enters, the police will be called as soon as possible.

That's why only the two of them are here.

These are all well remembered by Silicia.

The teacher mentioned it to her back then......

If one day, an enemy attacks the Mansion of the Grand Duke of Winter and tries to assassinate him.

At that time, the mission of these winter hands is to buy time by plugging this alley with their lives.

…… Obviously, he can say such a thing.

But the teacher defected back then, but he was so resolute......

It is precisely because she is not sure what the teacher wants to do that Celicia will be directly "captured" by the players in this almost free way.

She does have something to ask and something to say.

"It's just a little garden."

Si secretly introduced to her: "Your Majesty will exercise here every day. ”

"Ah...... I remember. ”

Celicia replied subconsciously.

…… Do you remember?

Si Darken glanced at her in some surprise and thoughtfulness.

Speaking of which, it seems that Celicia was born in the Hand of Winter......

In the courtyard, which is not empty, there are tall trees with dense green leaves even in the cold winter. In the middle of the courtyard is a small fountain that gushes constantly. In terms of the specifications of the Grand Duke's Mansion, it can be said that it is too small.

But that's the winter style.

Because of the existence of the "small barrier", the effective living and cultivating area has been greatly reduced. The people of Rindong have long been accustomed to a rather intensive lifestyle, and Rindong is perennially poor and has few resources, even the great nobles are not even as good as ordinary merchants in other countries in terms of food and drink.

Limited resources, limited land, limited population.

Even the Grand Duke of Winter can't be wasted.

The reason why the Grand Duke's Mansion still has the size of a street from the outside is because the Grand Duke's Mansion itself also functions as a government office building - the Winter Hands work in the Grand Duke's Mansion.

The actual living area of the Rindong family is much smaller than even that of Viscount Ostov on the top of the mountain.

The fountain extends east, west, north, and south with a white trail that divides the ground into four rectangles.

In the past, Annan and Dmitry would practice frost swordsmanship in that position in the northeast corner.

Celicia remembers it clearly.

Because only this position can be seen clearly from the room - Grand Duke Ivan is not in good health and usually cannot blow the wind.

He had only taught Annan the Frost Sword Technique once or twice, and each time he could be said to have risked his life. On weekdays, he would watch Dmitry teach his younger brother swordsmanship through the window in the house...... Sometimes, Maria would sneak a peek at Annan from her own house rate on the second floor.

She remembers it clearly.

– because this was also her childhood.

She took a deep breath and walked into the room.

Ryujingcha followed her into the room—the hand of winter who had brought them in immediately closed the door.

He didn't have enough access to the house.

…… It's the same as in Celicia.

"Long time no see...... Selicia. ”

Annan sat on the sofa, holding a steaming teaglass, looked at her with a smile, and nodded lightly at Longjing tea.

He didn't always wear the long cloak that he didn't change every few years, like his father Ivan did—

He's dressed too ...... Avant-garde?

Annan wore a slim sleeveless gray shirt, which was no different from Grand Duke Ivan. But he didn't wear a coat properly, but a pure white fur cloak with fluff.

But in Celicia's view, the cape was perhaps too slanted because of the designer's special preference – it not only had sleeves, but only one side had a sleeve.

It is placed on the head, and the fluff covers the right arm, neck, and chest, but exposes the entire left shoulder, along with the left arm.

Annan's left arm was covered with a dark gray wool sleeve, which went down from his big arm and covered half of the back of his hand. Annan only had his left shoulder exposed...... The dark gold rune, with two intertwined rings, was breathing uncertainly.

Annan's silvery-white hair was draped all the way to his back—the end was unusually sharp as if it had been cut by a blade. Combined with his strange dress full of asymmetry, His Majesty's young body was filled with a demonic charm that could not be forgotten at the sight of the previous one.

But Celicia didn't dare to look at it for long.

Behind Annan, a gray-eyed beauty with long dark blue wavy hair and a gentle temperament smiled lightly, touched the ten fingers of her hands lightly, placed it in front of her lower abdomen, and said nothing quietly.

Celicia could feel that she didn't look at herself.

But there was a faint sense of insight in the void—she had been completely locked by the perception of this "Ten Fingers".

"It's just been a few days, Annan...... Your Majesty. ”

Celicia paused before lowering her head and whispering.

"Sit down," Annan stretched out his left hand, waved his hand in front of him, and gestured to the sofa opposite him, "Sit here...... Zhuoya made me some milk tea and some snacks. I don't know how much sugar you like to add, so I just didn't ask her to add it to you...... The sugar is here, the honey is here.

"It's cold from outside, aren't you? Longjing tea, you also sit - it's not a particularly serious matter, let's talk while eating. ”

He smiled softly.

As he spoke, he rested his elbows on the armrests of the couch and placed the tips of his ten fingers lightly on his chest.

The dark gray and pure white cuffs are intertwined in front of Annan, forming a rather three-dimensional triangle.

"Celicia, you used to be the Hand of Winter. You have served me and winter.

"I don't want to imprison you, our relationship shouldn't have developed to this point. It's not decent for you to be for me, and it's not kind to you for trusting me to come here...... It was also a happy event for the nobles who were waiting for the outcome of this negotiation.

"I hope we can solve this problem in this room. The best words can give the other party a satisfactory answer before this pot of tea is finished. ”

Annan said, got up and personally poured a cup of hot milk tea for Celicia and Longjing tea.

When he sat down again, he stretched out his right hand and grasped the tricolored scepter standing next to the couch.

His temperament changed suddenly.

Not even to the extent of a monarch.

From that very attractive magic...... Become majestic as a god.

"So, first question."

There was no waiting for a reply from Celicia.

Annan asked directly.

He stared straight at Celicia sternly.

"—Are you loyal to the Grand Duke?"

At that moment, Celicia's pupils suddenly narrowed!

In her eyes......

This moment.

- The image of Annan and Vladimir completely coincided.

Chapter 2, updated!

I wrote another 140,000 words this month, and I kept my full attendance!!

Ask for tickets at the end of the month and the beginning of the month!! Everyone, please give the ticket at the end of the month and the guaranteed monthly pass at the beginning of the month to the cat——

(End of chapter)