It was already dusk the next day. Elsewhere it's late autumn, but here it's still as cold as winter. Lu Xi walked on the path of the back garden of the "Ziyuan Orphanage", looking at the gray sky where no clouds could be recognized, and the slightly trembling sunset hanging at the farthest end of the sky, and took a heavy breath. The cold air flow entered the body along the nasal cavity and throat, and the heart, liver, spleen, and lungs seemed to be frozen at that moment.

There seemed to be a little bit of scarlet color in the distant western sky, which should be the last photo of the disappearing sunset, but the people walking on the ground could not feel the slightest bit of the temperature from the sun.

"It's hellish weather!" Lu Xi sighed with emotion and quickened his pace.

At the end of the path is a three-storey villa, which is the residence of Karin, the director, in the "orphanage". Standing guard nearby was no longer the rookie knights who had graduated from the "orphanage", but the group of strong veterans brought by Count Rickard with a strong face and a fierce face.

Seeing Lu Xidi approaching, the two guards in armor and swords guarding the door bowed their heads and saluted, and one of them opened the door for Lu Xi very considerately. The movements are well-refined and do not appear flattering, at first glance, they are well-trained aristocratic attendants, not only after long-term martial arts training, but also must have received a perfect etiquette education, wearing armor to go to the battlefield, and changing into a tuxedo can directly go to dinner parties and balls as a deacon.

Although the newcomers didn't know Lu Xi, their eyes were full of energy, and they could guess one or two by looking at the intimate movements and demeanor of the other party and Karin, so naturally they would not dare to stop them. Maybe it won't be long before this beauty with red lips and white teeth. Ah no, this handsome Mr. Magician will be under one person for the entire empire. The noble existence above tens of thousands of people, it is also good to be decent now to make a good impression.

Lu Xi bowed back to the two deacons and guards. Walked into the villa. In the hall of the villa, the goddess Claire in a blue robe, the Count of Rickard in civilian clothes, and the two female knights, Serbellia and Onia, were now sitting in front of the fireplace, silent. The melancholy turned into ominous cold air that lingered in the living room, and the fiery red pine wood roasted in the fireplace could not dispel the cold.

Looking at such a scene, Lu Xi didn't know whether he should sigh with them or roar like an angry head of state. Either way, something has to be done.

"Karin is still like that? Won't come out of your room? Lu Xi asked.

“…… Master Berencaster, you're here. Serbellia raised her head, and in the red eyes of this awe-inspiring iceberg-like knight royal sister, Lu Xi even saw a flicker of help.

"Yes, it's still like that." Earl Rickard sat on the leather and velvet sofa and sighed sadly: "Seeing Her Highness's decisive and vigorous slaughter in the playing days, it seems that nothing can difficult her. Can't take away the look of her smile. I really can't imagine that she would be so vulnerable. ”

Karin is human after all. When her father, Crown Prince Dirios, died, she was raised by the "Sun King". Her Royal Highness, the proud world's No. 1 princess, has a close relationship with her two uncles, and one of them has reached the point of fighting each other. As for the young cousins, they may also be classified by her as "stupid mortals" and "stupid fools". Then, the "Sun King" who has just left is probably the only relative in Karin's heart. Lu Xi secretly felt heartache. Not only for the loss of a loved one who is in pain, but also for yourself. He remembered his two meetings with the emperor. Although it was only two meetings, the bold and generous old man left a deep impression on himself.

Or rather. As long as there is no conflict of position and interest, normal people should like the majestic and heroic fat old man very much.

No matter how great a person is, can't he resist the power of time?

The "Sun King" passed away ten days ago, that is, when Lu Xi and the others were just about to take people into the Jingxi Cave to explore the treasure. At that time, Karin secretly ordered her remaining knights and cadets to prepare for an anti-ambush; At that time, Count Rickard was negotiating a "business" with the dwarves in the furnace castle not far south of the Crystal Creek Valley, and after receiving a message from his brother with a messenger crystal, he rushed to the orphanage day and night; At that time, Karin's infant nanny and nun, Goddess Claire, was on her way home with her apprentice in magic and a group of trainees who had gone out to train.

Then, when everyone came out of the cave with a good harvest and the ambition to "conquer" Gudeteas, they got such bad news.

In life, sure enough, what he meows is chocolate......

"What about three meals? She didn't eat at all? ”

"Onia has sent a few dishes, but they have all been politely refused, and I have tried to persuade them a few times, but she just said in the door that she has no appetite for the time being." The goddess's face was full of worry and sadness, and she said helplessly in a tired tone: "I heard her tone actually very calm, but the more this happens, the more worried I become!" ”

Lu Xi was silent for half a minute, took off his robe, and rolled up his sleeves: "Miss Onia, where is the kitchen?" ”

"Huh? Master, you? Karin's personal maid and knight of the guard quickly stood up and asked suspiciously.

"I'm going to cook dinner and make her something appetizing and refreshing. Miss Onia, please come and help. Also, Miss Selbelia, please help me get a box of dragon's claw grass seeds and some lean meat, preferably narwhal meat with a high oil content, from the storeroom. Lu Xi commanded Karin's female knights in a natural tone.

In this world, there are no crops such as zài rice, at least Lu Xi has not found it yet, but he has found a plant commonly known as the dragon claw flower, which is named after the five petals that are slender like dragon claws when they bloom. Normally, chefs use the fragrant grass seeds as a seasoning, but after tasting them, Lu Xi felt that as long as the seeds were steamed or cooked, the plant-like floral and grassy aroma would turn into a fresh and natural rice aroma, a fragrance that only the best rice could exude.

It's a pity. The yield of dragon claw flowers is not high, and it is not known how to grow them artificially. Their grass seeds are naturally one of the high-end seasonings. Anyway, Lu Xi has not lived a happy life of having rice to eat every day, so he can only occasionally open the "meat" extravagantly.

Lu Xi made a cameo appearance with grass seeds. Whwhalal meat is then cut into thin slices with a taste similar to beef but with a higher protein content. He beat two more eggs, cut some vegetables, and boiled a pot of beef porridge. The fragrance soon wafted out of the kitchen and spread to every corner of the house. Lu Xi heard some swallowing sounds in the living room, and he could also be sure that Karin in the upstairs bedroom must have also smelled the smell.

Lu Xi made a plate of side dishes with easy-to-digest fish and meat, put it in a large tray with the porridge pot, and went upstairs with it. Arrived in front of Karin's room.

"Open the door. Otherwise, I'll pour all these things in front of your room. Lu Xi said.

There was a faint sigh in the room, followed by a long silence. Just as Lu Xi began to wonder if he was really going to throw the plate, the house opened.

Lu Xi originally thought that what he saw would be a decadent version of Karin with split hair, a withered face, black eyes, and red eyes, but Her Royal Highness, the world's first princess, who came into view, only had a pale face, and there was a trace of fatigue in her eyes. There's a good chance she didn't even shed tears.

"At times like these. I want to be willful, isn't that okay? Her voice was also very calm, with a hint of resentment at best.

"It's okay for you to be willful, but there's no need to use dieting to make everyone scared! Karin is Karin's. But Katarina? Xia Noxi? Sanskrit? Dimahia is not just his own, this truth, you should understand? ”

"So. What do you think I'm doing in my room? Karin asked, tilting her head.

Lu Xi realized that the room was full of books and scrolls at some point. I don't know when the large map in the study was posted on the wall here. The entire map is already marked with red and blue lines and signs, except for Auckland itself. The rest of the countries and forces were also marked with black pens in various small prints.

"Things have come to this point, and I have to think the worst in the first place." Karin said word by word in an almost dead silence: "The only forces I have confirmed in my hands are the three legions of Duke Jon's Winterfell and Uncle's Northern Army, but if they all go south, we must consider the reaction of the Virgian side. Uncle Iken must have gathered a large number of gate lords and nobles at this time, and the dwarf prime minister of the Lion family may not be in line with them, but at this time, he can only stand in the camp of his sister and brother-in-law, maybe I can make some articles in this. Eagle City and Dragonkeep remain neutral for now, but even if they join the enemy's side, there is a possibility that they will defect. In addition to this, there are the small principalities on the Cape of Storm that are subject to the Empire, and the sea people on the Sea of Falling Stars, and the ......"

Lu Xi sighed heavily and put down the tray in his hand. He stepped forward and hugged Karin tightly, who was talking, and hugged him very hard.

Even though she was hugged tightly, Her Royal Highness the World's First Princess was still "excitedly" talking about her plans, but her voice became smaller and quieter, until she slowly stopped. After a long while, Lu Xi finally heard Karin's small voice, which was completely inconsistent with her old bold and sunny voice, a fragile and trembling voice: "Now, little Lu Xi, I am really a cruel and terrible woman, right?" ”

“…… I like cruel and terrible women, but such women also need to replenish their bodies, so that they can destroy the miè world! ”

“…… Can you stay and eat with me? ”

"I was supposed to do it for two."

Until the end, Karin didn't cry, and even when Lu Xi heard the almost choked shaking in her voice, and the obvious mist in her blue eyes, she still didn't cry. Even when she heard that her loved one had left, she still didn't cry, perhaps as she herself said: "What a cruel and terrible woman I am." ”

"Now, little Luxi, do you know? I didn't think the Heart of the Holy Spring would succeed. Karin leaned into Lu Xi's arms and looked out the window at the gray sky, as if to narrate something. As if he was saying to himself: "After all, this is just a secret treasure that only succeeded once a thousand years ago, if it is really that simple." The kings of the Holy Spring who were afraid of death in the past were afraid that they would have already done it. ”

“…… But you did succeed. Or rather. The royal ancestors of all dynasties, even the goddesses above the clouds, are optimistic about you, right? ”

"I'm looking for my grandfather! Because I don't think the era of the Sun King should have ended, it shouldn't have ended so early. In fact, there are still many important things that have not been completed in the grand policy of grandparents...... The princes of the empire are still going their own way, the stubborn local lords and the lawless court bureaucrats are still colluding with each other, the common people in many remote areas still seem to be living in the chaos and ignorance of the previous era, and the principalities of the stormy cape are still listening to the propaganda. The pirates supported by the city-states of Sothness still harass the Empire's coastline, and even more dangerously...... The feudal armies of those princes and lords combined, they were still several times larger than the central army. If his grandfather had left like this, his reforms would have been met with a backlash from countless conservative forces, and he and his grandmother, as well as two generations of virtuous ministers Arupashi and Master Yalt, would have wasted their life's work. So, how could the Sun King just leave? ”

After saying the above words, Karin suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly: "Actually." These are all excuses, I just don't want to face the situation alone after my grandfather left. Little Lu Xi, in fact, I am also a little woman with the bad problem of relying on others...... If the gods really protect Oakland, why not take Grandfather's life later? As long as it's half a year late. In that way, I will be able to extend the great age of the Sun King for at least another twenty years. Many problems can be solved. ”

By that time, you'll be forty years old. It is impossible not to marry, and perhaps one day will never ascend to the throne of God. Maybe that's why. The goddess sisters chose you, not the Sun King. Lu Xi thought to himself.

"When the Heart of the Holy Spring has the possibility of success. Guess what grandfather said to me? Without waiting for Lu Xi to answer, Karin imitated the old emperor's tone and said slowly: "Little Karin, even if you give me another fifty years, it is useless. At this point in me, my loved ones and friends have all passed away, and perhaps the Heart of the Holy Spring can give me another young body, but it can't exchange it for a young soul. I have been on this throne for sixty years, and I have helped many people, killed many people, changed many things, and compromised many things. The grievances of these people and things have long been entangled with my fate, and I can't solve these grievances. ”

"But if it's you, it can be solved! Karin, your grandfather, has entrusted his will to you! Lu Xi stared at Karin's eyes and said word by word.

"Now that I think about it, maybe that's true...... I willfully asked my grandfather to obtain the heart of the Holy Spring, which had the best chance of success, but he did not approve or stop me, but just watched me pack my bags. I now know that he has entrusted me with both the Empire and the Heart of the Holy Spring. Now I can understand his eyes when he left the imperial capital, at that time, my grandfather already knew that this would be an eternal farewell, right? ”

In that case, why didn't the Sun King establish Karin's throne sooner? Was it just because of the opposition of the princes and courtiers, or was it because of the fact that Karin's uncle was legally ahead of the line? When it comes to a heroic and iron-fisted king like Gaius the Great, whose prestige has no added value, still need to compromise with these bullshit things? Is it because of this that he acquiesced in Karin's "secretly" cultivating and developing his team?

Why, then, did he appoint Duke Tyrion, the most famous prince of the Empire, as the Prime Minister of the Empire at the end?

Lu Xi silently speculated on the intentions of the majestic fat old man. That one must also be in the next big game, and it was arranged before his death, and the big chess that would burst out with huge energy behind him, a big chess game that was much more far-reaching than Karin's arrangement.

…… Your heart is unpredictable! Lu Xi sighed.

At this time, he suddenly felt Karin beside him turn around, and the bumpy warm ketone body that was only wearing a thin shirt was already clinging to his upper body. She hugged herself hard and lifted her head. Immediately after, the warm touch of Sakura's lips will already fill between his lips and teeth.

"Now, don't leave tonight, stay here with me...... In the future, I will kill more people than my grandfather, change more things than him, and I will never be qualified to be willful again, so let me be willful again. My grandfather has left, and from now on, only in front of you, I am qualified to be willful. Her low, trembling voice rang low in her ears.

Lu Xi was already aware of what was about to happen, but he still felt that his brain was blank for a while, and he didn't even know what to do next. Even if you watch too many teaching films of the artists in District 11, when you really encounter actual combat, you can only be silent for a while.

It's a shame, it's a shame! Lu Xi felt a burst of fire on his face, and the boiling must be able to ignite a few pots of boiling water.

After a long while, Karin, who hadn't waited for Lu Xi's action for a long time, suddenly smiled: "Little Lu Xi, why do you, as a man, have a faster heartbeat than me as a woman?" (To be continued......)

PS: Seeing the chapter title, I want to go to the root of the wall, at this delicate moment, do you think I will really give benefits? You stupid mortals, ohhahahahaha...... All in all, Lucy-chan officially left the group and didn't give a ticket~~~