Who are you?
Why do you hold my sleeve?
Annan frowned slightly and shifted his gaze over.
She appeared to be 15 years old. Perhaps it was because the girl’s puberty period was relatively early, she was a little bit taller than Annan.
Annan looked at this girl, who was almost the same height.
The first thing that caught his eye was the beret strapped diagonally on her head. Then, there was the black gothic dress.
But when he noticed the girl’s pupils, Annan was startled for a moment.
She had translucent eyes, coupled with the fair skin that had seemingly not seen the sun all year round.
Why does she feel so similar to me?
“Can you please let go?” said Annan politely.
Hearing what he said, Kafni loosened his sleeves obediently.
But she didn’t back off or get angry. Instead, she just continued to stare at Annan intently. The bright red crystal-like pupils made Annan feel a little uncomfortable.
This was unlike the amazement when one saw attractive opposite sex, nor was it the girl’s admiration at the idol, nor even the worship when the priest looked at the divine statue.
It was closer to the look in the eyes of a painter when she admired a famous painting.
But, Annan didn’t have the slightest fear in his heart.
He looked at this girl who gave him a sense of danger with interest and asked softly, “Who are you?”
“Kafni. Kafni Noah.” It was not Kafni who replied but her father, Albert.
Salvatore was a little confused on the side.
Your Highness?
Why?
“Wait.” Salvatore asked Annan in a low volume, “I don’t quite understand.”
He didn’t call the name “Don Juan” directly.
Because he was worried that if Annan wasn’t Don Juan Geraint, then speaking that name here might make Prince Albert suspect that Annan was a spy infiltrating the kingdom.
After looking at Annan and seeing Annan nodding lightly, the fat and bald man with brilliant golden teeth spoke for Annan.
He respectfully introduced to the other three people present, “This is the youngest son of Austere Winter’s Grand Duke—Annan Austere-Winter.”
“Are you a Grand Duke’s son?”
After a short silence, Salvatore asked suspiciously, “Then why did you visit the Freezing Water Port?”
I also want to know about this. Annan muttered in his heart.
Annan was also surprised by Salvatore’s calmness, “Senior, why do you seem not surprised?”
Won’t he be angry that I deceived him?
Salvatore only glanced at Annan bafflingly, “The person I’m getting to know is you, not Don Juan Geraint.
“Furthermore, Don Juan’s reputation is terrible. I have already heard from the teacher that Don Juan, the youngest son of Count Crow, is a cowardly person, unlike the Old Crow’s decisive character.
“He isn’t like a nobleman or even a scholar… but like a child. His only strengths are obedient, well-behaved, and knowledgeable. But apart from that, he is a coward. As long as there is a little probability of failure, he dares not act alone. He doesn’t even dare to quarrel with others and question the decisions of others.”
Having said this, Salvatore glanced at Annan with a complicated complexion, “This matter is universally known in the kingdom’s aristocratic circle. So when you first came to the Freezing Water Port, I put up an ugly face.”
For a nobleman, “obedience” wasn’t a strength.
On the contrary, “lack of temper” could even be called a shortcoming. Coupled with the epic prefix of “not independently-minded,” unless Benjamin can prepare him a “Chu Shi Biao [1].” Otherwise, he will only cause more trouble if he comes to the Freezing Water Port.
“So, did you know from the beginning that I’m not Don Juan Geraint?” Annan was a little surprised. He didn’t even notice that Salvatore had doubts about his declared identity.
Salvatore just shook his head, “Who you are does not make much difference to me?”
He repeated it, “The person I get to know is you, but not Don Juan Geraint. You have protected the people of Freezing Water Port and the reputation of the Gerant family. You also helped me defeat my old enemy and helped me finish my mission. Even if there is the real Don Juan, he can’t do more than you.
“Of course, I’m still a little displeased with the fact that you lied to me. But considering that you aren’t a villain, and you don’t want to use my trust to obtain something, then there must be a valid reason behind it.”
Salvatore had a calm tone.
There was no anger, no surprises. It was a casual talk as if explaining the facts.
Salvatore even looked a little happy, as if he was relieved.
“It’s better to have you not from the crow family.”
Salvatore said emotionally, “I was still hesitating to use the power of Swamp’s Black Tower to help the crow family. If I help you, I will feel guilty for the teachers I dragged down into the mess. But, if I see you in trouble and I don’t help you, I feel uneasy.
“Since you belong to the White Wolf family, then this is the best situation.”
The Austere-Winter’s Grand Duke wouldn’t need the Swamp’s Black Tower aid.
No matter what happened, the Black Tower couldn’t send aid either. Having many Transcended entering the Austere-Winter Dukedom through the underground tunnel would be regarded as the declaration of war.
If Annan borrowed the power of other countries, even if it were only used to suppress the rebellion, it would only usher in a tremendous wave of public displease and mockery.
Moreover…
Salvatore looked at Annan weirdly.
He initially regarded Annan as a protagonist-type friend who “brings trouble at all times.”
But he didn’t expect Annan to be a big shot.
The youngest son of Austere-Winter’s Grand Duke. Doesn’t that mean that he is most likely the future Austere-Winter’s Grand Duke?
The Grand Duke position was much nobler than the black tower master.
Annan was also a little confused.
This Salvatore…
Isn’t he a bit too kind?
Even if it was Annan himself, and if a good friend deceived him, he would complain for a few days, guilt-trip the friend to treat him for a few meals, and get some unique gifts.
He never expected this matter to be over so easily.
Annan’s original plan was to use the “royal heir excuse” to tell Salvatore his true identity and eliminate this time bomb. Then, he would utilize the common enemy “the Rotten Man Church” to tie Salvatore and him together on the ship, lest Salvatore would leave directly. Finally, he would defeat the enemy with Salvatore and use the identity of “Annan Austere-Winter” to establish a new friendship with him.
After all, Annan hadn’t brought harm to him and even helped him defeat Gerald and acquire the hammer.
But a lie was still a lie in the end.
Annan knew in his heart that lying was wrong. That was why he tried to make up for the relationship between the two because Annan realized that Salvatore’s character was great.
He planned it all well.
But he just didn’t expect Salvatore to play his cards differently.
“Are all the wizards so open-minded?” Albert on the side roughly sorted out the information in Salvatore’s words, looking at the young wizard with messy hair a little weird.
Salvatore’s words did sound reasonable.
Still, it was unusual to have someone be so rationally “reasonable” on matters that were so personal.
Albert paused before asking Annan again, “But, Your Royal Highness, why are you here? If I get news of your entry, my father should send my eldest sister or me to welcome you.”
Albert’s words were polite.
But Annan sensed a touch of vigilance and probing between the lines.
Annan was not surprised but rejoiced. I’m more adapted to this pattern and manner!
“I brought my guards across the Black Sea to your country because I have a mission,” said Annan in a deep voice.
Facing Albert’s suspicion, he began to make up a story without psychological pressure.
Annan frowned slightly, showing signs of seriousness.
He asked softly, “Your Royal Highness Albert…
“Have you heard of the name Rotten Man?”
[1] In summary, it’s a guidebook to a useless heir of a kingdom. The expression is to depict as a quick-fix to those incapable heirs.