As Kafni led the way, the two did not encounter anyone stopping them.
This surprised Annan a little.
“Why is the palace so quiet?” He looked back at Kafni and asked curiously, “Is it the same as usual?”
“Of course not… and there are many more people than usual today,” whispered Kafni.
She looked a little uneasy, seemingly regretting bringing Annan over.
Typically speaking, having a stranger visiting the palace without prior notice might put the visitor into custody and interrogation. Even if Princess Kafni led the way in such an important place as the palace, Annan might still be arrested by the guards.
After all, it was Kafni and not Princess Royal Elizabeth.
Elizabeth, as the default first heir, was virtuous and prestigious. Even if she brought strangers into the palace, the guards might close their eyes to it. At the same time, many among the guards were her men.
She came from the army, after all.
Many guards were recruited from her immediate family. Many among them were promoted to officers and captains.
But, Kafni was on the opposite spectrum. Even though she vowed to be the queen, no one believed her.
It actually made sense.
After all, Kafni’s soul erosion rate was too high before she met Annan, making her mental state chaotic and unstable.
It was precisely because of this that Dream Stealer Danton failed to grasp Kafni’s heart fully. That was because even he was worried that his soul might be contaminated after stepping into the depths of Kafni’s memory.
While Kafni was not quite a demon yet, she was a lunatic.
Even the Fourth Prince occasionally felt a strong sense of fear when looking at Kafni.
Ordinary people would feel chills stinging on them, their muscles twitching, and a strong sense of vomiting because of the fear of looking at her. Those with an inferior will would pee their pants out of fear.
It felt like being targeted by some monster.
In this context, it was only natural that people feared, alienated, and even hated Kafni. The Fourth Prince was like the puppet, falling under others’ manipulation. He could not help much with Kafni’s situation. Even he was afraid of his daughter.
After staying with Annan for a long time recently, she gradually regained her sanity.
At the same time, Philip was still ruining and interfering with Kafni’s social status.
Everyone they encountered on their journey was stern without disrespectful stares. The guards on both sides had their armor and weapons polished brightly.
“I see.” Annan reacted quickly, took Kafni’s hand gently, and comforted, “Don’t panic. I have already understood the situation.”
It should be Count Nolan who had reported to Henry VIII that Annan would be visiting the palace.
After all, they had been staying at Count Geraint’s house these days. The most crucial duty of Count Geraint was to pass important information directly to Henry VIII.
Although Annan said nothing, Kafni immediately believed Annan.
She breathed a sigh of relief and calmed down, nodding slightly.
Annan’s expression was a little more serious.
If Henry VIII already knew who he was, then he was no longer Kafni’s friend to see her grandfather.
Instead, he would meet King Noah directly as the future heir of Austere-Winter Dukedom and the soon-to-be Austere-Winter’s Grand Duke.
Annan quickly calmed down, passed through the front hall, and entered the second floor of the main hall from the spiral staircase on the west side.
The first floor of the main hall was the banquet hall that Annan saw when he came to Noah when he was a child. Looking down from the second-floor handrail, Annan saw the spot where he smashed Philip’s head in the nightmare.
Of course, in the timeline of reality, Annan did not commit this deed. But that did not stop Annan from suddenly feeling excited and nostalgic when he saw that place.
It was the excitement of “Oh, I know this place.”
It was like the players of the assassin’s creed game, and it gave off the feeling of “I have been to this place” when the player went abroad to travel and visit the place. There was even a strong urge to climb the roof.
Annan followed Kafni’s lead, walking clockwise down the corridor.
The second floor of the main hall was a circular passage. It appeared that it could fit seven people to traverse side by side. Many portraits were installed on the left wall, while the railing was installed on the right. The passage extended to eight directions, with a 45 degrees gap each. From a bird’s eye view, this place resembled a brilliant sun emblem.
The core concept of the design was to have a fully armed guard standing on duty in every nineteen steps. The first guard would be stationed on the left, the next on the right, and so forth.
However, the guards did not block the entrance to the inner passages. Instead, a guard would be standing at the right railing, monitoring the entrance.
What surprised Annan the most was the salutations. Each guard would raise a fist in front of his heart and lower his head upon seeing Annan.
This was an Austerian etiquette.
If they were allowed to speak, it was possible that they would greet with respect, “Old Grandmother loves her child, my brother”.
Just watching this scene made Kafni squeeze Annan’s hand nervously.
“I have no idea about this.” She explained to Annan in a low voice.
Annan shook his head slightly, signaling her not to panic.
He understood what Kafni meant. She was saying that she had not notified Annan’s identity in advance.
But now, the situation had become clear.
The scale extended further than just Henry VIII realizing Annan’s identity. It was probable that everyone knew Annan’s presence on his first day in the capital.
Even the guards know about it. Princess Royal and Prince Philip must have known about it.
Why did Henry VIII reveal his identity?
If they were going to do something terrible to Annan, then they definitely would not reveal Annan’s identity. It was different in the malicious against Annan without “knowing” his identity and after knowing it.
Of course, what they showed on the surface about being aware of Annan’s identity might not be the fact.
It was more about the evidence showing whether they “knew” it to the outside world.
The duo bypassed the corridor on the west side. After passing three corridors, they walked toward the northernmost entrance.
As they treaded to the corridor’s end, they came to the king’s residence. Firstly, they entered the study and then entered the bedroom in the study.
After Annan and Kafni walked into Henry VIII’s study, they finally saw the king, who was “said to be dying of old age”.
But Annan was shocked after seeing the king.
Henry VIII had short black hair and dark red pupils in the hue of dried blood. He looked like a teenage Fourth Prince.
The two people were quite identical.
The king appeared too young, much younger than Annan had imagined.
The king looked like he was only in his early 40’s and 50’s. If the fact that he was the king were not pointed out, Annan would even think he was the Fourth Prince’s older brother.
Is this the person everyone thought he was going to “die of old age”?