In the end, I’m still returning to this place.
Walking into the familiar yet unfamiliar Grand Duke’s Residence again, Celecia was in a trance for a moment.
Everything was the same as before.
The courtyard was bustling with people, as nobles, ministers, and local officials reporting on their work constantly entered the main building. They were somewhat curious about the beautiful Celecia but didn’t inquire much… After all, the cold air of the winter helped people stay composed.
Celecia, led by a Winter’s Hand, proceeded through a narrow door to the side, along with Longjing Tea, who was wearing a thick wizard’s robe.
This was a narrow corridor, allowing at most two people to walk side by side. On both sides were metal reliefs depicting scenes of warfare. It was specifically constructed for defensive purposes in case of emergencies, and to defend against external threats.
Celecia still remembers that in this passage was a famous relief called “Unyielding Fort”. It depicted the classic battle with dwarves and giants besieging the Sentinel Fortress. It was painted by the Paper Princess and was delivered here in person.
However, Old Grandmother did not accept the painting in person.
After the Paper Princess left, the Old Grandmother sent someone to make it into a metal relief. It could switch between two modes through mechanisms within the Grand Duke’s Residence — to continuously reduce the physical strength of enemy soldiers in the corridor, or to continuously heal the wounds of their soldiers in the corridor.
And it also had a warning function.
It operated on a whitelist basis — it would sound the alarm immediately unless designated personnel entered.
This was why only the two of them came to this place.
Celecia remembered these.
The teacher mentioned it to her back then…
If one day, enemies attacked the Austere-Winter’s Grand Duke’s mansion, attempting an assassination.
At that time, the mission of Winter’s Hand was to block this alley with their lives, buying precious time.
…He had said such things.
Yet, when the teacher defected, he was so resolute…
It was precisely because Celecia couldn’t figure out what her teacher really wanted to do that she ended up being “captured” by the players in this almost “gifted” manner.
She did have something to ask and say.
“This is the garden.” Longjing Tea introduced the place to her, “His Majesty will exercise here every day.”
“Ah… I remember.” Celecia replied subconsciously.
…You remember?
Longjing Tea looked at her in surprise, thoughtfully.
Speaking of which, Celecia seems to be from the Winter’s Hand…
In what could hardly be described as a spacious courtyard, tall trees with lush green leaves even in the depths of winter were planted. In the center of the courtyard was a continuously gushing small fountain. In terms of the Grand Duke’s estate’s standards, it could be considered quite small.
However, that was the Austere-Winter style.
Due to the presence of the “small barrier,” the effective residential and plantation areas had significantly reduced. The Austerians had long grown accustomed to a rather intensive lifestyle. Austere-Winter was perennially impoverished with scarce resources. Even the grandest nobility couldn’t match common merchants’ dietary and lifestyle standards in other countries.
Resources were limited, land was limited, and population was limited.
Even Austere-Winter’s Grand Duke could not waste resources.
The reason why the Grand Duke’s Residence still appeared to have the scale of a street from the outside was because the Grand Duke’s Residence itself also served as a government office building — Winter’s Hands members also work in the Grand Duke’s Residence.
The actual living space of the Austere-Winter family was even smaller than that of Viscount Ostoff, who lived on the mountaintop.
The fountain extended out in white traces to the east, west, south, and north, dividing the ground into four rectangular sections.
In the past, Annan and Dmitri would practice the Frost Sword in the northeast corner.
Celecia remembered it vividly.
Because only this location allowed for a clear and unobstructed view from the rooms — Grand Duke Ivan’s health wasn’t great, and he couldn’t be exposed to cold winds.
He only taught Annan the Frost Sword once or twice, and each time was a life-threatening endeavor. On regular days, he would watch Dmitri teaching his younger brother swordsmanship through the window. Sometimes, Maria would also secretly peek at Annan from her room on the second floor.
She remembered those scenes vividly.
—Those were also her childhood too.
She took a deep breath and walked into the room.
Longjing Tea followed her into the room. The Winter’s Hand who led them in immediately closed the door.
His authority was not enough to enter the house.
…Just like Celecia back then.
“Long time no see… Celecia.” Annan sat on the sofa, holding a steaming cup of tea. He looked at her with a smile and nodded gently to Longjing Tea.
He didn’t resemble his father, Ivan, who always wore that same long cloak for years without changing it.
His attire was somewhat… modern…
Annan wore a fitted, sleeveless gray shirt inside, which wasn’t much different from Grand Duke Ivan. However, he didn’t properly wear a coat over it. Instead, he had a white fur cloak with a hood that had fur lining.
However, in Celecia’s eyes, this cloak might have been due to the designer’s unique preference, and it appeared somewhat skewed — it not only had sleeves but also only had sleeves on one side.
It was draped over his head, with the fur covering his right arm, neck, and chest but leaving his entire left shoulder and arm exposed.
Annan’s left arm was covered with a deep gray knitted arm sleeve, extending from the upper arm all the way to cover half of the back of the hand. Only his left shoulder was exposed, with the dark golden, interlocking circular rune on it pulsating with an uncertain, breathing light.
Annan’s silver-white hair flowed freely down his back, with the ends appearing as if they were cut by a blade, exceptionally sharp at the tips. Combined with his peculiar and asymmetric attire, His Majesty’s petite frame exuded an irresistible and unforgettable enchanting allure.
However, Celecia didn’t dare to look at Annan for too long.
Behind Annan, a gray-eyed beauty with long dark blue wavy hair and a gentle temperament smiled sweetly. Her fingers lightly touched, resting in front of her abdomen, in perfect silence.
Celecia felt that the beauty didn’t look at her.
But there was a bone-piercing sense of insight that faintly emanated from the void — she had already been completely locked onto by this “ten-finger’s” perception.
“I haven’t seen you for a few days, Your Majesty… Annan.” Celecia paused, then lowered her head and spoke softly.
“Please have a seat.” Annan extended his left hand, gesturing toward the sofa before him. “Sit here… Zoya made some milk tea for me, and here are some snacks. I wasn’t sure how much sugar you like, so I didn’t have her add any… Sugar is here, honey is here.”
“You must be cold coming in from outside, right? Longjing tea? Please, have a seat too—it’s not anything overly serious; we can talk while enjoying our snacks.” Annan smiled gently.
As Annan spoke, he placed his elbows on the armrests of the sofa, lightly tapping the tips of his fingers, and placing them on his chest.
The deep gray and pure white cuffs intertwined in front of Annan, creating a rather three-dimensional triangular effect.
“Celecia, you used to be Winter’s Hand. You have also served me and Austere-Winter.”
“I don’t wish to detain you; our relationship shouldn’t have come to this point. It’s not dignified for both you and me, and it’s not friendly to you, who came here trusting me… The only ones who might find this a cause for celebration are the nobles waiting for the outcome of this negotiation.”
“I hope that we can solve this problem in this room. Best of all, we can give the other party a satisfactory answer before this pot of tea is finished.”
With that, Annan got up and personally poured a steaming cup of milk tea for Celecia and Longjing Tea.
When Annan sat down again, he extended his right hand and grasped the three-color scepter standing next to the sofa.
Annan’s presence exuded a different air.
Not even to the extent of a monarch. From that incredibly captivating charisma… he became as majestic as a deity.
“So, first question.”
There was no waiting for Celecia to reply.
Annan asked directly.
He looked at Celecia seriously.
“Are you loyal to the Grand Duke?”
At that moment, Celecia’s pupils suddenly shrank!
In her eyes…
That moment…
—The image of Annan and Vladmir overlapped.
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