Annan Austere-Winter?
Hearing this familiar name, Celecia’s light blue pupils shrank slightly.
Of course, she recognized this name.
But that was a long time ago…
Back then, Celecia was a young man named “Thoreau Nick” who followed “Teacher Vladmir” in Winter’s Hand. As a reserve member of Winter’s Hand, she had of course come into contact with the Grand Duke’s son.
Of course… considering her identity back then, even if she did meet Annan, they definitely weren’t close.
Even so, she could still sense the captivating [magnetic allure] of “Annan”.
Annan had an alias at the time called “the Silent One” and “the Monster That Leaves No Trace”.
He was not called the Silent One because of the favor he received from the Silent Lady — it was the opposite.
Thoreau Nick once handed young “Annan” evidence about a count’s rebellion late at night.
Even Thoreau Nick himself had not read the content.
After getting the report, Annan just sat quietly in the study, jotting down notes seriously. When he sat in the chair at the study of Grand Duke’s Residence, his feet didn’t even reach the floor.
He was so young back then.
Even Thoreau Nick, who had a fanatical “faith” in Vladmir, couldn’t help but voice his doubts.
—Can such a young child recognize all the words in this letter?
“[Can such a young child recognize all the words in this letter?] That’s what you’re thinking, right?”
Young Annan raised his head and stared at Thoreau Nick with his tired, calm, and mystical eyes.
It was an emotionless glance, like a gaze of a higher being.
“…I see, so that’s the kind of person you are.”
Those words struck Thoreau Nick like thunder.
“Winter’s Hand” was a tool that must be absolutely loyal to Austere-Winter just like how you would protect your heart with both hands — even if it meant grabbing the sharp edge of a sword or catching a dagger with the back of your hand, you couldn’t let anything get through that hurt the heart.
At that time, Thoreau Nick was overwhelmed with fear.
Young Annan’s devilish whispering did not stop there.
“So, you’re serving Vladmir instead of Austere-Winter? How interesting. I bet you want me dead right now. I’d wager your skills are way beyond others in the Winter’s Hand. Couldn’t undergo the Wolf’s Kiss ritual? Maybe that’s for the best; less of a hassle if you ever turn traitor, knowing too much.”
“Wait… wait a minute!”
The first bit sent chills down Thoreau Nick’s spine, and the next part made Thoreau Nick blurt out, “I swear I will never betray you—”
“You will.” With a more certain attitude than Thoreau Nick, Annan said calmly, “Because Vladmir will eventually betray me.”
“What?!”
“I know him better than you do. I also know you better than you know yourself. Naturally, I also know you better than him. It’s so easy to read… I can even see your future at a glance because I am on another level. I have seen stories similar to this in another history.”
Young Annan said something that didn’t make much sense, then tossed the response letter into the hands of a very confused Thoreau Nick.
“Quite a complicated riddle, right? But you’ll figure it out sooner or later.” Annan added.
After that, Annan fell silent again, turning the pages of the book without saying a word.
But at that moment, Thoreau Nick couldn’t bear to listen to another word from Annan. He practically tripped over himself in his haste to flee the study.
For him, it was no longer a human world but an abyss inhabited by monsters.
After handing Annan’s reply to Vladmir with slightly trembling hands, Thoreau Nick couldn’t help but ask, “Teacher…will you betray Grand Duke?”
He regretted it the moment he asked this question.
However, Vladmir just glanced at him and replied coolly, “Don’t tell others what you heard from His Highness Annan.”
“Then, do you mean…”
“—Of course, I will.” Vladmir calmly said something that was beyond Thoreau Nick’s understanding, “Because betrayal sometimes has its meaning.”
“The… meaning of betrayal?”
“You’re not the Grand Duke, so you can’t understand it.”
“Then you…”
“If the Grand Duke needs it, I can be the Grand Duke.”
That was an equally absurd and treacherous statement.
Vladmir ended the conversation and disappeared for two days.
Celecia didn’t fully understand Vladmir’s words at that time.
However, she still remembered…
A week had passed since that day. The count who had attempted a rebellion seemed to have vanished. By the time people noticed, they found out that everyone in the count’s mansion had committed suicide.
Everyone left a suicide note. There were no signs of anyone coming in or out of the count’s mansion, no evidence of a fight. Even using prophecy magic, no traces of spells could be detected. So, it was concluded that they had all taken their own lives.
Count’s relatives also happened to be seriously ill, bankrupt, or imprisoned for crimes.
The last person to inherit the countship was a young man from Winter’s Hand. He was Thoreau Nick’s senior brother, who also belonged to Vladmir’s faction.
When the Icebreakers army was getting established, he was one of the nobles who provided support. Later on, he and his family were naturally held accountable and were all enlisted into the Frostbeast army.
—To this day, Celecia still couldn’t figure out what happened that day.
All she knew was that it definitely had to do with whatever Annan decided and what her teacher did.
Therefore, after the teacher’s betrayal, the first thing she could do was to escape from Frostwhisper Province to a place where Annan could not find her.
Even to this day, she occasionally woke up from dreams about Annan’s gaze.
She had no fear of being caught or imprisoned. Whether she was imprisoned or executed, there was nothing to fear for her. As early as her teenage years, she had been prepared to die for her teacher.
However, if Annan were right there, merely giving her that silent stare… it would shake her to her core.
And now…
After “Elle” finished talking to Longjing Tea, she turned her head.
“Elle” clasped her hands together and smiled at Celecia with a strange yet familiar smile.
“Long time no see, do you still remember me?” She said softly, “Mr. Thoreau Nick?”
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