Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

Vina opened her eyes and looked at the Grand Dukes sitting in the Duke's seats beside her.

After you have done what can be done on the table, you have to turn the table over in time - haha, this trick still works in politics.

"Are all the MPs present?" Vina asked. She was now dressed in opulent attire. Although she disliked such clothing, she had to admit that, just like changing into convenient clothing for a fight, this luxurious attire was, in a sense, a battle robe for the political arena. And now, she was brimming with convincing force. Many people, when describing Vina, would bring up her father, the short-lived Alistair II, who was guillotined. Perhaps many people thought Alistair II was not a good monarch, but no one would deny that he possessed considerable force.

But his courage didn't make him a wise king...

So...what about his offspring, Vina?

Many people are looking forward to it, and many people are waiting to see the joke.

"Everyone is here," Daphne responded. "I now declare the fifty-second meeting of the Londinium Council officially open."

The meeting officially began, but no one was in a hurry to speak. Rather, their attention was focused on the Grand Dukes. They understood that although the Londinium Parliament had expanded the number of seats for members, even the Grand Duke was only one of the members. However, the Duke had ruled Victoria for many years, and many people were more accustomed to following these "opinion leaders". This was a kind of inertia, and people still attached too much importance to the opinions of the Grand Dukes.

Vina saw it, but she was already prepared.

The previous topics were mostly trivial matters. Although in a sense, the topics submitted here were no longer trivial, compared to what Vina had to do today... the previous ones were really just appetizers. When they reached the third topic, Daphne spoke.

"Item three on the agenda," Delphine's voice echoed through the conference room. "To review the MI6 misconduct report submitted by the Londinium Self-Defense Force."

Finally... the most critical moment had arrived, and everyone's attention was almost simultaneously focused on the Duke of Caister. After all, who actually controlled MI6 was a secret known to everyone.

The Duke of Caster tapped his silver cane three times on the ground, a signal from the old Victorian aristocracy for the floor. As she stood up, her eyes scanned all the MPs before finally settling on Vina.

"Let me remind you that MI6 provided intelligence on the Sarkaz garrison to Grand Duke Cavendish in 1094." The Duke of Caister's well-manicured fingers flipped through the gilded file. "Here is the original Kazdel telegram intercepted at that time. I understand that MI6's actions during the war were less than satisfactory, but I believe that as an intelligence organization with a long history, we shouldn't casually touch Victoria's foundations based on temporary performance. Restructuring MI6... is indeed a good idea, but we need to consider more than just empty words. We should also consider the cost of the restructuring and the degree of turmoil MI6 will face during the restructuring process."

The Duke of Caister's speech seemed quite fair to others, and he even approved of Vina's proposal, but his meaning was also very clear.

You can touch my cake, but you have to choose the right time. Now... is not a good time.

Vina raised her eyes and stared into the eyes of Duke Caister.

"You mean... MI6's performance in the previous war was merely unsatisfactory for a short time?"

"You can say that, Mr. Speaker. I've also provided my evidence," Duke Caister said with a smile. "MI6 is not completely useless. I just want to prove it."

"Very good." Vina laughed, a laugh of irritation. She stood up and suddenly slammed the heavy file record onto the oak table, instantly attracting everyone's attention. "September 17th, the time when the Sarkaz Warlocks broke through the Eastern District defenses—" Vina pulled out the red-marked combat log, "four hours and thirty-seven minutes later than the promised intelligence transmission time from MI9."

Vina stared at Duke Caister in front of her and spoke word by word.

"Do you want me to calculate how many Self-Defense Force soldiers were turned into minced meat due to this error?"

"It was just a momentary error. Anything can happen on the battlefield, and this mistake was caused by an MI6 agent who was delivering intelligence being injured while crossing the battlefield." Duke Caister remained unfazed. "I think this is just a tragic accident. MI6 agents are also on the battlefield, and they bear risks as well."

"Risk? You mean the sacrifices made by the Self-Defense Forces are not as great as... the 'risk' you're talking about?"

"Please don't act on impulse, Vina. Victoria won't be shaken by the sacrifice of a few soldiers," Duke Caister replied coldly. "You are now the Speaker of the Londinium Council, not the leader of the Exemplar Army or the Self-Defense Forces. There's no point in getting emotional here."

The confrontation between Vina and the Duke of Caister was intense from the start, but it was clear that both sides had their own strengths, so every time they started talking, they seemed to be about to quarrel directly. However, on the surface, they still maintained an atmosphere of mutual respect. However, everyone with a discerning eye knew that Vina's attempt to disband MI6 was impossible.

Not to mention that the Duke of Caster would not agree, the history of MI6 itself is enough to serve as a shield for it.

The current situation can even be seen as just a game of playing house with Vina.

However, these people probably didn't expect it.

This is exactly what Vina wants.

The so-called game is to make people misjudge. When everyone thinks that Vina wants to weaken the Duke's power and take back control of MI6, they will subconsciously ignore other intelligence, or in other words, her true purpose.

Indeed, she wanted to weaken the Duke's power, but she also understood that such things needed to be done slowly and should not be rushed. Otherwise, if Wellington could rebel against Victoria, the Duke of Caster might not be able to do so either. These dukes all had their own private soldiers. Rather than being dukes, they were more like a group of warlords, but they were still following the banner of Victoria on the surface.

So this quarrel is essentially a political show.

It is enough to let everyone know that Vina and Duke Kaster have a grudge.

Moreover, with such a commotion, MI6 will probably become nervous. We want them to be nervous and make mistakes!

Vina could hardly suppress the smile on her face. She hadn't expected everything to go so smoothly, even a little too smoothly.

It's not that Duke Kaster was careless. In fact, she received intelligence about Kjerag again a few days ago. In the intelligence, Kjerag is now very stable. Although there are some small moves, these small moves are all within the allowable range. Even Duke Kaster himself feels that if there were no small moves - privately casting weapons, actively introducing foreign capital, adjusting tariffs, and purchasing arms from Victoria, etc., etc. ... it would be more suspicious.

Since Kjerag was fine, her attention naturally returned to Victoria. She was able to temporarily ignore Kjerag's situation and focus on dealing with Vina.

Perhaps she had not expected that her most loyal agent had now completely betrayed her.

-

"I'm sorry, but we're colleagues after all. I won't let you die here." The man in the gray hat politely took off his hat to the bound colleague. "And, to prevent you from committing suicide, I have no choice but to extract your decayed tooth. I hope you can be more rational after this."

The man in the gray hat dropped the poisoned tooth he had just extracted onto the tray and wiped his hands with a clean towel. "You're the last one. Now, all information about Kjerag must go through me before being reported to His Excellency the Duke."

“…You…why are you…”

As an agent and a member of the Gray Hat Unit, he never expected that his colleagues would attack him when he was attacked.

"For the sake of truth. You won't believe me if I say this, so I'll answer in a way you can understand."

Gray Hat smiled.

"For myself."

While Gray Hat was dealing with his colleagues, Noah was outside to ensure that no one would disturb him. After seeing Gray Hat leave the room, Noah asked with some concern, "Do you have any family members in Victoria? Will there be any problems? I can contact Vina to help you..."

"There's no need for that." The man in the gray hat shook his head. "I'm all alone."

"..."

"As an agent, I have a family, but my wife is also an agent. We don't have children, and we don't have any feelings for each other," Gray Hat explained. "So, I'm alone."

"I see." Noah sighed, "Are all you agents like this?"

"Of course not. I'm just unlucky." The man in the gray hat shook his head. "But let's not talk about my business for now. I just confirmed that I have control over most of Kjerag's intelligence network. Duke Kast should be busy dealing with the Speaker right now. Kjerag's plans shouldn't be affected. But I still want to confirm... Do you really not need my help in dealing with the Viscount?"

"I didn't provoke you..." Noah said helplessly, "To be honest, I really don't want to do anything to Mr. Viscount. Mr. Harold is a rare good man. If possible, don't get angry with him."

"He's different from me. He has family in Victoria." The man in the gray hat reminded him, "If the Duke of Caister realizes that something is wrong, he won't betray him like I did."

"...I know." Noah nodded. "We're just walking a tightrope. Besides... Viscount Harold himself probably doesn't want to be our enemy. As for his family... I think we can think of a solution."

"..." The man in the gray hat looked at Noah's expectant eyes and sighed silently, "I'll try my best."

Chapter 36: It says, it’s time to go!

That was more than 20 years ago.

I remember that winter was colder than previous years. The snow kept falling and the wind was so strong that it seemed like it could blow people away.

In that kind of weather, no one wanted to go out. People stayed in their homes, day and night, with the stove burning and hot tea on the stove so they could have a sip of hot tea at any time.

The sheds for the pack animals were specially thickened before winter, and the pack animals huddled together to take a nap, unable to sleep soundly all day.

For Kjerag that year, time seemed to slow down.

I felt like I had finally gotten through a day, but the next day it was still winter with wind and snow.

I was young then, and I couldn't stand living like that. That day, I secretly took a few people with me, planning to go hunting in the mountains. But the snow was so heavy, we couldn't find any prey along the way, and I got separated from the others. We had no choice but to continue up the mountain... and then, right here... right here, I met Tatiana.

-

It takes courage to venture out during the Kjerag winter. This land protects its people, but the cold winds are enough to sober up those who ignore the fickle nature of their gods.

At that time, he was just a young boy - now he is almost frozen into bacon. He kept walking forward while cursing. There were some footprints left by his prey on the snow. He followed the footprints upwards and didn't know how long he had been walking.

He'd realized the chances of this happening were slim when he left, but he couldn't sit still. Rather than eating leftovers around the fire, he'd rather have some hot stew. He'd cut the meat into chunks and toss it into the pot, where it would simmer until tender and mushy. In winter, just being able to have a bite like that was enough to make him want to swallow it! The feeling of the meat overflowing with juices was the most delicious thing in the world.

"Tsk, this rotten weather!" He stopped under a tree, took a breath, looked around, and felt that he could no longer catch up with the prey. He could only sigh, "I didn't even catch a hair of the beast. Dad will definitely scold me again..."

He was muttering to himself when he suddenly felt something moving on his head. He subconsciously raised his head, and a handful of snow hit his head, blurring his eyes. Then a clear female voice came out.

"Hahaha, it hits you!" That sound was probably the most beautiful thing Actor had ever heard. It was said that in the mountains, besides the terrifying Snow Ghosts, there were also a group of Snow Maidens. They were the spirits of Kjerag, and they loved to play tricks on those who got lost in the forest. "Hey, I'm here. Big idiot, why don't you hide?"

"You, you, you... are you the Snow Maiden?!" Aktos, who grew up listening to Kjerag's myths and legends, was a little panicked. He was still young at the time and believed that the Snow Maiden was real and would lure innocent pedestrians lost in the mountains and forests, and then eat their bodies until they died of exhaustion or freezing.

"Snow Maiden? Do you think I'm a Snow Maiden? You're so funny, going up the mountain in this weather and expecting to hunt?" The girl who looked like a Snow Maiden had bright red hair and a smile on her lips, a smile that was truly as enchanting as a fairy. "Young Master, since you're beautiful, I'm giving you a piece of advice! Go home quickly."

The girl waved her hand and gestured, but who is Axtus? He is a well-known stubborn person. If the other party does not let him go, he will most likely turn around and leave. But if the other party lets him go, Axtus's rebellious mentality will come out.

"Hey, young master, I won't leave!" He was so stubborn that even the horses couldn't pull him away. But perhaps it was luck, or perhaps meeting this girl was Yelagund's will. The wind and snow gradually subsided, and bright sunlight filtered through the intertwined branches of the twin trees before him, casting a mottled shadow on his face. The woman's figure was faintly visible behind a fine dusting of snow. Fine snowflakes fluttered down with her movements. Young Tatiana, with a smile on her face, lowered her head and met the young man's gaze under the tree.

Axtos felt his eyes were a little dry. The snow scene that he was used to seeing seemed a little dazzling at this moment, but he couldn't look away.

The sun was so bright that day, he thought at the time.

But... perhaps from that moment on, it wasn't the sun that was dazzling.

——If the Snow Girl really looks like this, then... it's no wonder that people can't get out of this forest.

After all, this heart is probably tied to the Snow Girl.

After embellishing the scenes of his encounter with Tatiana countless times and beautifying his memories, Actor was willing to tell Rosaline the specific details. This kind of memory was more or less mixed with some personal embellishment, and the scenes described by both sides would also change to some extent. This was not a strange thing, but he said these things in essence to prove that he was Rosaline's real father.

But when Rosaline looked at the bearded man in front of her, who looked nothing like a "handsome man," her inner image of a handsome man was completely shattered...

"...Um, are you...really my dad?" Rosaline's tone was tinged with disdain. It wasn't that she disliked Actor's appearance, but because this man had just been hanging out with her until he passed out drunk, a complete drunk. Honestly, if it was just a random guy, Rosaline might have praised him for being generous, but once this man became her father... that was a bit unreliable. "But, but my mom said..."

"Tatiana mentioned me to you?!" Aktos was inexplicably excited. He'd probably thought Tatiana would keep her background a secret from their daughter. After all, their breakup wasn't exactly amicable. Having been forced to leave Kjerag with two-year-old Rosalin was bound to be resentful. When Rosalin brought it up, he perked up immediately. "What did she say?"

"She rarely talked to me. Before I came of age, I didn't even know I had a father. I thought he might have died a long time ago." Rosalyn saw Actor approaching and immediately took two steps back in disgust. She could even smell the stench of alcohol on him. She covered her nose and waved her hand, "Don't get so close, it stinks. Didn't you take a shower when you went up the mountain? There's no rush, right?"

"...I heard that Victoria's spies were following you..." Actos explained, but he also knew that he smelled unpleasant. He retreated awkwardly, "I just care about...your mother's opinion of me."

"Mom never mentioned Dad. She hasn't even mentioned Kjerag since I can remember..." Rosalyn sighed. "For so many years, we've always lived together. I never thought..."

"...Really? Well, that's right. She, she probably still blames me. She deserves it! I really was unfair to you back then. She should blame me if she wants to." Actos wasn't stupid. He just didn't like to use his brain. Once he calmed down, he could still think from another's perspective. If he were Tatiana, he probably wouldn't tell his daughter about that bastard ex-husband. "It seems Tatiana has been doing well without me all these years..."

"..." Rosalin's expression darkened. That remark had touched a nerve. But she suppressed her anger and told her mother everything she had said. "Before we came here, my mother told me that snow in Kjerag feels different from snow in Ursus. It's often one way on the mountain and another way down. She told me... that Kjerag is also my hometown. I grew up in Ursus, but was born in Kjerag."

"Tatiana..." As he imagined Tatiana's expression as she said these words, Aktos's face was very complicated. It was a mixture of guilt and the complex emotions that came from hearing about the love of his life. "That's exactly what she would say. She used to love the snow on the top of the mountain so much. She always told me... the snow on this mountain is different from the snow at the foot of the mountain. Unfortunately, I was a rough person and didn't understand it at the time."

"Hmm... I don't understand either, but I remember my mom once told me that while I might have forgotten everything from my childhood, those experiences will never disappear. She always said that everything a person experiences before is constantly shaping them. Even if they are forgotten, the influence of some things will always remain." Rosalyn put her hands on her hips. "She said that the Rosalyn I am today is thanks to every stage of my life, from birth to now. Every little thing in between is meaningful and an important part of Rosalyn. So, even though she can't come, she wants me to know that at least part of me comes from Kjerag."

Her tone gradually became calmer, and she spoke with some sigh.

"That's what Mom said. So here I am."

"...Tatiana..." Aktos's emotions were so complicated that even he couldn't understand them. He didn't know whether to be happy or sad. He was happy that Tatiana remained the same Tatiana after leaving him, that she wouldn't change because of his stupidity and weakness. In fact, he was very afraid. He was afraid that Tatiana would change because of Kjerag's experience. Would that bright and sunny girl be cooled by Kjerag's coldness?

But, obviously, he was just worrying too much.

"Back then, your mother and I met here. We...were attracted to each other, and it didn't take us too long from knowing each other to falling in love. I hope to marry Tatiana and stay with her forever. I sincerely hope so. Before this, I've never had such a strong desire." Aktos spoke his original thoughts sincerely. To be honest, it was not an easy thing for Sherag to marry a foreign woman. If Aktos was an ordinary person, it would be fine...but unfortunately, he was the heir of the three major families in the Snow Region and was born without freedom.

As it should be... Kjerag at that time had no room for them.

But Rosalin didn't know how closed-off Kjerag was back then, or how special her father's identity was. She just thought - if they liked each other, they should be together. Isn't that the simplest thing?

This kind of free thinking was definitely not something Kjerag could have nurtured. Perhaps... it was a good thing that Rosalyn left Kjerag.

Actor felt pathetic for wanting to whitewash his actions...

"Yes...it should be the purest and simplest thing," Actor sighed. "But Rosalin, you don't know Kjerag, at least not the Kjerag of twenty years ago. Back then, we were isolated and largely isolated from the outside world. Because Kjerag was free of natural disasters, everyone believed it was Yelagund's protection of its people. Compared to the outside world, which was constantly plagued by disasters, we believed Kjerag was the only pure land. I always believed that Kjerag back then was tranquil and peaceful."

"Then... you don't regret it?"

"How is that possible! Even now, I have to admit that we were closed-minded and blind back then... Back then, the villagers' lives were all about farming, herding, and praying to Yelagund. We rarely saw outsiders on the streets, and our attitude towards outsiders was not actually friendly." Aktos immediately shook his head and refuted, "But that's why! Because she was from another place...that's why."

"No...you still don't understand what I'm talking about?"

"……what?"

"Ah... I really don't understand why Mom fell for you in the first place! You're really that stupid!"

"...You can scold me, but you have to trust your mother's judgment!"

"No, no, no, I honestly think you're completely stupid. Even if Kjerag was truly so closed-minded and treated us mother and daughter so badly in the past, does that give you a reason to abandon us?" Rosalyn felt her blood pressure spike. She gritted her teeth and continued, "After all, no matter what you say, you can't hide the fact that you were a coward back then! If you really loved Mom so much and couldn't leave her, you should have packed up your things and come after her!"

"...Ah?" Actor was stunned. "But...but I am from the family..."

"What a shitty family! Do you really love my mom?"

"Of course! Heaven and earth can bear witness to my heart!"

"Then why the hell didn't you elope with my mom? Is this matter so important? More important than your wife and daughter? Are you crazy? You've made your choice, your family, so walk that path well. Don't act like you're regretting it! Who are you acting for?"

“…I…I…”

"So? Are you going to tell me that you backed down just because of this? You don't dare to marry a foreign woman? Wait, what's wrong with me? You didn't marry my mother but you had me with her?! Hey, big bearded man, this is not a joke."

And Rosalind also discovered a bright spot. Was she pregnant before marriage?

Her eyes instantly changed from being a little cold at first to becoming a little scary. If the guy in front of her was really the scumbag who made his mother pregnant out of wedlock and abandoned his wife and daughter, she really couldn't hold back the knife in her hand.

——It said, you can go now.