As a villain, I really don't want to be pursued by the heroine.

Thrall nodded slightly.

He never underestimated the ability of the second prince of the empire.

Winter is able to rule over the nobles who have their own ulterior motives and is sent by the cunning and calculating empress of the current empire to cooperate with them. He is not as simple as he seems.

Beneath its gentle appearance lies the wolf's cunning and ferocity.

only......

He agreed with his mouth, but the old man's pale and cloudy eyes looked to the other side.

A golden-winged griffin and a black-haired boy.

His appearance was undoubtedly beyond the old man's expectations.

Stupid little devil, actually broke away from the protection of the [Sage] and came to me on his own initiative?

Is this the will of the God of Death?

I'm sorry, Your Highness.

From now on, the mission priorities of our [School of the Undead] need to be slightly adjusted.

----------

The border of the empire, the westernmost end of the Snow Country, is also the hometown of Jon Snow Andrews, Snowwind Castle.

Although there were pictures in the original work, Roy was still shocked when he saw the steel castle standing on the ice field and covered with ice and snow with his own eyes.

The bitter cold of the four seasons creates a harsh environment, but it also fosters the resilience of the people living on the empire's borders. Amidst the vast, empty ice, they transform the soil with their own hands, build their homes, and forge the forefront of the empire's and even the human world's defenses.

It is said that this castle was the only fortress that could confront the demons head-on and hold off the enemy for months when the demons invaded and the human race was defeated at the beginning of the Third Era.

As soon as he entered the city, soldiers cheered and gathered to welcome the return of the Lord of Snow Wind Castle.

The silver-haired girl stood by the window, waving to everyone, showing a rare shyness, but with a kind look in her eyes.

The carriage stopped.

As soon as I got off the car, I saw a couple wearing bearskin coats, walking hand in hand.

The middle-aged man was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, with gray hair on his temples, but his face was gentle and generous, yet not dull, and his smile made people feel good about it.

The woman, or rather the warrior, was voluptuous, with piercing eyes and long brown hair cascading down her shoulders. A sword scar crossed her nose, only adding to her heroic presence. Though her face inevitably bore the marks of time, it still radiated the passion of a torch in the winter snow.

Unlike the man who bowed, the female warrior walked up to Jon Snow and gave him a big bear hug, making Jon Snow, who usually appeared cold, a little at a loss.

"Look who's back?! Little White Wolf, are you eating properly? You're almost as skinny as a skeleton!"

"Ms. Britney, you're exaggerating. Also, please respect the proper etiquette of a noble... Oooo!"

"Wow, you've been in the southern academy for too long, and your speech has become so literary." Britney was halfway through her words when she noticed Roy's presence, her eyes lit up, and then she caught a glimpse of the embarrassment on Jon Snow's face, and then she withdrew her hand in disappointment.

"Oh, sorry, sorry, I didn't expect you to suddenly bring your boyfriend back!"

"Ms. Britney!"

"Ahem, Britney, don't make it too difficult for Jon Snow with the guests present."

The man stepped forward and bowed to Roy. His aristocratic smile did not conceal his friendliness. "I am a commoner and have always been so carefree. I am sorry to have embarrassed you, Lord Roy."

Roy's identity was already mentioned in the letter.

Roy returned the greeting and smiled in return, "That's fine. It's actually quite refreshing to see a different side of Mr. Snow."

"Tsk tsk." Britney touched Jon Snow's arm and gave him a playful look.

The latter maintained a calm expression, but resentment inevitably appeared in his eyes.

I just came back and my beloved disciple saw me being treated like a little girl. It really damages the image of a teacher.

Chapter 89: Bloodshed is the Last Option

Roy had an impression of these two people.

Barry Kumar, the former Grand Duke of the Empire and a close confidant of Jon Snow's father, assists in the defense of Snowbreeze Castle. It's said that in his youth, he was a fierce warrior capable of taking on a thousand men on the battlefield alone. Today, he's known for his sophisticated and tactful tactics.

It can be said that the fact that the Andwith family was able to continue operating after suffering a devastating disaster, and that Jon Snow was able to grow up safely to this day and even had the leisure to go to the academy for training, were all inseparable from the old earl's superb skills and years of hard work.

As for [Mrs. Bear] Britney, her background is much simpler.

Just two words: good at fighting.

Britney reached Sequence 6 at a young age and became renowned as an A-rank adventurer within the Empire. Considering that even in the Citadel, where so many talented individuals gather, A-rank adventurers can be counted on the palm of your hand, Britney was unrivaled among the Empire's adventurers at the time, commanding immense prestige and even attracting many nobles.

The self-righteous female warrior looked down on those playboys and made a big promise. She held a martial arts competition to find a husband, saying that she would marry whoever could win, intending to put an end to the thoughts of those licking dogs in one go.

Unexpectedly, he ran into the young Bari Kumar.

At that time, Earl Xiong was not as smooth as he is now. He was a hot-tempered man who would start a fight if he couldn't reach an agreement after three sentences.

The two fought a fierce battle, which was so fierce that the whole Adventurer's Guild was torn into pieces.

What’s interesting is that although Britney won in the end, the young Earl still got the beauty.

You taste, you taste carefully.

No matter what, these two people are Jon Snow's die-hard subordinates. They were the ones who raised Jon Snow and are considered Jon Snow's most trustworthy helpers on the border.

Unfortunately, they were still powerless in the following crisis...

"Lord Roy, you must be tired after a long journey. How about I ask someone to take you to your room to rest?"

"That's exactly what I was thinking." Roy didn't reject the old earl's suggestion and smiled at the silver-haired girl. "Teacher Jon Snow, please go and do your work first. We'll see you later."

"Yeah." The silver-haired boy nodded slightly, appearing neither cold nor indifferent.

However, it was not until the black-haired boy left that she reluctantly withdrew her gaze.

Then he caught a glimpse of the couple's playful smiles, and his mouth sank involuntarily.

After saying goodbye to Roy, Jon Snow and the couple came to the living room.

As soon as they sat down, without waiting for the maid to make tea, Britney sat down next to Jon Snow and asked, "What is your relationship with the handsome boy from the Ironblad family?"

"Explain. I said in the letter that we are just direct master and apprentice, so please don't have unnecessary misunderstandings." Jon Snow said coldly with a stern face.

Unfortunately, her cold face couldn't stop Britney's gossipy heart.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, are you still pretending? Speaking of that letter, look at how you praised him: he's incredibly talented, friendly, a man of noble character, a love of learning... and he's also handsome. So, do you even look at appearance when choosing an apprentice?"

Jon Snow lowered his eyes guiltily, and couldn't help but tighten his toes in his boots.

Even Ice Rose felt extremely distressed under the questioning of her elders.

Thinking back to the praise of Roy in the letter, Jon Snow now felt a little regretful, thinking that he had written it too enthusiastically.

"Just, just telling the truth. Because he really is that good."

"That's all. But what about your clothes?"

Britney raised her eyebrows as she surveyed the girl's ferret coat. She could tell at a glance that the fabric was exquisite and expensive. Furthermore, the sleeveless blue dress that barely reached her knees beneath the coat, along with the black silk over-the-knee socks beneath it, were both the latest styles from the Blue Moon Chamber of Commerce.

You know, Jon Snow is a typical Imperial, with an old-fashioned personality and a simple and conservative style of dress. He doesn't like to show too much skin, nor does he like to wear too bright clothes. He can wear a dark blue waist dress for a whole year without changing it.

But now, it is dressed like a rose covered with snowflakes. If it was cold and indifferent before, it is now icy, beautiful and soft.

Britney couldn't stop laughing: "He's dressed so beautifully, and you still say he's not your boyfriend?"

"No! No! It's just a gift he bought me..."

"!"

As soon as the words fell, Britney's expression became more exciting, and Xue Nuo quickly changed the words: "I just want to wear it for him to see..."

"!!!"

Seeing Britney's face filled with the warmth of the cabbage finally growing up, Jon Snow sighed slightly and gave up struggling.

How come as I talk, I feel like the way Roy and I get along is a bit like a couple?

wrong.

He was his apprentice! How could he have such a dream that was so detrimental to the relationship between master and apprentice?

Fortunately, at this moment, Barry said with a wry smile: "Britney, give the child some room."

Mr. Barry was a man who could distinguish right from wrong, unlike Britney, who was so frivolous. Jon Snow breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the old earl's help.

However, the next sentence made her speechless.

"There's a lot of time to go on. We can save the topic of boyfriends for after dinner and chat slowly."

Jon Snow: “???”

I said we are not a couple, nor a boyfriend!

Fortunately, the old earl didn't chat and laugh for too long. He immediately put on a serious expression and looked at Jon Snow.

"Okay, it's time to get down to business."

"Miss Snow, I think you are aware that His Highness Winter led a group of inland nobles and the Royal Guards to the Winter Festival this time. The momentum is so great that it seems that they come with ill intentions."

As soon as these words were spoken, Jon Snow's eyes turned cold, and Britney's face beside him also turned gloomy.

There has been a long-standing grudge between the imperial border and the royal family, but the royal family has never been too involved in border affairs, maintaining a delicate balance with them.

But Winter's visit with many nobles was an unfriendly signal.

"Hmph, what good intentions can those stinky old men in the imperial capital have? They just want to take back the Duke's military power and covet our little white wolf!" Britney crossed her legs and spat, not hiding her disgust for the royal family at all.

"If they dare to mess around, I'll be the first to strike. Let's see if the bones of the royal family are tougher than the axe in my hand!"

Barry frowned slightly and said in a more serious tone: "Britney, be careful with your words."

It would have been fine if she hadn't said anything. But when she did, Britney's temper flared up. "What the hell, don't you know it yourself? The Empress of the Empire agreed to keep watch over the Grand Duke of the Border, but what happened? Eighteen years ago, the demons invaded, and they ignored the Duke's request for help! For eighteen years, they've been constantly putting pressure on us and cutting aid!"

"The first empress swore an oath to give the Ice Soul bloodline to the Andvis family. Now they can't take it back, so they're resorting to all sorts of pressure! This is something a human being could do..."

"That's enough." The old earl uttered a low voice, like a muffled thunder.

Then, seeing Britney's expression of "How dare you yell at me?", the old earl's face trembled, and his voice softened again: "Your opinion is just speculation, there is no evidence."

"After all, we are all citizens of the Empire. The demonic threat is external, so there's no need to fight among ourselves. I believe the Royal Family can recognize this."

"Besides, if it really comes to that, the outcome will be unpredictable, and countless lives will be lost..."

The old count glanced at the silver-haired girl inconspicuously, a trace of tenderness and pity flashed in his eyes, and he sighed bitterly.

"In any case, bloodshed is the last resort."

Chapter 90 Jon Snow's Wish

Britney was shocked and a little dissatisfied: "If a real fight comes, we may not be afraid of his royal family!"

"As long as our little white wolf gives the order, all the nobles in the border city will respond!"

This is not just an angry remark.

The rule of successive border dukes has long been popular among the people in the border areas.

Although Snow Wind Castle is just an isolated castle, if the nobles in the border areas of the entire empire are counted, it accounts for nearly one-third of the empire's power, which is enough to challenge the royal family.

And in Britney's opinion, it is no problem for a brave and combative border soldier to defeat ten young soldiers who have never been baptized by the battle.

The old earl took a sip of tea, but his face was still full of worry. "But we may not be able to take down the royal family."

Britney only considers things from a warrior's perspective, but Barry, in his high position, can see more.

It can be touched, but that’s all it is.

They have nothing, including population, money, justice, and even high-level combat power. If they really fight, it will only trigger an unnecessary war.

Even if we consider it from the most cruel and purely profit-oriented perspective, leaving the civilians aside, Jon Snow may not gain any advantage in this battle.

The silver-haired girl said nothing as she gazed far out the window, taking in the entire fortress.

Today, Snowwind Castle is no longer a single fortress, but a town.

Jon Snow grew up here.

Everywhere she looked, the solemn atmosphere of the military camp, the not-so-rich but always bustling market, and even the pure white snow, everything here carried the most beautiful memories of her and her family.

She didn't want her homeland to be tainted by war and blood, but she would never give it up.