The side doors of the palace slowly opened, and Alice was guided by the guards into this magnificent palace located on the snowy heights.

Just half an hour ago, an envoy from the Longxiao Palace found Alice in the Moon Vaska, and at the same time sent an invitation from the Supreme Lord of Xueman, Count Balgulf.

Or should it be more appropriate to say that it is an order?

Alice didn't understand what the Count was looking for her, after all, she should be just a little person with no foundation, even if she joined the group of comrades who were closely related to all parts of Xueman...... Well, it's no different from the ordinary people.

However, the lord's orders could not be refused, at least for a character of her rank, and Quirrell beside him had no intention of interfering. So Alice only hesitated slightly—probably a breath. So he readily agreed.

Anyway, I don't have anything attractive about it, so I think I just need to follow the etiquette in my memory and be more restrained. He couldn't just throw me in jail. Alice thought.

It's good that Alice hasn't yet been able to realize that her greatest temptation lies in herself.

Stepping on the soft woolen carpet, the girl followed the guards in thought. Not even the elegant murals and ornaments on the walls could attract her, let alone the bizarre potted plants and gilded vases. After passing through several floors of corridors and corridors, Alice was taken to the upper floors of the Dragon Palace. She also saw for the first time the High Lord of Snowman, the Great Shore Barguff.

The lord was as tall and burly as his name, and even if he was just leaning on the throne casually, his whole person exuded a solemn and solemn temperament. His brow furrowed slightly, but his tiger eyes were sharp and sharp.

"Come here." The lord glanced at Alice and perked up slightly.

The guards who guided the maiden bowed down as Alice entered the hall. At this moment, in the entire huge long hall, apart from Alice and Barguf, there were only eight heavily armed guards standing motionless in the corner like wood. Perhaps by virtue of her memory, or by the fact that she was really intimidated by the lord's momentum, Alice seemed a little timid.

She walked about five paces in front of the lord, and after a lady's salute, she refused to go any further.

"Alice, of Sirodil descent, was seriously wounded five days ago and was found by Franster of the Brothers-in-Arms in the eastern suburbs of Snowman. Awakened this morning in the temple of Gillenas, she appears as a short-haired girl of about sixteen years old wearing a dark cloak and a dwarven enchanted weapon carrying a rune tablet on her back, using the Transform and Restore spells. See if there's anything missing? ”

“…… I'll use a sword, sir. ”

The lord threw the text in his hand away noncommittally, his eyes burning.

He said slowly, "Just now, a Wood Elf merchant in the Snowman Market was assassinated in full view of everyone, and he was stabbed through the heart from behind, leaving the mark of the Dark Brotherhood in his presence. What do you think? ”

Alice seemed to be taken aback, and she replied weakly, "Your Excellency...... I won't ...... with a bow."

"I know it's not you." Barguf gave her a strange look. "If the assassins of the Dark Brotherhood were as stupid as you, the world would not know how much cleaner it would be!"

He seemed to have lost his patience, and then said to Alice in a slightly perfunctory manner: "Forget it, I called you here to give you a task. I wrote a warrant to the commander in charge of attacking the castle of the Grey Marsh. But it's not safe in the Snowman realm right now, so you must protect my messenger and make sure he reaches his destination safely. ”

"But, the comrades-in-arms ......"

"Krako will agree. You don't have to worry about that. Your rewards won't be less. ”

"Yes...... Your Lordship. Alice bowed slightly, then stepped back. The guards were waiting for her outside and would lead her to where she needed to.

"What do you think. Provantes. Wait until the door squeaks ~ shut, and a short time passes. Barguf then spoke into the hall.

"She's pretending to be quite similar, but she can't escape your eyes." The court steward stepped out of the side screen and replied in a low, soft voice that had remained almost unchanged for ten thousand years.

"Bah~ That set of court etiquette in the imperial capital, with her face with excellent blood at a glance. If I can't see it, I'll be a lord for so many years. Barguf said lightly.

"She's not very smart, but she's not stupid either, and she's got a bit of a job. Such a person is just right for you. The comrades-in-arms must also understand what you mean. Provantus chuckled and said, "But Master Pharajenga seemed to have taken some interest in her just now, and now the guards are taking her over." What do you think ......? ”

"Farenga?" The lord frowned, but then relaxed, "He knows how to be measured, and he won't make trouble for me at this time." His tone changed, and he said lightly, "You have a lot of ears and eyes, Provanteus." ”

"These are your eyes and ears. My lord. The palace steward said softly, neither humble nor arrogant.

………………………………………………

"You're Alice?" Appearing in front of Alice was a middle-aged man wrapped in a gray cloak. He had a pointed chin and a dim light in his eyes.

"Yes, I ......," Alice could reply, when she was rudely interrupted by the person in front of her reaching out to her.

"Stop! I'm not interested in listening to your nonsense. His tone was full of impatience: "I know you have some skills. I called you here because I wanted you to do something. ”

“……”

He seemed pleased with Alice's silence, and his voice softened a little. "I know you're going to deliver a message to the Grey Swamp Fortress, so I hope you'll be there to do something for me."

"Inside the Grey Swamp Fortress, there's one entrenched, huh...... A wizard with some connection to me. He is not very powerful, but he has some knowledge of evil and darkness. Not long ago, during the clearing of the Broken Stream camp, someone found some records of his spells there, presumably related to the conversion of metals and other substances. So I'd like you to be able to get rid of him, and if possible, bring back his research - some dangerous spell creations require professionals to destroy properly. ”

"Do you understand?"

Looking at Alice, who was silent, Farenga seemed to suddenly remember something. He patted his head lightly. Then he said loudly: "Oh, I forgot about your reward, after all, it is not an easy task." He blinked, as if he had made an important decision.

"In return, I'll help you translate the slate you're carrying. What do you think? ”

Alice felt like she couldn't understand what the other was saying, and she almost fell into a real frenzy. "But...... This is what I have worked so hard to get out of the cold......"

Her words were interrupted again.

"You mercenaries just love to be careful! People who can read the complicated Old Arnault German language above can't find five in the entire sky! And one of the most outstanding of them stands right before you. You should know how to cherish the opportunity! ”

As he spoke, dozens of black-robed guys who had been standing in this hall also put down their work, stopped from the various instruments or platforms that were filled with all kinds of strange atmospheres and looked weird, and looked at Alice.

Don't say, don't move. Just quietly watching her.

Alice felt her hairs stand on end, each of these guys tingling in one part of her skin, and the character in front of her, who was waiting for her to talk, made her dizzy like a little sun.

Crisis awareness, this is an ability that Alice has had since Helgen. But generally speaking, it will only work if the other party is hostile......

She glanced imperceptibly behind her.

At some point, the door behind it had been quietly closed.

An inexplicable feeling enveloped her heart, not like the anger, pity, fear, joy, and even shyness that she felt in Hergen, in the coldfall, or even in the moon Vaska. It's a deeper, darker emotion. They swayed their heads like the mythical Gorgons, their mouths spurting countless deadly venoms.

They probably didn't know what they were doing. Still, at least for now, no one will take it to heart.

Lucky or unlucky. Now Alice couldn't comprehend the strange sensation that was surging in her chest. She just quietly untied the slate behind her and handed it to Farenga, looking a little embarrassed.

"Then I'm sorry for you. Guru. ”

And the opposite side also unceremoniously took it with one hand. Then he dropped a scroll into Alice's arms.

"Don't say I'll send you to death if I don't give you anything! This scroll is a by-product of my research, and it is capable of changing the properties of the metal around you. With any luck, you can even get a whole crate of gold with it! ”

"You can go."

When Alice walked outside the corridor and closed the door behind her. The guards who were supposed to guide her seem to have changed. But he, like his predecessor, did not say a word, just waited quietly.

As if nothing had happened.

So Alice said lightly to the guards, "Lead the way." ”