The atmosphere of silence in the carriage lasted for a long time.

Wood slowly calmed down and began to think calmly. He now understood that what Swain had said about Sophia's custody was just a decoy for him, and that he had deliberately caused a dispute over the matter, and then suddenly backed down in order to advance and retreat and maintain an advantage over Victoria's custody. Although Wood is not a diplomat, as the helmsman of the top family in the imperial capital, he is already very experienced in interpersonal communication and relationships, and Swain's performance today is indeed beyond his expectations, but now that he understands the other party's purpose, he will not be so easy to be tricked.

"I don't think you have met Miss Victoria No. Jerichault yet, and I think you should discuss her custody after you have met her and your father. And at that time, the custody of Miss Sophia No. Jericho can also be resolved together. Wood was going to drag the matter to a more favorable negotiating arena and put the two things together. This is a lesson for young people, Wood said secretly.

"That's what you thought about, and when Sophia came to Midnight Castle fifteen years ago, you didn't seem to have such a troublesome claim, but directly accepted my grandfather's commission to bring Sophia here, didn't you?"

Hearing this, Wood couldn't help frowning, this was fifteen years ago, although it is not excluded that there are still some old people in Fort Midnight who remember, but from the identity and position, only the deceased old Winston can tell Swain about it. Could it be that old Winston had the idea, and that he still couldn't look down on his son when he died? Wood began to mumble in his heart, after all, judging from the fact that the title of earl was passed on to his grandson, it was still very possible.

"Fifteen years ago, I accepted the commission out of friendship with your grandfather, and I had no special position, unlike what is happening today. ”

"Really, didn't you agree with Viscount Ernest fifteen years ago, or even earlier?"

How much did he know!Wood was astonished, this young man was not at all what he had thought, not only did he know about the things of those times that were beyond the memory of his years, but he was completely aggressive and provocative. Wood had to start wondering what Swain's purpose really was. Before, he thought that Swain wanted to increase his authority as a leader by seizing custody of his two younger sisters, and really control the Jericho clan, but now it seems that maybe he has another purpose, most likely against his father or even himself.

"I have taken part in the family affairs of these Jericho families as a friend of the Earl of Midnight in the past, so I have the utmost fairness and justice in all these things, as I did when I was a judge. Wood was careful to prevaricate with clichés.

Fortunately, Swain didn't really remove the mask that the nobles used to hide their shame, and after hearing Wood's answer, he no longer dwelled on the issue. "In that case, I agree to consult with Viscount Ernest before deciding on the question of their custody. However, I hope that you will be able to witness my decision as the head of the Jericho family as a judge. ”

Wood sighed darkly, today's conversation with Swain was completely unexpected. Although this young man had been staying in the backwoods of the south of Midnight Castle, he was more cunning than the difficult reporters in the imperial capital. He didn't answer his own words at first, because he didn't want the initiative of the topic to be held by others, and he didn't seize the opportunity to attack until he was cold. Now Wood is also unsure whether things will turn out in the favor of the imperial capital.

"So be it. Wood's tone was both helpless and tired.

While talking, the carriage had returned to the castle. At the gate of the castle, some people are saying goodbye to a young girl in a black mourning dress and a samusa on her head. The girl was none other than Swain's sister in Castle Midnight, Sophia No. Jericht.

Sophia had just sent off a couple who had come to her grandfather's funeral when she saw her brother walking towards her alone, so she greeted her. "Brother, sir. She greeted her obediently.

"Good work. Swain nodded, his face still unchanged in front of his sister.

"Elder brother, I've been tired for the past few days, so you can have a good rest today. ”

"I will. Let's go in first, it's getting heavier and heavier. With that, Swain took his sister in his arms and walked towards the interior of the castle. Being held by her brother, Sophia's face couldn't help but flush, she liked this feeling very much, although her brother had never looked so serious, and he couldn't talk about being gentle and likable, but her brother's feeling was real.

"The matter of going to the imperial capital that I told you before has been decided, and we will leave in a month. Swain didn't notice his sister's shy face, and said in a voiceless voice, "Then you'll come with me, and I'll leave Midnight Castle to Deniz to take care of." ”

"Yes, sir. "The thought of going to the imperial capital, Sophia's psychology sometimes makes a ripple, it is the fashion capital of the entire empire, probably no girl will not like it, even a girl like Sophia who has been staying in the countryside and is restricted by her grandfather and brother. And there are twin sisters who I have never met since I can remember, and I don't know what kind of scene it will be when I meet, and what she will look like. Of course, what makes Sophia happiest is to go with her brother.

Walking into the porch, Swain handed his hat and coat to his subordinates, but fortunately the woolen coat he was wearing was not so easily wet by the rain, which was decent at this time. And Sophia, who was wearing a long black dress, was a little embarrassed at this moment.

"You go change your clothes first," Sven saw his sister shivering slightly, "We'll talk about that later, don't catch a cold." ”

Sophia nodded meekly, beckoned to her maid, and accompanied her to change clothes. Swain, who was wearing only a waistcoat and shirt, felt a little chill, and asked the servant to add more firewood to the fireplace in the living room to make it warmer.

The blazing fire immediately brought a pleasant warmth in winter, and now it is late winter after all, and in half a month, spring will almost arrive, and the weather will slowly warm up. Sven sat on the couch by the fire, watching the fire. His gaze was fixed on the flames, and gradually he even lost focus, as if his eyes were staring blankly at the fire, not knowing what he was thinking.

The girl's soft body rested on her brother's shoulder, and her long hair fell to Sven's face, obscuring his vision. "Brother, what are you thinking?" Sophia wrapped her arms around Sven's neck and rested her head on his shoulder, "Is there anything bothering you?"

Sven's eyes gradually returned to focus, and he didn't care about the pressure on his body, just gently stroked his sister's long hair. "I've been in Midnight Fort all my life so far, and I probably will be like this in the future, Midnight Fort is everything to me. Bound to the land by Jericho, enjoying the glorious prisoner treatment. This is fate, but also order, this society needs me to take on such a responsibility, so I have to do this, the past, the present, the future, are all set. This trip to the Imperial Capital will probably be the only time in my life that I will leave here, and it may change my fate completely. Shatter the order of this society, and I will write a new one. ”

"I'll be with you all the time. Although Swain didn't look at her, Sophia's gaze at her brother was quite affectionate.

Sven didn't speak, still staring silently at the fire. The flames danced in the fireplace, spreading its heat, and the flickering light of the fire reflected on Swain's face and Sophia's body, making the atmosphere much warmer, and making one forget the grief of the old count's death.

After a long time, Swain patted Sophia on the back, and Sophia immediately understood and stopped leaning on Sven. Sven turned her head to look at her sister, she changed into a cream-white sweater with a blue skirt, the heavy sweater did not make the girl look bloated, but made her look more beautiful. She was pretty in front of Swain, her hands clasped behind her back, and her body leaned forward slightly, looking a little lively.

"Victoria and you are twins, so we probably look exactly the same. ”

"But the difference should be obvious at a glance, after all, growing up in different environments, it is impossible for the personality to be exactly the same. Although Sophia is looking forward to meeting her twin sister, she wants to be unique and irreplaceable, especially in the eyes of her brother.

"Ah, that's true. Although it was difficult for Swain's expression to change, Sophia, who was very familiar with Swain, could sense the change in his mood from the subtle changes in his tone, "I have inquired and heard that she is very famous in the imperial capital now, but unfortunately this reputation is not the reputation of a lady. It is said that her mischievous mischief is not even comparable to that of boys, which makes many people feel a headache. She is a fifteen-year-old girl, but she is alive and kicking like a hairy boy, so this time I plan to bring her back and teach her well. You should also teach your sister the etiquette of the Jericho family more and bring it back to teach it well. ”

Sophia saw her brother's more stern gaze and understood that this was a warning to her. "I understand, I'll inform my sister of the rules of Midnight Castle. ”

Sven nodded in satisfaction, and then stared at the fire, the orange-red light of the fire was warm, and it couldn't help but make people tired. Sven had been staring at the fire, the churning flames reflected in his eyes, and the world in his eyes burned with it, and everything was burned by the flames in his eyes.

"Do you have any other thoughts about Viscount Ernest? After all, it is my father, you are different from me, and you always have some thoughts about him, right?"

"I just want to be by my brother's side," Sophia shook her head, her long hair fluttering, "I would never have any objection if it were your wishes." ”

Swain nodded, his gaze still on the fire. "I'm afraid I'm going to be an enemy of him, the Jericho family must not have a branch, this time I go to the imperial capital, I will personally end this grudge that has lasted for nearly twenty years. ”

————————————————————————

On his last night at Fort Midnight, Wood did not rest early, instead, he was busy writing a letter at his desk.

"My dear friend, Oliver, poor old Winston is thus departed from us, and may his soul rest at the side of the Lord. While I have regretted for the past 40 years that he has not been able to serve in the Cabinet and that his friends have not been able to see each other often, thankfully he has brought us a new friend. Ernest's ability and talent are obvious to all, in the past ten years after arriving in the imperial capital, he has become the commander of the imperial capital garrison with his own ability, I believe that he will be able to become the Minister of the Interior or even the prime minister sooner or later, there will be that day, even if we will not be fortunate enough to witness the glory of young people by then.

I have to say that the Jerricho family has a very good bloodline, and my two sons are too unsuccessful compared to Ernest. Carl was so reticent that I never saw him speak to anyone at a party, and Herbert was a bombastic man who only learned from others to say, and I was really worried about who would give him advice when I died. What makes me even more depressed is that not only are my sons inferior to others, but even my grandchildren are also a little worse. I have already met Sven Noe Jericht, and though I don't like this cold young man very much, he is much more shrewd than my grandchildren.

Probably my grumbling will make you think I'm verbose, so put aside the short ones in advance, in fact, the next thing I am going to write to you is about. To be honest, Ernest had a bad impression of me. But this is not to say that he is a gentleman with low eyes, on the contrary, I do not think that he is any less talented than his father, at least as far as I can see. This man struck me as aloof, and he replied to me in the simplest of possible terms, seemingly completely reluctant to say a word. Of course, such people are not uncommon in the social arena of the imperial capital, but those people are just shy or wooden, maybe their communication skills are a little unsatisfactory, but their hearts are not bad.

Sven Noe Jericho, whom I still find difficult to see as a close junior rather than an adversary, was not at all the case, and he did not care about anyone from the bottom of his heart. When it was his turn to ask questions, he was the most cunning prosecutor, setting the trap one by one, and what was even more terrifying, he was asking for the death penalty. I'm sure he knew a lot about fifteen years ago, or probably all that old Winston knew, and even before that had been filled in his heart. I wasn't sure if it was old Winston or his personal hatred, but I was sure that I saw hostility toward his father in his face that had never laughed or saddened. Yes, hostility, maybe hate, maybe disgust, although I don't think it's accurate, but he is indeed hostile. Moreover, in another month, he will go to the imperial capital to accept the canonization of His Majesty the Emperor, and at that time the meeting of father and son is inevitable. This ceremony was a humiliation to Ernest, and I can't bear to pit him against his son any longer, and I think you'll understand and agree with my pity. Therefore, I would like to ask you, as the Minister of His Majesty the Emperor's Seal, Oliver Noe Metternich, to help Ernest in a ceremony that is not so embarrassing to him. Also, please pay attention to the new earl.

Your dear friend, Wood Noe Phil.