Ramrem still remembers the first time he saw Winston No. Jericht.

The old man was always able to make a great impression on others, and he was often dressed in an old-fashioned gentleman's style, with a high and narrow top hat and tie, and with the same meticulous dress as he was.

But, despite being a gentlemanly dresser, Winston's appearance has an innate deterrent effect.

His face was thin, and because of his thinness, the wrinkles on his face were even more dry, and on that face, which made people feel stern at first glance, there was a pair of eyes that were very bright, so bright that they could penetrate directly through the flesh and bones, and peer directly into the heart. This is the most impressive thing about Winston, anyone who looks at him, whether Winston has an opinion about that person or not, will make the other person feel that he has been seen through, even if his heart is open, he can't help but feel a little awe of Winston's bearing.

At least, Ramrem was a little scared of the old man after meeting Winston for the first time.

Ramrem remembers that day, father and mother must have known that someone was coming, and who it was, so they prepared a sumptuous dinner, decorated the little little room they called "home", and waited quietly all afternoon for the visitor.

It was about fifteen minutes between six o'clock and fifteen minutes—a moment that Ramrem remembered very well, and every second was right—and the guests waiting for my father and mother arrived very punctually. Winston did not bring any servants or retinues, only carried an umbrella and a briefcase between his arms, and when he entered the door, he took off his hat very politely and greeted his father, but although he said that it was "very polite", Winston's eyes were very bright at that time, and he did not look kind at all.

That was the first time Ramrem had seen a human who wasn't Holmonks.

"Your Excellency," said my father, very respectfully welcoming Winston to the head of the table in the middle of the little room, "it is my honour to have you here, and I hope you enjoy the dinner we have prepared for you to-day. ”

"Thank you very much, but," Winston said to her and her father with a smile on his mother's lips turned up, "and I should sit in the seat that suits me." If I don't mind, can I sit next to that little lady?"

Father and mother glanced at each other, and the mother's expression was a little embarrassed, and finally the father nodded.

"If you say so, Lord Count, then ......," the father pointed to the seat next to his mother, where Ramrem sit, "and sit next to it." ”

"Thank you very much. Winston thanked him again, walked around the table, and sat down beside Ramrem.

At that time, Ramrem felt very uncomfortable with such an old man sitting next to him, especially those eyes, and the young Ramrem did not want to meet them, but fortunately, Winston did not seem to see Ramrem, and his eyes never turned around.

After the greetings, the father and mother sat down and finished their prayers, and the adults began to eat.

Winston eats very slowly, probably because of his age, his appetite seems average, he doesn't eat too much, but he is very interested in talking with his father, and he keeps talking to his father during the dinner.

Ramrem didn't understand a lot of what they said, and she forgot what Winston and her father were talking about.

Halfway through dinner—at least for Ramrem at the time—Winston picked up the briefcase at his feet and pushed it to the edge of his father's chair.

"It may not be appropriate to talk about this at the dinner table, but please forgive me, a thoughtful old man. Winston said, glancing at the seat beside him, "As you said last time, my granddaughter's blood, and my grandson's dream relic. ”

The father's face was embarrassed, and the mother looked at Ramrem with direct concern.

"You...... Are you serious? Honestly, I ...... Me and my wife, and my daughter...... I'm afraid they weren't ready. ”

"I understand. Winston nodded, "I know it's going to be hard for you, and actually, I'm very ashamed to make this request to you, but as my grandfather and head of the Jericho family, I have to." I beg your understanding that this is an obligation that our family has agreed upon thousands of years ago, and I hope that you will follow it and help me. ”

The father sighed and turned his gaze to Ramrem as well.

Being watched by all the adults in the room, young Ramrem couldn't help but feel a little nervous, and he was embarrassed to continue eating.

Winston turned, but his gaze didn't meet Ramrem's eyes.

"Ramrem......" Father's words began, but he could not continue.

Winston was silent.

The father choked up for a moment, then continued: "I'm sorry, my child, it's the duty of our people. You'll have to follow this gentleman to the outside world. ”

Ramrem was stunned, and then slightly excited, in this place, there is not a new Holmonx who does not look forward to the outside world.

"And ......," Father saw the excitement in Ramrem's eyes, and his gaze couldn't help but grow sadder, "you probably won't be back here again." ”

Ramrem froze.

"We're Holmonks......" Father's voice paused, as if the grief in his throat made it difficult for him to spit out words, "We have taken many measures to protect ourselves. Humans cannot see the newborn Holmonx, because your body is not a substance that they can see with the naked eye. Of course, because of this, you can't leave here, and you can't go to the human world. If you want to leave, you must have a body that can exist in the outside world. ”

Father trembled and reached for the briefcase that Winston had brought.

"The 'little man in a bottle', which was originally the life form of our people in primitive times, now has another role to be used in this ancient ritual. ”

The father put his hand on the briefcase, trembling, his eyes looking at Ramrem, and the hidden tears were full of reluctance. And the mother on the side was already crying.

"I'm sorry, Ramrem. ”

——————————————————

The first time she came to Fort Midnight, the excitement of being in the outside world diluted the sadness of parting her parents, and she almost forgot her tears and basked in the joy of seeing something new.

"It's here. Winston said, then stepped out of the carriage, stroked his top hat, and stretched out his hand to Ramrem, who was at a loss for what to do in the carriage, "Miss, please get out of the carriage, this castle will be your new home for two years." ”

Ramrem hesitated, he looked at Winston's palm and hesitantly held out his hand.

Winston was not displeased by Ramrem's hesitation, and after helping Ramrem out of the car, he commanded Baron Deniz, who was standing beside him, "Go and fetch Swain, he should meet this guest." ”

Baron Deniz nodded, just glanced at Ramrem and didn't say much.

When she walked through the courtyard of Midnight Castle, the strange, even terrifying statues in the courtyard did not frighten Ramrem, she was Holmonks, after all, and she was more curious than afraid of these things.

Winston led her all the way into the castle, and for the first time the young Holmens had seen such sumptuous architecture and decoration, and the dazzling paintings in the golden halls and corridors almost dazzled her completely.

When Ramrem was almost completely lost in the sea of artworks, Winston finally took her to her destination.

He pushed open the door and took Ramrem's hand and walked in.

In the room, Baron Deniz, with a teenager of about twelve years old, was already waiting there.

"Swain. Winston pointed to the boy and said, "My grandson, Swain Noe Jericht, is your future master. ”

Ramrem tilted her neck and looked at Winston suspiciously, wondering if she was wondering what "master" meant, or why this teenager, who was not much older than herself, was the master.

And when Ramrem looked at Swain, Sven also looked at Ramrem.

His eyes were a little hollow, and he almost completely lost sight of the vigor and vitality of the young man, but it was better to say that he was gloomy than ......

He seemed to have been through something very painful.

Sven had no focus in his hollow eyes, just looked at Ramrem blankly, and that kind of look made Ramrem dislike it.

"From this day forward, you're Swain's maid, of course, you don't need to serve him anything, I just hope you learn something. ”

Winston didn't seem to notice his grandson's vacant eyes, and said to Ramrem.

"Also, my granddaughter, Sophia, the sister of your master Swain, you must get acquainted with her. You have to remember her face, remember her looks, and you don't have to do anything else. ”

Ramrem turned to look at Winston and nodded ignorantly, but in his heart he was more and more confused about what the old man was going to do for himself.

Baron Deniz, who was on the side, watched Ramrem's reaction, took the initiative to step forward, and said to Winston, "Your Excellency the Earl, please let me arrange this young lady." ”

Winston nodded. "Well, I'm sure you'll arrange her. ”

After leaving the room, Winston asked Swain to take Ramrem to familiarize himself with the castle while Baron Deniz prepared Ramrem's residence.

The two children walked in the palatial castle, and neither of them spoke.

Ramrem looked at Swain's back curiously, in fact, she was very much looking forward to communicating with Swain in her heart, but she also knew that there was a difference between Holmonks and humans, so she hadn't thought about how to speak.

But Swain, he probably didn't mean to talk at all.

"Elder Brother ......"

As they walked up the stairs to the second floor of the castle, a timid voice came from the nearby hallway.

Ramrem followed the sound and saw a little girl about her age leaning out of the corner of the wall shyly, looking at Swain with admiration.

"Sophia. Swain held out his hand, palm facing up, at Sophia.

Sophia hesitated, then walked over and placed her small hand on Swain's palm.

"This is my sister, Sophia. Swain said to Ramrem.

Ramrem was unaccustomed to Swain's tone, not the slightest undulation, stiff as the noise of his father's collection of old-fashioned machines. Moreover, even at this time, there was not a slight expression on Swain's face, which made Ramrem feel a sense of fear for Swain in his heart.

"Hmm......" Ramrem nodded unnaturally, grinning a smile and said to Sophia, "Hello, Miss Sophia, I'm ......"

"Your body ......" Sophia snorted and looked at Ramrem suspiciously, "Your body smells a bit like mine...... Strange, it seems to smell like a brother?"

Perhaps because of something, Sophia suddenly blushed and lowered her head.

Ramrem, on the other hand, was stunned.

The underage Holmens did not have a physical body that could be seen by humans, so before leaving, his mother used what Winston gave him to complete the "fleshing" of his daughter.

And the source of Ramrem's flesh is the siblings, or rather, Winston has made arrangements before he goes to the land of Holmonx.

However, what puzzled Ramrem even more was why Sophia was able to detect it.

This couldn't help but make Ramrem think of another thing, Winston's special request before taking Ramrem away:

"My granddaughters are twins, and although I only have one child with me at the moment, I always look forward to being reunited as a family and bringing them back to Midnight Castle. I will find your family because of the special nature of your daughter. The artificial soul of Hallmonx is full of wonders, and your daughter has the ability to help me take care of both children at the same time, so I will find you. I hope you can help me, I won't embarrass you with anything, I won't embarrass you with kindness or reciprocity, I just hope you will be considerate of my old man's request. ”

His soul is naturally a twin, and if he wasn't born as Holmonks, he should be a twin, and Winston found him precisely because of this. The little girl in front of her is one of the twins that Winston needs to take care of herself, in other words......

She also has a sister who is exactly like her.

So......

Ramrem looked at Swain, and the confusion in his eyes grew even deeper.

Why is it this boy who became his master?

——————————————————

Two years later.

The sound of Sophia playing the piano came from the next room, and Swain closed his eyes, quietly enjoying the sound.

"It's such a beautiful piece of music, and every time I listen to it, I feel the power of life. ”

Ramrem frowned and looked at Swain suspiciously.

"It was Volcano March. ”

Swain certainly knew about this piece, which was specially composed by the musician Liszt to commemorate the Empire's victory in the Silesian War. The impassioned tone of this piece is more suitable for solemn occasions, but few people use such majestic music as a pastime in their leisure time.

Even Marshal Rudolph and Marquis Metternich, who had captured the glory of the Silesian War for the Empire, would not do it.

"I know. "But to a depleted soul, this piece is precious. ”

Ramrem pursed his lips disdainfully, she couldn't understand it.

"You should go right away. Swain stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the vast scenery of the wilderness as he said to Ramrem behind him.

"Ah, I ended up living in Midnight Fort for two years, and I never met your sister again, except for the one two years ago, and she didn't even know me. Ramrem said coldly, she had learned a lot in the two years she had been in Fort Midnight, but if there was one thing that had the biggest impact on her, it was probably Swain's face that never changed.

She learned to be sneering, perhaps in response to Sven's expressionlessness, or perhaps so that Sven's expression could be somewhat moved by her sarcasm.

"You won't see each other for years, right?" Swain didn't look back, didn't answer Ramrem's grumble, just said lightly. Ramrem was also silent for a moment, without a deliberately snarky smile on his face.

"Will you miss me?"

"I'll forget about you. Swain turned, his face full of indifference, "But you can't forget who your master is. ”

"Ah, I know. Swain's words annoyed Ramrem, and a faint sneer appeared on her face, "It's Ernest No. Jericht, your father......"

"Quack—"

A raven demon suddenly appeared on Ramrem's shoulder, scarlet eyes staring at Ramrem's face.

A chill instantly rose up the little maid's back, and she could even feel the touch of a crow's beak on her skin.

"Who is your master?"

Sven stared into Ramrem's eyes, but there was no emotion in his own eyes.

"Yes, it's you, Master Swain Noe Jericho......"

Cold sweat slowly ran down Ramrem's forehead, although she had been with Swain for two years, and she often provoked Swain with some harsh words, but once Sven released his crow demon and faced Ramrem as a magician, she still felt a deep fear emanating from the depths of her blood in her bones.

Swain walked over and ruffled Ramrem's sideburns.

"It's good that you know, even wayward cats, if they cross the final bottom line, they will be punished. ”

He twisted the ends of Ramrem's hair and turned away.

Sophia's piano studio is next door, and Swain only needs to turn a corner from the door to meet his sweetest sister.

As it happened, the piano was silent, and Swin pushed open the door and walked in.

"Brother!" Seeing her brother, Sophia immediately pounced happily.

Swain hugged his sister, and only when he saw Sophia did he smile slightly.

Sophia looked up and looked at her brother tenderly, but in that moment, she seemed to see a dark shadow flash by the door behind Swain.

Sophia looked curiously, but didn't see what it was.

"Brother...... Sophia pointed out the door and asked curiously, "I seem to have seen ...... just now"

Sven touched Sophia's head and said very dotingly, "It's nothing, it might just be a black cat." ”