Immediately after leaving the deck, an attendant came to lead Swin and Caterina to their reserved room.

After giving a tip to the courteous waiter, Princess Celestia took care of Charlotte's grooming first. The little girl's body was very thin, and her complexion did not look very healthy, which made Caterina feel distressed. She sat Charlotte on the bed and crouched down herself, arranging the girl's messy collar, just as she had done for her younger siblings before.

"Why did you say that before?" asked Princess Celestia as she unbuttoned Charlotte's misbutton.

"That's the question I'm going to ask. Sven leaned against the doorway, looking at the two girls with a blank expression. His appearance always scared children, and he had scared the little prince Yolo before.

"You think I shouldn't have done that?" Unbuttoned Charlotte's crooked collar, Princess Celestia could see the little girl's almost bony body beneath her clothes. Because of the loose clothes, she didn't notice that Charlotte was so thin at first, and she could even see clear rib marks.

"Her collar was wrongly buttoned, and the mother was careless. Swain said suddenly.

Celestia was stunned for a moment, she looked up at Charlotte's little face, and found that the girl had deliberately turned her face away, not daring to look at her. Caterina suddenly figured something out in her mind, something was not quite right for her until now.

Gently stroking Charlotte's somewhat boring hair, Princess Celestia said softly with a smile on her face: "Sister and brother go out for a while, you stay here obediently!"

Charlotte lowered her face and nodded slightly.

After calming the little girl, Princess Celestia pulled Swain out of the room. Because it was first class, there was no one in the corridor outside the room, and Princess Celestia didn't pull Swain too far before she stopped. "You already saw that?"

Swain narrowed his eyes and stared into Katerina's eyes, which made Princess Celestia a little uncomfortable for a moment. "Haven't you been too sluggish lately, I think your reaction is worrying. Swain's words made Princess Celestia feel less affectionate, even colder than the usual Swain, "Please don't forget your oath, of course, if you don't care, then we can naturally act as if nothing happened." ”

These words made Caterina irritable, and she couldn't help but complain in her heart about Swain's incomprehensible feelings. Why are you always like this, is it in your eyes, can't I be Caterina without the identity of a princess?

"You don't need to remind me all day long!" The irritability in her heart finally turned into venting words, and Princess Celestia yelled at Swain, turning her head impatiently.

Seeing the reaction of the eldest princess like this, Swain also knew that it would be enough to knock here, and if she continued to talk about it, she would probably really anger the princess. "Do you remember what the family looked like?" Sven asked, raising his eyebrows and calmly.

Although she was a little angry with Swain, Caterina immediately remembered what the family was like when she heard his question. "The husband is of medium stature, and looks like an ordinary citizen, but he is quite imposing when he quarrels with the first mate, the wife is a little rich, no different from the average middle-aged woman, and the two sons ......," Caterina recalled, as the two boys had never spoken, and had not made any particularly noticeable moves, which made her impression of them very shallow, "very ordinary, but seemed to be quite tall, a little taller than their father." ”

"Haven't you noticed yet?" Swain glanced at the door to their room, "The family, only the little girl, looked quite malnourished. Although their clothes are not much better, but the two young gentlemen are obviously not badly developed, and they can grow to that size, and there should be no problem with general food and clothing, so why is only the youngest daughter looking yellow and thin?"

was reminded to this extent, the Grand Duke mainly couldn't find the problem, she was really stupid. Remembering the scene she had just seen, she immediately realized that something was wrong with the family. Was Charlotte being abused by her family, or was it ...... Doubts quickly flashed in her heart, and she lowered her head, biting her nails, and thinking slowly.

"So I'm going to ask you. Swain didn't intend to give her time to think, "Why are you doing this, taking the initiative to meddle with this matter." At first I thought you could see the difference, but now it seems that you have more compassion than your wisdom. ”

Being taunted like this by Swain, the irritability in Katerina's heart rose again. I've always wanted to talk to you well, and even if you can't say beautiful verses, you shouldn't say such things! Her teeth were so hard in her heart that she bit her nails off.

"I want you to remember that we are now on the run. Sven whispered in her ear and headed for the room.

"Wait!"

Swain, who was stopped, stopped and turned his face to look at Celestia.

Taking a deep breath, Caterina calmed her mind as much as she could, and although Swain's words had been provoking her sane nerves, she held back her anger. "Now that things have been done, there's no point in regretting it, and the best thing to do is to fix it. Now that you've seen the problem, there's a solution. ”

Swain turned to look at Caterina who had regained her princess bearing, and now she looked so pleased with Sven. The eldest princess of the past two days was too different from before, and Swain couldn't see in her the decisiveness and firmness of saying "If you make up your mind but don't do anything, then what's the use of making such a determination", and it wasn't until just now that Sven finally saw the strong and determined Princess Karin again.

"Actually, you don't have to worry, as long as you can cheer up as you do now, I will repel all enemies for you, as the oath says. Whether the couple were Pritown's eyes and ears, or if they were on the ship for some other purpose, I ......" Swain raised his hand, his gaze still calm, but Princess Celestia could feel the terrible indifference, "will clean them up and join this ship." ”

Katerina's face changed, she had never thought Swain's plan would be so cruel. "Aren't you going to spare even a boatload of people?" she stared at Swain with wide eyes, and even she began to fear Swain.

"Otherwise, how are we going to get to Midnight Castle, and really accompany these people to Port Biss and then turn back? ”

The eldest princess bit her lip, although she should have known it a long time ago, but now she came to her senses, this midnight earl who swore allegiance to her, was not a noble knight riding a white horse, holding a sword in his hand, fighting for glory. Like the nobles of this era, he has long since deviated from the knightly creed of the previous era, and no matter what kind of weapon it is, as long as it is practical enough, then even if the demon sends a magic sword to collect human souls, he will not mind picking it up and cutting it down to anyone.

"Even Charlotte...... Don't you let it go?" Princess Celestia hung her head, the blonde hair escaping from her hat obscuring her expression, and Swain could only hear a hint of her emotions in her suppressed voice.

Swain was about to speak, his index finger shook himself, and the words he was about to say immediately changed. "I'm not right to do it to a little girl who can't resist. Swain turned around, his tone low, even a little sad, "Even if it's me, even if it's like this, I have my own principles. ”

Caterina, who was almost desperate for Swain, heard this, and suddenly had hope for him again. Raising her head, she looked at Swain's back, a figure that was just as she had seen the night she fled from Port Leon, and even in that muffled sentence just now, she could hear Swain's mood swings as she longed to hear.

With a long sigh of relief, Caterina calmed down a little. Although she also understands that there can be no excessive kindness and hesitation at such times, the human heart will always contradict itself and find reasons for its contradictions. Obviously, she has participated in the political conspiracy herself, but now Caterina still wants to keep her original heart, and she is not willing to completely become a politician and conspirator without mercy.

By noon, the Vincent sounded her horn and sailed out of the harbor of Conuet with a long black smoke.

Before the boat left, the first mate finally delivered the clothes he had purchased for Charlotte. Caterina took the little girl to the bath and put on new clothes for her.

Charlotte, who had changed into a long white dress, was not used to wearing such a new dress suddenly, and she wore this dress like a sister to Caterina, who was also wearing a long white dress. The eldest princess also deliberately took care of Charlotte's hair, and the little girl who washed it dry and tightly looked a lot more beautiful, although her hair was still a little boring, but at least she had the cute appearance that she should have at her age.

Perhaps because of Swain's previous words, Caterina took care of Charlotte more meticulously, taking care of this poor girl as if she were taking care of her own younger siblings.

Because it is a first-class cabin, there are also high-end snacks in the room. Princess Celestia found a box of chocolates, peeled one open, and gently shoved it into Charlotte's mouth.

Charlotte, who had never eaten such a dessert, refused to put the black ball in her mouth at first, but when the tip of her tongue touched the intoxicating taste, she swallowed the chocolate without even letting it melt in her mouth.

If you swallow chocolate like this, you won't be able to taste it. Charlotte licked her lips and looked at Princess Celestia with some confusion.

Seeing the girl's cute appearance, the eldest princess couldn't help but laugh. She peeled off another one and handed it to Charlotte. "Take it in your mouth, wait for it to melt slowly, and don't rush to swallow it. ”

Charlotte did as Princess Celestia said, taking the chocolate in her mouth, and sure enough, the sweet taste continued to bloom on her tongue.

Looking at Charlotte, who was tasting chocolate and her face was flushed crimson, Princess Celestia's smile softened even more. From the little girl's reaction just now, she could tell that this girl had never eaten such a sweet, and she had never even seen it.

With love for Charlotte and worry about Swain's plans, Princess Celestia peels off a chocolate and puts it in her mouth. "Do you want it?" asked Caterina as she turned her head.

Swain shook his head, he used to love this dessert, but now he doesn't have this hobby.

Since Swain doesn't eat, then Caterina is not going to be polite. After eating another one, she suddenly realized that Charlotte was just watching her eat, but she didn't dare to take it.

"Take it if you want to eat it, it's okay. Caterina stroked Charlotte's shaved yellow hair and said softly.

The little girl blinked, and after making sure that it was really edible, she carefully picked up a piece of chocolate, peeled off the candy wrapper, and stuffed it into her mouth.

Princess Celestia looked at her with a smile.

"Actually......" Charlotte suddenly lowered her head, her words had just begun, but she never continued.

"Actually, what?" Caterina still stroked her hair gently, and there was no urge in her tone.

"Mr. and Mrs. Rice are not my parents. She said in a low voice, as if she was afraid that she would be blamed, and she did not dare to look up at Caterina at all.

Princess Celestia had already guessed this, so she was not surprised at all. "And did they adopt you?" she whispered, her fingers running over the little girl's hair, and the feeling of her hair being combed by her soft fingers made Charlotte let out a soft sigh.

"My parents passed away years ago, and they were my aunt and uncle, so I stayed with them. ”

"I see. Princess Celestia caressed Charlotte's face lovingly, and the little girl seemed to trust her quite much if she was willing to say this to her.

Swin, who was sitting at the desk, looked at the little girl coldly, and he even doubted whether the identity of the so-called aunt and uncle was also true.

"Don't be afraid when you're around me, aren't the Rices treating you badly?" Princess Celestia comforted Charlotte by patting her thin back.

Charlotte shook her head, looking at her, not too scared or resentful of the Rices. "They are not bad to me, but my aunt is not rich either, and the family is already very hard, so I have to save as much as possible and not cause them too much trouble. ”

"What a sensible child—" Princess Celestia sighed, her eyes softening as she looked at Charlotte.

"And ......," the little girl whispered.

"Huh?"

"I'm not five and a half years old, I'm eight years old. ”

This time the eldest princess was taken aback, she looked at Charlotte carefully, this petite figure did not look like an eight-year-old child at all. Because there are many younger brothers and sisters, the eldest princess is still very clear about children of different ages. If the face may not be visible because of malnutrition and too thin, then the height is really strange, after all, this age is when the body is growing, and the difference between two years old is very large.

However, Charlotte is indeed taller than the average five or six-year-old child, and it is no wonder that the first mate thinks she is more than five and a half years old.

There was a sudden knock on the door, and Swain got up and opened it, and behind it was a ship's attendant.

"Hello, Mr. Hex. The waiter bowed respectfully to Swain, "The couple from before wanted to see you and Miss Winterforth. ”

"Tell them I'll go later. Swain only let go of a word, and then closed the door.

"Do you want to use me?" asked Princess Celestia, Swain just now using only "I" and not "we".

"No need. He glanced up at the clock, "You guys go to the restaurant first, I'll be there later." ”

"Okay. Caterina didn't ask much, as if she had seen Swain's exposed minions.

Leaving the room, Swain and Princess Charlotte walked in two different directions. At the top of the staircase, the family was waiting for his reception. "Mr. Rice...... Is it?" Swain slowly paced in front of the family, his cane still tapping on the ground from time to time, showing the arrogance of the nobles.

"Yes. Mr. and Mrs. Rice lowered their heads, seeing Swain's gesture, they didn't think he was a good talker, "Thank you very much for taking care of your little girl, but Charlotte hasn't been disciplined well after all, and she's just afraid of causing trouble to the two of you, so ......"

"So you want her back?" Swain interrupted Mr. Rice.

Mr. and Mrs. Rice bowed their heads and remained silent. Swain looked at the two boys behind them, the older one looked to be at least eighteen years old, and the younger brother was fifteen or sixteen years old, both of them were much older than Charlotte, and although Swain couldn't be sure if their thin-looking bodies were really the same as they appeared, their height did show that they were well nourished. It's just that their expressions are a little wooden, and the eighteen-year-old can be said to be an adult, but the eldest son has never said a word, and when he is on the deck, his expression is not as rich as Charlotte's.

"These two ......," Sven suddenly asked, looking at the brothers, "where were they born?"

"It was in Konué that our family lived here until the recent war, when we had to take refuge with our relatives in Port Bis. Mr. Rice did not understand why Swain was asking the question, but he answered honestly, so as not to anger the arrogant-looking nobleman.

"Then the Tsunami of Port Biss twelve years ago, they must have experienced it. Looking at the age of the eldest son, there should still be memories of that year. ”

Swain's words became more and more confusing to the Rice family, and Mr. Rice didn't even know how to take it.

"You can go back. Sven suddenly slammed his cane on the floor, a sound that echoed through the stairs.

"But, sir, Charlotte ......"

"I've already said it," Swain's icy gaze was fixed on Mr. Rice, the middle-aged man was actually scared into a cold sweat by Sven, who was about the size of his son, "I will never take back what I said. ”

With that, Swain flicked the hem of his shirt and walked away, leaving only the Rice couple to look at each other.

And behind the couple, in the corner they didn't see, the Les brothers also looked at each other, and there was a look of clarity in their eyes.