Elaine walked to the edge of the racecourse, because it was only a practice field, so there were no towering stands around the racecourse, only a fence around the racecourse, so as to prevent frightened horses from running out of the racecourse and hurting people. Elaine waved vigorously at Pesa, who was riding on the horse, and the noble prince also saw Elaine outside the racecourse, his legs lightly clamped the horse's belly, and the Farabella horse under his crotch took small steps obediently and walked in the direction of Elaine.

"Senior Pesa!" Elaine leaned to the edge of the fence, her hands propped up on the wooden fence, half of her body leaned to the inside of the fence, "Do you still practice equestrian so hard during your lunch break?"

The corners of Alans' mouth were slightly raised, and even if it was just a faint smile, there was a charming charm. Now there is almost no one else in the racecourse except him, after all, it is lunch break, and even the members of the equestrian department will not work hard to this extent.

"After all, it's been an equestrian competition recently, so I always need to get in touch more. Alans spoke, his voice as beautiful as that of an opera singer, low but quite warm, in line with his temperament, "Elaine-san, who is the one behind you?" he looked up at Sophia, who was still standing in the grove behind Elaine.

Now that Alans had seen her, Sophia stopped hiding and walked out of the grove. She walked about two meters from the racecourse fence and stopped. It wasn't until she got closer to the son of the Duke of Pesa that she noticed that there was a tear mole in the corner of Alans' right eye, which added to his sensuality and charm.

"This is my classmate, Sophia Noe Jericho," Elaine saw that Sophia was standing so far away, so she jumped back and pulled Sophia over, "She's only transferred to school this year." ”

"Hello, Senior Pesa. Sophia was not very used to being half-pulled and half-hugged by Elaine like this, and she greeted Alans in a restrained manner. Although Alans's appearance is indeed very attractive to women, Sophia is only slightly amazed and does not think too much about it.

"Hello, Miss. Alans also greeted politely, but he was very interested in Sophia's surname, "Your surname is No. Jericht, and is Mr. Swain No. Jerichault, the Earl of Midnight, your relative?"

"It's my brother. Sophia couldn't help but have some doubts in her heart, it seemed that her classmates around her today, everyone was talking about her brother, as if Swain had become a news figure in an instant, and everyone knew his name.

"Ah, what an honor!" said Alans, laughing happily, as he dismounted and walked over to Sophia and Elaine, "Your brother was able to protect Her Royal Highness Princess Caterina from the pursuit of Priston and killed Prince Michel VII with his own hands, what a remarkable figure, I have been looking forward to meeting him since I heard about his deeds." ”

"Did you hear about this from the newspaper?" Sophia looked at Elaine beside her, determined to buy the recent newspaper in the imperial capital and read it carefully when she returned, to see what the newspaper said about her brother.

"No," to Sophia's surprise, Alans shook his head, "my father was well acquainted with many important government officials, and I listened to him say these things. ”

Sophia thought about it and felt that it was right, Alans's father, as a duke, must have had a relationship with many big names in the imperial capital.

"Hey, Sophia," said Elaine, pulling Sophia's sleeve, and said to her, "since Senior Pesa really wants to meet your brother, why don't you help him? ”

You're so kind!" Sophia said in her heart, but it didn't show her face at all, and she put on an eager smile, as if she really agreed with Elaine's proposal. "If the senior wishes, then I can introduce you to my brother. ”

"That's great, thank you, Miss Jerichault. Alans said, holding out his hand to Sophia.

Sophia hesitated slightly, Alans is not a nuisance, he doesn't seem to have the frame of a duke's son, he is also very sincere to people, and he is indeed a noble son who can attract women. Sophia reached out and shook Alans gently.

"May I take the liberty of asking, why do you want to meet my brother?" Sophia was a little puzzled in her heart, Alans's performance made him look like a very cheerful person, enthusiastic and active, if it was such a person, then Sophia could also think that he, like Elaine, wanted to meet Swain because he had a longing for a hero. However, thinking of the hesitant look on Alans' face at the beginning, Sophia always felt that Alans was not as innocent as he seemed on the surface.

Sure enough, at the hearing of Sophia's question, Alans' smile paused slightly, and after a moment, he retracted the smile on his face, and a sadness bloomed between his brows. "Actually, I admire you and your brother, and I can't hide it, my father was a well-traveled man, and he had a considerable friendship with Viscount Jericho. ”

Hearing the name of Viscount Jericho, Sophia felt a little uncomfortable, since the last meeting in the Metternich family, Sophia's last remaining admiration for this father has gradually disappeared, she can no longer leave her brother, then, anyone who is incompatible with her brother, Sophia will definitely draw a line with him.

"I knew a thing or two about your brother before it appeared in the newspapers. To be honest, I admire him very much, he lost his mother when he was born, and his father abandoned him, and he was able to grow up so strongly, I think Count Jericho is a man of great tenacity and perseverance. Alans lowered his head slightly, the tears in the corners of his eyes were like real teardrops, all the sadness and hesitation were gathered in it, and it seemed that it would drip at any time, "You should be too, I can see that your heart must also be extremely firm, once you make up your mind, you will not hesitate to achieve it." ”

Alans's words touched Sophia's heart, she thought of the past ten years, and suddenly realized that Alans was the first person to say this to her, and Sophia couldn't help but be grateful to this senior. "I'm willing to do anything for my brother, this mood will never waver!" her tone became excited, perhaps it was Alans's words that touched her heart, and Sophia felt a lot better for the senior.

Elaine looked at Sophia with some surprise, she had thought that Sophia was quite a calm person, but now it seemed that as long as she mentioned her brother, this Miss Jericho could not suppress the excitement in her heart.

"I fully trust your words," Alans said earnestly, looking at Sophia as if they were sympathetic, "Actually, I care so much about my brother and sister because I have had similar experiences. Seven years ago, my mother passed away. ”

"It's a shame. Sophia lowered her head to show her condolences for the deceased, and at the same time she understood in her heart the source of Alans's melancholy, "Did your mother die of illness?"

"No, not an illness. Alans raised his lowered head, his eyes startled Sophia, this suppressed anger and pain to the extreme, almost turned the heart of a noble prince into a devouring beast, "There is no doubt that my mother was murdered!"

"What!" both Sophia and Elaine couldn't help but exclaim, not only Sophia, but also Elaine had heard about it for the first time.

"Seven years ago, my mother, right in front of my eyes, was killed. Alans' voice was so low that Sophia could tell that he was suppressing the heat in his heart.

"This ...... So who is the murderer and why did he do this?" asked Elaine, who was unreservedly concerned about Senior Pesa, and now that she heard about it, she naturally wanted to know more.

"I don't know," Alans shook his head, his black hair scattered, and Sophia noticed that in Alans's black hair, there were a few strands of purple hair that had been concealed, "The murderers took advantage of my mother's visit to the church and shot wildly at my mother's carriage, and the whole carriage was shattered, and my mother died inside. ”

"Was the senior okay then?" asked Elaine.

"I sat in another carriage and narrowly escaped, but my sister was in the same carriage as my mother, and she and she were also killed......," said Alans, unable to contain his sadness, and tears finally flowed.

Seeing the senior crying suddenly, Elaine was at a loss, she didn't know how to comfort the sad senior, but Sophia stepped forward and stroked Alans's shoulder. "Mourn, for so many years have passed, and your mother and sister have been called by the Lord in heaven, and you need not be so sad anymore. Looking at the grieving Alans, Sophia couldn't help but wonder if Swain would be as heartbroken as Alans if something happened to her.

"I know, thank you for your kindness. Alans wiped away his tears, his nose still a little sour, "My greatest wish now is to be able to find the murderers of my mother and sister and avenge them." I think that a strong-willed man like Count Jericho would be able to help me a lot, so I would very much like to see him, and at any rate, please do my best. ”

"I will. Sophia nodded heavily, "It's not too early, please allow us to take our leave first, and when I go back to talk to my brother, arrange the time, and I will come and inform you." ”

"It's so much appreciated. Alans breathed a sigh of relief and seemed relieved, "You can just come to the equestrian department and look for me, and if I'm not there, you can tell the other members and let them tell me." ”

"Okay, then, I'll take my leave. Sophia glanced at Elaine, the silly girl still looked at her Pesa senior with a worried face, staying where she was, not knowing that the lunch break was almost over, "Elaine, let's go back to the classroom." ”

"Ahh......h Good. It took a long time for Elaine to react, and she reluctantly said goodbye to Alans, and left the horse farm with Sophia.

Walking through the grove, Sophia's heart slowly calmed down. Although she was indeed touched by Pesa's incident just now, Sophia, who had calmed down, gradually sensed that something was wrong. According to Alans, his mother and sister died seven years ago, so much time has passed, with the power of the Duke of Pesa, there is no reason why there is no news of the murderer, and besides, he wants to see Swain for this reason, which sounds a little reasonable at first glance, but Sophia calms down and thinks about it, it always feels a little far-fetched, if Swain is a member of the investigation or cracking the conspiracy, then Alans's reason makes sense, but when he first talked about Swain, he mentioned that Swain protected Princess Catalina from the pursuit of Pritown and killed Michel VII, so it is a little strangeWhy did Alans go out of his way to find a counterinsurgency hero to do what a detective does?

Sophia glanced at Elaine quietly, this simple girl seemed to be still immersed in the story of Alans, and was not in a very good mood, the lively and active girl lowered her head and looked sad on her face. Thinking back to Gladys and the image of Alans she had said, Sophia always felt that the son of the Duke of Pesa she had just seen was a little too ordinary, could such a character really be famous in the elite Astrad I College, and fascinate the girls like Elaine?

Doubts were buried in Sophia's heart, and she always felt that something was not normal today.

——————————————

The Metternich family's mansion was damaged in the previous attack and looked a little dilapidated, but after all, it was the top wealthy family in the imperial capital, and after half a month of repair, the building destroyed by the Pritown raiders was quickly restored and restored to its original style.

The carriage stopped at the door of the Metternich mansion, the coachman showed the invitation to the doorman, and the door soon opened, allowing the carriage to enter the sprawling mansion.

Franz waited early in the house, and the rest of the guests had almost arrived, except for a few scholars who lived a little further away. Swain stepped out of the carriage and walked towards Franz, who greeted him.

"Count Jericho, you've finally arrived. Franz greeted him with a smile on his face, "The other guests are in the hall, please let me show you the way." ”

"Thank you. Sven thanked him expressionlessly, "May I ask which other scholars are here today?"

"We have Mr. Carsten No. Niebuhr, the current Rector of the University of Dunndorf, as well as Mr. Marc No. Bloch, Mr. Eric No. Hobsbawm and others. ”

These names were all familiar to Swain, especially Carsten Noe Niebule, a scholar of the same generation as his grandfather, Winston No. Jericht, and a master of historiography. "Hasn't Professor Ranke arrived yet?" Swain asked, seemingly concerned about the professor he had been acquainted with.

"Maybe Professor Ranke's carriage isn't as fast as yours. Franz joked that although Professor Ranke had his own house in the Imperial Palace, he usually lived in the Astrad I School, where the environment was more suitable for him to do research.

Swain nodded, as if not noticing the slight sarcasm in Franz's words. They walked through the long garden walkway into the castle-like mansion of the Metternich family. Entering the hall, the portrait of the Marquis of Metternich is still in sight, but the Marquis himself has experienced this accident, and is obviously not as energetic as he is in the portrait, and even he was unable to go to Hadrian's empire due to physical reasons.

There were already a lot of people gathered in the hall, and they formed their own small circles in groups of threes and twos, and talked to each other about their opinions and ideas among the tables and chairs in the hall. Most of them maintain a gentlemanly demeanor and try not to let their voices affect others, and there are also a few gentlemen who speak excitedly or disagree with others.

The Marquis himself has not yet come out, and considering his grade and the twists and turns he has endured before, scholars with gentlemanly demeanor can understand it. His sons and several adult grandsons presided over the salon, and the Metternich family was so well entertained, not only with snacks and drinks, but also with a number of scribes to follow the illustrious masters, ready to record the famous sayings that might be handed down to posterity, taking into account the temper of the scholars.

Mr. Carsten Noe Niebuhr is clearly worthy of the title of master, having been the youngest associate professor at Dunndorf University forty years ago when Count Winston gave a lecture, and now he has become the rector of the university, which has made a name for himself for his lectures and scholarship, and has become a mainstay of imperial historiography, including Professor Ranke, who was also deeply influenced by Swain.

Because Franz was by Swain's side when he entered the hall, the most favored young man of the Metternich family raised a lot of price for Swain, and many eyes fell on him. Moreover, because Swain was so young, many people wondered who he was—they could not believe that a young man who was still at the age of humbly listening to his teacher could be a famous scholar recognized by the Metternich family.

Franz led Swain directly to Mr. Niebuhr, and around Mr. Niebuhr, there were already many people, most of whom were his protégés, and some of them had become professors who were capable of being independent and influential, but in front of the teacher, they were still students, bowing their heads and listening humbly.

"Mr. Niebuhr, this is Mr. Swain No. Jericht, now His Excellency the Earl of Midnight. Franz introduced the master, "He is also the grandson of the first Earl of Midnight, Mr. Winston No. Jericht." ”

Those who were still puzzled by Swain's identity, and even disdainful of his age, immediately looked at Swain when they heard Winston's name, and they naturally knew what the name Jericho had in today's academic circles, that is, Master Niebuhr, whom they now treated respectfully, also respected that Earl Winston.

"Are you Winston's grandson?" Mr. Niebule was also surprised to hear Franz's introduction, he did not expect that the grandson of his old friend forty years ago would appear in front of him so suddenly.

"Exactly, Mr. Niebuhr. Swain bowed respectfully to Niebuhr, the master still worthy of his courtesy, "It's an honor to meet you." ”