While Swain and the others were still talking in the living room, the dance party in the hall had begun, and as a couple of men and women danced on the dance floor to the music, Atmis, who was sitting next to him, realized that he seemed to be in the wrong place.

When she first entered the Metternich mansion, most of the guests in the garden were young nobles or merchants and bankers, and the hall was mostly young people, and it was clear that the different venues were for different guests, and the hall was for the young nobles to dance and talk to each other.

She couldn't help but wonder if her father was in such a hurry to run just now and told herself to stay here, whether she had already seen this and deliberately designed it.

However, she was glad that she was wearing a man's outfit now, and no one would want to invite her to dance.

"May I sit here?" was thinking as Artemis said a girl in front of her. The girl was about the same age as her, but she was very petite, with a pair of glasses on her small face, and she looked very gentle, and her voice was a little shy and timid.

"You please. She smiled at the girl, the child made her think it was cute, and besides, it was best for such a girl to sit next to her, and to avoid being accosted.

After thanking Artmis, the girl took down the seat where the Earl of Hecate had been seated, and then, to Atmis's surprise, she took out a tome from her handbag and read it.

Atmiss felt that it was already strange for him to patronize and eat at the ball, but he didn't expect that there was an even more eccentric person around him. She couldn't help but glance at the girl's handbag, which looked like it could just fit the book, which meant that the girl didn't have anything with her but the book.

Although Artemis usually doesn't seem to be interested in anything, it's not that Artemis is really completely uncurious, she just hates to do what her father and the family ask. And now there was such a little girl sitting next to her, and she couldn't help but ask, "Well, what book are you reading?"

"The Biography of Astrad is the biography of His Majesty Astrad I, the first emperor of the Empire. As she spoke, she held the book up and showed Artemis the title on the cover.

It's such a serious thing. Artemis couldn't help but complain in his heart. But she immediately noticed something else.

Author...... Winston No. Jericht?" she was surprised to see Jerichault's last name on the cover, "Uh, that, do you know the author of this book?" she asked, a little embarrassed, because she couldn't call the other person's name.

"Just call me Gladys," the girl saw the cause of Artmis's embarrassment, "Gladys Rank." ”

There is no promise. Hearing the name, Artemis immediately had this knee-jerk reaction, although she didn't really care if she was from a noble background or not. However, when she heard the surname Ranke, she immediately thought of someone. "Your last name is Ranke, and your father is Clemens Ranke?"

Gladys blinked curiously and asked, "Do you know my father?"

"Ah, a friend of mine is a colleague of mine and used to teach at a public school. ”

"Really?" Gladys, looking at Artemis with delight, "what a coincidence. ”

It's a coincidence, but you'd better not know what that friend of mine looks like. Artemis thought to herself, she was sure that Manfred would deal a major blow to the girl's outlook on life.

"Ahem, Gladys, can you tell me who the author of this book is?" Coughing, Artemis turned back to the subject.

"Ah, do you mean this Mr. Jerichault? I heard that he was a very famous scholar forty years ago, and had written a lot of research, but he never appeared again. ”

Listening to Gladys's description, Artemis thought that this should be Swain's grandfather, the former Midnight Earl Winston No. Jericht.

"Can you tell me about this person?"

"Yes!" Geatis laughed heartily at hearing that someone was interested in his favorite thing.

"The Count of Jericho is said to have been a very knowledgeable scholar, who was a well-known figure more than forty years ago, and the doctrine opened up a new horizon and perspective at the time. But then I don't know why he never appeared in the academic circle of the imperial capital again, and no new works came out, but he continued his research in the countryside, and I don't know what happened to this gentleman now.

Although Count Jericho has not updated his academic theories for forty years, the theoretical school he founded is still a mainstream school of history today, and my father was convinced of his theories, and I feel that his theories are the most reasonable of all schools of thought today. The school founded by Count Jerichault - although the Count himself did not mean it and the school did not bear his name - the Dunndorf School was named after the University of Dunndorf where the Earl had lectured, and where my father also graduated.

The Dunndorff school attaches great importance to the objective evaluation of history, and the earl has put forward a basic view of the Dunndorf school, that is, the evaluation of history should not be subjectively good or bad, but should be objectively evaluated, and the original appearance of things should be descriptively recorded, which is the most basic characteristic of the Dunndorf school, and it is also the foothold of the school. The objective recording of things has been agreed upon by many historians, who believe that this is the best way to reflect history as it is. However, there are also some people who disagree, they feel that history is to provide lessons for mankind, it is inherently subjective, and completely objective history cannot play its own original role. In this regard, Count Jericho proposed that after objectively recording history, it can be evaluated, but the evaluation should not be evaluated with the limited values of the times, but should be judged from the long-term perspective of the development of the times, that is, the evaluation of history should not be divided into good and bad, but should be divided into positive and negative aspects. The so-called positive nature means that it has a role in promoting historical development and social progress, while the negative nature has a relative hindering effect. However, positivity does not mean that it is good, negativity does not mean that it is bad, negativity and positivity will exist in a historical thing at the same time, when it is in the forefront of the times it will be positive, and when it lags behind the times, it will become negative, for example, we are now steam trains, now this means of transportation is the most progressive of the times, it can provide the fastest transportation speed at present, whether it is population flow or commercial development or other aspects, it plays a positive role, but if there is a mode of transportation in the future that is much more efficient and faster than it, then it will become negative。 ”

When it comes to his favorite things, Gladys is almost endless, without the slightest hint of shyness or timidity. Although Artemis didn't understand a lot of things, and was even a little dizzy, at least she understood one thing, that is, this old earl was really a very powerful person.

The dance floor had long since ended, and many people had gone to rest, but Gratis had said for so long that he didn't look like he had to take a break at all, and continued: "The Dunndorf School has become the mainstream of academia with these objective and unflawed views. However, in addition to these views, the Count actually put forward a number of controversial views, which became the greatest disagreement within the school because Count Jericho never spoke out again. ”

Hearing this, Atmiston, who was almost asleep, became interested. "What is that?"

Gladys furrowed her little eyebrows, her expression not as relaxed as she had just been. According to the earl, society has its fixed structure and order, and for society, the people and resources it needs are relatively fixed, although it will change according to the times and the changes in productivity, but its limits still have upper and lower limits. To put it simply, he believes that it is impossible for everyone in this society to have a rich and happy life, there are always people who have to live at the bottom of the society, bear the social pressure and pain filtered by the society through the hierarchy, even if the productive forces are more developed in the society, such pressure and pain will still exist, and the society will collectively inflict violence on the bottom, whether conscious or unconscious, we are all inflicting pain on others, including those who themselves belong to the bottom and are inflicted pain, and they are also inflicting pain on each other。 ”

Artemis couldn't help but furrow. "What a pessimism. However, this is no longer the realm of mere historiography and belongs to the realm of social philosophy. ”

"Yes, so even my father said that Count Jericho was a brilliant historian, but as a sociologist and philosopher he was too pessimistic and cold. However, this is also very in line with the earl, his historiographical theory attaches such importance to objectivity, so his social ideals will also lack initiative. ”

Artmis was silent for a moment, although it was not her intention to understand these academic things, but it is true that what Gladys said had a great impact on her. "Forget it, these things are too heavy. Do you know anything about his family?"

"I'm sorry, that Count Jericho is so mysterious, even my father only heard him talk when he was a student, and he knows even less about his family. ”

"Oh, that's right. Atmiss nodded, then suddenly remembered something very important, "Ah!, sorry, I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Atmiss Diana Noe Heckat, and it's a pleasure to talk to you." ”

"Well, Artmis. Gladys blushed slightly and looked at Atmiss a little shyly, "It's a pleasure to be friends with you." ”

"Me too. ”

"So......" Gladys put down his book, "you are one of the few people who is willing to listen to me so much, and in return will you ask me to do a dance?"

"Of course. Artemis gladly agreed, and then stood up and held out his hand to Gladys, "Would you like to dance with me?" ”

"Well, okay. Gladys' face flushed, for the first time she had been invited to dance.

Although Atmiss and Gladys did not come with the intention of having fun, an unexpected encounter immersed them in the joy of music and dance steps. While Artemis and a confused Gladys were dancing together on the dance floor, at the end of the corridor outside the parlor, Count Hecate was hiding in a utility room, tending to his wounds.

At this moment, the elegant and calm Rose Knight could no longer maintain his aristocratic bearing, he leaned against the wall in embarrassment, sat on the ground, blood gushing from his abdomen, even if he held it down with both hands, it was difficult to stop much. He was already feeling a little dizzy, he was bleeding so badly now, and if he continued like this, it wouldn't be long before he would fall into a coma from the loss of blood and die.

He endured the pain, and with great difficulty concentrated his spirit, unleashing his magic to summon a demon, he had to find Artemis quickly, and call her over, with the Earl's current state, it was already difficult to concentrate on releasing a spell.

After the moth-like demon flew out, the Count shuddered and took a thumb-sized piece of sapphire from the inner pocket of his gown and placed it on his wound. He learns the gem magic that has been passed down from generation to generation by the Hecate family, and is able to use the magic contained in the gems. Sapphire is a symbol of purification, has the effect of removing diseases and curses, and can also be used as a sedative in magic. He pressed the blue crystal against the wound, which made it more painful, but the magic in the crystal could slowly freeze the wound and slow down the bleeding.

When Count Hecate was dying, Artmis, who had finished dancing with Glatis and had taken a break, finally spotted the moth that had been flying beside him. She sensed the magic of Count Hecate from the moth.

"I'm sorry, Gratis, I have something to do, so I'll take my leave. ”

Artemis hurriedly greeted his new friend, and then followed the flying demon to the location of Count Hecate. Gladys, who remained in the hall, was a little puzzled, but she didn't ask too much, she didn't want to leave a bad impression on her new friends.

By the time Artemis felt the utility room, the Count was already unconscious, and there was already a large patch of blood under him, and the blood on his body had gradually congealed because of the cold weather.

"Dad!" Atmiss was taken aback, she had no idea that her father would be like this after going out for so long. She hurried to the Count's side, holding down his wounds, and using healing magic to ease his wounds.

After Artmis's treatment, the bleeding from the Count's wound was finally stopped, and the effect of the healing magic also made the Count's condition slightly better, and his consciousness was clearer again.

"Artmis?" the Count looked at his daughter weakly, who was usually at odds with him, but now her face was worried and anxious, which made the Earl's heart feel a warm current.

"Dad, how are you feeling? I'll summon Manfred and have him take us back to Glamorgan. ”

"No, wait......" Just as Artemis was about to summon Manfred, the Count stopped her, "you can't just go back like this, and leave without saying hello to your master, it's ...... It's too bad for the image of the Hecate family. ”

"When is it, you still care about this, don't you want your own life?" "Artemis burst into tears, and now she felt that the Count's insistence was unreasonable.

"And, if we disappear like this, the Metternich will be suspicious. Tonight...... There's a lot going on here tonight, and Metternich might notice something...... This is the duty of Lesson 13. The Count said with difficulty, and it was a torment for him to spit out even a word now.

Artemis gritted his teeth. "That's why I hate the thirteen lessons, and I hate the responsibilities of the family. Although she said so, she knew that if she did not follow the Count's wishes, he would really rather die here than go back. In desperation, Artemis lifted Count Hecate up and cast a silent spell to keep them unnoticed.

Artemis helped the Count to walk slowly, she did not dare to walk too fast, for fear that the Count's wound would open again. As she walked into the hall, she saw Glatis sitting alone on the edge of the dance floor, because the girl wouldn't notice them now, but Artemis saw loneliness in her face.

I'm sorry. Sincerely apologizing to the lonely girl, Artemis had to continue walking with his father. Seeing Gladys like that, Artemis could understand why the girl was so happy after talking to her, probably because she was a friendless child.

Approaching the door, Artemis met Franz. Seeing the Metternich man, Artemis lowered the effect of his magic, and when he walked up to Franz, he finally noticed the Hecate father and daughter.

"Oh, good evening, Miss Hecate, is this the Earl?" Although he wondered why he had come up to him and found out, Franz immediately forgot these doubts when he saw the Count leaning on his daughter.

"My father has drunk too much, so I'm sorry, Mr. Metternich, and we're going to take our leave to-morrow. ”

"Ah, that's right, it's okay, please pay attention to safety on the road. ”

After sending Franz away, and finally fulfilling his father's request, Artemis finally threw off a burden in his heart.

With all her might, Artemis carried the Count into the carriage, closed the door, closed the curtain, and began to call out to Manfred. Hurry up and pick us up!!

Soon, the door was opened, and behind it was no longer the street of the White Browning district, but the room of Govellenburg. "Is something wrong?" asked Manfred, knowing that Artemis would not have summoned him so eagerly if he had to.

"My father was injured, he was bleeding a lot and now he has fainted. ”

Hearing this, Manfred also dared to rush forward to check the Count's injuries.

"Get the room and my surgical equipment ready. "Too much magic has been used, and the Count can't bear the erosion of magic anymore." ”