After being politely invited out of the drawing room by Franz, Swain and Sophia stayed in a room that Metternich had prepared for them. Although Franz politely said that he was afraid that they would be frightened, and let them rest here. But Swain could see Franz's uneasiness as he spoke.

"Brother, you weren't hurt just now. Sophia looked at her brother worriedly, she had heard the gunshots just now, and although Swain seemed to be fine, she was still afraid that Sven had been hurt somewhere.

Sven took off his trench coat and threw it on the bed. "It's okay, don't worry. ”

Sophia looked at her brother carefully and made sure that he didn't have any wounds on his body before reluctantly.

"Hungry? I haven't eaten anything that night. Swain stroked Sophia's head, and her tone was very gentle. He looked at Sophia, his eyes were different from before, and he looked a different kind of pity.

"Brother, ......" Sophia couldn't help but be shy when Swain looked at her, but she also felt that something was wrong with Swain.

"Let's go get something to eat first, a rare banquet. With that, Swain took Sophia's hand and led her out of the room.

The dance party continued in the hall, and the music and the enthusiasm of the youth muffled the ominous night. This is what the nobles of the imperial capital are really like, they indulge in joy and enjoy the prosperity, and it is the revelries and gatherings like the Metternich that make the night of the imperial capital more noisy and prosperous than the day.

Swain asked the waiter for two glasses of mulled wine, and then took his sister to find some delicate desserts at the table at the edge of the hall. It has to be said that the wealth of the Metternich family is manifested in all aspects, and these huge number of desserts have kept the chefs of several dessert houses busy for nearly a week to complete, but the Metternich family holds meetings more frequently than the workers, although not always on such a large scale.

Swain wasn't interested in dancing, but Sophia was a little eager to try it, but she didn't offer it, she wanted her brother to invite her. To her disappointment, though, even though Swain seemed more gentle tonight, his sensitivity had decreased, and he had not noticed the look of anticipation in Sophia's eyes.

It may be unsightly, but Swain took his sister to the Metternich family table for a good tooth sacrifice. This kind of appearance of only caring about food made many aristocratic young people quite sideways, and the eyes that looked at Jericho's brothers and sisters were quite disdainful and arrogant.

This kind of gaze on Sophia made her really uncomfortable, although it was not pampered, but Sophia, who grew up under the care of her grandfather and brother since she was a child, had a hard time accepting such a gaze, and it was even more difficult to accept such a gaze on her brother. Although she was nurtured by her grandfather to become a lady who knows how to treat people gently and humbly, this does not mean that she has no pride of her own at all, and it does not mean that she can be bullied.

Sophia, who couldn't stand this kind of staring, cast a vague glance on the dance floor from time to time. She doesn't feel that her brother is a loser, she trusts her brother unconditionally, believes that what her brother does is justified and has a reason, she only feels that those young people are hateful at this time, they are all ants in front of her brother, if her brother wants to, she can burn these guys to ashes at any time.

Swain also noticed Sophia's glances at the dance floor from time to time. "Want to do a dance?" he asked suddenly.

"Huh?" Sophia was stunned for a moment, she was thinking about something else just now, "When, of course, I'm honored." Although Swain, who hadn't noticed the gesture in her eyes just now, suddenly invited Sophia to Sophia, she still happily accepted.

Swain took Sophia's hand and walked onto the dance floor, just as the band was playing a waltz, so the two stepped on a three-minute beat and stood on the revolving stage and began to square and spin.

"Brother," Sophia's face flushed, "this is the first time we've danced at a ball." ”

"Well, after all, Midnight Castle has never had such an opportunity. ”

Looking at the rare soft expression on Swain's face, a special emotion rippled in Sophia's heart. Swain rarely shows emotion on his face anymore, so much so that sometimes even Sophia feels that Swain no longer has any feelings and mood swings in his heart. However, only when he looked at her, Swain would show a rare little pity and tenderness, which made Sophia firmly believe that she was special in her brother's heart, just as her brother was unique and irreplaceable in her heart.

"I'm really not used to dancing. Wrong again, Swain let out a self-deprecating sigh. And seeing that her brother, who had always been strong and perfect in front of her, would make a low-level mistake, Sophia couldn't help but chuckle. However, in Sophia's heart, she still had a question, Sven was too abnormal tonight, especially after leaving the living room, he was a little too gentle. In the past, he would have been gentle with Sophia, but he would never have been as obvious as he had been tonight. Sophia was even more skeptical about what had happened in the few minutes when it was dark in the living room.

"Brother, just take your time, follow my steps, don't rush. Sophia watched Swain's every move, both fast and slow, and Swain looked so embarrassed for the first time. And seeing her brother's appearance, Sophia couldn't help but laugh.

"Ugh—" Sven sighed helplessly.

"Brother, don't give up, come on. Sophia cheered Swain on, "Grandfather never let you learn this dance, so you're just a little unfamiliar with it, just practice a little and you'll be fine." ”

"I'd rather go minuet. Swain shook his head, looking a little disillusioned with the waltz.

Despite Sophia's efforts to take Swain with him, he probably didn't really have much talent for dancing, and after a song, he said he wouldn't dance anymore. The Jericho siblings, who had left the dance floor, sat down in a secluded corner of the hall, where there was not even enough lighting, and no one wanted to stay in this corner except for a young girl who had been reading a book.

"Shall we sit here?" Swain asked politely, but his sudden voice startled the girl. She jerked her head up and looked at the two men in front of her in surprise, as if she had only noticed them at this point.

"Yes, please ......," replied Geratis, in a weak voice. She had been so engrossed in the book that she didn't notice anyone coming up to her. She carefully looked at the man and woman, especially when she saw Sophia holding Swain's arm so intimately, she had the first impression that it was a couple. It's just that, although the young lady did have an admirable beauty, the gentleman, his serious expression had frightened Gretis from looking at him more.

"Thank you. Sven and Sophia didn't pay as much attention, after all, Gladys kept her head down and stared at the book, and they couldn't see her expression. However, Swain was interested in the books she read.

"Is this the Biography of Astrald?" Swain tilted his head slightly to the side, looking at the book. He didn't know that his small movement had scared Gratis stiff.

"Yes, yes, have you read the book?" Although he was afraid to talk to such a strange man, Gladys would have a special courage to support him when he talked about the book.

"Ah, of course. Swain didn't tell her directly that the book was written by her grandfather, "My name is Swain, and this is my sister Sophia." ”

It turned out to be a brother and sister. Gladys looked at Sophia, who was smiling at her, smiled at her with some restraint and nodded, which was regarded as a greeting. However, it really doesn't look like it.

"Hello, Mr. Swain. My name is Gladyse Ranke. Although Swain didn't give his last name, Gladys didn't think much of it and quickly gave him his name.

"Ranke, are you Professor Clemens Ranke's daughter?" asked Swain, surprised.

But Gladys was even more surprised than Sven. Usually few nobles knew her father, but the two people who spoke to her today knew each other, and Gladyse wondered if the world was too small or the night was too wonderful.

"You...... Know my father?" Gladys choked back the "also" on his lips at the critical moment.

"It's not an acquaintance, but I've read several of the professor's books, such as "History of the Franknian Peoples" and "The Clerical Movement in the Time of Teyudmund I". It can be seen that the professor was deeply influenced by the Dunndorf School. ”

Gladys couldn't help but be amazed that it was the first time she had met someone her age who knew so much about his father and the academic world. Normally, most of the people she met who were about the same age as her had never heard of his father's name, even her classmates who had taken his father's class, and they didn't know what his father had written, and at most they would be a little curious like Artmis, but they didn't know about it. And the Mr. Swain in front of her now could not only speak of those difficult and difficult books, but also seemed to have really studied them.

Seeing Geratis's surprised look, Sophia couldn't help but cover her mouth and snicker. If the girl knew that the author of the book she had in her hand was her brother's grandfather, her expression would have been more interesting.

"May I take the liberty of asking, what do you think of my father's book?" Gletis's interest suddenly rose when he met a peer who also studied this subject. This person should not be a prejudiced person, but a good person. She thought expectantly.

"If anything, Professor Ranke's work is a good example of the objectivism of the Dunndorff School. Taking the "History of the Franconian Nation" as an example, he has made a very detailed study of the rise, development and demise of the Franconian Empire and the Franconian nation, and it is rare that he did not avoid the fact that the empire invaded the Franks, and what is even more commendable is that he also found the historical materials of the twenty-third generation of Counts of Glamorgan, showing us how Astrad I annexed the Frankish kingdom and finally established the Siliul Empire. However, the professor does not comment on the practices of the empire in the book, he does not judge any historical sources, and he can be regarded as fully abiding by the tenets of the Dunndorf school. ”

"So, if you were to judge His Majesty Astrad I's actions, how would you evaluate it?" Swain's words made Gladys's eyes light up, she had forgotten her shyness, and asked Swain a slightly excessive question. Although His Majesty has long been history, it is still a bit rude to ask such a question when we meet for the first time.

Fortunately, tonight, at least for now, Swain is in a good mood. He didn't mind Gladys's petty excesses, and even somewhat admired the girl's boldness. "If by the standards of Count Jericho, Astrad I succeeded in building an empire that largely unified the western part of the continent. The historical process also shows that the development and progress of society and mankind require the centralization and distribution of resources, which requires a unified, large and powerful state. ”

Gladys nodded as she listened, she now felt like she had met a soulmate. Still, there was one thing she was curious about. "Mr. Swain, may I ask you why you are so interested in historiography? ”

"It's kind of a homeschool. Swain looked at Gladys, his face calm but not stiff, "And I think the next century, unlike the last century, which was the century of philosophy, this century will be the century of historiography." ”

"Why is that?" asked Gladys, curious, she hadn't heard of such a statement.

"This is the inevitability of the maturity of a major power that can influence the world, and the inevitability of the maturity of the world system as a whole. Now there is an order that can be passed through the world, especially the great powers, like empires, like Hadrian, and empires in the desert across the continent to the south. We can seek what we need through order, not just war. Therefore, the development of historiography will be inevitable, because the empire needs a history that can add glory to the empire, and it also needs history to summarize the experience of the past. In other words, we need to master order. ”

"Sounds really exciting. Gladys exclaimed, "A century of historiography, a century of peace, ah, what a wonderful world." ”

Sophia quietly glanced at the girl who had fallen into the beautiful world that Swain had constructed, if she had known what her brother had said about the situation in this world in front of the Marquis of Metternich and others, her dream would have been shattered in an instant.

"If I have the chance, I would love to visit Professor Ranke, who I think is the best person to inherit the essence of Earl's thought after Count Jericht. ”

"I will convey your wishes to my father, and I am sure that my father will be happy to meet you. Gladys looked at Swain and blinked, "It's just a pity he wasn't able to come here today." ”

Gladys's later remark made the Jericho siblings wonder who would have brought such a young girl into the social arena if her father hadn't brought her here, especially since she didn't seem to be very good at socializing.

"Ah, Gladys, here you are!"

Just as Swin and Sophia were wondering, a somewhat high-pitched cry reached their ears. Following the source, they saw a lady who resembled Gladys walking towards them.

"I'm sorry, I was too engaged with Mrs. Owen just now. The slightly blessed lady turned her kind gaze to Sven and Sophia, "Are these two your new friends?"

"Well, yes, Mother, they're brother and sister Swin and Sophia. Gladys told her mother.

"Yes, that's wonderful!" said Mrs. Ranke, who was glad that her daughter had made friends, and evidently knew how unsociable her daughter was. She looked at the Jericho siblings more kindly, especially when she looked at Swain.

"Hello, ma'am, it is an honor to meet you. With Mrs. Ranke watching like this, Swain naturally couldn't sit like that anymore. He got up, bent slightly to his wife, took her hand and kissed her on his middle finger.

"Hello young sir, I am Sigrid Ranke and my father is Sven Noe Ingrin. The lady winked playfully at Swain, "It's the same name as you." ”

This coincidence was a bit of a surprise to Sven, but he was more aware of something else. Although this lady's father, Swain, has not heard of it, judging from the name, he should also be a nobleman, so to speak, this lady gave up her status as a nobleman and married Professor Ranko. In this case, Gladys did not inherit the nobility from her mother because she inherited her father's surname, but she had half aristocratic blood. Then she would be unsociable and seem to have no friends, and Professor Ranke's inability to be there today can be explained.

"It's a coincidence, but maybe it's the Lord's arrangement. ”

Mrs. Ranke was pleased with Swain's attitude, and although the young man had been wearing an expressionless face, he did not seem to be arrogant, but on the contrary, he knew how to deal with people.

"It's rare to have such a grand ball, why don't you go and dance one?"

Mrs. Ranke's words made Swain froze for a moment, and he didn't want to dance any more if he could. However, he hesitated, but did not refuse the lady's offer, which would be neither gentlemanly nor reasonable.

But just as he was about to stretch out his hand, Madame suddenly said, "I'm not old enough to dance with a young man like you, would you like to dance with Gladys?"

Madame's words made both Sven and Gretis a little stunned, they never expected Madame to mean this. Only Sophia narrowed her eyes, looking at the mother and daughter with a dangerous gaze, and it was clear that she had already seen Madame Rank's intentions.

Swain looked at Gladys, and the girl bowed her head shyly, she was still the shy girl when she wasn't talking about academics. She had a certain admiration and affection for Swain, which came from the wealth of knowledge that Swain had just shown and his thoughts. But, beyond that, Glatis didn't think Swain would be any more intimate than Artmis.

Swain didn't have that many thoughts of a little girl, and he didn't think much of it, but just followed Mrs. Rank's wishes and stretched out his hand to Glatis. "Would you like to dance with me, Miss?"

Gladys nodded, still not raising her face, but Mrs. Ranke and Jericho could imagine what the girl looked like now.

And Swain, who walked on the dance floor, couldn't help but shake Gratis's hand when he heard the music change.

"What's wrong?" asked Gladys, who felt Swain's strangeness, whispered.

"It's a waltz again, and I hate three-point shots. Swain said helplessly.

"Actually, I don't really know how to dance...... Ah, I'm sorry!"

“...... Never mind. Swain shook his head.

Gladys stepped on his feet in the first step.