Caterina lay on her bed, stroking the silver pistol in her hand, a slightly lonely look on her face. The pistol was handed to her by Swain the day after the dinner, and was engraved with the words, "If these palace frighten you, take comfort from the knowledge that I am here."

"It's ...... to use such words to prevaricate even though she said that," Caterina stared at the inscription on the gun, tears glistening in her eyes, but she finally tried to suppress her urge to cry.

"Too bad!"

"Bang Bang"

There was a knock on the door, and Caterina hurriedly hid her pistol under her pillow, and then straightened her countenance, especially the marks in the corners of her eyes, before getting up to open the door.

The door opened, and the Empress of the Empire was standing in the doorway, quietly looking at her daughter.

"Mother. Caterina lowered her head, not daring to look Queen Anna in the eye, "Good morning." ”

"Karin, it's so late, why haven't you gotten up yet?" Queen Anna frowned and scolded with a little dissatisfaction, originally even if the princess got up late, there were female officials in the palace to wake up Katarina, but because of Katarina's consistent good work and rest habits, female officials rarely needed to remind her, so they would inevitably be lazy. And today, until breakfast time Katerina did not appear, Queen Anna herself came to wake up Katarina.

"I'm sorry, Mother, I'm ...... today," Caterina tried to think of an excuse, but she knew that ordinary excuses would not be hidden from her mother.

"Look at me, Karin. The Empress grabbed Caterina by the shoulders and made her look at herself, "I heard your father say that he seems intent on you marrying Count Jericho, are you bothered by this?"

Hearing Count Jericho, Katerina's pupils couldn't help but shrink slightly, and a complicated look appeared on her face, which looked a little melancholy and a little embarrassed.

The queen looked at her daughter tenderly with her wrinkled eyes, she knew Caterina well, at least, she could see that her daughter was not completely devoid of feelings for the Count Jericho.

"But he refused, and then His Majesty didn't mention it again—" Empress Anna sighed, feeling a little dissatisfied with Swain in her heart, "Your father has been busy with government affairs lately, and his temper is getting worse and worse, so there are some things you don't want to resent him, okay?"

Caterina lowered her eyes again, avoiding her mother's gaze. "I don't resent my father, I know he's worked hard. And, as a princess, I understand that my marriage can't be so free. ”

The queen breathed a sigh of relief, but thinking of her daughter's grievances because of this, she sighed again, feeling sad for this sad royal life.

"Let's go out for a walk today, and I'll be with Charlotte. Empress Anna touched Caterina's head dotingly, "By the way, do you want to go to the Duke of Pesa's side, the situation is so chaotic during this time, and even many people have lost their lives, and only the Duke of Pesa and his family are still fine." Well, you haven't seen Alans in a long time, have you?"

"Alans......" Caterina remembered her childhood, when Alans, as the heir of the Duke of Pesa, often went in and out of the Palace of Tiamat, and could be regarded as Katerina's childhood sweetheart, but since Pesa went to study at Astrad I College, they rarely saw each other.

"Their home is also in the Browning District, haven't they been attacked by the rebels?"

"Yes—" Empress Anna's tone was slightly emotional, "At that time, the Duke of Pesa's family happened to go to Yanwan to watch the equestrian competition of Alans, and they escaped the disaster. ”

"Equestrian competitions?" Caterina was a little surprised, "At that time, they still had the heart to participate in equestrian competitions?

"Who would have thought that this would be the case. The aristocracy was such a person that he refused to put down his entertainment until the moment before he was guillotined. ”

Caterina bit her lip slightly, still relieved by her mother's explanation.

"Well, do you want to go? I'll let Metternich arrange it, if you will. ”

"Yes, Mother. Caterina hung her head and replied, "I'll bring Charlotte with me, please let me sort it out first." ”

Sitting in the carriage, Caterina was still preoccupied, the last time she and Alans met, it was when Alans went to visit Swain at Karin Castle, and the two of them had already seemed very separated from each other in that hurried meeting.

Charlotte sat next to Katarina, craned her neck, looking out the window, not a scenery to be exact, the devastation left by the war has not been restored to this day. Alexander was in a hurry to put on the crown for himself, and put aside the matter of rebuilding the imperial capital and restoring the people's livelihood, so that after a long time, the imperial capital still looked quite dilapidated.

Charlotte was deeply touched by this, she had lived in the lower classes, and was accustomed to the squalor and darkness of the ghetto, and this post-war devastation reminded her of where she used to live.

"War is terrible. Charlotte leaned on the window and sighed.

"Yes—" Caterina lowered her eyebrows, looking sadly at the ruined houses, at the numb expressions of the pedestrians, and finally her depressed mood turned into a long sigh, "War only brings misfortune to people, whether it is us or the enemy, this kind of thing, really should not appear. ”

Charlotte pursed her lips, she had a deep understanding of the word "misfortune" at the age of eight.

"Sister Karin. She turned her head and looked at Katerina, "If you were emperor, there would be no war?"

Caterina's face froze, Charlotte's question she didn't expect. "Why do you ask, do you understand what it means to be an emperor?" she looked at Charlotte with a complicated expression, the second person to clearly express this expectation to her, the first, was Swain.

Charlotte stared at Celestia, her eyes not dodging or evading. "If you become an emperor, you can be like your majesty now, isn't it? Whether you want to give a title to a person or take a person's life, isn't it an easy thing for the emperor? Then, if someone like my sister became the emperor, there would be no war. ”

Caterina shook her head with a wry smile. "If only things were so simple, even if you are an emperor, you can't do whatever you want. The emperor is like an elephant, although he is extremely powerful and can easily defeat other animals, but his large and bulky body will also bring many restrictions. ”

As she spoke, Caterina reached behind her back and gestured. "For example, if a mouse bites an elephant on its back, the elephant has no way to catch it or shake it off, so he can only whisper and ask for good words. Therefore, sometimes people with high status will also be pinned down by those villains and have to make concessions. ”

"Yes......" Charlotte thought deeply, her head down.

"But for any animal, and for humans, the enemy from behind is the most difficult to deal with, right?"

Caterina nodded with a gloomy look in her eyes. "That's right, the deadliest enemies are often those closest to them. ”

While speaking, the carriage had arrived at the door of the Pesa family mansion in the upper river district, and after receiving a notice from Franz, the head of the court, the Duke of Pesa and his son Alans personally greeted the eldest princess at the door.

The contemporary Duke of Pesa, Sharu Charlie Noe Pesa, is of Skavana blood and is very tall and has a bushy beard with a very northernal color, and his tiger-backed body is standing alongside his son Alans, which makes one wonder if they are father and son.

"Welcome, Your Highness Princess. "Although his appearance is quite rough, the Duke of Pesa is an authentic imperial capital, he bows and salutes, and all etiquette is meticulous, "Your visit has made the humble house shine. ”

"It is a pleasure to see you again, Your Excellency. With a courtesy smile, Caterina shook hands with the Duke of Pesa, "Especially after this upheaval, any familiar face can be comforting." ”

The delicate Duke of Pesa heard the meaning of the eldest princess's words, he laughed heartily, and then said: "Thank you for the blessing of the Lord that my family and I have escaped this catastrophe, and to be honest, when I heard this shocking news in Yanwan, I was mentally prepared to see my home in ruins when I returned." However, if I had been in the Imperial Capital at that time, I would never have done this and watched those rebels act so recklessly, even if my strength was meager, I would have fought them to the end, this is the spirit that our Scarans have passed down for generations!"

The eldest princess was appropriately moved by Duke Pesa's words, but she didn't take it to heart, after all, now that Beria is dead, anyone can say anything about the scene.

"Her Royal Highness Katarina, long time no see. Alans walked up and took Caterina's hand and kissed it lightly on the back of her hand, "My father and I are very touched by your visit, and I hope you will have a pleasant day at Pesa's house today." Of course, if you have the opportunity, I hope you can go to Meng Meng Island, I believe that the island scenery there will definitely clear away the unpleasantness in your heart. ”

Looking at Alans's face, Caterina couldn't help but sigh a little, the playmate who was bullied by her back then has grown into a personable noble son today. Thinking of Alans' age again, Caterina couldn't help but compare the heir of the Duke of Moe Island in front of her with Swain.

If that guy was so considerate...... No, even if he just pretended to laugh.

Pressing down the jumbled thoughts in her head, Caterina smiled playfully and looked at Alans with interest. "It's been a long time, Alans, and when I saw you recently, I felt that you should be more suitable than your father for the title of Duke of 'Moe Island'. As she spoke, she looked at the Duke of Pesa again, smiling slightly apologeticly, "I hope you don't mind saying that." ”

Duke Pesa waved his hand generously, indicating that he didn't care. Alans' face was rather embarrassed, not because Caterina said that he was more suitable to be a duke, but because Princess Celestia accentuated the word "cute island".

So, who came up with this name in the first place!

After some pleasantries, the Duke of Pesa invited Caterina in, and then he appropriately said that "he has something to do" and asked his son Alans to accompany the princess.

It was not the first time that Caterina had come to Pesa's house, and she was quite familiar with the place, and Alans accompanied Princess Celestia around the mansion casually, occasionally chatting about some school topics.

"I was really surprised to see you last time at Kalim Castle. Alans suddenly mentioned the last time they met at Karin Castle, which made Princess Celestia's face stiffen a little, "I have always heard that you have a good relationship with Count Jericho, but I didn't expect ......"

Alans was silent for a moment, as if he was really considering what to say.

"I didn't expect him to live together?" said the eldest princess, taking a deep breath and speaking as calmly as she could.

Charlotte, who was following Caterina, pricked up her ears.

"No, that's not what I meant. "I originally admired Count Jericht, and I really admired his feat in Pritown. However, last time his attitude ...... To be honest, I was a little disappointed. ”

Alans thought of Swain's indifferent face, and he still couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic in his heart.

"I guess I explained that. Caterina sighed, feeling quite powerless at the thought of Sven's suspicion of Alans at that time, "I needed his help then, so I had to refuse you." ”

"And now?" Alans looked at Caterina with a fierce gaze, his expression very serious, "I am still grateful to Count Jericho as long as he is willing to help, and I will never take the last mustard to heart." Moreover, I heard that he is the most taboo to hold the position of temporary director of the thirteenth section, so it should be easier for him to help investigate the affairs of my mother and sister, right?"

Caterina's face changed, and she stared at Alans deadly.

"Where did you find out about Lesson 13?"