Seventeen years ago.

Twilight enveloped Midnight Castle as usual, and the ancient castle seemed unusually deep in the night, and peace and darkness surrounded her, peaceful and peaceful.

This is the castle of Winston No. Jericht, the Earl of Midnight, a renowned imperial scholar who has lived in seclusion in the countryside for more than twenty years, and who is reluctant to leave his old castle, even though everyone knows that he is very knowledgeable and talented.

He refused even to convene the Imperial Diet.

This has led some to wonder if Count Winston has some ulterior quirks, but whenever these remarks appear, many people in the imperial capital who really know Winston will stand up and argue against them. There is no doubt that although the Earl of Winston has never been involved in politics, his influence on the big names is definitely extraordinary.

Because of this influence, Count Winston has always been very quiet, and no one wants to come here to disturb Count Winston.

Just like the beautiful atmosphere of this ancient castle, the people here also enjoy a leisurely life, and at night, the lights in the castle are turned off, as if to remind people to go to bed early.

Almost all of them obey the sunset rule.

Twenty-three-year-old Ernest took advantage of the moonlight to gaze warmly at his wife Bertha, who had just been married, and Bertha was already pregnant with Ernest's child, and pregnant women were the most likely to be sleepy, and the life and rest of the night was just conducive to the recuperation of pregnant women.

However, for her young husband in his twenties, this time is not so easy to fall asleep, and Ernest is still full of energy, but he is a family man, so he does not want to enjoy the evening entertainment, but stays in the bedroom to spend time with his wife.

Even just quietly watching his wife's sleeping face was a heartfelt joy for Ernest.

However, any gentleness and tranquility will be broken sometimes, and that kind of enjoyment is a very luxurious thing.

There was a soft knock on the door, and probably the knocker knew that the pregnant woman inside was resting, so he knocked very softly, not wanting to wake Bertha.

Ernest got up and opened the door.

"Father?"

Because there was no light in the room or in the hallway, the people outside the door were shrouded in shadows and could not be seen clearly, but Ernest was Winston's son after all, and he could recognize it as his father by his close figure.

However, the young Ernest was also a little confused. Father Winston has always been a very strict person in life, especially in the past few years, his father often gets sleepy during the day, and rarely sees him come to him at night.

"Hmm......" Winston stood in the shadows outside the door, the moonlight shining in through the window not falling on him, "are you okay?"

"I'm fine......" Ernest was even more puzzled, he couldn't understand why his father would ask such a strange question.

After a moment of silence, Winston then asked, "What about your wife and children?"

Ernest looked back at his wife, who was still sleeping peacefully in bed, and replied, "They're all fine, what's the matter, father......?" Strange?"

"Yes......" Winston's words were short, and the intervals between them were so long that it seemed that each sentence took him a lot of effort and energy to think about.

"I want you to get out of here, Ernest, and you must get out of Fort Midnight as soon as possible, and get to Dwell. ”

"Why, father?" asked Ernest, puzzled, and at the same time instinctively sensed that something was wrong, "is it Dewei that something has happened?, father, you must have come to me tonight and asked me to leave Midnight Castle, what must have happened to make you do this?"

"I can't tell you......" Winston, who stood in the shadows, was still very silent, and behind his every word there were more unspoken secrets, "you just have to remember, don't come back to Midnight Castle, and don't inherit our family title, you must remember this." ”

"Why, why?" Ernest was so upset by this conversation that he couldn't bear it, and stepped forward to hold his father's arm, "Tell me, father, why don't you tell me what happened?"

There was a sigh in the shadows, and Ernest could vaguely see his father shaking his head, but he couldn't tell the difference.

"Believe me, Ernest, everything I do is to protect you, because I love you, my child. ”

Winston took two steps forward, and Ernest followed his father's steps backwards and retreated into the room.

As the moonlight fell on him, Winston's appearance was finally clearly revealed in front of Ernest.

Quite different from the usual personable Midnight Earl, Winston's eyes were bloodshot and his face looked very haggard, his dry skin squeezed out all the wrinkles, and the meridians were abnormally protruding, looking unusually scary.

"Father!" Ernest was taken aback, he could not understand why his father had suddenly become like this, when Winston was still the same as usual at dinner, and why it was only a few hours later, he seemed to have aged twenty years all of a sudden, and became an old man on the verge of death.

"Don't worry about anything else, we don't have much time. Winston shook his head, his bloodshot eyes were very calm, and he didn't feel any agitation from his changes, "You leave here with Bertha at once, listen to me, don't ask too much, just get out of here, and remember never to come back, that's enough." ”

"What about you?" Seeing his father's face, Ernest knew that the matter must be more serious than he imagined, and he no longer insisted on asking, but began to worry about his father.

"I can't go, son, I'm too bound to this land, I've become one with this castle. ”

Ernest stared blankly at his father, he didn't understand what Winston meant.

"Let's go. Winston took Ernest's hand and placed a sword in his hand, "The road ahead is very dangerous, you must be careful, remember, don't come back, Midnight Fort is a forbidden place for you to never set foot again!"

Ernest pursed his lips tightly, and there was some heat and dampness in his eyes, but he didn't make a sound, just nodded, and then turned to wake up his wife, Bertha.

Bertha was a very gentle woman, even docile, and she listened to her husband's brief words, and did not even ask too many questions, but kept her doubts in her heart, and then followed her husband and Winston away.

Even when she saw Winston's horrible face, she couldn't help but wonder.

Nor did they pack up their salutes, for Winston stressed that time was running out, and although the count's actions seemed to have plenty of leeway, Ernest could sense his father's hidden anxiety from the gesture of holding his back behind him all the time.

The carriage was already ready, and Baron Deniz was waiting at the gate, with two servants, standing in the darkness without even beating the torches.

"Master, it's all ready. Seeing Winston coming, Baron Deniz nodded at him, then handed the reins to the servant and walked to Ernest's side, "Young master, please get into the carriage with Madame." ”

In the darkness, Ernest couldn't see the true face of the baron who had taught him swordsmanship since childhood, but instinctively, he felt that Baron Deniz tonight had made him a little uneasy.

In other words, the Midnight Castle in the whole night made Ernest feel very uneasy.

"Bertha, you go up first. Ernest helped his wife into the carriage, and when he was about to get up himself, Ernest couldn't help but turn his head and forget his father Winston, who was standing in front of the castle.

He hesitated, but finally jumped out of the carriage and ran to his father.

"Let's go together, father. Ernest grabbed Winston's hand and tried to take him away, "As long as we're together, there will always be a turnaround." ”

Winston stiffened his hand and turned his back to his son. "Hurry up and get out, this is not the place you should be. My fate has long been sealed, I gave up my freedom a long time ago, and before you become like me, you still have a chance, get out of here, and now, this is your only chance to break free from this curse. ”

"What kind of curse is it, Father, how can I rest assured that you should never come back to Midnight Castle while you want to stay here!"

"Then don't worry about me!" Winston turned abruptly and slapped Ernest's hand away, "hate me, make me your greatest enemy, make Fort Midnight the most hated place in your life, and use hatred to strengthen your own beliefs." Then get away from here, away from Midnight Castle, away from Midnight Earl!"

There was a look of madness in his bloodshot eyes, a look never before seen in the eyes of such a wise and calm earl. In that madness, it was not just restlessness and frenzy, the constricted eyebrows and trembling pupils were more like enduring pain.

In other words, restraining one's madness.

"Father's ......"

Ernest was also taken aback by Winston's expression, but he still refused to give up persuasion, but when he was about to grab his father's hand again, a terrible cry was heard behind him.

"Ernest!"

Hearing his wife's shout, Ernest quickly turned his head, but what he saw was a scene that made him doubt his eyes.

"Bertha!"

The servant drove the carriage carrying Bertha, and the wheel flew into the sky as if it had spread its wings. In the darkness, whispers abounded, and Ernest couldn't help but think of the strangely and intimidating statues in the courtyard of Midnight Castle.

Could it really be that a demon has laid a curse on this castle to play with humans?

Ernest didn't have time to think more, and he saw Baron Deniz walking slowly, but the steward's steps were stiff, very different from his usual vigorous steps.

"Young Master. ”

Ernest looked at Baron Deniz who came over and couldn't help but clench his sword.

"It's ......"

Baron Deniz stepped out of the shadows, and by the faint light of the castle door, Ernest saw his empty eyes.

"A curse that can't be changed. ”

"Boom"

The two swords fought, Ernest took a big step back, his swordsmanship was completely taught by Baron Deniz, and he couldn't be an opponent when competing with this teacher.

"Stand down!" Winston took a step forward and stood in front of his son, shouting at Baron Deniz, "this is my order!"

Baron Deniz stood still, not retreating, but also not continuing to advance.

"Hurry up, Ernest, you must get out at once!" Winston shouted to his son as he stopped Baron Deniz.

"But Bertha...... Bertha she ......"

Ernest refused to move, he stared at the sky, his wife still in the carriage.

"Even if it's just you, you have to get out of here!"

Winston reached out and grabbed Ernest by the shoulder, pulling him in front of him, staring at him with bloodshot eyes.

"You should hate me, hate me, get out of here now, and never go back to Midnight Castle!"

Stared at by those eyes that seemed to have magical power, Ernest lost his mind for a moment and nodded stunned.

"Let's go!" Winston pushed Ernest hard to push him away, and this was like a signal, and Ernest subconsciously pulled his legs and ran.

Baron Deniz was about to chase after him, but Winston stopped him again.

"Sorry, old friend. Winston looked apologetically at Baron Deniz, "If you weren't in charge of this cursed family, maybe we wouldn't have to. ”

Baron Deniz's eyes were still empty, and his numb face did not change in any way because of Winston's emotion.

Winston, on the other hand, suddenly changed his face.

He saw a skeleton looming behind Baron Deniz.

"Do you think, my dear child, that the obligations of the Jericho family are over?"

"Atropos ......" Winston's lips twitched, and he didn't say anything more.

"I know exactly what you're thinking, Winston, you should have known. I already knew your thoughts when you had the idea of escaping the Earl of Midnight's obligations. ”

"What thoughts can be hidden from me, as a collection of human consciousness?"

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In the wilderness dozens of kilometers away from Midnight Castle, Ernest looked at the looming morning sun with a confused expression on his face.

"I, why did I ......?"

He felt that his memories were confused, and he even had doubts about his own identity, and the only thing he knew was the strong emotion in his heart.

"Can't forget...... What can't I forget......? Yes, I can't forget ......"

Ernest's eyes gradually focused, and the shattered memories were put back together in the wrong order, forming a new false life in his brain.

"Yes, I can't go back to Fort Midnight...... That's right, I hate my father......"