Wood's face became more ugly than ever, and there was not only surprise and confusion in that look, but also from the deepest part of his heart...... Fear.

"No, this, this can't be......" his eyes flickered, barely daring to look at Prime Minister Pitt, "You—you shouldn't know about it......"

"Originally, I really didn't know, but ......," Prime Minister Pitt turned his gaze away, leaving Wood with one last bit of decency, "but, you mentioned the Red Pinwheel earlier...... After all, I am the prime minister, and so many things have passed through my hands, and I can always see some clues. What's more, don't forget, it was my father who served as prime minister back then. ”

"Ahh......h Yes, Prime Minister Pitt, Prime Minister Pitt Sr. ......"The sweat and trembling of Wood's palms were transmitted to Prime Minister Pitt's palms.

"I know you're struggling, but ...... This is necessary, if this is not done, the country will really be controlled by Katerina and Swain. Prime Minister Pitt squeezed Wood's hand so that he couldn't pull back the hand that had been trembling, "Don't say that it's okay to let them control the country, Wood, you should know that it's time to make a choice." ”

"W-What choice?" Wood's eyes were still dodging, and he didn't dare to look at Prime Minister Pitt at all.

"Justice, and the honor of the individual. Prime Minister Pitt grabbed Wood's hand and forced him to look at him, "On both ends of the scales called 'fairness', which is more important, Wood, this answer you haven't made in forty years, now, you must make it!"

Wood tried to look away, but Prime Minister Pitt grabbed Wood's hand and brought his face to Wood's face, so that he could not take his eyes off it.

"Listen, listen, Wood, some things are not as serious as you think, but if you always try to run away, then the accumulated problems will be so heavy that you can no longer bear them, your waist will be crushed, and then you will live in the shadow ......of these problems for the rest of your life!

Prime Minister Pitt let go of his hand.

"You will be like His Majesty Nikolai, who will not have the opportunity to unload this burden until you die. ”

Wood's mouth was open, his cheeks trembling terribly, his lips trembling, but he couldn't get a word out.

Then, with a heavy burden and guilt, he went down to face His Highness Alberta. ”

Prime Minister Pitt looked at Wood, then turned silently.

"If you really think that by hiding the secret until the end of your life, you can make it all disappear, then you should do it. I'm not even the prime minister right now, so how can I force you except for these words?"

Wood sat down in his chair in despair, and after a long time, he tried to reach for the wine glass next to him, but as soon as he grabbed the rim, his shaking hand failed to hold the glass steady, and the glass "snapped" to the ground and shattered.

——————————————

Swain stroked the reliefs on the bookcase, carefully feeling the royal luxury and sophistication.

"Do you like it?" said Caterina on the bed, sitting up, pulling the quilt over her chest, her white shoulders exposed.

"Do you like this style of furniture?"

"Furniture is just an ornament, a vessel, and what I like is what's in it. Swain's fingertips moved to the book's cover, and in the dark, he read the title with touch.

"I'm glad you came to my rescue. Caterina tussled her long hair behind her ears, the tips of which ran across the skin of her shoulders as if they were running across the water, "You've saved me again, Sven, and now I won't believe it even if I use a coincidence like that." You have to admit that I am different in your heart. ”

"It's not hard to save you as many times as you did in Primon. Swain pulled a book from the shelf, walked to the window, and admired the cover by the light that sprouted from the sky, "The real difficulty is how to avoid a situation where I need to save you. ”

"No, it's not going to happen anymore, now we have everything. Katerina stared at Swain, the smile on her lips like that of a wife when she looks at her husband.

"Everything?" Sven turned his face, the light from the window hitting his face, illuminating his normal face, but hiding his other half in complete darkness.

"No, we don't have anything yet. ”

"But, I already have you. Caterina turned her face sideways, and the expression in her eyes became more gentle, "No matter how many of you belong to your sister, now, I have put myself in your heart, and you can't shake it off." ”

"Don't overdo it. Swain put the book on the table, still without any expression on his face, "I'm the kind of person who can dig out my heart." ”

"Then you'll abandon your sister too, are you willing?"

Swain's hand as he turned the pages paused.

"I just want to ask why you trust me so much. Swain flipped the page, "You've changed so much, can your father's betrayal really change one person so much?"

"That's not change, Swain. Katerina shook her head slightly, but her gaze remained focused on Swain, "I just recognize something more." ”

"For example?"

"People need the sustenance of the soul, only with hope, with the imagination of the future, people can live, no matter how small and humble the hope and imagination is. Caterina clenched her hands, the quilt slid down slightly, "The fact that she hasn't died in extreme despair shows that there must be hope in her heart, no matter how desperate the circumstances are." That's what I learned in those dark and pessimistic days. ”

"So......" Swain stroked the page, as if caressing Katerina's skin.

"You take me for hope?"

"Strange, isn't it?" Caterina laughed, with a hint of bitterness in her smile, "Sometimes that feeling may not be very strong, but as long as this thought appears, it will always keep thinking about it, and if you keep thinking like this, if you think like this......"

Caterina lowered her head, hugged her knees and quilt and sobbed quietly.

"I can't get this thought out of my mind......

Sven looked at Katarina, his eyes lowering slightly, and there was more thought in his eyes.

"Whether it's a temporary spiritual sustenance or a sincere expectation," Swain walked over to the bedside and lowered his arm around Katarina, "at least I'm with you now, aren't I?"

"Hmm......" Katerina snuggled into Swain's chest, and cried slightly, "I didn't think I would cry anymore, but ...... In the end, I couldn't hold back ......"

Swain just put his arm around Caterina and didn't speak.

"If only you could be a little more gentle. Caterina rubbed Swain's arm gently, the corners of her tearful mouth curled slightly, "Even if I know that you have given your heart to your sister, I am willing to forget all these words if I can enjoy this tenderness." ”

"If it's painful," Swain stroked Caterina's long hair, "just close your eyes and imagine it's just a nightmare, and that's fine." ”

"Is this how you live?" Caterina looked at Sven's expressionless face with tears in her eyes, "Is this way of escaping your life the secret of not feeling pain?"

"Nope. Swain shook his head, "I don't dream. ”

————————————————

"Dawn, here ......"

Baron O'Brien watched the sun rise over the horizon, a deep smile on his lips.

"However, in this empire that also shines under the sun, it is completely different. Franz walked up to Baron O'Brien and looked at the sunrise as well, "The country has its new master." There is also a new fate. ”

"Managing Metternich. Baron O'Brien turned and looked at Franz with a smile, "Or should I call you ...... Minister Metternich?"

"Just like your grandfather?"

Franz shook his head, the expression on his face wasn't as smug as Baron O'Brien's.

"It's too early. ”

"That's right. Baron O'Brien nodded, "You are still young after all, and besides, Her Royal Highness the Princess should also need a young man like you to make more friends and colleagues of your age." ”

"That's not what I'm talking about. Franz stared at the sunrise without any emotion on his face, "It's too early to rejoice." ”

Baron O'Brien looked at Franz deeply, then withdrew his gaze. "Perhaps, but what else can stop Her Highness from the Princess? and the incredible Count Jericho—perhaps, we should call him a duke, or even a prince, at once?"

As he spoke, a playful smile appeared on his face. "I heard that Count Jericho stayed in the inner city last night? ”

"Count Jericho, there's more than one. Franz kicked the ground with his toes, but his eyes moved to the other side, "There is another Count Jericho, do you think it is easy to deal with, and now you are ready to enjoy the results, Mr. Baron, you are not too careless, are you?"

Baron O'Brien's expression froze for a moment, and the smile on his face quickly faded.

"Let him escape yesterday, that's all ...... It's just an accident. He pursed his lips, his expression not very good-looking, "I have already sent someone to his mansion, just catch his family ......"

"Count Jericho's family is also Count Jericho's family, what do you want to do if you catch them?" Franz turned and asked Baron O'Brien in a loud voice, "I don't need to remind you, which Count Jerricht and which Count Jerricht, right?"

Baron O'Brien's face twitched, and Franz was so embarrassed to question so loudly in front of his men.

However, thinking of the other party's contribution to this coup d'état, and the trust that Princess Celestia and Swain placed in him, Baron O'Brien decided to put up with it.

"As long as his family is still here, and he is still here, can he escape?"

"The problem is not his escape, he won't even choose to escape, you've fought alongside him in Lantztown, you should know the personality of this Earl Jericho. Franz turned his back and walked towards the palace, "The question is how he will fight." ”

"Fight?" Baron O'Brien also turned around, staring at Franz's back.

"That's right, fight. The rising sun dragged Franz's shadow for a long time, dragging a long shadow in front of him, "He fled, it means that he has not yet conceded defeat, and he will definitely return." ”

"Come back and fight. ”

"Hmph, then what does he use to fight us? Now that the emperor, the army, and this imperial capital are all ours, what capital does he have to fight with us? Even the imperial capital garrison, he has already lost, single-handedly, how can he fight us?"

Franz turned his face back and glanced at Baron O'Brien.

"However, isn't this Count Jericho inside also single-handedly doing what you think is impossible?"

Baron O'Brien's face twitched.

"So......" he lowered his head and sighed, his tone finally softening, "how are we going to arrest him?"

"Of course it'......"

Franz clenched his fists, carefully recalling the instructions Swain had given him.