Underneath Gouverenburg, Manfred's room is in the tunnels that crisscross the castle. Due to the unfortunate fate of the successive Earls of Glamorgan, the later Earls of Glamorgan, either with ambition or with apprehension, built secret tunnels under the residence for safety reasons. These tunnels have been renovated by successive generations of Earls of Glamorgan, becoming larger and more intricate.

Although Manfred lives here, it is not actually the residence of the employees of the Thirteenth Section. Lesson 13 is an institution that must hide itself, but it does not mean that they have to hide in the dark. Manfred is the only one who lives here.

Walking through the long and dark tunnels, Yang couldn't help but wonder why those predecessors even had to build such a huge and gorgeous tunnel, just like an underground palace. Manfred, who walked in front of him, was unusually tall, but he did not seem cramped to walk underground, on the contrary, he was like the master of this underground palace, the king in the dark.

"You often say that you yearn for light, why do you want to live in such a dark place?" With the unique voice of the young man's voice change period, Yang casually asked the terrifying-looking man in front of him.

"As much as I yearn for the light, I am still in the dark. My body and my mind are haunted by darkness, and only my eyes can see the light. Manfred replied without looking back, turning his back to Young. His figure was not clear in the excessively dark tunnel, the faint light could only shine on his chest, and beyond that was the shadow in the darkness, Yang could not see clearly at all, and could only imagine what kind of expression he would have when he answered. Is it laughing arrogantly, or is it praying reverently?

"You're such a weirdo. Yang shook his head, though Manfred couldn't see it, "Since you yearn for the light, why don't you just devote yourself to it." If you don't want to go into the light, then why aspire to it, if you want to do it, you can always do it, and you'd rather hover between the two ends than at all. If it were me, I would have done it to the end. ”

"What a child. Manfred sighed, then stopped. "Why do you yearn for the light that you can't get? It's because I can't get it that I yearn for it. If I can get it, then what is it worth. That's true of all the people in this world, kid. I yearn for the light that I can't get, your father yearns for the glory and respect that I can't get, and your sister yearns for the freedom that I can't get, we're all like that, including you. Aren't you chasing what you can't get right now?"

"But I'm going to go after it!" Jan snarled at Manfred, "I'm not like you half-tones. I'll get what I want, no matter what means I use. Whether it's identity or status, even if I completely destroy myself, I will snatch these things. I don't care about the reputation of the Hecate family, nor do I care about my own bloodline, but as long as I fight, I must fight for it!"

When Manfred heard the young man's passionate speech, he turned and looked at Young. The light could only dimly shine on the corners of his chin and mouth, and Yang could see that the corners of Manfred's mouth seemed to be slightly upturned. He's laughing. Young could tell he was laughing, but how was he laughing, and why was he laughing?

"That's fine. That's not bad for you. Although you are from such a half-background, you are not a half-person. But now you say it well, but do you really have the consciousness to fight for all this? If you want to get the Hecate family, then the first thing you have to do is destroy it. ”

Looking at his eyes glowing red in the dark, Yang Yong's heart was also a little frightened. But he still didn't back down, as he said, he was a person who could use some of his own to achieve his wishes. "So I've come to you for answers. Teach me, Manfred, Manfred Alcator von Nosferathu!"

The sound of bats flapping their wings and Manfred's laughter echoed through the tunnels, but the unsettling sounds were not heard by anyone on the ground. For darkness is hidden under the light.

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The moonlight tonight was unusually bright, and the moonlight from the window into the room fell on the pages of the book, enough to make people read the words on it. Late at night, the night breeze is gradually blowing, after all, it is still March, the night is still biting cold, the footsteps of spring are wrapped by the lady of the night, making people think of the ruthlessness of late winter in this night.

However, not everyone will long for a warm quilt in such a cold night, hiding in it and enjoying it.

Swain was reading "The Biography of Astrad" by the moonlight, and the desk was deliberately moved to the window, and the moonlight fell on the pages, and the words were clear. There was a sound on the bed next to her, and Sophia seemed to roll over.

Sven looked over. "Did you get the noise?"

"No, it's just the first time I've left the house, and I'm not used to sleeping here. Sophia propped herself up on her elbows and looked sideways at Sven.

Swain lowered his head again. "Really?"

Looking at Swain's reaction, Sophia felt a little disappointed. "Brother, sir. ”

"Huh?"

Sven turned his head again.

"No, no, it's fine. ”

When Swain looked at her, Sophia flinched a little shyly.

"Go to sleep, it's late at night. ”

"Hmmm......"

Sophia had no choice but to lie down.

"Brother, are you cold?"

"It's fine. Swain, who had just read a few lines, heard his sister's voice and turned his head away, "You are, don't freeze." With that, he walked over to the bed and put the quilt on again.

Sophia hadn't seen Swain smile for a long time, and such an act was already Sven's rare gentleness. The body wrapped in the quilt warmed up again, and Sophia's face turned a little red.

"Brother, sir. She simply buried her head in the quilt and didn't look at Swain, "Can you...... Will you hold me for a while?" she asked quietly, then simply closed her eyes and waited for Sven to answer.

Soon, I felt the warmth of Sven around me. Sven lay down beside Sophia, one hand around her body, and gently patted her back.

"Sleep. ”

Along with happiness comes a sense of guilt. Obviously, it is his pain that his brother can't sleep, but he takes advantage of his brother's pain like this. Sophia clung to Swain's chest, tears welling up in her eyes.

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The next morning, the butler came to inform Swain that His Majesty's Lord of the Seals, grandson of Oliver no Metternich, had come to visit.

When Swain met Mr. Metternich, the grandson of the Minister of the Seals and the secretary of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the drawing-room, he found that he was a little older than he had thought. Oliver no Metternich and Swain's grandfather, Winston no Jéricht, were contemporaries, so his grandson should not be too much different in age from Swain. However, when Swain met the gentleman, he found that the gentleman was already thirty years old, with a mustache and a face that was no longer young.

"Hello, Mr. Metternich. "Sven can't be as arrogant and rude as he is with Manfred with Metternich. He took the initiative to walk up and shake hands with Mr. Metternich, who was also a concierge, and when he shook hands with Swain, he used moderate force, neither too forceful nor vain, and transmitted the temperature of his palm to the other party, leaving a sincere feeling on the other party's first impression.

"It is an honour to meet you, Your Excellency Count Jericho. "Mr. Metternich expressed his friendliness with the smile of a diplomat, a man from a diplomatic family who had a pretty good grasp of etiquette.

"You may be seated. ”

Swain still had that expressionless expression, but Mr. Metternich was not displeased. As diplomats, they have already polished their edges and corners, and they have long been accustomed to people with all kinds of tempers. Yes, he had come to see the visit as a diplomatic mission, not to visit a peer of a family of friends.

After the guest of honor sat down, Metternich began his professional greetings: "Is it still customary for His Excellency the Earl to come to the imperial capital? I heard that Midnight Fort is a good place in the south, but it is a pity that although the imperial capital is prosperous, it is still cold, and I am afraid that His Excellency the Earl will be a little unaccustomed to it." ”

"Everything was fine. Although it is now spring in Midnight Fort, it is a rainy season, which is uncomfortable. ”

"Haha, it seems that every family has a scripture that is difficult to read, people from other provinces look at the prosperity of the imperial capital, and the people of the imperial capital yearn for the freedom of the province, but they don't know each other's difficulties. ”

"That's true. Swain nodded, he already had some sense of what Metternich was saying.

Seeing Swain nodding, Mr. Metternich continued with a smile on his face. "Since each family has different difficulties, it is all the more important to help each other. Your Excellency, if I have something to ask me now, will you do me a little favor without any expense?"

Swain frowned slightly, such words were already a bit rude and presumptuous, although the Metternich family was an old nobleman in the imperial capital, but the Jericho family did not squeeze under them, and now Metternich's tone was a bit arrogant. However, this is probably also Metternich's hint that he, or rather his grandfather, the Marquis of Metternich, was resolute this time.

"Please speak. With the intention of watching this play, Sven still looked breezy and said in a light tone.

"As you know, my grandfather was the Lord of the Seals of His Majesty the Emperor, and was in charge of all ceremonial matters in the court, including the canonization ceremony that is about to be held for you. Mr. Metternich observed Swain's reaction, "And what bothered my grandfather was how to arrange Mr. Viscount Jericho. ”

Sven took a sip of coffee on the coffee table in front of him, but didn't answer.

Unable to get the expected response, Mr. Metternich did not show an embarrassed look, and continued his words: "Viscount Jericho is your father, and he is also one of the few members of the Jericho family today, he will inevitably come to watch the ceremony, and how to arrange the position of the viscount is a headache for my grandfather. Viscount Jericho was the only son of the previous Earl of Midnight and the legal heir to the throne. The Earl's deathbed will appoints you as the heir, and this will is also received and executed by Lord Phil, so it has the highest legal priority. Make no mistake about it, my grandfather and I have no objection to your succession as Earl, and we will never interfere in your family affairs. We're just here to make a suggestion to you with the kindness of being decent for both parties. ”

"Say it, please. Sven replied lightly, as if the matter didn't matter to him.

"Now Viscount Jericho's situation is quite awkward, especially when it comes to the canonization ceremony, it must be very unpleasant for him. And, with all due respect, although we did not mean to beak your family affairs, the discord between the Viscount and you is visible to all...... Our Metternich and Jericho were also close friends, and my grandfather was deeply saddened by his friendship with the former Count Midnight, so he wished that at the time of the canonization ceremony, Viscount Jericho would be able to present you with a sword instead of Archbishop Dewede. ”

Although Metternich habitually complicated things as a diplomat, he still said the purpose in the last sentence. At the canonization ceremony of the Empire, the vassal received the sword from the priest sent by the Church and swore an oath to protect the Church, and then handed the sword to the vassal, who would lay the sword flat and press it on the vassal's right shoulder, who in turn pressed the canons of the Church and the laws of the Empire. At this time, the vassal swore allegiance to the vassal king, and the vassal also promised to protect the vassal. In the process, the vassals would take an oath twice, once to God and the Church, and once to the Lord, but since the Revolution, allegiance to the Church has been symbolic, and the vassals have a copy of the Imperial Code in their hands. However, if it is really as Metternich planned, Viscount Ernest will give the sword, then his situation will indeed not be so embarrassing, after all, as a father, he is qualified to enjoy the allegiance of his son, but in this way, the church will probably not be so happy, but after all, the church is no longer than it was back then, they will not be willing to offend Jericho, let alone offend Metternich.

Seeing that Swain was silent for a while, Mr. Metternich seemed to think that the other party was already a little moved, and was thinking about his proposal, so he immediately struck while the iron was hot: "If you agree, my grandfather is willing to intervene to facilitate this, after all, he has been a foreign minister for twenty years before he assumed the idle post of the current Minister of the Seals, and even His Holiness the Pope and the Archbishop will sell his face." ”

Swain slowly raised his eyes, his emotionless eyes fixed on Mr. Metternich. But this gentleman was not like Wood, who had been accustomed to all kinds of faces under his grandfather's tutelage and in the diplomatic arena, and had learned to deal with such unpredictable expressions with confidence.

And when this Mr. Metternich looked at Swain with confidence, thinking that although this young man had a city, he would accept Metternich's proposal sensibly, Swain spoke slowly: "It sounds like Metternich is going to do something this time that can make people see the huge influence of the Metternich family. If this thing is as you wish, then Viscount Ernest can save face, and even have the posture of being the lord of the Earl of Midnight and the Jericho family, and you, and the Metternich family, have raised their faces again, and teach the world that the Marquis of Metternich, even if he is in an idle position such as the Minister of the Seal, has the power to influence the church and the Jericho family, and you must have a lot of career paths. ”

Mr. Metternich was a little embarrassed to be seen through the purpose of his plan by a young man who was more than a decade younger than himself, but after all, he made dealing with people his profession, and he was best at hiding his feelings, and soon he was smiling again. "But it is indeed beneficial to both sides, isn't it? If you could make such a deference, you would be wise to seek a result that is good for all, and those who are responsible will certainly do so, and we, the Metternich, will look up to your intellect and character, and will continue to be friendly friends with the Jerichots. ”

He was convinced that a young and clear-headed count would know how to choose, before the friendship and pressure of the Metternich family.

Unfortunately, he didn't know exactly what kind of person Swain was.