At the end of lunch, Mavi and Katerina accepted Arthur's invitation to take the king's carriage to the suburban manor together.

The convoy headed out of the city, not taking the normal route out of the city, but detouring from south London, and Marvey, seeing that the route was wrong, glanced at Arthur and saw that Arthur was expressionless, just looking out the window.

"Priest, I heard you opened a potions grocery store on Flower Street?"

"That's church property, not mine."

"But you live in it."

"Your Majesty, what do you want to say?"

"As a guest and friend, you didn't even invite me to your home." Katerina shook her head and sighed, "It's so sad, Father. ”

Mavi didn't know what Katerina was up to, but the Potions Grocery Store on Flower Street was indeed famous, and as Nicholas von Manstein's first property in London, the Potions Grocery Store was very significant, with customers coming to her door every day, if Katerina, like them, just wanted to see the Pope's living quarters

"I'll cook it myself tonight, are you coming, Your Majesty?"

"Okay." Katerina smiled, "I'll bring a gift." ”

Nodding, Mavi looked at Arthur again: "Are you coming?" ”

Shifting his gaze from Katerina's face to Mavi's face, Arthur thought about the schedule and said, "Can I bring Gulhana with me?" ”

"No problem, the table can sit down."

Katerina looked out the window and stopped talking, not because Mavi was unhappy inviting Arthur, but because she saw an acquaintance.

A bearded man, dressed in thin clothes, was asking pedestrians one by one on the street, and the pedestrians he asked either shook their heads in refusal or looked up at the second-floor window, where a fair-skinned woman wearing only a suspender shirt leaned on the windowsill and looked into the distance, her eyes numb and empty.

Katerina knew men, and she also knew the women on the second floor, and she thought at first glance that she was wrong, the men were much thinner than she remembered, and the women became haggard and old, and both her temperament and appearance had changed a lot.

They were the nobles of the Romanov kingdom, they used to be high, commanding, and lived a luxurious and erosive life, bread was just a napkin they used to wipe their mouths, and they would not look at the commoners on the side of the road when they went out, and when Paul I was in power, they were Katerina's biggest opponents, and they fled from the Romanov kingdom with Duke Ivanovich, Duke Tbilisi, and Count Shirkov and became independent.

After his defeat, he fled to the Kingdom of Windsor for refuge.

Now, they have been reduced to the point where they want their wives to sell their bodies for a living.

How did the high-ranking boyar nobles in the past become such a down-and-out appearance?

"Windermere Street, where the nobles who fled from the Romanov kingdom begged for a living, some by picking up garbage, and some doing shady jobs."

Arthur said: "They are not as good as the guards now, those strong guards can go to the docks to help, but because of their sensitive status, no one wants to be laborers." ”

"Where's their money?"

"It's been stripped down a long time ago, London is a city that eats people and doesn't spit out bones, at that time the Kingdom of Windsor and the Kingdom of Romanov had not yet established diplomatic relations, affected by the war, these nobles were targeted, and now they are much better, at least they can make ends meet."

"Stop!"

Katerina shouted, and the coachman immediately grabbed the reins and stopped.

The man who was soliciting guests on the side of the street saw Katerina walking down from the carriage, instantly like a lightning strike, stunned in place, hurriedly pushed away the guests he had just recruited, shrank his head and walked towards the alley, the woman upstairs saw Katerina, did not retreat at all, but grinned.

"Kirov! Hold it! ”

Katerina shouted the man's name, the man's body trembled, and he quickly quickened his pace, and without Katerina's command, Bodelinov rushed forward, grabbed the man by the neck, and dragged him back like a chick.

"Grand Duke Kakaterina, I."

Syllable!

Katerina raised her arm and slapped Kirov in the face, interrupting him: "Shut up! You traitor! The face of the Romanov kingdom has been disgraced by you! ”

Kirov trembled and didn't dare to speak, seeing this scene, Mavi could think of what the headline of the newspaper would be tomorrow:

[His Majesty Katerina, King of the Romanov Kingdom, punishes traitors in the streets]

Katerina was indeed dizzy, her younger brother committed suicide for the sake of the royal family and the kingdom, although he fell to this end because of stupidity, but he did not lose the demeanor of the king! On the other hand, these nobles who lie on the body of the empire and suck blood, they are greedy for life and afraid of death, and even give up their honor in order to survive!

She is sad for her younger brother, sad for the Romanov Kingdom, and it is simply the greatest shame to let such a person hold power!

"Why don't you die! Kirov! What about your honor as a nobleman? Eaten by a dog?! ”

Kirov's face turned pale, and Katerina's words drained the last trace of energy from his body, and he collapsed to the ground, and if it weren't for Bodlinov's arm, he would have to lie on the ground.

Katerina glared at the man in front of her, her teeth clenched, and she wanted to cut him down in the street.

But then again, this is the streets of London, not the Romanov Kingdom, she has no power to execute anyone, of course she can do it forcibly, with Mavi here, the Kingdom of Windsor will not be fine, and there will not even be reprimands for the news, but she held back and calmed down.

"Look at you like this, Kirov, you are more embarrassed than a stray wild dog, in order to survive, you have long lost your shame, what is the honor? Now you're not even human! ”

Katerina said coldly: "I will give you two choices, one is to return to the Romanov Kingdom with me and accept the trial, you will die, but I will give you the last honor of the nobles!" ”

"Where's Two-Two?"

A man who can even sell his wife has long given up all the bottom line, and talking about honor with him is like playing the piano to a cow, which doesn't make sense.

Bodlynov knocked Kirov unconscious, lowered his head, shook his lips, and then raised his head and said: "Your Majesty, he chooses one." ”

There is never an option two, and it would be too insulting to a truly poor person to escape the crime if he was pitiful.

Bang!

Just after Bodlinov announced Kirov's 'choice', gunshots rang out on the second floor, and Bodlinov rushed upstairs to find that the woman in the camisole had committed suicide.

"Take her body back."

Katerina said expressionlessly: "Buried in the land of the Romanov Kingdom, she is a Slav, even if she dies, she belongs to the Romanov Kingdom!" ”

"What a ruthless woman." Arthur said quietly: "Her desire to control is too strong, her ability matches her desires, such a woman is simply visible to the naked eye, Father, aren't you afraid that she will eat you?" ”

Ma Wei smiled and said: "What I want is to be strong, how can the weak survive in this era?" ”

The corpse and Kirov were dragged into the carriage, the convoy came to the suburban manor, the extradition treaty was signed, and none of the other nobles could escape, Katerina seemed to give them a choice, but in fact she didn't, what she did was just trying to save face for the Romanov Kingdom.

As long as the Romanov Kingdom has face, it can enhance its cohesion, and everyone is strong.

In the suburban estate, Duke Ivanovich was already dressed in formal clothes, he wore all the medals he had received, and hung it on his chest, each of which symbolized honor.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Windsor and the Kingdom of Romanov, he has been prepared.

"Mr. Duke, a guest has arrived."

Henk, the butler, pushed the door open, his waist straight.

Duke Ivanovich straightened his shirt, got up and said, "Please let them in." ”

Henk, the butler, did not move, because when he reported, Katerina and Mavi had already come in, and it was his duty as a housekeeper to report, and Duke Ivanovich was also fulfilling his responsibilities as a master.

Looking at each other, Duke Ivanovich's expression was complicated, and after looking at each other for a long time, he knelt on one knee: "I have seen Your Majesty, and the glory shines on Romanov." ”

"You've let me down so much, Ivanovic."

"I have been seduced by traitors." Duke Ivanovich said: "I was approached by a man named Finn Drost, who advised me to escape and divide the Romanov kingdom. ”

"He told you to die, will you die too?"

Duke Ivanovich shook his head slowly: "I didn't justify my crime, I just want to remind Your Majesty that there are forces intent on splitting the Romanov Kingdom, please be vigilant." ”

Katerina sneered, "Now you're a loyal member of the empire again? ”

"I am willing to bear the crimes I have committed, but my son, Alexei, who is only twelve years old, please spare him."

"Let him grow up and take revenge on the Romanov kingdom?"

"He won't, Your Majesty, he won't." Duke Ivanovich said in a loud voice: "He didn't even dare to kill a deer, he was a kind child"

"I'll just ask you one thing."

Katerina said in a cold voice: "If I have a child and I lose the fight for the throne, Ivanovich, will you spare my child?" Even if he's kind? ”

“.”

"You've got the answer."

Katerina turned around and walked towards the door, and when she reached the door, she suddenly stopped, and said without looking back: "I will not kill Alexei, because he is not guilty of treason, but I will investigate him, and if he has other crimes, he will definitely be punished." If he didn't, he could live like an ordinary person, and the empire would treat him as an orphan, providing him with education and basic food and clothing until he reached adulthood. ”

Duke Ivanovich's lips trembled and he said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you Alexei will not let you down." ”

"I'm not you, Ivanovich, and I'm not afraid of revenge, because I'm going to spy on them, keep a close watch on them, whether it's a wife or have children, no matter how old they are, they will be watched by the Empire."

The corners of Katerina's mouth raised: "It was never me who should be afraid, but those who intended to take revenge on the Empire." ”

The convoy left the estate, and Duke Ivanovich still had time to pack his bags and wait for the arrival of the police.

Looking at the carriage in which Katerina was riding away, Duke Ivanovich called Alexei, rubbed his son's head, and said softly: "I will give all my property to the empire, you don't avenge us, live well." ”

"Why, father?"

"She's a king to follow, and you shouldn't go against her, and I don't want you to."

Alexei looked Duke Ivanovich in the eye and asked: "Why?" ”

"Because of greed." Duke Ivanovich smiled helplessly: "People are always difficult to control themselves when faced with desires, even if I know what to do best, but I am lucky. Paul I was also a good king, he may not have been as good as His Majesty Katerina, but he was a good king. ”

"I see, father."

After leaving the manor, Katerina was not in a good mood, but she quickly adjusted, found a vacant lot, ordered someone to bring out the improved internal combustion engine, and called Pugachev.

Looking at the internal combustion engine with the added circuit, Arthur seemed to know something: "You have improved the internal combustion engine?" ”

"Today's internal combustion engines are not perfect, and there is much that can be improved."

Katerina raised her hand to signal Pugachev to demonstrate, and when the circuits merged and the machine started up, Arthur couldn't help but praise: "It is indeed a very good improvement, saving the trouble of heating the copper wire!" Ignition with a circuit is a genius idea! Whose idea was it? ”

"Pugachev, the genius of physics in the Romanov kingdom." Katerina introduced herself to the president of the Royal Academy of Sciences.

Arthur nodded in satisfaction and asked Pugachev, "Would you like to give a lecture at the university of the Kingdom of Windsor with your own ideas?" ”

Pugachev glanced at Katerina and nodded with the acquiescence of the other party: "I do." ”

"I think the academic community in the Kingdom of Windsor will welcome you."

Patting Pugachev on the shoulder, Arthur turned his head to look at Katerina: "Do you want to see the players tryout?" ”

Katerina shook her head: "I'm tired, I want to rest, let's try it again tomorrow." ”

"Okay."

Riding in the carriage, Ma Wei and the others returned to the city, on the way Arthur got off at Buckingham Palace and left, and Katerina followed Ma Wei back to Flower Street.

"Aren't you going to the mansion?"

Not only Katerina, but even Bodelinov and other guards followed, and Mavi frowned.

"What are you doing at the mansion?"

"Rest, aren't you tired?" Ma Wei wondered, "There are still three hours until dinner time, enough for you to sleep!" ”

"Don't you have any spare rooms in your house?"

“？”

Katerina covered her mouth and yawned and said, "I'm too tired to ride in the car, why don't you rest here and wait until dinner to call me, is there a problem?" ”

"No problem, no problem. Are you sure? I don't have the facilities of a mansion here. ”

"It's enough to have a bed, but it's not enough to have a sofa, and it's good to have a good night's sleep during the war."

"Okay."

(End of chapter)