A competent official will first install his own people in important positions.

Annan wasn't that competent, but he knew he needed to keep his companions occupied. The Bard, for example, as a former prisoner, is no stranger to the Dungeon Guards.

The knight maidens are also led by the bards, including Joan and the Boy with Aphasia. The former is not so vulnerable to running back and forth between Breeze City and Betal City alone, while the latter is a joint request of Astolford and the Gray Wolves.

Annan has a good sense of him, and somehow, Annan standing next to him always recalls the days when he lived with Martin.

And the sycophant, Daniel Goodberg. Having a surname means that you are not a homeless or a poor. As a local who took refuge on his own initiative, Annan promoted Daniel to be his assistant, but left the investigation of the dungeon to the bard.

Daniel needs time to observe. He would shoot Annan's sycophants, and he would also pat the sycophants of other nobles.

And after solving the situation in Betal City in the future, he will announce the identity of the king of the north, and he can bring back several trustworthy subordinates.

The vice-warden's treatment was nothing other than the official residence and the weekly salary of a kinnar, but the nobles' only fiefs and estates never prevented them from getting drunk and dreaming of death—Olme was just right, and this strange name was already widely circulated by Lady Winter and the vice-mayor.

There were countless nobles who came to visit and give gifts, and those gifts alone were worth at least dozens of gold coins.

The bard's investigation took time, and Annan asked the knight maiden to secretly sell some for clothes and food, and Joan sent them to an orphanage.

This time, the children not only revolve around Joan, but also around Annan.

Mia gently asked the children to play next to her, standing beside Annan: "Is this the turning point you are talking about?" ”

"Not yet."

"Do you know Lady Winter?"

Annan still felt that the identity of the deputy warden was too coincidental.

"I haven't seen her."

"Then thank the God of justice and bravery......"

Annan imitated the prayer gesture and was corrected by Mia, holding his hands and wrapping his little finger in the palm of his hand. Mia's hands weren't as soft as Lady Noble's, and they weren't calloused.

"I still have a commission."

The food and clothing were more than enough to support the orphanage until spring, and Annan hoped that the orphanage would be able to accommodate some more homeless children.

On the way here, Annan saw some frozen corpses......

"I thank you for your kindness for the children."

On the way back, she suddenly said, "I grew up in an orphanage...... We hate winter because many children die in winter...... I also like winter, because in winter the lady will appear and take care of us like a mother. ”

"Lady Mia only shows up in winter? Why? ”

"I asked her, and she said that danger is what makes us grow......"

"All the time?"

"Well, for as long as I can remember......"

Annan said in surprise: "His Royal Highness Princess Joan Iksera Anfinsen Behedad Clemonket was raised in an orphanage?" ”

Annoyed, Joan jumped out of the carriage, grabbed the snow on the side of the road and threw it at Annan.

Returning to the residence, Annan summoned Daniel: "Will Lady Winter come to Betal City every winter?" ”

The answer was that Lady Winter would not come every year, nor in winter, and this was the second time in many years that Lady Winter had come to Bethal.

In the afternoon, the bard brings back the results of the investigation: the dungeon of Betal City has five floors, and from the third level onwards, it is divided into lower levels, and houses special criminals, such as those who intend to subvert the kingdom, plunder the city-state, rebel, and offend the nobles.

The dungeon guards on the upper level couldn't get close, but the third level was under the jurisdiction of Annan, the deputy warden.

Annan was just about to go to the third floor in person, and an invitation letter was delivered to the deputy warden's residence.

[Invitation from the Sterrett Family: We cordially invite His Excellency Vice Warden Olme to attend tonight's dinner. 】

Annan asked the Daniel Chastellette family to discover that the initiator was the lady who sat next to Lady Winter in the auditorium on the eve of the previous day, and that Lady Winter was also on the invitation list.

At the same time, he also sent the warden's greetings, expressing his welcome to Annan as a member of the dungeon and placing high hopes on him.

As night approached, Annan and the bards, Alstofo, and the Grey Wolf who were the guards got into the carriage, and Joan shouted "Don't be fooled by the bad women outside!" "Departure.

……

The bard waited until Annan stepped into the manor, and his gaze returned to him.

"You can fool that idiot, but you can't fool me......" he distanced himself from Astolfo, "who are you?" ”

"We're looking for an opportunity to talk to you. I'm Francois, and you should have heard Annan say about me. Francois regained his voice and bowed to the gray wolf: "She is Rhona Gilman, a member of Starmoon Bay. ”

"That boy who can't speak is Martin?"

"He had to come along......"

Francois sighed, but it was good that Martin didn't get into trouble—not yet.

"Who is Joan?"

"The people of Olmedo."

The bard's vigilance subsided, and he relaxed a little: "I thought you were really comfortable letting Annan go out on an adventure alone. ”

"Actually, Annan doesn't need our protection very much......"

……

Annan, who walked into the banquet, realized what the warden meant by "high hopes" -

The guests at the banquet were all noble ladies and handsome men......

Wherever the gaze swept over, the ladies puffed up their proud chests. It's not the same as Breeze...... The king of the north is of such high status that even the greedy ladies and girls dare not come close.

And here, the servants are whispering where this good-looking boy came from.

Annan's arrival aroused covetous and hostile eyes, and the cold black warden's outfit could withstand the cold wind and the gaze of the civilians, but it could not resist the enthusiasm of the ladies and ladies—or rather, they were more excited.

Annan euphemistically said that Mrs. Rindong was waiting for him, and refused to be accosted by the noblewomen, but Lady Rindong really invited him over. Come to Lady Winter.

From the Wine Lady to the Countess to the Lady of Winter, they grew in status and beauty, and all had no husbands......

Follow Lady Winter to the terrace. The cold wind blew the long rose-red hair, and Annan hesitated and asked, "Aren't you cold?" ”

A slightly hoarse magnetic voice sounded, "Why do you think I'm Lady Winter?" ”

"Do you have a husband?"

Lady Winter avoided such offensive words and looked back at the bustle of the banquet hall: "Do you like these? ”

"Just as dreams will wake up, I know they don't belong to me." Annan shook his head.

"As long as you nod your head, they will belong to you."

Annan still politely refused. These aristocratic ladies are beautiful, but they lack the character that makes him admire.

Madame Winter said no more, and Annan remained silent. Returning to the banquet, Lady Winter returned to her place, while Annan stayed in the corner. After that, until the end of the banquet, Lady Winter did not look for Annan again, as if only to say a few words to him and appear in front of the noblewomen.

(End of chapter)