A strange world

"This is my gift to you."

The countess clasped her hands behind her back and looked at Annan expectantly.

This oil painting, which should be classified as a landscape, was happily picked up by Annan.

The only gifts he received in this world were paintings. Paintings, like memories, carry beautiful or painful memories.

"Thank you, Lady Maria, I love it."

"Then don't refuse when I ask you later," said the Countess with girlish cunning.

Annan quickly received Lady Maria's request. After leaving the grass, flowers and river, he returned to the castle and asked the maid to help put the oil painting into the carriage.

"Annan, I would like to ask you to play my husband..."

Annan looked up at the Countess in surprise: "Mrs. Maria, isn't this a little offensive..."

The ghost of Earl Morgan is still floating over the castle.

The countess was as coquettish as a girl: "What are you thinking? I want you to play my husband and paint a portrait with me."

With Annan's mood swings, it seemed acceptable to paint a portrait as Earl Morgan.

"Is this appropriate?"

"My husband will be happy to know that I will have someone with me after he is gone..."

"All right."

Thinking that there was something serious that he needed to ask the countess, Annan agreed to her - the countess would never be like mentor Irilanze.

The old light and shadow can be vaguely seen inside the castle. The traces of chisels and axes on the brick walls remain fresh for a long time. The narrow windows on the walls are like observation holes. Even in the daytime, the castle corridors and rooms need to be lit with candles.

If war breaks out again, this count's manor will become a natural castle fortress.

Walking on the quiet corridor covered with soft goose down carpets, Annan admired the oil paintings on the walls or the flower screens and armors on display, and asked strangely: "Where have all the servants gone?"

"I asked them to go back to their rooms."

The Countess gently opened a door: "I don't want the servants to disturb us..."

What leaps into view is a spacious round bed surrounded by hazy gauze curtains, with a magic chandelier hanging from the ceiling that shines with gentle light. The extended terrace faces the flower gardens, river, forest and snow-capped mountains.

"Since the count left, even the bedroom has become deserted..."

The countess whispered sadly, opened the closet door, got into the closet, and rummaged through the clothes.

Annan glanced at the women's ornaments on the dressing table and turned his attention to the bookshelf next to it.

Books such as "History of the Allen Continental War", "Political Science" and "From Baron to Archduke" that Annan had never heard of were placed on the bookshelf with great temptation.

"Annan?"

Annan's dull cry with a slight hint of panic made him look away and towards the closet where the voice came from, "Help me, I can't get up..."

Looking at the swaying dresses outside the closet, Annan hesitated slightly, walked around to the countess, reached into the closet, touched the countess's arm, and pulled her out.

The Countess' hair was slightly messy and her cheeks were flushed: "Sorry, I made you laugh..."

"It's okay, Martin was like this before."

"Martin?" The Countess brushed her hair away from her forehead.

"My...friends I met in Pinglin Town."

Annan told an interesting story about the time he went mining in a haunted gold mine. At that time, Martin was also stuck in the mine -

But the countess's smile didn't seem so natural.

"This is the clothes my husband wore when I met him." She suddenly interrupted Annan, who was nostalgic for his time in Pinglin Town, and held up the folded old-style dress.

"Please put it on."

Annan looked around and thought that the Earl's Manor should be one of the safest places in Breeze City. He took off his mage robe and put on this old brown noble dress.

This type of clothing seems to have a reputation for being cumbersome, with meaningless buttons on either shoulder. Annan was still trying to figure out how to tie them, and the familiar fragrance approached.

"let me help you……"

The hands that almost hugged Annan fastened the buttons, and the bright eyes that were close at hand returned to Annan's face, and he murmured in a daze: "Morgan..."

"Lady Maria?"

The countess's blurred eyes regained clarity.

"I'm sorry...you remind me of the afternoon when my husband and I first met."

"You must be very loving."

Annan couldn't help but sigh.

"Yes..." The Countess lowered her eyes slightly, "Let's go out."

The female court painter set up the drawing board in the living room and directed them to sit on the sofa after they came down.

"Countess, please take Lord Annan's arm, turn your head slightly and get closer - and put more emotion into it -"

Lady Maria held Annan's arm, and her loving eyes almost melted Annan. Fortunately, he had received a more intense gaze from his mentor, Irilanze.

It was a bit awkward at first, but maintaining the same posture for a long time made the two of them numb quickly, and they quietly moved their stiff limbs.

Dozens of minutes later, the female court painter finished the oil painting and couldn't help but praise: "You are like a pair of young lovers."

The oil painting is still exquisite, but Annan is shaking his arms quietly, and the countess is gently rubbing her chest.

"I'm thinking about what gift to give you..."

"Didn't you already give me oil paintings?"

"That's the oil painting I promised before, not a gift." The Countess pointed her delicate pink lips with her index finger, "You are a warlock, right? My husband has a warlock's notebook..."

The fatigue in Annan's eyes disappeared.

Following the countess to the bedroom, she stood on the chair, her slender white feet standing on tiptoes, the hem of her skirt rising as she stretched her arms, and rummaged through the top of the bookcase.

Annan took the opportunity to glance at the titles of those precious books.

"I can not find it……"

An annoyed voice came from above the head, "Maybe it's not here. I'll give it to you when I find it."

The countess jumped down lightly, accidentally sprained her ankle, and fell on Annan without being able to stand firm.

Annan, who was still paying attention to the books, was unexpectedly hit by the countess. Before he fell, Annan pushed her away and fell into the soft bed. The countess who was pushed away hit the bookshelf and hit her forehead on it. falling into a coma——

In the evening, Annan declined the invitation to dinner from the countess, who had pale cheeks and was stained with bandages. He said goodbye with a guilty conscience and returned to the carriage.

Witnessing the carriage leaving the manor outside the window, the Countess, with the help of a servant, walked into a dark room with candles burning. Kneel down before the shadow where the firelight cannot reach.

Obscure and bizarre words echoed with the countess's voice.

"Did you keep the sorcerer's seed?"

"I tried to seduce, no matter whether it was youthful or tempting, but he was unwavering..."

"Being able to withstand the status and beauty of our Countess, it seems that our young King of the North is smarter than imagined..."

"Don't take the initiative to contact us again... Human beings only miss things they can't get... Wait patiently until he thinks of you..."