Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

Chapter 833 - 57: The Candle and the Crown Prince

To get from the backyard of Wolf Castle to the Hall of Wolves, one must pass through a suspended gallery bridge.

On the snow-covered gallery bridge, a group of young members of the Wolf Race were buzzing with talk about that mysterious and enigmatic "Mr. Losa," who came riding a dragon.

"I remember that young Elmer always mentioned this name. It seems like a tribesman who once perished along with an entire Yakxi settlement squad single-handedly."

"How come we have no impression of such a big figure?"

"Who knows, maybe under pressure from Yakxi, the family hid the news."

"Look, who’s coming!"

"Nina!"

The fair-skinned, beautiful Wolf Race girl perked up her ears and leapt forward excitedly.

But Chelina merely sidestepped slightly to avoid her, and the empty-handed Wolf Race girl pouted somewhat sadly: "Haven’t seen each other for so long, what’s wrong with a hug?"

Chelina hesitated slightly but then opened her arms.

"Long time no see, Lina."

The crowd gathered again, all speaking at once: "Nina, you’ve kept yourself well, you almost look the same as before; we’ve all aged."

"We brought lots of candies for you this time, all from your favorite candy shop across from Dusk Bar, where they’ve launched new Christmas products recently."

"How come you haven’t written back a few letters over the years?"

Present were the ’reinforcements’ sent by the Saluzzo Family for this expedition, totaling forty-five people, all of Centurion Level combat strength—considered the elite of the younger generation in the Saluzzo Family.

Their equipment was also exceptionally fine, using magic weapons, and their firearms were all custom-made magic energy firearms, of various styles and even differing calibers, crafted by professional Master Craftsmen by hand.

At this time of year, Valentina bringing so many elite troops to the New Continent showed great sincerity.

"Everyone, long time no see..."

Chelina spent most of her childhood in the Saluzzo Family; being from Basilicata amid a crowd from Saluzzo, she inevitably faced some exclusion, but over time it gradually improved.

They trained together, ate together, practiced martial skills together, assassinated enemies together. How could there be no bond?

She looked at each of her companions who once lived with her day and night. Out of the cohort of assassins that left the training camp, only a tenth could now be seen in the team, whether staying in Saluzzo or...

Though the Wolf Race is long-lived, it doesn’t mean they don’t grow. Twenty years later, the changes in her old companions were significant.

Scars, wrinkles, like the rings of a tree, their formerly youthful aura had become more mature and composed.

Her gaze swept over these familiar faces, involuntarily pulling her memories back to twenty years ago—even though the blank space of these twenty years hadn’t felt long at all to her, making her emotions particularly complex.

When she left Saluzzo, she hadn’t expected it to be the last time she would see many of her companions.

"Everyone, welcome to New Basilicata."

Her voice paused, seemingly somewhat unaccustomed to such occasions, unconsciously she thought of her family elder, gaining more confidence in her tone.

"Tonight, I will host everyone well, thanks for coming such a long way to aid in the snow; Basilicata, the New Wolf Race, and the people of Texas will remember your righteous deeds."

The crowd exchanged looks, and the wolf race girl, referred to as ’Lina,’ said softly: "Although you can’t tell from appearance, Nina has grown up, now talking like those pointless utterances Miss often says."

This harmonious scene made Vivian, who was slightly on tiptoe, watching from the opposite side of the gallery bridge, feel somewhat envious.

The young Judge came behind her and gently laid a hand on her platinum blonde curly hair: "Feeling homesick?"

"A little."

The young Moose nodded first, then shook her head: "But I don’t even know whom to miss exactly, I have no friends, feeling like no one would remember me."

The Hohenzollern family was also quite populous; except for the most prominent Brandenburg line, the Sigmaringen line in Romania, the Prussian, and Baltic Knight Order lines—all were branches of the Hohenzollern family.

The Judge was somewhat curious: "Do you have siblings?"

"Yes, I’m considered the Eldest Princess of the Hohenzollern Family..."

The young Moose laughed lightly: "But the relationships with everyone aren’t very good, especially little William; frankly, I don’t understand why he has such hostility towards me, I really don’t threaten him in any way."

Apparently, the traditional Elector wouldn’t take the risk to pass the Elector position to her.

Her tone carried some self-mockery: "Since birth, I’ve been surrounded by a variety of servants, each one polite but distant, barely seeing my parents. I used to think that if I were excellent enough, outstanding enough, I could win their favor."

"But in reality, no one can make them happy. My mother always considered the Margraviate of Brandenburg a barren place, with strict and tedious court rules, lacking in literary and artistic highlights."

"As for my father, he preferred to emulate our great-grandfather, living in the barracks. He treats every child as sternly as his soldiers."

Lavinia paused, reaching out to caress Vivian’s smooth platinum locks.

Seeming to open her heart, Vivian couldn’t stop: "Actually, little William is also a pitiful child; he was born with a disabled left arm, unable to learn the family’s swordsmanship, with mediocre talent in magic and spiritual energy."

"My father always blamed my mother for bringing the sickness of the English Royal Family into the Hohenzollern Family, causing even little William to hate my mother... In fact, she tried to make amends, like through electric shock therapy, consuming large amounts of magic potions, using iron rods to correct his arm."

"Cough!"

Lavinia couldn’t help coughing loudly: "I think, your mother’s way of making amends is rather counterproductive."

Vivian sighed softly: "I also think so; maybe because of this, little William’s personality became so extreme."

"My father always says His Majesty the Emperor... that is, Emperor Franz, that he’s an indecisive, weak and feeble emperor. But truth be told, when it comes to being a father, His Majesty the Emperor is much better than him."

Lavinia could only remain silent.

She came from the Bologna Family, considered nobility, but due to the influence of the industrial age, and the relentless efforts of past European monarchs in selling titles, the gap between nobles has become greater than the gap between pigs and humans.

Most royal secrets sounded like books from the heavens to her.

Yet regarding Emperor Franz’s skills as a father, she knew a little.

After all, the Apennine Peninsula was the backyard of the Habsburg Family for quite some time, and the matter of Crown Prince Rudolf’s suicide for love once caused quite a stir in Turin.

"Nia, I miss the days at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, and I miss His Majesty the Emperor. My father always said His Majesty’s kindness to me was a disguise, insincere, but don’t I have any other relatives I can miss, rely on?"

The young Judge reached out and wrapped Vivian’s shoulder, sighing softly.

The Candle Knight, illuminated by thousands of lights outside, was actually just a little girl lacking love.

"It’s alright, we’re here for you; if you ever feel troubled, you can always come to me. Losa always said the two of us are much alike, though I think his judgment is average; I’ve found we actually really get along."

In the distance, someone came sprinting rapidly.

He stopped before Chelina, who was about to enter the Hall of Wolves, whispering softly.

Soon after, Chelina flew over like the wind, solemnly saying: "Miss Vivian, there’s a cavalry team outside claiming to escort Crown Prince Ruprecht and hoping to meet with the Candle Knight."