As Kevla spoke, Gwen's gaze dimmed.

From a young age, Gwen had been shaped by the code of righteous knights, orienting herself towards justice and constantly honing her knightly skills to strengthen herself.

But her father was different.

Angus Delin.

He was an absolute utilitarian, viewing his offspring as tools to gain benefits for himself.

Because the young Gwen, due to her excessive righteousness, could not bring him any benefits, Angus Delin sent her to the Knight's Order to learn combat skills early on, never inquiring about her again.

This resulted in Gwen having almost no childhood, emerging from endless grueling training since she was young.

As for Gwen and Viktor's engagement?

After Viktor's father died, this engagement seemed to become a joke.

The Kravina family seemed to have completely forgotten about it, after all, Viktor was the one in charge.

As the head of the family, if Viktor didn't want to fulfill this engagement, he could naturally choose to ignore it.

And what's more ridiculous.

Because Viktor became the head of the Kravina family, coupled with Viktor's behavior of wasting nearly nine years, Gwen's father believed that Viktor could not bring benefits to the Delin family.

This engagement hanging over Gwen became a transparent existence.

Only a part of the nobles knew about her engagement to Viktor.

Until now.

In a daze, Gwen saw Kevla waving a hand in front of her.

"Gwen? Little Gwen?"

Gwen's eyes gradually focused, looking at Kevla's fingers, she lowered her head:

"Sorry, I was lost in thought."

Kevla sighed, holding her forehead. She knew how much her sister hated those people at home.

But this matter, even as the elder sister, she couldn't make the decision.

"So, are you going back?"

Gwen lowered her head, clenching her fists, without making any response.

......

"The North?"

Viktor sat at the desk, one leg crossed over the other, leaning against the leather chair back, fiddling with a novel item in his hand.

It was two iron tags. Lia frowned as she watched Viktor intently engraving strange yet intricate runes on them.

When she looked closer again, the patterns on the iron tags had disappeared.

After so many years, Lia had long lost interest in things like magic.

So she didn't say much, just shrugged and patted the envelope on the desk in front of Viktor.

"That's what Uncle Angus said. It's up to you whether to go or not. If you don't go, I'll decline for you."

Early this morning, Viktor's mansion received this letter from the Delin main family in the northern border of the empire.

The content of the envelope was clear and concise, intending to invite Viktor to visit the Delin family.

His "Uncle Angus" had some words he wanted to say to him.

Viktor put down the iron tags in his hand, supporting his elbow on the armrest of the chair, holding his head in thought.

Did he have time now?

He had plenty of time.

After the lecture, the academy was on holiday, and he had a long vacation.

But his identity as a professor should be little known outside the capital.

Until yesterday's successful lecture topic, his professor title spread along with it.

But it had only been one night.

"It seems this uncle is very concerned about me."

Thinking carefully, it was normal. After all, he became a professor with Gwen's help.

Perhaps the other party had also used the family's influence.

But it was hard not to feel that it was premeditated when the other party caught his vacation time to invite him.

So, Viktor's answer was...

"Go, why not?"

He slowly opened his eyes and answered calmly.

Lia was surprised, not expecting Viktor to agree to attend such a troublesome invitation.

She had thought that her coming to deliver the message was just a formality.

"Gwen will go back too, right?"

"Oh, you even know this?"

Lia raised her eyebrows. Indeed, that uncle had already notified Gwen.

At this time, she might already be preparing to go home.

"Let her know that I will go back with her."

"What?"

Lia could hardly believe Viktor's request.

What's wrong with her brother recently, has he become enlightened?

Although somewhat confused, she still turned and left, obediently going to do as told.

After Lia left, Vega opened its hazy single eye.

"So, are we going out to play?"

This crow seemed to treat this matter as tourism.

But for Viktor, this indeed counted as a risk-free tour.

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"Angus Delin wants to invite me to the northern border for a trip, and incidentally call Gwen back early."

"Obviously, he might want to do something about my engagement with Gwen."

Vega looked at Viktor with some surprise.

"How are you so sure?"

Viktor pointed at its head, smiling faintly.

"If you don't use your brain, you can donate it to someone who needs it."

Vega felt very angry because it heard that the other party was calling it brainless.

"Why should I use my brain? I'm just a crow."

"No problem, I respect you."

Viktor picked up the two iron tags again, engraving magic power on them, and explained calmly:

"In everyone's eyes, my relationship with Gwen has always been 'fiancé and fiancée'."

"Only this can serve as the motive for this uncle."

He called Gwen back in advance, perhaps wanting to say something to Gwen beforehand.

Then he might as well go with Gwen, and deal with whatever comes.

Viktor liked to do this.

Finally, something seemed to have been engraved on the two iron tags.

Two primordial powers seemed to be infused into the cards, representing the power of 'fire' and 'wood' under two colors.

On the back of the iron tags, a portrait of a 'joker' was also engraved.

On the side, a line of text was engraved.

'joker'

Vega curiously widened its eyes, tilting its head to look at the appearance of the two cards.

"Are you serious?"

"Did you really make two jokers? But what's with this portrait, did you draw two clowns?"

"No."

Viktor tapped the table with his finger, and the two cards stood up straight.

On the front of the cards, flickering flowing light seemed to be visible, vaguely as if the two clowns had come to life and were staring at the outside world.

A faint energy radiated outward, but it was still possible to feel that it was a very extraordinary and powerful aura.

Viktor's eyes revealed a smile, looking at the two masterpieces with satisfaction.

"They are trump cards."

The cards instantly returned to Viktor's waist, and that energy dissipated into the air with it, leaving no trace.

Viktor stood up, patted Vega, and said calmly:

"Let's go see Henie."

"I have some business with her."

Vega flapped its wings and stood steadily on Viktor's shoulder, quietly leaving the study with Viktor.

At this time, Henie liked to stay in the garden.

After receiving confirmation from the servants, Viktor walked towards the garden.

And as soon as he entered the garden, he saw the scene before him:

Cocotte and Henie were mixed in the flower beds, with Cocotte lying on a cloud.

Cocotte was slowly constructing a formation in the air, drawing and explaining to Henie beside her:

"Here, the Rune script can be inserted, which will cause the vibration of wood element magic, making it more flexible."

"What about here?"

Henie pointed to a blank space in the formation in the air.

"If we connect the Rune script here, wouldn't it be better to construct a new line between the Kaya scripts?"

"No, no, this would make the magic vibration irregular, too flexible means unstable, then guess what would happen?"

"Explosion."

"That's right."

As a second-tier mage, Henie could now study and use more profound and complex magic.

The two seemed to be discussing magic enthusiastically.

After all, Cocotte was an old mage who had lived for who knows how long. As a former councilor, she could certainly be called a 'master' in terms of knowledge.

Cocotte, who was lecturing with her eyes closed, suddenly felt the sunlight in front of her dim.

As if sensing some crisis, she suddenly opened her eyes.

Viktor's face appeared before her eyes.

She immediately became alert, and the cloud beneath her quickly floated back a few inches.

"Vi... Viktor, what are you doing here?"

"I'm telling you in advance, I'm on holiday now, don't think about making me work!"

Without waiting for Viktor to say another word, Cocotte hurriedly kicked the cloud beneath her, and the cloud, transformed into a crying face, quickly carried Cocotte away.

Seeing Viktor, Henie, who was overjoyed, didn't care that Cocotte hadn't gone far, and hurried towards Viktor.

"Professor!"

So Viktor casually rubbed Henie's head.

A warm current rose from Henie's heart, and Henie was content.

Although she had already become a second-tier mage, the experience points contributed by such daily head pats were not too much, but Viktor would still do it if he could.

After patting her head, Viktor calmly said.

"I will be leaving for some time in the coming days."

"During this time, you need to pay more attention to things at home."

He definitely couldn't count on that shut-in elf, even tying up a dog would be better at watching the house than Cocotte.

So he still had to ask Henie for help.

Henie was stunned, she wanted to say that Miss Lia was there, but the words on the tip of her tongue became:

"Where are you going?"

"The northern border of the empire."

Viktor answered calmly.

"Lia has business to do in the territory, she can't always handle affairs in the capital."

"If you have any difficulties, go find that elf. When it comes to major issues, she won't be lazy."

Henie didn't know what to say, feeling a bit disappointed, but still nodded.

"Oh."

Will it be a long time before I can see the professor?

"By the way, give me Leighton."

Henie nodded, she never questioned any reason for the professor's requests.

A red mass slowly coalesced from Henie's body, and a small crocodile lay on Henie's shoulder.

It lazily yawned.

"What are we eating today?"

It had just asked this question when it saw the cold-as-ice Viktor in front of it, and suddenly shuddered.

"Bi... Big brother!"

"Don't get excited, Leighton."

Viktor stared at it for a moment, reached out his hand, and took Leighton into his hand.

The small crocodile couldn't move in his palm, it could only hear one sentence.

"I'll take you to eat something better."

After saying this, Leighton's consciousness retreated back into darkness, once again imprisoned.

After doing all this, Viktor turned to leave, but saw Henie in front of him looking a bit shy.

"What's wrong, Henie?"

When his subordinate's state was off, he naturally had to show more concern.

Henie just stole a glance at him, as if somewhat timid, and said in a very soft voice.

"Could you, come a little closer?"

Viktor didn't quite understand, but he still tried his best to fulfill Henie's request.

"Like this?"

He had almost walked to Henie's front, at this distance, just reaching out, he could hug her.

Viktor might know what Henie wanted.

Probably a hug, after all, she liked it.

But Henie didn't do so, she just mustered up a little courage, looked up at Viktor, and continued to say:

"Could you, lower your head a little?"

"I want to tell you something."

It must be too shy, some words are difficult to say.

Viktor did as told, bending down as much as possible.

Even so, Henie still had to stand on tiptoe to bring her mouth to Viktor's ear.

And she indeed did so.

She tried hard to stand on tiptoe, wanting to whisper something to Viktor.

Before Viktor could make any reaction, it was like a delicate bird lightly pecking on a tree.

When he came to his senses, a trace of moisture had already been left on his cheek.

He was slightly stunned, his gaze looking forward.

Among the green leaves, the shy girl stood gracefully, her face flushed red, smiling slightly.

"Professor."

"I like you."

The wind brushed past his ears, and the girl left in a panic.

Only the softness that had once been on his face remained.

Cleaner than the wind.