Winter Lord: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 143 Meeting
On a quiet and warm night after the Spring Festival, the offices of Red Tide Lord's Castle were peaceful.

The hustle and bustle of the dinner party had long since subsided, and a warm fire burned in the fireplace, illuminating the stone walls and bookshelves, while the air was still filled with the aroma of mead and stew.

Louis took off his cloak and sat down at his desk, preparing to handle some official documents after the holiday.

At that moment, a guard knocked on the door and entered, speaking in a low and cautious voice: "My lord, a woman requests an audience, claiming to be... 'Emily Edmund'."

Louis paused slightly with his quill, looked up, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "Emily Edmund?"

I thought this noble-born fiancée would quietly leave after observing everything about the Red Tide.

He was somewhat surprised that she chose to show up after the festival.

“Please bring her here,” Louis said in a deep voice.

The guard nodded in response and quickly left.

The wooden door of the Crimson Tide Lord's Castle opened slightly, a night breeze wafted in, followed by the sound of a young girl's footsteps, light yet firm.

Emily stepped into the study, dressed in a dark blue gown with her cape billowing behind her and wearing the silver eagle emblem symbolizing the Edmund family on her chest.

Her blue hair cascaded over her shoulders, giving her an air of aloof elegance. Her features were delicate and sculpted, and her figure was slender and graceful.
Every step he took carried the self-restraint and elegance unique to the nobility.

She arrived, removed her mask, and stood before the young lord with her true self.

Emily's gaze fell on Louis.

At that moment, he was looking up from his documents, the golden-red glow of the furnace casting a gentle light on his face.

His eyes were clear, his face was calm, and he appeared even more solemn and composed in his black and gold uniform than at the banquet.

Emily felt her heartbeat pause for a moment.

Meanwhile, Louis looked at her, a barely perceptible glint in his eyes.

She was a true noblewoman, dignified, calm, and composed.

However, Louis still caught the faint hint of tension in her eyes.

“Emily Edmund.” Emily stopped, bowed, and spoke clearly and calmly, “or rather, your future fiancée.”

Louis rose and returned the courtesy: “My father did indeed write about this.”

“I’m here to observe what kind of person you are.” Emily looked him straight in the eye and spoke frankly. “This marriage is very important to me… so I must judge for myself whether it is worthwhile.”

She lowered her eyelashes slightly, her voice lower but exceptionally sincere: "I want to make the decision myself."

A moment of silence followed, the flickering firelight reflecting off Louis's handsome face. His expression was calm, showing no surprise whatsoever.

Emily asked softly, "Aren't you angry?"

“No.” Louis smiled, his tone gentle. “I understand your actions. I would have done the same if I were in your shoes.”

He didn't expose her pretense at the banquet, but instead embraced her probing and doubts with a reassuring, silent acceptance.

At that moment, Emily's eyelashes trembled, and she smiled as if she had breathed a sigh of relief, her lips curving slightly, making her almost too beautiful to look at directly.

Louis invited her to sit down, and the two sat across the desk, the dim light from the fireplace illuminating their faces.

“Red Tide Territory is… so much better than I imagined.” Emily spoke first, talking about the topic she was most interested in. “The streets are clean, the houses are orderly, and the people have smiles on their faces. I never thought I would see such a decent territory in the North.”

Louis replied calmly, "It is my honor to receive Miss Edmund's praise. Red Tide was originally a desolate place. It is only through everyone's concerted efforts that it has become what it is today. I just happened to be standing in front of them."

“Not every lord is willing to do that,” she added softly, looking at him with her blue eyes. “When I passed through the market, an old man grabbed my arm and said, ‘Our lord is the sun, the only fire on a snowy day.’”

Louis smiled. "Looks like I'll have to ask someone to thank that old man. He helped me make a good impression."

Emily laughed, her blue eyes crinkling as she looked at him, unable to look away.

“What you’re doing could change not only the Red Tide… but the entire North,” she said softly. Louis shrugged. “That’s too much of a burden. I’m just going to keep to my own little corner.”

They talked for a long time, and the atmosphere gradually transitioned from the initial tentativeness to a warm and relaxed one, as if the two of them had silently removed their armor.

As the conversation deepened, the atmosphere between the two subtly changed.

Emily's hand holding the teacup was no longer stiff. She exhaled, her gaze softening, finally shedding the rational shell she had worn when they first met.

“Actually, I… am not so opposed to an arranged marriage, it’s just that I don’t want to hand over my future in a muddled way.” Emily paused, looking somewhat hesitant. “Seeing you today, I feel that perhaps Father’s choice was not wrong.”

"Thank you for your trust." Louis smiled slightly.

Emily's eyelashes fluttered slightly, but she didn't say anything more, only nodded gently.

A moment later, she stood up and politely adjusted her cloak: "I will be setting off back to Frostspear City tomorrow. My father is waiting for my report."

“Welcome back again.” Louis stood up and opened the door for her.

A gentle night breeze blew outside the door, ruffling her blue hair.

Emily walked to the door, then suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked up into his eyes.

"You really surprised me," she said softly.

Her eyes flashed with complex emotions, showing both the poise befitting a noble lady and the barely concealed excitement of a young girl.

The next second, she stood on tiptoe and gently kissed his cheek.

Just taste it.

"Looking forward to seeing you again, Lord of the Crimson Tide."

Louis stood at the doorway, watching Emily's figure gradually disappear into the night, her fragrance still lingering in the air.

He reached out and touched the spot where he had just been kissed, a slight smile playing on his lips, as if a sudden spring breeze had stirred his heartstrings.

He gently closed the door, turned around, and as soon as he looked up, he met Sif's gaze.

Sif stood in a corner of the study, watching quietly. The light shone into her eyes, reflecting a shimmering, fragmented light.

She didn't speak, nor did she show any intense emotions; her face remained as calm as ever.

But that suppressed emotion, like a spark in a furnace, burned silently in my heart.

Louis paused for a moment, then scratched his head somewhat awkwardly: "I was going to tell you... I didn't expect it to turn out like this."

Sif lowered her head, her fingers gently twisting the hem of her dress.

“I know,” she said softly. “I’ve known all along that I shouldn’t have any illusions about my status… You are a lord, and she is the daughter of a duke.”

She tried her best to keep her tone steady.

But in that instant, Louis saw a hint of grievance flash across her eyes.

He walked over and said in as gentle a tone as possible, "I didn't mean for you to suffer like this. I just..."

“I believe you,” Sif suddenly interrupted him, her voice soft but unusually firm.

She looked up, her eyes brimming with tears, but she forced herself to hold them back.

The next second, she stood on tiptoe, suddenly hugged him, and softly pressed herself against him, giving him a light kiss on the lips.

This kiss lacked Emily's reserve, but possessed a more direct, almost heartbreaking trust.

"I believe in you, no matter what happens in the future... I'll always be by your side." Her voice was soft, yet it melted his heart.
Louis paused for a moment, then reached out and gently put his arm around her.

(End of this chapter)