People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

Ivignad stood up, walked over to Helimat's side, and as they passed each other, gently nudged her friend, who had been by her side since birth, with her large horn, offering words of comfort.

"Helinmat, go without worry. I'll take good care of Triinttelme."

"I'm here, waiting for you to come back."

Helena seemed lost in thought, not answering immediately.

When she came to her senses, she was all alone on the suspended corridor between the two towers.

At that moment, the Black Queen, whom Fremont jokingly called the Gloomy Sheep, became even more somber.

Chapter 678 Gertrude's Performance

The gongs and drums are loud, and the firecrackers are all fired.

Such a scene, of course, does not exist.

However, the Elector of St. Petersburg did indeed hold a reception ceremony of the highest honors for Ernst.

The moving city stopped Ernst's vehicle directly at the entrance. From the moment they entered the city, the guards under the command of the Grand Elephant took over Ernst's escort duties directly from the mercenaries of Blacksteel International. They even gave these mercenaries double the pay as a bonus.

The welcoming ceremony was extremely grand. All the high-ranking nobles residing in the Second Electoral District of the Eighth Shitong Territory were required to attend, and even a small number of nobles from neighboring Electoral Districts who had a relatively good relationship with the Elector of Shitong Territory were invited. Ernst had never seen such a spectacle before. If we disregard social status and only consider the number of people gathered here, the powerful and influential figures present even surpassed those at the International Summit.

As for security, it goes without saying that long cordons were set up on both sides of the street, all shops along the way were required to hang the flags of Sherag and Letania, tower sorcerers stood guard on both sides, and an airtight magical barrier could be opened at any time. Even Theresis, who has the ability to take down an army of thousands, would find it difficult to return here unscathed!

As one of the main figures in the welcoming ceremony, the Elector of Stun, who had not appeared in public for a long time, surprisingly reappeared in public after several months. He wore a long robe symbolizing his status as an elector, adorned with countless jewels and gold and silver, which glittered in the sunlight, almost clearly indicating his "center of attention" status. In his hand, he personally handed Ernst a noble's cane, symbolizing Letania's long history and rich culture, as a gift for their first meeting.

It is a staff, a musical instrument, and a symbol.

In Letania, there are special requirements for the demeanor of nobles attending banquets. From formal attire and top hats to the color of the napkin peeking out from their breast pockets, everything is a symbol of status and position.

The cane given by the Elector of Letania carries the connotation of a "royal sword" at least within the Shiton Territory.

Seeing the staff is like seeing the person; it signifies the personal presence of the chosen emperor!

Perhaps Elector Shi Tong had used some kind of magic to temporarily boost his spirits, for he looked much better today. He even had the ability to hold Ernst's hand, leading him towards the Elector's tower while rambling on about the origin of the staff:

"This walking stick was a gift from Her Majesty the Empress."

"My father and my brothers died in the glorious battle against the evil fortress of the Witch King. Their blood congealed into long spears, piercing the gloom over Letania and restoring a bright and clear world to the Letanians."

"As for me, I lack courage and willpower, and I was unable to become one of those glorious martyrs. I can only remember their glory, rely on their protection, and shamelessly live on until now."

"Prime Minister Ernst is a young and promising star of tomorrow. After hearing this, he won't laugh at me, this 'elector who was picked up off the street,' will he?"

Sivorner von Hochberg turned his head slightly, a self-deprecating smile on his face, but his eyes were fixed on Ernst's expression.

Ernst remained composed, his tone neither humble nor arrogant, but rather respectful.

"Your Excellency Elector is joking. There is no such thing as an 'elector who was picked up off the street'."

"During your reign, Shi Tong was stable both internally and externally, trade flourished, good relations were maintained with countries such as Victoria and Casimir, and society developed rapidly. Your achievements are evident to all."

"Your father and your brothers were heroes of Letania. They sacrificed themselves on the road to resisting the Witch King. What they sought was nothing more than a clean government, peaceful lives for the people, prosperous businesses, and countless lights shining like stars every night?"

"You have fulfilled their wishes. You have lived up to their expectations and to your position. You are the rightful and rightful chosen Marquis of Shitong."

Ernst wasn't just engaging in empty flattery; some of his words genuinely came from the heart.

He doesn't entirely agree with the saying "each generation has its own things to do," as if everyone's tasks and responsibilities are predetermined by fate and the dictates of an era, and cannot be changed.

Ernst was a man who liked to do a lot of work, and the reason he did so was ultimately to ensure that those who came after him would have a better life and be able to start from a higher point after he left.

On his way to Letania, he also learned about the life, policies, merits and demerits of the Elector of Shitong over the years.

From Ernst's perspective as an Earthling, he did many things poorly. The most typical example is that he was a great elector who ultimately couldn't protect his wife or his daughter.

Yes, his initial decision to send a maid to take Viviana to Casimir and entrust her to the care of Grand Knight Russell was perhaps a last resort, a temporary measure.

Having just taken office and with his position unstable, whether he feared that Viviana, his illegitimate daughter, would be used as leverage against him or used to manipulate him, from a responsible standpoint, sending her away was indeed a last resort.

But what happens after that?

Has your helplessness lasted for more than ten years?

For more than a decade, Viviana lived alone in Casimir, bearing the identity of "Laetanian Candle Knight" and the surname "Drost". Could it be that Elector Shiton, the most prominent nobleman in Laetania, had no chance to bring her back?

Even if we don't bring her back, isn't there any chance for us to recognize her as a relative, reveal our identities to her, and tell her about her background?

That's utter nonsense. It's laughable that Viviana's eventual return to Letania and to the territory of Shiton to see her father was due to the treacherous remnants of the Witch King's faction causing trouble in Sherag.

This is not something that can be easily dismissed with a simple "it's for Viviana's own good," especially when compared to the Duke of Windermere next door. The two men's attitudes toward their children are worlds apart.

No matter what your reasons are, being absent from your child's growth for such a long period of time means you cannot be considered a qualified father.

For Viviana to grow up to be the way she is now, with such an almost exaggeratedly good personality, without developing any twisted quirks, Ernst really has to praise this girl for being "untainted by the mud," and Russell, her adoptive mother, is truly too responsible!

However, Wörner von Hochberg, though not a good father, was a perfect feudal nobleman.

He mastered patience, resilience, political maneuvering, shrewdness, and checks and balances. While Shitongling may not have experienced explosive growth over the years, it miraculously continued to develop. Neither neighboring countries were embroiled in internal strife or at war, nor were newly rising powers vying for its prominence, nor did the twin queens offer policy support or suppression; none of this hindered its progress.

This is an undeniable skill!

Therefore, Ernst would tell him, "You are the rightful Elector of St. Tong," and that he "lived up to the sacrifices and entrustment of his father and brothers," and "lived up to his position."

But he didn't say he had done right by Viviana.

Werner smiled, and Ernst wasn't sure if he understood the unspoken meaning behind his expression. But he did indeed fall silent afterward.

Only when they were close to the Elector's tower did Ernst break the silence, asking in a low voice: "Kou..."

"Your Excellency Elector, have you prepared any concerts or similar events?"

"Hmm? Prime Minister Ernst is interested? Then I can summon one immediately. But it might take a few more days."

Werner's reply indirectly denied Ernst's question.

Seeing this, Ernst confirmed his guess and said:

"Your Excellency, on my way here, some things happened, and I also happened to learn some things."

He organized his thoughts and gave a brief overview of Arturo, the Elector of St. Tung's concert, the invitation extended to the outside world, and his notification of Her Majesty the Empress's visit.

Walner's brow furrowed more and more as he listened, and by the time Ernst finished speaking, he was already standing there with a deep frown, lost in thought.

After a moment's thought, he did not answer Ernst's question immediately:

"I will send someone to investigate this matter."

"But please rest assured, this will not affect our communication. If someone really wants to put on a concert as a surprise for you and me, I will make sure it ends well."

He paused, his voice still somewhat weak, but incredibly firm.

"This is a small matter; I, as the rightful Elector, can certainly handle it."

Letania, St. Tong, Elector's Palace Complex.

Guided by a maid, Ernst arrived at this magnificent room.

This will be his main stronghold in Shi Tongling for the foreseeable future.

Ernst swept the area with the small square, finding no trace of magic. He checked several corners but found no cameras. Reassured, Ernst lay down.

Kal'tsit and the Blacksteel International escorted Arturo to find the Lateran envoy stationed here, and they haven't returned yet. Ernst now has some free time to organize the intelligence gathered from this first contact.

The Grand Election Marquis of Shitong still maintains extremely high control over the entire Shitong territory, but this control is gradually weakening as his illness worsens.

The concert incident might be quite significant. Elector Shi Tongling appeared unaware, yet he also seemed to be somewhat aware. In his reply to Ernst, he didn't even offer the simplest promise: "I will give you an explanation for this matter."

Zhong Arturo is a wanted criminal in Lateran. Even disregarding Ernst's relationship with Lateran, just considering the nature of her being a wanted criminal, inviting her to perform for the head of state at a concert is somewhat strange.

Furthermore, Arturo isn't even the kind of criminal who could be excusable; the root of her trouble lies in her Originium Arts, not in her character. While this is unfair, her Originium Arts are a legitimate threat to society; allowing her to perform them freely is tantamount to blatantly harming people.

Upon hearing this, Shi Tongling, the chosen emperor, said, "I have the ability to make this surprise end perfectly."

It wasn't that Ernst didn't believe him; it's just that he really had some PTSD about the word "surprise."

Who knows if you'll hold back a little bit of the "surprise" so I know I'm really experiencing a pleasant surprise?

Something's not right here; we need to be careful.

Uncle also

"Dong dong dong."

Ernst's thoughts were interrupted by the sudden knocking. He looked at the door with some confusion, but he did not hear the maid's announcement, only the continued knocking.

Well, it seems he should have given the Elector a lower evaluation. Your castle looks like it's been riddled with holes!

Silently clutching Nasti's necklace in his hand and placing the divine stone against his chest, Ernst walked to the door and asked:

"Which one?"

"Prime Minister Ernst, I am Gertrude Strolo, Count of Viseheim."

Ernst had never heard of the name before and couldn't immediately determine which side the other person was on.

Gertrude, standing outside the door, was not in a hurry. She simply bent down and slipped a business card and a ticket through the crack at the bottom of the door.

"Prime Minister Ernst, please believe me, I have no ill intentions towards you. This visit is truly out of necessity."

"To be honest, someone like me is not qualified to step into the Elector's Tower. I also used some means."

"It's alright if you don't open the door, but please accept this business card and ticket, and do us the honor of listening to our performance."

We will not let you down.

Chapter 679 The Sound of the Mortal World

Gertrude Strolo. The current Earl of the County of Viseheim, a nobleman of the Laetanian Tower.

One of the countless unremarkable nobles in the tower.

This might sound a bit Versailles, but Gertrude never felt happy being a noblewoman. She wouldn't have been appointed count if her weak family hadn't nearly led the clan to ruin.

Through patricide.

She asked herself if she was a good person, but so what? There were far too many bad people in Letania, and even in this Terra. In fact, there were far too many who weren't even human.

She was a very realistic person. Friendship, sacrifice, dedication—those virtues that people praised, those virtues that would lead her to be shattered in reality—were all abandoned by her own hands the moment she joined the remnants of the Witch King's party in an attempt to survive.

She often suffers from insomnia, but she never believes that her insomnia is caused by these things.

Perhaps it's just that they haven't had enough music.

“Cherny, in a couple of days, Shi Tong will be holding a concert. I’ve secured a chance for you to perform on stage.”

Looking at the red-haired Elafia, who was engrossed in playing the piano in the room, Gertrude hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Many important people will be attending this performance. This is a great opportunity for you to reach the whole of Letania and further enhance your reputation. You must seize it."

The man called Czerny did not answer him; his fingers continued to dance across the keys, and the calm melody echoed in the room, seemingly expressing the performer's feelings.

I'm not happy, not excited, and even a little indifferent.

Gertrude stood quietly in the doorway, silently watching the man in the room. After a long while, the piece, whose technical level could only be described as "beginner's practice," was finished, and Gertrude spoke again:

"Czerny, when the time comes, consider it as playing 'Dawn and Dusk' for me!"

"That's your signature piece, a masterpiece worthy of being included in Letania's higher music textbooks. If you can play that piece, you'll definitely attract the attention of those important figures—"

Why play "Dawn and Dusk"?

Czerny opened his mouth, but Gertrude was interrupted by a somewhat rude question.

He didn't even turn his head; his cold tone clearly showed his attitude.

“Ms. Gertrude, you don’t understand music at all, and you don’t understand me at all, nor do you understand what ‘Dawn and Dusk’ means to me.”

"Dawn and Dusk" was composed by Czerny to commemorate the passing of his mentor's eldest daughter and his close friend. The piece contains grief, vulnerability, and the overwhelming emotion of finally breaking through the barriers of reality, allowing the tender heart to directly confront the helplessness and darkness of reality. Even people who know nothing about music will be moved to tears when they hear it.

It was this piece that propelled him into the ranks of Letania's top musicians. However, Czerny rarely performed this piece in public.

N forced a proud and resilient musician to forcibly tear open his inner wounds, exposing his raw, bloody self to outsiders, all for the sake of a smile. The praise he received in this way was not recognition, but humiliation!

Gertrude knew absolutely nothing about music; that was Czerny's assessment of her.

She could play instruments, especially the harp, and as the Count of Viseheim, his patron, he once thought Gertrude would be his second confidante.

But unfortunately, she wasn't. Even if she could play every note correctly and perform every piece beautifully, she couldn't understand the emotions in the music or what she wanted to express.

The practice piece he just played was actually a response to Gertrude.

He didn't care which "big shot" would attend the concert, nor did he care how much benefit "fame" would bring him.

He followed Gertrude to the territory of Shitong, not to stand out or to amaze others, but simply to repay Gertrude for her investment in him.

Unfortunately, this woman couldn't see that at all.