Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

“I understand.” Gertrude bowed and accepted the order.

……

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Holy Leitanian Empire: Chapter Sixty-Seven: Volner: Disaster!

The mornings in Shitongling are always filled with a unique tranquility.

Dewdrops clung to the rose petals in the garden, reflecting the rising sun.

Werner von Hochberg loved mornings like this.

He would usually sit in his favorite rocking chair by the French windows in his study, holding a cup of black tea, and quietly read a volume of poetry.

As one of the nine electors of Letania, Volner was an outlier.

He was not keen on power struggles and had little interest in wealth; some privately called him "a poet living in the clouds."

Today, he is reading a collection of sonnets from ancient Syracuse, in which the poet uses the most beautiful words to praise love and freedom, and the emotions that leap off the page resonate deeply with Warner.

He felt that his life was like that too.

"grown ups."

The old butler's voice rang out from outside the door, interrupting Werner's thoughts.

"Come in."

The butler pushed open the door and entered, holding a letter in his hand.

“This was included in a shipment manifest from Kepranya this morning,” the butler explained.

The envelope had no emblem or stamp.

Walner's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

In an era where the transmission of information is highly ritualistic and identity-based, an anonymous letter usually means trouble.

He put down the poetry collection in his hand and picked up the letter.

The envelope was thin and rough, with his name written on it in neat handwriting, nothing more.

He waved for the butler to leave, then stood alone by the window and used a box cutter to cut open the seal.

The letter contained very little, just a few words.

But after just one glance, his blood froze instantly.

Viviana...

The name was mentioned in the letter.

His daughter, the continuation of his life, was also his greatest weakness.

The bloodline of the Drost family, the descendants of the remnants of the Witch King—this identity is a Damocles' sword hanging over the heads of the father and daughter.

Warner's face turned deathly pale in a few seconds, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. He unconsciously crumpled the letter in his hand into a ball.

He staggered back two steps and slumped into a chair, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest.

It’s over.

The idea exploded in his mind.

He had imagined countless times what would happen if the secret were exposed, and each time it sent chills down his spine.

The wrath of the Twin Queens, the greed of the other Electors, and the hatred of the entire old noble class for the remnants of the Witch King will tear him and his family to shreds.

And Viviana, his poor daughter, will be used as evidence against him, brought to trial, and suffer the same fate as her mother's family.

He covered his face, breathing heavily in pain.

The elegant world constructed by poetry and art collapsed at this moment, leaving only the cold and piercing reality.

　Who is Lingqi (four) Oujiu Sizhu Ba?

Who could know so clearly?

He forced himself to calm down and unfolded the already crumpled letter again.

At the end of the letter, he saw a signature.

— Gertrude.

Minister of Intelligence and Propaganda for the Workers' Party of Vassilis.

Walner's pupils contracted sharply.

He certainly knew the name; it was always associated with another name—Lassie.

That commoner who, within a year, went from an unknown workers' leader to the Elector of Vaser.

That peasant who debated with a group of scholars in the Imperial Central Council, leaving a host of old nobles speechless.

The madman who personally threw the Earl of Austin and his son off the tower.

It's Lacey.

This realization sent a chill down Volner's spine, but it also brought a strange sense of calm.

The fear remained, but the chaotic thoughts began to clear.

Lacey knew everything.

However, he did not choose to directly leak this potentially fatal intelligence to the Gemini Queens or sell it to his political enemies.

He chose to deliver the letter to himself in such a private way.

"..."

Does he want to have a negotiation with me?

Volner felt like a wild beast cornered by a hunter, with a noose around its neck, the other end of which was held in the hand of the young elector.

The instinct to survive overwhelmed everything.

He couldn't just sit and wait to die. He had to see Lacey and find out what she had to offer, even if it meant kneeling down and begging, to secure a chance for Viviana and the Hochberg family.

"Somebody come!"

His voice trembled without him even realizing it.

The old butler immediately pushed the door open and was shocked to see his master looking so distraught.

"Prepare the vehicle! Get the fastest land vehicle ready!" Volner stood up, his eyes regaining the decisiveness of an Elector.

"I need to go to Vaser Territory immediately!"

"Sir, should we... send a notification to the other party first?" the butler asked hesitantly.

According to the etiquette among nobles, such a hasty visit would be extremely impolite.

Walner followed the butler's advice.

He walked to his desk, picked up a pen, and found that his hand was shaking violently.

He took a few deep breaths, forced himself to calm down, and wrote a short handwritten letter.

The letter was written in an extremely humble tone, only stating that he had long admired the new policies of the Wasser Territory and hoped to have the opportunity to consult with His Excellency Leisi in person.

He entrusted the letter to one of his most trusted guards, ordering him to deliver it to Eisenwild as quickly as possible.

This is a gesture to show that one has no hostile intentions.

-MoonchairIphosphorusConquerSBiQi,ThinkWu(rSix)……

A land vehicle moved smoothly across the land of Vaser.

　】亻尔盈?3?焐?柒九镏/（三;）貳Worner lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked out. The muddy country road that he remembered had been replaced by a smooth gravel road.

On both sides of the road, newly reclaimed fields are neatly planned and stretch to the horizon.

Although the farmers working in the fields were simply dressed, their faces did not show the numbness and sorrow that was usually seen on them. Instead, they had a down-to-earth energy.

Occasionally, when passing through some villages and towns, you can see brick houses under construction and public canteens emitting white smoke.

On the wall were slogans painted in striking red paint that he couldn't understand, but which were full of momentum: "Labor creates everything!" "The Workers' Party is never afraid!"

All of this was completely different from the hell on earth he had heard from other nobles.

Everywhere you look, there is a sense of strict order and vibrant life.

This intensified Walner's unease; a ruler capable of governing his territory in this way was certainly not the reckless tyrant of rumors.

He was about to face an opponent far more formidable than he had imagined.

When the iconic tower of Essenwild appeared on the horizon, Werner's heart sank to the bottom.

The land vehicle was not checked at the city gate and drove straight into the city.

His messenger had clearly made all the necessary arrangements in advance.

When he arrived at the foot of the tower, a Workers' Party cadre in a green uniform with a solemn expression was already waiting for him.

Without uttering any unnecessary words, he simply bowed slightly, made a "please" gesture, and led Warner into the tower.

Werner was taken directly to the throne room.

He had imagined this scene countless times.

Lacey would sit high on his throne, surrounded by fierce-looking guards, using blatant threats and humiliation to force him into submission.

However, the throne room was empty.

"Lord Lacey is handling some official business. Please wait a moment." After saying this, the officer who had led the way turned and left.

The door slowly closed behind me.

Holy Leitanian Empire: Chapter Sixty-Eight: Is Leitanian Worth Looking Forward To?

Walner sat alone in a hard chair, his palms sweating so much that the silver box containing his daughter's photo was almost soaked.

He looked around. On the wall hung a map of the Vaser territory, marked with lines and symbols of different colors, indicating mining areas, factories, and railway plans.

Every minute and every second felt incredibly long.

He kept rehearsing the conversation that might happen later in his mind, imagining countless scenarios of how Lacey would threaten him.

He even prepared for the worst, that is, to give up his title and land in order to save his daughter's life.

Just as he was about to be driven mad by his own imagination, a small door on the side was pushed open.

Lacey walked in.

He wasn't wearing the splendid robes of an elector, but rather a simple work uniform with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his muscular forearms.

He even looked a little tired, as if he had just finished a long meeting.

He was not followed by any guards, only by Serafina carrying two cups of hot water.

"Lord Werner, I apologize for keeping you waiting."

"It's a long journey from Shi Tong to here, you must be tired."

This seemingly ordinary opening line left Walner speechless, unable to utter the words he had prepared.

"No...it's not hard work." Werner stood up somewhat awkwardly, realizing that he was at a loss for words in front of the other person.

Lacey gestured for him to sit down, and then sat down in another chair next to him.

He took the water glass from Serafina and pushed one of them towards Werner.

"Please use."

Werner was completely dumbfounded.

He had no idea what Lai Xi was up to.

He mechanically picked up the water glass and took a sip.

Lacey didn't mention the letter, but instead started talking about the Vassehr territory.

"His Excellency Walner came from the border and should have seen the road we are building," Lacey said in a tone as if he were chatting with an old friend.

"There's nothing we can do. Otto left behind such a mess. Without repairing the roads, we can't get the ore out or the food in. Everything else is just empty talk."

"We plan to build a road network covering the entire territory within two years, connecting all towns and mining areas."