Early in the morning, Colin woke up from his dream.
The fireplace was still burning and making a crackling sound.
The girl's body temperature and fragrance still lingered on the bed, but she was no longer there.
"Good morning, Colin."
Colin sat up and saw Vera sitting by the dressing table in front of the window.
The most beautiful flower in the House of Saint Hilde had already changed into a bright yellow crocheted dress. She was facing the mirror and pasting a rose gold ornament on her forehead.
"Good morning, Vera."
Colin looked at Vera who was not far away with appreciation. In his opinion, the girl seemed to have matured a lot after not seeing her for a long time.
Her blue and pure eyes were beautiful, and the makeup on her face was even more gorgeous and charming than usual. The bright red lip gloss made her perfect outline look even more three-dimensional. Although there was still a trace of the shyness of a delicate young girl, there was more of a natural and graceful elegance and solemnity, as well as a gradually blossoming charm.
"Do I look good?"
After Vera finished dressing up, she turned around and smiled at Colin.
The sunlight outside the window was very good, and the rays of light shone in and fell on the girl's body, reflecting a faint halo.
"Of course, your beauty is overshadowed by the warm winter sun!" Colin smiled and flattered her.
Vera rolled her eyes cutely, as if she felt that Colin's praise was too exaggerated.
"This is what Queen Aisha taught me." The girl lifted the hem of her dress and twirled in a circle.
Colin thought that it was no wonder. He felt that this dress was a little familiar, and it was not Vera's usual style.
"It seems that you have learned a lot during the time you were in Silvermoon City."
"Yes. Queen Aisha also told me about her past. After listening to her story, I realized that I am actually very lucky compared to her. "
After saying that, Vera stretched out her hands to Colin and motioned for him to hug her.
Colin stepped forward with a smile and hugged the girl through her thin dress.
At this time, he finally understood that the reason why Vera was able to walk out of the shadow of her past was all thanks to Queen Aisha's persuasion.
She was such a sweet lover.
"I've sent someone to Winter Castle to request the Duke Of St. Hilde to marry you. It won't be long before you can officially become the mistress of the Red Castle."
She didn't know if it was because of the man's words or because of the warm embrace, but the girl's body gradually became soft and her whole body sank into Colin's embrace.
"Colin, even if my adoptive father does not agree to our marriage, I will never leave you!" Vera said firmly.
Colin smiled with relief and tightened his grip on the girl's soft and slender waist. He promised, "Don't worry, I will make the Duke agree to our marriage."
Their marriage had to be approved by the Duke. Otherwise, Vera would be eloping with him. This was obviously not a result that Colin, who had greater ambitions, was willing to accept.
However, judging from the current situation, the Duke Of St. Hilde really didn't seem to be willing to marry Vera to Colin.
The messenger from Icestone City had been waiting in Winter Castle for more than two months, but he still hadn't received an audience with the Duke.
Therefore, Colin took advantage of Baron Lomba's provocation and sent the Baron's son to Winter Castle to test if the Duke Of St. Hilde was seriously injured and couldn't receive guests, or if he was purposely delaying the meeting with the messenger from Icestone City.
If the Duke really met with the Lomba family but didn't see the messenger from Icestone City, then Colin would have to reformulate his next plan.
If you don't want to give it to me, then I'll snatch it from you!
Feeling some changes in the man's body, Vera suddenly struggled out of Colin's embrace and changed the topic, "Colin, are you hungry? Let's go eat breakfast. "
"Okay," Colin smiled mischievously, understanding that the girl probably still hadn't recovered from last night's madness.
With Vera's help, Colin quickly got dressed and walked to the dining room together.
After a sumptuous breakfast, Vera suggested that they go to Icestone City for a stroll, and Colin naturally didn't object.
Today was a rare day of good weather. The warm sun hung high in the sky, dispelling some of the winter's cold.
Colin and Vera walked hand in hand on the streets of Icestone City, but they didn't cause too much of a commotion.
This wasn't because the people of Icestone City were disrespectful to their Lord, but because Colin and Vera deliberately hid their identities.
Colin wore a wide triangular hat that covered most of his face, and Vera wore a black veil, returning to her appearance when Colin first met her.
The guards followed the two of them from afar, but they didn't make a big fuss.
"Colin, the slaves in your territory are a little different from the ones I saw before."
"How are they different?"
Vera tilted her head and looked at the slaves who were concentrating on their work. She said,
"The slaves I saw in Coldwinter City were all lazy. If they didn't have the whip of the overseer, they would rather lie on the ground and bask in the sun for the whole day.
However, the slaves in your territory are different. Even if they don't have the whip, they are still very motivated. "
"Do you know the reason for this?"
Vera pondered for a moment and shook her head, indicating that she didn't understand.
"Because I gave them hope."
"Hope?"
"Yes." Colin told Vera about the point system that he implemented in Icestone City.
Vera thought for a moment and nodded: "It is indeed a great idea! However, Colin, aren't you worried that the number of slaves in your hands will decrease? "
"Ten places per month, and only 120 free people will be produced in a year. Even after a hundred years, only ten thousand slaves will be qualified to become free people.
However, in this process, the wealth that the slaves create will far exceed the value of these ten thousand slaves.
Moreover, with the current situation at the Northern Frontier, do you think that I will be worried about the lack of slaves? "
Vera thought carefully and nodded in agreement: "Colin, you are a kind and wise Lord!"
Colin laughed and suddenly lamented in his heart.
Such a method of exploitation could actually be called benevolent. For a moment, he didn't know whether to be happy or sad.
After walking for a few blocks, a group of children attracted Vera's attention.
In an open space that was the size of a basketball court, there was an old gentleman who looked to be around fifty years old. In front of him, there were hundreds of children gathered.
The older ones were around thirteen or fourteen years old, and the younger ones were only four or five years old. The only thing that they had in common was that they were all wearing shabby clothes and iron rings on their feet. This was a group of slave children.
The old gentleman was writing on a wall with charcoal, and then he led the slave children to read aloud.
"Colin, is this also your arrangement?"
"Yes."
Vera turned around and looked at Colin with eager eyes.
At this time, Colin's image in her heart had become particularly high.
However, what she didn't know was that Colin only thought that these slave children were too weak and couldn't do heavy work. Therefore, it was better to let someone teach them so that when they grew up, they could become more valuable labor.
At this time, an old voice suddenly sounded:
"My Lord, for people of low status, knowledge is not a blessing, but a curse."
Colin turned around and saw an old priest standing behind the two of them.
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