Seeing that the "Soufflé"... or "Russell" that I had been looking for for a long time, actually came to Annan.
Dmitri didn't feel disappointed, on the contrary, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He just felt relaxed all over.
The guilt and nervousness of losing the "Soufflé" when escorting the frost beast finally completely disappeared from my heart.
Dmitri knew very well... As the first humanoid frost beast with advanced intelligence in history, the frost beast cub renamed "Russell" by Annan was of great importance.
If she falls into any domestic or foreign force that is hostile to the Winter Family, or even to the entire Principality of Winter, she will immediately become a powerful medicine that shakes the entire Principality of Winter. Just announcing her existence can make people
Thoughts arise in my mind that I shouldn’t have.
...Although rationally speaking, executing Russell immediately and secretly is the safest and most prudent move, and it is also the move that is most in line with Dmitri's character.
But Dmitri was still a little cruel to her.
"Since you have other plans for her, I will remove all the people on my side."
Seeing that Annan seemed to be quite interested in her, Dmitri simply handed Russell over to Annan.
"I thought you would have an attitude towards werewolves that you would like to be killed by a thousand cuts."
Annan said with a smile.
Dmitri curled his lips and said: "Every wrongdoer has his own fault. I do despise werewolves, and even get annoyed when I see them, but I won't vent my anger on a child who is less than one year old..."
Thanks to the moral education from Grand Duke Ivan, the three brothers were able to become upright people even though they had no positive emotions.
If the Principality of Winter is really in need, Dmitri can indeed be cruel. After all, he has a frozen heart and has no sympathy.
Rather, it would be better to say that he has always had that frowning and depressed look because he has done too many things that he does not want to do and has accumulated too many negative emotions.
Dmitri wouldn't want to hurt anyone if he could.
But he is also a pragmatic and rational person. While inheriting the conservative style of his father Ivan, he also has his own reserve as an elder brother. So he knows very well that some things must be done...
But Ivan left too few heirs, and there were some things that neither Maria nor Annan were suitable to do. There was always someone who had to bear the stigma and reach into the darkness.
In the end, only he can do it.
His own talents are far inferior to those of Maria and Annan... After all, his mother is just a real ordinary person without any special talents, unlike Maria and Annan's mother.
He is an unparalleled genius.
But because of Ivan's poor health, both Maria and Annan were brought up by Dmitri. Dmitri also had an "elderly reserve" towards them.
It was as if they were not his younger brothers and sisters, but the younger generation.
Therefore, he had no way to complain.
No one can listen to his distress - the only two people he can completely trust, but he is unwilling to ask for help because of ridiculous dignity issues.
This endless anguish accumulated in the long-term self-conflict...as well as the malice, suspicion and guilt that he silently endured, have always been accumulated in his heart.
The flower of evil that grew out of this soil of sin was his deeply furrowed brow.
He is only in his early thirties this year, but he already has deep wrinkles between his eyebrows. In order to relieve his depression, he smokes and drinks continuously every day... If the blood of winter does not cause too much damage to the mortal body, he might
I will also wander around the Fireworks Willow Alley.
This is all Dmitri's self-resolution in order not to release his pressure to outsiders and not to hurt innocent people.
Among the many ways to amuse himself, gambling was the only one Dmitry swore he would never touch again.
The moment Dmitri finished speaking, there was a strange silence in the air because Annan did not respond.
Just like in a noisy classroom, everyone shut their mouths without warning and involuntarily, returning to extreme silence in an instant... It may even make people feel awkward like "Is the class teacher here?"
"Dmitri."
Just then, Maria's voice broke the silence.
She took off her long trench coat and threw it to Dmitri: "Help us get some drinks. Annan's sparkling fruit tea, and my limoncello - you know what I'm going to add. It's ready.
Just get some more nuts and bring them over with you."
"You need me to go..."
Dmitri subconsciously asked Maria: Does he need to do this kind of work himself?
But before he could ask, he suddenly realized...
It seemed that Maria wanted to drive him away.
Do you want to talk to Annan alone about something?
Although Dmitri was also a little curious, his sense of stability as an elder brother only made him nod: "I understand. Then I will hang up your clothes by the way..."
After he said that, he grabbed Maria's coat with one hand, stood up and tightened the coat around his shoulders.
"Don't let the smell of cigarette smoke get on my clothes."
Maria added: "If you want to smoke, go hang up my clothes first."
"……I know, I know."
Dmitri coughed, stretched out his hand to fumble for the cigar and raised it abruptly, straightening his collar stiffly.
Then he walked out on his own.
After Dmitri left the room, Maria suddenly came over.
She hugged Annan directly and buried her face in Annan's neck.
Just like sucking a cat, Maria took a deep breath. The long hair swept Annan's face, and Annan could "smell" the cold feeling... It was a kind of cold feeling that just smelled.
I can associate the unique smell of "cold" in my mind. The long hair itself is as cold as if it had been in the snow for a long time.
"Um……"
Taking another deep breath, Maria narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.
She stretched out her slender white fingers and carefully touched Annan's cheeks, temples, behind the ears, and neck, confirming the touch with her fingertips. Then she carefully inspected the curse lines on his exposed left shoulder.
"hand."
Maria said.
"..."
Annan was silent, not daring to say a word, but obediently listened to Maria's voice and held out his hand, like a pet cat putting its paws in its owner's palm.
She held Annan's hand again and observed his curse-bearing object. She touched it with her fingertips to confirm the texture and saw whether it fit well and whether there were any marks on her fingers.
Because girls develop earlier, she is four or five years older than Annan. Maria is a bit taller than Annan.
But she is only a little taller, less than half a head taller. When far away, Maria still gives people a petite feeling, but when she gets closer, the mature feeling of an elder emerges.
Maria seems to have stayed at the age of sixteen. Her young and petite body forms an extremely strong contrast with her solemn and mature temperament like a queen.
Smelling the cold scent of Maria's scattered hair, Annan felt a sense of tranquility for some reason.
Just like when my mother came home after working outside for a long time... she was anxiously checking whether she had lost weight. There was an unusually calm and warm feeling that made her want to show a light smile.
...It was only then that Annan realized it very clearly.