âFather! We must find a place to shelter from the rain!â
Hans wiped the rain from his face, exclaiming dejectedly.
However, the tall, thin figure in front of him didnât even turn his head.
âFather! How about we find a higher place, tie our two horses together, and hide under their bellies until the rain stops?â
Sunny finally turned to look at his disheveled son, yelling frustratedly âShut up! As a knight of the Grant family, canât you withstand a bit of rain?â
Seeing his fatherâs anger, Hans dared not complain further, but his face was still indignant, and he muttered under his breath: âNot a knight, a knight apprenticeâ¦â
The two braved the torrential rain for a while longer before Hans suddenly exclaimed excitedly, âFire, Father! Thereâs fire ahead!â
Sunny looked in the direction Hans pointed to, but his eyebrows furrowed slightly, wondering, âWe should not have reached Springs Town yet, could it be passing travelers?â
âNo matter what, if thereâs fire, thereâs shelter from the rain. Letâs go hide!â
Hans lightly spurred his horse to slightly increase his pace, and Sunny temporarily set aside his doubts to speed up as well.
After about three quarters of an hour, the pair finally reached the top of a small hill where there was a significantly large camp.
Sunny saw the obviously well-trained guards and tall war horses within the camp, and had a hunch that this must be a nobleâs motorcade, a high noble at that.
The patrolling guard immediately came over to question the pair upon seeing them.
âHonored knight, I am Sunny, a scholar of the Grant family. This is my son Hans. We are passing by and wondering if we could use your camp to shelter from the damn downpour?â
âGrant? The ruling family of Springs Town?â
âYes.â
âPlease wait.â
The knight went back to the camp, presumably to ask for permission. When he returned shortly after, he nodded at the bedraggled pair, âCome in.â
âThank you greatly for your generosity!â
Sunny and Hans, leading their horses, entered the camp and were taken into a large tent by the knight. Already gathered were seven or eight guards.
âGet each of our guests from the Grant family a blanket. Let them warm themselves by the fire, and drink some hot soup,â the knight who brought them in ordered.
Hans quickly gave his thanks.
Only under the campfireâs light did Sunny get a clear look at the knightâs armor and the golden lion badge on his chest. He was shocked and blurted out, âMay I ask if this is the Northern Dukeâs motorcade?â
The knight nodded his head, âYes, the Duke is also passing Springs Town on this journey, so we can conveniently take you along.â
âThat is very generous! Thank you!â Sunny thanked him quickly, but a doubt filled his mind.
He knew that Duke St. Hilde had just received his imperial appointment, so this motorcade should be traveling back to the North Territory. But the problem was, if coming from Dragon City to Winterfell City, they wouldnât pass Springs Town.
Of course, Sunny would not be so bold as to voice his doubts out loud. He merely laughed and said, âMay I have the honor of thanking the Duke in person?â
âItâs too late today, Iâll ask for you tomorrow.â
âAlright, thank you very much!â
Watching the knight stride away, Sunny, while sipping on the hot soup his son had passed him, fell into deep thought.
Early the next morning, the heavy rain had stopped. Soldiers on the campsite started the bonfire and began to prepare breakfast.
Steam rose from three large pots. Several fat yellow sheep roamed on the grill, golden greases dropped into the bonfire, bursting sparks. The tempting aroma made both the Grant father and son couldnât help but swallow.
After the game was grilled, the attendant took the yellow sheep off the grill skillfully deboned and placed the crispy tender mutton into two exquisite silver trays. Two young and beautiful maids held up the silver trays and walked towards the most luxurious tent in the center of the campsite.
Hans stared at the pert buttocks of the maids, while Sunny was focused on the tent in the middle of the campsite.
After breakfast, Sunnie and Hans put on clean clothes, made sure there were no impoliteness, and patiently waited for the Dukeâs summons.
Before long, the knight who led them into the camp last night came over and led the two to the tent in the center of the campsite.
In Hansâ curious and eager eyes, the tent curtain was lifted by two maids, an exquisite boot stepped out first, followed by a slender figure caught Hansâ eyes. When the snow-white slender hand was placed on the curtain, Hans finally saw the face of the owner of the slender hand.
Then, the sixteen-year-old boy was stunned.
Golden hair coiled into an elegant noble ladyâs bun, the azure eyes were deeper than sapphires. Under the beautiful jade-like nose were alluring red lips, a pale face with a faint smile. Hansâs mind became blank when she looked around.
He had heard early on that the current Duke of the North was a stunning beauty, but the face he had imagined countless times could not compare to her, being up close and personal.
Hans watched Vera exit the tent, dumbstruck, only wanting to collapse in front of her, fondle her toes, and praise her with the most beautiful poems.
Unfortunately, this stunning woman did not even notice the Grant youngster standing there like a goose, and, she was holding the hand of a young and handsome man!
Hansâ heart was immediately engulfed by raging jealousy, obviously, he knew that this handsome young man was the husband of the Northern Duke â Viscount Angler, but Hans could not help thinking, why wasnât the man she was holding him?
Sunny saw his son standing still, with a stagnant look, knew that his old problem had attacked again, so he promptly stepped forward and blocked his sonâs impolite gaze, bowed in respect and said:
âYour Excellency Duke St. Hilde, Your Excellency Viscount Angler, thank you for your aid last night, your kindness shines like the brilliance of the sun!â
Colin looked at the two people in front of him, especially this middle-aged man who claimed to be a scholar â Sunny Grant, with interest.
The Grant family was not a noteworthy family. The familyâs nobility was only a baron, and the fiefdom was only a small town in the Crimson Flame Territory â Springs Town.
If it wasnât for the time in Dragon City, the Prime Minister Baron Heidegger mysteriously told Colin to visit Springs Town, and said there would be unexpected gains here, Colin would not have specially detoured to such a small place.
All the way, Colin had been guessing what could be in Springs town that was worth the attention of the Empireâs Prime Minister. Now he had accidentally encountered this scholar escaping from the rain, Sunny, Colin suddenly had a little lead in his heart.
A scholar, the title suffix that only a graduate of the White Tower Academy could have, may not be as distinguished as a noble title, but in Colinâs heart, he held even more weight.
âScholar Sunny, no need for formalities. In fact, we are also planning to visit Baron Grant in Springs Town this trip. I hope you can help introduce us.â
Colin chatted with Scholar Sunny with a smiling face, and from the corner of his eyes, he saw two petite figures running towards them quickly. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âGood morning, sister Vera! Good morning, teacher!â The prince Harrison and Princess Judy first greeted, then looked curiously at Sunny father and son, apparently feeling that the guests in the camp were somewhat familiar.â
Unexpectedly, Scholar Sunny took the initiative to bow and greet the two: âPrince Harrison, Princess Judy!â
Colin raised his eyebrows in surprise, he didnât expose Harrison and Judyâs true identities, and he also believed that the guards in the camp would not reveal this kind of information to two strangers.
Unless, Scholar Sunny himself knew Harrison and Judy.
Prince Harrison nodded in return, with a puzzled face: âYou are?â
Scholar Sunny gave a slight smile, a hint of reminiscing in his eyes, he said:
âYour Highness, I am Sunny Grant, you might not remember; five years ago, I was the Minister of Agriculture of the Empire.â