The Castle and the Duke

Last time, Lu Xing came in a hurry and, to conceal himself, didn't pay much attention to the details inside and outside the castle. This time, with Anne having the Goddess endorse him, he could finally appreciate what a noble castle in a magical different world was like without any reservations.

Catherine followed behind him, calmly observing him looking around curiously at everything.

"What is this?"

Lu Xing pointed at the sculptures above the entrance to Anne's bedroom. They flanked the double doors of Anne's bedroom, one on each side.

Even the bedroom door was double-leafed, showing the castle's luxury.

"Angels under the Goddess," Catherine explained flatly. "On the left is Raiphael Angel, who holds the Goddess's authority over light. On the right is Telophis Angel, who holds the Goddess's authority over purification."

The names of these two angels didn't fit Western Earth names, nor did they come from Western legends.

What Lu Xing found strange was something else: "The Goddess doesn't personally hold authority?"

"Gods are not to be questioned!" Catherine warned him.

However, she grew more and more curious about where the soul of the dirty and rude man in front of her came from.

It was one thing that he didn't know noble etiquette, but he didn't even know common sense things like how to use magic or the famous angels under the Holy Light Goddess.

Thinking of this, Catherine looked into Anne's eyes and said, "Five days ago, Miss Anne went to the church to pray to the Goddess and received the Goddess's attention. Only then were the two angel statues allowed to be placed on Anne's bedroom door."

Lu Xing looked up at the two angels again, guessing they were sent by the Holy Light Goddess to monitor.

But he greatly doubted if the Holy Light Goddess could detect him, who had a system.

"Oh."

Lu Xing replied indifferently.

Anne was a devout believer. She had already told the Goddess about the matter, so it was useless for Lu Xing to hide it further. He would take it one step at a time and see what the Holy Light Goddess wanted to do.

Walking forward, Lu Xing saw more luxury inside the castle.

The ceilings were five meters high, the walls were carved with intricate patterns, the floors were entirely covered with exquisite carpets, sculptures of various poses lined the path, paintings with vibrant colors and excellent structures, and various magical decorations were everywhere.

Through the stained-glass windows, Lu Xing could see that the castle was surrounded by gardens, and there were also two slightly shorter small castles nearby. According to Catherine, these were where the maids, servants, and castle guards lived – the castle guards lived in barracks around the city walls.

In addition, the hundred-meter-high Magic Tower near the castle, with a faint glow flowing from its spire, was very eye-catching. After Lu Xing inquired, he learned that this was the Swinton family's Magic Tower, and the one currently residing in it was the half-elf Philys Esselen.

"Rowens Che City is the northern gateway of the Empire."

Catherine said calmly, "The Swinton family has over three hundred mages and over ten thousand knights. For thousands of years, they have guarded the northern part of the Empire, blocking the Beastmen from the Barbaric Snowfield."

Lu Xing nodded slightly.

He didn't look down on an army of ten thousand knights just because China often had battles involving hundreds of thousands of people.

Western knights were the lowest level of nobility. They often owned one or several villages as their fiefs, and each knight who went out would have a team of attendants.

Moreover, this was just the ten thousand from the Swinton family. Other families would also have knights, and together, the entire Northern Region would have many more soldiers.

"There seem to be a bit few mages."

Lu Xing said with a smile.

Catherine didn't answer, because she already knew that the man in front of her (although he occupied Anne's body) knew almost nothing about this continent. He had no idea how expensive it was to train a qualified mage.

Lu Xing could roughly tell that although this world seemed to be in the Middle Ages, due to the presence of extraordinary power, productivity was much higher than that of the Western world on Earth during the same period.

The most obvious comparison was that castles in the Western Middle Ages were full of foul smells, while the Swinton family castle in the magic world was luxurious, exquisite, and fragrant.

The higher the productivity, the more refined the lives of the nobles.

Following the maid's guidance, Lu Xing went downstairs to the dining room.

When going down the stairs, his hand was placed on Catherine's, and she guided him down. It was elegant, but very troublesome.

As a result.

"Wow!"

A surprised voice of a middle-aged man came, accompanied by applause: "My dear Anne, how did you become an elegant noble lady today? I almost didn't recognize you!"

Lu Xing looked at Catherine. The head maid silently withdrew her hand and whispered, "This is your father, Duke Swinton."

The Duchess beside him also said with a smile, "It's rare for Anne to go downstairs with such elegant manners. Is it because of the ancient Elvish language class today? It seems I was right to invite Mr. Noi to teach you."

Lu Xing knew that with Anne's personality, how could she strictly adhere to the etiquette of a noble lady?

When she went downstairs, she probably ran down happily and threw herself into the Duchess's arms to act spoiled. How could she still be held by the head maid's small hand and walk down step by step?

The maid had tricked him again!!

After glaring at the cold-faced, long-legged, black-stockinged maid, Lu Xing walked towards Duke and Duchess Swinton. When he reached them, he bowed and curtsied, in the manner of Miss Anne, and in Anne's voice, said, "Greetings to you both, sir and madam!"

Catherine's pupils behind him constricted.

"...Ah?"

The beautifully dressed Duchess was stunned, and Duke Swinton was equally surprised: "Anne, what's wrong with you today? Why are you using a gentleman's etiquette..."

Lu Xing suppressed the discomfort all over his body and smiled, "The Goddess's radiance shines upon the Northern Region. Regarding your questions, I don't want to answer them now. Anne will tell you in a couple of days."

"Madam."

Catherine stepped forward to curtsy and told them, "She is not Anne! She is a mysterious ghost!"

"No, I am Anne."

Lu Xing emphasized, then said helplessly, "But I don't want to explain anymore. Anne will explain in a couple of days, okay?"

Anne! Anne! Still Anne!

Without her to help him out, Lu Xing would never be able to get away with it.

It was right to throw all the difficult explanations to her. With Anne's cuteness, acting spoiled would be enough, and Lu Xing wouldn't have to bother finding reasons.

Duke Swinton looked at him for a while before saying helplessly, "It seems my Anne has encountered a tricky problem. Can you tell me, is Anne doing well now?"

"Anne is doing very well and having a great time."

Lu Xing revealed.

With Anne's personality, she was probably going wild at his school again, chatting with college girls and becoming best friends. Oh, she probably also learned how to make phone calls and was chatting with Xiao Yu.

"That's good." Duke Swinton's worried expression relaxed a little, and he said, "I believe in Anne, and I also believe that the Goddess will protect Anne."

"Goddess bless!"

The Duchess made a gesture of prayer, then invited Lu Xing, "I don't know where you are from, but now you are Anne, please take a seat. I want to hear your story with Anne."

"Madam, I'm afraid you'll have to ask me tonight, or in a couple of days. Because I am Anne."

Lu Xing still remembered what Anne had said in her letter.

Although he estimated that no matter how Anne explained it, she wouldn't be able to hide it.

Duke Swinton and the Duchess exchanged glances. Both of them guessed that the strange person in front of them repeatedly emphasizing that they were Anne was their daughter's intention.

After finishing the meal, Lu Xing excused himself to take a walk in the garden. Catherine was left behind to explain what had happened that morning to the Duke and Duchess.