The Duke

Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City, a certain bungalow.

Inside the courtyard, a young man who appeared to be in his twenties was flipping through the books on the table. His movements were extremely elegant; every character he wrote with the pen in his hand seemed to possess a certain aesthetic beauty. His face was remarkably handsome with well-defined features, though his brows were slightly furrowed, giving him a melancholic air.

His tall, upright stature, like a towering mountain, provided a sense of steady and solid security. A head of short, grey-black hair looked capable and neat, with the stray locks on his forehead slightly obscuring those deep, sea-like grey-blue eyes. Those eyes seemed to hold endless secrets, often revealing a calmness and wisdom that suggested he could see through everything in the world.

Grey-black hair and ice-blue eyes were not exactly rare on this continent, but they were certainly novel.

Whenever someone awakened their Martial Soul at the age of six, their pupils and hair color would gradually trend toward the elemental style of their own Martial Soul. For instance, the students at Blazing Fire Academy were all uniformly red-haired and red-eyed.

Therefore, his hair and eye color were still quite uncommon in the Heaven Dou Empire.

His name was Wriothesley, and he was not a native of Douluo Continent.

He was not from the continent of Teyvat either; he had simply been born into the body of Wriothesley as a soul, reincarnating into this world in that form.

He had experienced a life much like Wriothesley's: no peaceful or happy childhood, betrayed by those he trusted most, abandoned by his biological parents, encountering foster parents who were equally scummy, and then, likewise killing them, arriving at Meropide, and carving out the title of "Duke."

The catalyst for his arrival here was the eruption of the Abyss that affected Fontaine, causing the Primordial Sea to fluctuate, but Neuvillette's rescue came too late, and the riot was too fierce.

Just when he thought he was the only person from Teyvat on this "new" continent, he didn't expect...

At first, he was still unclear about what kind of world this was, until one day, he saw two soul masters performing "Martial Soul Possession" with rings rising beneath their feet...

"Douluo Continent?"

He was slightly surprised to have transmigrated into this fantasy world of "floor-tile" power levels.

Before long, Wriothesley accepted reality.

Transmigration was fine; he had long wanted to shed the identity of "Duke" and live the life of an ordinary person.

Unfortunately, his wish did not come true.

Now, could this be considered an opportunity?

His face had sharp, well-defined angles, like a meticulously carved sculpture, with every line perfectly placed. His high-bridged nose was like a mountain ridge, highlighting his tenacity and boldness. When his lips were pressed shut, they carried a touch of resolve, as if he would not easily change once he had made up his mind.

The unexpected trigger for this realization was the daily, non-negotiable bottle of cartoon-styled Milkshake.

Seeing this Milkshake, which was full of a "desolate" aura, Wriothesley smiled with some helplessness.

The Head Nurse on the side looked at Wriothesley with anticipation, hoping that this time he would drink the Milkshake.

Alas, Wriothesley glanced at the book on the table, his other hand hesitating between the Milkshake and the Black Tea.

Whenever Wriothesley's hand moved closer to the Milkshake, the Head Nurse would break into a smile.

But!

When Wriothesley's hand moved closer to the Black Tea, the smile on the Head Nurse's face would vanish.

Every time, the Head Nurse hoped that Wriothesley would drink an extra bottle of Milkshake.

However, he chose to drink Black Tea every single time.

This time.

It would likely be no exception.

The pouting Melus always stood to the side, her expression serious, like an invisible judge supervising every one of Wriothesley's movements. Her eyes, as bright as rubies, were sharp and piercing, as if she wanted to take in every one of his actions. No matter how Wriothesley pretended to be indifferent, the careful desire to escape in his heart could not evade her discerning gaze. At this moment, although Wriothesley was past the age of thirty, in front of this Head Nurse of Meropide, he still appeared like a mischievous child, racking his brains to avoid that familiar bottle of Milkshake.

Wriothesley frowned slightly, sighing inwardly. The taste of this Milkshake was truly too unforgettable; the rich bitterness and cloying sweetness intertwined on the tip of his tongue, as if it were a past he couldn't bear to look back on. Thinking of that sensation, he couldn't help but shiver again, silently praying in his heart that he could escape this ordeal.

"Head Nurse, have you changed the recipe for the Milkshake?" Wriothesley finally couldn't help but speak, his tone carrying a trace of anticipation and doubt. Could it be that Sigewinne had truly heard the prayers from the depths of his heart and made some innovations in the seasoning? He felt a slight curiosity.

"No, why do you ask?" Sigewinne wore a faint smile, appearing completely unruffled. Her eyes, however, were as sharp as a hawk's, staring intently at Wriothesley as if to see through every fluctuation in his heart. Her concern for him was like a gentle spring breeze, warm and firm.

"Ah, is that so." Wriothesley shook his head helplessly, burying his doubts deep inside. Perhaps this was the arrangement of fate, and he didn't need to seek out those hidden answers anymore. He slowly drank the remaining Milkshake in one gulp, his mouth twitching involuntarily, as if he were engaged in a silent struggle with his own sense of taste.

Immediately after, he brewed a cup of Black Tea. The warm aroma permeated the air, dispelling the recent discomfort and restoring his tranquil state of mind. While savoring the Black Tea in his hand, Wriothesley looked at the empty cup and a faint smile curled the corners of his lips.

"Did Your Grace, the Duke, stay up late last night?" As a nurse, Sigewinne saw through Wriothesley at a glance and asked with concern.

"Yes." Wriothesley nodded slightly, his expression unchanged, remaining as calm as water.

"I heard that Your Grace, the Duke, often stays up late because of busy work; that won't do!" Sigewinne showed a gentle smile, her eyes full of worry. She said softly, "We are not in Meropide now; even a Duke can take a rest, you know."

"I'm not tired." Wriothesley responded calmly. He knew this was Sigewinne's way of showing concern. For him, this process hadn't changed at all, even if he was still that former Duke, even if he still stood firm at his post.

Looking at the person before him, a warmth flowed through Wriothesley's heart. This feeling made him feel at ease, and even when exhausted, he had never wavered. No matter how tired his body was, there was no place that made him feel more comfortable than this.

"Mm, I understand. You only need to tell me; if there is anything you need my help with, please be sure to tell me." Sigewinne said with a smile.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Wriothesley nodded gently, a smile also appearing on his lips. He understood that Sigewinne was concerned for him, not just performing her duties.

The conversation between the two made the surrounding air grow warm. Their gazes met, conveying a silent tacit understanding between them. Perhaps such care was the true meaning of protection.

I will not stop updating, and I will not abandon this, because I have a backlog and because I've signed the contract, (ω) thanks.