Duke

Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City, an ordinary house.

In the courtyard, a young man who looked to be in his twenties was leafing through the books on the desk. His movements were exceptionally elegant, and every word he wrote with the pen in his hand seemed to possess a certain beauty. His face was strikingly handsome, his features sharply defined, but his brows were slightly furrowed, giving him an air of melancholy.

His tall, upright frame was like a towering mountain, conveying a steady, solid sense of security. His short gray-black hair was neat and capable, with loose strands over his forehead slightly veiling those deep sea-gray-blue eyes. They seemed to conceal endless secrets, often carrying a calm intelligence, as though they could see through everything in the world.

Gray-black hair and ice-blue eyes were not rare on this continent, but they were still somewhat unusual.

When people awakened their Martial Souls at the age of six, their hair and eye colors would gradually shift toward the elemental style of their Martial Souls. For example, the students of Blazing Fire Academy all had red hair and red eyes.

Thus, hair and eyes like his were rarely seen in the Heaven Dou Empire.

His name was Wriothesley, and he was not from Douluo Continent.

Nor was he from Teyvat. He had merely been reborn into the body of someone named Wriothesley as a soul, reincarnating into this world in that form.

He had lived a life much like Wriothesley's: no peaceful, happy childhood; betrayal by the person he trusted most; abandonment by his biological parents; foster parents who were equally despicable; and then, just like him, he had killed them and gone to Meropide, earning the title of "Duke."

The catalyst for his arrival here had been the Abyss's eruption spreading to Fontaine, causing an anomaly in the Primordial Sea. But Neuvillette's rescue had come too late; this upheaval had been far too violent.

He had thought he was the only person from Teyvat on this "new" continent. Who would have thought...

At first, he had not been entirely sure what kind of world this was, until one day when he saw two soul masters using "Martial Soul Possession," rings rising beneath their feet...

"Douluo Continent?"

He had been slightly surprised that he had actually transmigrated into this low-tier fantasy world.

Before long, Wriothesley accepted reality.

Transmigration was fine. Long ago, he had wanted to cast off the identity of "Duke" and live an ordinary life.

Unfortunately, his wish had not come true.

Now, this could be considered an opportunity, couldn't it?

His face was sharply sculpted, like a statue carved with meticulous care, every line perfectly placed. His high nose bridge resembled a mountain ridge, displaying his resolve and boldness. When his lips were pressed together, they carried a trace of unyielding determination, as though once he made up his mind, he would never change it easily.

The chance discovery had come from that daily, unchanging bottle of cartoonishly styled Milkshake.

Looking at that Milkshake brimming with an "uninhabited" aura, Wriothesley could only smile helplessly.

The Head Nurse at his side watched Wriothesley expectantly, hoping that he would finish the Milkshake this time.

However, Wriothesley glanced at the book on the table while his other hand wavered between the Milkshake and Black Tea.

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

But!

Whenever Wriothesley's hand moved closer to the Black Tea, the smile on the Head Nurse's face vanished.

Every time, the Head Nurse hoped Wriothesley would drink another bottle of Milkshake.

Yet every time, he chose Black Tea.

This time...

It probably would not be any different.

The puff-cheeked Melus always stood nearby with a solemn expression, like an invisible judge monitoring Wriothesley's every movement. Her ruby-bright eyes were full of spirit, as if she intended to take in every single thing he did. No matter how casually Wriothesley tried to act, the cautious desire in his heart to escape could never evade her sharp gaze. Though Wriothesley was already past thirty, before this Head Nurse of Meropide, he still seemed like a mischievous child, doing everything he could to avoid that familiar bottle of Milkshake.

Wriothesley frowned faintly and sighed inwardly. The taste of this Milkshake was simply too unforgettable. Its rich bitterness and cloying sweetness intertwined on his tongue, like a memory he could not bear to revisit. At the thought of that sensation, he shuddered again and silently prayed that he could escape this ordeal.

"Head Nurse, did you change the Milkshake recipe?" Wriothesley finally could not help asking, his tone carrying a trace of expectation and doubt. Had Sigewinne truly heard his deepest prayers and made some innovation in the flavoring? He felt slightly curious.

"No. What's wrong?" Sigewinne wore a faint smile and did not look guilty in the slightest. Yet her gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, fixed tightly on Wriothesley as though she wanted to see every ripple in his heart. Her concern for him was like a gentle spring rain, warm yet unwavering.

"Ah, is that so?" Wriothesley shook his head helplessly, temporarily burying his doubts deep within his heart. Perhaps this was fate's arrangement, and he did not need to seek out those hidden answers any further. He slowly drained the remaining Milkshake in one gulp, the corner of his mouth twitching as though he were engaged in a silent battle against his own sense of taste.

Then he brewed another cup of Black Tea. Its warm fragrance spread through the air, dispelling his earlier discomfort and restoring his calm state of mind. As Wriothesley savored the Black Tea in his hand and looked at the empty cup, a faint smile curled at 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, but his expression did not change in the slightest. He remained as calm as still water.

"I heard that Your Grace, the Duke often stays up late because of work. That won't do!" Sigewinne revealed a gentle smile, her eyes full of concern. She said softly, "This isn't Meropide now. Even a Duke can take a break."

"I'm not tired," Wriothesley replied calmly. He knew this was how Sigewinne showed concern. To him, nothing had changed in that regard, even if he was still the Duke he had once been, even if he still remained steadfast at his post.

As he looked at the person before him, a warmth passed through Wriothesley's heart. The feeling put him at ease and had never wavered, no matter how exhausted he became. No matter how tired his body was, there was nowhere more comfortable than this.

"Mm, I understand. You only need to tell me if there's anything you need my help with. Please make sure to let me know," Sigewinne said with a smile.

"Don't worry. I'm fine." Wriothesley nodded gently, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as well. He understood that Sigewinne was caring about him, not simply tending to him.

Their conversation warmed the air around them. Their gazes met, passing an unspoken understanding between them. Perhaps this kind of concern was protection in its truest sense.

There would be no hiatus, no abandoned story, because there were saved chapters, and because it had been signed. (ω) Thanks.