Problems

Aurelian opened his eyes again and shouted to Master, "Get up first!"

After saying this, he used the uneven surface around the pit to leap up, landing beside Hume. Master followed closely behind.

Whether in speed or strength, transcendent powerhouses who cultivated magic were beyond anything ordinary people could imagine.

"Oh! My lord, are you alright?" Hume's fat wobbled as he hurried over.

"I am fine."

Aurelian straightened his attire and brushed off the dust; otherwise, it would have ruined the image he maintained in the eyes of his subordinates.

"My lord, was that thing glowing with a blinding light down there ice?"

Master asked, still feeling a lingering fear.

"It should be. I believe that is the true culprit preventing the seeds from growing; it drains the life force from them."

Recalling the words he had seen on the Stone Book earlier, Aurelian replied with a feigned sense of ease.

The first rule of nobility was never to show weakness in front of subordinates, though not many nobles actually followed it.

Hume and Master stared at each other, wide-eyed. Although they did not fully understand, it clearly looked like something extraordinary.

However, the way they looked at Aurelian now held a hint of admiration that had not been there before.

As expected, even a king's illegitimate son possessed the broad knowledge of a noble, and he also had the courage that most nobles lacked.

He had actually dared to face that strange, life-draining ice in person.

"That is all for now. I am heading back. Hume, find some men to fill in this pit later; I am worried that if the ice layer below remains exposed, something unexpected might happen."

Everything that had just occurred proved that the Stone Book he saw last night was not a hallucination, and Aurelian was still thinking about the rewards it had displayed.

"Although the reason the crops cannot grow has been found, may I ask how this matter should be resolved? If we do not act quickly, I fear everyone will starve to death when winter arrives."

Hume's face still bore obvious worry.

Winter City stood on the Frozen Land, and even the nearest human town was a two-month journey away. When winter arrived, darkness would rule everything here, magical beasts would run rampant, and endless heavy snow would isolate them. Aurelian no longer had the time to send men to the Great Wall to purchase grain; a round trip alone would take half a year.

Three months remained until winter arrived.

Aurelian fell silent; he had no solution either.

"This... I apologize, Hume. I have not yet thought of a solution. I need some time to think."

He could only offer verbal comfort, maintaining a facade of ease.

Fat Hume had to stay behind to supervise the serfs clearing the wasteland, so Aurelian and the knight commander Master returned to the castle first.

After bidding farewell to Master, Aurelian returned to the main keep of Winter City.

He was greeted by an old man in a tuxedo with a bowtie, who looked energetic and sharp-eyed.

This was Aurelian's old butler, whom he called Old Will. It could be said that Old Will had watched Aurelian grow up.

Seeing the old butler, Aurelian felt a bit guilty. In essence, he was a fake, and he worried about what would happen if he were exposed.

"Welcome home, my lord. Your dinner is ready," Old Will said with a bow.

Grumble--

"That is..."

He had intended to go to his room to cultivate, but as a foodie, Aurelian could not resist when he heard the word "dinner." His stomach had already begun to protest.

Fine, one could not cultivate without a full stomach!

He had always believed the only benefit of transmigrating here was that the food nobles ate was quite exquisite, even if the flavors were not as good as in his previous life.

He cleaned himself up.

Dinner was placed on the table, which was covered with an exquisite tablecloth, by the servants in the castle.

There was a piece of sausage, several slices of pickled herring, a plate of colorful fruit salad, and a basket of white bread made from fine flour. There was a glass of wine as red as blood, and a main course covered by a lid.

As a noble, even in the remote and barren Frozen Land, he maintained the luxury that was expected of him.

Aurelian held the silver knife and fork with great discomfort. His hesitant gaze and stiff movements showed how unaccustomed he was to this situation.

The entirely Western-style dinner did not suit his palate; he preferred the stir-fried dishes and rice from the streets of his past life, which were filled with a variety of flavors.

But this world had a strict hierarchy, and nobles were forbidden from entering places like kitchens and warehouses, which were reserved for servants.

Once he entered, he would lose his dignity as a noble and be mocked by others.

Of course, the Star Empire court was an exception.

The court attendants, chefs, and grooms were all served by the nation's nobles; working for the king was their honor.

The person who cooked for his father, Otto, was a high-ranking noble known as the Blood Lord, Vladimir.

Aurelian had seen the dishes he made, and he could not understand why the Duke liked to garnish his food with red.

Will skillfully and elegantly lifted the lid covering the main course.

It was a golden-brown roasted lamb chop that emitted a rich, meaty aroma.

"Thank you, Mr. Will. You may go and enjoy your dinner with the servants as well."

Aurelian said with a smile, maintaining the grace of a high noble.

No matter the time, a noble had to remain polite to everyone.

"Very well, my lord. If you need anything, please call. We will be nearby."

After finishing his dinner, Aurelian wiped his mouth and hands with an exquisite knitted napkin.

Will, having calculated the exact time Aurelian would finish his meal, arrived with two servants to clear the table.

One of them had brown hair, sky-blue eyes, and fair skin with a faint red flush on her cheeks. She wore a black and white maid outfit, and a braid hung down to her waist behind her.

She walked up to Aurelian carrying a small basin of washing water.

The young girl was stunning, yet she possessed an innate, holy temperament that made one feel it would be a sacrilege to offend her.