The same season looked entirely different from one place to another.
In early February, the Stantin Duchy was carpeted in green, with warm sunshine and gentle breezes. In Bunta City, although the snow had stopped falling, a chill still lingered.
But along the northern border of the Lampari Kingdom, snow filled the air, and winter remained bitterly cold.
On a day when heavy snow was still falling, Servini met Viscount Leslie at a Northern Garrison outpost somewhere along the border between the Lampari Kingdom and the Sark Kingdom.
At first sight, Servini almost failed to recognize him.
Whether compared with how he had looked when she first met him in Anvilmar City or when she later saw him again in Bunta City, Viscount Leslie had changed almost completely.
Viscount Leslie now had uneven stubble all over his face, and his skin was rough and dark. He looked scarcely different from the rugged soldiers Servini had seen during her inspection of the Northern Garrison. There was hardly a trace of the clean-cut, dashing young nobleman he had once been.
"Viscount Leslie, it seems life here has been hard on you," Servini could not help saying.
Viscount Leslie smiled faintly.
Compared with before, his smile was probably the only thing that had not changed.
Although his appearance had grown rough, his smile still revealed the same distinctive composure and ease that came from being born into a great noble family.
"It's not really a question of hardship. I'm simply living the life of an ordinary soldier. Besides, I still receive special treatment. Relatively speaking, my conditions here are actually far better than those of many of my brothers in the army."
Servini fell silent. After a long while, she sighed softly.
"Actually, Father and I both know very well that the soldiers