As deep winter approached, the weather in Sewell City grew colder by the day.
Snow had begun falling early that morning, each flake like a tuft of cotton, tumbling down in clumps. In the space of a single morning, it had blanketed Sewell City and its surroundings in white.
Looking out from a window on the top floor of the City Lord's Manor, they could see little besides the ubiquitous snow and walls of black stone bricks, made all the more conspicuous by the white around them. They looked like ugly scars marring the pristine landscape.
"Count Samo, I have to say, the color of the houses in Sewell City really isn't very attractive. It's especially obvious after it snows." Princess Caroline turned away from the window and sighed, shaking her head at Count Samo.
Count Samo exchanged a glance with Xu Yi beside him and laughed. "Your Highness, don't you think black houses give people a sense of warmth? The Drake Duchy is farther north than we are. Surely you should appreciate that better than anyone."
"No, the houses in our Drake Duchy are all dark red. Compared with gloomy black, I think a fiery red gives people a much warmer feeling in winter." Princess Caroline shook her head. "More importantly, red is far prettier than black, isn't it?"
Count Samo shook his head slightly and decided not to pursue the argument with Princess Caroline.
His many years of experience had taught him that arguing with women, especially about aesthetics, was a pointless exercise in asking for trouble.
Xu Yi smiled and joined in. "In theory, colors do have some influence on your state of mind. But compared with making people feel warm psychologically, actually warming their bodies is obviously more direct and effective, isn't it?"
Princess Caroline glanced