Gideon was slightly surprised to see Jennifer walking towards him. He quickly stepped forward, pulling her cloak tighter around her; it could be said that he wrapped her up so completely that not a single gap remained.
"The wind is cold down here, what are you doing coming down? Hurry and go upstairs, I will tell someone to bring food up to you."
Jennifer was bundled up like a silkworm cocoon, revealing only her two eyes. She blinked, looking at her husband in name only, and laughed, saying:
"I am not that weak. I am taking this opportunity to say hello to everyone in the castle."
She turned her hand, grasping Gideon's arm and pulling him back to the master's position. Two male servants nimbly carried another armchair over, placing it parallel to the Lord's chair.
The two sat down, and Jennifer asked:
"Has everyone arrived fully yet?"
The group looked at each other blankly. Bonnie quickly stepped forward and said:
"Madam, there are still a few guards keeping watch at the backyard and the main gate, a few maids in the backyard, and several people in the kitchen."
Jennifer offered a friendly smile to the elderly housekeeper, speaking softly:
"The guests must have all left by now; pull up the bridge and close the gate, tell everyone to come over here."
Bonnie looked at Gideon, and upon seeing him nod in agreement, she bowed down:
"Yes, Madam."
A moment later, all the servants and soldiers in the Lord's manor arrived. Gideon repeated what was just said once, signaling everyone to sit down. After the wine glasses were filled, everyone sat nervously looking down at the table surface, no one daring to raise their heads.
Jennifer took off the cloak, resting it on the arm of the chair. She stood up, raising the wine glass in her hand, and began to speak. Her voice was very light, yet it seemed to possess magic, burrowing into the ears of everyone present:
"Greetings, everyone. Today is a happy day for me and the Lord; I have caused everyone hard work. Today's banquet was not very happy, but that does not matter. Outsiders did not let us be happy, so we will close our doors and be happy with each other. From now on, I can also be considered half the owner of this territory. With this glass of wine, I invite everyone as the Lady of the manor; I hope you all will take care of me more in the future."
Everyone, including Gideon, looked at her blankly. Although she was an illegitimate child, she was still the daughter of a noble family. Aside from Gideon, she was more noble than anyone else in this hall. Yet now, this noble Lady stood up to toast them.
Hugh and Bonnie were shrewd people. The two of them glanced at the Lord, who was looking at his new wife with complex eyes, then looked at one another, tacitly raising the wine glasses on the table together.
"Madam, you overpraise us; we humble people dare not accept. In the future, you are precisely half of our master. We will be loyal to you just as we are loyal to the Lord. This is our oath before God."
Bonnie and Hugh stood up, speaking loudly and clearly, then ignoring whether the wine was strong or not, drained it in one breath.
With two people setting an example, all the servants and soldiers in the manor simultaneously stood up, reciting the oath to be devotedly loyal to her and Gideon.
Gideon lowered his eyes to look at the red liquid in the glass, the corners of his lips curling up in a smile.
Excellent. Proactively lowering her own status to let others unconsciously raise her up of their own free will. On the very first day of meeting, she erased animosity, placed her position on equal footing with the master, and received the approval of everyone in the Lord's manor. This girl is truly very smart.
With this beginning, everyone's mood gradually relaxed; they began to freely eat meat and drink wine, talking animatedly.
The two masters only sat for a while before leaving, leaving the free space for the crowd below.
Several maids wanted to follow to serve but were glared at by Gideon, so they obediently sat down.
Oh my, look at the Lord, he seems very impatient already. They really should not disturb the young couple, haha~
...
Closing the bedroom door, Jennifer turned her head to look at Gideon in a complex manner. She placed her right hand on her left chest, her left hand lightly grasping the hem of her dress, and bowed to perform a formal curtsy:
"This subject greets the First Prince."
Gideon's pupils contracted. His left hand unconsciously grasped the hilt of the dagger at his waist, his voice turning cold:
"You know my identity?"
Jennifer bowed her head again: "Yes, Your Highness."
Having said that, she raised her head. Her left finger lightly touched the inconspicuous earring on her ear. Her appearance suddenly distorted slightly, then gradually changed.
The frizzy red hair that only reached her back suddenly lengthened, shifting to a golden blonde, slightly curly. Her light brown eyes became a deep blue, like sea water. The five senses on her face also changed, transforming from a girl with a somewhat good-looking appearance into an untouchable angel.
"Jennifer Aniston!"
Before Jennifer could reveal her identity herself, Gideon recognized her immediately. Jennifer was slightly surprised:
"Your Highness recognizes this subject?"
Jennifer was truly very surprised. She had only met the First Prince exactly three times: the first time was at six years old in the royal garden, the second time was at ten years old entering the Mage Tower, and the third time was at twelve years old, seeing him on the way to the execution ground.
Truthfully, if not for the tattoo on her back suddenly heating up like the second time she met the First Prince, she would not have recognized that Lord Gideon Busan was First Prince Kelvin Hayman - the person who should have been executed six years ago.
And she did not understand for what reason Kelvin Hayman recognized a Count's daughter he had only met a few times, and had even been separated from for six years.