Normally, it is the Calendar of the Armored Dragon Year 410, and Alice is turning five. I remember she is about two years older than Rudy. This means Rudeus must have been born already.
Therefore, there should already be Seven Star Orbs in the sky. But until my eyes watered from the sunlight, I found nothing unusual.
Could it be that I was transported to a timeline without Rudeus?
I cannot draw a conclusion yet. In my memory, Rudy saw the Seven Star Orbs from the highest floor of a tower. Perhaps the angle was wrong. I need to find an opportunity to look from the highest tower at Alice's family home.
The carriage quickly passed through the commoner and military districts and arrived at the noble district. This noble district was very small. Besides the Boreas Family castle, there were only a few small villas left.
As a fortress city, this city must have experienced frequent warfare throughout history. Most nobles probably moved to safer cities closer to the interior by now?
It is likely only nobles like the Boreas Family, who established themselves through military might, would take root in this city.
After handing over my calling card to the gatekeeper, I was quickly ushered into the castle.
Alice's childhood home was vastly different from my own. Although their castle walls were large, the buildings inside were not very large—only one wooden villa about three stories high, occupying five or six hundred square meters.
The other servant quarters, storage rooms, stables, etc., were all wooden single-story buildings. Of course, the largest area was an open flat ground, which was likely where the Boreas Family used to practice martial arts and train soldiers.
After observing carefully, I found the tall, towering watchtower near the stables. The tower stood more than ten meters taller than the city walls. Standing on top, one should be able to get a panoramic view of Roa City.
After entering the villa, the butler led me to the reception hall. On the way, I kept an eye on the butler, wondering if he was the same butler who later sent people to kidnap Alice. Of course, I had already forgotten the specific name of that butler.
Upon entering the reception hall, as one of the earlier guests to arrive, I was warmly welcomed. Philip personally brought my aunt to greet me.
My aunt, Hilda Boreas greyrat, must have been very unwelcome in the Prodia Family when she was young! Because apart from that head of red hair, none of her other features resembled the members of the Prodia Family at all.
Especially the two watermelons in front of her. If this were at a family gathering, the other Prodia men would surely shake their heads. Her face was also not the thin face favored by the Prodia Family.
With a wider forehead, a rounded chin, complemented by her 36D eyes with slightly upturned corners—she possessed a unique kind of beauty. From a modern aesthetic perspective, she was indeed good-looking.
It just didn't align with the Prodia Family's aesthetic. No wonder my father said that besides him, my aunt had a poor relationship with everyone else in the family.
Otherwise, the maternal family wouldn't have sent only me, a child, to celebrate her birthday.
After a few polite exchanges, Philip called over his beloved daughter.
I observed her seriously. I must say, she resembled my impression by about 80%.
Although her hair color was the same as mine, my red hair was deeper, whereas hers was brighter. Her eyes, like my aunt's, had slightly upturned corners. Her face shape was sharper than I imagined, but she wore a serious expression, giving off a slightly impatient feeling.
Her stance was just as described in the novel: legs spread apart, hands on her hips, and her face slightly raised.
It looked like she was trying to look down her nose, but because she was too young and not tall enough, it ended up looking like she was craning her neck to glare at me.
Philip told her to call me Cousin, but she just snorted, turned her head away, and ignored me.
I didn't take offense. I already knew what kind of girl she was before coming, so I didn't mind.
However, I also ignored her. I easily disregarded her provocation.
I am not her family tutor. As a guest, I will stay at her house for a maximum of two weeks and will not be residing here long-term. Even later on, we won't have much interaction. Her personality can be left for Rudy or Luke to handle.
My aunt, however, was very warm towards me. Not only did she hug me personally, but she also earnestly inquired about my current condition.
When she heard that I was currently living in Yars and couldn't live with my parents, she seemed to be moved by the sight, hugging me and starting to cry.
The two watermelons almost suffocated me. I reflected, wiping the drool that leaked from the corner of my mouth, thinking, 'Close call, I must be careful next time.'
Dinner that evening was with the Boreas Family. Shaulos was also present. Upon seeing me, he only exchanged a few brief pleasantries.
Perhaps seeing me reminded him of my grandfather's face, so he didn't engage in much conversation.
Although Shaulos is the current head of the Boreas Family, it seems he no longer manages anything. The family affairs have been handed over to James, who is in Yars, for management. He himself is already in semi-retirement.
James Boreas Greyrat is now the acting head of the Boreas Family. He only needs to wait for Shaulos to pass away before he can take over the seat of the Boreas Family Head.
After the banquet concluded, I requested that Philip allow me to go up the tower next to the stables the following day to view the entire scenery of Roa. He readily agreed and reminded me to be careful on the tower and not to run around up there.
The next morning after breakfast, the sunlight was thick like honey, and the morning breeze was cool like mint. Under such comfortable weather, I ascended the tower that was crucial for determining the course of my future life.
Let me state the result directly.
There was nothing. The sky was a vast, cloudless blue. I searched 360 degrees from the top of the tower; I didn't even see a single bird, let alone a sphere.
Feeling uneasy, I used Earth Magic to construct a spiral staircase outside the watchtower window and stood on the very top to search, but still found nothing.
It seems this is truly a timeline unfamiliar to me. Then all my foreknowledge is useless.
I only know that Ariel has a high probability of becoming Queen, but I don't know how she achieves it. Without Rudeus's involvement, the Water God might not necessarily intervene in Ariel's ascension to the throne.
Everything has become murky and confusing again.
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