Chapter 337 Escape

Tiefeng County, Jevaudan.

Even if they are not much different in age, the elder sister and elder brother will still treat the younger brother or sister with the mentality of elders. This makes the former often subconsciously regard the latter as a childish and immature individual - this is the case for Anna.

Even before Mr. Leo arrived in Iron Peak, Anna had seriously considered sending Catherine home.

Although she never confided in her sister, Anna knew that this willful adventure would eventually come to an end. But she didn't know how it should end.

The smell of gunpowder smoke that had not yet dissipated reminded her that Tiefeng County was not safe. What will happen next day, next month, next year? no one knows.

So Anna paternalistically made arrangements for Catherine: as long as the road is clear, she will immediately send someone to escort Catherine back to Hailan, whether Catherine wants it or not.

Because of this, Anna was not surprised when Catherine held Anna's hands and said seriously, "You shouldn't stay here anymore."

From Anna's point of view, it is normal for her sister to want to go home, because Catherine complains about Tiefeng County almost all the time: it is too cold, too isolated, and too boring... To be honest, Anna feels the same way.

The reasons Catherine gave, however, were none of the above.

Little Ms. Navarre held her sister's hands, looked at her sister with pity, and said softly: "Ana, this dream must end."

"What nonsense are you talking about again?" Anna's heart contracted violently.

"If you don't want to think it over yourself, then let me tell you." Catherine's eyes never blinked: "You love that man like crazy, right?"

Anna's cheeks instantly became hot, and she was anxious and annoyed: "You...what are you talking about? Who said...who said I..."

The words her sister said without changing her face, Anna couldn't say out anyway because of shame. She angrily tried to pull her hands away, but Catherine's hold was unexpectedly tight and Anna couldn't move.

Catherine ignored her sister's defense and continued: "So, so you should leave. If you still have a shred of sense, you will also come to this conclusion."

Ana frowned and blamed: "You hurt me!"

Catherine also looked at Anna reproachfully: "Everyone has said that you are stable and smart since you were a child. But look at you now? When did you become so stupid? Sure enough, women cannot fall in love, otherwise they will definitely become idiots... "

Ana's body became stiff, and she stopped trying to take her hands away: "What are you talking about?"

"I'm telling an obvious fact." Catherine's voice was clear: "If you want 'Ana Navarre' to officially become 'Ana Montagne', there is only one way from beginning to end - him and you. Go back to Hailan. But...will he leave here for you?"

"Who said I want to marry him?" Anna asked angrily.

Catherine nodded noncommittally.

"I want to rest." Anna stood up to leave.

"Anna - my dearest sister, listen up." Catherine took her sister's hand and bit her lip and said: "There are thousands of unmarried ladies, widows, and spinsters in this world, and every one of them - Each one! is more suitable to be 'Mrs. Montagne' than you are."

Catherine usually refers to Winters as [Mr. you."

Ana was so angry that she laughed: "Why?"

"Because you love him." Catherine relaxed her hands and replied softly: "They don't love him."

"I..." Anna was extremely ashamed and extremely angry: "What's the truth?!"

Catherine tucked up her somewhat scattered hair, leaned on the bench, and sighed. She did not answer directly, but asked an unrelated question: "Have you ever thought about how you would deal with it if Mr. M had a mistress one day?"

Anna's breathing became rapid: "He...he won't..." But looking at the mocking smile on Catherine's face, Anna couldn't say a million words to retort.

"If you want to be Mr. M's mistress, I won't stop you." Catherine covered her lips and smiled softly: "Are you willing?"

Anna grabbed the small pillow next to her and hit her sister hard.

"You ask me why all women are more suitable to marry Mr. M than you? I can answer you now." Catherine hugged her sister: "Because they don't love him, so they won't ask him to show equal emotions. In During marriage, they provide the ability to bear children and dowry—property and power. In return, the more power that person grabs, the more wealth they have, and the higher their position, the more they meet their needs.”

"But Anna, my dear sister, you are different." Catherine hugged Anna tightly, with tears in her eyes: "What you want is love! What you want is love!"

Tears also flashed in Anna's eyes.

"For love, you can endure everything now, and you can give without reservation. Look at you! From the moment you left Hailan, you have been giving, giving non-stop, giving without asking for anything, and giving regardless of the cost. Now you are completely a fool who has been carried away by love." Catherine choked up:

"But have you ever thought about it, one day love disappears, he doesn't love you anymore or you don't love him anymore, what should you do then? How are you going to deal with yourself? What does everything you give count? I am you Sister, except mother, no one in this world loves you more than me! I can't--I just can't bear you to continue like this. Winters Montagne wants you? Then let him go back to Hailan, Marry Ana Navarre in a dignified manner. Otherwise, I will never allow him to continue bullying you like this."

Tears rolled in Anna's eyes. Catherine's words were too heavy, and Anna didn't know how to answer. If she was really a fool who was carried away by love, as Catherine said, there would be no need to bear any burden.

Unfortunately, she is not.

Catherine hugged her sister. The older Madame Navarre did not cry, but the younger Madame Navarre sobbed.

The winter wind howled outside, and the firewood in the fireplace crackled.

Anna stretched out her arms, hugged her sister gently, and whispered comfort: "It's okay, it won't be..."

…

Anna stayed up almost all night.

When the rising sun illuminated Gevaudin, Anna wiped away her tears and got up to freshen up as usual.

After the deep conversation last night, Catherine became a little sick. Even Scarlett couldn't make Catherine smile.

Anna desperately wanted to see Winters, not to ask for reassurance or to vent her emotions. At this moment, all she wanted to do was see Winters.

But Anna failed to do so, and Mrs. Medellin quickly brought back the news: "Not long after dawn, Lord Bard took Lord Montagne out of the city."

In the afternoon, Mrs. Medellin brought news again: Monsignor Montagne had gone to the garrison after returning to the city.

After that, Winters left the city again. Winters did not return to his apartment until late at night.

"What's wrong?" Winters was surprised to see Anna waiting in the living room. He noticed that Anna's mood was a little unnatural: "What happened?"

"It's nothing." Anna leaned against Winters and said in a weak voice, "It's nothing."

"I do have something to tell you."

"Um."

Winters felt Anna's body temperature and still couldn't say anything. He rubbed Anna's hair: "Forget it, I'll write to you."

"Yeah." Anna was a little tired.

The two cuddled quietly for a while, and Anna asked in a low voice: "Can you dance?"

"Court dance is one of the compulsory courses in the Lu Academy." Winters looked slightly embarrassed: "But I'm afraid I've forgotten all about it."

"I teach you."

Although there was Anna's guidance, the two people's movements could hardly be called dance steps. They just hugged each other in front of the fireplace and swayed slowly and rhythmically.

"Speaking of it." Winters suddenly couldn't help laughing.

"Yeah." Anna leaned on Winters' shoulder and wiped her tears.

"Do you know how dance classes in Lu Yuan are held?"

"how?"

Winters coughed slightly and said sheepishly: "There are no female students in the Lu Academy, so the dance classes are all... with partners of the same period, that is, men dancing with men..."

Anna broke into a smile.

"...So everyone is not interested, just deal with it and be done with it." Winters, who was trying to explain, heard Anna's laughter and breathed a sigh of relief: "It's not in vain that I told you the most shameful experience. Finally, it's okay. Made you laugh."

"I'm not making fun of you."

"It doesn't matter if you don't admit it."

There was another moment of silence.

"Mr. Montagne?" Anna whispered.

"Um?"

"Let's get married." Anna's voice was very weak, as if she was talking about an insignificant thing.

"Okay." Winters agreed without hesitation and asked with a smile: "Should I go to Father Carman now and ask him to solemnize the marriage?"

On winter nights, only the fireplace radiated weak heat.

After a long silence, Anna, who was holding Winters, let out a sigh that was too soft to be heard: "Forget it, I don't even have a ring. It's too cheap for you."

Winters sniffed Anna's long hair and murmured as if he was self-declaring: "Yeah, I'm too cheap."

After an unknown amount of time, Anna was sent back to the room by Winters.

The next day, Anna woke up in her bed and learned that Winters Montagne had left Gevaudan and left her only a letter.

…

…

West of the Bighorn River, the wilderness.

There was no snow in the wilderness, but the branches and leaves of the dead grass were covered with frost.

A small convoy was driving on the wasteland, and the riders escorting the convoy were all fully armed. But there was no flag, and the carriage bore no insignia of identity.

"Brother." A young man with an immature face among the riders asked worriedly: "Is it really okay for you to just leave like this?"

"Leave?" A man wrapped tightly in clothes sat on the carriage, pulled the blanket on his body, and commented quietly: "He is obviously running away."

"Yes, it's an escape." Winters laughed self-deprecatingly. He looked at the man on the carriage and asked with some seriousness in his joke: "Lieutenant Colonel, please give me a good time."

Ciel did not understand the meaning of this sentence.

Moritz was slightly startled, then closed his eyes and took a nap. He yawned: "It's all your own business."

"Respect each other's choices" sounds like a universal formula that will never go wrong.

But in some cases, the so-called "respecting the other person's choice" is actually just pushing the dilemma onto the other person - Winters thought painfully - selfish and despicable, it turns out this is me.

"Stay, stay in the dangerous new land, break up with your mother, give up everything that once belonged to you, and I can't give you anything."

Winters had no way to say these words.

"Go back to Hailan and wait for me until I can come back alive to marry you one day."

Winters also couldn't say these words.

So he gave the choice to Anna - it may be the most suitable choice, or it may be the least appropriate choice.

"If there is such a thing as a soul, the men and women who sacrificed will know that I feel sorry for myself for this kind of thing." Winters couldn't help thinking: "Maybe they will regret it?"

The sound of hooves interrupted Winters' thoughts, and the three riders jumped out of the hillside in front and galloped towards the convoy.

Lieutenant Colonel Moritz yawned and changed into a more comfortable sleeping position.

The three knights did not stop until they ran in front of Winters. The leader was dressed in Plato's costume, and the two following were dressed in Hurd.

The two riders dressed as Hurd rolled their saddles and dismounted, pressed their right hands on their chests, saluted respectfully, and muttered a string of Hurd's words.

Winters called the interpreter forward.

The interpreter chatted with the two Hurd riders for a few words and replied: "Your Excellency, they are saying, 'Champion of Plato, Chief Taichi sent us to be your guide. Chief Taichi has prepared a fine wine banquet waiting for you. '."

Winters nodded. He didn't understand Khedic, but he could tell the difference between "Batu" and "Batu" in the other person's mouth.

The shortest route between Tiefeng County and Chihe Department must pass through the area controlled by Terdun Department.

For others, rushing headlong into Telduun territory would be suicidal. But for Winters, the danger is much less.

Because the territory of the Terdun Department currently belongs to Taichi in theory. Although Taichi also has Taichi's troubles, it can always be done by providing guides, food and accommodation.

At this time, Tai Chi also needs Winters to mediate between him and the White Lion.

Winters looked at the two guides, and they looked vaguely familiar: "I seem to have seen them before, the rabbit-hunting brothers? Mr. Translator, ask them for me if they still remember me."

Winters' words were relayed by the interpreter, and the young guide immediately became excited. The older guide signaled his younger brother to be quiet with his eyes, pulled him and gave him another salute.

"The older one said." The interpreter relayed with a smile: "Thank you for remembering them. They are honored."

"According to the etiquette of the Hurd tribes, we should give them some gifts - or rewards?" Winters also laughed: "But we are so poor that we can't afford gold and silver. Charles, pick two guns. give them."

Charles responded and quickly returned with two light matchlock guns.

The elder brother among the guides respectfully took the musket. The younger brother muttered something under his breath and was glared at by his elder brother.

"Your Excellency." The interpreter whispered: "The young man said that they don't have gunpowder and lead. If you give them a musket, they can't use it."

Winters laughed, turned around and told Ciel: "When the guides leave, get them some ammunition."

The two guides got back on their horses. They talked and the interpreter relayed the story: "The older one said that walking as far as an ox further, there are three families who have set up tents. You can spend the night there tonight."

"Okay, let them lead the way."

The convoy that stopped briefly set off again, heading towards the endless wilderness.

After climbing a few more hills, Lieutenant Colonel Moritz gradually changed from sitting and taking a nap, to leaning on his back and dozing, and finally to lying down and sleeping.

Just when Winters was wondering how the Lieutenant Colonel could fall asleep in such a bumpy environment, Moritz straightened up like a wildcat that had been awakened.

"What?" Winters asked.

Moritz frowned and said slowly: "Someone is catching up."

Winters listened carefully, and it took him a while to distinguish the subtle sound of hoofbeats.

The sound of horse hooves was getting closer and clearer, very quickly. Three more riders appeared on the horizon behind them.

Seeing the leading rider wearing a monk's robe, Winters also frowned: "Kaman?"

"Father Carman?" Charles was extremely surprised: "What is he here for?"

Winters was not sure that the other party was Kaman, so he waved his hand: "Be alert."

The guards Andre selected for Winters took out their sabers one after another, and several of the guards carrying short guns began to load short guns.

The straight-line distance between the two hills was less than two kilometers, and the three riders behind quickly caught up.

Father Carmen's cold voice arrived before anyone else: "Why are you having such a big battle?"

"Disarm." Winters ordered reluctantly.

The loaded riders fired empty guns into the air. The thunderous gunfire echoed in the wilderness, startling flocks of birds.

Winters dismounted to greet Carman. He opened his arms, intending to give Carman a warm hug from the Veneta people: "I have only been gone for a day, and you miss me?"

Kaman snorted softly: "Who told you to leave so unluckily? Just one day after leaving, someone came back."

Only then did Winters notice the giggling big boy behind Kaman—Wahika.

"Vasya!" Winters couldn't believe it. He grabbed Vasika's shoulders: "Where's Pierre? Where's old Mr. Mitchell? And your father, Balian... are they back too?"

Vashika's shoulder was painfully scratched by Winters. He grinned and replied: "Centurion, it's a long story..."

"It doesn't matter. Speak slowly." Ventras led Vasya towards the motorcade.

Kaman coughed lightly: "Wait a moment, and..."

Before he finished speaking, Winters received a hard blow on his back, which was so painful that he stopped breathing.

Before he had time to think about where the attack came from, Winters' instinct had already caused him to fight back.

He entered a spell-casting state in an instant, subconsciously using violent magic to tear everything behind him apart. But as he turned around, he saw the most terrifying sight out of the corner of his eye.

It's hard to recover when you're covered with water, but what about magic?

Winters desperately tried to exit the spell-casting state, and a sudden severe dizziness and stinging nearly knocked him unconscious - however, this [dizziness and stinging] was subtly different from the [phantom pain] that Winters was familiar with.

As Carman watched—in full view, to be precise—Winters was pushed to the ground.

"You dare to run away again." A golden sword filled with the aura of a nouveau riche was pressed against Winters' throat. Anna took off her hood, shed tears, and gritted her teeth and said, "I will kill you and then commit suicide."

[I've been a little busy recently...but that's not a reason...try to make up the difference on weekends]

[In order to avoid causing controversy, the author would like to add some additional explanation]

[Catherine's comments represent Catherine's views and do not necessarily reflect those of the author. Catherine’s views are limited by the background of the times and must have limitations]

[It can be safely said that free love has a longer history than arranged marriage (primitive society is better). But arranged marriage persisted into the twentieth century—in both East and West]

[In the historical period in which Winters lived, the view that 'marriage is a contract of property, power and reproduction' was more generally accepted by the world]

[Of course, free love must have existed even in Winters' time. The fact that "Romeo and Juliet" was on the stage in the late sixteenth century means that there must have been free love and marriage in the same era]

[After all, free love is a macro-liberation of human nature, which is obviously consistent with the moral pursuit of the 'Renaissance' and the future 'bourgeois revolution']

[Thank you book friends for your collection, reading, subscription, recommendation votes, monthly votes, rewards and comments, thank you all]