Chapter 160: Winters End (2/2)

“A fitting end for that idiot,” Corinth murmured coldly.

That beings said, things could get problematic for Corinth despite Nigelania’s delightful end.

Even if he had complete evidence proving that Nigelania had run off to get himself killed up at northern Lancaster, the new emperor would not care for such things—he had as many measures of setting up Corinth as he wanted.

Corinth sighed deeply. The last few years felt much more tiring than any decades before.

Not only would he have to endure the bloodsucking of Valla’s royalty, Lancaster was deteriorating at every passing moment even as she spiraled among her own nobles’ politicking.

In that very moment, he missed the Foolish King of Valla who supported his revolution in commerce and eventually helped to develop Lancaster as a city for trade.

“Well, no point in regretting it now.”

Corinth leaned into his chair, considering his strategies for whatever that would come next.

That was when someone pushed open the door to the study by just tiny seam.

The old man looked towards it by reflex to find a tiny, adorable round face.

“Why are you here, Gwendolyn?” The old man asked his granddaughter mildly.

“You’re sighing again, Grandpa!” The little one briskly opened the door upon realizing that she was found out, dashing inside and climbed into Corinth’s arms. “I asked Mother to leave the city during the seeding festival, but she said that I need your approval! It’s been so long since we went outside the city, can we go this time?”

The old man patted her head. “Of course I would allow that. But I’ll have people guarding you both, so don’t run off, got it?”

The little girl beamed immediately, nodding her little head and firmly gnawed the old man’s cheek. “Thank you, Grandpa!”

Her saliva was all over the old man’s face, between laughter and tears as he watched the girl run outside with a look of tenderness.

“I’ll have to work harder for Gwendolyn…”

Hence, he picked up the report on his desk and reread it from the start, scrutinizing the uncertain details this time around. “So Nigelania wanted to get his hands on that weird but extremely popular healing potion from an unknown source? And that source is unknown even for reports on my end?”

Having managed Lancaster over decades, Corinth had innumerable eyes watching his city. Be that as it may, for the source of that potion to remain unknown must mean something interesting behind it all.

“Let’s see if I can meet that undying Mister Marni…”

The old man casted a pensive look outside the window.

At the moment, a single ray of sun had pierced the thick dark clouds, streaming slight warmth over the snow-filled land.

Winter was over.