Green in the Eyes (3)

Their first stop was a small city on the southwestern edge of the Central Directly-Administered Region.

Every city has three layers of tree rings. The center is the political district, especially the capital. The first circle is the upper city, where the nobles live. The closer to the center, the higher the status. Outside the second circle is the lower city. However, the number of emerging bourgeoisie has increased recently, and some people can enter the upper city by buying low-level titles. The third circle, the outermost area, is the suburbs or slums.

They landed at the outermost edge of the second circle.

After another night's rest, the two went out for a walk.

Finne stood on Inger's shoulder guard, his glass-blue eyes widened, his head shaking from side to side, looking extremely excited.

"Will anyone recognize you with this?" Alex stretched out his finger to poke the kid and was almost bitten by his beak.

"It's quite common for nobles to keep pets. I've kept this little fellow in my mansion before. Apart from a few classmates and friends who came to visit, basically no one has seen him, so don't worry." Inger stroked Finne's chin and pressed his head to keep him quiet.

Inger's clothes are mostly casual, and he can be said to be a young man from a lower-class noble family, or a rich second-generation.

He fitted in well here, armed with a cane and followed by a follower.

But he doesn't really like chatting with people. Whether he is shopping or dining in a restaurant, he just sits alone at the table and drinks quietly.

And Alex played his role well, a follower, a buddy.

He and a group of servants hid at the back table and drank ale while the nobles were having dinner.

I can't speak loudly in front of the masters, so I feel very uncomfortable. After a little persuasion, everything comes out.

Alex was so good-looking that he got himself a little dirty. With his eloquence and friendliness, he became friends with those guys after just a few interactions.

When Alex returned to the room, Inger was lying in a chair with his tie untied and eating fruit.

Inger pointed to the prepared platter on the table.

Alex sat down and enjoyed the meal without hesitation. He smiled as he ate, "I've wanted to do this for a long time. This is a good opportunity."

Inger glanced at him, remembering that in the comics he was indeed a people-friendly emperor.

Because I grew up in a small territory and have always been on the streets, I am closer to ordinary people and can therefore understand their lives.

This type of private visit may also be one of the important sources of information for his future governance.

Inger said: "Indeed, this is your country, you need to understand it well. Whether there is a war or not, you are a good emperor."

Alex paused, stuffed the apple into his mouth, and shook his head: "It's a bit strange to hear you say that. After all, I'm not the emperor yet."

"But you're ready to take responsibility, aren't you?"

Inger asked calmly, unlike himself, Alex was not afraid of responsibility, he always took action with full confidence and did it well.

Alex looked out the window and said, "It doesn't matter who becomes the emperor. Now that I've come back to watch it again, I realize that my eldest sister is actually a very talented person. If she hadn't been so radical in the military, she would have been a good leader."

"But she's not you, and you can't let any external factors in. This is no joke."

"I know." Alex lowered his head and chuckled, "You are really weird sometimes. You always say you don't care about these things, but you worry about everything and refuse to admit it."

Inger looked at him calmly: "My thoughts have never changed. I am afraid of death. I just want to live a peaceful life with my family. Even if it is only for a short period of time, I don't want my life to be ruined on the battlefield."

If it were in the past, Alex would definitely answer him: "Why are you so pessimistic? Isn't it good enough if we win?"

Now he couldn't say that easily.

He had experienced it all before, and it was a dead end that he could see the end of.

Seeing that he was unusually silent, Inger added, "But before that, I will help you in any way I can."

At least now they can both make some positive changes.

Alex looked at him and smiled: "So now, are we friends?"

Inger crossed his legs and said, "Impossible, get out."

Alex laughed heartily.

Someone who is not willing to be his friend or comrade, but willing to help him silently. Someone who is not willing to stand by his side, but fights alongside him, but will never die for him calmly.

Inger Nyka is such a strange person.

After laughing, Alex said solemnly: "I will definitely fulfill your wish on my reputation and integrity."

Inger waved his hand casually. He had more confidence in the protagonist than in himself. The protagonist would definitely keep his promise. After all, how could such a simple thing be impossible to do.

The next day they set out by carriage to the Duchy of Neka.

Because the city itself is located at the border between the Central District and the Neka Territory.

The Duchy of Neka is adjacent to the center and lies closely below it.

Starting from Peng Delijia's generation, people moved to the capital to live because it was convenient for work because it was close to the central political district.

The current Duke of Pendrick and his future heir, Lanmore, are both important ministers of state and important members of the Senate.

When the lord went to the central government, his fiefdom was managed by his capable subordinates, who submitted reports to the Duke's Palace in the central area on a regular basis.

The two of them sat in the carriage, crossed the boundary of the territory, and looked at the scenery near the carriage road through the window.

Alex chuckled and said, "Yes, I heard from them that Aura announced to the outside world that I was sent out to carry out a mission, and you took sick leave and stayed at home to welcome guests."

"The last time she sent you out was to cause you trouble. I hadn't seen anyone for a long time before. I don't think anyone would be suspicious." Inger replied quietly, looking out the window.

Alex said with a sigh, "I have never had such a peaceful time with Ola before, even on the battlefield. Now that she has successfully become one of us, it feels a little too smooth. This is all thanks to your spell."

Inger said calmly: "This proves how important Christine herself is to her. Her abilities are also important."

Alex looked outside, with a hint of excitement in his eyes: "Actually, I haven't been to the Dukedom of Neka very often."

Inger turned his head to look at him and sorted out the plot.

The Dukedom of Neka had never had any major management errors during peacetime, and it was not a major battlefield during wartime. Naturally, Alex rarely came.

"I have lived in the capital since I was very young, and I don't know much about the Dukedom of Neka..." He paused, and suddenly said: "Insulated ore..."

Alex's eyes also gleamed, "You are right, then we can let the manager of your territory explore it."

Mining of the insulated rock mines in the Central Region has begun, and construction of the East-West and North-South railway lines has also begun. Everything is going according to plan.

"No, I want to try it myself." Inger weighed his cane and took out his practice wand.

"Try it? Try what?" Alex took a moment to react.

Inger drew a circle on the ground with his wand, with the tip of the wand at the center. The spell and the circle were infused with magic power and lit up.

Alex suddenly realized, "Ah, exploration. But this is in a car."

Inger laughed and said, "Imagine holding a long strand of hair and letting it flow in the wind."

Alex said: "This metaphor is novel, but it requires sensitive magical perception and precise magical control."

"It's okay. It doesn't consume much energy." Inger tapped the wand steadily on the ground.

[This is not a matter of low consumption.] Alex smiled but said nothing.

The two men quickly arrived at the city gate, gave their passes and entered the city smoothly.

This is the Dragon Scale Town in the north of the Dukedom of Neka.

As expected, the exploration along the way did not yield any results.

When it got dark, the two found a hotel to stay.

Alex ate and chatted: "Who is the current ruler of Neka Territory?"

Inger combed Finne's feathers and said, "The deputy commander of the Duke's Knights, Awatie... I remember he was a very serious person."

In fact, he learned it from the family's subordinate atlas and the servants' words.

"Ah, I may have some impression of this name, but I don't think it matches your face."

He must have seen it in a battle, after all, Peng Delijia and Lanmore also had to go to the battlefield at that time.

"But it's rare for a member of a knightly order to take control of a territory."

"My father trusts his ability and loyalty. We don't have any other close relatives. This is better. But at best he is just an acting lord."

"Want to go see him?"

"No need." Inger suddenly smiled and said, "If Your Majesty wants to inspect the territory, it would be best to do it in secret."

Alex was stunned for a moment, then he came to his senses and didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Are you teasing me?"

Inger pushed the cup aside. "Here, milk with honey and vanilla. It's said to help you sleep."

Alex always felt something was a little strange, but he couldn't put his finger on it. So he just drank the milk and went to take a shower.

When he came out, Inger was sitting on a chair with his legs folded, reading a book.

After Alex sat on the bed, he looked at Inger's face reflected in the gas light, a little absent-minded.

"What? Do I have to turn off the lights before I can go to sleep?" Inger asked without raising his head.

"No, it's okay."

"So you need to listen to lullabies to fall asleep?"

Alex thought of the embarrassment he experienced that day, and a feeling of belated embarrassment welled up in his head.

"Don't worry about that. It probably won't happen again in the future."

He got into bed immediately.

Inger dimmed the lights.

Alex suddenly turned around, his eyes shining: "Can you really sing a lullaby?"

Received a cold signal of "Just kidding, no singing, get lost."

Alex smiled and closed his eyes.

Inger waited until he fell asleep and his breathing became regular before he turned off the lights.

But at this moment, he glanced at the bed and saw Alex closing his eyes and looking at him quietly.

He was caught off guard and startled, but he didn't show it.

"…I thought you were really asleep, but the light was too bright. I was just about to turn it off."

Alex blinked and said softly, "It's okay. If you are reading, continue. Don't worry about me. I just can't sleep."

Inger stopped reaching for the gas lamp and turned his gaze to Alex. His originally golden eyes flashed with a strange green light.

He felt his heart stop for a moment.

Inger calmly withdrew his hand and continued to turn the pages, forcing himself to focus on the words, with no abnormal expression on his face.

On a cold and quiet night, all you can hear is the rustling of leaves outside the window and the sound of turning pages of books.

The weather in Neka in February was still not very warm, and it was still very cold in the middle of the night. Inger's palms were quietly sweating.