nameless country

William woke up from hunger and found himself in a strange room.There were several blisters on his feet, and when he jumped from the bed to the ground, he let out a few hisses in pain.He came to the window and opened the thick velvet dark green curtains. It was already dark outside, only the silver-white snow covered the rolling forest.He was sure that he was now in the castle of Kargus, so it was already the second night.

"What happened last night?" He rubbed his head, as if hungover unreal.

At this time, he heard a servant knocking on the door.

"Please come to the hall to attend the dinner as soon as possible." William opened the door and saw a masked male servant standing outside.

"If you're ready, come downstairs with me." Before William could react, the valet got up and went downstairs

The sound of his shoes falling on the wooden floor was full of joy.The house was brightly lit, and the flames in the fireplace were seldom creaking and warm.William went down the stairs and saw a dozen people sitting at the dining table. Viscount Kargus was sitting at the top of the long table. "Why are there so few people? Where are the others?" he thought to himself, while sitting Go to the last remaining seat facing the Viscount.

Seeing that everyone was here, Kargus clapped his hands, and someone brought more than a dozen delicacies to the table one after another: sizzling steak, foie gras with black truffle, salmon topped with lemon juice, Bell Peppers with Caviar and Half Dried Tomatoes…

"Please start." Kargus raised the wine glass in his hand, "Avotresanté".

The young boys and girls raised the wine glasses in front of them, "Avotresanté", picked up the knife and fork, and enjoyed the rare delicacies.

William felt that the servants in this castle were weird, "Why are they all wearing masks?"; the viscount's attitude was also unpredictable; and he was so sleepy all day that he didn't know it at all.Everything seems to be covered with a curtain, waiting for the actors to enter the stage.Everyone in the seat had hidden joy, fear, and fear of the unknown. Normal people would be afraid, but some people hid it; William looked at the faces of everyone, but felt that he had no appetite.

"It's not as good as Aunt Rachel's pea soup," William swallowed a mouthful of caviar.

The masks of the servants in this castle seemed to hide their emotions, they came up and left in a hurry.Maybe they are the audience on the stage, maybe they are also characters in the play, but——

Kargus is the master of the drama.

He seemed to be enjoying the state of the dinner party, with a contented expression on his face.

Silence, candles flickering.In the castle at night, the curtains cut off all the light.After the dinner, Kargus hurried away, announcing that he would choose his bride from among those present.He wiped his mouth with the tablecloth in front of him, like a cat enjoying the sun, showing a lazy look.

"It's you," he pointed at Howard—"Is it you?" His hand moved to a girl again—"It's you." He pointed at almost everyone.

All eyes were on him, he paused for a while, stood up and clapped his hands, "I will publish my answer tomorrow. Let's stop here today", and then left with his ebony scepter.The servant standing by also left.

The remaining men and women turned into a pot of boiling soup after a while.They chatted with each other first, and then their voices became louder and louder, discussing everything that happened and the choice of the viscount's bride.

"Ahem", "Everyone be quiet." Howard knocked on the table.

He looks sunny and handsome, and he is very prestigious and popular among the young people in the town.So the crowd slowly quieted down, "Why don't you share the current situation, the viscount's attitude is unclear, and where are the rest of the dancers? Isn't it confusing?"

"Who would have imagined those people? I will be the eighth bride of the viscount. Maybe the viscount didn't bring those people to the castle at all." Said the mayor's daughter Sibil, her skirt fluttered up and down her waist, The high heels are also raised high and then lowered.

"I...I... think Lord Viscount will summon us, we just need to wait in peace." A timid girl who was holding the corner of her skirt raised her head slightly, looked at Howard and said.

"You're right." Howard smiled at her, "It's possible."

The girl blushed slightly, and clenched her skirt even tighter.

"I think we can get the valet to tell us something else—by whatever means," said a thin boy with gold-rimmed spectacles. "We can start here."

"Great, William, tell me your opinion too." Howard turned his head to William.

William was about to answer, when a voice suddenly sounded sharp:

"Howard, don't put on your high-spirited look, as if all of us should listen to you." Sybil knocked on the table. "Who doesn't know how your family's status came about?", "Are you trying to show off your power here, or should we all listen to your command?"

"We are discussing the problem. Miss Sybil, don't be angry." Howard slowly raised his head.

"I'm not angry. I don't believe you have any kindness. Don't be fooled." After speaking, Sibil turned her head upstairs and returned to her room.

At the dinner party that broke up unhappy, after Miss Sybil left, some people followed her one after another.

The last ones left at the table were William and Howard.

"William." Howard looked around to make sure no one approached William.He lowered his voice, "In this castle, I only believe in you. Everyone is stunned by the viscount, except us—— I can see that the viscount's eyes don't have the kind of love that is blinded .”

"Oh, but didn't you just want to please the viscount before? Be the first to stand up and dance." William still moved his head away.

"That's to get closer to the viscount, and flattery is just a means."

"Miss Sybil said before, I believe you have heard of it." William was provoked when he heard this.

"My family's fortune was not bright. I was just an ordinary businessman, earning a little money." Howard's tone became a little higher here, "Six years ago, my sister married Viscount Howard. I will never forget my sister The look of joy on his face when he was chosen as the viscount's wife, and our family has gradually prospered by relying on the viscount's generous dowry and this relationship." Howard's expression was shrouded in a shadow at this time, "But, I There was no more news of my sister, not even a single letter. I waited and waited and asked my father: my father said that my sister lived too well in the castle and did not want to come back; I asked my mother: my mother said that my sister was lost in the forest I won’t come back if I can’t find my way back.”, “I don’t believe that my sister just disappeared from this world without a sound.” Howard showed a look of hatred on his face, “It must have been done by the Viscount .I want to find my sister, even her bones."

"Can you help me?" Howard looked at William.

William saw love and hate intertwined in Howard's eyes, "Love for my sister and hatred for the Viscount." William knew it would be dangerous to agree to his request, but he was stung by the love in Howard's eyes, and he wanted to Thinking of someone close to him—"If that person knew that I was dead, would he be as desperate as Howard and give up his life to look for me?" His heart was no longer as cold and hard as it used to be, Then trust him.

"If there is anything I can help, I will help you." William replied to Howard, "Why are we friends?"

"Great, can you help me find the darkroom of this castle together? I suspect someone is locked up elsewhere." Howard handed William a strange-looking bug, "This is the octopus, you see Suspicious places put this there, and this little thing will check it out and come back. One more person is faster than looking around by myself."

"It's amazing." William held the little thing carefully.

Howard said, "Of course, thanks to the witch's magic."

William now has a headache when he hears about witches, "Oh, thanks witch."

Holding the ant-like creature in their hands, the two men clinked each other as if toasting, "It's great, someone is with me." William thought to himself, with a faint expression on his face and even a little dullness.Howard turned into that sunny boy again, and it was difficult for William to connect his current appearance with the gloomy boy just now.Their images are too different, but William has a little recognition in his heart. People are always so attached to the things they care about that they have completely different attitudes.Who is my love blooming for?Who knows what I look like?Outsiders don't know, and outsiders are not allowed to know.People who are close can laugh, make trouble, scold and be crazy, but those who are not close see only the mask.

At this time, he suddenly saw the way Kargus looked at him, like cornflowers soaked in the sea.When the siren-like charming blue tail flicked up and down, there was a moment of pearly brilliance, so pure and so childish.Then there was him standing in the hall with an ebony scepter and smiling lightly, as if he had been sewn with an airtight mask.

"How could I think of him." William shook his head, and he carefully put the octopus that Howard gave him in a small pocket and hung it around his waist. "Maybe I should take a look around."

He walked up the stairs to his room.

Late at night, the lights in Howard's room were on.

"Howard, you won't change your mind, will you?" Sybil's face was like a rose, a rose with thorns but delicate enough.

"We're over a long time ago, Sybil. Aren't we all here for the Viscount?" Howard sat on his chair without moving a bit.

"You know who you are here for, and you know who I am not here for." Sybil looked at Howard stubbornly.

"You still have the temper of the eldest lady. I think you have found the wrong person. We have nothing to talk about."

"Then why did you suddenly leave me back then?" Sibil was aggressive and chased after her.

"It's meaningless to ask this now." Howard issued an order to evict the guest, "Please leave my room."

Sibil walked away with her proud head, her long skirt thrown off the ground.

Yes, they used to be a pair of gluey lovers.At that time, Howard was still a poor boy with no power, always being ridiculed and always hiding in a corner.Sibyl came towards him like a rosy angel, the only angel to save him.

Sybil taught him not to bow his head, Sybil taught him to laugh, and Sybil taught him step by step to become a leader in the crowd and an object of admiration.

But one day he took the initiative to break up with Sybil.

"Why?" said the rose-like girl with innocent and hurt eyes.

"No reason, I'm in love with someone else."

"Who is it? I have to figure it out." At that time, Sybill was only a little cute at best, but at that age, cuteness is also a kind of cuteness.

"Master Viscount."

"I fell in love with him the first time I saw him." He turned around and left without any regrets, leaving the tearful girl behind.

The pretty girl disappeared, and Sybil never fell in love with anyone again, but said to the outside world that she fell in love with the Viscount and wanted to become the Viscount's bride.She became domineering, she became aggressive.

Because the person who made her treat her tenderly and let go of all her thorns had already abandoned her.

The author has something to say:

Sometimes I don't know all the maliciousness of the target, but I really care about it.

When I was young, boys would always bully the girls they liked. I think Sybil's intentional targeting is actually because he likes Howard very much.

Want to attract someone's attention, so it doesn't matter what image you are.

ps: There is also a reminder, the modified blue beard settings are also different lol

I stayed at home for a day today, brushing shoes and washing clothes. . . . .

I must move tomorrow