The Duke in the Spire of Thorns

Aperuomo seems to be getting more and more absorbed in his new discovery these days.

From the beginning of giving Celeste frequent vacations, until now he has hardly contacted Celeste.

Celeste was a little worried, but more relaxed: after all, he really didn't want to learn alchemy anymore.He's really not interested in alchemy.

Compared with alchemy, he prefers to study some common things: for example, pocket watches.

At present, he is still studying the pocket watch seriously. After he can disassemble the pocket watch casually, his next goal is the clock.

This is what is really worth studying. Celeste thinks this way: Alchemist's research is linked to talent. If two people with different talents do the same experiment, even if the steps and operations are exactly the same, the results will be completely different.Can't control.

But dismantling a pocket watch or other things is different. The machine is very objective. Even if a smart person understands the principle, a fool who doesn’t understand anything and can only follow the gourd, as long as their steps and operations are the same , then they can get the same result.

Success is success and failure is failure.

Very objective, very controllable.

Celeste likes that.

Escrit indulged his little hobby very much, bought many clocks and watches, large and small, and let him spend them.

He was tolerant of Celeste's actions, but he himself refused to participate.The reason is that a stupid machine is no match for ingenious alchemy. As an alchemist, he is not prepared to learn anything related to this kind of machine.

"You are really stubborn." Celeste was a little puzzled: "Maybe the knowledge of the machine can help alchemy."

Escrit shook his head, "Alchemy is spiritual, my dear lord, but machines are dull. If you mix the knowledge of machines into alchemy, it will only be a mess."

He smiled wryly, "Respect my belief, okay?"

Hillest nodded to show understanding and mutual respect. Escrit liked alchemy so much, but he never forced him to learn it, so it was only natural for him to respect Escrit's distaste for machines.

However, although Escrito himself is resolutely unwilling to study with Celeste, he is not stingy in helping Celeste develop his hobbies. In his spare time, he will also take Celeste to To the clock shop.

"I want to know." Celeste looked at the pocket watch in his hand very curiously. On the dial, the second hand, minute hand and hour hand walked meticulously, "How did a pile of metal become such a magical thing? It is even more miraculous than alchemy."

Although Escrit did not admit that pocket watches are more miraculous than alchemy, he put on a coat for Celeste, "If you are curious, we can go to the watch shop to see how they are made."

Celeste said he was curious, but after hearing Escrit's proposal, he didn't really want to agree.It's winter now, and it's cold and windy outside. Although Escrito can always take good care of him, it's still cold outside, and Celeste doesn't want to leave the warm room.

"...Let's go later."

"It's too cold outside," Celeste said.

Escrit smiled at him and said a few words.

The result is that Celeste is now sitting in the carriage going out, and Escrite is sitting beside him, clinging to him.

"Don't you dislike these?"

Celeste questioned: "I don't want to come out, you should be happy, why take me out so proactively?"

"...Could it be that you like it too, but you just don't want to say it?"

"how come?"

Escrit shook his head with a smile, "I am so active in letting you out because I want to find a place to lock you up so that no one can see you except me."

Celeste shrugged and leaned in Escrit's arms indifferently: "Really? That's not impossible, anyway, I don't like going out very much, but I always get tired of looking at someone for a long time , if you really want to do that, you'd better prepare a few masks in advance, lest I bother you."

Escrito lowered his eyes and pecked Celeste's ear a few times: "Okay, no kidding, I have prepared a surprise for you."

"I've found a very interesting man, you're sure to like him," he said.

Celeste suddenly felt a little weird: Escrito actually wants to introduce someone to him?

Based on his understanding of Escrit, this guy wanted to separate him from everyone, why did he change his personality now?

In the evening, Escrit answered this question, and he said nicely, "I used to be like that just because I didn't feel safe, and I was worried that you would be robbed, but now it's different, you will always be mine No one can take it away, so I naturally hope that you will be happier."

Celeste believed it.

But that's for later, now he's just full of curiosity, and the person that Escrit wants to introduce on his own initiative must be very interesting.

The carriage passed through the street, and Celeste didn't lift the curtain, so he didn't know where they were.But he wasn't worried because Escrito was by his side.

After a while, the carriage finally stopped.Celeste was led out of the carriage by Escrit, and saw a narrow clock shop.

The place where the clock shop is located is very remote, and Celeste looked around, but there was no one around, and most of the houses were dilapidated, with almost no one living there.

Generally, only middle- and upper-class people can afford clocks and watches, so Celeste is very puzzled about the location of this clock shop. People who live near here don’t seem to be able to afford clocks and watches.

Escrit didn't answer his doubts. He rang the doorbell, and a crisp wind chime sounded. Soon, the door of the watch shop opened.

A man who appeared to be very young came out to welcome him. Although his appearance was not good, he had a very warm personality. He smiled happily and said to Escrit, "Ah! It's you, I recognize you!"

Then, he turned his gaze to Celeste again, and he quickly walked up to Celeste, "You are the Duke, right? I'm so glad to see you here. Come, come with me."

After he finished speaking, he turned and went into the watch shop, as if he was sure that Celeste would follow him.

Celeste did follow, and this person really made him curious now.He was sure that he didn't have this person in his memory at all, but the other person showed a very familiar look, as if they had known each other for a long time and had a close relationship.

"You'll be friends with him."

Escrito said that he usually would not let strangers approach Celeste at all, but now, he showed a look of being happy when this stranger approached Celeste.

"I always feel like you're hiding something from me."

"I gotta say, you really confuse me," Celeste said to Escritter moments before walking through the door.

After saying that, he walked in.

The inside of the watch shop is very messy, all kinds of messy metal things are thrown everywhere, and there are all kinds of books on the floor, making it impossible for people to set foot.

"Excuse me?" Celeste looked at the person who stepped on the book without hesitation: "Is this the carpet you prepared?"

"Don't be so mean." The man replied: "You can step on it if you like, it's just the cover anyway, as long as you don't step on the inner pages."

Celeste is not very comfortable with this man's intimacy.Even though the other party said so, he still didn't step on the book, and picked a few gaps to settle.

"Oh! I almost forgot." The man was busy for a while, and finally turned to Celeste: "How are you doing? You look much better than me."

Celeste: ? ? ?

"...er... I don't think you and I are close enough to exchange greetings. But, by the way, I'm doing well."

"What's wrong with you? Why are you acting so strange?" The man was taken aback, his expression full of doubts: "Me? Don't you recognize me? Your old buddy, Du Lian."

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I have any memory of the name."

Escrit, who had been standing by the side, took the words with a smile: "Please don't do this, Mr. Du Lian, my lordship hasn't recovered his memory yet."

"Okay, okay, so it is."

Du Li'an nodded as if suddenly realized: "It's not long since I recovered my memory. A few months ago, I was still worrying about business, thinking that my life might be over."

Celeste was properly placed on a clean chair by Escrit. He looked at the man in front of him with some curiosity. He was very strange, but with a kind feeling, that feeling could not ignore.

"Okay, I believe you, Hill, even if you haven't recovered your memory, you must be very smart, let me show you my latest discovery!"

Du Li'an said quickly, "Wait, I'll be right back."

After speaking, he disappeared behind a narrow wooden door.

Celeste, who was confused, looked at Escrito: "Honey, I think you have to give me an explanation."

"It was a surprise."

Escrit still smiled decently: "When we go back, I will answer your doubts. Don't think about these things now. Treat Mr. Du Lian as a good friend and enjoy this time."

Celeste dubiously agreed.

Du Lian came out quickly, holding a weird thing on the table, "Look! This is it, how amazing!"

Celeste looked at the odd-looking machine and felt that it was nothing magical except that it was ugly and shocking.

"Look at her, my princess!" Du Lian said happily: "I always use a magnifying glass when making clocks and watches. One day I had a whim, what would happen if I stacked several different magnifying glasses together?" Woolen cloth?"

He muttered a long list and managed to attract Celeste's attention, "Can you see things that we can't see with the naked eye?"

He walked over with great interest, and got together with Du Lian. If it was normal, he would never tolerate being so close to a commoner, but there was a strange kindness about Du Lian that made him forget this. .

"I want to see."

Du Lian stepped aside generously, and even instructed Celeste on how to operate it. Celeste was extremely shocked. Through this machine, the subtle things that were not visible at ordinary times became clearly visible.Every detail is clear!

"It's really amazing!"

As Celeste said so, he happily brought all kinds of small things and put them underneath for a closer look.

After he had finally seen enough, he raised his head and said to Du Lian: "Well, I admit, she can indeed be regarded as a princess."

He didn't dislike the ugly machine anymore.

Celeste and Durian stayed together all day, and Escrite stood by, neither disturbing nor leaving.

He found that this man named Du Lian was really to his liking, and every word the other party said was very suitable for him. Besides, Du Lian had many wonderful ideas, and they talked tirelessly for a long time. For a long time, when it was time to leave, Celeste was still reluctant to part.

"I'll come back tomorrow!"

"Waiting for you!" Du Lian said enthusiastically.

Celeste got into the carriage and left. After he left the area completely, Du Lian locked the door, sat down on a wooden chair, and remained motionless.