That afternoon.

The sky was a blend of icy blue and pale colors, rendering it like a cracked glass screen. The soft, slightly cold natural light reflected off the snow, making everything appear blurry in this pure white world.

Braving the wind and snow, three figures finally saw the outline of a city-state at the end of the snowfield.

"Xia Ya, you truly are worthy of being a successor of an assassin family. You're a professional scout. Without you, we probably wouldn't have found Kingston City before dark," Lan Qi said, grinning at Xia Ya with praise.

Xia Ya lowered his head, quite embarrassed.

It had been a long time since he had heard such sincere praise.

Usually, when people mentioned his family, it was to mock him.

But this person was different.

"You didn't mention me at all, yet it feels like you're talking about me with every sentence," Xi De muttered from the side.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Lan Qi asked, puzzled, as he rubbed his cheeks, which were slightly numb from the frost.

"Nothing. Sometimes, goodwill is deducted directly, no reminder service needed."

Amidst the wind, snow, and the voices of the two, they gradually approached the city-state's gate.

On the vast snowfield, the surrounding area was covered in boundless white snow. The biting cold wind occasionally swept past, stirring up snowflakes like fine sugar powder dancing in the air.

This was the southern border of Kingston City. The city walls were towering, constructed from metal and long-frozen earth, resembling a steel canyon on the snowfield, blocking the cold wind and all external dangers.

The city gate was made of heavy magic steel wood, decorated with cold iron edges and engraved with the totem and magical runes of Kingston City. Inside the barrier, two rows of guards stood with weapons in hand, clad in armor, their orange-red helmet plumes fluttering gently in the wind.

The guards' gazes were immediately drawn to the three as they approached, turning towards the distant snowfield.

The three slowed down, crossed the last stretch of endless snow, took out their identification in advance, and walked to the city gate, handing it to the captain of the guard through the briefly opened passage in the barrier.

After carefully inspecting the documents, the knight captain looked directly at Xia Ya.

"Young Master Xia Ya Candice, welcome to our Kingston City. Please, you and your friends, enter the city and wait. I will contact the Lord's Mansion for you."

The knight captain discovered that Lan Qi and Xi De were students from the Protos Royal Magic Academy in the capital city of Helrom. He didn't want to speculate too much about their relationship with Xia Ya, so he treated them as Xia Ya's accompanying friends.

The city gate slowly opened, the iron chains and wooden beams creaking dully. The city's clamor instantly filled their ears, and the scene gradually unfolded before their eyes.

No longer was it an endless expanse of snow. In the distance, pedestrians occasionally passed on streets paved with bluestone slabs. Smoke rose from the houses, along with the aroma of dinner being prepared, and there seemed to be children playing and throwing snowballs.

What followed was a period of waiting.

They didn't wait too long at the city-state's entrance before a carriage came to greet them, stopping in the open square not far away.

A middle-aged man wearing a classic black suit walked over, golden patterns embroidered on his cuffs and collar, holding a wax-sealed letter in his hand. He walked steadily but quickly to the three.

"Young Master Xia Ya, and two esteemed guests, I am the steward of the Lord's Mansion."

He bowed slightly, his voice respectful.

"Lord Levin Kingston has learned of your arrival and sent me to receive you."

He gestured for the three to follow him to the exquisite carriage in the distance, emblazoned with the Kingston family crest. The carriage body was covered in deep red silk, and the windows were obscured by thin embroidered curtains. The steward opened the carriage door, revealing leather seat cushions and delicate carved wooden handrails.

"Please, get in."

The steward smiled slightly, a measured steadiness befitting someone serving great figures.

The three exchanged glances and followed the steward into the carriage.

Before the carriage set off.

"May I ask if Viscount Levin Kingston is busy with important matters?" Xi De asked the steward.

"Yes, originally, Lord Viscount and the young lady were supposed to greet Young Master Xia Ya, but there are currently honored guests at the Lord's Mansion, and they are temporarily unable to leave. They could only send me to receive you back first. I apologize." The steward said apologetically.

Xi De nodded.

It seemed the Viscount was not deliberately slighting Xia Ya.

According to the etiquette of the Protos Empire, even if the betrothed Earl's son, Xia Ya, arrived at an unscheduled time due to travel issues, he should have been greeted personally by Viscount Levin Kingston or the young lady.

A rumbling sound passed.

The carriage wheels left deep ruts in the thick snow, and although the cold wind blew, the carriage interior was quite warm.

The three leaned back on the cushions. Xia Ya looked a bit reserved, but Lan Qi and Xi De were quite at ease.

For a moment, it was hard to tell who the young master was.

Looking at the anxious, mild, and somewhat weak young man with flaxen hair, Lan Qi patted Xia Ya's shoulder, who was sitting across from him.

"Hold your head high. Miss Lilith Kingston should prefer a more assertive guy."

"But... I'm here to marry into the Kingston family. Shouldn't they prefer a son-in-law who is more docile?"

"Lilith Kingston's combat profession is assassin, and her admission report records that her performance in the exams was quite fierce. As a descendant of a famous assassin family in the empire, you're sure to get along with her."

Lan Qi had already begun to coach Xia Ya.

Xia Ya looked at Lan Qi, his brows full of confusion.

How do you know everything?

"But I'm probably more inclined towards clerical work now... If I could help with their family's business, I might be useful. Although I've learned all the family's techniques, I haven't used them much in actual combat..." Xia Ya said without much confidence.

"I see." Lan Qi stroked his chin and began to think.

"Meow meow meow! Don't listen to him!" An angry voice came from below, accompanied by a black shadow. The little black cat jumped onto the seat, climbed onto Lan Qi's shoulder, and said to Xia Ya, "Romance between young men and women requires subtlety and natural development. If this guy interferes, all the heartwarming stories will turn into the same bizarre shadow world he likes to mess with! Love doesn't need forced acceleration or super-strong welding!"

It indignantly denounced Lan Qi, so angry that it was panting and couldn't catch its breath for a long time.

"Oh, little black cat, you've finally come out." Xi De looked at Lan Qi's shoulder with some interest.

The next second, the cat boss seemed to cower, scurrying to the other side of Lan Qi's shoulder, away from Xi De, trembling.

Xia Ya looked at the sprite cat in surprise.

Even this cat was stronger than him.

It actually had a level close to fourth order!

"...Do you think I'm only third order, meow?" The cat boss seemed to see through Xia Ya's thoughts and asked him sternly.

They both knew sprite language telekinesis magic, and there was a sense of kinship between them.

"Could it be... you're actually fourth order?" Xia Ya asked incredulously.

"..."

The cat boss was silent for a while, choosing to avoid the topic. It was better not to humiliate itself.

"Young man, just naturally get to know Miss Lilith. If you are destined, you will eventually fall in love. Don't listen to his love advice. This guy doesn't understand what love is, and his kind of love is very problematic!" It earnestly advised Xia Ya.

"Uh..." Xia Ya looked at the little black cat, then at Lan Qi.

For a moment, he didn't know who to believe.

They were both sincere and wholeheartedly wanted what was best for him. There was no doubt about that, as could be seen even in their eyes.

Thus, Xia Ya fell into endless entanglement, unable to make a decision.

The three and the cat remained silent for a while.

"But I think McCarthy makes a lot of sense. For example, I would also prefer a guy who is stronger than me." Xi De thought for a while and offered her evaluation as a woman.

She didn't know why the little black cat would belittle Lan Qi's love guidance like that. There was nothing wrong with it.

"..."

Lan Qi looked at Xi De with pity.

Another one who won't get married.

"What did you mean by that look you just gave me?" Xi De asked.

She had already discovered that her Holy Son generally wouldn't say anything impolite.

But he often wrote everything in subtle expressions, which was the highest level of contempt.

"Deduct goodwill then. If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a reason." Lan Qi wore a helpless smile that had seen through everything.

"..."

Xi De shook her head with a smile, not telling Lan Qi how much goodwill would be deducted.

On the side.

"Meow, so Xia Ya, are you really going to let this green tea teach you about love?" The cat boss looked at Xia Ya and asked.

"But Mr. Locke seems to get along very well with Miss Xi De, doesn't he?" Xia Ya asked the cat boss in confusion.

He didn't think Locke was a green tea at all. He was clearly a gentle and kind young man.

"Meow?" The cat boss tilted its head. Lan Qi and the Tyrant Church? Did they get along harmoniously?

It had always felt that these two were a mismatch in terms of identity, strength, age, and personality.

But now that Xia Ya said it...

It discovered that the two of them getting along had an unexpected sense of harmony.

Wait.

If Lan Qi and Sigrid's genders were switched...

What a green tea girl and a domineering CEO!

There's still one chapter that hasn't been finished, it'll probably be around eleven o'clock before I can finish writing it

(End of this chapter)