I, Who Came From the Abyss, Will Save Humanity Again Today - Volume 2 Chapter 84

Chapter 84: The Banquet (Last Part)

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A low and powerful voice came from her mouth, and I was stunned upon hearing it, my steps suddenly coming to a halt.

This woman seemed to recognize me… and judging by the gentle gaze she was giving me that completely contradicted her appearance, our relationship should be more than just acquaintanceship. Perhaps we were once quite familiar with each other.

But I couldn’t remember who she was at all. What should I do?

This was a bit awkward.

“Uh…”

Suddenly I didn’t know what to say.

“…Long time no see?”

For some reason, when I said this, I unconsciously used a questioning tone. I saw the woman’s originally smiling expression freeze for a moment, then the smile on her face became even brighter.

“Little Peipei, Madam has written to tell me about your situation. You probably don’t remember who I am now, do you?”

Ah, she knew.

It was easier to talk since she knew, so I nodded: “Yeah, sorry about that.”

“What are you apologizing for, really.” The woman stepped forward two paces and walked in front of me. Her graceful figure was nearly a head taller than me, and she gave me a hug with her somewhat cold, heavy armor. “It’s better than anything that you could come back.”

Her tone was calm, but I could hear the genuine emotion contained within it.

“Sister Annie, you came.” Parsifal’s voice rang out from behind me. “I haven’t seen you in so long.”

The woman named Annie looked toward Parsifal.

“Long time no see, Parsifal. You’ve gotten quite sturdy.”

“Not really…” Parsifal lowered his head embarrassedly. “Sister Annie, should I have Peipei show you in?”

“Alright.” Annie responded, then said to the guards by the horned carriage: “You all just wait outside.”

Then my hand was suddenly taken, and Annie pulled me through the inner castle’s gates.

“Where is the Duke, in that largest reception room?”

“Yeah.”

She seemed very familiar with Shanter Castle. After getting confirmation from me, she didn’t need me to guide her at all and pulled me toward the stairs, clearly already knowing the location of the reception hall.

“My name is Annie, Annie Erin. I’m the next heir to Erenburg.” She spoke to me as we walked. “Erenburg… you don’t remember it either, do you? You and Madam used to visit several times every year.”

I gently shook my head.

“I don’t remember.”

Annie let out a soft sigh.

“Your mother, Madam Catherine’s family and my mother’s family have been friends for generations.” She turned her head toward me, her tea-colored pupils sparkling brightly. “Our Erin family has been loyal to Shanter Castle since my grandfather’s time.”

“In the past… about 100 years ago, when neither of us had been born yet. At that time, due to discord within the royal family, the entire Valen Empire was at war everywhere… The empire was very poor then, most people couldn’t get enough to eat and had no clothes to wear. There were people freezing to death everywhere.”

Lifting her feet to step onto the stairs, feeling the warmth in my palm, I turned my head to look at Annie’s profile and quietly listened to her speak.

“At that time, my grandfather was still very young. He was the captain of your great-grandfather Duke Arthas’s guard, and the Central Workshop had only recently been established… Do you know? At that time, the blacksmiths in the workshop were mockingly called by the people ‘a bunch of butchers profiteering from war.’ Because the original purpose of establishing the workshop was to enable soldiers to kill enemies more quickly…”

Annie’s tone paused for two seconds, and her eyelids drooped.

“Or civilians who tried to resist. And my grandfather, along with Duke Arthas, were the ones who planned and organized the workshop at that time.”

“They actually had the purpose of quickly ending the war… but who would have thought the fighting would go on for 10 years. My father said that later, because too many people had died… there really must have been many people. Duke Arthas finally couldn’t bear the guilt in his heart and voluntarily withdrew from the conflict. He handed over the throne to his brother and signed a ceasefire agreement, leading his people to retreat north. After that, there was the present Winter City.”

When she spoke of this, for some reason, I suddenly thought of that sculpture in the small square and the inscription carved on the base.

At the time, because of the name, I had only taken it as a joke. But thinking back on it now, that cold sculpture, those bold and flowing strokes, the energy contained within them, perhaps I would never be able to truly comprehend it.

“If Duke Arthas had ascended the throne at that time, the empire might be more prosperous than it is now… His talent in governing was obvious. After all, among the world’s four great royal cities, only Winter City is not a capital.”

“Time has passed so quickly. Today’s Valen Empire has long since gotten back on track and is finally developing in a good direction. Everyone is starting to live prosperous lives.”

Speaking of this, she paused again.

By this time we had already reached the second floor.

Passing through the long corridor, we could hear the loud chatter and laughter coming from the reception room in the distance. It was quite noisy, so Annie’s voice unconsciously became louder.

“The first time you went to Erenburg was when you were 7 years old. We met for the first time then. You were thin and small at the time, but your eyes seemed like they could talk. I remember it very clearly.”

“At that time you saw the farmers of Erenburg, covered in mud as they worked in the fields, their faces also dirty and grimy. You looked somewhat sad, then you told me that when you grew up you wanted to become a female knight, kill all the evil bandits, and protect these people who worked so hard… but you didn’t know that sometimes a knight’s sword would be swung toward these very people.”

She stopped in front of the reception room door, then called my name.

“Peipei.”

“Sister Annie, I’m listening.”

She hesitated for a moment, then seemed to think of something and smiled while shaking her head.

“It’s nothing… Edward is dead, isn’t he.”

“He’s dead.”

“I see… Madam told me that you’re now a Pontifical Knight. That’s impressive.”

Impressive?

There’s nothing impressive about it.

“I’d rather not have this title.”

“…Did something happen?”

“Something bad.”

“Then, let’s talk properly later.”

“Alright.”

She raised her arm, but hesitated just as she was about to push the door.

I looked at her back in confusion, and after a long while she spoke.

“It looks like this war is unavoidable?”

…I didn’t know how to answer her.

No one wanted to fight a war. The Duke didn’t want to, Madam didn’t want to, and I didn’t want to either.

But things had reached this point, and there probably was no way to salvage the situation.

I could only hope that the Duke could solve the problem as quickly as he said he would.

“Sister Annie. I’m very glad to meet you.”

Annie waved her hand backward, then pushed open the reception room door.

“…Oh, look who’s here!”

“Hahaha, the Countess of Erenburg! Flamingo Annie!”

I met eyes with the Duke who was sitting in the center position of the room and smiled.

I lifted my skirt, turned around and went downstairs.

After this, more and more people began flowing toward Shanter Castle.

Elegantly dressed old gentlemen with walking sticks, fierce-looking leaders full of murderous aura, greasy-faced lords, merchants dripping with jewels.

The number seemed to be much more than expected. Parsifal and I were already too busy to handle it all, so later Madam dispatched 10 butlers and maids to stand on the first floor to guide guests, while we two only handled important guests.

The busy morning quickly passed, and soon after, the banquet began.