vstars Chapter 194 Collaborator's Love
Chapter 194 Collaborator's Love
Franche-Comté, Winter 1448
The earth became covered with snow again, but what was different from the past was that in this season that originally represented coldness and death, the earth was not as quiet as before. On the contrary, more and more people began to walk out of the Earl's Castle and run freely in the snow.
Most of them were children. They wore thick winter clothes and rushed to the white snow to play and frolic. Although the war in this land had just ended a few years ago, their faces were filled with smiles. At least at this time, they were free and happy in the sunshine.
Looking at the children playing in the distance, John just smiled. It would be best if he could gain the love of others while achieving his goals.
This winter, John continued to make a snowman according to the family tradition, but not far from John, there was another person also making a snowman.
Looking at Matilda who was silently making a snowman, John felt mixed emotions. On the one hand, he really had a good impression of Matilda, but on the other hand, he didn't know how to say it out loud.
“Mutual respect is the beginning of love. Love requires courage, and you must face it bravely.” Whenever he thought about this question, his father’s words kept ringing in his ears, but he couldn’t just say something too straight-forward like “I like you, marry me.”
While John was in a daze, Matilda had already built her own snowman. Looking at John's half-built snowman, she walked over and asked:
"Master John, what's wrong with you?"
"Oh, just thinking about something." John calmed himself down and continued to squat down and make a snowman.
"Let me help you." Seeing John alone, Matilda stepped forward and squatted to help John. John did not see this and did not stop her, and the two of them built a snowman together.
With the efforts of the two, the snowman gradually took shape. When the last pile of snow hit the snowman, John stepped back a few steps to observe the snowman. Since it was made by two people, the two sides of the snowman seemed to be different.
John was just thinking about modifying the snowman based on his past experience, but when he looked at Matilda next to him, he gave up the idea.
"Matilda, I have something to ask you." John suddenly said to Matilda.
Looking at John, whose mood was different from before, Matilda asked:
"Is there a problem?"
John paused and then said:
"I have always had a question in my mind, that is, why did you choose me as your partner in the first place? The reason can't be such a casual reason as 'you are a good person'. There are many good people in this world, and I believe that Lady Reginale also knows some people who are willing to help you. But from this year, I think that you chose me more because of your inner reasons, and even gave up some of your own interests. I don't understand this at all."
Looking at John who was talking a lot in front of her, Matilda looked down, and after hesitating for a while, she continued:
"When I was studying in the capital of Yoda, there was a period of time when I often heard my classmates discussing things about you. At that time, I felt that you were a person who could freely choose the path of life."
"Later, my father wanted to send me to Wendam because of some internal issues in the Yoda Palace. After you led your army to capture the city of Niland, I followed you here. Here I felt the love of the residents for you, and the local natural environment was suitable for growing flowers. At that time, I relied on my business intuition and thought that if a flower farm was built here, it would bring huge profits. So, I planned that event with my mother."
"When I returned to the Earl's Castle, I had more time to get to know you and the territory and people under your rule. Then, some things that happened next made me gradually appreciate you. With your help, I learned more knowledge that I had no chance to learn before. Your character is different from that of other nobles. Rather than being a noble, you are more like an approachable neighbor."
"So, you chose me as your partner because I have potential, right?" John continued to ask.
"That was true when we first met...but now, I feel like there is an indescribable emotion deep in my heart that makes me want to work with you." Matilda responded after hearing this.
"Matilda, my father once said that if a man and a woman appreciate each other, then that is the basis of love. Do you think my father is right?" John asked Matilda suddenly.
"Eh!"
The latter seemed to be surprised by this sudden question, his eyes avoided and hesitantly said:
"I'm not sure either, but I think that we are still just partners at the moment, and it's not yet that..."
Listening to Matilda's words, John immediately understood that Matilda was just like him. Although they liked each other, they couldn't say it out loud for some reason, as if someone was covering their mouths.
However, at this moment, the snowflakes in the sky gradually disappeared, and the dark clouds in the sky gradually dissipated. A few beams of sunlight shone through the dark clouds onto the snow. The warm sunlight caused the snow on top to begin to melt, revealing the originally bare land.
"Oh, I see." John responded with a smile when he saw Matilda's panic-stricken look. Then he took out a yellowed and folded papyrus from his clothes and handed it to Matilda.
"What is this?" Matilda asked after taking it.
"You'll know after you open it and see for yourself."
Matilda unfolded the folded paper, and then she found that it was the marriage treaty that Father John had forged before.
"You should still remember this treaty. Dad did this not only to divert my pressure, but also to bring us together." John said as he looked at Matilda who was browsing the treaty.
Matilda thought John was upset about this, so she said hastily:
"I'm really sorry because this marriage treaty has troubled you for a long time. If you feel it is inappropriate, I will declare the treaty invalid and leave here immediately."
Looking at Matilda who was so anxious that she was about to cry, John waved his hand and said:
"It's not that."
Then John took the treaty, and under Matilda's puzzled gaze, he took out a seal from his clothes.
"Master John, what are you doing..."
"Miss Matilda, didn't you say that we are partners? The signing of each treaty requires the seals of the parties and partners to take effect. Then I want to ask you, are you willing to abide by the marriage contract between the Hohenzollern family and the Reginale family twenty years ago?"
"But... isn't that engagement fake?" Matilda still had some doubts when she saw this, even though John had already tactfully pointed out his relationship with her.
"A treaty can be forged, but a seal cannot. It represents a person's honesty and responsibility. The signing of a contract must be done after both parties have thought about it for a long time, so it also includes mutual trust."
At this point, John coughed a few times, and then said in a serious tone:
"I am John Hohenzollern. I will abide by all the contents of the above treaty and stamp my family emblem here. Miss Matilda, are you willing to become my partner in this treaty?"
At this moment, Matilda could not understand what John meant. Her eyes gradually reflected John's face as tears fell. After wiping her tears, Matilda walked forward with excitement and hugged John and said:
"I am willing!"
The dark clouds in the sky had dissipated, replaced by blue sky, white clouds and warm sunshine. The sunshine shone on everyone's face. People who were still outside the city found that their lord was talking to Matilda, so they took the initiative to gather around.
When they heard the three words "I do", men, women, young and old, including the soldiers guarding John, all burst into cheers.
The cheers echoed with the wind across the Franche-Comté Plain for a long time. Although the people who heard it from afar did not know what was happening, they understood that something good might be about to happen.