But to be honest, Anastasia still found it a bit incredible. In fact, even though she had fled in embarrassment two days ago after learning his identity, she still had a hard time believing that Lu Kang was just a young man who looked only a few years older than herself. She had truly thought that the person so revered by her father and mother, if not as mysterious as an angel from mythology, should at least be a venerable and dignified old man. It was only after being verbally reprimanded by Nicholas II that she confirmed from her father's words that the youth was indeed the 'Eminence' she had been so eager to meet...
"You're nothing like I imagined," the silver-haired girl said in the wind-swept garden, finally daring to look directly at the youth before her. He was indeed different from her imagination. Not mysterious, not dignified and profound, but more like a slightly playful neighborhood boy... But, Anastasia didn't dislike this feeling. On the contrary, she thought it was actually quite nice!
"Sorry for not growing into a 'Cthulhu' for you," Lu Kang said nonchalantly. "But in the end, I never considered myself a 'saint'. I'm just an 'ordinary person' who happens to know a few 'secrets' bestowed by God."
Mystery is the unknown, an extraordinary power grasped by humanity. But in the ancient age of myths where gods existed, the first magecraft was indeed a 'secret power' bestowed by the gods, flowing from them to humans. Lu Kang wasn't lying. Having already displayed his power, he didn't need to embellish himself with too many words. On the premise that it didn't interfere with his 'inheritance' plan in reality, he always did as he pleased.
"'Mystery'..." the girl's face was slightly taken aback. A strand of her silver-white hair slanted, covering the left half of her face, revealing only a blinking eye. Her red lips parted slightly, as if she had thought of something. "Then you must have a rather... wicked sense of humor?"
"Wicked sense of humor?" Lu Kang was confused.
"Before—with the power you possess, you should have been able to heal my leg in an instant, right? But you still gave me a crutch..." Anastasia couldn't help but feel a little annoyed again as she said this. She felt this youth had done it on purpose.
"Hmm..." Lu Kang's gaze deepened. Just as the princess thought he was about to explain something, he spread his hands. "Because... Your Highness hopping on one leg was quite amusing!"
"A-Amusing?" This time it was the princess's turn to be stunned again. She blinked, and blinked again, completely unable to process. Just because it looked amusing... he just watched?
Seeing the girl in a daze, Lu Kang couldn't help but grin. He thought to himself that it wasn't that he didn't want to heal her, but that he simply didn't know how. When he had been wandering among the people before, he had mostly played the role of an exorcist priest. The occasional times he acted as a doctor, he was treating mental illnesses caused by contact with mystery. He had never learned magecraft for healing the body. But he did indeed think... Anastasia was very interesting, and very cute. She was more interesting than Nicholas II. Cuter than her mother. And more interesting than anyone else in the court.
"Indeed, you have a wicked sense of humor," Anastasia exhaled, as if in resignation. Then she couldn't help but smile again, a slightly sly smile. "To think that the one called 'The Sage' has a side like this. I wonder what would happen if I were to announce this side of you to everyone?" As she said this, she glanced at the nobles mingling at the center of the distant venue—including Nicholas II and his wife. They had long since noticed him standing with the empire's youngest princess, but they still didn't dare to disturb the 'sage's' peace.
And the youth and maiden, not far apart in age, looked quite harmonious together. Many people revealed inexplicable smiles—especially Nicholas II. As he clinked glasses with other princes and dukes, his beard twitched, and he smiled even more happily. A sage, after all, is still a man. And men have feelings. Lu Kang was not unaware of the Tsar's intention to use his youngest daughter to further win him over, and he had no reason to refuse.
Faced with Anastasia's sudden slyness, he was reminded of what Nicholas II had told him two days ago about this youngest princess's playful nature around those she knew well. Her favorite thing to do was to prank her two older sisters. Things like making fake green caterpillars to scare her insect-fearing sister, or secretly tying a string with a toy mouse to them to make them panic... she was called a 'little devil' by her sisters, a rather lively little girl.
So Lu Kang reached out and tapped her on the head. "And what do you think would happen, Your Highness, if I told your father that you threatened me?"
"Ooh...?" Anastasia was instantly speechless. She realized that this person was not one of her two sisters. He was not afraid of her mischief and threats at all—on the contrary, her words could easily become leverage for him. Realizing her mistake, the girl's face instantly filled with panic.
Lu Kang smiled even more happily. His tedious court life, aside from immersing himself in the study of mystic knowledge every day, had now gained a bit more amusement.
...
[You and the empire's youngest princess, Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova, had a pleasant conversation.]
[This is your second meeting. Compared to the abruptness of the first, it is more harmonious. The imperial princess is no longer nervous and shy in your presence. She shows a relaxed attitude and reveals her lively and sly side.]
[After the banquet ends, Nicholas II has the princess personally 'escort' you back to the library. You find it strange to be escorted by a little girl, but then you think, since it's all within the Kremlin, it's just like going from the first floor to the second for her, so you don't refuse.]
[It is now approaching sunset. The afterglow falling from the high windows dyes the vast and majestic library in a shade of maple-red leaves. Anastasia, who arrived with you, blushes slightly at the sight of the tall bookshelves, reminded of her embarrassing first meeting.]
['I should be going,' she says to you. Behind her, in the distance, a young maid and a female knight follow for her protection.]
['Good evening, Your Highness,' you reply politely, thinking to yourself, it's just a short walk, why is she acting so hesitant and nervous?]
[But before leaving, Anastasia stops. She looks back at you. The sunset paints her long, silver-white hair, which sways gently like the Milky Way. The angel-down dress she wears sways in the wind, and the deep blue cloak she wears is as bright as the sky.]
[She suddenly speaks again in a small voice: 'In the future... you can just call me Anna.']
[You watch the girl's retreating back as she flees for the second time, hearing her shy voice still hanging in the air, and you can't help but shake your head and laugh.]
[You know that this princess has let down her guard in front of you. She trusts others easily—or rather, she trusts you easily. She is very pure, very simple.]
[You think again of this princess's fate in history.]
"Although it's the upper echelon of a collapsing empire," he said to himself. "Although the nation is about to perish... some people can still be spared."
In the sunset-drenched library, Lu Kang paced the central open space, surrounded by towering bookshelves. The evening breeze, carrying a hint of coolness, blew from above. His expression was calm, but his eyes were burning. He said, "What do you think?"
"Executors of the Holy Church—you've been waiting in this library for me for most of the day, haven't you?"
He turned his gaze. His eyes reflected the towering bookshelves, and more so, the figures that appeared from within them, from nothing, as if sketched into existence by ink.
"Lu Kang Luvest, for the crime of falsely claiming the name of a sage and corrupting the discipline of the Church, do you confess?" a cold, hoarse voice subsequently rang out.
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