"What do you think we should do about this matter now?"
Jevington II tossed the question to the newly formed group of his core ministers.
The ministers exchanged glances for a while before one of them gathered his courage and said, "At such a critical moment, stability must come first. Since Hastur Campbell's original appointment was to guard the coastal defense line, then this matter should naturally be his responsibility."
"But what if, because of everything that has happened recently, he chooses to side with the Southern Continent and stand against the kingdom?" another minister voiced his concern regarding the proposal.
This was precisely what Jevington II was worried about as well. The Loen royal family and Hastur Campbell were only one step away from completely falling out with each other. Anything could happen.
"If he completely sides with the Southern Continent, perhaps that would actually be a good thing. It would mean that he has been completely abandoned by the gods."
Hearing this, Jevington II's eyes lit up. This argument was indeed quite convincing. So-called wars were ultimately nothing more than the product of the gods determining victory and defeat among themselves before dividing up the benefits.
If he could firmly secure the support of the Churches of the three gods, what did a Southern Continent that had only just emerged from war amount to?
"Then let him take full responsibility for this matter." Jevington II gave his final decision.
One minister said uneasily, "But if Hastur Campbell successfully repels the invasion from the Southern Continent, his prestige will soar. It won't be so easy to deal with him afterward."
Jevington II waved his hand and sneered. "As long as he has something to do with the deaths of the three successive Dukes of Southville, there will always be a reason to deal with him!"
This was a righteous handle they could use against him. As long as they seized upon it, no matter how much prestige Hastur possessed in Southville County, they could still brand him a traitorous rebel!
...
Southville County, Puning Harbor.
The warships that had sailed all the way from the Southern Continent had already appeared within observable range of Southville County's coastline, causing widespread panic among the people living along the coast.
Hastur, who held authority over Southville County's coastal defense line, still had the leisure to tease Ariella, who was sprawled across his lap. He even instructed Caius to decorate the villa here, as well as the castle in the suburbs, in preparation for the arrival of the new year.
Sharron, who knew that the Southern Continent was preparing to launch a war, finally emerged from the mirror. She stood some distance away from Hastur, staring at him as he showed not the slightest trace of nervousness.
"Did you anticipate this from the beginning?"
"Not entirely." Hastur glanced back at Sharron and calmly said, "I'm the one who had the Southern Continent send dozens of warships to the coastal waters."
This was one of his countermeasures against the Loen royal family. As long as there was a possibility of war breaking out with the Southern Continent, regardless of whether the Loen royal family was willing or not, he would be the best candidate to take charge of this defensive war.
Any moves against him would temporarily come to a halt. That way, he could enjoy a peaceful New Year.
Next year would mark a pretty good new beginning. The Kingdom of Loen could also have another change of king.
He had heard that Jevington II's eldest son was only twelve years old. He was indeed quite a good choice.
Although he did not particularly want to become a controller from behind the scenes, sometimes being a shadow hand was still better than being a rebel cursed by everyone.
If, during his struggle with the Loen royal family, the Churches of the three gods chose to stand on the royal family's side, then he would no longer have any reservations. He would directly join the Southern Continent and have it declare full-scale war on the Kingdom of Loen.
At worst, it would simply become a divine war. If he seriously counted the forces on his side, gathering three True Gods would actually be quite easy.
The True Creator, the Primordial Demoness, and Gregrace.
If that still wasn't enough, he could use the Hall of Stars to draw in several avatars of Great Old Ones from beyond the cosmos. That would be more than enough to deal with the divine descents of the Evernight Goddess and the other True Gods.
But that was the worst-case scenario.
"You also want to start a war?" Sharron stared deeply at Hastur, as if she were only truly getting to know him again today.
Hastur sighed and stood up, leaving Ariella by herself. He walked over to Sharron and softly said, "I'm doing this more out of self-preservation. Learning to protect oneself is the instinct of every living creature."
"Only self-preservation?"
"It can also protect other important people and things."
Hastur stared directly into Sharron's azure eyes. His meaning could not have been clearer.
Sharron merely said indifferently, "Miss Audrey?"
As soon as she finished speaking, before Hastur could say anything, she suddenly realized what she had just said. Her cheeks reddened slightly as she turned and left.
That sentence sounded exactly like jealousy.
A shy Sharron was simply too adorable!
Hastur watched Sharron's departing figure, feeling extremely pleased.
As expected, playing a few games to deepen their relationship really had been somewhat effective.
...
In the blink of an eye, the New Year arrived.
Southville County was located by the sea. Although it was currently winter, it was not particularly cold here, much less like Backlund, where heavy snow had already begun to fall.
According to news from Backlund, temperatures this year were several degrees lower than in previous years. Snow fell heavily, nearly burying the entirety of Backlund.
The Feysac Empire, located farthest to the north, was even more heavily affected, with snow falling endlessly throughout the day. Major roads and rivers were blocked by the snow, forcing the Loen army, which had nearly advanced all the way to the Feysac Empire's capital, to withdraw and wait until spring next year before continuing its offensive.
"A New Year without everything covered in heavy snow always feels like it's missing something."
Audrey stood before the window, pushing it open as she admired the coastal scenery.
"Woof." Susie voiced her agreement.
"This is the first time I don't have to spend the New Year at home in Backlund. Sure enough, becoming an adult really is a new beginning. Everything has become different."
Audrey murmured softly to herself until Fors knocked on the door from outside. Only then did she put away her wandering thoughts, walk to the door, and open it.
Fors was holding a manuscript about a finger thick. She lightly cleared her throat and said, "Miss Audrey, consider this new novel my New Year's gift to you."
"Miss Fors, I also have a New Year's gift for you."
Audrey invited Fors and Xio, whose figure was almost completely obscured behind her, into the room. She then took out the New Year's gifts she had prepared long ago, a pair of earrings that looked quite expensive for Fors.
There was also a newly purchased necklace, which was Xio's New Year's gift.
Xio, in turn, presented a pale-white scarf she had knitted by hand.
"It's beautiful." Audrey greatly liked the gift Xio had given her. A handmade New Year's gift from a friend seemed to fill the entire scarf with vitality.
"As long as Miss Audrey likes it."
Xio awkwardly scratched her head. The most important reason she had chosen to knit a scarf herself was poverty.
She would have felt embarrassed giving Miss Audrey an ordinary gift, while she couldn't afford anything expensive and distinctive. Especially after playing that Winner in Life game, she couldn't bear to spend even a single penny carelessly.
She had truly been traumatized by poverty.
After agreeing that they would all go to Hastur's place that evening to celebrate the New Year together, Fors and Xio left first.
Audrey put away the book Fors had given her, placing it somewhere Susie couldn't reach so that Susie wouldn't secretly read it.
In response, Susie said in a resentful tone, "Audrey, how can you guard against me like this?"
"No, Susie. I'm doing this for your own good. You really can't read this kind of book."
"Books say that knowledge itself isn't divided into good and bad."
"Books should also say that when someone clearly refuses you, you shouldn't continue making unreasonable demands."
"..."
Unable to argue with Audrey, Susie could only silently lie down to one side, imagining what kind of New Year's gift Mr. Hastur would give her.
A little after six in the evening, Audrey and the others rode a carriage to the villa where Hastur was staying.
Having learned from the previous experience, after the New Year's dinner ended, Hastur did not play any more games with them. Instead, he took them to the seaside.
At night, scattered starlight dotted the black sky. Fireworks that had already been arranged on the beach shot into the air, their brilliant bursts reflecting across the surface of the sea in a dazzling display of countless colors.
The magnificent sight of both sea and sky glowing together was far more breathtaking than fireworks exploding amid Backlund's smog-filled air.
The nighttime sea breeze carried the damp chill of the ocean. Hastur and the others did not stay for long. Once the fireworks were finished, they returned to Hastur's villa.
When Xio suggested that they continue playing the Winner in Life game from last time, both Audrey and Sharron fell silent.
Noticing that the atmosphere had become somewhat strange, Fors hurriedly changed the subject.
"Will the Southern Continent's warships really attack Southville County while we're celebrating the New Year?"
"Maybe." Hastur did not give a definite answer.
"It's so dangerous here. Staying in Backlund would still be safer." Xio finally realized what was going on and hurriedly added another sentence.
Fors gave her a hard flick on the forehead.
Xio winced in pain, covering her forehead with her hand as she retreated several steps, looking pitiful and aggrieved. The sight made Hastur and the others unable to hold back their smiles.
After this little interlude, the group sat on the open-air balcony on the second floor, overlooking the lively New Year's streets of Puning Harbor while occasionally raising their heads to gaze at the night sky, which was gradually growing brighter.
Since today was the New Year, Audrey also drank some wine in celebration. Perhaps because she rarely drank, after just one glass of wine, both her cheeks had already turned rosy.
Her jewel-like eyes became momentarily hazy, sparkling as though they contained fragments of shattered moonlight.
Yet a faint smile still lingered on her face. Facing the direction of the sea, she murmured, "This kind of life is really wonderful."
Audrey, who was clearly not very good at holding her liquor, had a rosy blush across her cheeks and eyes shimmering like water. Supporting her chin with one hand, she looked toward Hastur, Fors, and Xio, who were drinking.
Sharron came over carrying a cup of tea meant to sober her up. She sat down beside Audrey and handed the tea to her.
"Thank you." Audrey smiled and took a sip of the tea. Then, she suddenly leaned close to Sharron's ear and lowered her voice.
"Miss Sharron, when did you start liking Mr. Hastur?"