The Lord of the Rings: Lords of Middle-earth.

Chapter 413 Snowball?

Exhausted, Roland dismissed the maids and, carrying the little snow leopard, pushed open the bedroom door.

"You're back?" Nyx sat on a chair to the side, with a cup of tea beside her, though it had long since gone cold. Roland tenderly embraced Nyx, knowing that this lovely woman must have been up all night, waiting for him to come home.

"You're back. Get some rest!" Roland said, reaching out to carry Nyx to bed.

"Waaah!" The little snow leopard in Roland's arms wriggled its round body, baring its teeth and claws to intimidate Nyx. Having just gotten used to Roland's embrace, it instinctively felt hostile towards this strange woman.

"Oh? So round and cute!" Nyx's tired eyes lit up with a smile as she contentedly pulled the little guy into her arms.

"Waaaaah~" The little guy screamed and tried to escape Nyx's "clutches", but how could Nyx, who had no resistance to furry things, let it have its way?

Finally, looking at the lifeless little snow leopard, Roland couldn't help but laugh. In that instant, he felt the warmth of home, a sense of security he couldn't experience anywhere else…

"What's wrong? The little guy doesn't seem to like you very much?" Roland teased the little snow leopard.

"Alright, leave it to the maids to take care of. You need to rest!" Roland grabbed the little snow leopard by the neck and pulled it out of Nyx's arms. After gently kissing Nyx's smooth forehead, Roland carried the little snow leopard out.

"Your Highness!" The maid who had been waiting at the door greeted her gently.

"Thank you for your hard work. Please take care of this little guy. And give him a bath while you're at it!" Roland said softly.

"Yes, Your Highness!" The maid obediently took the restless little snow leopard, but in her heart she was thinking—ah~ Your Highness is so gentle!
……

"Let's go, let's wash up!" Roland said domineeringly, pulling Nyx aside. After all, Nyx had just held the snow leopard cub, and nobody knew how long the little guy had been rolling around in the mud, so Roland insisted that Nyx wash up, and besides, he himself should wash off the earthy and bloody smell.

"Ugh...it's almost dawn, stop fooling around!" Nyx's tired eyes blinked.

"What are you thinking! Are you having dirty thoughts?" Roland Mei slapped her head in annoyance. Did she think of her as an animal who only thought with his lower body all day long?
“Oh…” Nyx stuck out her tongue, looking at Roland awkwardly. She thought Roland was still planning to…

……

Let's praise the lives of the nobility. In an era when productivity was not advanced, the lord's castle in Swiftstream City still had hot water available 24 hours a day! More extravagant nobles would use fire-type magic crystals to heat water, while Roland was not so extravagant and could only obtain hot water through the most primitive method of servants burning charcoal. Even so, he was still happier and more luxurious than 99% of the people.

"Splash~" Nyx huddled in the bathtub, only her little head showing. Her long golden hair rippled in the water like seaweed, and her two little hands were splashing water on Roland restlessly.

"Sigh..." Roland looked at Nyx with affection, then reached out a large hand from underwater to measure the size of her conscience, only stopping after Nyx exclaimed in surprise.

……

“Hey! You mean this little guy will have such terrifying destructive power when he grows up?” Nyx asked incredulously.

“That’s right, it was its own people who caused this tragedy…” Roland nodded in affirmation.

"Ah!" Nyx was clearly terrified. The little snow leopard in his arms, who had just been enjoying Nyx's caresses, was thrown out as if flying through the air.

"Awooo!" The sudden turn of events caused the unprepared snow leopard cub to howl in pain.

"Do you want to kill it?" Roland chuckled, thinking Nyx would be quite daring.

"Are you crazy! Bringing such a dangerous magical beast home?" Nyx pulled out his staff, intending to kill the little snow leopard.

“Danger?” Roland gave Nyx a strange look, then asked in an odd tone, “Is there any creature in this world more dangerous than a dragon?”

“…” Nyx paused, then suddenly realized that Roland’s words made a lot of sense… After all, what magical beast has the terrifying destructive power of a dragon?

"Let's give her a name. She's a little sister! We can raise her as a pet so she can keep you company when I'm not around!" Roland ruffled Nyx's hair.

"How about we call it Snowball? Snowball? What do you think?" Nyx poked the little snow leopard who was still sulking on the ground.

"Alright! Let's call him Snowball then!" Roland laughed heartily, not for any other reason than the guy's chubby, round figure...

Regardless of whether Snowball accepted the name or not, Roland simply decided on it with a wave of his hand, and thus Snowball's life in the human world, whether happy or tragic, began.

……

"Wow! She can eat so much!" Nyx held Snowball's round waist, feeling that she had gained even more weight after these few meals.

"Hmm, she needs to lose weight! I suggest reducing her food intake!" As soon as Roland finished speaking, he was met with a human-like eye roll from Snowball.

"Oh! She's angry! Look, she's glaring at you! Isn't she cute when she glares at you?" Nyx exclaimed to Roland with great delight, as if he had discovered a new continent.

"I know...you silly girl..." Roland sighed and covered his forehead. This girl must have developed a rebellious streak.

……

"Pitter-patter~" Apophis Breo stood silently on the inner city wall of Lulong Fortress, gazing northwards in the pouring rain.

"Click!" An oilcloth umbrella opened overhead, and Apophis Breo silently glanced at Caslow beside him without saying a word.

"What's wrong, Apophis?" Caslow asked with concern.

“I’m thinking about how to reclaim the glory of my ancestors!” Apophis Breo spread his hands, and a golden emblem strung on a rope lay quietly in his hand.

"The Lion King?" Caslo nodded thoughtfully.

“I need an army! Only an army can expand the kingdom! Only an army can restore its glory! The glory of the nobility is built on the sword!” Apophis Breo said calmly. It was clear that he was a meritorious nobleman who believed in tradition, rather than a court nobleman who liked to rely on the favor of the great lord.

"You want to become the one who wields the sword?" Caslow was silent for a moment.

“Of course!” Apophis Breo looked up at the gloomy sky.

“The kingdom doesn’t have that many swords for you… You’ll have to work for it all yourself! His Highness has his reasons…” Caslo sighed.

“Of course, I will not put Your Highness in a difficult position! I am both a nobleman and a knight!” Apophis Breo said firmly.

"Bless you, my friend, and I hope you succeed!" Caslo offered his blessings.

"Thanks……"

It's graduation season, so I'm very busy. I can only guarantee one update a day, everyone.

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(End of this chapter)