As a villain, I really don't want to be pursued by the heroine.

A humble inquiry, a sincere proposal, a handsome prince and a beauty as beautiful as snow, this should have been a pleasing, romantic and beautiful scene like a poem or painting.

However, all the border nobles who knew the reason behind it were horrified.

Britney's face changed drastically, and she subconsciously wanted to stand up and say something, but was stopped by Barry, who also had a stiff expression.

The prince's proposal was not something that nobles like them could offend.

No one has the right to refuse except Jon Snow himself.

In contrast, the inland nobles acted in a noisy manner as if they had anticipated it.

"I see. I didn't think it through. If Your Highness marries Miss Snow, it will not only provide her with support and revive the Andves family, but also allow Miss Snow to inherit everything she has earned. It's the best of both worlds!" Count Laka laughed, and the nobles around him echoed him.

"Your Highness is a member of the royal family, yet he is willing to bend down and half kneel. What true love is this!"

"The marriage between the Andvis family and the Rose royal family will be an unprecedented step for the two families. If the former Grand Duke knew about this, he would surely be pleased!"

"Ensuring the stability of the empire's borders is another great joy for you two. It's our honor to be able to witness this historic moment!"

It looks like a proposal, but it is clearly a premeditated forced marriage!

Bathed in the clamor of the crowd, Jon Snow's eyes darkened: "Your Highness, I should have said that the engagement has already been..."

"It has nothing to do with the engagement, please don't doubt my sincerity." Winter even took out a ring.

The silver ring was inlaid with an icy sapphire, and its dazzling light was like the most beautiful stars in the world, attracting the young ladies and even married women below to open their eyes wide and feel amorous.

"This ring is made of icy blue jade taken from the deepest part of the polar glacier and our empire's unique polar mithril. It was commissioned to the Platinum Workshop a year in advance and forged."

Winter looked at the girl in front of him with a loving look: "If you agree to the marriage, please allow me to put this ring on your finger with my own hands."

To the little girls who didn't know the reason, Jon Snow was the happiest woman in the world at this moment.

The handsome and elegant prince, the expensive and gorgeous diamond ring, and the concern for Jon Snow to take on the heavy responsibility of being a duke, all of this depicts the most sincere proposal, and there is no reason to refuse at all.

However, the silver-haired girl clenched her fists, her fingertips digging into her palms, anger burning in her heart.

That ring, more like a shackle of humiliation than a wedding ring.

How could she not see Winter's true intentions?

That’s right, as smart as you are, how could you not see it?

Under the guise of tenderness, Winter sneered in his heart.

There is a 99% chance that Jon Snow will not agree.

Once the marriage is established, the border forces will be allowed to interfere with the border and Jon Snow's personal freedom will be restricted. They will have already lost half the battle.

And Winter was also very clear that Jon Snow had never had any emotional affection for him.

So Jon Snow's only option is to refuse.

The elegant image that I have painstakingly cultivated for many years is for this moment.

Publicly rejecting a prince's humble and sincere courtship, and rejecting a plan that could ease the conflict and stabilize the situation.

Why? Why would you refuse?

Any girl from a commoner family would be troubled by rejecting a blind date, and Jon Snow, the daughter of a duke, is even more so.

Dislike? You dislike the noble, elegant, and impeccable imperial prince?

Not willing? You're unwilling to accept the olive branch from the imperial family, unwilling to submit to the royal family. What are you planning?!

To put it bluntly, this is just looking for trouble.

Winter never expected Jon Snow to acknowledge the engagement.

He only needs to create a big enough momentum to put the blame on others and intervene in the border area by force to create a war situation.

From the very beginning, the royal family was preparing to conquer the empire's borders by force!

As for Jon Snow, it's just as well that you didn't agree.

When I lead the imperial army and capture you, I'm sure you'll deeply regret your refusal. But that would be quite amusing.

I, Winter, can afford it!

Thinking of this, Winter tried hard to suppress the corners of his lips that kept rising.

On the other side, Jon Snow's breathing was extremely heavy.

For both public and private reasons, she couldn't agree to this.

So the only option is to refuse.

However, facing such a serious proposal, it was impossible to find excuses to delay. If she refused, it would mean officially breaking off relations with Winter and even the royal family.

War is inevitable, and the borders of the empire will once again be stained red with blood.

The only remaining retainers, the last hometown, the familiar scenery, everything will no longer exist, and in the end, paying all this will not buy much chance of victory.

After all, the border forces are still slightly inferior to the entire empire.

The days when Roy and I snuggled in front of the fireplace, waiting for the weather to clear in the snowy country, were gone forever.

Jon Snow was aware of this a long time ago.

I just didn't expect that this day would come so soon.

Just like before, before she could say goodbye properly, her parents and relatives were swallowed up by the oncoming army of the undead, and the blood dyed the snow red. No matter what she chose, everything was like catching snowflakes, slipping through her fingertips, leaving her hands numb from the cold, unable to hold on to anything.

The only difference between the two paths is the time it takes to lose everything.

I have no choice at all.

Anger, disgust, but more than anything else, a deep, suffocating feeling of powerlessness surged up.

Just like in that cold, dark, blood-spattered ice field, you can only abandon everything you cherish and keep running away.

This time, even running away would be disappointment.

Amidst the blurry and harsh sounds of celebration, the silver-haired girl's lips trembled slowly as she faced the figure she hated so much.

The flickering lights blurred her face.

"I refuse..."

Just as the silver-haired girl was about to give her answer, the old earl's face was filled with sadness, the imperial prince's eyes were smug, and the inland nobles were like jackals, ready to follow the script and attack in groups -

What followed was applause so loud that it was almost deafening.

The applause interrupted the proposal, and everyone's focus shifted to the black-haired boy who was standing not far from Jon Snow on the stage.

"I didn't expect to see such a good show at the Winter Festival. Your Highness Winter really opened my eyes."

The slightly rude ridicule instantly angered a group of inland nobles.

Count Laka was the first to get angry: "Mr. Roy, forgive me for being blunt. Although you are a distinguished guest, this is the private matter of our empire, our prince and the duke's daughter. It is not your turn..."

"Let him continue."

Winter stood up and waved his hand, stopping Laka's roar.

He maintained his gentle demeanor and asked, "Mr. Roy, I'm curious, what reason do you have for interrupting the sacred moment of my proposal to Jon Snow?"

"As a sworn knight of the kingdom, I believe you are not being unreasonable, right?" Winter's eyes flashed with sarcasm when he said this.

Facing the other party's provocative gaze, the black-haired boy stood up and walked to the stage: "Of course I have a reason."

"Snow Andrews will be my private tutor for the next two years. I'm afraid your Highness's marriage will have to wait until after that."

Chapter 96: Out of Control

Private tutor.

The inland nobles were stunned for several seconds before they realized what he was talking about.

And the gentleness that Winter has maintained until now has also begun to show signs of cracks.

In order to study, nobles would go to magician societies or colleges to work, and occasionally serve as private tutors for other nobles.

But although it is called studying, it is more of a means to expand one's network, and more like traveling.

And what Roy said was as if to say that Jon Snow wanted to travel with him and was busy with work, so your proposal from Prince Winter could be put on hold!

This is a naked provocation and humiliation!

Count Laka was the first to stand up like an enraged hyena, boiling with anger: "Roy Ironblad! We treat you as a guest, and we won't tolerate your unreasonable behavior!"

"That's right. Your personal affairs are not worth mentioning compared to the stability of our empire's borders!"

"Your Highness is truly courting me, and I won't tolerate you playing such a bad joke!"

Winter snorted secretly, but couldn't help laughing.

Whatever, he's just a little devil after all.

Using such ridiculous reasons to find fault is probably his limit.

"Mr. Roy, I understand your request. How about I arrange the best lecturer for you? And please don't interrupt my proposal. Please respect Miss Snow and me..."

"Your Highness Winter, you seem to have some misunderstandings." Roy came to the front of the stage and stared at the silver-haired prince on the stage. He was neither cold nor indifferent, but he was unwavering: "I am not discussing this with you."

"Snow Andrews is my private tutor. She is unwilling and will not accept your proposal. Do you understand?"

Winter's brow twitched.

The inland nobles were no longer noisy, and the atmosphere became more depressing.

Barking is just a warning; when the hunt actually begins, it is often silent.

Verbal debate was no longer of any use; they were determined to teach this ignorant and rude kid a lesson.

But when Laka pointed at the black-haired boy again, a deep, sonorous roar came from the other side.

"Being unreasonable? How come I, the sworn knight of the Lionheart Kingdom, am being unreasonable just because I'm here to inform you in a nice and polite manner?!"

The blonde countess's question made Count Laka frown slightly.

The Lionheart Kingdom's ambassador to the Empire?

This shows that Roy is serious about finding trouble.

However, don't forget whose territory this is. This level alone won't be enough to overwhelm them...

"Alas, the imperial family is so unreasonable. I've really learned something new today."

The inland nobles led by Laka, and even Winter were slightly stunned.

They never expected that the elf youth dressed in a neutral style would also start to act in a sarcastic manner.

This person has an even bigger background, an A-rank adventurer [Kingfisher], and is also a member of the Emerald Council who opposes the Empire. Not only can she serve as a bridge of communication between the Emerald Council and the Empire like an ambassador, she can even directly represent the Emerald Council's attitude towards the Empire.

However, the communication between the Emerald Council and the Empire is limited, and the descendants of the elves are known for not liking power struggles. Why should they meddle in other people's affairs?

However, Laka and others didn't have time to think about it.

The president of the Imperial Magicians Society branch, the ambassador of the Kingdom of Sands to the Empire, and even the general manager of the Blue Moon Chamber of Commerce's Imperial branch, all the bigwigs who had been silent for a long time, now spoke up one after another to support Roy's somewhat absurd and even funny speech.

"Let me explain, Mr. Roy didn't mean to offend, it's just that the private tutoring agreement had already been signed in advance."

"I can prove this. Miss Snow and Mr. Roy came to the border of our Golden Sands Kingdom to investigate the ruins. There is evidence to prove this."

"Eh? Miss Snow isn't in a rush to inherit the title or get married anyway, so there's nothing wrong with waiting a little longer."

With a third-party force as a breakthrough point, the long-silent border nobles finally found an opportunity to interrupt.

Earl Barry, who was standing by, was the first to react and agreed with a smile: "That's right!"

Winter's script ends here, and now everything is falling into place according to Roy's plan.

In the original novel, faced with the same choice, Jon Snow publicly refused in the bad ending, angering the prince. This led to the outbreak of the Imperial Civil War, which resulted in the defeat of the border forces.

In the good ending, with the support of the Church of Holy Light, the prince whose engagement was interrupted could only swallow his anger and dared not use force. He could only watch Jon Snow take office as Duke step by step and become more powerful.

Alice was using a private tutor at the time, which seemed like a ridiculous reason.

But is it really ridiculous?

Whether it's a marriage proposal or a tutoring, it's just a term. Behind the scenes, it's essentially a power struggle. As long as one has enough leverage, they can intimidate the other party into not taking any rash action, or even force them into submission.

In the bad ending, Jon Snow has to pay the price for rejecting the engagement. In the good ending, Winter does not dare to use force against Jon Snow after being rejected. It is essentially the same thing.

Whoever has more chips will have the advantage.