In the Name of the Queen

Roland had never seen Los Angeles at 4 a.m., but he was lucky enough to see the night view of the imperial capital Sussex at 4 a.m.

The night view of the imperial capital can only be described in one word.

Dark.

It was pitch dark.

At this time, industrial civilization was still in its infancy, and magic civilization was not popular. The chic night life was only exclusive to a few nobles.

The disadvantage was that you had to run with one foot deep and one foot shallow.

The advantage was that you didn't have to worry about bumping into people.

Who would go out at this time?

After scaring away three or two stray cats, Roland finally rushed home.

He wanted to go back to the house to sleep, but he still walked towards the small restaurant out of habit.

The wooden building where he and Lisa lived was a public property built by the empire. The property rights belonged to the empire, and the tenants only had the right to use it.

His father was a junior officer and had made military achievements, so he could rent it at a lower price.

The rear-end battle was too tragic, and he and his comrades eventually merged with the earth and could not be picked up at all.

According to the imperial law, this situation was considered missing, and it was changed to death after three years.

His father was dead, but he was still "alive" in terms of procedure.

Only after three years of confirmation of death would the public housing or full rent be collected.

If nothing unexpected happened, Roland would have to move out in a few months.

Of course, if he could find an official in charge of specific matters, and put some round, hard things in the meat floss pancakes, no one would take it seriously.

The Empire had an obligation to protect the orphans of soldiers, so it made sense to do so.

Roland's family only had two people, father and son, and they lived in a spacious house, and the extra rooms were sublet to Lisa's family.

Not collecting rent, the price was to take care of Roland and his father's food and daily life.

Roland's father was in the barracks most of the time, and Lisa's family was mainly responsible for taking care of Roland.

As time went by, he became closer to Lisa, and his father seemed a little strange.

No matter how late he came home, Lisa would wait for him to eat together.

He had never tried to go home in the middle of the night.

The Imperial Library closed at 10 pm, and he had nowhere to go.

Walking into the restaurant quietly, Roland originally thought that there would be at most a bowl of Talia noodles on the table, but he was soon stunned.

Lisa was also in the restaurant.

She lay on the table with her hair a little messy, and fell asleep just like that.

On the table where she was bent over, the noodles warmed in a basin had already clumped into a ball, and the hot water had turned cold.

Roland's tiredness disappeared instantly.

He picked up the bowl and fork, rolled up the noodles and put them into his mouth.

The familiar taste, but it was cold.

This is probably the taste of home.

If there is anyone in this world who is simply kind to him, it must be Lisa.

They are little hedgehogs shivering in the cold wind, trying to keep a distance that can keep each other warm without hurting each other.

Swallowing the cold noodles, this dinner is definitely not sumptuous, but Roland's mouth is rippling with a smile.

When he just rushed home from the Belfa district, he saw a small building for sale.

The yard is not big and a little dilapidated. Obviously, no one has lived in it for a long time.

Although I couldn't see the advertisement paper on the door, there must be contact information on it.

A dilapidated house is easier to bargain.

I will take Lisa to see the house after the training class tomorrow.

Of course, he has to find Editor-in-Chief Byron to get the bonus before seeing the house.

The result of the essay contest has been determined, and the bonus should be cashed.

Just as Roland was eating noodles, Lisa woke up from her sleep, rubbing her eyes.

"Roland, why haven't you come back yet."

She looked at Roland who was eating noodles in surprise, and couldn't tell the dream from reality for a while.

"I was delayed for a while, but fortunately I came back. Sister's cooking is still the best."

Lisa's eyes fell gently on Roland, and she complained with a hum: "Really? I haven't forgotten the tortured expression of someone when he was eating yesterday."

"That's not sister's problem, it's the problem of Sussex national cuisine."

Roland laughed and teased.

As we all know, the pinnacle of Sussex people's cooking is fried potato chips and fried fish.

Other than that, it's all dark cuisine.

But this doesn't mean that these two "national dishes" are so delicious.

They are just passable.

Being used to Talia cuisine, they naturally cannot accept Soviet cuisine.

Lisa looked at the moonlight outside the window in a daze, her tone full of surprise. "Is it the second half of the night now?"

"If we sit for a while after dinner, we can enjoy the sunrise over the Tamash River."

Lisa said "Ah" and looked at Roland with concern.

"Then you should rest quickly. I will go to the post office to ask for leave for you when it's dawn. Teacher Margaret will definitely understand."

No, she won't.

Roland thought silently.

Margaret's attitude towards him changed because he cooperated and could complete the task smoothly.

If Roland became an obstacle to completing the task, it would be strange if she didn't turn against him.

He smiled and said, "It's okay, I've already slept."

"Where did you sleep? Can you sleep well if you're not at home?"

"Alina's house."

Roland put the last noodle into his mouth and briefly told what happened before Lisa asked.

Lisa's expression became a little weird.

She slapped the table angrily.

Roland was about to explain, but she couldn't help complaining.

"Miss Alina is too much. You are a guest after all, but she asked you to leave in the middle of the night."

"Well, I left on my own initiative." Roland reminded softly.

Lisa bit her lip and said, "If she wants to keep you to rest, there are obedient puppet maids who can execute orders, even if she leaves a note at the bedside?"

Roland was silent.

He didn't think so much.

What Lisa said was not wrong. Alina only provided him with a place to rest temporarily and didn't care whether he was leaving or not.

"I always feel that there is something wrong with this woman, and it's a big one!"

Lisa grabbed Roland's sleeve and whispered, "Can you stay away from her? You are too simple-minded. I'm afraid you will suffer."

Roland wanted to say that he had an agreement with Alina, but in Lisa's anxious and concerned eyes, all reasons were excuses.

Thousands of words, only one word left.

"Okay."

Alina's asking to be a model was just an excuse. In fact, she used him as an observation sample.

She was playing cards secretly while painting last night.

Although Roland didn't look back, he saw it through the reflection of the window.

The flames of the fireplace illuminated the window, and also exposed Alina's carefulness in secretly sorting the cards.

The agreement has been fulfilled, and he doesn't owe Alina anything.

Seeing that Roland still listened to her advice, Lisa smiled with satisfaction, and her uneasy mood was much calmer.

She resolutely refused to let Roland clean up the dishes, and she took the dishes and walked to the kitchen.

Roland came back late enough, the sky was already showing a fish belly white, and the sun of a new day would soon come.

Just as she was about to wash the dishes, a big hand reached out and took the rag.

"Sister, I know what you are worried about."

Roland dipped the dishes into the sink and washed them calmly.

"But I am already in the game, and there is no way out."

Wiping off the water drops on the dishes, his mouth corners slightly raised, pointing to a bird.

"The early bird catches the worm. Since there is no choice, let's set off early."

Coincidentally, the great tit pointed by Roland quickly flew to a wooden house, caught a small worm in one mouthful, and flew away happily.

Lisa was silent.

The early bird catches the worm, but where is the early worm?

The golden and red sunlight crept into the room and fell on Roland.

His smile melted in the sunlight, especially brilliant.

Lisa also smiled.

She might be a shivering insect, but who dares to say that Roland is not a bird that flies first?