Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 334 Marionette

  Ana Navarre could clearly hear the beating of her heart, the sound was so strong that she couldn't help but worry about being noticed by Mr. Leo on the other side of the table.

   The "sudden attack" of the bad things has not been discussed with her in advance, so at this moment, perhaps she is the most surprised person at the dinner table.

   But she tried her best to remain restrained, behaving in line with Winters.

  Anna couldn't help but start thinking wildly, she felt panic and uneasy, even a little annoyed: "He... I haven't promised him yet!"

   However, deep inside, an emotion called anticipation rippled uncontrollably.

  Ana held her breath, waiting for Mr. Leo's reply.

Leo put down his spoon, sat up straight, and replied sincerely and formulaically: "Marriage is a big event, with etiquette and procedure. Montagne, if you want to marry Miss Navarre, your elders should first come forward to meet Navarre. Madam Ray negotiated. As for me? I can't speak for Madame Navarre."

"It's not difficult." Winters had a plan for a long time, and he breathed a sigh of relief: "General Serbia understands and respects my wishes, and he will bless me and Anna. As for the procedures such as the conclusion of a marriage contract, it can be decided by me. When my aunt comes forward, I'll write to her right now."

   Hearing Winters' optimistic plan, a wry smile appeared on Leo's mouth, and he shook his head.

   Winters was puzzled and wanted to keep asking. But he didn't speak, because he found that Anna's face suddenly turned pale.

   He subconsciously held Anna's hand, and a faint feedback came back from his palm - Anna also held his hand.

   "Mr. Leo." Anna's voice trembled a little: "Where is Mrs. Navarre?"

   "In Ocean Blue."

   "Allow me to ask one more question, where is Ana Navarre?"

   "You are asking, Miss Anna." Leo replied with a smile: "Of course it is also in Hailan."

   Winters felt like Anna was exhausted for a moment, and her body became shaky. He subconsciously got up and hugged Anna across the table, but Anna was back to normal in an instant.

   "Please don't play dumb riddles again." Winters asked Mr. Leo with anger: "Isn't Anna sitting right in front of you?"

"You're joking, M. Montagne." Leo replied unhurriedly: "I can guarantee with my life that Miss Anna Navarre will not appear anywhere but Hailan at this moment. To be precise. , she's at the Convent of Saint Mier—and Miss Catherine, she's too."

  Mr. Leo was halfway through speaking, Winters had roughly understood Madame Navarre's attitude.

  Recalling the amiable image of the lady in his memory, Winters just realized that he didn't know Anna's mother at all.

   He looked at Anna worriedly, Madam Navarre's toughness and ruthlessness were beyond imagination, and Winters blamed herself for not discussing with Anna in advance what the worst would be like.

  Anna also looked at Winters and said "don't worry, I'm fine" with her eyes.

  Leo sighed deeply, although he was prepared, but when the showdown really came, he couldn't bear it.

"Miss Anna, Mister Montagne." Leo coughed lightly and looked at the two sincerely: "May I ask from a personal standpoint - not a partner of the Navarre firm, but only half of Miss Anna's uncle and Half of your friend - say a few words?"

   "How come it's just half a friend?" Winters held Anna's hand: "Please tell me."

   Winters didn't dare to use too much force, for fear of pinching Anna, and wanted to squeeze as tightly as possible, because he wanted to give Anna even the smallest support.

   "When I set out from Hailan, Madam only entrusted me to do one thing." Leo considered the words, trying not to irritate Anna as much as possible: "That is to bring Miss Catherine back to Hailan."

  Although Leo said it very euphemistically, the message conveyed was unmistakable: Madame Navarre as long as Catherine went back, as for Anna, it was not even mentioned.

   Winters' heart sank. Judging from Mr. Leo's previous statement, Mrs. Navarre did not ask Mr. Leo to bring Anna back to Hailan, which did not mean that Mrs. Navarre acquiesced to Anna to stay with him. On the contrary, indifference is the harshest punishment.

  Leo thought about it again and again and decided to speak more clearly.

  Leo looked at Anna and spoke as slowly as possible: "Miss Anna."

  Anna also looked at Mr. Leo, indicating that she was listening.

"If you stay in Ironpeak," Leo said, "you can be Anna Montagne, you can be Anna Serbia, you can be anyone, but you won't be Anna anymore. Navarre. Anna Navarre will be the nun in the convent of Saint Mier who has renounced all temporal rights."

  Anna nodded slightly while listening, the calm expression on her face made Winters feel a little uneasy.

"But even if you return to Hailan, how will Madam react... I also don't know. You may still be the heiress of the Navarre family, or you may be sent to a convent, or you may be directly arranged to marry." Leo was silent for a long time. , said helplessly: "You really made Madam very angry, very angry, very angry, she... She didn't even mention you once."

   Another repressed silence.

   "Thank you, Uncle Leo." Anna nodded calmly: "I see."

   Winters was very uneasy, and the calmer Anna became, the more uneasy Winters became.

When    Winters wanted to continue asking Mr. Leo, Anna was already urging the two to start.

   "Please try this braised tripe." She handed over the plate with a smile: "I have tried to restore it according to Hailan's method, but because there are few seasonings, I don't know if it suits your taste."

The material of   [braised tripe] is beef abomasum. This dish originated from Baihuacheng and was originally a favorite food of textile workers. Niu xia shui is a deprecated ingredient, so the price is very cheap, and ordinary hired workers can also afford it.

After    was introduced into Hailan, the braised beef aboma quickly captured the stomach of the dock workers. Therefore, according to the unwritten division method, braised beef abomasum is a "dock dish". Winters slipped to Benwei's house to eat before going to school in Union Province, and the braised tripe was at least half of the responsibility.

   It is rare for Anna to cook the sea blue dishes by herself, but it is a pity that Winters is not in the mood to enjoy it.

  The dinner ended in a dull atmosphere, Winters didn't know what to say, and Mr. Leo lost his usual witty skills.

  Only Anna is still performing the duties of the hostess: maintaining the atmosphere of the conversation, introducing the meals to the guests...as if nothing happened.

  Leo didn't stay for long, he simply moved the tableware a few times and then left in a hurry.

   Winters and Anna took Mr. Leo out of the compound of the single officer's apartment all the way. Compared with the male host who was a little unnatural, the hostess kept polite and reserved throughout the whole process.

   Watching Mr. Leo disappear into the night, Winters felt that he should say something.

   He hugged Anna and said in a relaxed tone as possible, "It seems that your mother gave you to me."

   But the next moment, Winters couldn't say any more one-liners, because Anna was already sobbing.

   "How can Mom do this?" Anna cried so sadly.

  …

  …

   Hearing the guests leaving, Katherine and Scarlett sneaked into the dining room.

  Catherine glanced at the table and said firmly: "It seems that the atmosphere is not very good."

   "How do you know?" Scarlett asked rhetorically.

   "You can't tell by looking at the plate?" Catherine picked up the knife and poked the fish on the plate: "It didn't move much."

   "Don't touch it if you don't eat it." Scarlett hit Catherine on the hand, and she felt sorry for it: "What a waste, I'll take it to the guards."

   At this moment, Winters helped Anna, who was almost unsteady, to walk back to the apartment.

   Catherine hurried out of the restaurant to check when she heard Anna's cry.

   "What happened?" Catherine stood at the door in surprise, glaring at Winters: "Did you bully her?"

  Anna heard her sister's voice and threw herself into her arms, crying bitterly.

  Anna's sudden and abnormal behavior surprised and scared Catherine. She hugged her sister stiffly and patted Anna's back lightly: "Okay, it's alright... What's the matter?"

   "Mom." Anna's tears wet her sister's hair: "How can mom do this?"

  …

  …

   Five minutes later, the living room of Winters' residence.

  Anna stopped crying uncontrollably, but was still sobbing softly.

   "What's the matter?" Catherine sat on the soft chair with her sister in her arms, looking at Winters suspiciously: "Mother threatened Anna?"

  Winters sat opposite, sighing: "Worse, Madame Navarre didn't even make any threats."

   So Winters repeated Mr. Leo's words. Catherine frowned and listened attentively at first, but the more she listened, the less she disagreed.

   "What did I think it was?" Catherine exclaimed to be fooled, took the opportunity to rub Anna's hair, and briefly enjoyed the pleasure of being a sister: "So it was to cut off the mother-daughter relationship?"

   As soon as these words came out, not only Winters, but also Anna looked at Catherine with wide red and swollen eyes.

"After all, sister, you just have too little experience. You have never been taught a lesson by your mother, so when your mother gets angry, you are scared into a little bird." Catherine was a little complacent: "I I don't believe that your mother really dares to cut off the mother-daughter relationship with you."

   Winters adjusted his focus uneasily: "No, I feel that Mrs. Navarre's attitude is very firm, not like she is bluffing."

   "Yeah." Catherine snorted softly: "If you don't think she's real, how could Mom be bluffing?"

   "Kate." Anna sobbed softly and said intermittently, "I think Mom is really angry."

"Of course! Mom must be furious. Maybe even thinking about killing someone." Catherine glanced at Winters, then at her sister: "But, like I said. She wouldn't. How about you."

   "But..." Anna hesitated, Catherine's words obviously couldn't make her feel at ease.

   Winters also felt that Catherine's attitude was too frivolous and unreliable.

  Catherine couldn't convince Anna and Winters, so she couldn't help but feel annoyed.

She took courage and pinched her sister's face: "You, your mother has held you tightly since you were a child. Even if you are so far away, she is still controlling you. Since you don't believe me, then I will Don't say anything, just do what you want."

   "Don't...don't..." Anna hugged her sister tightly and whispered, "Kate, don't..."

   This is perhaps the most vulnerable time for Anna, at least she has never seen her sister in this state in her short life.

"Oh, what are you afraid of?" Catherine also hugged her poor sister and comforted her softly: "Isn't there a grandfather? My grandfather loves you so much, what are you afraid of your mother? Your mother threatens you, but her father stands On your side."

   "Grandpa...I don't know if Grandpa will be on my side..."

   "Definitely." Having said this, Catherine felt a little jealous, and she snorted softly: "Grandpa likes you the most. He has always stood by your side, always."

  Anna gave a soft "um", and the sobbing gradually subsided. She leaned against her sister's shoulder, and the two supported each other.

   Regardless of whether Catherine is reliable or not, Anna needs an anchor to stabilize her emotions, so she subconsciously chooses to trust Catherine—for now.

  Catherine gently hummed a nursery rhyme. The situation was warm and touching.

   But a man who was watching might not think so.

   Winters sat on the other side of the tiny living room, embarrassed to the extreme.

   He doesn't stand, sit, walk, stay, and he doesn't even know where to put his hands.

  Catherine also noticed the discordant Winters, she motioned Winters to go out with her eyes, but Winters did not move.

   "Mr. Montagne." Catherine had to break the warm tranquility, she said with a smile: "It's getting late, we can't keep you in the accommodation, please go back."

   Winters was even more embarrassed: "This is my place, yours is next door..."

   Soon, Winters stopped talking. Anna turned her back to Winters, and Winters couldn't see Anna's expression. But the message in Katherine's eyes was unmistakable—"get out."

   "Oh, well... don't worry, don't cry, and me." Winters grabbed his coat and hurried across the living room, hallway, and door, into the vast winter night.

   The cold wind made his hair stand on end, and Winters, who was kicked out of his residence, stood outside the door, not knowing where to go for a while.

   The single officer’s residence is not a house, but a dozen small single-family houses in a compound for the temporary residence of the single officers stationed in the colony. Mason and Andre also lived here.

   Looking around, the single-family houses in the compound are all dark, only Mason's residence has lights shining through the cracks of the windows.

   Winters thought for a while, put on his coat, and walked to the senior's residence.

   "Okay." Catherine patted her sister's back and pushed her away from her shoulders: "He's gone."

  Anna gave a soft "um".

Catherine was annoyed, she was arranging her sister's messy hair and complaining: "...it's a stone head, don't you know that the lady needs a little time to groom after she expresses her emotions? I have to remind him to back away...but I was born to be a match for you, and they are both stone heads..."

  Anna burst into laughter and hit her sister hard.

   "I was crying while hugging someone, but now I'm starting to get rough again." Catherine was furious, and she was about to fight back.

   Suddenly, Catherine seemed to remember something, her expression became serious, and she took her sister's hand: "Anna."

  Anna hasn't completely shaken off her lost emotions, and she was even more caught off guard by the change in her sister's demeanor: "What's the matter?"

"Although I don't think your mother will really cut off the mother-daughter relationship with you; although I think that when you return to Hailan now, your mother has won." Catherine said word by word: "But I also think that you should not continue to stay. Here it is."

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   (end of this chapter)