dmims Chapter 120 Photographic Memory
Chapter 120 Photographic Memory
Chapter 120 Photographic Memory
Anne climbed up the Teachers' Tower and knocked on the wooden door in front of her.
After a voice of permission came from inside the room, Annie pushed open the door and entered.
Joseph, who was writing something, didn't turn around but asked directly:
"Annie, is that you?"
"It's me," Anne replied, "Mentor Sanders."
"You're a bit slow, Anne. You should have arrived earlier," Joseph remarked. "You young people always have no sense of time."
Anne had no intention of arguing; she immediately asked:
"Professor Sanders, is there something you wanted to discuss with me?"
"Don't rush, Annie,"
Joseph then glanced at Anne, and gestured with his chin to the chair next to him.
"Sit down, please sit down."
Anne sighed softly; she knew all too well that this was destined to be another long conversation.
But Joseph was, after all, a highly respected scholar, a seasoned educator, and an elder.
Out of respect, Anne didn't say anything and sat down in the chair next to Joseph to wait.
Joseph would often invite Anne to his office to give her some homework.
He told Anne that a good learning plan and a suitable amount of practical training are indispensable for achieving rapid and high-quality growth.
Clearly, he was grooming Anne to be his protégé.
But the truth is, Anne has never said she wants to become Joseph's apprentice.
It's not that she looks down on Joseph or has a problem with him; it's just that she's only been enrolled for a few months.
There are many things she doesn't fully understand yet, and she's heard that students usually need to study at the academy for five or six years before they can find their own mentor.
Therefore, she intends to make it clear:
"Mentor Sanders, I think you should be well aware that I am not your student."
"Yes, I know," Joseph nodded.
"Then why did you specifically give me guidance?"
"Because you are a talented person, you possess extraordinary abilities."
Does having talent necessarily mean you have to train someone? That's just too much meddling.
Anne, wanting to see this, looked at Joseph with a puzzled expression.
Seemingly sensing Anne's gaze, Joseph turned his head again.
Seeing Anne's expression, he put down his pen and sat down facing her.
"Don't worry, little girl, I just want to train you to become an excellent emblem master."
Anne frowned: "While selflessness is certainly a noble quality, no one is perfect, and most actions are driven by selfish desires."
That's just how people are; they only believe in things that are about gains and losses.
Joseph shook his head helplessly, then changed his words,
"Alright, Anne, then I'll give you another explanation. I just don't want to retire, but my students and other mentors all call me 'Strict' Joseph. To simply tolerate staying in my post and wasting my time would be a desecration of my past."
Anne remembered Joseph saying that he wanted to train someone who would surpass any of his previous students in the final stage of his life.
The most outstanding heraldryer.
"Joannas Farrell?" Anne asked.
"That's right, he is undoubtedly my most outstanding student," Joseph said. "He is incredibly talented, yet diligent and eager to learn, and with a bit of luck, he has achieved what he has today."
"It will be difficult to surpass him. As long as he is alive, no one can become the new chief of the royal coat of arms," Anne pointed out.
"That's where his luck lay; not long after he entered Platinum Castle as a herald, the previous chief herald passed away."
Joseph said,
"It's difficult to surpass him in your career; that's largely due to external factors. But I think it's possible to at least train one more person."
In academics and skills, he surpasses Jonas.
Upon hearing this, Anne sighed:
"Professor Sanders, even so, it's still very difficult. Although I'm just a freshman who hasn't been here long, I've heard a lot about Jonas's legends in the academy. He mastered a course that would normally take three years to complete in his first year, and by graduation, he could recognize more than 100,000 emblems."
Upon hearing this, Joseph suddenly smiled and asked:
"Do you know about the New Fire Party?"
Anne nodded: "It's a branch of the faith in God. They believe that God died once and was reborn in flames, and the sect's emblem is the fire of rebirth."
"What about the Guiyuan Society?"
"This is a sorcerer's organization that originated in the legendary era and was active during the early human period. However, after the advent of the faith era, news about them became increasingly scarce. The most recent record about the Guiyuan Society is more than a thousand years ago."
Anne spoke fluently and decisively.
They believe that there is only one God in the world, which is the universe itself. Only when the God becomes more powerful can life that depends on the God achieve a higher limit.
"As for how the gods grow, it is by tearing the universe apart and letting it heal itself. And with each self-healing, the universe becomes stronger. So they are dedicated to finding and destroying the foundations of the existing world."
"The emblem of the Guiyuan Society is two intersecting oval bands of light, called 'Rebirth and Reincarnation'."
Joseph seemed satisfied with Anne's answer, bowing repeatedly, and then asked:
"Have you ever heard of an equilateral triangle emblem?"
"It appears to be the personal emblem of a man named Mugil, who was from the Far East and participated in the research on the formula for calculating equilateral triangles, but he was not the main person in charge, so there are very few records about him."
At this moment, Joseph clapped excitedly, shaking his head as he asked:
"Unbelievable, Annie, do you know what kind of questions I just asked you?"
Annie shook her head, and her braids swung around with her.
"In the first year at the Heraldry Academy, students are primarily taught heraldic knowledge related to the families and some important individuals of the Great Kingdom since the Age of Faith. It is not until the second year that the heraldry of various organizations begins to be covered, and knowledge of heraldry before the Age of Faith is a course taught in the third year."
At this point, Joseph squinted at Anne's face, his own expression so serious it showed no sign of falsehood.
"You just said that Jonas spent a year mastering three years' worth of material, but you've reached his level in just a few months!"
Anne immediately retorted, "Just because I happened to answer a question doesn't prove anything."
“That’s right,” Joseph said, “but the fourth question we just discussed will take us until the fourth or even fifth year to learn.”
"Huh? Why?"
Joseph said, "Although the Far Eastern Continent is not too far from the Principality of the Holy Envoy, the ocean between them is called the Windless Sea. As the name suggests, there is no wind on this ocean that can propel sails, so we did not learn of the existence of the Far Eastern Continent until 1,100 years ago."
"To be precise, it was the people of the Far East who discovered us; it was they who sailed their advanced ships across the windless sea."
"However, some studies suggest that the people of the Far East and the Frozen Continent seem to share a similar bloodline, and their languages contain many similar word roots. Therefore, many scholars speculate that before the legendary era, the people of the Frozen Continent migrated along the Dark Sea to the Far East and established the current civilization."
"For this reason, the study of heraldry in the Far East is still in the process of being perfected, so we need to wait until students have a sufficient foundation before teaching in an exploratory manner."
"Annie, you should be more confident. Your current level of knowledge is simply phenomenal!"
If Annie had known this knowledge was so advanced, should she have said she didn't know?
However, Anne and Joseph genuinely wanted to develop themselves.
Even if she didn't want to become Joseph's personal disciple so early, she shouldn't have lied to him.
Anne said, "Mentor Sanders, you may be right, but a good herald needs more than just knowledge. It's still very difficult to surpass Jonas."
"You're right, but a vast amount of knowledge is the most basic requirement for top emblem masters. You've only been here for a few months, yet you've mastered so much knowledge. You must spend all your time in the library, little Booker?"
"I like libraries," although this isn't my favorite library, "and I also like reading."
"Didn't you make a point of memorizing the knowledge from the books?"
Annie shook her head.
"So you have a photographic memory?"
Anne thought for a moment and replied:
"I can remember the contents of books quickly, but I remember other things very poorly. I still can't remember the names of my classmates."
"The names of mediocre people are not worth wasting precious space in your mind."
Hearing this answer, Annie felt inexplicably happy, since she really didn't want to remember these people's names.
Joseph immediately added, "But the ability to remember everything you see is truly rare. You're a natural-born herald, Anne!"
"?" Anne asked, somewhat puzzled. "Doesn't Jonas possess this ability?"
"Joannas's memory and learning abilities are certainly top-notch, but there's a considerable gap between that and true photographic memory."
As Joseph spoke, he stood up from his seat and slowly walked around the room.
"Most of those recorded to have a photographic memory are of Sinclair blood."
Anne said, "A member of the royal family?"
"That's right. It's said that Eugene Sinclair had a photographic memory, and his descendants occasionally awaken this ability as well. It seems to be a talent in the Sinclair family bloodline. But why would a member of the royal family become a herald? So I find it quite regrettable."
Anne nodded slightly, then asked:
"So, Professor Sanders, what exactly did you call me here for?"
“It’s already been said, Anne,” Joseph replied. “It took Jonas five years to graduate from the Heraldry Academy and be recommended to Platinum Castle as an Herald, but you are progressing even faster than Jonas. I will mentor you.”
Surpass him.
Anne frowned and said, "I think I've already said that I haven't agreed to be your apprentice yet."
"But one day you will have to choose a mentor, learn from them, and gain their approval. And it must be through a mentor's recommendation."
Only then can you serve as a herald.
"But you're not the only instructor at the Herald Academy."
"You may think I'm arrogant, but I can tell you clearly, Anne,"
Joseph's smile revealed many wrinkles, making him look older, but Anne could sense a strong confidence in his face.
"There is no better mentor than me right now. Besides, with my prestige, if I say a word, no other mentor will be willing to take you as a disciple."
"This is a work of art!"
Anne pouted and said angrily.
"Haha, your expression is hilarious, Annie. I'm even starting to wish you were my granddaughter."
Joseph leaned back happily, but immediately continued,
"However, Anne, although I could do these things, I don't think I would resort to such despicable means. Although my disciples call me 'Strict' Joseph, they all respect me, and I don't want to cultivate a disciple who has never been grateful to me."
"I see!"
Anne raised her voice, her tone revealing displeasure, "I'll think about it carefully, okay?"
"Well, go ahead and think about it. I'm confident you'll agree," Joseph said. "However, you were right earlier."
Anne, unaware of Joseph's implication, asked in return:
"What's right?"
"A herald not only needs extensive knowledge, but also the ability to handle all kinds of matters, big and small. That's why I called you here today. It's almost time, Annie, keep up!"
After saying that, Joseph opened the door and walked out of the office.
Anne was puzzled, but she immediately followed.
Annie didn't catch up until they left the Cube Tower:
"Professor Sanderson, where are you taking me?"
"Develop your ability to handle situations," Joseph replied. "These are things that are difficult to learn entirely from books."
"But,"
Although Joseph was old, his steps were still sprightly, and Anne could only barely keep up. She gasped for breath as she spoke.
"What could possibly need to be dealt with at this school?"
"Emblem City has no master, and Emblem Academy has no dean, but even the smallest place will always face decisions, and decisions can only be made by a few people, otherwise chaos will inevitably ensue. The decisions of Emblem City and Emblem Academy are generally discussed and implemented by ten instructors."
Anne suddenly realized: "You're one of the ten mentors!"
"Yes," Joseph nodded, "we have many matters to deal with, such as disputes and judgments within Herald City."
But the most common topic is undoubtedly discussing invitations from outside heralds to send out heralds, and which herald should the Herald Academy send.
"In addition, we will discuss important events around the world, and occasionally someone will pay a lot of money to request advice from the Herald Academy, as well as various other matters inside and outside the city."
"Annie, your task today is to sit in on the classes and learn how the instructors think about problems."
Soon, they arrived at a circular building located in the northern part of the college.
This is the debate hall.
In the circular area at the very center of the lobby, there is a semi-circular elm wood table.
Ten square chairs were arranged in front of the curved surface of the table, and Anne guessed that one of them belonged to Joseph.
Not far in front of the straight edge of the table, there was also a small standing lectern.
Behind the podium is a walkway leading to the central area.
The outer edge of this area is a series of tiered stands filled with benches.
The top of the debate hall is a semi-circular dome inlaid with small glass pieces of various shapes, with a very elegant and exquisite design.
At the very center of the curved ceiling hangs a huge chandelier.
However, Annie was curious about how to light up the lamp that was suspended in mid-air.
The debate hall was now empty. Joseph said:
"Looks like we were the first to arrive."
"Is everyone else late?"
"Those who can become instructors at the Herald Academy are always punctual; they will always arrive before the appointed time."
Anne nodded.
Since Joseph wanted Anne to sit in on the proceedings, she decided to find a seat in the stands at a certain time.
Joseph then called out, "Where to? This way."
Watching Joseph walk towards the center, Anne, though puzzled, followed him anyway.
"But these are the seats where the mentors sit."
“I didn’t ask you to sit,” Joseph said. “You’re standing behind me to listen. You can’t learn anything if you’re too far away!”
Anne nodded, without saying anything more.
Joseph went to the fifth seat from the left.
No sooner had I sat down than other mentors entered the debate hall.
Within five minutes, the chairs around the round table were full of people.
But only Anne was standing by the table.
The other mentors all looked at Joseph and Anne.
The second mentor from the left said, "Joseph, she looks quite young."
"Of course, this year's freshmen are only fourteen years old."
"A freshman? You brought her to audit the faculty meeting?" The third faculty member from the right looked surprised. "Joseph, it seems you're really serious this time!"
The fourth instructor from the right also remarked, "A new student, and a woman at that. Joseph, could this young woman's talent be even greater than Jonas's?"
"Not bad," Joseph said calmly. "Stop the small talk, this is the debate hall, let's get down to business."
After he finished speaking, the other mentors finally turned their attention away from Annie.
Judging from Anne's several interactions with Joseph, Joseph was by no means a humble person.
But he spoke rather modestly just now, which is quite unlike his usual style.
It's probably because Anne hasn't agreed to be his apprentice yet, and he's afraid that other mentors will notice Anne's talent.
The meeting immediately got down to business. The fifth instructor from the right, sitting next to Joseph, introduced himself, saying that today's discussion would mainly cover three things:
"The first thing is a joint letter from several lords seeking our advice. The list includes knights from the kingdom and elders from the permafrost continent."
The fourth instructor on the left said, "I thought about this all night yesterday, and it's very difficult to figure out. After all, this is a joint military operation that crosses political parties."
"But now, in despair, pirates roam the seas and slave traders are rampant, severely impacting the various regimes' attempts to develop the New World."
The instructor on the right chimed in, "That's right. Besides, the pirates took the initiative to attack and occupy Goddess Island, and even used it as their base on the Sea of Despair."
"But the Clown Islands are undoubtedly more like a base," said the mentor on the left.
"The Clown Islands are the navigator's territory, and the shipping routes that pass through the Clown Islands were also opened up by the navigator. The lords' ships will not go near there on their own initiative. Therefore, the most threatening force is undoubtedly still the pirates of Goddess Island," the instructor on the right explained.
The third mentor on the left echoed, "The problem of Goddess Island is indeed urgent. Since Goddess Island was taken away, many lords' ships have been plundered by pirates."
The fifth instructor on the right nodded: "So they just want to ask us whether we should go to war, and what the risks of going to war are."
Joseph said, "I've heard that the flags flying over Goddess Island include those of the six major pirate leaders. Pirate ships flying the flag of the talkative Benson also occasionally pass by Goddess Island, but the navigator's ship seems to have nothing to do with it."
The third mentor on the right sighed, "The six pirate leaders are already difficult enough to deal with. If they talk too much, especially if the navigator is also an ally of them, then it will be very troublesome."
"But we must consider the worst-case scenario," the second instructor from the right said. "Otherwise, if something unexpected happens, we'll be at the mercy of others."
The fourth instructor on the left said, "In that case, we must gather as many warships as possible. Send a letter back to him to find out how many lords are using the route. Uniting these forces and sending troops and ships together is the only chance of victory."
"This will require face-to-face communication," said the instructor on the right.
The second instructor from the left agreed, saying, "The Herald School has students all over the world, and we can help them make connections."
"So," the fifth instructor suddenly spoke up, "is this matter settled then?"
After no one voiced any objection, the fifth instructor from the right addressed the second topic:
"The second matter concerns the Laine Plateau. Goringburg has been confirmed destroyed, and White, the original herald, lost his job. Fortunately, Baron Zorc of Greyfield City is willing to offer him a position. White has requested a letter of recommendation from the Herald Academy so that he can become a protected herald of the Zorc family."
"Hmm—" the instructor on the left sighed, "This matter is more troublesome than the one before."
"Yes," said the second instructor from the right, "there are rumors that the destruction of Goringburg was related to White's betrayal. If a herald recommended by the Herald Academy is involved in a scandal of betrayal, it will affect the reputation of the Herald Academy and cause the various families to lose trust in the Academy."
"This letter of recommendation must not be given out casually. If the rumors are true, and we have already issued the letter, it would undoubtedly be a sign that..."
The Herald Academy's stance is on White's side.
The fourth instructor from the left immediately responded, tapping his fingers rapidly on the table.
"The college should not act rashly until White provides sufficient evidence to prove his innocence."
Anne then saw that all the mentors, including Joseph, agreed with this view.
The fifth mentor on the right said, "Then let's settle this matter here."
2
After a brief pause, he continued:
"The last thing is that the Desert Knight Academy has sent over the latest batch of personal crests for its knight squires, and someone needs to receive them."
However, after this issue was raised, the atmosphere was not as lively as the previous two topics, as if the mentors were unwilling to take on this task.
The silence made Anne feel as if even breathing had become inappropriate.
Just then, Joseph suddenly spoke:
"I can do this."
The third instructor from the right then joked, "Ha! Joseph, want to give your disciple a demonstration and broaden his horizons?"
From Anne's vantage point, Joseph's expression was not visible.
But she could sense that Joseph must have given that tutor a disdainful look:
"Shut your stinking mouth. If you want this job, I'll give it to you right now."
The man stopped speaking, only wearing a fake smile, shaking his head and waving his hands repeatedly.
After discussing the three issues that needed to be clarified, they began to explore other problems together.
The topics covered included how to conduct heraldic research and excavation work in the Far East, the friction between various religious sects in the Holy Envoy Principality, the strange events that have recently occurred in the Weeping Gorge, and the analysis of the potential for future development and utilization of the Sea of Despair and the New World.
After the meeting ended, Joseph led Anne out of the debate hall.
He asked, "How is it?"
"I benefited greatly."
"Tell me more about it."
Anne nodded and said, "If a herald only knows rigid knowledge, then he is nothing more than a heraldic dictionary that walks and talks by instinct. The important thing is to integrate all knowledge, draw nourishment from it, and use it to analyze specific things in reality to draw meaningful conclusions."
Joseph smiled with satisfaction: "Ha, the fact that you think that way shows that it was the right thing for me to bring you here to audit the class. You really did learn something."
"Yes," Anne nodded, "thank you, Professor Sanders."
.
"Why don't you take this opportunity to agree to become my disciple? Look, haven't you already witnessed my ability to guide students?"
Anne replied, "I told you, please give me some time to think about it. This time I'm serious."
"Alright, but please hurry," Joseph said. "Although I'm still full of energy, I'm over seventy years old, and time is very precious to me!"
Without stopping, the two left the debate hall and headed straight for the Hall of Emblems.
When they arrived, the people sent by the Knight Academy were already waiting in the Hall of Armor, accompanied by a gatekeeper.
However, Anne discovered that the man was only staring at her.
Hmm? She was clearly following behind Joseph the whole time, so it's impossible that he mistook her for the person in charge of the liaison, right?
Or is it because Anne is a woman?
Does the Knight Academy also discriminate against girls?
But thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. There are probably even fewer women who wield swords and knives than those who do academic research.
Because of these thoughts, Anne was very annoyed by the man's gaze and said irritably:
"He's the one you're looking for."
As Anne pointed at Joseph, the man trembled and quickly turned to face Joseph.
Joseph stepped forward, placed his hand on his chest, and bowed:
"I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting, sir."
The other party stood ramrod straight and immediately responded:
"A little wait is nothing."
Anne began to observe the man again.
He was a fully armed soldier, but he wasn't wearing a helmet.
He looked very young, probably no more than twenty years old, with his hair shaved very short, making his head appear round.
However, his face was small, so it was still passable.
His expression was reserved, but Anne could actually sense a sense of righteousness in his eyes.
Joseph said, "I am one of the ten instructors of the Heraldry Academy, Joseph Sanders, sir. I will be in charge of receiving you this time."
"Thank you very much, Instructor Sanders. I am Dick Buchanan, a knight apprentice from the Desert Knights School. I have been sent to deliver the crest of the newly recruited squire and to convey the background and experiences of the crest's owner to date."
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Buchanan. May these squires be promoted to knights soon."
"You've done so much for us. These warriors, who fight valiantly, may fall on the battlefield at any moment, but their names, emblems, and lives are recorded and passed down to future generations. The Herald Academy deserves immense credit for this. It is your existence that inspires warriors to fight bravely and without fear of death!"
Hearing this over-the-top and very stiff speech, Anne realized that this must be a prepared speech that the knight apprentice had memorized beforehand.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Joseph began to formally connect with Dick.
They carried their coats of arms and came to an empty display case of coats of arms.
Joseph would take a writing board and, after placing each coat of arms on the display case, ask Dick for details about the coat of arms and its owner, then write them down in a booklet in a standard format.
After writing, one would open the small hidden compartment below the emblem and place the booklet inside.
After everything was finished, Joseph said to Anne:
"This is the process of registering emblems, it's very simple, isn't it?"
"Yes," Annie nodded, "I can do it myself, so why did we have to ask our tutor to do it during the meeting?"
Joseph laughed, seemingly pleased that Anne would ask the question:
"If you want to earn the respect of others, you must first respect yourself. If heralds are perfunctory in their work, why should others take them seriously? Herald registration is the starting point of a herald's life, a sacred moment that must be completed by the most prestigious heralds to ensure the authenticity of the herald."
Anne nodded, realizing that heraldry might be far more valuable to heralds than she had imagined.
Perhaps sensing the change in Anne's mindset, Joseph nodded in satisfaction:
"That's right, Anne. For heralds, it's not just knowledge and ability that matter. Character, integrity, and beliefs are the reasons why we heralds are respected by so many powerful people and why we have continued to be respected to this day."
Anne nodded, suddenly realizing that this was probably what Joseph truly wanted to teach her today.
At the same time, she realized that Joseph was a truly good teacher.
"Sanders, my mentor?"
"What's wrong?"
"May I call you Joseph?"
"That's possible—but why the sudden change of address?"
"Because I want to be closer to my mentor."
Joseph smiled, he seemed very happy, and reached out to pat Anne's head.
"Of course, Anne, oh damn, really, I wish you were my granddaughter!"
Joseph has said this twice already, it seems he really wants a granddaughter.
But Anne heard that heralds generally did not have legitimate descendants.
Afterwards, Joseph instructed Anne to send Dick out of the Herald Academy.
Throughout the journey, Annie could clearly feel Dick's gaze.
She glanced at him discreetly; sure enough, this knight apprentice named Dick was staring intently at her.
Anne was a little annoyed.
Why is it that there are so many fools in this world who look down on women?
Anne suffered discrimination at the Herald Academy.
Although Annie delivered a resounding slap in the face to those idiots with her outstanding performance in the entrance exam.
But this did not earn them respect.
They began to question whether Anne had cheated, calling her a liar, and more and more lewd rumors about her surfaced.
Even if she covers her ears, some sounds can still seep in through the gaps between her fingers.
There was another exam recently, but this time the question setter wasn't Joseph.
Some students suggested that Annie be closely monitored, believing that she would definitely cheat.
Anne once again slapped them in the face with her excellent performance, and tied for first place.
It's not that anyone has caught up with Anne's pace, it's just that there are only so many perfect scores.
This time, no one questioned Annie's academic performance anymore.
But Anne sensed more cold stares from those around her.
Yes, how could these proud men, who so carefully guard their self-esteem, be willing to admit that they have been defeated by women?
Only when Anne becomes powerful enough that they need to fawn over her can these gossips and cold stares disappear from her world, allowing her to feel a sense of peace and quiet.
Of course, Anne could also imagine that even at that time, there would be many people who would turn their backs and start talking badly about her.
But this knight's apprentice is not a student here, and Anne doesn't need to use those methods to win battles.
She stopped and turned to face Dick, saying impatiently:
Why are you staring at me like that!
Upon hearing this, Dick immediately stood up straight, but his expression became stiff:
"Sorry, I got so engrossed in it."
"Feed?"
Upon hearing this answer, it was Anne who was stunned.
At this moment, Dick took a deep breath and then said:
"I'm infatuated with you, miss."
"Huh?"
This conversation was clearly beyond Annie's expectations, and it left her completely bewildered.
Dick then asked, "Are you married, or do you have a fiancé?"
Anne instinctively shook her head.
"Then," Dick said seriously, "Miss, please marry me."
Hearing this, Annie gasped.
When you're stunned after being beaten, a sudden, hard blow can actually bring you back to your senses.
This is Anne's current state.
She immediately regained her composure, squinted, and looked at Dick.
Seeing Dick's serious expression, Annie knew that he wasn't just talking casually; he genuinely had that idea.
Based on the limited interactions we've had, this person is most likely a responsible man who is meticulous in everything he does.
Moreover, he was a knight apprentice. The fact that he was sent alone to carry out the mission of transporting the emblem shows that the knight school trusted him very much and intended to cultivate him.
He has a very high chance of becoming a knight, so his future is very promising.
Moreover, he's not bad-looking either; for most women, he would certainly be a good man to entrust their lives to.
But for Annie, well, how should I put it, she felt nothing.
But this was the first time someone had confessed their feelings to Annie, and she didn't want to give it a casual answer.
Even if she has to refuse, she needs to refuse with a clear understanding of the situation:
"You're really bad at pursuing girls."
"I'm sorry, this is the first time," Dick replied firmly. "You are the first woman to have ever moved my heart."
Love at first sight?
Unfortunately, Anne was not the kind of woman who could be persuaded by sweet talk, and besides, this could hardly be called sweet talk.
Anne intends to refuse clearly and explicitly...
However, at that moment, she heard that voice again:
"I-"
Anne looked at her small bag, which contained the only book she had brought from the library.
The one that made the sound was this book.
Based on previous experience, this means the book wants to follow the other party's meaning.
Anne had no idea why she was hearing such a sound, nor did she know what the right thing to do was.
Anne wasn't sure if it was appropriate to have that court official take the books away last time.
So, what about this time?
Anne was lost in thought, and couldn't help but raise her brow.
Seeing this, Dick, seemingly noticing the change in Annie's expression, quickly said:
"Miss, don't be nervous. I'm not forcing you, nor do I require you to give me an answer right now."
Annie can now give an answer to Dick's marriage proposal.
But what should be done with this book?
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Anne.
She smiled, took the book out of her cloth bag, and handed it to Dick.
Dick took the book, stared at the cover for a few moments, then looked up, puzzled, and asked:
"Miss, this is—"
"You can take a look at this book and learn from its contents; it might be helpful to you."
"I understand, miss."
Dick nodded, but at the same time frowned.
"But what does this have to do with my question?"
"That's my answer," Anne said with a sly smile.
"Miss, I don't understand," Dick said, a hint of anxiety in his eyes. "Knights are often less intelligent than heralds."
Besides, we're both just apprentices; could you explain it more clearly?
"In O'Brien Bay, there is a library. Take this book to the librarian there and propose to him. If he agrees, then I will marry you."
Dick asked, "Is that librarian your father?"
I wish he were, but he wasn't—Anne thought. I also wish he weren't, but he was.
Anne paused for a moment, then replied:
"So it is."
Upon hearing this answer, Dick stood there with a look of disgust on his face, seemingly bewildered by the response.
Seeing this, Anne added:
"Anyway, you need to take this book and go find him."
Dick still looked puzzled, but he nodded nonetheless.
A few seconds later, he asked:
"So, does this count as a token of our love?"
"Whatever you think, that's fine. Whatever makes you happy."
A smile suddenly appeared on Dick's usually expressionless face.
Anne understood that he was genuinely happy.
Of course, this is based on Annie Zhixin.
After that, Anne sent Dick out of the Herald Academy.
Anne didn't know what to do with the book, or who it wanted to follow.
But wouldn't it be better to let the books and the people they choose return to the library and let Aaron make the decision?
After Aaron reads this book, he will surely understand that Anne did not truly love this knight's squire, which is why she sent him to propose marriage.
Of course, Anne wasn't entirely playing with or using Dick.
If Aaron agrees, Anne is willing to marry Dick.
Aaron must have been certain that Dick could bring Anne happiness before he agreed, and Anne was willing to trust Aaron unconditionally.
But based on Anne's understanding of Aaron, there was one thing she was very confident about: Aaron would never let Anne marry someone else so easily!
Before parting, Dick solemnly curtsied.
And then asked one last question:
"Miss, may I ask your name?"