Chapter 211: Hello

"Hello, Uncle Log"

"L...Lottie?"

Logan could not help but stutter as he stared at the golden-haired woman in front of him. Charlotte looked more mature now and the childishness that he remembered were all gone, but he was sure that she is the same Charlotte that used to follow him wherever he goes.

The guards could not help but look at each other as they saw the shock in their Chief's eyes. This was the first time in the years they have been serving the city that they have seen Logan act this way.

Does that mean that this golden-haired woman really is the Duke's sister? No, looking at her now, there was no doubt about it. She was different from the impostors that they have been receiving for years, there's also the fact that she had a striking resemblance with the Duke.

"Quick, open up a path for the Duchess!", Logan roared and waved his hand. As soon as he ordered that, the guards quickly started pushing the people that were already in the front of the line to the side.

"Lottie…", Logan placed his hand on Charlotte's shoulders, "Go back to your carriage, it's cold out here", he then said, his tone filled with warmth.

"I wish to walk with you, uncle", Charlotte quickly waved her hand.

"Nonsense!", Logan quickly shook his head as he gently pushed Charlotte back to the carriage, "You are a duchess now! You shouldn't be walking out in the streets!"

Charlotte insisted that she wanted to walk because she wanted to catch up with whatever had happened to Logan and her brother, but alas, Logan was not hearing any of it as he pushed Charlotte inside the carriage.

"Let's catch up once you and your companions have settled--"

Logan could not help but stop his words as he saw the people in the carriage. It would seem that Charlotte had gained a lot of friends along the way. He also could not help but notice that the young Hero, Violet, was one of them.

When the Circle passed the title of Hero to Violet, he and Duke Erik were there, so he was sure that it was her. But she wasn't the reason why Logan abruptly stopped his words, no.

It was the boy with the long golden hair, sitting there casually and nodding towards him, "'Sup", the boy muttered.

"L… Lottie", Logan could not help but stutter, "Is that… is that your son?"

"Hm?", Charlotte could not help but blink as she looked towards the direction where Logan was looking.

"Oh, no!", Charlotte let out a tiny chuckle, "I will explain later when my brother is present… he is there, right?"

"O… of course", Logan still could not take his eyes away from Viel. But after a few seconds, he let out a chuckle, "Just wait 'til he gets news of your return".

Logan then closed the door of the carriage and approached General Diao. "Please come with me to inform the Duke of your arrival", he said. The haughty tone that he had before was completely gone as the excitement on his face could not be contained.

Chief Logan then started running, leaping from building to building. General Diao could not help but let out a breath as he saw this. General Diao could sense that Logan was much weaker than him in terms of cultivation, but he was the first person he had seen in the west that was capable of this feat.

Finally, General Diao thought. He was finally able to see an expert of the western continent, which were known for their abnormally strong body. During his months of staying in Tark city, he had only seen a single expert, Beatrice's father. It was just a shame that he died during the attack.

Maybe he should exchange pointers with Logan at a later date, he thought. In front of Yinji, of course.

And so, following the two, the carriage proceeded to head to the castle.

Charlotte could not help but be in awe as she saw the changes in her city. Of course, the dungeon lifting up their economy was a given change. But she was initially expecting to come home to nothing but rubble, and the Quinn City in front of her was nothing but.

Quinn City was almost comparable to Taizhou. And even now as she watched the bustling streets, she still couldn't believe it.

"I… saw the state of the cities that the minions of the Demon God destroyed", Charlotte then let out a whisper, "I was so sure that my home would be the same and could never recover… but this… this is good", she said as she wiped the tear that trailed on her face.

Hearing Charlotte's whispers, Yinji could not help but close her eyes as she sighed. Her sect was also destroyed and they are now just starting to rebuild. She was only gone for 7 years, and much has changed in this world.

It was the right decision to come on this trip, she thought. She needed to know the changes in order for her sect to survive.

It took a while for them to reach the Duke's castle. The market and the streets were full of people, and unlike what they expected due to the long line outside the city, there were no beggars in the street.

It would seem that Charlotte's brother was doing an excellent job in making sure that no one was homeless and without a job in Quinn City.

Charlotte could not help but slightly chuckle. She couldn't imagine that her brother, whose only dream was to be a soldier, would one day be a better ruler than their father.

And as soon as they entered the castle, Charlotte's eyes could not help but widen.

There were a lot of people waiting for them. Maids, servants, guards... all bowing their heads towards her.

"Hm… So your brother owns all of these?", Viel could not help but comment as he stepped down the carriage, "Maybe I am your brother's son after all? Fufufu-- Ow!"

Violet quickly pinched Viel's ears and pulled him to the side.

"Why'd you do--"

"Sshh!", Sofia quickly covered Viel's mouth, with Violet still pinching his ears.

"Charlotte?"

A deep and dignified voice then echoed throughout the castle grounds, instantly stopping the whispers of the people.

"C… charlotte? Is it… really you?"

"Charles?", Charlotte could not help but squint her eyes as she saw a man with a golden beard slowly walking towards her. Even with the stubble covering half the man's face, Charlotte was sure of it.

The two didn't even need to say anything more as they instantly recognized each other. Their eyes were enough.

"Charlotte!", Duke Erik quickly abandoned all the formalities he had as he ran to her baby sister and hugged her tight.

All of the Duke's people could not help but let out a tiny breath as they saw their Lord crying. Ever since they have served under him, the only time they have ever seen him take a rest was when he got married.

But every day other than that was him either always being on his desk, or overseeing the city's projects in person. And if a delay was caused by one of his servants, he never raised his voice, but instead showed concern.

Duke Erik truly loved his city, his subjects and he showed it through his dedication to his duty. Everyone looked up to him. For the people of the city, Duke Erik was the very definition of a noble.

Duke Erik cared for them, and in return, the people take care of the city.

He was barely spending any time with his family. Day and night, he worked. But even then, the Duke never uttered even a single complaint.

And now, to see him completely vulnerable… no. To see him this comfortable, some of Duke Erik's people could not help but tear up a little bit. Logan, however, was the worse one of them all as he was bawling his eyes out, almost hugging General Diao.

The sound of Duke Erik's and Charlotte's cries echoed throughout the castle. Even the noise and festivities of the bustling city could not cover the sound of their tears.

It took a couple of minutes before Duke Erik and Charlotte separated.

"Come, come inside", Duke Erik said as he gestured for Charlotte and the others to come inside the castle, "I am sure you and your friends are hungry".

Duke Erik then smiled towards Diao Chan and the group. "You've traveled from Tark?", he asked as he scanned the group, "I heard the city was overrun by-- w... what the!"

But before Duke Erik could even finish his words, he could not help but take a second glance as soon as his eyes wandered towards Viel.

"..."

Duke Erik blinked a couple more times, wiping his eyes to see if he was seeing things clearly. The boy's golden hair... no. Even without the boy's golden hair, Duke Erik could not deny the similarity that the boy had with them.

"Is… is this my nephew?", Duke Erik could not help but stutter as he slowly walked towards Viel. He was about to hug Viel, but Charlotte's words instantly stopped him in his tracks.

"N… no?", Charlotte tilted her head, "I thought... he was your son?", she then stuttered as she squinted her eyes towards her brother.

"...What?", Duke Erik could not help but raise his eyebrows in confusion. "What are you even saying?", he then said as he once again looked at Viel.

"...Hello, father", Viel then said as he let out the warmest smile he could make.

"..."