Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

However, the other party was not adept at dealing with women, so he had no choice but to bring along the two ladies and escort them all the way to Wolf Town.

...

"Ah, you're so silly!" Catherine hugged her sister's waist, "Why are you so easy to talk to?"

Anna remained silent, and the room fell quiet.

Seeing that her sister wasn't speaking, Catherine had no choice but to continue whisking her complaints and acting coquettishly: "My legs, my beautiful legs, got all chafed! Will it scar? Will they become rough? My back hurts too, and so do my shoulders, and my tailbone..."

The two had initially traveled by carriage. After entering the Newly Reclaimed Lands Province, the road became rough, and the carriage broke an axle. The ladies had to ride horses, which was indeed exhausting.

Hearing her sister's grievances, Anna was unmoved but revealed a hint of a smile, "Wasn't it you who wanted to come along?"

Catherine, blushing with shame, bit her sister's shoulder hard.

This finally returned them to their usual manner of interacting, with Catherine being pinned down on the bed and taught a stern lesson, screaming and hollering nonstop.

After they were both completely worn out, Catherine, panting, spoke to Anna in a faint voice, "Ah, I've actually come to understand a little."

"Understand what?"

"I understand why you fell for Mr. M." Catherine pursed her lips and smiled, "Although you're not as pretty as me, you still have a bit of an eye for men, after all, you're our mother's daughter."

"What are you talking about?"

"I originally thought Mr. M wasn't anything special. But after seeing him last night, I realized he has a certain demeanor... different from the gentlemen of Sea Blue... How do I describe it?"

Anna, startled, felt a surge of panic, "I thought you really disliked him?"

"Seeing is believing. I dislike him because he bullied you. But now, I also have a bit of appreciation for him," Catherine observed as her sister's ears gradually turned red, knowing she was in control of her sister's emotions.

Suddenly, she hugged her sister's waist and elongated her voice, breathing out as softly as an orchid, "Don't worry, I won't compete with you for a man."

Anna's face turned completely red, and she pushed her sister away with effort, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Catherine was relentless, continuing to cling to her sister and confidently said, "Don't worry, this time I'll let you off."

"Get away from me!"

"Hmph!" Catherine changed her tone, puffing up and saying angrily, "We mustn't let that little flirt Paratu laugh at us for fighting over a Mr. M! Humph, the lowlife from the border! She has no dignity at all! Not sparing even a betrothed man! We are the distinguished daughters of the Vineta family, how could we lose to her!"

Having said that, Catherine laughed joyfully, her laughter clear and pleasant.

Anna had intended to scold Catherine, but upon hearing the word "little flirt," she couldn't help but laugh along.

The two of them ended up lying on the bed, laughing and frolicking, when suddenly there came an urgent "thudding" sound from the stairs.

Someone was coming upstairs.

Anna and Catherine exchanged a glance, quickly got up, and hastened to tidy up their hair and clothes that had been disheveled during their roughhousing.

The footsteps stopped at the door.

What followed was three knocks.

The knocker seemed eager yet dared not be too impatient, for fear that knocking too hard might displease the person inside.

"Lady Navarre and Lady Navarre." A male voice came from outside the door, "May I come in?"

It was Mr. M.

Catherine straightened her body, reined in her laughter, and did not look at all like someone who had just recklessly said "little flirt." Instead, her demeanor carried a trace of Ellen Mitchell.

"Please come in," Catherine replied steadily.

Winters pushed the door open, and instead of finding the sisters in disarray on the bed, he was greeted by two respectable ladies.

His gaze was fixed on Anna's eyelashes, pencil tip, and lips, "I'm sorry for making you wait so long."

"No, you are mistaken," Catherine said with a covered smile, not losing her courtesy, "We weren't waiting for you."

"I am truly sorry," Winters said, growing more apprehensive.

Anna subtly pinched the tender flesh on her sister's lower back.

"As the protector and guardian of Lady Navarre, I shall give you two space for a private conversation," Catherine said as she rose elegantly, her expression solemn as the Goddess of Justice, emanating an inviolate air.

Her gaze seemed to see through Winters to his core, "Mr. Montaigne, even though my sister seeks no recompense, you should be aware of the trials she endured to get here. So, I hope you will respect her and not make any offensive moves."

Winters nodded vigorously, filled with guilt.

"I will leave now." Catherine gave Anna a meaningful look and gracefully headed towards the door.

"Please take your time," Winters stood respectfully.

The door closed slowly, and the narrow space was left only with a pair of lovers who had once been separated by thousands of miles and yearned for each other.

But neither knew what to say.

Anna was still the same, unmarked by time on her face, instead taking on an added air of mature beauty.

She still had that carefree, naive, and cheerful beauty.

Winters had changed, though—hammered in spirit and body, he was full of scars.

The last time they met, they had been very close—so close that Winters could weep on Anna's shoulder, and Anna would ask no questions.

But now Winters couldn't do that anymore; he wanted to embrace Anna tightly, but he was unable to.

An invisible wall separated them, a spiritual gap more difficult to bridge than the physical distance.