Looking towards the source of the sound, Alvin and Ion came together. The remaining imperial officials were still talking to the kingdom's envoys.
The person who frankly agreed with Anna's words was Alvin.
The old minister had a kind face and said with a bit of helplessness: "Sir, you must know that what you said coincides with the thoughts of our group of ministers. I don't know how many times I have waited for Her Royal Highness Liliana to I gave you advice in front of me, but in the end it was too weak to make His Highness take it seriously. It is really a dereliction of duty on my part."
Alvin's complaint was very straightforward. If someone who didn't know the reason heard it, they might wonder whether it was inappropriate for him to say it as a minister. But in fact, Alvin is not only a high-ranking minister, but his family also has very close ties with the imperial royal family, and is a long-established noble family in the empire.
Ann learned from Leonhardt that according to blood relationship, both Leonhardt and Liliana would call Alvin great-uncle.
With this level of status, it is normal to talk and get closer in private.
"Mr. Alvin, can I think you are complaining?" Liliana said, crossing her arms.
"Old minister, I don't dare—" Alvin drew a long tail tone and continued, "It's just that I rarely meet a close friend, and I feel something in my heart, so I just say it. If I can take this opportunity to get His Highness to accept my advice, then I will really die." No regrets."
After saying that, the old man laughed softly, looking like a kind and close elder.
Of course, Ann would not think that this strictly speaking a little unbridled behavior would be Alvin's usual style. He still remembered that during the previous dialogue with the kingdom's envoys, Alvin was completely a conscientious minister in front of Liliana. Every move is perfectly in line with etiquette.
Alvin acted in this way just like what An said just now, maintaining the proper demeanor in front of others, and acting casually without overstepping behind others. Objectively speaking, he can be called Liliana's learning partner.
Alvin unexpectedly came to talk to him, and Ion was followed by him. This made Miku a little nervous, and she grabbed An's hand tightly.
Rubbing the back of Miku's hand with her fingers, An looked at Alvin and said gently: "Lord Alvin, these words are too much."
The familiar feeling made Alvin pause slightly. His hands hidden in his official robes shook twice before he came back to his senses and said, "It's not an exaggeration to praise me. When I say this, I'm still worried about whether I'm being too high-spirited!"
Perhaps because of his old age, Alvin took a few breaths before continuing: "Mr.'s words are enough to reflect his own knowledge. I have only been able to resonate with these words until now. In this way, I feel inferior. gentlemen."
"Speaking of which..." The hands in his sleeves clenched into fists, and Alvin stared at An's face and said, "If my memory has not gone wrong, sir, is your name called 'An'?"
A smile appeared on An's face: "How could Sir Alvin's memory be wrong? My name is indeed An. I am currently an actor in a traveling troupe and I was lucky enough to perform in the Imperial Capital."
Alvin muttered the word "currently" unconsciously. His voice was so low that even Ion, who was closest to him, didn't hear it.
An recognized it from the shape of Alvin's mouth, but he pretended not to see it and continued: "I don't dare to take the word sir seriously. I just ask you to praise me for my knowledge. I only learned a little bit from Mr. Hutto." , cannot stand the test at all.”
Alvin's eyes moved: "Teacher Hutto?"
"Well, he is the father of our group leader."
As soon as An finished speaking, Alvin looked up at Bai, who was not far away with Meiko and others.
"This is... beyond my expectation." Alvin seemed to sigh.
His performance was uneventful, but Ann realized something from his reaction.
It is very likely that Alvin knows the connection between the two identities of "strategist" Skye and "musician" Hutto.
The reason for this judgment is that An confirmed from Xiaoyue that apart from the king of the kingdom, Carlion, and his very few cronies, only Leko and Xiaoyue knew about Hutto's royal identity. Even though Hutto's apparent identity was the most famous musician in the royal capital, it was not enough to enter the imperial minister's field of vision.
Perhaps Alvin would know about the existence of such a person because of his own function in charge of the empire's economy and culture, but again, a musician with outstanding talent alone is not enough to make him sigh like this.
Ann glanced at Ion again and noticed that there was no change in his expression. It seems that Ion knew something beforehand. Considering his status as Minister of State, it would not be surprising if he knew more than Alvin.
After thinking about it, An's words did not stop because of Alvin's sigh: "Teacher Hutto is extremely knowledgeable. Thanks to the group leader, I can learn knowledge other than music from the teacher."
"Oh? Knowledge other than music?" Although the tone was questioning, there was no corresponding look on Alvin's face.
Feeling that Miku's hand was no longer shaking, An squeezed it gently and lowered her head to give her an encouraging look.
After Miku took a deep breath, An continued: "The teacher also has extraordinary attainments in other fields. My fiancée and I really benefited a lot from the time we studied with him."
"Um?"
"What?"
Alvin's attention had been entirely on Shiro, and he was still thinking about something. But after An said the word fiancée, he looked up in shock.
Ion had the same reaction.
An and Miku's engagement in the royal capital was a big deal, so they naturally heard about it. But the inherent impression in their minds made them think that this matter was just a rumor, not a fact.
Now that the person involved has said it himself, the shock to them is completely different.
"She is my fiancée, Miku."
Ann pushed Miku in front of her and rather boldly wrapped her arms around her.
Even though he was restricted by An's movements, Miku still responded perfectly. She made a skirt-lifting ceremony within the range of her ability to move, with a decent and natural smile on her face: "Gui'an."
After a brief moment of surprise, Alvin and Ion quickly looked at Miku.
Soon, Alvin burst into loud laughter: "What a beautiful and well-educated girl, you will definitely be very happy in the future!"
"Congratulations to both of you." Ion smiled from the bottom of his heart.
An responded: "Thank you two adults for your blessings."
"The formal wedding must be held in the imperial capital. I will prepare a satisfactory wedding for you at all costs..." Alvin finished excitedly and added, "As a thank you gift for helping Her Royal Highness Liliana."
Ion then said: "I will also try my best to help."
Realizing that he was too anxious, Ion calmed himself down and said: "Don't worry about the guests. If you have relatives and friends who need to be invited, I will send someone to pick them up... Don't be stingy about inviting the two of you to the wedding. An invitation to us.”
"Very indeed."
When they were excited, the two people had not stopped observing Miku. Of course, the more they watch, the more satisfied they become!
In the nonsense of these two people, An found an opportunity and said: "Thank you both for your enthusiasm, please allow us to think about it."
"Oh, of course!"
"After all, it is a major event in life."
Alvin and Ion's gaffe attracted the attention of others at the banquet, and they had to calm down in the midst of so many eyes.
The two of them used small and decent gestures to hide the expressions on their faces.
Seeing that Ann's side was almost over, Leonhardt said to Ion under the signal from the other side's eyes: "Ion, sir, they have just got engaged, and it will take some time before the official wedding. Her Royal Highness has already made preparations. You don’t have to be so careful... As for now, can you explain why you are here?”
Ion realized the importance of the matter and immediately adjusted his condition.
As the minister of state who is supposed to be in charge of the imperial capital, Ion's behavior here is unusual. An had to pay attention to the reason why he came here!
Alvin calmed down his emotions before Ion did. He glanced at An, and then said to Liliana: "Your Highness, this matter is related to me..."
