Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence - Chapter 593 - 353: Winter and Spring Festival

Chapter 593: Chapter 353: Winter and Spring Festival

Alina wrapped herself in a dark gray cloak, the corner of the carriage curtain slightly lifted by the wind and snow.

She sat by the window, lightly stroking the frosted glass with her fingertips, her gaze falling on the straight streets outside the window.

Winter had come, and outside the snow was falling heavily, leaving the world almost only white and cold wind.

But the scenery of Red Tide City was entirely different from other regions in the Northern Territory.

The cold-resistant pines and cypresses along the street stood in rows, their branches and leaves covered with frost, yet still orderly, both blocking the wind and embellishing this city.

The houses along the way were semicircular in shape, the snow-covered domes gleamed with a soft red ochre and dark gold light in the white fog.

Each dome-shaped house was partially embedded in the ground, the eaves bending with the terrain, resembling natural warm shelters growing from the snowfield.

A low sound of water flowing could be faintly heard beneath the roads; it was the heating troughs designed by Louis, filled with warm water in winter to prevent freezing, hence the wheels did not slip even in heavy snow.

Alina quietly observed all this, her breath fogging the glass, after a moment, she softly said, “Remarkable…”

She had come to Red Tide Territory for nearly two years, yet she was still astounded by this city.

The snowfields of the Northern Territory originally symbolized harshness and death, but here, they had become an orderly scenery.

At the street corner, passersby moved along, artisans pushed barrels, children tugged at snow dogs, and women carried food through the mist.

Everyone was busy, but not frantic.

She remembered her initial astonishment at arriving, now she felt a long-lost peace in her heart.

The bell of Frost Halberd City from two years ago still echoed in her dreams.

Back then, Alina held the young Isaac, mourning the passing of the Duke.

The Duke’s dying wish was etched firmly in her heart; the territory and the Knight Order were entrusted to Louis Calvin until Isaac came of age.

This arrangement caused her great concern.

Alina couldn’t understand why her husband entrusted the power of the Edmund Clan to a young noble not of their bloodline, even if he was Emily’s husband, he ultimately did not bear the Edmund name.

Even though she showed no doubts outwardly, she still felt uneasy, after all, granting so much power to this young man could easily change a person’s heart.

On her first day at Red Tide, fine snowflakes fluttered from the sky.

She and Isaac were settled in a newly built noble mansion in the center of Red Tide City.

It was a residence funded by Louis, even more bright and warm than the old castle of Frost Halberd, with a ventilation copper tube system by the windows, fireplaces capable of maintaining temperature, and roofs that could melt snow through hidden pipes.

The artisans of Red Tide had accomplished something the Northern Lords hadn’t thought of for centuries.

And her status remained “Duchess of Edmund”, though she lacked real power, she was still treated with courtesy.

Louis and Emily visited often, asking for her insights on certain etiquettes or statutes, their tone filled more with respect than mere form.

Whenever Louis laughed in the drawing-room talking about amusing anecdotes of new policies, or when Emily held little Isaac and played, she would still recall the warm scenes when Duke Edmund was present.

Yet behind the gentleness and etiquette, she remained cautious.

Alina could see Louis’s restraint and tact, as well as the hidden strength beneath that tact—a presence of undeniable ambition.

She couldn’t help but worry for her own son: in this long game of power, no one could remain desireless forever.

But life in Red Tide gradually made her let go of her wariness, though not entirely.

She began to observe the order of this city herself, from food distribution to town management, from military discipline to the workshop system.

And Louis seemed uninterested in coveting Isaac’s title, nor did he touch the wealth of the Edmund family.

On the contrary, he opened Red Tide’s education, finance, and military supplies to all social classes, even vagrants could find work in workshops or receive advanced education.

At banquets, Alina conversed with Red Tide officials, surprised to find their discussions centered not on conquest, but on port expansion, mechanical technology, and winter relief.

The tax law was transparent, food coupons were fair, orphans could attend school, and even servants learned to read and write in night classes.

Gradually, she finally understood, Louis’s ambition wasn’t merely ruling the Northern Territory, but establishing a new order, one that allowed everyone to survive.

Alina’s vigilance didn’t disappear, but the fear was replaced by an odd sense of respect.

Lost in thought, the carriage slowly stopped in the thick snow, and a maid quietly reminded, “Madam, we’ve arrived.”

Alina lifted the carriage curtain, the cold wind rushed in, snowflakes instantly soaking her cloak.

In front of her was a simple yet tidy courtyard, with Red Tide’s emblem hanging at the door, the sun pattern glinting amidst the wind and snow.

This was the Red Tide Orphan Care Institute.

This was Alina’s task for the day, to inspect the preparations of the Red Tide Orphan Care Institute.

Since she took charge of managing several orphanages in the city, she personally inspected them every few days.

The children in the institution were very fond of her, always waving at the window whenever her carriage approached.

Amidst the swirling snow, the air was filled with the aroma of firewood and hot soup.

Alina tightened her cloak, stepping onto the stone steps. Behind her, several maids and administrative officers followed, with the staff of the institution greeting her along the way.

She walked through the corridors of the institution, her pace slow yet steady.

The laughter of children spilled out from behind the doors, mixed with the sound of reading aloud.

A small boy was crouched in a corner, holding a wooden carved toy in his hands.

Alina approached, bending down to help him fasten his scarf.

The boy looked up dazedly, and she gently patted his hair.