Landlord in the Arctic

’Could it be...?’

A bold guess flashed through Natalia’s mind.

"Aunt Natalia, the murderer has been punished," Natasha said coolly, her tone unnervingly calm.

Afterward, Natalia helped Natasha wash up before she stepped out of the bathroom.

With Natalia’s support, Natasha walked step by step up to the second floor, arriving at the bedroom that had once belonged to Feng.

The bedroom was now completely transformed, as if by magic. What was once an ordinary room had become a palatial bedroom of breathtaking luxury.

The plain walls were now covered in ornate golden wallpaper, its delicate and exquisite patterns glittering brilliantly under the light of a crystal chandelier. Every inch seemed to drip with nobility and extravagance.

Several oil paintings now hung on the walls. The figures within were lifelike, their colors vibrant and striking, adding an artistic flair to the room.

The original wooden bed had been replaced with an exquisitely carved one. The winding patterns on the bedposts were like masterpieces meticulously sculpted by master artisans, each line seeming to tell an ancient tale of the court.

The bed canopy was made of a heavy, smooth silk fabric that cascaded down from the top, forming graceful, dreamlike arcs that made one feel as if they were in a fairy-tale palace.

The floor was covered with a thick, hand-woven rug, so soft and comfortable underfoot it felt like walking on clouds.

The rug’s pattern was also intricate and exquisite, perfectly complementing the overall palatial style and immersing one in a lavish dreamscape.

In the corners of the room stood several elegant antique ornaments. Weathered by the passage of time, they exuded a rustic and mysterious aura, adding a touch of historical charm to the bedroom’s opulence.

Taking in the familiar scent of the room, Natasha gently stroked the bed canopy. The corners of her lips curled up unconsciously, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

’If Feng knew I had his bedroom redone like this...’

’He would totally freak out!’

Natasha thought to herself, unable to stop picturing the horrified look on Feng’s face.

The thought inexplicably lifted her spirits.

"Your Highness, we’re running out of time. In the bathroom, we were only able to replace the bathtub and toilet. We’ll have to make do with the rest." Natalia was somewhat dissatisfied with the servants’ speed, her brow furrowed with a hint of anxiety. "There’s also a hidden room in the wall with a password lock. Should I ask the owner of the cabin for the code?"

"No need. It’s probably his gun room. Even if you asked, Feng wouldn’t necessarily give it to you."

Natasha said faintly, her tone laced with certainty.

’I’m already quite satisfied that they managed to make the room so similar to my bedroom at home in such a short time.’

"This is Mr. Feng’s grandson’s room?" Natalia’s eyes widened slightly in surprise as she asked with some curiosity, "Your Highness, are you really going to go through with the marriage contract with Mr. Feng’s grandson?"

Natasha didn’t answer. Instead, she silently walked over to the pile of Feng’s personal belongings, picked out a photo frame, and handed it to a servant, saying softly,

"Put this back where it was."

.....

"Aunt Natalia! Aunt Natalia!"

Feng saw that Natalia seemed to be lost in thought. When she didn’t respond after he called her name a few times, he raised his voice.

His shouting finally snapped Natalia out of her reminiscence.

She came to her senses, her dazed expression gradually clearing as she saw Feng holding a drink menu and looking at her with confusion.

"My apologies. I was just thinking about something," Natalia said, blushing faintly. She offered a gentle smile, the afterglow of her memories still lingering in her eyes.

"It’s fine. I was just going to ask what you’d like to drink. The house-made wine here is excellent." Of course, Feng had no idea that he had just narrowly escaped death, saved only by Natasha’s words.

Natalia’s warm smile was as comforting as the winter sun. "Is that so? Then I’ll leave it to you to pick one for me!"

Feng raised his hand, snapped his fingers to call over a nearby waiter, then leaned in and whispered something in the waiter’s ear.

The waiter nodded in confirmation and quickly walked away.

After that, the atmosphere at the table turned awkward, as if the air itself had frozen.

For once, Frank looked restrained. His usual casual and carefree demeanor had vanished without a trace. He fidgeted, rubbing his hands together on the table, and averted his gaze, not daring to meet Natalia’s eyes.

Hu Zi and Black Hide were even more hesitant to speak, shrinking in their seats and hardly daring to breathe, afraid that one wrong word would make the awkward atmosphere even worse.

A faint smile played on Natalia’s lips, as gentle and beautiful as a flower blooming in spring.

Her warm gaze swept quietly over everyone at the table. Even without speaking, she projected an air of calm composure that only comes with age and experience.

AHEM!!

Seeing that no one was talking, Feng felt this wouldn’t do. If the silence continued, this drinking session would be a bust.

So, he braced himself and racked his brain for a topic to break the awkward silence.

"Aunt Natalia, Uncle Frank was just mentioning you. He said you were a beautiful ’big sister’ to him, his first teacher in the ways of the world."

"You bastard, I said no such thing!" Frank’s face changed in a flash. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he shot up from his seat, practically jumping to his feet to deny it.

His face was a mask of panic and embarrassment, and his voice cracked with agitation.

Natalia nodded with a smile, which spread from her lips to the corners of her eyes, revealing a few fine lines.

But these lines didn’t make her look old; instead, they added to her charm, making her seem all the more kind and approachable.

"Frank is right. It’s a shame that one night, he left without a word, secretly taking a boat and leaving me behind."

As she said this, Natalia’s voice was soft, tinged with a faint regret, as if she were recalling a distant memory.

Frank, however, looked as if she’d hit a nerve. He leaned back heavily against his chair, a wronged expression on his face as he complained, "Darling, do you have any idea what it’s like to run two blocks carrying two RPGs and a backpack full of anti-personnel mines? I was about to have a complete breakdown."

"..." Feng, Hu Zi, and Black Hide looked at each other, expressions of dawning realization on their faces.

Earlier, Frank had said his body could no longer support "that wish."

They had assumed he meant it in a more suggestive way.

After all this time, it turned out to be *that*.

"Let’s not talk about that. Natalia, how long are you planning to stay in the Crown Territory?"

Frank noticed the three men’s strange looks and deliberately ignored their apologetic gazes, clearing his throat to change the subject.

A flicker of unease crossed his eyes before he regained his usual composure.

"Her Highness finds the Crown Territory quite nice. She plans to stay for a few more days." Natalia gently shook her head, her jet-black hair swaying like silk.

She then slowly turned her gaze to Feng, a gentle smile on her face, and said in a soft tone, "I do apologize. Her Highness is not accustomed to sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings, so we took the liberty of making some small modifications to your bedroom. I hope you don’t mind."

’My bedroom was modified!’

Feng was stunned to hear this, a mix of complicated emotions welling up inside him.

On one hand, he was inevitably displeased that they had renovated his bedroom without his consent.

On the other hand, Natalia was being so polite and her attitude so sincere that he couldn’t bring himself to get angry.

Feng forced a smile. "It’s fine. As long as Natasha is happy staying there, I can just find somewhere else to crash for a few nights."

Natalia maintained her faint, composed smile, the very picture of a mature woman’s elegance.

After a slight pause, she continued in a low voice.

"Her Highness wasn’t angry about the gift you gave her. I think you should try to talk with her more to deepen your impression of each other."

’A gift!’

’When did I give her a gift?!’

Feng froze again, his face a picture of confusion.

But he quickly figured it out.

’Don’t tell me that woman told her about the spanking... Or maybe she saw the handprint.’

.....