When Chu Zhaoyang asked where Gu Nian wanted to go for their honeymoon, he was surprised. Gu Nian didn't choose the romantic islands most newlyweds opt for; instead, she preferred a secluded place among common folks.
Gu Nian explained she wanted to visit a castle.
Castles, unique to Country Y, fascinated her with their style.
Moreover, as one of the few countries still with a royal family, Gu Nian was also interested in its history.
Naturally, they didn't miss out on Country Y's capital. After three days there, they bid farewell to the crowded city and headed to a more tranquil countryside.
Gu Nian loved the wildness of the countryside, with endless green grass stretching into the horizon under the blue sky.
There were no dense clusters of houses on the vast green land, just sporadic villas, much larger than those in the city, set against lawns, creating a serene atmosphere.
Their mood opened up with the vastness.
If possible, Gu Nian would love to live in such a place.
Chu Zhaoyang arranged for a unique local inn located on a ranch.
The family-run inn wasn't large, resembling other farmhouses.
Apart from the main building, there were only three villas lined up.
The villa's prices were naturally higher, charged per room.
Since it was their honeymoon, Chu Zhaoyang didn't want any disturbances, so they booked a villa separately, away from other guests.
The main building was only three stories tall, built of stone, resembling a miniature castle, with an eighteenth-century style.
There were more guests in the main building.
As soon as they stepped out, they could see the endless ranch with cows and sheep, and sheepdogs diligently working on the grass.
Gu Nian was beginning to miss Curry at home.
Chu Zhaoyang chose this place not only for experiencing European rural fun but also because there was a nearby castle.
The castle belonged to a count who returned for vacation every year and was open for visits the rest of the time.
It was only open for a month each year for visitors, and booking was notoriously difficult.
Their honeymoon destination was decided shortly before the wedding, but when Chu Zhaoyang heard about this place, he negotiated directly with the castle's management, even contacting the count himself through diplomatic channels, securing a spot.
However, it wasn't time to check in yet, so they stayed at the ranch first and would go to the castle in a couple of days.
Although Gu Nian and Chu Zhaoyang enjoyed peace, they weren't averse to socializing.
After getting acquainted with other guests staying in the villa, they sometimes gathered in the main building for meals.
This morning, they were all having breakfast together in the main building's dining room.
"I heard from the owner that not far from here, on the hills, there's a medieval castle ruin site. It was destroyed long ago due to wars, leaving only some ruins, but it gives off a solemn ancient atmosphere, as if you're in an ancient battlefield," said a Chinese traveler from M Country.
"We plan to visit later. Would you like to come along?" another guest, Henry, asked.
Chu Zhaoyang didn't respond immediately but looked at Gu Nian to gauge her interest.
Gu Nian was always curious about things steeped in history and time.
She thought that if she hadn't admired her father so much in her childhood and chosen a police career, she might have studied archaeology.
Without needing Gu Nian to answer, Chu Zhaoyang saw the gleam in her eyes and knew her response.
So he nodded and said, "Sure."
Since there were people from Country Y among the guests, they drove directly.
After Chu Zhaoyang and Gu Nian arrived in Country Y, they arranged for a car for convenience.
Two cars carried some of the people, while the ranch owner provided another car. Together, they headed towards the hills.
The hills weren't very high, and the castle ruins were a famous historical site, often visited by tourists.
However, there weren't many people from Country Y, so even though there were continuous visitors, it wasn't crowded like tourist spots back home, where every photo would be filled with strangers.
When they said there were often visitors, it meant only a few at a time, coming today and others tomorrow.
For the undulating hills and large castle ruins, this number of people wasn't considered much.
Since it was a renowned historical site, the road leading to the castle ruins had also been repaired.
The sides were covered in lush green grass, and the path gently sloped up and down, smooth in curvature.
With such a broad view, even their moods gradually calmed.
On the halfway up the hill where the castle ruins were, there was a place to park the car.
Going further required walking up themselves.
This hill was well-preserved. When the castle ruins were discovered, someone suggested that since there was a castle, there must be ruins of an ancient city nearby.
In the middle ages, this place was considered a densely populated fiefdom.
Sure enough, remnants of former dwellings were dug out around the castle.
Fortunately, Country Y was particularly backward in the Middle Ages, and even large cities had only a few thousand people.