The moment Nazaire uttered the last word, the entire Hall of Heroes sank into a strange atmosphere.
It was not the silence of dead silence, nor was it the liveliness of the crowd. Instead, the nobles at the side of the hall were whispering to each other in groups of twos and threes. Amidst the barely discernible buzzing sounds, they would raise their heads from time to time and glance at the seated archduchess with strange and distant gazes.
It was as if thousands of ants were lurking in the wood of the tall and sturdy beams. The rustling sounds of them gnawing and eating the beams made people agitated. They wanted to break the wood to search, but they disappeared without a trace.
In the archduchess' throne, Saroma's expression froze on her face.
Even though the young lady had already expected this due to the treacherous atmosphere during the previous day's state affairs hearing, as well as Lisban and Thales' direct admonishment or indirect reminders, the archduchess still could not help but tense up when this moment truly arrived.
It was as if a veil covering imperfections had finally been mercilessly torn down.
Thales listened to the whispers by his ear and watched the girl's expression. He could not describe the feelings in his heart.
Lisban, who sat to the right of the archduchess, had a dark expression on his face. His eyelids were slightly lowered, and hints of coldness seeped out of his eyes, like an eave that was about to shatter into pieces of ice.
"Count Nazaire." After a long while, the expressionless girl slowly said in a clear but cold voice, "Is this your suggestion? My marriage? For Dragon Clouds City? "
The moment she spoke, the whispers in the Hall of Heroes instantly disappeared.
They were like ants that had stopped gnawing and were hiding.
Nazaire quietly watched the girl who was staring at him coldly. There was not a hint of emotion in his eyes.
"This is how it should be," the old count said faintly. "You know, the Walton bloodline must continue, just like how the marriage between the hero Chara and Princess Reyne continued Dragon Clouds City's rule.
"The Walton Family also needs a legitimate, legitimate son and male heir to comfort the restless vassals, intimidate our opponents, and tell the outside world that Dragon Clouds City is under sufficient protection and is as stable as before."
Nazaire remained calm, but with every word he said, the whispers in the hall decreased by a notch, and the girl's face turned paler.
"For that reason, I suggest that you select a young, promising, and responsible man from the vassals and their equally noble and loyal families as your husband."
Count Nazaire had a solemn expression on his face. "As the father of your future children, as well as the father of the future members of the Dragon Spear Family."
The archduchess did not reply immediately.
However, Thales could sense that the girl's gaze subconsciously shifted in his direction, but she stopped abruptly halfway and focused on the floor tiles in the middle of the hall.
Those were the floor tiles of Heroic Spirit Palace. Even after a thousand years, they were still as sturdy as ever.
"So, you think that as a woman," Saroma said softly, "I don't have the right to sit on this seat and inherit everything from the Archduke of Dragon Clouds City?"
The panic and discomfort in her voice gradually disappeared, but there was a hint of bitterness and desolation that was the same as her master's.
"So you want me to get married early and give birth to a real heir to Dragon Clouds City who is qualified and powerful?"
The hall became completely quiet. The vassals who had been loyal to the Walton Family for generations no longer whispered to each other. Instead, they raised their heads and waited for the development of the situation in the hall.
The five counts had different expressions, but they all stared at their suzerain in silence.
Lisban's gaze was fixed on Count Nazaire, but the latter did not notice it.
When he saw this, Thales sighed. Beside him, Ian shrugged.
"Quite the opposite.
"It is precisely because you have the right to rule Dragon Clouds City as a descendant of the Walton Family." Nazaire's voice traveled into the hall again. Compared to the archduchess' lightness and even coldness, his words were steady and powerful. "That is why this is even more necessary. As the closest direct descendant of the family, it is your duty to continue the Walton Family."
Saroma lowered her eyelids, and her gaze stopped on her long dress, which was at her knees.
At that moment, Thales, who had been watching this scene from the sidelines, suddenly realized that the six years he had been away from the treacherous and treacherous affairs of the palace was both unfortunate and fortunate.
Finally, a low, cold, and angry bellow echoed in the hall.
"As far as I know, we are talking about responding to the lady's summons.
"We are talking about dispatching troops to the Alliance of Freedom." Regent Lisban's voice was like a blizzard during the Day before the Bitter Cold. It instantly swept away the last traces of smiles on the faces of the nobles in the hall. "Not rudely changing the agenda and rudely interfering with the lady's private affairs.
"This is practically no different from a rebellion."
Lisban finished his words coldly.
Across from him, Nazaire turned his head and looked at Lisban, as though he was his greatest enemy today, and as though his earnest teachings to the archduchess just now were just a careless reminder.
The old count fixed his gaze on the regent. His gaze did not shift for a long time.
"We are talking about the future of Dragon Clouds City, Lisban." In the next second, as though he intended to go against Lisban, Nazaire used the calmest and calmest language to say something that caused Lisban's expression to change drastically. "This concerns the fate of Dragon Clouds City. Do you think that we will be so muddle-headed as to allow it to be controlled by some powerful minister with ulterior motives?"
Aside from the two of them, the other four counts also reacted slightly. Among them, Lyner and Cotterson snorted coldly without bothering to hide it.
Only the silent archduchess continued to stare at the long skirt between her legs.
It seemed that the pattern on it was very pretty.
Lisban stared back at Nazaire, no longer hiding his displeasure.
The regent sneered. "So, you forced the archduchess to marry the person you liked?
"Holding Dragon Clouds City firmly in your hands is not called muddle-headed, right?"
The argument between the two lords echoed in the hall, but no one dared to interrupt them.
Thales listened to their conversation coldly.
Lisban and Nazaire were two Northland families with equally long histories. When it came to achievements, they did not even lose to the Nine Knights of Raikaru. Since the era of the King of Dragon Knights, they had been the Walton Family's left and right arms. Together, they supported the flag of the Cloud Dragon Spear in Dragon Clouds City.
And now …
A second later, Nazaire and Lisban averted their complicated gazes from each other.
"No one has ever been able to force an archduke to do anything, not even the king." Nazaire lowered his voice slightly and changed the topic of the conversation. "But the reason why the archdukes have the right to stand in this position and accept the vassals' loyalty is precisely because they know where their responsibilities lie."
Nazaire no longer looked at Lisban. On the contrary, he was staring at Saroma with a strange gaze. Her face was livid, and her gaze was unmoving.
"My Lady, remember, you are not just yourself, not just Lady Saroma, and not just a lady from the Walton Family." Count Nazaire snorted softly.
"You are also … Dragon Clouds City."
His enunciation was especially clear. His emphasis was clear and unquestionable.
"Yes, don't always think about yourself, my Lady," Nazaire said sternly. "More importantly, think about Dragon Clouds City."
Saroma, who had already clenched her teeth, could not help but move.
"I am," she repeated laboriously, "I am … Dragon Clouds City?"
Nazaire did not say a word. Lisban's face was livid.
In the hall, the whispers of the other dozen vassals rose again.
It was louder, more arrogant, and more presumptuous than before.
Nicholas frowned. He wanted to raise his hand a few times to reach for the weapon on his back, but every time, he put it down.
Thales bit his lower lip. His eyelashes trembled slightly.
From the corner of his eye, he saw that the former Little Rascal had her head lowered and was trembling slightly.
Ian gave him a strange look and whispered, "Hey, don't let your mind wander. When are we going up?"
But Thales only pursed his lips tightly and said nothing.
Ian soon stopped paying attention to Thales.
Because in the next moment, almost everyone did not expect …
The young girl raised her head abruptly!
"What if I say no?"
The archduchess' voice, which had always been clear but weak, suddenly rose with a short, breathy tone that was rarely heard.
Slight astonishment appeared on the faces in the hall one after another.
With a tone filled with rejection, Saroma's eyes flashed with anger that had not been seen for a long time. She looked around the entire hall.
Especially the six counts.
This surprised Thales.
"Saroma, do you remember? Choose who you want to be.
"If you don't want to be a vase that is manipulated by others and can be casually traded …
"Then reject them!"
On the archduchess' throne, the young girl revealed a beautiful but cold face. She said in a sonorous voice, "What if I say … I don't want to?"
As soon as she said that, the six counts, including Lisban, frowned at the same time!
The hall was like the surface of a lake that had another stone thrown into it. Once again, waves of annoying whispers rose.
Many people subconsciously looked at Count Lisban, but the latter only furrowed his brows slightly.
"What's going on?"
"Again? On the last day of the state affairs hearing, did this young girl also … "
"I really don't understand … How can a little girl who doesn't know anything dare to throw a tantrum on the archduchess' throne …"
"Damn it, Dragon Clouds City can't go on like this …"
"Hey, guess if she's a year older, will she roar and order us to find her a nice dress?"
"Like I said, she's just like other women. She needs a whip from her husband …"
"Look at her skinny arms. She probably can't even lift a sword, and she dares to …"
The voices in the hall rose and fell. It was so noisy that Nicholas had to speak sternly again to maintain order.
As he listened to the rumors, Thales gradually furrowed his brows.
But Saroma still held her head high and stared at her vassals without showing any signs of weakness. She glanced at a certain direction in the hall and took a deep breath as if she had made up her mind.
"What if I insist?"
Saroma glanced at Hearst with a complicated expression, then glanced at the aggressive Count Lyner with difficulty. She then cleared her throat. "In the name of the Archduchess of Dragon Clouds City, I insist … No, I order that my marriage will not be decided here, and it will not be decided because of this."
In an inconspicuous corner, Thales curled up the corners of his lips slightly.
'That's right.
It's that little lioness who lifted her dress and kicked his thigh with puffed cheeks and a red face.
'I wonder when it started …'
"Everyone, if that's the case …"
The archduchess' voice echoed in the hall. "What will happen to all of you?"
Once she said that, there did not seem to be any changes in the hall for a while.
But Thales inexplicably felt that the temperature around the six seats beside the archduchess seemed to have suddenly dropped!
All the counts turned their heads in unison. Their gazes were fixed on one person.
Lisban was the regent.
It was as if he was the source of everything.
But the archduchess exceeded their expectations once again.
"Please don't look at Ciel anymore, everyone." Saroma's voice trembled slightly, like a branch swaying in the cold wind. "He didn't teach me to say this."
Lisban was stunned.
Count Nazaire's gaze slowly froze on the archduchess' hand, which was holding the armrest of her throne.
"Very good." A few seconds later, he said softly, "You surprised me a little."
Saroma took a deep breath. She felt that Nazaire's strange gaze had a magical power that could penetrate people's hearts.
But the strange look in Nazaire's eyes only lasted for a short while before it returned to its original solemn and indifferent look. It was as if the surprise brought by the archduchess just now was really just a coincidence.
Beside him, Count Lyner snorted softly.
"You are the archduchess. In Dragon Clouds City, your authority is innately supreme.
But the question is, are you really prepared? "Count Lyner's tone was devoid of any emotion, but every word he said was crucial." Are you really going to abandon your vassals here, because of this matter, and dominate Dragon Clouds City as a lonely widow? "
'Abandon my vassals …
'As a lonely widow …'
This sentence made the atmosphere in the hall even more tense.
But Count Lyner still stared at the archduchess on the stairs expressionlessly.
Saroma's face turned pale. She gritted her teeth. "Count Lyner, what are you —"
Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Count Hearst, who had always been very friendly, spoke.
He raised his hands at both sides and took the initiative to speak first, as if he was trying to mediate between them. "My Lady, Count Lyner, I think we should all be cold —"
This time, Count Hearst was interrupted by Lyner's merciless words.
"We all know about your blind thoughts, Count Hearst!
But don't 'teach me' what to do anymore. That right only belongs to the late King Nuven. "
Thales sighed. Even though Lyner said those words to Count Hearst, his gaze was still fixed on the archduchess.
This made the pressure on Saroma even heavier.
Hearst's golden beard trembled.
A few seconds later, the Count of Flatiron County, who had been rebuked, put on a cold expression and did not continue the conversation.
The hall became quiet again.
Thales and Ian were the only ones who were paying attention to the development of the situation with completely different emotions.
The archduchess' expression was as calm as still water.
The vassals' gazes were as sharp as swords.
Soon, Count Nazaire sighed and rejoined the conversation.
"That is truly regrettable, my Lady.
Of course, as a count, I am powerless to oppose or even stop your decision. "
Like a slightly disappointed old man, Nazaire shook his head and said softly, "But I, of course, only I, will still advise you, and even advise you with my actions. In the face of the crisis of the Alliance of Freedom, in this battle between the City of Faraway Prayers and Black Sand Region, it is best for us to put our own safety first."
Without realizing it, Saroma held her breath and frowned.
"Advise? Action? Put our own safety first? "The archduchess' arm stiffened." What do you mean? "
Nazaire looked at her indifferently and did not answer.
Thales exhaled through his nose subconsciously.
'Well done, Saroma.
'We are close.
'We are close.
'In this game, we have completed the most important connection:
'War and marriage.
'We will win.'
Lisban chuckled disdainfully. "So, you, Nazaire, and even many of the vassals who are dissatisfied with not being able to intervene in the marriage of the king, in the face of the crisis of the Alliance of Freedom, you must refuse to be summoned by the Lady, refuse to gather your armies, and even …
"Like many of the vassals of Black Sand Region and the archdukes of other territories, refuse to pay taxes to the Lady, just like how they rebelled against King Chapman?"
Nazaire did not pay any attention to him.
Count Cotterson, who had always been straightforward, narrowed his eyes and stared at the archduchess. He arched an eyebrow and said, "Of course I hope that it won't become like that, Lady.
But there are many times when we have no choice. "
Saroma's expression changed.
"Sending troops to the Alliance of Freedom is to protect the honor of the Walton Family. It is the person your ancestors swore loyalty to.
"If we watch the war of the Alliance of Freedom with folded arms and refuse the City of Faraway Prayers' request for help, then we, as the Archduchess of Dragon Clouds City, and all of you as the dukes of Dragon Clouds City …" The archduchess gritted her teeth and said coldly, "We will all become laughingstocks.
Whether it is a weak woman who is powerless to protect the name of her father and ancestor, or a Northlander who is cowardly and does not dare to face the enemy she defeated years ago! "
The other four counts, whether it was the merciless Cotterson, the sarcastic Lyner, the taciturn Karkogel, or the gentle and polite Hearst, all averted their gazes and avoided Saroma's gaze.
Only Count Nazaire stared at the archduchess with a spirited gaze. He sighed softly in resignation. "During the six years of internal strife and disasters, Dragon Clouds City is already on the verge of collapse. Refusing to send troops may damage the reputation of the Walton Family and us, but it is a good way to ensure that we do not sink in this whirlpool."
By the side, Lisban snorted coldly. He was rather disdainful.
The archduchess seemed to be gnashing her teeth. "You know, Count Nazaire, and all of you, all of you know that we must send troops! Even if it's not for the Dragon Spear Family or to assist the City of Faraway Prayers, but only to suppress the king's ambition and prevent us from drifting along with the waves in the internal whirlpool of the kingdom!
"This is also for Dragon Clouds City!"
But in the next moment, old Nazaire's voice rose abruptly and interrupted Saroma's words.
"Then, for Dragon Clouds City, why can't you understand?"
Saroma was startled.
Below the stage, Thales' fists loosened and clenched.
'Close.
'Close, Saroma.
Just one more step! '
Count Nazaire's gaze on the archduchess suddenly changed. There was a sharp glint in his eyes.
"If you can choose your husband with an open mind and sober mind and stabilize the future of the Dragon Spear Family, then all the problems can be easily solved.
"At that time, as the archduchess, you will be stationed in Dragon Clouds City. You will raise the Walton Family's flag of honor in a justifiable manner and give the order to send reinforcements to the City of Faraway Prayers.
"Your husband, who is also in the Walton Family, will lead the army and join us, the vassals, in an expedition to the West to clean up the chaos in the Alliance of Freedom."
The count said coldly, "While reviving the family's prestige and protecting Dragon Clouds City's honor, we can also win the City of Faraway Prayers' alliance. We can even dampen the king's arrogance and show off our existence and strength. Isn't this a better solution?"
The archduchess bit her lower lip. She seemed to be a little flustered in front of more than twenty vassals.
At this moment, Saroma's regent, Count Lisban, spoke in a timely manner.
"Deal with the king? Is that true? " Regent Lisban snorted softly. "At this juncture where the City of Faraway Prayers and the king are playing chess, all of you are deliberately using the suzerain's marriage to obstruct us … Why? Are the benefits offered by Black Sand Region and the bones left behind by King Chapman that easy to lick?"
At that moment, Nazaire was like a fierce beast whose tail had been stepped on. He turned his head abruptly and glared at Lisban.
"Be careful with your words, old friend."
"Lampard did come to me." Count Nazaire's words were cold, as if he had an irreconcilable grudge against Lisban. "But the Nazaire Family of Dragon Clouds City is not something that a rotten piece of trash like him, who kills his own family and seizes the throne, can order around, no matter how glib his tongue is and how sinister his intentions are.
"But please believe me, My Lady, this is purely my own decision, because I believe that this is the best future for Dragon Clouds City."
Nazaire continued, "Your rights will not be interfered with in any way. As long as you are a noble and handsome man in Dragon Clouds City, how you choose, and which one you choose as your husband, is still up to you. This is Dragon Clouds City's —"
Unable to take it anymore, Lisban shouted angrily again.
"That's enough, Nazaire!"
The regent said coldly, "All you can do is talk about is' for Dragon Clouds City '.
"But, to let the archduchess marry one of you? Is this your solution? "
Lisban shook his head slowly. His eyes looked as if they were about to shoot out sharp blades. "Do you really know what this will bring to Dragon Clouds City?"
The center of the battle seemed to have returned to the two counts.
"Of course."
"My Lady," Nazaire's voice became low, but his eyes did not leave Lisban. "I know what Ciel … Count Lisban said to you. It was nothing more than 'the archduchess needs to keep the upper and lower ranks in check and maintain the balance of power in Dragon Clouds City', 'a suzerain marrying a vassal rashly is detrimental to the internal governance of Dragon Clouds City', 'you cannot entrust your identity and power to Dragon Clouds City', and other such excuses as the reason why you refused to marry him.
"Indeed, it is not without reason. I have worked with Ciel for many years, and I know better than anyone else that he is not a fool. These worries do exist."
Nazaire stared at Lisban with a complicated gaze, but when he turned to the archduchess, his gaze became even more peculiar.
"I originally did not want to say these words, my Lady," Nazaire said softly, "but you made me suddenly realize that perhaps I should not treat you like a young child who knows nothing. You are, after all, the archduchess."
Saroma thought of something.
Lisban furrowed his eyebrows.
"So, do you think that your marriage is really just like what some people said, to bind the Walton Family's power to a certain family in Dragon Clouds City and seize it into our hands?"
"No."
Count Nazaire spoke softly with slight exhaustion, "This is for a higher and more important purpose."
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? Everyone, the next chapter has been coded and edited. It is scheduled to be published at twelve-thirty. I am going to eat.
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