That's right. How many twists and turns must have happened in between to turn the former Duke of the Empire, the blessed God of War Knight, the Wolf General with outstanding combat strength into a 'scholar' who was addicted to research in a laboratory? Furthermore, this' scholar 'was able to give his daughter a whole day's worth of math papers at a rate of thirty questions per hour. It was glorified as' Brain Entertainment '…
Andesha suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. She shuddered subconsciously before she began to think of the best way to tell her grandfather what happened to her father in a concise manner.
"This matter … should start from the snowstorm at Winterwolf Fortress the year Father went missing." Finally, the young Wolf General broke the silence. "That year, Father did not fall into the Ansu's encirclement. Instead, he encountered the followers of the Apocalypse Society who were active at the foot of the Gloom Mountain Range …"
A warm wind blew from the plains, ruffling the lush flowers and trees in the Longbranch Manor. The pond in front of the main house shimmered. Leaves and flower petals that came from nowhere landed on the surface of the water, swirling and creating a circle of fine ripples. A maid in the manor bent down to pick up a beautiful flower petal that floated to the side of the pond. However, the flower petal suddenly trembled and curled up, as if it was being roasted by an invisible force. It crumpled into a ball and quickly drifted in another direction.
The maid raised her head in surprise and nervousness. She subconsciously looked in the direction of the main house, but did not discover anything.
The chirping of insects passed through the open window, and the heat of the early summer afternoon gradually seeped in. Ferdinand retracted the energy that had accidentally leaked out. He quietly listened to Andesha's narration, his brows furrowing at times and calming down at other times. After a few ups and downs in his emotions, all his thoughts and thoughts finally turned into a long sigh.
Captured by the Dark Cultists, having his faith erased, having his flesh and soul twisted by dark magic, falling into the Dark Cultists, being tainted with sin and corruption, and finally pledging allegiance to a foreign country … If he had not heard Andesha's narration personally, he would not have believed that these things had happened to the Empire's former rising star, to the son he was most proud of.
The old duke could not help but imagine how he would have reacted if he had learned of these things when he was younger, at a more stern and cold age. Would he have first grieved for Bard's suffering as a father, or would he have been enraged by the dust of his family's honor as Duke Wendell? He realized that he could not imagine anything. After witnessing the greatest darkness and malice in the world on the battlefield at Winterwolf Fortress, too many people had changed permanently, including Ferdinand Wendell, who was once known as the 'Iron Duke'...
The old duke sighed again. He felt that he was getting old after all.
"Father said … he had done a lot of wrong things, and he did not intend to use the excuse that he had no choice. He said that many of his crazy and depraved evil deeds were done on his own accord when he was rational and clear-headed. At that time, he was completely obsessed with the idea of the end of all things, and he was deeply moved by his savior's self- and wrong-headed passion. Although he has been pardoned today, he still wants to use the rest of his life to atone for his sins on the land that he had hurt." Andesha nervously observed the changes in her grandfather's expression. After he sighed twice, she still told him what Bard had told her. "Also, he said that although he had pledged allegiance to Emperor Cecil, he had not done anything that harmed Typhon's interests, including revealing any military or technological secrets. He only wanted to be a dutiful researcher."
"A dutiful researcher …" Duke Ferdinand mumbled softly. "So, he won't be coming back. Did he mention anything that he wanted to tell me?"
"He asked about your physical condition in detail, but did not ask me to pass on any message to you." Andesha shook her head. "I asked him, and he looked like he had something to say, but … but he did not say anything in the end."
"I know." The old duke shook his head lightly, as if he was not surprised. He only sighed. "When he still needed to rely on his father, I only saw him as an imperial soldier and the heir of the family. Now that he has broken away from these two identities … I should not be surprised by this result."
"Grandfather, Father, he …" Andesha hesitated. She was not very clear about how her grandfather and father interacted. Those distant memories of her childhood were already blurred in her mind, so she did not know what she should say now. "He still misses you very much."
"I know, Andesha. Don't worry. I know." A hint of a smile appeared at the corner of Ferdinand's eyes. "I am his father, after all."
Andesha nodded slowly. Then, she could not help but ask, "Do you blame him for the decision he made? He has already given up his identity as a Typhon … and he might stay in Cecil forever. "
Ferdinand did not answer for a moment. He only pondered quietly. At this moment, he suddenly thought of the dreams he had in the past. He had seen those "omens" that seemed to reveal Bard's fate in the illusions that were difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion. He had been perplexed by them, and now … he finally knew the truth behind those "omens".
After a moment, the old duke suddenly asked, "Do you think he's doing well over there?"
"He's doing very well," Andesha said almost without hesitation. She recalled the days she spent with her father in Solinburg. Even though her father's work was somewhat incomprehensible to her, the fulfillment and relief she saw on her father's face could not be faked. "He has a new way of life and a new social life. I can see that he's enjoying his current state."
"Then I have nothing to complain about," Duke Ferdinand said softly. "After so many years, he should be living for himself."
"Grandfather, about His Majesty …"
Duke Ferdinand shook his head slowly. Just as he was about to say something, a sudden knock on the door interrupted the old man's next movement. Both grandfather and grandson looked in the direction of the sound at the same time. A servant pushed the door open and entered the hall. He bowed and saluted. "Your Grace, Madam, a royal messenger has come to visit."
"A royal messenger?" Andesha confirmed in surprise. She subconsciously looked at her grandfather, but saw that the old man's face was calm. Duke Ferdinand nodded slightly at the servant. "Invite the messenger in."
In just a moment, the royal messenger who suddenly came to visit appeared in front of Andesha under the guidance of the servant. He was a middle-aged man with a calm and confident temperament. He wore a dark blue coat with delicate silver edges and red patterns. Two servants followed behind him, each carrying a long and ornate wooden box.
Andesha could not help but guess the reason why Emperor Rosetta suddenly sent a messenger here. At the same time, she followed the standard etiquette to receive this visitor from the Obsidian Palace. After a few simple greetings, Duke Ferdinand asked about the messenger's purpose. The man in the dark blue coat smiled. "His Majesty knows that General Andesha has returned to her territory today. The general has made great contributions to the empire, and has also gone through an entire day of winter imprisonment. Therefore, he ordered me to send a gift of condolence —"
He turned around and pointed at the ornate wooden box held by one of the servants. "This is a Knight's Longsword that was personally enchanted by the president of the Royal Association of Mages, Madam Windsor Mappel. It can freely control the powerful Winter Power or change the gravity within a certain range. It can also protect the user at critical moments, allowing the user to be immune to one Legendary-level fatal attack. His Majesty has given it the name 'Winter'. It is now yours, General Andesha. "
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your gift," Andesha immediately said. She then ordered her servant to receive this gift that represented great honor. After opening the ornate wooden box, a Knight's Longsword with a sharp blade and a layer of ice that would never melt on its surface entered her sight. It was indeed a good sword.
Even though the era of traditional warfare had passed, and such a single soldier's weapon no longer had the ability to control the entire battlefield in the face of powerful group cannons, it was still a good sword.
While ordering her servant to keep this gift, Andesha and Duke Ferdinand's gazes could not help but land on the wooden box carried by another royal servant.
"This second gift is for you, Duke Ferdinand." The messenger turned to Ferdinand Wendell, and a solemn look suddenly appeared in his smile.
"Ever since General Bard Wendell perished outside Winterwolf Fort, the Wendell Family has been performing their duties loyally for the past twenty years, making indelible contributions to the Empire. Now that General Andesha is in danger again, you have protected the Empire's precious elite forces and prevented the Winter War from falling into an irrecoverable situation. The entire Empire should thank you and your family for your great contributions and sacrifices.
"Here's another sword. Although it's not as powerful as' Winter ', it has a particularly important meaning: it's His Majesty's sword for the past twenty years. It's called' Trust '.
"It originally had a sister longsword called 'Loyalty', which was General Bard Wendell's sword. Unfortunately, it was lost after General Bard perished in battle twenty years ago. Now, His Majesty has given this sword to Your Grace, firstly to thank the Wendell Family for their long-term contributions, and secondly to entrust a memory to you. He hopes that you will treat it well. "
Andesha listened nervously at the side. Suddenly, she gasped softly as she realized a very important detail in the messenger's words.
Ever since her father led a troop and went missing at the foot of the Gloom Mountain Range twenty years ago, although almost everyone thought that this wolf general was no longer alive, all the official statements of the Empire had concluded that he was missing. Especially the Imperial Family, they had never used the word 'perished in battle' on official occasions!
The young wolf general quickly realized something. She looked at her grandfather and saw that the old man was stunned for a moment. Then, his lips trembled slightly as if he had used a lot of effort to finally speak, "I … thank His Majesty for his grace …"
"Please accept this gift." The messenger smiled and gestured for the servant behind him to come forward. "This is a token of His Majesty's appreciation."
"Yes, of course." Duke Ferdinand said immediately as he ordered his servant to take the long wooden box. After opening the box, a sword with a delicate and practical design embedded with sky-blue gems on the hilt appeared in front of him.
"Did His Majesty say anything else?" The old duke looked up at the messenger and asked quickly.
"Only a very simple sentence." The messenger looked at the old man solemnly. "He said, 'Take care of yourselves.'"
"Take care of yourselves …" Duke Ferdinand subconsciously repeated this sentence softly. After a long while, he slowly nodded. "I understand. Please allow me to express my gratitude to His Majesty again."
The messenger had a mission on his shoulders, so he did not stay in Long Branch Manor for too long. He quickly left with his servants, leaving only Andesha and Ferdinand in the hall of the manor's main house.
The two longswords with special meanings had been put away by the servant and sent to the weapons display room nearby.
Andesha finally could not help but break the silence. "Grandfather, His Majesty, he …"
"There's no need to guess His Majesty's thoughts, especially when he's already given you the chance to turn around." Duke Ferdinand shook his head and interrupted Andesha's words. "Child, remember, your father is no longer alive. From today onwards, he died twenty years ago."
Andesha looked at her grandfather, then slowly nodded. "Yes, I understand."
"… Get someone to get a bottle of wine from the wine cellar." Duke Ferdinand was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "Let's drink together … There are too many things to celebrate today."
…
The long-awaited sunlight shone on Oldenheim. After the fog dissipated, the city finally embraced the clear blue sky. On this first day of summer, the entire city would welcome the rare few clear skies in a year. The musty smell accumulated during the long foggy season would quickly dissipate on these warm days like snow under the sun.
In the study on the upper floor of Obsidian Palace, the head maid of the royal family, Diana, pushed open the door and came to Rosetta Augustus.
Emperor Rosetta looked up from his scroll and looked at Diana. "It seems like the gifts have been delivered?"
"Yes, the messenger just sent a message." The black-haired Diana nodded slightly. "Duke Ferdinand and General Andesha have already accepted the gifts. The whole process went smoothly."
"Is that so … Then they must have understood my intentions."
At this point, the Empire's ruler could not help but reveal a slightly strange smile. He shook his head with a complicated expression. "Speaking of which, I really didn't dare to imagine that Bard was actually still alive … Although Ferdinand had mentioned his dreams and premonitions, who would have thought that the senses of these Extraordinaries would be verified in such a manner …"
There was more than one commander of Typhon who was captured along with Andesha. Among them, there were a few who were more seriously injured who were transferred to the Solin area to recuperate. Although the information that these people had access to was very limited, the name Bard Wendell still reached their ears, and was passed to Emperor Rosetta's desk after they returned to their country.
This was a very simple and direct information transmission line, so simple that one could tell at a glance that there was no secrecy or disguise involved.
Emperor Rosetta could not help muttering to himself as he pondered, "From a certain point of view, this information was actually passed to us by Gwen Cecil himself …"
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