Marshall stared at the forest on the hillside. The forest made the Sapphire Mountains appear dark in winter. A group of patrolling soldiers slowly slid down from the forest on the hillside. Only a few of them had intact armor, but their battle robes were tattered and hung on their bodies like rags. Some of them used sharpened wooden sticks as weapons, and everyone looked hungry. He lowered his head and silently wiped his longsword. The blade was already curled. The reason it was not broken was that every White Lion Knight in Tónigel was equipped with the best equipment — refined armor and swords that could only be produced on a small scale in handmade workshops. Especially the weapons purchased in batches before 776, they were all of the highest standards set by the merchant lady. They were the finest products produced by the master craftsmen in Hazel.
The ragged cotton armor of the nobles' soldiers could not even withstand a single strike from the golden-haired knight, and the armor of the lord's knights could only take a few more hits. Sometimes, even the armor-piercing awl could not be used. He still remembered the look of shock and fear on the golden-haired knight's face during the first battle. But superior equipment could not determine the outcome of a battle with a great disparity in strength. The army of Grinoires had formed layers of blockade in the south. There were thousands of them, and there were also the gargoyles and ironmen of the Saasalds. The White Lion Guards and the Valkyries protected the princess. Day after day, they were forced to the Sapphire Mountains. There was no food in the mountains to support an army, especially in winter. Even if there were only a few hundred of them, the rebels wanted to trap them alive.
Marshall chewed on a piece of hard grass root, which was the last of his food reserves. As for the specifics, he could not remember when he had last eaten. His brain was a little numb from the cold. The last meal was when he shared a roasted mountain rat with his colleagues, but he had forgotten when it was. But food was getting harder and harder to find. The patrolling soldiers were not so much on guard, but looking for food. A few hundred people crossing the mountain forest was like a disaster. They even had to dig a layer of the frozen soil to look for hibernating animals. If not for the poisonous bark of the sapphire trees, they could also be used to make soup.
He remembered the first few bloody battles. Both sides had tried their best to knock each other down, but the nobles had retreated after paying a terrible price. They had chosen to surround the enemy instead of attacking. In the first battle, he remembered that he had killed three people and was covered in wounds. Later on, the more he killed, the fewer wounds he had. In the end, there was no one for him to kill — the other party stopped attacking. Sometimes, he thought that it would have been better if he had died in those bloody battles so that he wouldn't have to suffer.
He was one of the third batch of White Lion Knights. This was also the last batch of White Lion Knights trained by Tónigel before the war. He was a native of Tónigel, born as a commoner. When he was selected, his results were neither good nor bad. However, three days ago, he replaced his captain and became a Great Knight. In Erouine, this step meant that one would become a true noble, and one would become a Baron. However, this was meaningless because no one knew if they could survive the next battle, just like the person he replaced.
Marshall didn't have any regrets.
He was not the eldest son. Before the Second Tónigel War, his shoemaker father had kicked him into the army camp and told him to stand up like a real man to protect 'what was really worth protecting'. However, he did not make it in time for the war because the war ended in the first week he entered the army camp. During the battle of Ampere Seale, he was selected to join the White Lion Guards. In a sense, this was considered a success.
However, he only felt a little regretful.
The White Lion Guards would not admit defeat so easily.
It was like a pride of lions that had lost their Lion King. If the Lion King was still around, they would not have ended up like this.
Marshall gently put down the rag. The curved blade of the sword shone brightly in the cold winter air. A handsome face was reflected on the blade that was as bright as a pool of dim light. That face had a very serious expression. The young Knight was slightly stunned because that face was not his own.
He raised his head in astonishment, and a tall shadow cast over him.
With a clang, his sword fell to the ground.
Now —
The Lion King was back.
The Eldest Princess' face was pale as she leaned against a cushion. Her silver pupils revealed a deep contemplation. She had been injured and was so weak that she was almost boneless. Her originally slender hand was now even more clearly visible. Under her almost transparent skin, the blue veins quietly flowed. There was a sickly beauty to it.
There was a small gap in the tent door, and bright light flowed in from the outside and fell on her body. She stubbornly sat up straight, and with both hands grasping her sword, she stared in that direction for a long time.
Freya could not help but feel sorry for her. Last night, Brunhilda told her that the princess was in so much pain that she broke out in a cold sweat in her sleep. Her clothes were soaked in sweat, but she did not make a sound when she woke up, as if the wound had completely healed.
"Eat something, Your Highness." She could not help but persuade her again.
"What about you?" Gryphine turned and asked.
"I've eaten." Freya quickly replied: "The soldiers found some chickadees …"
She could not continue because the princess was looking at her with a half-smile. She pointed at the food on the plate: "The chickadees have all gone to the south of Chablis in winter. This is chicken, just like what you gave me yesterday. You said you found a turtledove yesterday and we each ate half of it. Is this the other half that you were supposed to eat?"
"Your Highness, I …"
Gryphine shook her head: "Freya, I can eat the Roman lady's unprofitable business no matter how long it takes. To think that she gave it to the soldiers as rations. This chicken tastes like dried wood that has been stored for a year. Didn't anyone tell you about it?" She blinked her eyes playfully on her pale face. "As a princess, I'm very picky. Although you're Everton's daughter, you might never understand the life of a noble since you were born as a commoner."
The Knight's face turned red after being exposed. She wondered if her brain was not working properly. Otherwise, why couldn't she do something as simple as telling a lie?
But the smile on Gryphine's face disappeared. Even in such a weak state, she still exuded a dignified aura. She frowned and said, "Freya, did you secretly save your rations for me?"
"But I'm not like you, Your Highness …" Freya quickly defended herself.
Gryphine raised her head and looked at her: "You're my commander, silly girl."
She stretched out her hand and stroked the sword lightly.
"We've already found out that Amandina went to the Lighthouse after leaving Magitan. If we move closer to Grinoires, we'll have a chance to save her. If I can't recover from my injuries, you'll take my sword and represent my will. You must save her. "
"Your Highness!"
Gryphine raised her hand, "This is also for the war in Tónigel, Freya, and … I can't let Mr. Brando down."
She gently closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, and her voice lowered: "I don't want to leave any regrets. Do you understand, Freya? I don't want to let everyone down. Just like my father, he owes you Bucce an apology …"
"He is him, and you are you," Freya's chest heaved up and down: "Everyone in Bucce curses your father, saying that he's a fatuous ruler, but he has a good daughter. For you, we're even willing to forgive your father's mistakes. Because we only hope that Your Highness can live well, and one day, under her watch, everything in this kingdom will become better than before! "
Gryphine's eyes were a little red, and she smiled: "Don't worry, I won't give up so easily. Even in the darkest moment, I've never been defeated. I'm Hallefou's daughter, and the blood of the Holy King flows in my body. No one can defeat me, not even death. "
Her words suddenly stopped.
Her silver eyes were a little frozen.
Freya was just about to say something, but a slender hand was already placed on her shoulder.
Freya almost froze. She clearly felt someone enter the tent, but she thought it was Brunhilda, because the Valkyries didn't report. But as soon as she felt the familiar warmth of the hand on her shoulder, she immediately understood that — —
Who's back?
The strong female Knight's eyes were immediately covered with a layer of water. Her eyes were as red as a rabbit's, and when she turned her head, tears burst out of her eyes. She wanted to tell the person in front of her how difficult their situation was. She wanted to tell this person how worried she was about the war in Tónigel. She wanted to tell him that Amandina had been taken away by those people, and she didn't know if she was alive or dead.
She wanted to cry out loud, just like a child.
But duty made her stand in place, and she still let the tears flow down her face. She looked at the familiar face in front of her with teary eyes.
Brando looked at the crying Valkyrie with some heartache.
He never thought that the flag of Aouine in his memory would one day be helpless in front of him, like a child without feet. Strong and firm, weak and slender, the moment when the two different kinds of beauty intersected, it deeply touched the softest part of his heart.
But the princess was still at the side, and Brando could only gently wipe away the tears on the Valkyrie's face.
"I'm sorry, ladies, I'm late."
"But in my opinion, it's always just right." The princess replied with a faint smile.
In the narrow tent.
The two of them looked at each other in silence.
One of them stood.
One of them sat on the bed.
Freya suddenly understood that he and the princess might have a lot to talk about. Her tears were still wet, and she hugged Brando tightly, secretly holding his hand. Brando understood what she meant, and he sighed in his heart at this kind girl. He smiled at her and nodded.
"I, I'm going to see Miss Brunhilda. She, she might have something to ask me … …" Miss Knight found a poor excuse and turned to leave.
When the two of them passed by each other, Brando whispered in her ear: "There's food outside, I brought some supplies for you."
Freya's face turned red, and she ran away without looking back.
Princess Gryphine watched the interaction between the two of them with an astute attitude. Her eyes were bright, and she smiled slightly, but she was actually a little concerned.
"No one can defeat you, not even death, Your Highness," Brando looked at his princess: "Because they can't reach you at all. Your Knight is in front of you, and no one can do it without my permission."
"No one can do it with your permission," Princess Gryphine added: "Mr. Knight, you seem to have experienced a lot."
"Yes, is there a hint of vicissitudes?"
"No."
After saying this, even though she was very weak, she couldn't help but laugh.
Brando also felt the change in the princess. She had become more mature. Perhaps this was the real her, and gradually overlapped with the shadow in his memory. He took out the Angel's Heart Bottle and motioned for her to drink, but the elven girl was unmoved and only looked at him with expectant eyes.
Brando was stunned, and then his heart jumped slightly.
He helped the weak girl up, and the two of them snuggled in an ambiguous way. The Fairy Princess looked at him with trust. Brando's heart beat a little faster as he lowered the Angel's Heart Bottle and dripped a drop of the glowing liquid on the tip of her slender tongue.
The princess swallowed it, and the majestic vitality contained in the liquid immediately began to work. Her withered limbs became plump again, and her skin became white and delicate. Her silver eyes became brighter little by little, and her cheeks became healthy and rosy. Her scattered silver hair glowed with a dazzling brilliance. It was like a withered flower once again began to bloom in life.
Gryphine looked at this incredible scene in shock. She didn't even care when the serious injuries on her body were completely healed.
"This is … …"
"This is the Angel's Heart Bottle."
"That is the holy artifact formed by the blood of angels?"
Brando nodded.
The princess seemed to be lost in thought, "I owe you even more, my Mr. Knight."
"I'm just worried that the princess still hates me," Brando replied helplessly, "Let's call it even."
Princess Gryphine raised her head in embarrassment. "Don't talk about that!" But the memory that made her embarrassed and angry was now a little sweet.
This topic made the half-elf girl feel a little embarrassed, and she slightly moved away from his arms.
Although Brando was a little disappointed, he also understood that the princess' actions today had already proved her trust in him. He couldn't go too far, and the distance between the two of them just now had already made him a little embarrassed.
Princess Gryphine calmed down first, and began to describe what happened after he left. Some of these things were already heard by Brando, but when it came from the princess' mouth, it was a different feeling.
When Brando heard the part about Erouine's country, the ambiguous atmosphere in the tent had already faded to almost nothing.
After a long narration, Princess Gryphine suddenly stopped, and then asked, "Can you tell me about the Saasaldians?"
This topic seemed to have opened a Pandora's Box, and the tent suddenly fell silent.
Brando looked at her in surprise, he originally thought that the princess wouldn't take the initiative to mention it. After thinking for a while, he didn't have much preparation in his heart, so he simply told her everything that happened after he left Erouine, and finally mentioned the Saasaldians.
He did this to avoid embarrassment for the princess. The elven girl obviously understood this, and she felt a little warm in her heart.
About Brando's trip, she actually knew a little from other sources, but after all, it wasn't so detailed, and there were several times when she was entranced. She was a good listener, and her good upbringing prevented her from showing subconscious tiredness at any time. Moreover, Brando's narration was fascinating, and there were a few times when the princess exclaimed softly.
But when he reached the last part, Princess Gryphine's expression turned cold.
She didn't expect that so many major events had already happened in this world, and yet the nobles of Erouine were still arguing endlessly over trivial matters. They didn't even hesitate to disturb the kingdom, colluding with outsiders and evil cultists. What a laughable joke. Perhaps in the eyes of outsiders, this ancient kingdom was simply an abandoned child that couldn't be saved.
When Brando finished his last sentence, the tent fell silent again.
Both of them lowered their heads, as if they were thinking about something, and the air was filled with an aura of silence.
After a long time, Princess Gryphine said faintly, "So at least many people in the Royal Faction knew from the beginning that the Twilight Dragon was behind the Saasaldians?"
Brando nodded silently.
Princess Gryphine was expressionless. She seemed to be weighing something in her heart, but when she finally opened her mouth, it took her a lot of effort to say, "The ancient nobles and their noble beliefs created this kingdom. Erouine has never forgotten those who fought to change its fate, but history is always changing, and some people are indeed no longer so suitable …"
Brando looked at her hands that were clenched into fists. Her knuckles were obviously white, and they were even trembling slightly.
She was born in the flourishing era and had witnessed the best spirit of this kingdom.
But she had also witnessed her father die under cold-blooded politics. She hated this outdated system more than anyone else, but she also had a rare warmth in her heart.
However, at this very moment, with just one sentence, she had ended the lives of countless people, including those who had worked with her before, those who had supported her, her friends, and even her maternal grandfather, the relative who had reached out to her when she was in a desperate situation.
But if the history of a kingdom could not move forward in a pool of blood, then it could only turn to dust in the flames.
Brendel wanted to comfort the weak girl, but he said, "Don't worry.
"It's not enough."
Princess Gryphine raised her head and stared at him coldly with her silver eyes.
"This time, Your Highness, don't forget that I'm also on the opposite side of you."
The princess took a deep breath, as if she had already made a great decision, "I'll marry you, and we have a marriage contract. In the future, you can …"
Brando smiled bitterly. Although it was also a political marriage, he felt a little warm in his heart. At least he understood that in her heart, his position could even be on par with her ideals and beliefs. He looked at the princess, but he did not want to see her softening at this time.
He did not know whether he should be happy or angry, but he still shook his head because that was not what he wanted, "Haruz is the king of this kingdom, Your Highness. If we want to give Erouine the brightest future, we must give him the most legitimate status."
The tent fell into a dead silence.
After a long time, Princess Gryphine raised her head and looked at him with some resentment, "Very well, as you wish, I will execute you, the Count of Randner and Tónigel, the Lord of Abies, and the great hero of Erouine in public, for blasphemy against the members of the royal family and disregard for the central government."
Brando scratched his head embarrassedly, "Stop, stop, I'm not that great, Your Highness. In fact, there is a relatively gentler way, maybe I will leave Erouine. Next, Erouine will also participate in the war with the Twilight Dragon. I believe that Tónigel and Valhalla will be the backbone of this war. I entrust it to you, and I hope you can use it well. "
"Why should Erouine listen to your command? Do you mean that Haruz and I are just puppets under your control?" Princess Gryphine's face was expressionless, and she changed her tone into a cold one: "Unfortunately, after you left, Aouine turned to the embrace of the Twilight Dragon. Anyway, its selfish princess and king only care about their own people. As for the great responsibility of saving the world, I'm afraid the people of Aouine are unable to shoulder it."
Brando knew that he had offended the princess and did not know whether to laugh or cry for a while.
But after a while, he heard Princess Gryphine ask faintly.
"… Where are you going?"
"Maybe I have to settle the score with the Bugas first, then Saint-ausol …"
He wanted to continue, but Princess Gryphine interrupted him.
"At least before you leave, Mr. Knight, can you hug me again?"
Brando was stunned.
He looked up, and Princess Gryphine's slender neck was slowly dyed red, and her blush was extremely cute. She tilted her head slightly and did not look at him.
Brando opened his mouth, and he wanted to say no, but found that his body was not under his control at all.
He felt his heart beating very fast, and he slowly and gently knelt in front of the princess. He did not even dare to look into her eyes. He just gently took Gryphine into his arms and felt that the half-elf girl's weight was as light as a feather.
Princess Gryphine curled up motionlessly in his arms, tenderly listening to her Knight's strong and powerful heartbeat.
She whispered, "I'm sorry if I accidentally diluted the position of the Roman lady in your heart, but I was also your fiancée, wasn't I?"
What else could make one's heart soften more than a strong and proud princess lowering herself to whisper sweet nothings into one's ear? But just as she said, other than blaming himself, what else could he say?
I'm sorry, I can't say those three words easily, because I have a responsibility to this kingdom …
Because I've already promised the kingdom, it's difficult to promise the king.
Brendel listened quietly to the princess's story.
"I have one last request," Princess Gryphine said in a soft voice, "Mr. Knight."
She looked up at him.
"Please be sure to bring back Miss Amandina."
Brando nodded seriously.
Because this was not a promise, but an agreement between two ladies.
…
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