Generally speaking, the busiest time of the year for Ampere Seale was from March. But from February onwards, the north thawed, and the merchants would pack up goods from the south and ship them to Corvado and Seifer, which had just recovered from the harsh winter. Furs, amber, and tobacco from Randner, pine nuts, and wood from Grinoires were all gathered here at this time of the year. As for Tónigel? Tónigel did not have any specialties, and the merchants only cared about whether the gold in their pockets increased or decreased. No one cared about what the poor villages produced.
Most of them were bandits and robbers.
It was said that before the winter last year, several fleets loaded with food were transported into Tónigel. From Ampere Seale to the Bunosson, everyone who heard the news had the first reaction of doubt. How could the country bumpkins have the money to complete the trade? Of course, not many people knew that Tónigel also owned one of the three silver mines in Erouine. But then again, the silver mine belonged to the Lord, so what did it have to do with them? Even children knew this.
In short, before the merchants could confirm whether the news was true or false, news of the rebellion and war in the south came again. Not only were there bandits and robbers, but even the rebels had appeared. This proved that Tónigel was a place of barren hills and turbulent rivers. In the eyes of the nobles, the old saying that barren hills and turbulent rivers produced unruly people was as accurate as a maxim.
But most of the pot-bellied nobles enjoyed the furs and spices from the south, and when they wore jewelry from the mountains, they did not need to know where they came from. Although Erouine was facing internal and external difficulties, and the north and south were shrouded in the shadow of war, the merchants were the most informed group of people. Because of this, most of the commercial activities had come to a standstill. But the area between Ampere Seale and Etorin was the economic core of the kingdom, the free trade port, and the permanent neutral zone promised by the Holy Cathedral. Gold was still flowing slowly like blood.
In Ometos, Feston was the closest outpost to Ampere Seale Port. Surrounded by mountains, the chill in the forest had yet to dissipate. The pine trees had just shaken off the snow on their needles, and the icy water from the thawing of Arreck's green mountains formed a gurgling stream that flowed through the forest. A group of riders passed through the forest, and birds flapped their wings and flew from the branches on both sides of the road, dropping a few feathers.
Maynild was patrolling the area with her Knight subordinates. Most of the first batch of Knight Academy sergeants were now able to hold their own. Behind her was Freya. Half a year ago, she was still a country girl, but now she was wearing a Knight's armor. Her face gradually gained the dignity of a soldier, but she still tied her hair up like before. The mark on her forehead from the last competition was still there, but it had faded a lot.
She wore the Lionheart Sword at her waist. The princess had told her not to draw it unless it was necessary, so she used an ordinary steel sword. The Knight girl with two swords looked a little funny, but Freya did not feel that there was anything wrong with it. In the militia, every sword was a precious asset. If possible, she would probably carry a few more swords, as if it would give her a sense of security.
In fact, it was the same mentality as people who were afraid of being poor would save their money whenever they had the chance. However, the Knight girl at least understood that it was ridiculous for a Knight to carry five or six swords. Besides, horses would not be able to take it.
During the training period in the academy, everyone could receive a new sword every month. This was because the intensity of the training was too high, and there were not many people who were willing to take care of their swords seriously. Most people would change their swords in a year. However, every time Freya received a sword of her own, she carefully stored it in a box under her bed. Now, she had six swords.
This was an old joke in the academy. When Maynild found out about this, she called her over and gave her a good scolding. Freya was frightened. She honestly admitted that she wanted to give these swords to the militia when they returned to Bucce. This way, they would be able to better protect their homeland.
After hearing this answer, Maynild was silent for a while. In the end, she did not say anything. The Valkyrie from Bucce continued to do as she pleased, preparing for her militia. This matter was quite famous in the academy for a period of time, and even the princess had heard a little bit about it. However, when Freya was recognized by the Lionheart Sword, no one mentioned it anymore.
Today, Freya's expression was slightly nervous. This was the first time she had left the academy to carry out a mission so far away from the academy. Although she had gone through real battles in Bucce, when she thought about how an insignificant existence like herself had to bear the heavy responsibility of protecting the princess, the future Goddess of War felt a little nervous. She always felt that the wind and grass in the wind were enemies.
Beside her, although Maynild was also very serious, she was calm. The Knight's sharp gaze pierced through the forest like an arrow. Finally, she realized that something was wrong. She looked at Freya, then looked again. Finally, she could not help but ask, "Freya, what are you doing?"
"Ah? Ah! "The girl reacted and hurriedly replied," I'm … I'm here! "
"Is there anything to be nervous about?" The Knight asked unhappily.
"I, I didn't … I didn't." Her voice was trembling.
The riders all laughed softly. Bretton could not help but shake his head in amusement. He was someone who had killed his way out of Bucce with Brando and Freya. Although he did not take the same route as Brando, the guards had also killed their way out. In Bucce, he used to like this girl, but in the end, he realized that her thoughts were not with him. Now, after the training and growth, the two of them were just comrades. Even his hostility towards Brando had lessened a lot.
After so many things had happened, Bretton felt that he had matured a lot. The superficial competitiveness of the past seemed a little childish now. It was as if the passion of youth had turned into another kind of hidden emotion. It had become deep and stable, and was connected to the fate of the kingdom.
Beside him, most of the youths had the same thoughts.
The Knight laughed softly, and even Maynild could not help but find it funny. The Knight's expression softened slightly. She did not know why Freya looked so frightened in front of her, as if she would eat her up at any time. She shook her head and said, "Freya, you are a soldier. You need to learn to be calm and collected. This is just a routine patrol. If you really go to war, won't you be so nervous that you won't be able to walk? "
The Knight laughed again.
"If I really go to war, I won't be so nervous." Freya hurriedly nodded her head, but she was criticizing in her heart.
Unexpectedly, Maynild seemed to have seen through her thoughts and said, "That's true. Unlike the others here, you and Bretton have seen real battles. But there's nothing to worry about. Her Highness is very safe. This is a neutral zone promised by the Holy Cathedral. No one dares to start a fight here. "
"Then why do we have to go out on patrol every day?" A Knight did not understand.
"This is to maintain the basic vigilance of a soldier. If a soldier cannot sense danger, then the kingdom we protect will be in danger." Maynild turned her head and replied coldly.
The Knight was slightly startled, as if they had just understood.
But Maynild turned her head and looked at the forest in the distance. There was no war here, but the real war had just begun in another place.
Behind the layers of forest, Viscount Ding's villa was located in a secluded valley. Magadal had used her connections with the Holy Cathedral to arrange for the Royal Faction to stay here and receive the generous hospitality of the owner. This place was far away from the bustling city, and was like a different world compared to Ampere Seale. The Nun Princess knew what kind of place her close friend liked. Besides, under the current circumstances, she also felt that Gryphine needed some peace and quiet.
Gryphine indeed needed some peace and quiet. She silently watched from behind the window on the second floor of the villa as Duke Arreck's carriage passed through the gate and slowly stopped in the courtyard surrounded by pine trees. This was the first meeting between the two parties, and it was related to the fate of the kingdom. But to put it nicely, she could not really control the fate of the kingdom. To put it bluntly, it was not up to her to decide.
Gryphine lowered her head, and the tips of her silver hair fell past her ears and down to her cheeks. She was not old, and a layer of cute fine hair could be seen at the edge of her face. But it was on this pair of delicate shoulders that she had to bear an unimaginable burden. Gryphine took out a letter from her bosom and carefully read it before putting it away.
"I don't know what you are resisting, but I am willing to do my best for Erouine and people like you. You are the one who gave me confidence and strength, Mr. Knight."
Duke Arreck's envoy had arrived late. The arrogance of the nobles made her deeply aware of her own weakness. But anger would not help. This was not an era that could be changed with just a wish. Gryphine knew that she had to give up something.
She turned around and ordered her maid, "Tell Arreck that I don't want to see him today."
"But?" The maid was a little afraid. Gryphine had never been willful since she was young. Although she did not understand the politics of those big shots, she knew that the decision of the princess at this critical juncture would deeply anger some people. She could not help but carefully persuade her, "Lord Fleetwood, Lord Makarov, and the others …"
But Gryphine looked at her coldly. There was no trace of willfulness or dissatisfaction in her silver eyes, only calmness.
"Arreck's envoy comes and goes as he pleases. Does he not care about the dignity of the royal family? I don't mind meeting him, but if this is his attitude, then there is no point in this negotiation. Tell Count Makarov what I said. From today onwards, I will not see Arreck's envoy for a week. "
She paused, "A week later, we will meet in the city of Ampere Seale."
When she finished this sentence, the childishness in her seemed to have completely faded away. She had become the future princess who would guide the fate of all the players in Erouine.
The Regent Princess of Erouine.
The fate of the kingdom seemed to have begun to walk on the original path at this moment.
… …
(I am a little stuck today, but I still persevered in writing a chapter to keep it running.) (To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to come to qidian.com to vote for me. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
