The gray sky seemed to be covered with a layer of frost. Marquis Yoakam exhaled white air from his mouth as he looked away from the magnificent railings of the manor. There was a faint smile on his thin and pale face. "What a terrible weather, my lord." The attendant behind him could not help but complain. Marquis Yoakam had been wearing a mink coat. He just rubbed his hands and said, "Although the temperature is lower than the winter when the ice melts, no matter how cold it is, it can't stop our hearts from burning."
"It's ambition, isn't it?"
Marquis Yoakam smiled but did not answer. He put his hands back on the railings and silently watched the two carriages led by the Knight pass through the bare avenue and stop in front of the manor's gate one after the other. At this time, there were many well-dressed nobles gathered in the hall. Although most of these people were famous local merchants and gentry, the meeting had almost nothing to do with them. In this game that decided the fate of the kingdom, as insignificant people, they only had the right to 'applaud'.
However, the carriage brought the real important people —
When the carriage slowly stopped, the whole hall became quiet. The loud chatter turned into whispers. The guests in the hall could clearly see the coat of arms on the black carriages through the tall arched windows. There was a crescent moon, a crisscrossed scepter, a crown, and a unique winged serpent seal. The identity of the carriage's owner was obvious — the last bloodline of the House of Covardo, the Princess of Erouine and her brother.
However, compared to the declining royal family, the other carriage only had a simple seal of a ferocious eagle. The coat of arms was like a dark cloud that pressed down on people's hearts. If there was one of the six Dukes of Erouine who was powerful, the answer would be Arreck.
The Knight first opened the door for the princess. Gryphine's light purple dress was like a sudden rolling cloud. She slowly walked out of the carriage. She slightly raised her head. Her light silver eyes were like autumn water, faintly shining with a clear and restrained brilliance. Soft silver hair hung over her slender shoulders, and a layer of fur shawl was draped over her shoulders, but it set off the half-elf girl's fragility. But now, this fragility supported a kind of innate unyielding and pride.
Everyone present subconsciously held their breath. They had heard that the princess of the kingdom was the brightest pearl on Erouine's crown, but only when they saw it in person, did they understand that the rumors were true.
That old guy Arreck, this was the thought in the hearts of most of the people present. But Marquis Yoakam, who was on the balcony, only showed a profound smile. He lowered his head and sniffed the musk on the mink gloves. He thought to himself, Duke Arreck actually appeared with Her Royal Highness. What a cunning guy. Is this a footnote for the frequent contact between the two sides? But in his opinion, what kind of price this little girl from Kurt sold herself to was the most interesting thing.
The door of the second carriage opened, and the people present inevitably felt suffocated. Even Yoakam on the balcony could not help but frown. Duke Arreck under the handrail did not look as old as the rumors said. His hair was gray, his eyes were like an eagle, and his serious face was full of dignity. His lips were thin, and even the beard on his chin was meticulously groomed. It could be said that compared to most of the nobles, the Duke looked more dignified.
He was wearing a black sable robe, under which a light silver breastplate was faintly discernible. However, no one would think that this Grand Duke was a coward. The Highlanders valued martial arts, and Grand Duke Arreck had also been on the battlefield all his life. He attended every occasion in a military uniform, which had long been a scene in the noble circle of Erouine. Yoakam did not even need to look to know that there must be a heavy sword under the belt under the robe. This sword was not used by most nobles for decoration. In his life, Arreck had cut down no less than double digits of enemies with it. As for the flowers in the greenhouse, they would probably vomit when they saw the corpses.
But Yoakam was somewhat jealous. Ordinary people were not allowed to carry weapons when they entered the venue, but Duke Arreck was obviously not in the category of ordinary people. This was a privilege that only the Duke could enjoy. Although his identity was special, compared to many of the important people presiding over this meeting, he was only a little better than the people in the hall below.
Duke Arreck slowly walked out of the carriage with a silver cane in his hand. His pair of eagle eyes looked around, and when he saw the princess, his serious expression eased slightly. He brushed his robe with his hand and walked over with a smile. Very gracefully, he extended his right hand to Princess Gryphine. "Today, you are the most beautiful princess in all of Wohnde."
Gryphine's expression was as usual. She raised her hand to let the powerful Duke support her. "Thank you."
"It is my honor to have a wife like you."
"According to the agreement, when Haruz ascends to the throne, I will naturally become your wife, Your Grace." The half-elf girl replied faintly.
Duke Arreck smiled and did not say anything.
Behind them were Duke Arreck's close vassals and the Royal Faction's Oberwei, Makarov, Fleetwood, and others. These people looked at each other face to face, and on the surface, they seemed to be harmonious. However, this kind of harmony expressed a fixed meaning within the rules of the aristocratic game. When it fell into the eyes of those who were interested, it naturally had a different meaning. Of course, for most of the mediocre people, among the group of people, Devard, who still had a bandage on his hand, was the most eye-catching one. This most outstanding swordsman of the Highlands was lucky enough to save his right hand in the previous duel, but the wound on his arm was not something that could be healed in a short time.
The guests in the hall could not help but whisper when they saw this person who was in the news a while ago. The news of Devard's duel in the Anderla Cathedral had already spread throughout Ampere Seale. As for the two parties involved in the duel, it was naturally the center of the discussion. It was a pity that this special honor did not bring glory, but shame. Devard's face was ashen. This proud eagle of the Highlands could not be proud now.
Marquis Yoakam was also one of the people who witnessed the duel. He stood on the balcony with a smile and greeted Duke Arreck, thanking the Duke for lending him his guard that day and apologizing for his recklessness. However, when he saw Devard and the others enter the hall, he could not help but think of what happened that day.
Who is that young man? The Holy Cathedral was tight-lipped. It seemed that other than the Archbishop, no one knew the origin of the other party. It seemed that he came out of nowhere. But came out of nowhere? Is that possible? He thought that he had already known the various families of Erouine, but now it seemed that the pool of water in the kingdom was still very deep. Marquis Yoakam rubbed his eyebrows. Wood was from the Cruz Empire. He had long known that the Cruz Empire had bought many secret forces in the kingdom, but as for the purpose of making a move at this time, it was hard to say.
Or was it Wood's chess piece? It doesn't matter, anyway, the one who has a headache is not me, Marquis Yoakam thought. Suddenly, a figure flashed in his mind.
At this moment, the big shots representing the various forces of Erouine had arrived one after another. Luxurious carriages stopped one after another in the forest outside the manor. First was Duke Seifer's carriage. As the Queen's brother and the uncle of the future King, Duke Seifer would naturally side with the North Group. Following closely behind was Marquis Balta. Marquis Balta came from the Sword Castle. This family had long controlled the White Lion Legion for the Covardo Royal Family.
The enemy of the White Lion Legion was the Cruz Empire, but it was hard to say who the enemy of the Sword Castle family was. Marquis Yoakam was surprised, but the next carriage startled him slightly. This dark carriage was like a ghost that slid into the forest. The emblem on the carriage was so unfamiliar. On the crimson background was a broken sword that seemed to remind the world of its unique pride. Marquis Yoakam hesitated for a few seconds before he reacted. The Yanbao family, a lonely soul that drifted away from the noble circle of Erouine, had actually come to Ampere Seale.
A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Not only the marquis, but the entire hall of the manor quieted down, just like when Arreck and Her Royal Highness had arrived together. Perhaps not many people knew what the Yanbao family meant to Erouine, but in terms of the degree of mystery, this family might be ranked in the top three in this ancient kingdom. The last time Count Yanbao met the King of Erouine was thirty years ago. There seemed to be some kind of tacit agreement between the kingdom and this ancient family, which allowed the King of this land to ignore one of his subordinates.
Even Brando did not know the reason for this, because this secret was also lost in another period of history with the fall of Erouine. But this did not prevent him from sitting in this mysterious carriage with a clear conscience. In contrast, the Count, or Countess, who was sitting opposite Brando was slightly nervous. Dilferi had never had the experience of sharing a carriage with a strange man in her life.
Usually, it was the female Knight, Nia, who accompanied her, but today Brando was playing the role of her aide and vassal. It was natural for an aide to share a carriage with the Lord.
When the carriage stopped, Brando lifted the curtain and looked out. He saw the royal carriage and Arreck's carriage parked in the most eye-catching position, as well as Freya and Maynild beside the carriage. The future Goddess of War was actually dozing off. Brando could not help but feel a little funny, but his heart was warm. Everything familiar with the past was still there, and Erouine had not completely slipped into the abyss of destruction. Everything seemed to be turning around. Sometimes he was really worried that this was just an unreal dream.
But only when he saw Freya's face, which still had some of the youthful face of a young girl from Bucce, the face that belonged to the future Goddess of War, did he feel that everything had become real again, as if he could touch it with his hands.
Then he withdrew his gaze. At this time, the Knight outside the carriage had already opened the door. The one who opened the door was Nia, and the female Knight glared at him unhappily. Brando did not care. He got out of the carriage first, and then extended his hand to the Countess. Dilferi hesitated for a moment, then took his hand and jumped out of the carriage.
As soon as the two got out of the carriage, they attracted a lot of attention. Of course, Brando did not think that these gazes were directed at him. In fact, they were. Everyone in the manor was surprised by Dilferi's age. She was wearing a Countess' robe, and the three silver lines on the fur robe proved her identity. Yanbao had a new heir.
But among all the people present, at least one gaze fell on Brando.
"It's you!" Devard, the Eagle of the Highlanders, who had been silent all this time, suddenly let out a roar. The roar was so loud that it made people wonder if it was made by the thin body of the swordsman. The roar penetrated the hall of the manor, and even the floor shook as if it reflected the anger of the owner of the voice.
Everyone was startled.
Dilferi was no exception. She had already thought that Brando and the others were here to cause trouble, but she did not expect that trouble would come knocking on her door as soon as she got out of the carriage. This was not what they had agreed on. The Countess could not help but frown and look at Brando with a questioning look.
The focus of her gaze had now shifted from the Countess to Brando, but Brando only felt a little embarrassed. He could not help but raise his eyebrows. He did not expect that this guy would come with him even though he was injured.
…
(Note 1: Kurt is the hometown of Gryphine, in the province of Corcova.)
(PS: Miss, I was wrong again. 55555. We had originally agreed on two chapters, but the editor of Qidian had something to do with me today, so I filled in some forms and delayed it. Leave it for tomorrow, I will hurry up when I come back tonight …) If you like this work, you are welcome to come to qidian.com to vote for me. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
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