"The Archbishop will be leaving Ampere Seale in three days. He is currently in his meditation room and is not receiving any guests, Miss Magadal." The guards of the Holy Cathedral were dressed in red robes, their silver breastplates glistening under the sunlight. They held spears in their hands, and although they had a polite smile on their faces, they did not look like they were going to bend the rules.
The Nun Princess sighed softly.
She turned around.
The dome of the Holy Cathedral was bathed in endless light, but it seemed to reflect the last ray of light of the kingdom. In the hazy light, the sound of bells echoed, announcing the end of an era. In the Rokshbe Palace, the six Grand Dukes and their envoys sat on both sides of a round table and began to divide up the remaining riches of the kingdom. Knives, forks, and fish were all on the plates.
… …
The buzz of discussion rose into the air, and the roof of the palace, supported by the black jade pillars, echoed with the sighs of thousands of years. Among the many different opinions, only one voice solemnly announced:
"Since the founding of the Erouine Kingdom, the late King Erik led the people to overcome all obstacles and built this glorious paradise from the wilderness. The late King made an oath that the fate of the kingdom would be decided by the nobles and the people together. Today, the kingdom is once again facing division. Because we cannot bear to see the innocent lives lost in the flames of war, we gather here, and with our fingers on the sword, we make a new contract for the future of the kingdom — "
Duke Seifer finished this oath and raised his head. The hall was as silent as the winter snow. His eyes shone with a cold and wild light. "My colleagues here, if anyone still agrees with this ancient contract, please raise your hand with me to prove that the blood of the nobles of the Erouine Kingdom flows in your veins." After he finished speaking, he slowly raised his right hand, as if he was holding a sharp sword in his hand and pointing it to the sky.
The giant beast in the shadows bared its sharp teeth.
The hall was filled with a collective noise. Except for the two Cruz bishops, everyone stood up and raised their right hand. Just like their ancestors did in the wilderness, the ancient nobles crossed their swords and made a sacred oath in front of the Lionheart Sword —
"I vow to lead my people —"
'I will lead them away from strife and slaughter, away from the arrogance and greed of the nobles of the Empire. I swear that in order to not repeat this cold-blooded mistake of history, I will make the nobles of this new kingdom follow the spirit of the Knight — fair and strict, upright and brave, benevolent and generous. I swear this oath, and I will use all my strength to keep it!'
Brando was the last to get up.
He raised his hand, but looked on coldly from the side. Not only had these people lost the Lionheart Sword, they had also lost the swords in their hands. Therefore, they had long forgotten about the sacred oath. The sacred contract lost its effect. The cities of the kingdom turned into illusions, and the vast territory melted like snow before him. From the mountains to the plains, from the forests to the sea, only one voice echoed.
Revolution.
Brando gently closed his eyes, and the Halran Gaia vibrated close to him, as if sensing its master's agitated emotions. The sword was about to break out of the box, but Brando calmed down a little. It was not time yet. Flames were spreading from the ground, and magma was about to swallow everything, but it was not time yet.
"Two hundred and sixty years ago, my ancestor, the last king of the Seifer Dynasty, lost the responsibility of the Lionheart Sword and gave the throne to His Majesty Luxen the First. He was also the founder of the Corvado Dynasty, the founder of Erouine's resurgence. It is undeniable that this wise king created the prosperity of Erouine for nearly a hundred years. However, two centuries later, the kingdom declined again, and history returned to square one — "
Duke Seifer continued, "My niece, Princess Gryphine, is the descendant of His Majesty Luxen the First. Do you agree?"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was another round of discussion in the darkness. Everyone knew that under the high-sounding rhetoric, there was an unconcealable desire for power, but it was undeniable that Duke Seifer's words resonated with many people. It was undeniable that the Corvado Royal Family had an undeniable responsibility for Erouine's decline.
Everyone looked at the eldest princess of the kingdom. Princess Gryphine raised her head without changing her expression. "I don't agree with your words, Your Grace."
There was an uproar.
Brando looked at the princess. He knew that she had a noble wish in her heart, but she had no choice but to submit herself to the mud. He wanted to see what she would say, and how she would support Erouine's fragile faith in the darkness. Compared to the ten years after Erouine's death, this was undoubtedly the darkest moment before dawn.
Arreck was still expressionless, and he did not say a word. Almost everyone was on Duke Seifer's side, and the princess was like a lone boat in a storm. The Royal Faction, which seemed to be in harmony with her, could not even make a weak sound.
"So, House Corvado intends to abandon everyone and stick to their own course?" Duke Seifer's expression was cold, and his voice was as sharp as thunder.
"The Corvado Royal Family will fulfill their responsibilities as royalty, but if someone wants to break the promise of the ancestors, I will not take a step back," Gryphine replied fearlessly.
"What did you say?"
"According to the agreement, my brother is the rightful heir of the kingdom. No matter how eloquent you are, my uncle, you cannot change this fact. As for my brother, the Corvado Royal Family will not allow someone who killed his own father to ascend the throne, let alone my stepmother. As long as I am alive, I will not allow her to break the sacred agreement with those despicable people and frame Erouine. "
The moment the princess said this, the hall became so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard. Even though everyone knew that there was something fishy about Oberg the Seventh's death, they didn't think that the princess would be so unyielding as to reveal such a shameful matter in front of everyone. Duke Seifer sucked in a breath of cold air, and his face turned pale.
"Nonsense!" Duke Seifer shouted angrily, "Your Highness, please maintain your dignity!"
"Maintain my dignity?" Gryphine seemed to be enraged. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, "Your Grace, you want me to maintain my dignity? Then let me ask you, who was with my father when he was dying? Then let me ask you, when my father secretly sent me a secret letter asking me to save him, where were you when I was stopped outside the palace? As a daughter, you could only watch as your father died at the hands of despicable people. Your Grace, do you still want me to maintain my dignity? "
Her voice was close to sobbing as she spoke. Everyone saw the strong princess actually shed tears. Her whole body trembled, her fists clenched, but she still proudly stuck out her chest, proudly facing all her enemies. At this moment, she was no longer Erouine's princess, but a daughter who was filled with grief and indignation for her father. However, the pride of the royal family overlapped on her, giving everyone the illusion that King Oberg the Seventh was right in front of them, denouncing the crimes of the queen.
Everyone looked at each other.
Most of the nobles looked at Duke Seifer and the Archbishops of the Holy Cathedral.
Duke Seifer's face was pale, as if he had been stabbed by Gryphine's gaze. He took a step back and couldn't help but exchange a look with Archbishop Moros not far away. Only then did he calm down. "Your Highness, I think you might be too agitated. The late king's health has always been poor. There might be some misunderstanding here …" He was well aware of his sister's actions and could not help but reply with some embarrassment.
Gryphine bit her lower lip and glared at him.
At this time, Moros finally came to the rescue, "Your Highness, I understand how you feel, but we are not talking about the death of King Oberg the Seventh. Please consider the millions of people in Erouine. Once the kingdom falls into war, the people who will be sacrificed will be your father's people. If the late King Erik was here, I'm afraid he wouldn't have the heart to let this happen. Does everyone still remember the oath you engraved on your swords? "
Although the new Archbishop's face was gloomy, his voice was unusually gentle, as if it had the power to bewitch people. Brando secretly praised him. He didn't pay much attention to this old guy before, but now he realized that this guy was an expert in Erouine. The moment he opened his mouth, he hit the princess's weak spot. None of the high-ranking people in the Holy Cathedral of Fire were incompetent. He looked at Gryphine again, wanting to see how the princess would respond.
"Once the kingdom falls into the flames of war," Her Royal Highness turned her head, the tears on her cheeks still wet. She smiled a little bleakly: "Aouine is so poor and weak, but you still don't repent. The kingdom will be engulfed in the flames of war, and the kingdom will be engulfed in the flames of war. A hundred years later, this land will only be in ruins. I wonder if all of you will have the face to meet Aouine's ancestors, and how will you have the face to meet King Erik? "
There was an uproar in the hall.
Brando was so shocked that he almost jumped out of his seat. He stared dumbfoundedly at the weak seventeen-year-old half-elf girl. She stood there, isolated and helpless, but her eyes seemed to penetrate the heavy fog of history and saw the inevitable end of Erouine. She actually saw it? She actually saw it!
Brando had always thought that the princess had chosen the wrong path and would eventually follow the kingdom into the abyss. But he didn't expect that the princess had already seen her destiny. She had already seen the darkness and thorns, flowing with blood, burning with hellish flames that could not be changed.
What was the power that controlled her, that she was just supporting a hope? Or was it the responsibility of the royal family? Brando looked at the seventeen-year-old half-elf girl, and for a moment, he couldn't breathe.
"Your Highness, you are being an alarmist." Moros replied faintly, "The Holy Cathedral of Fire will never allow the kingdom it protects to be destroyed."
Gryphine looked at him calmly, "Lord Archbishop, please speak."
"It is time for Erouine to choose a new ruler. The nobles of the kingdom are all here, and according to the ancient agreement, let them once again decide the fate of the kingdom." Moros replied, "Presumably, this will also be the voice of this ancient kingdom. We will let it once again echo in this sacred hall and sign the sacred contract. Glory and justice, it will all be here."
Duke Seifer's face was full of pride. Duke Arreck's eyelids drooped, and his face was expressionless. Most of the other nobles agreed, except for Duke Viero's group of envoys. Count Janilasu, the admiral of the navy, looked at the princess alone and also expressed her opinion.
For a time, the situation in the huge side palace was completely one-sided. The Royal Faction looked at Duke Arreck, but did not receive any response from him. Brando saw this scene and could not help but be slightly surprised. This was very different from history, the Royal Faction was in an absolute disadvantage in the meeting. He stared coldly at Arreck, and his hand that was placed on the hilt of Halran Gaia loosened a little.
The development of the situation was beyond his expectations, and he once again suppressed his murderous intent.
Fortunately, he looked at it again.
"Your Highness?"
"I will not allow it." Gryphine seemed to have expected this situation, and answered coldly and decisively.
"Your Highness, I suggest that you do not be stubborn," Bishop Moros's face changed, he did not expect that the princess would not even give him face, "Even the royal family needs the nobles to rule the kingdom. If you are stubborn, you will only cause the Covardo family to be isolated. I think you do not want the nobles of the kingdom to kill each other, right? "
This was a blatant threat.
However, there was no trace of fear on the princess's face. She replied calmly, "There is no king above the throne. When the time comes for the nobles to bleed, Erouine will choose a new king, but there is one condition that must be fulfilled. I think, have you all forgotten the ancient oath? "
The Lionheart Sword.
Everyone's face changed, only then did they remember that if Duke Erouine wanted to choose a new king, he would first have to abide by the oath of the late King, King Erik. "If one day, the nobles of Erouine forget their duty, then this sword will return to where it came from, and will no longer protect the kingdom." The Lionheart Sword had been lost for more than two hundred and sixty years, and no one knew where it was.
This sword happened to be lost by the Seifer Dynasty, and it was also the reason why the last king of the Seifer Dynasty passed the throne to the Covardo family. As long as the sword did not return, it meant that the Seifer family did not have the right to reclaim the throne.
Everyone was stunned for a moment. The oath of the late King Erik was a heavy shackle that locked the hearts of the nobles of Erouine. It was the foundation of the Erouine Kingdom, and no one dared to deny it because it was tantamount to denying the existence of the nobles. When the princess said this, the hall suddenly became so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard.
Then, everyone suddenly remembered something. Everyone present turned around and looked in the direction of Brando.
To be exact, it was Countess Yanbao, Dilferi.
Brando was slightly stunned and turned around. He found that the countess' face did not have the slightest bit of shock. She seemed to have expected this scene. Her expression was calm, but her snow-white face was a little absent-minded. She looked at Gryphine not far away, and there was a complicated look of struggle in her eyes.
"Dilferi?"
"Mister Brendel, do you think that Mother Marsha always cares for those who are pure and righteous?" The countess sighed softly and suddenly asked in an almost undetectable tone.
Brando was slightly stunned, but Countess Yanbao, Dilferi, had already stood up in front of everyone's eyes. She wore the glorious emblem of her family on her chest — the emblem of a broken sword. Brando looked at the emblem and suddenly remembered something. A rumor about the kingdom's most mysterious family. His expression changed, but the countess had already said to Princess Gryphine in the distance, "The House of Swords greets the King of Erouine. Your Highness, three months ago … the Lionheart Sword's throne was broken, and it is time for the kingdom to choose a new King …"
When Dilferi answered this, her body could not help but tremble. She was Gryphine's best friend, but she knew that when she said this, she was hurting her.
"I'm sorry, Gryphine. I don't know why this happened either. When the throne was broken, the House of Swords lost its meaning of existence. Your Highness … "The countess could not help but cry after she finished speaking.
"It's alright, Dilferi. The Kingdom will bring glory to you once again. The Lionheart Sword will never let down anyone who is loyal to the Kingdom and its people —" Gryphine smiled. She raised her head and saw Duke Seifer, who had a victorious look on his face, and Moros, who had a gloomy face. "Your Highness, the truth is in front of you," Duke Seifer said proudly. Duke Seifer said proudly, "The throne of the Sacred Sword has been shattered. It is meaningless for the Royal Family of Covardo to remain on the throne. It is time for the kingdom to choose a new king."
"According to the sacred agreement, now is the time to return the choice to the nobles of Erouine." Moros nodded.
"Is that so? Then who do you think will be the new King of Erouine?" Princess Gryphine suddenly asked.
"Of course —" Duke Seifer immediately opened his mouth. He knew that the nobles present had long been suppressed by the Holy Cathedral. Even Duke Arreck was no exception. The Holy Cathedral supported House Seifer to regain control of Erouine. Now, it seemed that even the will of the heavens was on his side. The shattering of the Sacred Sword proved all of this. He was full of himself and was only waiting to say the name that could not be changed.
But at this moment, Duke Seifer opened his mouth as if he had seen a ghost. He realized that he could not continue speaking.
This was because he saw a girl.
Or rather, a female trainee Knight. The female Knight was standing next to the princess. Duke Seifer felt that she looked familiar. Right, the girl's face vaguely resembled the famous' Scepter of Fire 'Everton. Could she be his descendant? But this was not the key. The key was the sword in the female Knight's hand.
The sword was four feet long, and the guard was like a pair of spread wings. A golden lion was biting the edge of the sword, and the blade was as cold as a pool of silver.
The blade swayed slightly as it was raised high. The light on the sword was like the first ray of sunlight when the snow melted in winter. It flowed into the eyes of everyone present.
The Sacred Lionheart Sword.
"This is impossible!" Someone in the crowd could not help but scream.
"If one day, the nobles of Erouine forget their duty, then this sword will return to where it came from. It will no longer protect this country. But as long as there are people who are loyal to the oath on the sword, it will still protect everything that belongs to this glorious land. The House of Covardo has never forgotten the oath of the late King. I wonder what the rest of you think? " Princess Gryphine looked at the sword and was a little intoxicated. But she turned around and asked in a cold voice.
"No," Duke Seifer was a little incoherent because of this dramatic scene. "No, this can't be true! The Sacred Lionheart Sword has been lost for more than two or three hundred years. There is no trace of it. There is no way they can find it. Archbishop Moros, please believe me. This must be a fake. "
Archbishop Moros turned around and stared at Princess Gryphine with his sharp eyes. "Your Highness, can you prove that the Lionheart Sword in your hand is the real one?"
"Archbishop, are you suspecting that I am lying in this situation?" Princess Gryphine asked coldly.
"No, Your Highness. I am just maintaining the strictness of a notary."
Princess Gryphine frowned. For a moment, the hall fell into silence. The Sacred Lionheart Sword was like a symbol of Erouine. No one thought that the archbishop and Duke Seifer would dare to deny it in front of this sword. Some of the sharper ones immediately realized that the conflict between the two sides had reached a point where they would not rest until one of them was dead. Everyone stared at the princess and Duke Seifer, wanting to see the final result of this confrontation.
Even Duke Arreck raised his eyelids slightly for the first time.
At this moment, a steady and solemn voice sounded from outside the hall. "I can prove that this sword is the real Lionheart Sword —"
Everyone was shocked and turned around at the same time. The door of Rokshbe Hall opened, and a figure stepped into the hall through the flowing sunlight. His back was facing the light, and the light was like sharp swords behind him. Everyone could not help but squint their eyes. However, these sharp swords dissipated one by one, and then everyone saw the person who came. It was a knight wrapped in emerald green armor.
"Ah!" Countess Dilferi was stunned for a moment. She sat down on a chair in a daze. "How is this possible …"
This is … the Knight of the Lake! Brando also stood up from his seat. He suddenly felt that history was too strange.
… (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.)
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