In the silence of the night, only the faint hooting of an owl could be heard.
In the small guest room, the atmosphere was so tense that it was almost suffocating.
Earl Oman and Knight Louis stood there in a daze. They were caught off guard by the news from Butler Durrington.
They never thought that the Duke Of St. Hilde would really make a will.
For a moment, thousands of thoughts flashed through the minds of the two men, but none of them were clear.
Butler Durrington did not seem to mind the silence of the two men as he opened the parchment in his hands.
Earl Oman and Knight Louis' breathing suddenly became heavy. They looked at each other, then immediately turned back to the butler, as if waiting for the final judgment of fate.
Durrington did not seem to sense the abnormalities of the two men. He cleared his throat and read the contents of the parchment.
"I, Cyril St. Hilde, as the 17th Dukes Of The North, confer the title of Marquis of the Northern Frontier to Vera St. Hilde. After my death, she will inherit the position of Dukes Of The North and wield the authority of the Northern Frontier. She will inherit the glory of St. Hilde …"
"Impossible!" Before Drynden could finish reading, Knight Louis cried out loudly, his face full of disbelief and fear.
Earl Oman's face was gloomy, and his eyes flashed with a dangerous light. His tone became as hard as iron. "Sir Durrington, are you mistaken? Young Master Joisse is ranked before Miss Vera. "
Butler Durrington said solemnly, "How could I be mistaken? This is the will written by the Duke Of St. Hilde himself. "
"I don't believe it!" Knight Louis began to move towards the door, obviously preparing to block the exit.
Earl Oman also slowly approached Butler Durrington and said in a low voice, "Can you let me see this will?"
Butler Durrington did not seem to realize his situation at all. He calmly handed the will to Earl Oman.
Earl Oman quickly scanned it, and then his face became completely gloomy.
He recognized the handwriting of the Duke Of St. Hilde. The will was real.
Knight Louis could tell from the change in Earl Oman's expression that something was amiss. He immediately clenched his fists, prepared to turn hostile at any moment.
"My Lord, have you finished reading it?" Meng Chao asked calmly. "Have you finished reading it?"
Earl Aulmann slowly put away the parchment and stared at Butler Durrington for a moment. Then, he exchanged a look with Knight Louis. Finally, he turned around and threw the will into the fireplace.
Hu — —
The flames instantly ignited the parchment, but Draglinden seemed to be oblivious to it.
Only when the Duke Of St. Hilde's will was reduced to ashes did Count Oman and Knight Louis finally let out a sigh of relief.
However, Butler Drinden's behavior puzzled the two of them.
Why didn't he stop it?
Earl Oman suddenly laughed before he turned around and said to the butler, "Mr. Feldon, you don't want to see Miss Vera inherit the position of the Duke, do you?"
A smile finally appeared on Butler Durrington's cold face. He nodded and said, "Yes."
The tension in the room suddenly disappeared.
Knight Louis laughed and said, "Mr. Butler, you should have said so earlier! We almost misunderstood you. "
Butler Durrington said meaningfully, "If you had said so earlier, how would I have known your true attitude?"
Earl Oman clapped his hands and smiled. "Mr. Butler is right!"
Knight Louis nodded again and again. After a while, he asked in confusion, "Mr. Butler, why do you think the Duke wants to make Miss Vera the heir?"
Butler Durrington smiled slightly. "You probably don't know this, but the Duke made this will in September last year."
"September last year?" Knight Louis was still confused.
However, Earl Oman had already reacted. "Miss Vera's coming of age ceremony was in September last year, right?"
"Yes." Butler Durrington nodded. "It was after Miss Vera's coming of age ceremony that the Duke made this will and handed it over to me for safekeeping."
Knight Louis suddenly remembered that the previous Marquis of the Northern Frontier, who was also the Duke's second son, Adams, was poisoned to death at the coming of age ceremony.
It turned out that at that time, the Duke Of St. Hilde had already decided on the heir to the Marquis' position, but he did not announce it in public.
But why didn't the Duke announce that Vera was the Marquis of the Northern Frontier?
As soon as Knight Louis was about to ask this question, he realized that it was a stupid question. This was because the Duke had already betrothed Vera to the half-elf prince, Tupe Modiwen.
How could a woman who was married to a different race inherit the position of the Dukes Of The North?
But … why did the Duke Of St. Hilde make such a will?
"Didn't the Duke already marry Vera to Prince Tupé at that time? Why did he make a will to let her inherit the position of the Marquis? "
When he heard Knight Louis's question, Butler Durrington hesitated for a moment, and finally answered.
"Actually, I can't give you a clear answer to this question, but according to my judgment, His Lordship didn't want to make Vera his successor, but under some pressure, he had no choice but to make such a will.
Therefore, I have always felt that this will is not the embodiment of the Duke's true will, and it is most appropriate for it to be destroyed now. "
"Under pressure?" Earl Oman asked. "Who can pressure the Duke Of St. Hilde?"
Butler Durrington shook his head, indicating that he did not know.
Earl Oman's eyes flashed, and he suddenly felt that this must be related to the death of Marquis Adams, and perhaps Vera's background.
At this time, Knight Louis's slightly impatient voice sounded in the room. "Since the will has been destroyed, don't bother about it anymore! The most important thing is to control Winter Castle. We must not let Vera bring the Golden Lion Legion into the city! "
Earl Oman nodded in agreement. "Mr. Butler, if I remember correctly, the commander of Winter Castle's City Defense Force is Knight Thomas, right?"
"Yes."
"Do you know if he will support Young Master Joyce or Miss Vera?"
"Why don't we invite him over and ask him personally?" Butler Dragonden said with a faint smile.
Earl Oman and Knight Louis looked at each other and nodded immediately.
"Okay!"
…
In the dark night, Knight Thomas followed the attendant to the reception room of the Lion's Roar Castle.
Knight Thomas' surname was St. Hilde, and he was the cousin of the Duke Of St. Hilde. He had a horse face and was serious in speech and manner. He did not have a prominent reputation in the Northern Frontier.
However, to be able to become the commander of Winter Castle's City Defense Force, Knight Thomas was definitely a loyal follower of the Duke Of St. Hilde.
Entering the living room, Knight Thomas saw Butler Durrington. Of course, Count Oman and Knight Louis were also there.
As the commander of the City Defense Force, Knight Thomas knew that the latter two had entered the city that night.
"Mr. Butler, may I know why you are looking for me?"
"Knight Thomas, there has been no news of the Duke, and there are even rumors of his death. Now that the rebel army is approaching, I think that Winter Castle needs a leader to lead everyone through this difficult time.
Who do you think is suitable? "
The title of Lord of the Northern Region was' leader ', not' Duke of the Northern Region '. After all, the succession of a duke had to be conferred by the royal family. Of course, they had no right to decide who would become the Lord of the Northern Region.
However, Knight Thomas understood the meaning behind his words. He was asking him to choose a side.
"Where is the Golden Lion Legion? What's the situation like? "
Seeing Knight Louis in Winter Castle and the butler asking him to choose a side, Knight Thomas immediately realized that this matter had something to do with the Golden Lion Legion.
Sure enough, Knight Louis said in a sorrowful tone, "The Golden Lion Legion has been forcibly recruited by Miss Vera. They are fighting a decisive battle with the Dawson Family by the Rapids River!"
Knight Thomas narrowed his eyes, and his expression was uncertain. No one knew what he was thinking.
Then, Earl Oman asked, "Knight Thomas, do you think that Miss Vera is qualified to lead the Golden Lion Legion when the Duke Of St. Hilde's life is unknown?"
Knight Thomas' heart skipped a beat. He knew that the most critical moment had come.
Furthermore, he acutely sensed that Count Aulman and Knight Louis had him sandwiched between them, and were ready to attack. If he did not answer well, he might not be able to leave this place unscathed.
"Of course not. Young Master Joyce is the first successor of the Duke. "
Hu —
The stagnant atmosphere in the hall was instantly relieved.
Butler Durrington also had a smile on his face, and he asked, "So, do you also think that Young Master Joyce should be the leader of Winter Castle in the current situation?"
"Yes," Knight Thomas said in a deep voice.
Although Knight Thomas did not have an obvious preference between Vera and Joyce, he knew that he had to make a choice in the current situation.
And this choice could only be Joyce.
…
The glimmer of dawn tore through the darkness that shrouded the earth, and the first ray of dawn shone on the highest point of the Lion's Roar Castle.
After Joyce finished washing up with the help of the maids, Butler Durrington stepped forward and bowed.
"Young Master Joyce, there are a few guests waiting for you outside."
"Oh? Invite them in. "Joyce did not mind, but he was a little puzzled as to why there were guests so early in the morning.
"Okay!" The butler went out personally and led Earl Oman and the other two in.
Joyce obviously knew the three of them, and he greeted them with a smile, "Good morning, Earl Oman, Uncle Thomas, Knight Louis."
"Good morning, Young Master Joyce!"
The three of them greeted him in unison. Then, they knelt on one knee in front of Joyce and raised their swords above their heads.
Joisse was stunned.
He understood that this was an act of swearing allegiance, but …
He looked at Butler Delinden and saw him giving him an encouraging look.
Joisse seemed to have understood something, and a look of excitement appeared on his face. He immediately walked up to Count Aulman, took the sword, and placed it on his shoulder.
"I, Talos Oman, offer my unconditional loyalty to the noble descendant of the Paladin family, Joyce St. Sylde!
From now on, your will will be my direction, and your orders will be my highest creed! "
Joyce took a deep breath and tried his best to imitate his father.
"I accept your loyalty!"
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