(Book 2: Silvermoon's Coup)
The setting sun scattered its last rays of light, and soon after, the boundless curtain of night enveloped the land.
Bonfires were lit in the camp, and the guards were busy boiling water, cooking, and feeding the horses.
Colin handed a letter and a cage containing a carrier pigeon to the Knight of Rego.
At the same time, he ordered, "Rego, immediately return to Icestone City and tell them that I am going to the half-elven kingdom. Let them take full responsibility for the administrative affairs of the territory.
I will write a letter every five days to explain the latest situation. If they don't receive my letter after three days, release this carrier pigeon.
Also, let Raymond and Ciel continue to be in charge of training the soldiers. When I return from the half-elven kingdom, I hope to see a preliminary army formed.
As for you, after you return, lead a thousand soldiers to the half-elven capital — — Silvermoon City. Meet me there. "
"Yes!" The Knight of Rego took the cage and turned to leave without asking where the carrier pigeon would fly to after it was released.
Actually, this was the carrier pigeon Marquis García gave Colin before he left. It went without saying where it would fly to.
Although Marquis García didn't say it explicitly, Colin already understood what he meant.
This time, as the messenger, Colin actually didn't need to lead his own troops.
After all, this wasn't a war, and the House of Saint Hilde had sent a thousand men to escort him. It would be more than enough to deal with any bandits or wild beasts along the way.
However, Colin felt that he had to control a military force that belonged solely to him in case of emergencies.
"Sir Viscounts, your dinner is ready."
"Send it in."
A servant carried a metal tray into the tent and placed the food in front of Colin before hurriedly leaving.
Although Colin didn't need to eat these normal foods anymore, in order to not attract unnecessary attention, he would still stuff the food into his stomach on time.
After finishing the food and drinking some "water", Colin walked out of the tent.
The composition of the camp was rather complicated. There were guards from the St. Hilde Family, the half-elven kingdom's Silvermoon Guards, and quite a few trolls.
Prince Okamoto's journey back to the Firmament Ice Field overlapped with Colin's journey to the half-elf kingdom. Hence, both parties travelled together for a period of time.
The troll prince had been in a very good mood recently. Although he did not manage to marry Vera and was instead sent away by the Duke with a girl from another family, the girl's surname was still Saint Hilde.
Furthermore, Prince Okamoto's objective for this diplomatic mission had already been achieved.
The Giant Demon Empire had successfully obtained a precious moment of respite.
As for giving the three important military bases of the Giant Demon Empire to the Northern Frontier, it wasn't a big deal.
This was because the Northern Frontier couldn't possibly place a large number of troops in these three important military locations. Otherwise, the thousands of miles of supply lines would drag down the Northern Frontier.
As for the promise that they would never invade the Northern Frontier …
Well, even the Duke Of Saint Hilde didn't believe in this promise.
In Okamoto's opinion, as long as the Giant Demon Empire could survive this period of time, there would be hope for them to rise again.
"Viscount Angley, come and drink with us!" Prince Okamoto shouted when he saw Colin strolling around the camp.
Colin looked at Prince Okamoto who was beaming with happiness. He didn't want to go over, but after hesitating for a moment, he accepted the invitation.
He had no choice. Ever since he left Winter City, he had been alone.
The guards from the House of Saint Hilde were not familiar with him, and Vera had been hiding in the carriage and refusing to see anyone. The atmosphere of the entire group was very depressing, and there was no celebration at all.
On the other hand, the half-elves were very happy. Prince Tupé was so happy that he almost became a fool. He followed the guards to drink and have fun every day.
However, it was obviously impossible for Colin to join them.
Now that Prince Okamoto had invited him with great hospitality, Colin went over. It was a good opportunity to drink away his worries and relieve his recent troubles.
"Come! Your Excellency Viscount Angley! Don't be so depressed. There are so many beauties in the world! Why do you have to be so entangled with Miss Vera, this flower? "
Colin rolled his eyes and ignored Okamoto. He just took the jug of wine that he handed over and poured it into his mouth.
"Cough cough …" The spicy taste in his mouth made Colin choke for a moment.
"What wine is this?"
Prince Okamoto smiled: "This is a medicinal wine brewed by the Giant Demon Witch Doctor. It is most suitable to drink at night. Hehe, it will liven things up!"
Looking at the wretched smile on Okamoto's face, Colin suddenly realized what the other party meant by liven things up.
"Don't you have any other wine?" Colin threw the jug of wine back at Okamoto.
"Haha, Your Excellency Viscounts, please don't be angry. I have a few dancers here. If you want to vent your anger tonight, I can help you to arrange …"
Colin was so scared that he turned around and ran away.
Giant Demon Dancer?
Forget it.
He would rather look for the five girls.
"Hey? Viscount Angley, don't go! " Prince Okamoto saw him running away and chased after him again. "I apologize to you. I really didn't mean to offend you …"
Colin waved his hand: "It's okay. You don't have to worry about me. Go back and drink your wine. I will walk around by myself."
"Then I will accompany you for a walk."
Colin looked back at Okamoto and said in a puzzled manner: "You have already achieved the purpose of your visit. There is no need for you to continue to be courteous to me."
"I really want to make friends with you." Prince Okamoto said in a serious manner.
Colin certainly did not believe such words.
However, he did not chase Okamoto away.
The two of them strolled to a small stream at the edge of the camp.
Looking at the slowly flowing stream, Prince Okamoto suddenly asked: "Your Excellency Viscounts, do you know why the Duke wants to marry Vera to Tupe?"
Colin was puzzled.
Could it be that Okamoto had also noticed the competition between the Duke Of St. Hilde and Marquis García for the successor?
"Why do you think it is?" Colin asked tentatively.
"It is a political marriage. What else can it be? Of course, it is for the sake of benefits." Okamoto said without hesitation.
"Really?" Colin frowned: "It is understandable that the Duke did not choose me. After all, I am just a small Viscounts. There is no value in marriage. But you … "
"Do you think that I am more valuable than Tupe?" Prince Okamoto suddenly laughed, and it seemed that he was very happy with Colin's praise.
"Is that not the case?"
Colin also realized that something was wrong at this time.
In his opinion, if the Duke wanted to destroy Vera's right to inherit the throne, it would have been equally effective for her to marry Okamoto or Tupe.
This was because the Northern Frontier would not accept a woman who was married to a different race to become the Duke, let alone her son, a half-troll or half-elf, to become the Duke's successor.
So, why did the Duke choose Prince Tupé in the end?
In Colin's opinion, Prince Tupé's status was not as high as Prince Okamoto's.
This was because the Troll Empire was far more powerful than the half-elf kingdom.
The Troll Empire had just suffered a crushing defeat and looked like they were on the verge of death. However, as long as they were given three to five years to recuperate, it would not be difficult for them to pull out an army of 300,000 soldiers again.
The half-elf kingdom was a small country with a total population of less than two million people. No matter how militaristic they were, it was estimated that pulling out an army of 100,000 soldiers was already the limit.
In fact, according to Colin's understanding, this small country was only a subsidiary of the Radiant Empire, and the number of regular soldiers was only about 50,000.
Therefore, if the Duke wanted to rope in foreign aid through marriage, why would he favor the half-elf kingdom more than the Troll Empire?
Prince Okamoto saw that Colin was confused, so he smiled and said: "Actually, the Duke's real motive for marrying Vera to Prince Tupé is not the half-elf kingdom."
"Then, what is his real motive?"
Prince Okamoto stretched out his hand and pointed to the east.
"It is the east of the Empire!"
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