Lionheart. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

It's more of a military fortress than a city. It's a square city, looking like a giant brick that resembles a mountain, perched atop the northwestern part of the Spenny Empire. Thousands of blue-gray boulders were layered on top of each other, forming a tall wall that looked unusually thick and impregnable, and every five minutes a well-groomed army could be seen patrolling the battlements.

A huge flag, at least ten meters high and twenty meters wide, was hung on the top of the Duke's Palace, the tallest building in the city, and could be seen from anywhere in the city. On the red background of the flag, which symbolizes the Empire of Spanne, is embroidered with a roaring golden lion, which rises and falls in the air whenever the wind blows, as if it is constantly leaping and running.

This is the first family of the Spany Empire, the lord of the three northwestern counties of the empire, the head of the family, the hereditary deputy prime minister of the empire, the minister of war, and the "golden lion" of the duke's "Golden Lion" Lean family.

Duke Francis Lean, the head of the contemporary Golden Family, is sitting in his study. Like his ancestors, the Duke of Leanne had dazzling blonde hair, a mature and resolute face, and an incomparable power that looked as formidable as a full-grown lion. In front of him was a blue, glowing crystal ball. At this moment, not only did a respectful figure appear in the crystal ball in front of Duke Li'an, but at the same time, there was a constant voice, obviously reporting something.

"That's all we have so far about the conflict between the Divine Favor and His Highness Emmanuel, Lord Duke." After half a ring, the figure in the crystal ball finally finished its report.

"Good." Duke Li'an nodded and said in a calm voice: "Once there is any new information, then remember to pass it in front of me as soon as possible." ”

"Yes, Lord Duke."

With a wave of his hand, Duke Leanne severed the magical connection, and the light in the crystal ball slowly dimmed until it vanished. The study was quiet, and even the sound of the Duke's steady breathing could be heard. The big man who could make the Spany Empire and the entire continent tremble a few times by stomping his feet frowned and fell into deep thought.

After a long time, the Duke reached out and rang the rattle, summoning a personal servant: "Call Cleverley to me." ”

After a while, a young man pushed open the heavy door, walked into the study, and bowed very respectfully to Duke Lian, who was sitting behind the desk: "Father, are you looking for me?" ”

This was the best of Duke Leanne's many children, Cleverley Charles Lean. Since Cleverley's mother came from the imperial family, Cleverley was considered a strong successor to the next generation of dukedoms from the moment he was born, and Cleverley lived up to expectations and became one of the brightest twin stars among his siblings. After Antonidas Prol Lean, another of the other most serious contenders, was expelled from the Golden Lion family a few years ago, almost everyone knew that Cleverley would become the next Duke of Leanne to lead the Golden Lion family.

The moment Cleverley walked into the room, Duke Francis Leanne couldn't help frowning. Although the young Cleverley also had long splendid blond hair, his face was not as square, resolute and majestic as his father's, but rather feminine, pale and thin, and he looked more like a scheming politician than a golden lion from his ancestors who had fought for his country.

An outlier in the family of golden lions.

To be sure, Cleverley is an undisputed heir in every respect, except by force. However, due to Cleverley's views on many things that run counter to the family creed passed down from generation to generation of the Golden Lion family, and Cleverley's appearance and style tend to be delicate and feminine, it is natural that he will not be liked by Duke Leanne, who prefers masculinity and majesty.

In any case, our Duke of Leanne is still a loyal supporter of the rule of the ancestors, and since the rule of the ancestors stipulates that the best Lean can become the next duke, then Duke Francis Lean will faithfully carry out this iron rule, whether he likes or dislikes this son of his own in his heart. And that's why Lord Duke brought Cleverley here.

Duke Li'an coughed slightly, and hid the expression of displeasure on his face well: "It will be His Majesty's birthday in a month, and I have already sent someone to purchase the gifts that our family should prepare, and the convoy of gifts will leave tomorrow, so you can go to Ridmar City with the convoy." ”

Cleverley couldn't help but be slightly stunned when he heard this, and looked up at Duke Lean in some surprise: "Tomorrow?" ”

"Yes, tomorrow." Duke Lian nodded, without the slightest expression on his face, and his tone of voice was quite flat: "I will send you a thousand Golden Lion Knights, so I can't tolerate any mistakes on the road, understand?" ”

A thousand golden knights may not sound like much, but you must know that this knight order, known as the "world's first" under the command of Duke Lean, has only 5,000 knights under its command. A thousand knights is already a full fifth of the number of the Golden Lion Knights, if you look at it according to the default "threefold theorem" of the continental countries, then the combat effectiveness of these thousand Golden Lion Knights is already on par with the three thousand knights of other top knights. Such a thousand knights can be regarded as a force to be reckoned with and even quite powerful no matter where they are.

However, Cleverley was quite calm except for a moment when he was surprised when he first heard that he was going to Ridmar City, even when Duke Leanne handed over the command of a thousand Golden Lion Knights to himself: "Understood, Father. ”

"Good." Duke Leanne bowed slightly, and was about to wave Cleverley away, but as soon as his hand was stretched out, he stopped in mid-air, as if hesitating about something.

Cleverley had all these reactions of his father, but he did not react at all, but stood there silently waiting, like a courtier waiting for the king's speech, impeccably respectful.

After a long time, Duke Lean suddenly sighed slightly, obviously making some kind of decision. As a soldier who has been fighting horses all his life, the Duke will carry out his decision as soon as he has made it, so he immediately spoke: "Cleverley, I think you should understand the purpose of sending you to Ridmar City this time. ”

"Yes, father." Cleverley said respectfully, "In addition to seeing the world, I also need to do a good outpost job, such as walking around with a few of the allied families in Ridmar City, and trying to find out the current situation in Ridmar City as much as possible to prepare for your arrival." ”

"That's right." Duke Leanne looked at Cleverley with a serious expression on his face: "You're smart, but that's what worries me the most. In fact, there is no shortage of people who are as smart or even smarter than you in the past generations, but they have not succeeded in making it to the rank of duke, do you know why? ”

"I don't know," Cleverley raised his head and looked at Duke Lean in front of him very seriously, "Please give me advice from my father." ”

"Because people who are too smart always want to grasp the rights that should not belong to him, and although our golden lion lineage has enjoyed glory for three hundred years, once we choose to cross the line, the only thing that awaits us is destruction. We are soldiers, and our great Lionheart ancestor once said that a soldier cannot interfere in politics. Duke Leanne looked at Cleverley with blazing eyes, as if he wanted to completely see through the thoughts of his best son: "No matter how much the eldest prince and the second prince want to pull you into that troubled water of politics, you must firmly remember that our Lean family has always been loyal to the emperor, not to any prince. If I find any evidence that you want to be involved in this Imperial throne, I will not hesitate to expel you from the Golden Lion family, understand? ”

Cleverley took a deep breath and looked at his father with a very calm expression. Judging from his current appearance alone, you can't imagine that such a young, thin, pale man is a conspirator who has framed many of his own siblings before he can stand here.

But in any case, a fox is always a fox,

"I see, Father." Cleverley said very seriously.

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