William was not a beloved duke, he had the characteristic cruelty of bastards in his youth, and in Alençon, in order to prove one thing, he cut off the hands and feet of his enemies who shared his blood, and gouged out his eyes, but nevertheless the Normans feared him and respected him, not because they were afraid of his sword, but because this was the Norman way.

The harsh environment of the north created harsh laws, and even after nearly two hundred years of settlement in the Franks, speaking the same language and worshipping the gods in the same way as the natives, they were still the descendants of the Vikings with violent blood, and neither Caesar nor Caput Mundi of Gaul could be subjugated by their sanctimonious appearance. When the Gallic bishops asked Rollo to kiss King Charles's feet, the Duke of Rollo flatly refused, and the unwilling Franks finally persuaded a Norman to salute in the duke's place, and the chosen Normans grabbed the Frankish king's feet like prey, and kissed the king as he leaned up.

Edgar had been hunting horses with these horseback warriors for a year, and he knew the nature of the tiger and wolf of this generation, and it was not the crown and the scepter that could drive them, but the sword of the king.

"The Germanic princes will soon know what is happening here," asked Edgar, pulling Count Rodrigo's beard, and asked in a low voice, "what will the Emperor do?" ”

"He would rather have two heroes in the west of the frontier stand side by side than see one king alone." The Spaniard replied lightly, "I think he will continue to support our enemies." ”

"Yes, so, before this happens, we need to get him in some trouble."

A smile appeared on the corner of Edgar's mouth, he didn't realize it, and now he is actually no different from William, Duke of Normandy, not only did he tear the enemy like a demon on the battlefield, but under the heroic surface, he once ordered the dismemberment and burning of nearly a hundred infidels without changing his face, and categorically punished the prisoners, and was able to tear off the ** and ear and nose at any time with red-hot fire tongs.

What's more, the shame of Philip, the "King of Nine Fingers", is being exposed in front of the princes of the whole realm.

The ecclesiastical and secular princes sprang up with different expressions on their faces, different types of greed, and all aware of the threat – and opportunity – posed by the sudden change in the situation.

Robert, Duke of Normandy, who had just sworn his oath to the King of England, disappeared into the damp corridor, and the blonde-haired spear guards still roamed through the unceasing arias, their overlapping steps without pause, each syllable vibrating throughout the hall with a majestic momentum......

On Easter, Woolfhilde, the heiress of the Duchy of Saxony, finally met the King of England in a study in Westminster.

She had learned a great deal from the court, and language was about the simplest part of it, and from the king's voice she immediately recognized the words "King of Denmark" and "Emperor".

The Saxon maiden's face became even paler, which added to her natural nobility, and it was true that she was actually a prisoner these days, but the "warden" at least did not forget to ensure that she continued to use the royal jewels.

"You know what? You almost ruined a young man. ”

Woolfheard realized from the king's tone that this was only a statement of fact, and had no intention of frightening himself.

The king did not let her answer, not even reveal his true face, he stood on the other side of the bookshelf, revealing only the long skirt of his robe, and in his calm tone there was neither condemnation nor disappointment:

"If the Queen hadn't found out about your letter to Edwin, where do you think he would be now?"

"I don't know ......"

This is a lie.

"You are a wise child, why should you habitually disguise yourself like a servant?" King Edgar sighed, as if to say something very regrettable, "You cleverly sent that letter, and unfortunately he believed the words of the letter, the words of a child!" But do you think the royal family would not know that their chief of guard usually received those letters? ”

"Almost, just almost, the letter that Lord Rodrigo is going to give to the Queen will be known to the Franks, and if so, son, you may have killed us."

Woolfhilde pursed her lips tightly, she wanted to cry, but all she could do was the pain of a knife.

"So, don't blame the queen, she's my wife, my fortress." Edgar finally came out of the shadows, holding a copy of the Carolingian Book in his hand, "I always hope that one day, you will also become Edmund's fortress." ”

The Saxon girl raised her head in astonishment, and the king's sharp gaze burned in her direction, and when she spoke of her wife, there was a tender look on her face.

"Will you forgive me?"

"Forgiveness? No, I admire you, you are far from home, alone, you know the death of your loved one, you make a plan decisively, that little 'accident' of yours, I have already heard Ulf say, I heard that you almost drew a knife at him at that time? ”

"I just want to escape......"

"So after you know the guards of our court, you think of your 'friend', Edwin, that fool? I don't know how this incorrigible creature was so smitigated that he abandoned his family and the king because of one of your letters! Edgar sighed, "The Mercian who delivered the letter for you is now locked up in the tower with his master, and I admire most that you told him that if he could not help you, you would marry a Saxon." ”

"From Nordheim to Saplinburg, no sane Saxon family will refuse, and I will be able to bring them my father's vassals, and even principalities." Woolfheard showed maturity that was not of his own age.

"But you think that fool has his eye on your army and the principality?" Edgar shook his head with a wry smile, "For the sake of your army and principality, he would give up his hundreds of estates and thousands of guards, Sain?" ”

Looking at the suspicious girl, the king seemed to be unable to hold back any longer:

"He wants you—not the heir of Saxony, it's you."

Doubt turned into trembling, and remorse.

"So, when the queen told me about you, I didn't tell her my decision. The decision is yours now, you can choose Edwin, but he will lose his glory, property, and status because of his betrayal of his oath, and you may be able to give him Saxon status and possessions, as long as you can convince your father's few remaining vassals to avenge the Emperor on your behalf, and as for his glory, it may not be something you can give back to him......"

Seeing the dejected appearance of the Saxon girl, Edgar said another condition:

"Or, you can marry the prince, but you'll never have a second chance, because you're a member of the Wessex royal family from now on - Edwin won't be treated as a broken oath, he'll be punished a little, but we won't take back his father's entire legacy. I promise that my son will never know the truth, and that we will avenge you for your vengeance, and that your fate will go beyond a principality, and that you will become the queen of the Anglo-Saxons, Angelseaxna Cuen, and that your children and grandchildren will be kings and princesses, and that their children will be queens! ”