"Get out of this land!"

"Why?"

"Because it's my territory."

"Where did you get it?"

"From my father."

"Where did he get it?"

"From his father."

"Where did his father get it?"

"Fight to win."

"Then I will fight you!"

– Carl Sandburg

"You know, Pontilio needs a new owner." Edgar's opening remarks made Roger immediately forget about King Philip's almost ** discovery.

"We've decided to let you run the area—it's your castle, my lord."

"As you wish, Your Majesty, this castle is always open to you."

"However, the official documents will have to wait."

After all, the current rightful owner of the castle is still in a coma, and the spoils are indeed slightly early.

"Why do you think Robert still won't come to see us?"

"I don't understand, Your Majesty, it stands to reason that he should be the most anxious person right now."

"Perhaps......" Count Roger said uncertainly.

"How?"

"Maybe King Philip knows why."

Presumably thinking that Roger's hints were too ridiculous, Edgar shook his head and decided to give up speculation about what Robert was thinking in Normandy for the time being.

Under the influence of Robert the Lorraine, the Frankish king finally woke up, and Philip, who had become a prisoner, asked the Norman maid to bring water, wash his beard, and reoil it, and then quietly waited for the arrival of the English king.

"My dear cousin," said Edgar as he entered, first greeted with concern, "Dieu vous garde! ”

"Merci, gentil roi......" Philip thanked with a pale face.

Hypocritical diplomatic rhetoric – how much does he really know?

Philip didn't have to look up to guess that Edgar was enjoying the moment, and that when King Vicintoli of the Gauls was dressed up to offer Caesar, the latter's state of mind was roughly similar to what he was now.

Interestingly, the two monarchs were somewhat similar in appearance, but Edgar's admiration for Philip's embarrassment made Edgar feel like he was looking in a somewhat distorted mirror, which affected his interest. For some reason, Edgar suddenly remembered Alexandre Dumas's novel - the Sun King put an iron mask on his twin brother, is there also a reason for this? Proud as Louis XIV, it must have been difficult to bear to see his own fragile and pathetic side when faced with that poor creature who was exactly like himself.

Humiliation is unnecessary, and revenge is not an immediate priority, but an important thing is the future.

"On the question of the Duchy of Normandy, it's time for us to talk." Edgar finally got to the point.

Etiquette and elegance end there.

Listening to the king's suggestion, Philip stood up directly: "What? It's impossible! ”

"The strait issue must be completely resolved, and this is the only condition we can accept." Edgar's voice was unwavering.

"Robert's succession must be confirmed by us, according to historical ......"

"Let's be honest." Edgar interrupted Philip, "History is nothing more than an excuse for power, and history can provide almost any excuse. ”

"But Normandy is the domain of my ancestors to the Normans, and you have no right to give it to Robert!"

"However, in fact, for so many years, neither the Carolingians nor your family have been able to control the Duchy, which is like a double-edged sword, cutting us and bleeding you."

"What do you want to say?"

"Cedion Normandy to England! We will support your claims to Flanders and even Lorraine. You must have experienced the unruliness of the Normans, and isn't it more practical to be able to eat the benefits of the northern principalities than the northern principalities that you can't touch at all? ”

"That's how you want to rule the Normans?" The corners of Philip's mouth showed a hint of playfulness.

"I'm willing to try." Edgar added, "The former Norman allies of Pontiio remain in contact with Rouen, and as for Furksant, I will persuade Robert to return it to you." ”

"Sounds reasonable, how do you guarantee these promises?"

"I'll release half of the captives, including Lufus." Edgar spoke quickly, "Henry is under our protection, my daughter Elfwen is engaged to the Crown Prince, Constance is engaged to the Earl of Cornwall, do you need more 'guarantees'?" Or - hostages? ”

"That's enough." Philip felt the vertigo from the brain activity and sat down again, "As for Lorraine......"

"This agreement is just a private promise on our part, and we will keep it under the right circumstances."

Philip bowed his head in acceptance, much to Edgar's surprise.

There's nothing easier to expose your cards than to negotiate, and Philip sees through the "dear" cousin's calculations almost at a glance - his daughter Constance will be engaged to Prince Alfred, which means that Edmund's bride will still be the heir to Saxony.

"As a sign of sincerity, we need to apologize to Your Majesty." Finally, Philip suddenly showed a sad expression......

Rouen, ducal court.

"My lord, now I must confess one thing to you."

"Teacher, I know what you're trying to say." Robert's eyes were hollow, staring at the void in front of him, "It's nothing more than persuading me to reject the English." ”

"Nope." Longfrank smiled miserably, "Five days ago I might have advised you not to throw away your father's glory and submit to the people who once bowed their knees to the Duke. It's too late now...... I had done everything I could to avoid what happened today, but the will of God was mysterious, and everything I had promised the Duke had turned to ashes, and only after I had given up my soul. ”

"What are you talking about, teacher?"

"I ordered the poison." A sentence came out of Longfrank's aging lips that made Robert spin away.

"What...... What poison? ”

Don't say it, I don't want to know.

"In order for you to throw yourself on King Philip, I poisoned the Eucharist of the King of England at Mass—I am a soulless sinner for the sake of mortal power."

"No, teacher, I know you didn't do it." Robert's expression was close to pleading, "Who is it?" Isn't it Uncle Otto them? ”

"Listen, my lord." Longfrank said hurriedly, "It's Philip, Philip knows it all, he sent the poison too, and now that he has been captured, with what I know about him, he will never hide it for me." ”

Philip wants everything your father, and even if he doesn't get it, he will never let the English get it.

"Hand me over and don't resist! Don't resist! ”