Looking at the knights and soldiers kneeling down the steps, and Edward the Night's Watch with his sword and crown in his hand, Brandon was silent, as if his talking eyes were staring intently at Loren.

Did you arrange this?

The silent black-haired wizard met his gaze and gently pursed the corners of his mouth.

No, but I know there's such a thing.

His Royal Highness the Prince, who frowned, blinked.

So what do you think I should do, yes or no?

With a sigh, Loren's gaze lowered slightly, but he still didn't take his eyes off Brandon's face.

It's all up to you – make the choice, either way, I'm here for you.

It's true?

Really, I promise Charlotte won't object.

Well, I believe you.

Two seconds... The two people who ended this "conversation" staggered their eyes very tacitly, and each looked in opposite directions.

In the oppressive atmosphere, all eyes were focused on Brandon's body, but everyone with different expressions raised their hearts to their throats with inexplicably similar expectations.

Standing behind Brandon, the silent Loren felt that he was surrounded by a myriad of "emotions" in the center, almost as if he was surrounded by thousands of loudspeakers playing different songs, and his head was about to explode.

Vigilant and inexplicable, staring at the Byrne knights on their side;

the East Sackland native legions, who were excited and even ready to cheer;

With a little anger and resentment, but not against this result, the defenders of Broken Mountain have mixed feelings;

I don't know what happened, but the Boi hussars who were going to make a fuss and make a fuss......

The chaotic emotions were like their gaze, like a converging stream, focused on Brandon de Salion's body.

His Royal Highness, who was expressionless, tore off his cloak and stepped towards the shield, and his inconspicuous boots suddenly became the focus of attention.

In fact, this is already a kind of "special tradition" of the Sakran Empire - the supreme emperor who went out on an expedition was too late to rush back to the imperial capital, and was held above his head by the legionnaires with shields and completed his coronation ceremony in the barracks.

At first, it was just a means to stabilize the morale of the army in the war, a way to give the soldiers peace of mind to continue to work hard to serve the death and even boost morale, and then "make-up" a more formal ceremony when the emperor returned triumphantly.

But it didn't take long for this temporary method to become a kind of "repertoire" - especially some heirs who were more controversial in the upper echelons of the empire often chose to use this "legion election succession method" to inherit the throne first, and then forced the Holy Cross Church and the imperial nobles to crown themselves.

Yes, the last emperor to do so was Charlotte I, the "Dragon Empress", who was able to ascend to the throne as a woman for the first time with the support of soldiers from the countryside of East Sackland, starting the tradition that "a female heir can also be an emperor".

Of course, it is indispensable to bring the power of the three principalities of Boy, Byrne and Arles, and Roland, the "black duke" who is half of the empire, to help.

The current situation in which Brandon is experiencing also happens to have many similarities with Charlotte I.

They all have legions loyal to themselves, they are all excluded by the upper echelons of the empire, they are all unpopular and very casual, and they are all supported by the Duke of Byrne, and the reason for the support is not driven by interests, but mutual friendship......

"This scene... It's really reminiscent of the old days. ”

In a corner of the crowd, Ranmaros, Earl of Lakeland City, who was holding his mount, muttered, "I said... Do any of you remember being nagged by your father and grandfather when you were a child, and the story of the Black Duke watching the coronation of Charlotte I?"

"Your ears will hear the cocoons coming......" Regelle, the Earl of White Horse Peak, muttered in a low voice, his eyes a little distracted, "I guess when we get old, we will also make our children and grandchildren have calloused ears." ”

"If we can really live to old age......" Lanmaros shrugged.

Rigrel couldn't help but smile softly: "And you have to have a child or grandchild." ”

"Yes, you can't do it. Ranmaleos also laughed: "The Centaur War, the Battle of Silverhelm Mountain, the Siege of Ebolden, the Bloodbone Valley Charge, the Fall of Broken Mountain, and the one in front of you, plus the aftermath...... There are so many stories, I don't know how many I will remember by then. ”

"God knows... But stories are often the only things that seem more exciting because they can't remember, aren't they?"

"Well said! I've always felt ......."

Before the excited Ranmaros finished speaking, Count Eckert of Fort Fury on the side stretched out his hand to interrupt him: "Everyone, be quiet!"

"Pass the order, let all the Byrne knights be quiet - before the duke officially speaks, you are not allowed to say a word, let alone participate without permission, do you understand?!"

The Counts pressed their blades at their waists and used their gazes to convey orders behind them, and the byrne's nerves grew tense in the oppressive atmosphere.

Everyone, waiting for Brandon to take the step of the shield.

Brandon closed his eyes, not knowing what he was still hesitating.

In the next second, the fiery red eyes opened, and the gaze was extremely resolute.

Everyone took a deep breath, and even Edward, the night watchman with a stiff expression, trembled slightly with excitement, waiting for the historic moment to come......

"Nope. ”

Well?!

The stunned Night's Watch subconsciously raised his head, and the hands that raised the crown of swords almost let go.

Not only him, but even the veterans holding shields and the people watching the ceremony around were stunned, while the soldiers in the distance still had their original expressions, not recovering from their excitement.

"No, I don't accept it. Brandon raised his head sharply, looked around the barracks, met every pair of eyes that looked at him, and said categorically:

"I will never accept to become the supreme emperor of the empire in this way!"

"Everyone, have you heard—I, Brandon de Salion, will never accept to be proclaimed Emperor by you in this way!"

The audience was in an uproar!

As if it was a torrential rain and thunder, the military camp, which had just been solemn and silent, was instantly enveloped by all kinds of noisy noises.

The dark-haired wizard standing behind him silently watched Brandon's back, deliberately avoiding a gaze directed at him.

Frightened and angry, Edward desperately suppressed his mood, and his hands holding the crown of swords trembled.

Why... Why would His Highness suddenly make such a decision;

Could it be you, Loren Turin... Did you say something to Your Highness?

What exactly did you do?!

Why is this happening?!

Brandon, who was standing on the platform, looked around the noisy barracks, looked at the pair of eyes that were panicked, surprised, or angry because of "things changed", and slowly raised his hands......

"Smack!"

Then snapped his fingers slightly.

"Boom ——————!!!!"

One red and one black, the dragons Milassis and Grum descended from the sky, their outstretched wings like dark clouds, enveloping the entire barracks in their shadow.

The dragon roared like thunder.

The barracks finally fell silent.

Wherever the dragon's eyes passed, the soldiers held their breath, and the sound of breathing could not even be heard in the dead barracks.

"It's good, everyone is finally quiet. ”

After a pause, Brandon grinned slightly, and glanced at everyone with a slightly mocking look: "No offense, but you can only hear what I'm saying until you're all quiet." ”

"So to make sure everyone hears it, I'll repeat what I just said - I'm not going to be elected emperor by you in this way. ”

"But, please don't get me wrong, it doesn't mean that I don't want to, it doesn't mean that I don't have any dissatisfaction with your actions, of course I want to be the Emperor of the Empire, and as de Salion this is also my life's dream!"

"And I am very grateful for your willingness to nominate me as emperor, although ......" After a pause, Brandon's expression on his smiling face was a little playful:

"I know your purpose for doing this may not be as simple as it seems. ”

"Some people... I may be resentful and resentful, but out of desperation, I have no choice but to accept this outcome—because you are so loyal to my beloved brother, and he absolutely does not want to see the empire divided. ”

At the foot of the steps, the defenders of Broken Mountain, led by Drexis, clenched their fists one after another, and lowered their heads through gritted teeth;

"Some people... It is to express your loyalty to me in this way, because you were the first to follow me, and you are eager to see me as the Emperor of the Empire - because only then will you have a chance to climb to the top of the ranks, after all, this is the reason why you will follow me, I understand, really. ”

Edward, as well as the officers of the East Sachland Legion, trembled, and did not even dare to gasp;

"Some people... It is an alliance of friendship and interests, we are on the same side, and of course you want to see my banner go further, or you have played a large part in it. ”

Byrne's knights and wizards were expressionless, their eyes fixed on the black-haired wizard's every move.

"For all these reasons, or at the instigation of some guys, you are all here to hold such a 'unique' coronation ceremony for me in this way, I am grateful, but ......"

Brandon smiled and shook his head with his usual unhurried lightness, "Forgive me for not accepting this result—nothing else, because it's not what I thought." ”

"Do I want to be emperor? Of course I do, but it has to be 'because I want to, so I get', not the other way around, because there is someone or reason who persecuted me to be your emperor. ”

"You may ask, does this matter? This does matter, and for me the difference is very important!"

Facing everyone's gaze, Brandon almost gritted his teeth and roared, "If you really want me to be your emperor, then you'd better remember that." ”

"Never, never, never think that you can force me to do anything, never try to understand me with your thoughts—your Emperor, first Brandon de Salion, and then the Supreme Emperor of the Empire!"

"I will not be an emperor who will make you happy, nor will I be a good emperor like my beloved imperial brother, nor will I be like my father; It's me, Brandon de Salion, the thirteenth crown prince of the empire, the future fourteenth emperor!"

"If you really plan to nominate me, then please be mentally prepared for this, so as not to regret it when you get it!"

In the cold wind and snow, the atmosphere changes.

"So, I don't accept your offer—not because I don't want to, but because it's not what I want;"

Brandon spoke again: "What I want is for those who once looked down on me, hated me, hated me, and hated me, to kneel before me respectfully, to offer the Iron Crown and the Sword of Imperial Power to my hands, and to crown me with three shouts of 'Long live the Emperor.'" ”

"That's what I want, that's what I have to get - not this kind of game of hiding and stealing, playing 'I'm the Emperor' with my companions to amuse myself, as if I have compromised with those guys who look down on me!"

"I will not compromise, I want them to cry and laugh, I want them to lie at my feet with wide eyes and trembling bodies, I want them to lick my boots, how humble and humble!"

"For this, I need your strength!"

"Those who follow me, those who want to benefit from me, those who wish to fulfill their wishes, I need your strength!"

Brandon tugged at his cloak violently, spread his arms, and shouted in a deep voice: "Now that the Eagle King has been beheaded by Duke Byrne, the north of the empire has no worries - it's time for us to go south to relieve the siege of the pants-peeing cowards in the imperial capital!"

"It's time for our iron boots to sound in the Imperial Capital Avenue, let the song of triumph be played on the Heavenly Dome Palace, let the enemy kneel between the palaces, and let Golovin witness a great and sacred victory once again after three hundred years!"

"Tell me, Sakrands, is this what you want?!"

"Tell me, Byrne, is this what you desire?!"

"Tell me, Boi, do you want to drink the Horse Jewel River too?!"

The shouts resounded in the sky echoed in the barracks, and the camp of tens of thousands of people suddenly became a "stage" for Brandon alone, and the soldiers who looked up in front of him were his audience.

There have never been so many soldiers ... Or "people" are willing to listen so intently to the speech of this "disgraced prince" and listen to the voice of his true ambition and desire in his heart.

So Brandon became even more excited, his outstretched arms seemed to hug everyone, and he was so excited that every muscle in his body was trembling violently:

"I!Brandon de Salion, the thirteenth crown prince of the Empire, the fourteenth generation of the rightful successor, I hereby solemnly promise you that I will only fight for my ambitions and desires, but I welcome anyone to join me and share this desire with me!"

"If you admit that I am your emperor, I will fight for you! If I become the emperor of the empire, I will fight for the empire!"

"Follow me and lend me your strength, and I will give you all that you want——!