Passing through the gates of the Palace of the Red Blood Castle, the stone path under your feet is like the mood of a black-haired wizard, bumpy and undulating.

Especially when you're still staring at with a pair of strange eyes.

From the moment you enter the palace, all the guards knights, squires, maids, clerks...... Everyone was either secretly staring at him, or too clearly and squarely, and they all had indescribable expressions.

Of course, similar situations have happened in the past, but at that time they were all "this guy is so pathetic";

But now their expressions are "this day has finally come";

As for how to understand it, it is really a story that is difficult to explain......

The black-haired wizard, whose mouth twitched, stopped outside the door of Charlotte's room, wondering how to explain to her this time - whether to confess and apologize and admit his mistake as soon as he came up, or find a way to lie and fool her for a while.

Unfortunately, before he could make up his mind, the door opened on its own

"Squeak~~~"

There was a slight turn of the doorway, and the Principality Governor, Charles Grenwell, who was holding a pile of scrolls, walked out of the room with his head bowed, and did not see the figure in front of him until he descended the steps.

"You... Luo, Lord Duke?"

Charles looked up sharply, surprised, "You... Why did you come back so soon?"

Hearing the other party say this, Loren's expression became a little more embarrassed.

In an awkward atmosphere, if you want to open up the situation, of course, you can only change the topic.

"Summer... Well, the Countess of the Red Blood Castle she... Is it in there?"

With a somewhat flattering look, Loren asked tentatively.

"Yes, of course!" "Calmingly, of course," replied Charles, who had come to his senses, nodding, "During your absence, the Earl has been in his study on official business, or meeting with presenters in the Hall of the Round Table, and has only had very little time to go back to his room to rest. ”

When he said this, Loren was even more embarrassed, and he didn't know how to continue the conversation.

The two stared at each other and were silent for a minute.

"Or... You go in and talk to the Earl?"

After holding it for a long time, Charles still said this, and at the same time, he was looking at the black-haired wizard with that "indescribable" expression, "Anyway... It's all here......"

yes, it's all here... Will I still be able to run?

Where are you going?

“...... All right. ”

Loren smiled happily and was not nervous at all.

The Principality Governor, who didn't say more, let open the door, and when he left, he couldn't help but glance secretly, and looked at the black-haired wizard with a resolute expression, and walked into the door of Charlotte's room as if he was on the battlefield.

The first thing that caught Loren's eye was the mountain of parchment scrolls in the room.

As governor of the Duchy, Charles did not deceive or exaggerate any facts about Loren, as evidenced by the number of documents alone.

Although the Duchy of Byrne has regained unity, and Loren has been doing his best to improve the centralization of power since becoming a duke, after the concentration of power, it is impossible to conjure up people who can actually exercise power out of thin air.

Reality is not a game, and capable and loyal courtiers cannot be conjured up with a click of a mouse.

The empire had a subordinate parliament and a cabinet to deal with administrative matters, while Byrne had only a round table council, and the immediate consequence was that he, the duke, had to deal with an exponential increase in the number of things he had to deal with—and all of them were pressed on Charlotte alone during his long absence.

No matter how big or small, everything needs to be asked.

It can well be imagined... What kind of burden she carried?

Amid the rustling sound of writing, the figure behind the desk sat quietly at the table, calmly and meticulously reviewing each parchment scroll, and the full teacups in his hand had long since run out of heat.

"Loren, you're back?"

The Countess of Red Blood Castle, who inadvertently raised her head, showed a surprised expression on her face, with a hint of serenity between her eyebrows, "Wait for me, today's day will be finished soon." ”

Twitching the corners of his mouth, the black-haired wizard who didn't dare to speak just smiled reluctantly.

She wasn't really angry at all.

But the more this happened, the more nervous Loren became.

The silence lasted for a full hour, and Loren stood in front of the door for a full hour, silently watching Charlotte finish processing the "right away" paperwork.

Meticulous, even the speed of the quill swing seems to add a slowing effect.

That's right, she must have done it on purpose.

But if this can make her dissipated, it is Loren himself who is relieved.

After another half an hour, Charlotte, who finally put down the quill pen, took a sip from the teacup, only to find that it was already cold. The black-haired wizard who reacted hurriedly took the wine bottle in the study from the side, poured a full glass and handed it to her.

"When I got the news, Charles told me that the team had just arrived at Fort Fury. ”

Laughing and taking the wine glass, Charlotte had a gentle smile on the corner of her mouth, and her eyes flashed like a clear spring, "I didn't expect you to be outside the door in the blink of an eye." ”

"Hmm... yes, isn't that a bit... Can't wait, so ......"

The nervous Loren smiled stiffly, and there was still a little flattery on his face.

Holding the teacup, Charlotte, who turned around, looked at him with a smile and listened quietly.

But like this, Loren didn't know what to say.

The knight in the castle, Charles, the sudden celebration... And, well, Charlotte in front of you.

Today, everyone seems to have become a little abnormal.

Loren, who sensed a hint of danger, suddenly became alert.

"I'm sorry, I was wrong this time!"

Under Charlotte's somewhat surprised comments, Loren apologized bluntly without warning.

"You... Wrong?"

The Countess of the Red Blood Castle, sitting at the table, tilted her little head in confusion.

"Yes, I shouldn't have promised Brandon to go to Torch Peak Mountain to negotiate with the Dragons without saying hello to you, uh, no, no, no......" The black-haired wizard shook his head repeatedly, his expression being as sincere as he was

"I should have gone further, I shouldn't have agreed to preside over the battle of Ebolden without telling you what happened, and even dragged it on until I asked Conod to write to you first without remembering to inform you......;

"And?"

Charlotte's eyes widened and flickered.

"Yes, and, ......" Loren's voice suddenly lowered a lot, and he looked at Charlotte's expression cautiously, feeling very uneasy in his heart, "The reason why I didn't tell you is... Well, I'm afraid you won't agree......"

But the results were far from what he expected.

Charlotte was not only not angry, but smiled indifferently, as if it were just a trivial matter that was not worth mentioning.

"So, I mean... I mean, the reason I had to come back early was because, um... Mainly to admit my mistakes and then confess that these are my own mistakes......"

"No, these are my faults. ”

With a nonchalant and graceful smile, Charlotte gently interrupted the dark-haired wizard who was eager to admit her mistake.

Stunned, Loren wanted to continue, but after seeing her calm but irrefutable eyes, he stopped talking.

"You know... Every time you used to make a claim on your own, I would be very angry that you had betrayed the tacit agreement between the two of us, or broken the promise you had promised......"

Charlotte opened her mouth slowly, and couldn't help but smile self-deprecatingly, "Every time it makes me angry, I lose my demeanor, and even lose my mind—well, I want to kill you with a sword." ”

Loren, who didn't know what to say, could only laugh.

"But now I realize that I am not who I used to be. She changed her words and gently lowered her glass, "Ain Rand, he woke me up completely with some sincere words." ”

Ain?

The black-haired wizard was stunned.

"That's right, it's your best friend, Ain Rand. Slowly getting up, Charlotte walked calmly towards Loren, showing grace with a smile "With my own practical actions, I understand where I am wrong." ”

"Our Duke of Loren Turin is a man of great initiative - he carefully balances and judges the pros and cons before making a decision, but once he has made a decision and wants to consult with you......"

"It's not really about consulting you, it's about telling you what he's decided, and whether he accepts it or not, he won't listen to your advice anymore. ”

Loren, who smiled awkwardly, watched her get closer and closer to him with a stiff expression.

In the same way, people with strong initiative are generally extremely self-confident and never ask for help unless necessary. ”

Charlotte, who spoke softly, looked extremely strong, "And as a friend of him, Duke Byrne, we must understand our place in his heart, and never, never, can never be above him, to be a being who can be needed by him." ”

"Charlotte, you seem to have misunderstood something; I never ......," Loren quickly interrupted.

But the Countess of the Red Blood Castle simply ignored it.

"So, we can't expect him to speak up or hope for him to change, we have to adapt. ”

Charlotte, who puffed up her chest, finally stood in front of the black-haired wizard, raised her head and looked at him, "I want to help him and become the one who fights with him on a shoulder to shoulder... It must be proactive, not passive. ”

"In the same way, if you want to keep up with him, you have to run faster than him!"

Loren was speechless.

All the explanations and lies were choked in her throat by her eyes.

"So... Whether it's the Battle of Eboden or the trip to Torch Peak, you're doing the right thing - the former has earned Byrne considerable prestige in the Empire, and the latter has encouraged the ambitions of Byrne's Thirteen Knights. ”

Looking at the black-haired wizard who couldn't speak, Charlotte chuckled and continued, "Since the tenth generation, Byrne has never been so united and loyal to one person as it is today. ”

"Nearly a hundred years later, they have finally found a Duke worthy of their trust and followers, a hero who can bring them glory and greatness—your decision unites all of Byrne. ”

That's why I said, you're not wrong, it's me, I didn't know enough about you in the past, and I took your compromise as a tacit understanding between us. ”

The black-haired wizard was stunned.

"Any questions?"

Asking softly, Charlotte, who was still staring at him, stood motionless in front of him, staring directly at him.

"Uh... Yes, there's another!"

Trying his best to restrain his nervousness, Loren spoke, "About... Well, the wedding ......"

"Ah, you mean the wedding... That's right, I prepared it. ”

Smiling slightly, Charlotte said unhurriedly, "Just in time, taking advantage of the news of your great victory at Ebolden, I gathered all the noble knights of the thirteen lords to the Red Blood Castle without much effort.

"As I just said – as your friend, we can't wait for you to come to us, but we have to take the initiative, get ahead of you, and do everything that needs to be done. ”

The black-haired wizard's eyes widened.

"So, that said... Well, you mean this wedding......"

"Yours, of course - Duke Byrne's wedding, to be more precise. Charlotte, who could no longer hold back the joy in her heart, smiled very happily

"I have thought for a long time that if I make the most of this glorious victory of yours, there should be no better way than a wedding. ”

"As you know, the Byrnes love heroes and are more likely to be lively, and taking advantage of a glorious victory to celebrate your wedding will not only make them feel honored, but will also cement this support, establish a very stable rule, and make the knights more comfortable to follow you. ”

Charlotte became more and more excited, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we can take advantage of this wedding to pass many bills that were difficult to pass in the past, and recast the rule of the Turin family, or even better!"

"For example, the 'Land Seizure Program', the 'Conscription Standing Army Program', and the 'Permanent Round Table Council Program' that you have always wanted to implement - the Byrnes worship heroes and are enthusiastic about heroes, so at least for now, no one dares to go against your will and ideas, there is no better time than now!"

"One chance at a time will allow us to truly turn Byrne into the Byrne of House Turin, and revival is no longer on our minds, but about pushing House Turin to a glory that has never been imagined in the past!"

"Establish your authority and push your prestige to the highest point, so that the whole of Byrne can become your arm and finger in the next elven war. ”

"Even surpass the royal family of de Salion in one fell swoop and become a hero to save the empire - for your descendants, to seize the foundation of the empire... It's not impossible!"

Looking at Charlotte, who was ecstatic and even radiated brilliance in her eyes, the black-haired wizard couldn't even insert a word except for a dry laugh, so he could only wait silently for her to finish.

“...... So, in order to further our victory, you arranged a wedding for me?" Loren didn't know what kind of expression to use, so he could only ask dryly.

"yes, it's the best thing I can think of. The countess bowed slightly, "I'm sorry I didn't inform you in advance, but it's for your sake—just as you didn't tell me that you went to Jufeng Mountain for my sake." ”

"Oh. Twitching the corners of his mouth, Loren smiled stiffly, "But... As you know, a wedding has to be done by two people, and one person can't have a wedding. ”

"That's right. Charlotte nodded.

"So... You also arranged for another person?"

"That's right. ”

"Female... I mean, a lady?"

"That's right. ”

“...... Who?"

"Me. ”

。