The Ducal Palace's living room, with its Gothic architecture, was so quiet that you could hear it very clearly even if you dropped a pin on the ground. Isabel Walton, Privy Counsellor and Secretary to the Duke, sat calmly in the Counselor's seat on the left side of the Duke's throne, looking at the would-be knight sitting on the lower side of his left hand.

At this time, she was fiddling with a tactical knife that imitated the later Stred's tactical knife. Among the many tactical knives in later generations, the Streder combat knife with mysterious and legendary characteristics is not only used by the United States Navy Reconnaissance Corps, Navy STA Reconnaissance Sniper Platoon, Naval Special Forces Training Corps, Maritime Special Operations Force, Navy Diving Combat Group, Navy EOD, Army Green Berets, Army Assault Force, Air Force Parachute Combat Unit, British SAS and many other naval units and army and air force units, but also by the crazy pursuit of knife fans around the world.

Because the Streder Combat Knife is a standard tactical knife produced specifically for the U.S. Navy SEAL Special Forces, Isabel, as a naval intelligence officer, has made this Navy Special Forces Tactical Knife the ultimate combat and survival tool that she can use for the rest of her life.

This tactical knife has undergone a unique quenching treatment, including high-temperature heat treatment and low-temperature treatment, the blade color is matte black in the style of military firearms, the entire blade is made of a single piece of steel, and the handle part is wrapped in a traditional Japanese knife winding method using linen rope instead of military-grade parachute rope. Even if the handle is wound with this material and method, even if it gets wet or soaked in oil, the handle wrapped with a rope can be held more tightly and is not easy to get rid of.

Crafted by Beard Jr., the eldest son of Yomanon Beard Smith, this tactical knife allows Isabel to perform a variety of specialized tasks, such as cutting, ramming, digging, striking, smashing, throwing, and diving. Of course, she still asked little Beard to carefully build two imitation Stryder combat knives with leather scabbards for herself.

Holding a tactical knife in his right hand, he casually picked at each fingernail of his left hand, but his eyes were fixed on Herbert Frederick, who was about to become his brother-in-law, from time to time, "Your Highness has written that you are ordered to rush to the city of London immediately for the feast of the Ascension in a week's time. If you don't have any doubts, depart for London early tomorrow morning. ”

Herbert felt his heart pound in his chest, and he knew that it would be a while before he could marry the girl he liked. Extremely excited, he rubbed his thighs with both hands, swallowed hard, and said, "Yes, Your Excellency." ”

Isabel's expression was still calm, "Okay, that's all I have to say. Remember, when you become a true knight, you must protect Effie. If you hurt her, I will reward you for the way you hurt her. ”

"Yes, Your Excellency, I will give my life to protect Miss Euphemia."

"Let's go. Before you leave for London tomorrow, you can tell Effie the news and make her happier. ”

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When Ernest Walton walked into the drawing room, Isabel was curious to see her brother's attitude and thoughts when he heard the news of going to the City of London. Of course, her brother was in a different situation than Herbert, as Ernest was a former standard-bearer of a rebel leader and had a short period of allegiance to the Duke of Richmond.

Isabel was still fiddling with her tactical knife, but her expression looked very serious, "Ernest, you must have been surprised by this award, didn't you?" ”

Ernest, who was sitting in his seat, bowed his head and said after a long time, "Yes, Your Excellency. I knew that in order to be knighted, I had to be recommended by the lord, magistrates, and squires. I... I don't understand why His Highness would recommend me to the King? ”

Isabel placed her tactical knife on the small table on her left and took another sip from her glass. Putting down his glass, he stared at his brother, "Ernest, are you saying that Your Highness should first recommend the governor of the security army or those in the security army to be knighted?" ”

"Your Excellency, this is a fact that is visible to all. I am a quasi-knight who has just pledged his allegiance to His Highness, a former standard-bearer of a rebel leader, and I am not entitled to such a knightly honor. ”

"You know who Governor Francis is. At present, his father, Lord Darlington, is still imprisoned in the Tower of London, so he will not be knighted for a year or two. ”

"As for some of the people in the security army you mentioned, who are you going to give the opportunity to?" Isabel stood up and paced softly in front of her brother with her hands behind her back.

Ernest thought about it and looked at her figure: "You can give it to anyone, Alexander Longman is an excellent quasi-knight of law and order who fulfills his duties." ”

"I'll arrange those people in the security army, you don't have to think about these things. Now that you and the others have sworn allegiance to His Highness, you must obey His Highness's orders, do you understand? ”

"I understand. However, I don't understand why His Highness would want to give me, the standard-bearer of the rebel leader, the opportunity to be conferred. ”

"That's because of Carolyn Swift, because I want you to be a brave, fearless knight who shelters her for the rest of her life, and gives her a family full of love. Unless, you still want to say that you don't love her and that you don't want to marry her. Isabel stopped and stared at her brother closely.

Ernest looked directly at her in thought, "Even if I love her, what can I do?" Miss Caroline was the daughter of Lord Darlington, a fine, noble, and polite young noble woman, and I was only a would-be knight who had not yet been knighted. ”

Isabel somewhat believed the words of the crazy Euphemia, and the eldest son in every family was indeed stubborn. Sitting beside his brother with his arms folded, he looked at the closed door of the parlor and said in a very low voice, "Believe me, she will soon not be Miss Caroline, Lord Darlington's daughter. ”

"What do you mean? The king is unwilling to forgive Caroline's father? ”

"Do you believe me?"

"I... I believe in you, Isabel. ”

Isabel turned her head to look at her brother, "Trust me to accept the King's title of Sir Ernest, so that my best friend can forget all that the rebellion has brought about." ”

Now, a week later, on May 2, Isabel returned to Asker Manor before dinner after a busy day's work. Catherine Newell, Baroness Latimer, came to her room and described to her with a look of wonder an interesting incident that had taken place in the afternoon near the stream of the manor.

Isabel took off her riding boots and lay on the bed, looking at Catherine with interest, "So, your stepson and Alph and Effie caught a lot of fish for fasting. ”

Catherine smiled, "Yes, John told me he was very happy today. Then he said curiously, "Isabel, John says that Alph eats salmon in a very strange way?" ”