"Duel?! Write a duel letter to Henry and have an honor duel with this guy? ”

"Well, why fight him for a duel? Because he sent a bayonet sword to Isabel? ”

"If he had fallen in love with Isabel too, he would have at least touched her heart with his father's gold and silver jewels and beautiful dresses."

"It's just a sword from the royal workshop, just as generous a lord is to his retainers."

"I've known Henry for so many years, and I don't seem to have heard of him having a mistress outside of the family. Well, hopefully it's a selfish thought on my part. ”

The Duke of Richmond stands on the grass on the east side of the garden in a free-standing garden with stone walls on all four sides of Richmond Castle, and gestures back and forth with a handguard bayonet sword in his hand. While slicing through the still cool summer air with his bayonet, he pondered fiercely what he thought was selfish.

Actually, this is indeed a very, very selfish idea of his. He and his partner, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, were married, and his wife happened to be Mary, the sister of the Earl of Surrey. From the point of view of in-laws, the relationship between him and the Earl of Surrey is one of kinship.

However, in this case he still intends to take Isabel Walton into possession. A question that the Earl of Surrey had raised to him a few months earlier in his father's Arundel Castle now seemed to have been completely forgotten.

"Well, the lord's generosity to his retainers?! However, I am the lord to whom Isabel has sworn allegiance. ”

"Yes, the Norfolk family that Isabel mentioned just now wants to use my power to do something at some point. That's right, presumably for this purpose. ”

"If that's the purpose, do the Norfolk family really want to take the throne?"

When the Duke of Richmond realized that this was a problem with unimaginable consequences, he stopped what he was doing. When he tried to search for his Privy Counsellor, he found that there was no one on the left and right. When he turned around again, he saw that the advisor was standing five or six paces behind him on his left.

Henry Fitzroy looked at the other man's face and then at the sword in his hand. Hurriedly turning the tip of the sword down, he flashed an apologetic smile at the advisor with his handguard stabbing sword, "I'm sorry, Isabel, I have caused a threat to our lives. ”

After confirming the fact that the Duke of Richmond did not really want to kill her, Isabel took a few steps back and stood and watched, just for her own safety. When she saw the duke apologizing with his sword, she smiled slightly, "It's okay, Henry." ”

The Duke of Richmond stepped forward and handed the bayonet to the other man, "Now, I know Lord Surrey's thoughts on giving you an expensive gift. ”

"Henry, are you tired? You can go over there and sit down and rest for a while. Isabel looked at the tables and chairs on the north side of the garden.

"Let's take a walk, the sun is very comfortable now. North, the summer sun in the north can even make people feel cold. ”

Isabel retracted her bayonet sword from her scabbard, crossed her arms over her chest and continued to walk slowly through the garden with the Duke, "Henry, I don't want to speculate on the thoughts of your companion, Lord Surrey. It's just that he has always claimed to be a descendant of the royal family, ignoring all nobles and ministers. You know, this kind of thinking of him is very dangerous. ”

The Duke of Richmond, with his hands behind his back, looked up at the blue sky, smiled softly and said, "I admit that your opinion is not wrong. As long as Prince Edward succeeds to the throne, the rest... Transactions don't matter. ”

"Henry, I hope you're right, and I hope the Norfolk family will be loyal to Prince Edward."

"Allegiance? The Duke of Norfolk would only be loyal to that throne. Henry glanced at Isabel and smiled faintly, "Isabel, don't mention this matter again." At present, His Majesty is in good health and has married a new queen, and we should pray that the new queen will bring a new male heir to this kingdom. ”

"Well, I'll do my part." Isabel guessed that the Duke of Richmond still had a crush on the Norfolk family, so she stopped proposing her own ideas.

As the two were about to leave the garden, the Duke of Richmond glanced at the valet standing near the gate, "Eugene, go and bring me the saber that Your Majesty gave me." ”

The manservant agreed and turned around and walked briskly in the direction of the main building, Henry Fitzroy turned his head and smiled at Isabel, "Isabel, Lord Surrey has given you a saber, and I, as your lord, cannot fail to show the generosity of my lord. So, you must accept my gift. ”

Isabel was also used to receiving his gifts, but this time the gifts seemed to be too expensive. According to the duke, it was a saber given by Henry VIII to the recognized illegitimate son. In other words, it was the sword of King Henry VIII of England.

She felt that she could not get the king's sword for nothing, so she hurriedly said before the manservant returned: "Henry, I suggest that your retainers and all the guards should replace them with swords. Although this sword cannot be used on the battlefield, it is still very good for self-defense or duel. ”

"Well, your opinion is good, the guards of the Duke's Palace should have the appearance of royal guards." Henry said yes and then asked, "However, these swords are still made in the county." ”

"Of course, that's how I envisioned it. Even nobles won't easily buy weapons crafted in the royal family's workshop."

Henry laughed, "Not only the weapons, but even the plate armor made in the workshop is not that many nobles are willing to spend a lot of money to buy. ”

Leaving the garden, the two came to the stairs in front of the main building. The valet Eugene came to the two of them with a finely crafted wooden sword case, saluted Henry, and replied, "Your Highness, this is a sword from your Majesty the King. ”

Henry nodded and smiled and looked at Isabel again, "Take it, this is my heart for you." ”

Isabel knew his subtext and nodded seriously, "I am very grateful for the gift from His Highness. ”

"Go back and rest, the day after tomorrow is the feast of the Lord's Transfiguration, spend it with Sir and Lady Sir... This Catholic holiday. ”

"Yes, Your Highness. Well, do you need me to go and say goodbye to the Duchess? Isabel asked.

"Okay. But let's not tell Mary what we're talking about today. The Duke instructed thoughtfully.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Alright, Mary is still waiting for me, you can go and say goodbye to Mary later."

The Duke of Richmond smiled and nodded, and then led the valet Eugene to Mary's room on the top floor of the main building. Falling behind, Isabel excitedly walked out of the advisor's room, holding the wooden sword case.