"Heraldic officer, I need to speak alone with my advisor, Miss Isabel." Like a true prince of England, the Duke of Richmond sits upright in the main seat on two steps, squinting at the official on the left as he holds a wine book in his right hand.

"Yes, Your Highness." The officials from the City of London replied neatly and quickly left the castle hall.

The Duke of Richmond stood up and gave the wine glass to Eugene, the valet standing on the right side of the throne, and ordered, "You go out too." ”

When Eugene closed the two doors of the hall, only the Duke of Richmond and Isabel Walton were left in the hall. The Duke walked up to her lightly and sat casually on the bench on one side. When he turned his head to look at the other party's radiant face, which seemed a little melancholy at the moment, he didn't speak, but just sat there in silence.

At this time, Isabel's mind came to mind the special battlefield that took place outside Edinburgh Castle, an epoch-making fusion of hot and cold weapons. She could imagine her brother Sir Ernest being killed in battle, either torn apart by a bronze breez-loading gun, or killed by a Scotsman with a single shot in the chest or head from a Scotsman's arquebus. Perhaps, he will be killed by the arrows of the Scots, or stabbed to death or hacked to death by the halberds in the hands of the halberders.

For a long time, she didn't speak. Then, with a blank expression, he turned his head to look at the Duke of Richmond beside him, "Henry, what are you doing sitting here?" ”

The Duke of Richmond held up his arms, fiddled with the red-haired silk turban wrapped under his Tudor hood, and whispered, "Isabel, I know you are sad, and I am very sorry that your family and father have lost their heir. Therefore, I would like to give you some friendship, comfort, and mutual help between partners. ”

Isabel shook her head and stared at the stained-glass windows on the stone wall opposite, "I'm sure Ernest should have known what his fate would have when he was knighted. ”

"It's a pity that there are still many 'knights' in the kingdom who can't even ride a horse and can't do swordsmanship at all."

"Henry, that's a means used by His Majesty the King to get the income from the custody."

The Duke of Richmond was also under guardianship during his childhood, and his guardian was his father-in-law, the Duke of Norfolk III. Fortunately, his guardian of the great nobles with royal blood and from a prestigious family did not take much of his property from the income of his domain. The Duke nodded slightly, "Isabel, go back, go back and prepare for the funeral ceremony of the Knights." I'll discuss the rest of the matter when you get back. ”

Speaking of the funeral ceremony, Isabel remembered the heraldic officer. A hint of curiosity appeared on his melancholy face, "Henry, why did the heraldic officer say that he was the one who presided over Ernest's funeral?" Did you ask for something in front of His Majesty? ”

Founded in 1484, the English Heraldic Court had heraldic officers as early as the 12th century. In the beginning, the heraldic officer was only a servant attached to the nobility, with the status of a magician and a bard. In the 13th century, heraldic officers were mainly responsible for the affairs of the nobility. In the 14th century, the powers of the heraldic officer were expanded, and by the beginning of the 15th century, the highest heraldic officer could already confer orders and titles on the lower nobles. The Duke of Richmond's father-in-law, the Duke of Norfolk, and his family, as one of the court positions, was to concurrently serve as the hereditary Rector of the Heraldic House.

The heraldic officer who appears today at Sheriff Hatton Castle is in fact a York heraldic officer, and was sent by his superior, Noroy and Ulster, the senior heraldic officer who governed north of the Trent River and Ulster in Northern Ireland, to accompany the Duke of Richmond to Yorkshire to preside over Sir Ernest's funeral. Of course, his superiors were following the direct orders of Henry VIII.

The Duke of Richmond knew that she did not know much about court affairs and duties, and did not answer her directly, but spoke of other matters, "Isabel, after the war of Edinburgh, I met Lord Latimer at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Of course, the Lord then told me the news of Sir being killed in battle. ”

"I know Lord Latimer went to war in Scotland."

"When I returned to the city of London with the royal fleet, I mentioned the knights who died in battle when I reported to His Majesty the course of the war." The Duke of Richmond stood up and paced in the middle of the hall with his hands behind his back.

"Henry, I'm still a little surprised, the heraldic officer to preside over your brother's funeral was your initiative to His Majesty the King." Although Isabel could guess that only the Duke of Richmond could make a request to her father, Henry VIII, she felt flattered.

Before the Duke of Richmond could speak again, she immediately thought of the question of the custody of her brother's territory, and immediately asked, "Henry, Ernest's custody of the territory... Does His Majesty intend to sell the realm or send officials to take custody of it? ”

The Duke of Richmond turned his head and glanced at her, "Your Majesty has decided not to sell Sir Territory for the time being, considering that Sir is your brother. As for the officer who executes the guardianship ... Do you think it's appropriate for me to do this? ”

This is again good news, and it also indirectly proves that Henry VIII was very fond of his illegitimate son. Isabel slowly got up, her eyes glinting with excitement and walked towards the Duke of Richmond. Standing very close to the Duke, he raised his chin slightly and continued to stare at the other party, "Henry, I appreciate what you have done for me. However, I can only hide your love for me deep in my heart, you... Do you understand? ”

The Duke of Richmond smiled knowingly and put his arm around her shoulder. When he turned to look at the window on the wall, he whispered, "Isabel, you have told me what to do, and I hope that Your Majesty will do God's will." ”

Isabel didn't speak, but stretched out her left arm from behind the duke's back and gently wrapped her arms around his waist, leaned her head gently on the duke's shoulder, and followed his gaze to the stained-glass window that was penetrated by the sun......

The two of them were leaning on each other for a long time, and the Duke of Richmond suddenly heard the other party say, "Henry, didn't His Majesty the King issue a noble conscription order on this expedition to Scotland?" ”

The Duke of Richmond looked at her sideways and shook his head, "No, the kingdom has not been invaded, and His Majesty's purpose in going on an expedition to Scotland... And just to get Mary Stuart back. You know, the Scots made a treaty with us before. ”

Isabel thoughtfully let go of the arm that was holding the other and said calmly, "Henry, now I'm going to Ripley Castle to talk to Sir William about some business. After the discussions, I went back to prepare for my brother's funeral. ”