-

In those unbearable "calm" days, the only one who stirred up the dreary air was the raven from Red Sand Castle. It brings stationery from Dino's hometown.

It's clear that the first half of those handwriting is from my father, and the second half is from Diffindor.

His father comforted him rarely, and not just coldly gave instructions. Maybe he also felt that his children were in danger?

Diffindor's handwriting was much more sloppy, and it was clear that he was busy integrating the army, and Shekha, who was in charge of the armory, was not there—Dino was a little embarrassed to think of this, and he had to say that Sheka had left Sheka partly out of selfishness, and that Shekha Hawthorn had a good relationship with him.

Diffonor's statement was concise, but it was a guarantee: two thousand elite infantry, one thousand cavalry. Departure within a week.

The force of 3,000 people is enough for the royal city, which is not ready for war, to act as a deterrent.

Just – time.

Time is of the essence.

However, no one knows the exact point. The Firesparrow's army must not be the first to move, as this would be seen as a betrayal of the royal family, which means that they will have to improvise and wait for a better opportunity.

But what kind of timing the so-called "good time" is, Dino doesn't really know.

If Prince Manxi wants to take the throne, he will inevitably be thwarted by the forces of Prince Manca's faction. Since Prince Manca said that Prince Manxi was already secretly contacting the forces of various races, it means that he had already decided to mutiny?

But a conflict as great as a mutiny could not have taken place while the king was still alive. The more obvious fact is that no one knows exactly when the king will die.

This means that the whole event is in a state of "unknowable".

But this tension -

This silence ......

Now there was almost no laughter in the court. Many of the ladies went to the Platinum Temple to pray for blessings, taking with them a large number of servants, and most of the rest were in the service of His Majesty. It is said that the king had to boil the ointment for ten hours a day, and he blamed the hunters and cooks for not being able to eat. He was moody, which made everyone around him panic.

The smell of boiled herbs permeates the castle. This wasn't very noticeable when the castle was overcrowded, but now it's clearly permeating the surroundings.

The Black Dog Knights no longer enter or leave the castle.

Dino speculated that perhaps it was because the king had no strength to discuss any more official business.

In fact, there was hardly anyone going in and out of the city, except for the carts that were buying food and firewood, and they were buying in large quantities, and it seemed that they were even intent on closing the castle gates in the short term, which was not necessary given that winter was not yet approaching.

During this time, Dino went out with Moshi and Shekha once.

"Just a distraction. Dino shrugged at the guards who stopped them, trying hard not to sigh, and he hated saying what he said in that tone (Mosshi would have laughed at him for it), "I'm Dino Firesparrow, and you don't have the power to stop me from going anywhere." Unless you receive an order from the king. ”

In fact, they did come out to relax.

They wandered the streets, looking at the rows of low-slung houses and the relatively well-developed drainage system, all of which Moshi blamed as if he were full of plans for renovation (not "it seems, I'm afraid"), an old and crowded city with people kept in captivity, drove their livestock out of the gates every morning, and then went to tending to the crops or hunting.

They walked along the main road to the highest section of the wall on the south side, and studied the usefulness of the wall for a while.

There, Shekha mentions that he expects to live in the city with the guards who have accompanied him from the Red Sand Castle, rather than staying in the castle.

"We don't have a separate space in the castle, they divide the rooms according to their bloodline," Shekka thought his statement was a little funny, but it was true, "which meant that our own guards were useless—they were meaningless if they weren't around." ”

Dino was a little dazed, a little panicked: "So you think ......"

Similarly, Mo Shi couldn't understand these topics.

They stood at the foot of the city walls, next to an empty mud field. Shekha hesitated: "I was thinking that if there was a real coup d'état at the palace, the fifty-strong guards would not be able to act without receiving orders quickly. But if we live somewhere in the city, we might be able to move forward and retreat more freely. ”

"I think you're right, Sheka. But...... Does that mean I'm more isolated?"

Shekha said to him in a reassuring tone, "But you are Dino Firefinch, young master, and no one will really hurt you. ”

"I note your wording, Shekha. ”

The swordsmanship instructor sighed softly.

Suddenly, Moser smells a scent similar to that of a pine tree twig (Moser later figured out about extrasexuality hormones, and learned that they were part of the pheromones they released that could be perceived by the human olfactory organs, and that adult Efaya and Oria pheromones could soothe children).

"Of course, Master Dino," said the adult Alfaya gently and earnestly, "we have to consider all the possibilities that may be bad. If you're lucky, the overlap of the palace masters will be smooth and fast, and you won't even need the army of the Fire Sparrow to step out of the territory at all. And if it's unfortunate – we'd better try to be prepared. ”

"Don't be like that, look like I'm still an ignorant child. ”

"I'm sorry, young master. Shekka smiled.

Eventually, Dino took Shekha's advice.

And it turned out to be useful.

But at the moment, the poor duke's second son stood under the city wall, his nose red from the valley wind, aggrieved and uneasy.

-

On their way back, they saw Prince Manca at the gate of the castle.

His Royal Highness the Prince was giving solemn orders to the officers guarding the city gates. When he saw them, he smiled a little condemnation, and walked over to them.

"I thought the young men of the Firebird were ready to leave here. He said.

"I won't. Dino replied, very decisively, but unfortunately it sounded a little angry, "I'm just ......"

"Just boring, huh?"

It was clear that Dino didn't want to say that, but because he didn't know what to say, he nodded.

"Young man, you can go to Gerota to pass the time. She wasn't divided either, not counting a 'woman' - too young to follow the queen to the Platinum Temple. I don't think there's anything wrong with you meeting each other. ”

Prince Manka laughed and quipped, but every word seemed to have weight: "Given that she will be your 'fiancée' in the future, Lord Dino Firefinch." ”

-

Prince Manca's hint was clear: don't, leave, the palace.

Dino was really bored and did go to find a Gerota. He stood at the door and asked the old female teacher, and finally made an appointment for an afternoon meeting.

But when that naivety arrived, it was obvious that both parties were too nervous, and the originally cheerful and unrestrained girl deliberately showed reserve and arrogance, trying her best to achieve the so-called "lady" image in her imagination. They sat at the ends of the table and rubbed their handkerchiefs and cuffs, so much so that they talked about nothing but the poetry of the Holy Scriptures.

By the end, Dino could clearly see the frustration and irritation on the girl's face.

"Perhaps, it would be appropriate for me to take my leave......" he said tentatively, standing up.

"No, wait—" The girl's nose wrinkled as she said as she wanted to bite her tongue off. Because this is clearly not "ladylike" enough.

But Dino couldn't help but laugh at it.

So the girl was only annoyed for a moment, and then laughed too.

"Manca told me something and he taught me to be patient and wait. The girl coughed, opened her light blue eyes, and said, "I'm not saying I'm a vexatious child, but, but it's really unbearable. I mean, all of this right now. Vague, messy ......"

Dino did understand, completely.

"Me too. He said that it was rare to be honest in so many days, and he said the truth in front of this girl of the same age, "I miss my hometown." There won't be so many people in the castle watching you, watching you and seeing if you're doing right or wrong, and there won't be so many demands and all kinds of bad things that can happen. ”

"It sounds like Red Sand Castle is a nice place. The girl said with a smile.

And I don't know why this made Dino blush suddenly.

He stumbled and said, "Yes, yes." If one day you get there......"

"I think I'd love to go. The girl whispered.

So their cheeks flushed.