Blood Keep.

The cold morning dew dripped on the blood-bright petals, reflecting the light from the study window, but Charles had no time to enjoy the pre-dawn beauty, and hurried through the courtyard towards the light source.

Before he could reach the door of the study, he saw that the figure of someone had been waiting for him for a long time, and little Yod, who had not yet slept, had turned his face sideways, and his bloodshot eyes glanced at him with a meaningful gaze.

"Summer... When did the lights come on in the earl's room?" asked Charles worriedly, not paying attention to the other man's eyes.

"You should ask when her lights went out. Little Yode's tone was flat: "All night... Almost since the departure of the envoys of the dwarven kingdom, the countess has not closed her eyes, and has spent the night looking through the files left by the previous dukes and the dwarves. ”

"Oh... By the way, I was called in once in the middle, drank a cup of mint tea, asked a few words and was kicked out again. ”

Looking at the sighing appearance of the steward of the Red Blood Castle, Little Yode's expression became even more playful.

After what can be called a "-for-tat" meeting that day, the atmosphere on both sides was stiff to the extreme, and it could even be called to the point of being on the verge of breaking out.

Because of trade, Yord Jr. knows the character of the dwarves all the better, a race that doesn't know what "apologies" and "bows" are, with a fierce sense of self-esteem – or a glass heart – and an unbelievable stubbornness to oaths and hatred.

In the face of such an opponent, Charlotte took such a tough hand again... It's not surprising that it's going to break up.

Since that day, he has been busy with the next things - whether it is a full-scale preparation for war or a trade blockade of the dwarves, it is not a matter of a word, and it will take a lot of coordination to make this order go from a "cruel word" to the ground.

What's more, the Duke is not in Byrne at the moment, although he has appointed the regent of the Round Table Council, but it is unknown how much prestige a duke who has just succeeded to the throne can have, and whether the thirteen territories of Byrne will agree with the authority of the Round Table Council.

If the local lords are unwilling to enforce whether to sanction them, send troops or trade blockades, how far can the sanctions make them understand the "preciousness of life", but not rebel... It's all a problem.

Looking at the light in the window, Charles, who hesitated for a moment, sighed and walked forward quickly.

"Before you meet your master, can you hear me say a few words?"

The voice of words without the slightest emotion came from behind him, so that the butler of the Red Blood Castle took back the steps he had just taken, looked sideways slightly, and looked at Xiao Yode coldly:

"Excuse me... Any advice?"

"I'm just a humble merchant and servant, and I don't have much to teach you... Master Butler. The corners of Little Yode's mouth hooked up a smile: "What I can tell you is nothing more than some objective facts." ”

"Please. Charles turned, puffed out his chest, and put his hands behind his back.

"As you know, the dwarves are an extremely proud race, and in the past, even when Byrne had the absolute upper hand over them, he did anything to provoke them. Little Yod spoke:

"And as far as I can see, Countess Charlotte's approach is even more radical than that of the Black Duke, and now that the Duchy is newly established, and the Grand Duke is fighting against the Centaurs in Poi, this time to provoke a potential enemy... Is it really suitable?"

Charles was speechless for a while, and he spat for a while: "This... This is not the decision of the Earl alone, but the entire Council of the Round Table......"

"The whole round table council?"

Little Yode chuckled: "Excuse me, is it the Round Table Council of Loren Turin, or the Round Table Council of Charlotte Turin?"

One sentence made Charles's expression cold again.

"What do you want to say, Lord Yod?"

"It's not what I'm trying to say, but what is Countess Charlotte doing?" Little Yord shook his head, "Ordering the thirteen lords of Byrne to prepare for war and impose a trade blockade on the dwarves - are these all the actions that a regency council should do?"

"What would others think, and what would the Duke of Loren Turin think?"

"This is just a necessary step in response to the dwarves' threats and non-cooperation. Charles's expression was serious: "And I repeat, this is the decision of the entire Council of the Round Table, not the Earl alone!"

"Say whatever you want, but the Count of Charlotte Turin has become the very core of the Council of the Round Table, and what decisions have the other two counts made, apart from the occasional admonition?" said little Yod grinning:

"She probably didn't even notice it herself... But in reality, Countess Charlotte has become more and more aware of herself as the 'Acting Duke of Byrne'!"

Charles stared at little Yod with burning eyes, and his expression was more serious than ever: "Are you doubting the Earl's loyalty?"

"The countess's loyalty is impeccable... That's for sure. Little Yod said slowly: "But... If even I started to notice, what do you think other people would think?"

"When the lords of All Byrne receive a request for full preparation, will they take it as 'which' Turin' order?"

The steward of the Red Blood Castle was silent.

“...... These are just your speculations, nonsense. It was a long time before Charles whispered, "Duke Loren... He would never doubt the Count's loyalty to him!"

"I don't deny that, but there are some things that have nothing to do with what he thinks. Little Yod said slowly: "When things reach the point of no return, what kind of actions do you think our Duke will make?"

"Let me warn you that he is far from being as 'harmless to humans and animals' as he seems - he is a wizard, acting intellectually rather than emotionally, and he can do the cruelest thing in the world if necessary, without touching it in the slightest!"

At that moment, little Yode, who suddenly remembered something, suddenly felt creepy, and his body trembled uncontrollably, and it took a long time before it gradually subsided.

He still remembers vividly that Loren Turin... What means did he use to make himself loyal to him?

The dead silence of the ship, the red that soaked through the deck, the hideous faces of the dead, the daggers that pierced the heart, the strange magic runes, the pieces floating in the cabin, and the dark-haired wizards who were covered in blood in the sun and smiled at themselves as they wiped their blades......

That kind of scene, it's really... Unforgettable.

"It's a... Warning, it is to be seen that you have not had any warning against me since the establishment of the United Chamber of Commerce. Little Yode, who had a complicated gaze, stared at Charles and twitched his throat fiercely:

"Loren Torino is a man you can trust, but it's better not to have too many illusions about him, otherwise... You're going to die ugly, very ugly!"

Throwing this sentence, little Yod turned and left.

After a moment of silence, Charles knocked softly on the door of the study.

"Charles, is that you... Come on in. ”

His voice was a little hoarse, and the butler of the Red Blood Castle who pushed the door into saw the elegant back in front of the desk, which seemed to be a little fragile because he had not slept all night, and there was hardly much blood on his pale cheeks.

For a moment, his eyes showed extreme unbearability.

"Count. Charles frowned slightly: "IMHO, negotiations with dwarves are important, but the health of your body is ......"

"I know the state of my body better than you, and it's okay to stay up late once or twice once in a while. Charlotte chuckled, her hoarse voice looking a little weak:

"I have compiled the archives of all the dukes and dwarves that have negotiated over the ages... Ayton Grenwell is right, there has never been a precedent in our dealings with the dwarves in our history for them to make concessions, but I found some key issues about the instability of the dwarven system that caused them to ......."

"Count. Charles silently spoke, interrupting Charlotte, who was excited: "Something... You may want to know. ”

Charlotte had a curious look on her face.

Charles hesitated.

After talking to Yod Jr., he didn't know whether he should tell her directly or announce it at the Round Table.

But in the end, the steward of the Red Blood Castle let out a long sigh:

"Dwarves... They relented. ”