"It seems that you and Loren Turin did not carry out the orders I gave them. ”

Moored to the top of the Horn Fortress, the Fourteenth Emperor of the Empire, Connad I, stood by the parapet on the edge, looking out at the campfire camps below:

"I remember that the order I gave was very clear - to hold on for a month, and not to evacuate until the Imperial troops arrived... It's only been twenty days now. ”

"It's twenty-one days!" Brandon, who was not angry, snapped up, and pointed to the moon above his head with a cold snort:

"Look at my Emperor Majesty clearly, or is it that sitting in that seat makes you don't even look good?"

"Twenty-one days ......"

Conod, who had an indifferent expression, read it out word by word, and looked at Brandon with eyes without a trace of emotion: "Listening to your tone, it seems that you are still very proud?"

"Pride, no, no, no... I'm not at all — on the contrary, I'm ashamed of myself now. In the face of the royal brother's accusation, Brandon, who shook his head, laughed directly:

"Do you know what I saw on the walls of Ebolden? You would never have imagined that I saw an army that was originally weak, almost equal to the elite elven warriors;"

"I saw that it was supposed to fall down at the touch - really, really at the touch and fall, I was to Ebolden once, and the defense here is no different from the papier-mâché - but it is such a papier-mâché defensive line, but it has turned itself into a quagmire, and it has also slowed down the pace of the elves;"

"On the twenty-first day, my best friend, with less than 20,000 reinforcements and 20,000 weak troops, withstood the bombardment of the elven fleet and defended the city, saving the lives of tens of thousands of civilians in the city... He did it all on his own, and he didn't fill it with these human lives that could only waste food!"

"As a friend, arriving on the last day... I'm ashamed. ”

"It is said that responsibility is matched with ability and power, and this kind of savior-like work was done in the past... Shouldn't it all be the duty of the de Salion family?"

"When is the empire going to be saved by others, why should a hero who saves a city on the verge of extinction be looked down upon, and why shouldn't he be blamed for doing better?"

When the words fell, even Brandon himself didn't notice that he was clenching his teeth, staring at Conod with a very strong displeasure in his eyes.

"You're accusing me?"

Conod's gaze was still calm, but there was a cold chill in his words: "Accuse me of being late... Let your friend, Duke Byrne, hold out alone for twenty in a city that is simply impossible to hold... One day?"

"Although, this is what he promised a long time ago?"

"No—as the Prince of East Saclad, I am not in a position to accuse my Emperor, my brother... That's unseemly either. Brandon sneered:

"I'm just 'begging' Your Majesty not to let people bleed again, and to shed silent tears again—for as far as I know, you are particularly good at doing such things. ”

In the face of the "evil words" of his younger brother and heir, Conod couldn't even find the slightest reaction on his face.

Or rather, he didn't bother to pay attention to it for a long time.

"If that's what you want to say... Fear that I'll convict Duke Byrne for my previous promise, don't worry, because I'm not going to do that. Conod said in a deep voice:

"I will allow him to return to Byrne with his army and knights to rest and recuperate, and then summon him when the need arises. ”

Brandon hugged his shoulders, still unrelenting: "No... Or can't?"

"It doesn't make a difference, and you probably don't care which one it is, does it?"

Conod said coldly.

Brandon shrugged his shoulders with a dismissive expression.

Of course he didn't care, but he just subconsciously wanted to block his "beloved royal brother".

Taking advantage of the gap between the two conversations, Conod glanced behind him, and the royal guards on the side immediately stepped forward, took a letter from the emperor's hand, and leaned his ear against the emperor's side for a moment before turning away with a solemn face.

Brandon thoughtfully crossed his arms and watched the royal guard gallop and disappear into the night, intentionally or unintentionally.

"Looks like your army is about to arrive. With a light snort, Brandon said lazily, "In that case, then there should be nothing to do with me and Loren here." ”

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, that we idlers will get out of here at once, and will not cause you the slightest trouble, and will not be an eyesore when you are doing your deeds, lest you spoil the scenery. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, Conod suddenly looked back at his brother.

Brandon shuddered at his staring, but still refused to look back.

"I promised to let Loren Turin return to Byrne with his men. ”

The two pairs of red pupils looked at each other calmly, and there was some kind of strength in Conod's calm words: "But I didn't say... You can leave, Brandon. ”

"W-What do you mean?"

"What do you mean... Isn't the answer obvious enough?" Conod narrowed his eyes, his tone gradually becoming heavier:

"Why do you think I'm here all of a sudden?"

His Royal Highness the Prince was stunned.

He suddenly remembered that the hussars of Boi had come to report that they had indeed suddenly discovered an army of outpost hussars; His royal brother did not want to be with the cavalry, but specially advanced lightly.

Why... Why did he suddenly appear - while it did inspire the civilians and soldiers, Brother Connad was not the type to "win hearts and minds", and the only people he really trusted were his legions.

So where is the legion?

Brandon's eyes widened, and there was a faint not-so-good association.

"Hey, it's hard to ......"

"The 200,000 Legions of the Empire have not yet been assembled—even those that have been assembled cannot be immediately mobilized to the battlefield of Ebolden. Connod's tone was as flat as water, but one could feel the anger in his words:

"Behind me, there are only three legions that have been removed from the Broken Mountain Fortress, totaling 50,000 men. ”

"It's... It's the price of an agreement with you, Loren Turin, and of course, all the Grand Dukes of the Edgeworth. ”

Looking at the emperor's ancient face, Brandon's expression sank slightly.

He had been in the Imperial Cabinet meetings, and of course knew what Conod meant.

In simple terms, the empire... Even if it is the center, it is not the absolute emperor alone, and even if this is the case on the surface, if the nobles and courtiers below are dissatisfied with a certain decree, they have a way not to implement it or delay its implementation.

After all, no matter what kind of order the emperor issued, they would always be the ones who carried it out.

The Battle of Ebolden was the best example of this - Connad mobilized enough men in the shortest possible time, established a solid and substantial supply line, and even directly mobilized the royal guards, sending conscription orders to every village, town, fortress and barracks in the royal territory and East Sackland, bypassing the cabinet and parliament to recruit the legions.

A series of actions seemed to be unhindered, but in fact hidden dangers were already laid: from raising taxes on the church and the aristocracy to replenish the supply lines, to ordering directly without consulting the cabinet and parliament, to negotiating a compromise with Brandon and Duke Byrne (which they could not bear the most......

Each time, the discontent of the nobles of the empire was increasing.

So they decided to "small" resist and express their dissatisfaction.

Neither the parliament nor the cabinet could prevent the Emperor from sending his legions, but they were involved in the execution of every order, interfering with the soldiers' salaries, armaments, and supplies, and deciding whether the soldiers marched to assemble with their baggage on their backs, or with wagons or mules.

So a young legionnaire from the countryside of East Sackland, who was excited to receive the emperor's call, found himself to walk to a town ten kilometers away to receive a "settling-in fee", and then go to a castle to the north that he had never heard of to gather and receive equipment.

In the end, he had to bring his own ten days' rations, and go south with seventy-nine other unlucky ones, and cross the Jewel River to report to the barracks.

Of course, the ship certainly did not have ... So they have two options, either grab one or swim over.

In any case, they must arrive on time;

As a direct consequence of this series of events, more than a month has passed without the legions being assembled, and because of this general mobilization, the empire has been in chaos, and soldiers who are starving and cold, or who lack transportation equipment, have turned into bandits and robbers, looting villages and towns, and passers-by.

And the imperial nobles had only one purpose, that is, to make it impossible for the emperor to lead the army north, and let Ebolden perish.

The reason is also very simple, because Ebolden and Ebotton's commander, Duke Byrne, are both supporters of His Royal Highness Brandon.

Brandon believed that if the Emperor decided to support Lothair first, the nobles would be able to assemble as quickly as possible, as the Duchy of Lothair was the stronghold of the Church, and the authority of the Holy Cross would be severely weakened once it was finished.

Conod coerced them, of course, to force the nobles to obey by means of the death penalty and the deprivation of titles, but the result would be to destroy the last tacit understanding between the two sides and make his supporters completely turn away from him.

No emperor would destroy the foundations of his rule with his own hands, and completely destroy the forces and classes that supported him... That would be tantamount to pushing yourself to a dead end.

Brandon, who had figured this out, twitched his throat and looked up at Conod.

The Emperor still looked at him calmly, not saying a word.

"So... Didn't you mean it?" His Royal Highness opened his mouth, and suddenly felt a little embarrassed of "misunderstanding the other party", and his eyes wandered in private: "But, why don't you explain it clearly......"

"Does it make sense?"

Conod said lightly: "Complaining to you, complaining about how much pressure I have endured, how much effort I have wasted, how many setbacks I have experienced, in exchange for your understanding... Does it make sense?"

"You said that we are de Salion, the rulers of the empire and the saviors - it is because of these two identities that de Salion is able to stand on top of the world, in other words, ......"

"It's because we're at the top that we have to do all this, to gain sympathy, to desire to understand this weak idea... It shouldn't be on the body of a de Salion. ”

"It shouldn't have been on the body of an emperor. ”

The Supreme Emperor of the Empire, whose face did not change, spoke in a flat tone as if he was chatting with his younger brother.

On the contrary, Brandon's expression became more and more complicated.

“...... I understand. Sighing softly, His Royal Highness the Prince, who was a little hesitant, still raised his head: "Although I understand, I still have to leave with the civilians and troops of Ebolden." ”

"I promised them to take them to a safe place so that they could live safely... I'm sorry, but I can't break my promise. ”

"Ebolden is destroyed, the Azorean elves are invading...... "Conod glanced at him, "You tell me, where is there a 'safe' place in the empire?"

"Even so, I have to keep my promise that East Sackland and Byrne will always find them a place to call home in towns and villages. ”

Brandon shrugged his shoulders very "barely": "Also... Iolit is dead, and I still have to go to Torch Peak Mountain to explain the ins and outs of this matter to the dragons there. ”

"Of course, if they burn me to charred in a fit of rage, you won't have to worry about the heir again!"

"Dragons?"

Looking back, Conod put his hands behind his back and looked up at the dim starry sky, and finally showed a trace of complicated emotions in his eyes.

"Fourteen generations of empires... It's been so long that these former guardians of the empire have gradually become swords hanging over our heads—and if we're not careful, we can be scorched all over the ground. ”

Suddenly, Conod, who was facing away from Brandon, let out a sound similar to a "sneer", which made Brandon feel "groaned" in his heart and felt hairy all over.

This may be the first time he has heard the "laughter" of the imperial brother, but it turns out to be even more creepy than the dragon's roar!

"In that case, then you can go. If necessary, I'll have Drexis of the Broken Mountain Fortress pick you up and provide you with all the conveniences... His Royal Highness the Prince of East Sackland. Conod said softly:

"After all, since they are willing to follow you loyally, there must be some price to pay. ”

The corners of Brandon's mouth, who was seen through his thoughts, twitched, and he forcibly maintained his composure: "That, the battle to recapture Ebolden......"

"There will be no more, and I have ordered the Minister of War, Severin de Salion, to come and take command of the army, and upon the arrival of the Grand Duke of Ellemont, Ully Wirtz, to join him in blocking all the checkpoints leading to the outside world at Eberden, and waiting for the legions to assemble. ”

"Boi's hussars, together with the legionnaires, will sweep around the city, cutting off all sources of supply for the enemy. ”

As he left, Conod said in a deep voice: "The rest depends on the battle situation of Grand Duke Lothair in the Deep Forest Castle, and then decide which side of the legion's main attack direction will be next, everything will be adapted." ”

By the time the words fell, he had already walked away, leaving Brandon alone and standing alone. (https:)

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