"Envoys of the Cruz?"

"One called Donnas. Bernie's person, whose identity is a viscount. ”

"Wait, I know this man," Brando interrupted Charles, remembering that Veronica had told him this name, this person was the secret envoy of the Silver Queen, and after the explosion of the Dead Frost Forest, the Empire sent an envoy to investigate the whereabouts of the emperor's eldest son, this person was the main person in charge of the envoy, and Veronica also told him that the real purpose of this person was probably to confirm the death of the emperor's eldest son. "I know this legation too," he remembered at last, and the succession of events of recent days—mainly the Twilight War and the sudden letter from Her Highness the Princess—made him almost forget that there was something else: "Are these Cruz people ready to return to the Empire, and why would Dilferi suddenly tell us this?" ”

"No, my lord, in fact the Cruz envoys are still in Lantonilan, and now they are headed by someone else, and as far as we know, this Donus . Mr. Bernie never showed up. Charles replied.

"What the hell is going on?" Brando frowned.

"It is said that it was because the viscount suddenly became unwell that he returned with the fleet at Delttar, and he did not come ashore at all."

Brando thought to himself that this was obviously an excuse, since this person was the queen's secret envoy, how could he return in vain because he was unwell. He immediately thought if the Cruz people had noticed something, but suddenly realized how Dilferrey knew about this, and the territory knew that the Knights of the Broken Sword and the Prince of Lenaret were only a few people around him, so he suppressed the doubts in his heart and asked, "This is just an internal affair of the Cruzians, why did Miss Dilferry tell us this?" ”

Charles naturally understood Brando's subtext, and he replied, "Lord Lord." It is said that the returning fleet of the Cruz hunted a precious beast on the Sea of Flashes and wanted to sacrifice it to Her Majesty, so they chose the more reliable land route to prevent the attack of the Earth Temple. The flotilla landed in Grey Haven, and Donus. Mr. Bernie and his entourage of minions and assistants passed through the Grey Mountain Collar. He also passed through Yanbao, you know the current situation of Yanbao, the situation of the Count of Yanbao is unknown, some say that he is seriously ill, some say that he is dead, in short, he has not appeared in public since April and May, as for Miss Dilferry...... What's this...... Miss Dilferry is now in Tonigel...... Cough...... Guest," he said with some embarrassment when he said the word "guest." In fact, everyone knew that the Countess was worried about her father's condition, and wished to fly back to the Swallow Castle territory at once, but she was placed under house arrest by Brando in the fir territory - of course, this was also at the behest of Her Royal Highness the Princess, in order to ensure the safety of the Countess herself, lest she be a moth to the fire. He paused for a moment and continued, "All in all, Yanbao is now a group of dragons without a leader. The gang led by Baron Dalle spread all kinds of rumors all day long, trying to seize the power of the Earl. However, the reputation of the Yanbao family is still there. It will be difficult for them to succeed for a while, and the Cruz Empire has long had considerable influence in Yanbao, so of course these people will not let go of this Donnas. Chances for Lord Viscount Bernie. ”

"I don't know if you remember, my lordship, that you and Her Royal Highness the princess once instructed Count Yanirasu to investigate the affairs of Yanbao, and this Earl sent a group of people into Yanbao shortly after that, and this group of people was quite competent. They soon got in touch with Deerferry's old subordinates and established a secret network. Brando knew that this matter was obviously ordered by Her Royal Highness the Princess, and he didn't intervene at all, but when it came to the mouth of this fellow Charles, he, the lord, took half of the credit for no reason - of course he could hear this compliment. But it's hard to debunk, or rather, he's used to it—and at this moment, he's finally heard something.

Charles continued, "So these people reported the matter to Count Yanirasu as usual, and attached the convoy with the Record Crystal to the Donnas. The images of Mr. Bernie and the other attendants and assistants, and Count Yanirasu sent the report and the crystal to Miss Dilferrey in their original form. The matter itself is not too important, but Miss Dilferrey has more or less heard about you entering the Dead Frost Forest with Lady Veronica and Prince Lenaret, and after learning the purpose of this envoy group, she was worried that the Cruz people would be unfavorable to you, so she handed these things to Métisa, and I didn't expect that our little princess would find out about it-"

"What's the matter?" Brando had already frowned slightly when he heard this.

"This Donnas. Viscount Bernie, he didn't have any problems with himself, but Princess Métisa seemed to recognize someone among the entourage and assistants in the convoy. ”

"Recognize someone?" Brando's heart moved: "Who?" ”

"This man is supposed to be one of the officers of the Cruz and Veronica who accompanied him, and I have some impression of him, but not as much as Metisa."

"My lord," Metisa's voice finally rang out, as soft as ever, but methodical, "if I'm not mistaken, the man's name is Boimer, and I've heard people call him that. He had gone under the glacier with us, and was one of the noble officers who accompanied the Cruz, a young man, but in his twenties. ”

Brando felt as if there was an electric current flowing through his back, making his cold hair stand on end, he took a soft breath, although he hadn't opened his mouth yet, but the look on his face was so solemn that Antitina and Freya on the side could see the clue, and the two girls glanced at each other, and both looked at him with some concern. Brando put his hands on his desk, as if countless images flashed through his mind, he pondered for a moment, and suddenly asked, "When did the Cruz envoys arrive at Deldetar?" ”

"On August 19th, it was the fire festival of the mountain people." Antitina didn't think about it, and replied directly.

"August 19th." Brando muttered and repeated, "We're in the fourth week we've been away from the Dead Frost Forest, exactly one month. ”

"Charles, that Donnas. How long has Viscount Bernie arrived in Swallowburg? He asked again.

Charles calculated: "Miss Deerferry received the letter last week, but it had been at least a month since the letter arrived in Tonigel after several twists and turns. There will only be more, not less. ”

For a month, Brando's heart was cold, and this time was enough time for the Cruz people to walk back to Rustard. Freya watched his face change several times, and then she couldn't help but ask, "Brando, what's going on?" ”

"I think we were negligent. Freya. Brando replied word for word.

"Negligence?"

"It's all my fault, I didn't think of this direction at all," he couldn't help but pat his forehead in annoyance, and then said in a deep voice, "Charles, let's send out spies to ask, and have them search the area around the Dead Frost Forest again, and spread out the image of that guy to see if anyone has seen him - no, I think someone must have seen him." The key is in where. When is it time for me to figure this out as quickly as possible? Also, find a way to send a group of men to the Cruz Empire, and if that doesn't work, let Count Yanirasu do us a favor - he won't refuse. ”

"My lord, Miss Roman had already sent out people before I relayed the news to you, and now the territory has been fully activated." Charles replied, "But some of the mercenary captains below still don't know the situation, and I want to ask you if this is too much of a fuss." That's why Metisha and I came to ask you for advice. ”

"She's done the right thing," Brando let out a long breath when he heard the news, and then replied quietly, "Wait for the news, and I hope the Cruz people won't regret it—"

Brando felt someone hold his arm, and he turned his head. Antitina looked at herself with some concern.

"Is there any news from Akane?" Miss Staff asked keenly.

He nodded slowly.

The victory of the Battle of Autumn had not yet spread throughout the South, but rumours of all kinds had spread widely in the war-affected areas and beyond, making the Denel people nervous for the first two weeks, but with a faint anticipation, which was naturally fearful of liquidation. But the anticipation comes from the legendary young and promising Earl, who is likely to become their new ruler in the future. But in contrast to the rest of the South, where rumours of all sorts are rife, Viero and Tonigel are uncharacteristically eerily quiet—in Viero, where Valendenburg is sending a large number of messengers day after day, carrying this private letter from north to south, day after day.

And in Tonigel, only a few discerning people can feel that a storm is being bred beneath the calm surface. The merchants in the port of Gris began to feel that the patrols of the security cavalry were becoming more frequent, the checks were becoming stricter day by day, and the goods exported from the territory were quietly changing—the magic crystals in the Black Forest seemed to have finally been exhausted after months of dwindling, fur and metal ore were replaced by other commodities, and the number of sailing ships carrying goods suddenly increased.

Anyone who cares privately speculates that the Tonigers are preparing for a new war.

The weather is getting colder day by day, but the black pines in the forest seem to be getting taller and taller under the cold weather, or the withered leaves set off the symbol of these evergreen Eruin, although the rivers have not yet begun to freeze, but most of them are already a scene of white dew and frost. At the beginning of November, it is said that in the Mintai area, knights descended from the sky and walked out of the flames, and these knights who seemed to have descended into the sky for a week and then disappeared. Those who witnessed this scene swore that they were the handmaidens of war, and legend has it that when they appeared, they often meant the advent of an era of war.

While these ethereal legends were circulating everywhere, a message was tied to the pigeon's leg and fell into the hands of the Charles.

"There's news, my lord." While Charles spoke out of his psychic connection, Brando was still telling his mother the stories of the past few days, the fireplace had been lit this season, and the charcoal was crackling in the iron fence, and he had told it over and over a dozen times, but Lady Windsor was not tired of hearing it at all—especially when she knew that her son had a 'good heart and a good housekeeper' in Tonigel—that was Brando's description, and he thought that Roman was simple-minded and worthy of a good evaluation, As for being good at housekeeping, the merchant lady has the ability to glove the white wolf, and she should barely be able to say that she is a fiancée.

But when he heard Charles's words. Suddenly got up from the sofa, immediately gestured to his mother, Antitina, and Freya, then stepped aside and asked in a low voice, "What's the matter?" ”

"Your Lord, you guessed right, someone has indeed seen this man near the Dead Frost Forest, and that person is a farmer near Bernicel. He was called Old Beard, and he had a daughter named Josh, and they had rented a carriage to the man after the explosion, which was said to have given them a sum of money, and he was accompanied by another man, who, according to the girl's description of him, thought that the second man must have been a nobleman named Baban. ”

"They rented a carriage." Brando said to himself: "There is a hostel in Bernicel, why should they go to the farmer's house to rent a carriage, most of the farmer's carriage is a caravan with a canopy. Ordinary aristocrats don't take that kind of thing. ”

"They're here to load things." Charles replied.

"And then," asked Brando, "has anyone seen this carriage near Del Tar, no, if I were them, I would have been more cautious, and they should have changed carriages on the way?" ”

"Your Lord, as you can guess, they changed carriages once in both Aruther and Winterwalsta, but once we determined their route. It's easy to ask for these details - the last carriage they used was indeed at Deldetal. They were seen around mid-August. ”

"Mid-August." Brando replied, "Deldetar, a Cruz man." ”

He took a deep breath, his fists already clenched and clenched, almost squeezing the last words out of his teeth: "Donus. Mr. Bernie, the 'rare beasts' they escorted were probably also transported by a horse-drawn cart, right? ”

"Exactly," Charles was silent for a few moments. He replied, "Your Excellency." ”

Antitina and Freya sat on the couch and watched in silence as Brando's face was almost dripping.

……

The fireplace in the study was also lit up, and several faces were lit up.

"Go and get the Earl, Mrs. Hill, I'm sorry for your trouble."

Princess Griffiin put down the letterhead in her hand. Glancing at Makaro, the tenth letter she had received in two weeks, and which had been delivered by the kingdom's cunning fox himself, it was evident that the royal party had foreseen a subtle change in the situation. It is not strange for the empire to canonize an earl, and it can even be said that it has nothing to do with Eruin, but the origin of this countess involves a person in the kingdom who is also sensitive at this moment - Griffiin After reading this letter, he also let go of the last bit of luck in his heart, gently threw the letter on the desk, and said to his handmaiden with some exhaustion. The lady pushed the door open, and she couldn't help but look back at the yellowing leaves outside the window, and sighed slightly.

"Your Highness the Princess." Makaro reminded in a whisper.

"You don't have to speak, Makaroqing, I already understand." Griffiin looked at him and replied.

In a matter of moments, Brando was in her study, his face still stiffening as if he hadn't changed from the news he had received. He saluted Griffiin first, looked up, and naturally saw Her Royal Highness the princess sitting behind the desk, and Makaro standing beside her. Brando looked at the kingdom's cunning fox, then turned his gaze back to Princess Griffiin.

Neither of them spoke, but they both seemed to understand each other's thoughts.

Her Royal Highness lowered her head, looked at the letterhead on the desk, and said softly, "Mr. Brando, I have to sue you about this-"

"It's about the Azure Spear, right?" Brando spoke.

Princess Griffiin looked up at him, her pale silver-gray eyes full of complicated looks, but she finally told Akane in detail - the Silver Queen had made her an Imperial Count, and for two weeks the news had been confirmed from all sides; Even the origin of the mountain maiden, and her relationship with the Count Toniguel—only after she had finished speaking, did she ask softly, "What are you going to do, Brando?" ”

"Your Royal Highness, do you guess what I would do if the Cruz people came to ask me this," Brando was silent for a moment? Then he replied in a somewhat cold tone.

Princess Griffiin's hand on the skirt tightened at the hem of the dress, and she could certainly hear the anger lurking beneath Brando's calm tone.

But she looked directly into the other's eyes, and there was a subtle glint of thought in her eyes. But he didn't answer.

Instead, Macaro spoke: "Lord Count, they are Cruz people. ”

"I know."

"Your Excellency, Her Royal Highness the Princess has told you about this out of respect for you. But I must ask you a question if you have clearly thought about Tonigal and the Kingdom. Tonigel's relationship with the Empire-"

"So what?" Brando asked.

"Don't put the kingdom in danger because of a moment of anger, the Azure Spear is important to the kingdom, but not so important that it can cause many innocent people to shed blood and die for it." Macarol sighed and patiently persuaded.

Brando looked at this man, a prominent member of the royal party, as if he had heard a joke, and he shook his head and replied, "Mr. Macarro, you have made a mistake. I don't care about the Azure Spear at all. The only mistake the Empire has made today is that it should not have taken a person from the land against her will. Of course, you may not care who this person is, but I have something to tell you—"

His voice was not loud, but it seemed to be filled with an invisible magic that made the room dead silent.

Princess Griffyne, and Lady Hill beside her, had never seen a nobleman speak so brazenly to his colleagues. Her Royal Highness's eyes still twinkled slightly, and the noble lady was almost dumbfounded.

Makaro's face was very ugly. He suddenly realized that this was not the first time Brando had reprimanded him like this.

Brando, however, did not care what he thought, but replied softly: "If the Empire thinks that the nobles of the Eruin Kingdom will take care of the overall situation, and will stop fighting, or immediately retreat, then I have only one word for them - I - Brando, the lord of the fir city, the lord of the Tonigels. The counts of the kingdom have not yet developed the habit of conniving at this robber logic. ”

He said word for word to Macarlo: "I promise that the Eruin will not shed blood for unnecessary reasons, but that the kingdom protects its people, and that this is the most glorious thing in the world - the people of Eruin can shed their blood for another Eruin today." Then tomorrow there will be more people who will shed their blood, Mr. Macaro, this is the pride and backbone of a nation, and if anyone thinks it is weak and deceitful, then he is very wrong. ”

After saying this, Brando bowed and saluted Griffiin, like a knight, bidding farewell to his king before setting out for the battle.

He turned, opened the door, and before leaving, said, "Your Highness Princess, I promised a little girl that I would protect each and every one of them, and that I would keep my promise that I would not turn back on the enemy, whether it was Cruz or Mardara, or even if it was an enemy of the world. ”

"Your Royal Highness, if this is what the Cruz people want, then I will answer them with these two words: war-"

There was a click, and the door closed in front of the three people in the room.

Macaro's face was ever-changing, he seemed to want to say something, but he didn't know how to speak for a while, and finally he could only sigh helplessly and retire to Her Royal Highness the Princess. The two of them left the study one after the other for a long time, and Mrs. Hill seemed to have just recovered from her previous shock, she couldn't help but pat her chest, and said with some trepidation: "How can this be true, this Lord Count is really bold, he, how dare he go to war with the Cruz...... ”

Princess Griffiin looked back at her handmaiden with some distraction.

"Do you know, Mrs. Hill," she said, in a daze, "the nobles of my father's king were faced with the same problem that day, and do you know what they answered me? ”

She inhaled softly, her eyes looking like she had been back in the night when Ampesel had been stormy.

……

(PS: I want to think about the new plot later, I took a little time, it was a little late, and in order to compensate everyone, I deliberately added 6000 words.) (To be continued......)