Chapter 9: Grassroots Civilians

"What a pity!" Cardinal Haigea sighed softly.

The werewolf duke on the side asked suspiciously, "What is a pity?" ”

Haigea glanced at Augustus and said softly, "It's a pity that I didn't meet Augustus earlier, otherwise he might have been the first reader of Sacred Immortal." ”

The werewolf duke's body trembled, and he looked at Augustus again, and his eyes were obviously different.

If the book "Sacred Immortality" becomes an official book recognized by the Holy See, then Augustus, the first reader to read "Sacred Immortality" after the death of Hygoasu, has the highest right of interpretation.

In other words, Augustus will be protected and valued by the Holy See.

The werewolf duke, who was familiar with the sea court, did not expect that this proud priest, who held the scepter of spiritual world domination, and the pope, who controlled the spiritual world and carried the crown, would have such a special regard for an ordinary grassroots commoner.

Haige Yasu didn't say anything more, as a priest, he didn't like the occasion of aristocratic banquets, which were deceitful and elegant with honey-bellied swords. Said hello to Bacon and Soraot, the two largest families in the council chamber, and then left the council chamber.

As the protagonist of this banquet, Augustus, who planned to see the demeanor of the big people in the council chamber and the familiar face, was the opposite of the idea of Haige Yasu, who wanted to get some political capital or the favor of additional powerful figures at the banquet after such a medal ceremony, and walked all over the big people with a red wine glass, but few people were willing to deal with this new star of the imperial capital who won the Order of Iron Oak. Augustus smiled bitterly in his heart, and then sat quietly in a secluded corner and began to joke happily with a few aristocratic ladies who came to talk to him.

Towards the end of the feast, twenty-three Iron Oak Medalists toasted each of the magnates before Augustus reappeared in the eyes of the nobles.

Holding a glass of red wine, he symbolized a walk among the powerful people with Sain and others, during which he briefly met with the Secretary of State Hegelst, the head of the Bacon family, the Commodoro, the Soraott family, who rose to become one of the most influential voices in Noxus in two hundred years, and the Duke of Werewolves.

These men did not hesitate to express their admiration for Augustus, and said comforting words such as promising promise. But there was no family that threw an olive branch to Augustus, but to other Octavian, Slumford and other Iron Oak Medal winners who were not very conspicuous compared to Augustus, from time to time threw olive branches one by one.

Augustus was not uninteresting. After a short exchange, Augustus politely said goodbye and left, giving space and time to the group of nobles who were talking enthusiastically and passionately with Octavian and others. Leaning against a white marble column, Augustus muttered to himself and said with a wry smile: "General Burnham, you are really unpopular! ”

Just when Augustus was a little lost, a tender little hand gently patted Augustus's shoulder, and a crisp voice sounded: "The subordinate who is promoted by the superior is always the kind of person who can be controlled or has to be promoted, Young Master Augustus, you have the ability and power that they are afraid of and cannot control, so why should you be unhappy for their group of people who are destined to be trampled under your feet in the future?" It's not worth it! ”

Augustus looked back at the beautiful girl in a white evening dress who had been by his side during the banquet and smiled softly. Brilliant said: "Miss Qilisi, this sentence is not in line with your status as an aristocratic lady." ”

The aristocratic lady named Kiris took Augustus's arm and looked at Augustus with those crystal pure eyes, and said, "But a woman who pursues happiness has a word for the knight she likes!" ”

It was not the first time that Augustus, who had been confessed by a girl, looked helplessly at the little girl in front of him, who was only twelve or thirteen years old, but whose figure was comparable to that of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, stretched out his spare right hand and patted the head of the little girl who could almost level his chest, bent down slightly, and when the little girl did not react, the dragonfly pecked at the girl's face, and said with a smile: "This is the promise made by the heroic knight to the noble princess, and when the noble princess is sixteen years old." The valiant knight will bring the head of a dragon to marry Her Majesty the Princess! ”

The aristocratic little lady, who has always been bold and fearless, couldn't help but show a blush on her face at this time, and a pair of crystal-pure girl's eyes revealed a trace of the coquettishness of a mature young woman who did not match her age, and this little girl who was as mature as a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl physically and mentally dropped a sentence: "Remember your promise!" ”。 Then he carried the hem of the white evening dress and ran out of the council hall with a very unladylike pace.

"Young Master Augustus, I really want to congratulate you on winning the favor of Her Majesty Princess Kiris, the most noble princess of Noxus!" Outstanding in both looks. Accompanied by two well-dressed girls dressed in the pefendono's long skirts, which were more popular among aristocratic ladies, one was about fifty years old and had a wicked smile on his face. The man with the red wine glass slowly walked towards Augustus.

"Your Majesty, Princess Kiris? Lord Count Pekoski, is this the daughter of the pagan Prince Sacktorus who still remains in the imperial capital? Augustus looked suspiciously at the middle-aged man in front of him, who was known as a vampire, but who looked very elegant and gentlemanly, and looked to be at most fifty years old.

Pekoski smiled and shook his head, looked at Augustus and said with a smile: "Prince Sackdoro, who has turned to the Equilibrium Sect, has no daughters in the imperial capital, and even if he did, he would have been sent to the Inquisition by the Holy See a long time ago!" Her Majesty Princess Kiris is much more noble than the daughter of Prince Saxtoro, and she is the most noble existence in Noxus! ”

Looking at Pekoski who said this sentence with a little playfulness, Augustus trembled in his heart, looked at Pekoski in surprise and said: "Is this the only surviving bloodline of Emperor Nikocage, Her Majesty Princess Kiris, who has pure blood?" ”

Pekoski smiled and nodded.

The last emperor of Noxus, Nicocage the Great, died in a mysterious assassination twelve years ago, a year after his Excellency Hygoa had studied the canon of the Holy See in the Papal Chamber.

Because of the weakness of Emperor Niko Cage in front of him, only a two-year-old princess majesty, the throne of Noxus was vacant. In the end, the two-year-old princess moved with General Burnham into St. Peter's Castle, where successive Noxus Emperors lived, and was eventually adopted by General Burnham.

It is said that Burnham made a promise when he adopted Her Majesty the Princess: "When Kiris is capable of taking control of Noxus, I will give her to the throne of Noxus!" ”

It's just that there are few people among the Noxian nobles who go back and believe stupidly. What does it take to control the power of Noxus? Isn't the person who has the most power to wield the power of Noxus right now be you, Burnham? Darkwell? Hehe, maybe when you're about to die. I will hand over the power to the poor princess Her Majesty!

There is a common understanding in Noxus that for forty years, it was not the Emperor who commanded from the throne of Noxus, but Burnham, who hid in the Pershan manor, who really ruled Noxus. Darkwell.

When the last Emperor of Noxus died in an assassination, this notion became an ironclad fact.

Assassin? An emperor will be heavily guarded, guarded by no less than six central knights, and a knight standing at the peak of knights, a knight in the holy coffin, and guarded by Alpha City, the third knight of Noxus, will be successfully assassinated? Even if Augustus no longer had any brains, he could have imagined that this ostensibly assassination operation could not have been so simple.

It is even possible that the mastermind of this assassination may be General Burnham, who has now adopted Her Majesty Princess Kiris, and this bold and open-sighted general is not out of the possibility of doing such a thing!

Of course, this is not the only possibility, but there is also the behavior of the old aristocrats who are jealous of Burnham's control of Noxus. They want to kill the Emperor Noxus and cause chaos in Noxus, and finally fish in troubled waters and seize the power they want.

There is also a possibility that the Black Rose Order, which has been hiding in the dark and ubiquitous, could be their actions. It could even be an act from a hostile country such as Demacia.

The truth has been buried in the darkness.

For Augustus, no matter what the truth is, Her Majesty Princess Kiris is a hot potato for Augustus.

Augustus was a little annoyed. But it's just an annoyance.

——————

On the surface, Augustus looked calm and impassive, with a faint smile on his face, and a look of luck at this elegant man. The vampire Count, who was violent at heart, said, "I am so lucky that I can be favored by our only princess of Noxus in this banquet of countless nobles. ”

Pekoski looked at Augustus with a smile, and those slightly playful eyes seemed to penetrate people's hearts at the moment. Said: "Awe, fear, this is the most important reason why you are not favored by the proud nobles." ”

Augustus smiled implicitly. He shouted out to the Earl, and then asked, "Awe, fear?" Count Pekoski is really joking, how can the nobles and lords who are high up be jealous and awe of me, who has just come out of Sark City? It's unbelievable. ”

The vampire Count Pekoski, who was labeled as perverse and violent, glanced at the high-minded aristocratic group centered on Komodoro, a trace of contempt crossed the corner of his mouth, and he said softly without hesitation: "A commoner who has squeezed into the core of the top nobility before he is thirty years old!" It is rare in the history of Noxus, and this civilian is backed by a mountain that they are all afraid of, do you think such a civilian can not arouse their jealousy and awe? ? ”

"But now they don't seem to be so hostile to you, thanks to our Majesty Princess Kiris!"

Augustus carefully chewed on this seemingly simple but in fact profound meaning of Pekoski's words. Looking up at the smiling Pekoski, Augustus would not have been whimsical to think that he had a powerful charisma that made Pekoski, the count, speak to him with these heart-wrenching words.

"Aristocrats, this kind of strange creature who lives in the shadows of swords and swords is best at using a few words, when facing the opponent with a bright smile, secretly arranging a killing game to send the opponent into the abyss of death. Augustus, you have to remember that the person who gives you the most lethal wound is never your opponent, but the friend who stabbed you at that critical moment! I know that Steinbod is one of your fondest memories, but I would like to remind you not to dig out your heart and lungs, even when facing Tyrone and Borlight, two friends who have been in trouble together, and to be vigilant and fearful! Fransted, who had no fewer than ten arrows stuck in the battle of the Sack City Defense, said to Augustus with his last breath.

Augustus will never forget this reminder from Fransted.

Pekoski also seemed to feel that his words were too direct and naked, completely inconsistent with what a stranger said when he saw another stranger, but he smiled slightly with Kokosky. Without any explanation, he glanced at his female companion who had just walked to Augustus's side from him, and then looked at a serious Augustus rather playfully, and said with an ambiguous smile: "Our imperial hero doesn't seem to like this kind of occasion, and he is so cold to our beautiful and honorable Miss Baldur?" Not at all in line with Augustus, who conquered a horde of goddesses and became great men! ”

Augustus smiled and looked back apologetically at Miss Bod, who was looking at him with a little resentment, and was not surprised by how Pekosky knew about his great dream, and he closed his eyes and knew that it must have come out of the mouth of this stupid chatter.

With her left hand gently hugging her side, she can score at least seventy-five points, and she is a beautiful celebrity who is more attractive than Her Majesty Princess Kiris just now. Then he slowly retreated a distance, bent down slightly, made a very gentlemanly invitation, stretched out his hand, raised his eyes, and said softly: "Beautiful young lady, can I invite you to dance?" ”

Miss Bode pursed her lips and chuckled very ladylikely, then generously stretched out her hand and said softly, "Very willingly." The great imperial hero Mr. Augustus. ”

Holding the soft and delicate little hand, Augustus gave Pekoski a look that a man understands, and led the beautiful woman into the center of the council chamber, and now the ball square. Accompanied by elegant and light music, the two danced happily to the melody.

Looking at Augustus's fading back, the bright smile on Pekoski's face disappeared, and he glanced at the celebrity who was looking at him with admiration on his side. Smile lightly, then kick it away like garbage. The nobles who were familiar with Pekosky would sigh softly when they saw such a scene: "This is the perverse, violent and elegant vampire count of St. Peter's City!" ”

——————

"Offit, you're here!" A young nobleman of twenty-five or sixteen years old walked very enthusiastically to the Alfit, who was wearing a heavy Iron Oak medal, with a red wine glass. Glancing at the ball that Offitt was staring at, he pushed Offitt on the shoulder and said, "What?" Have you taken a fancy to that girl? Or I'll help you grab it! ”

A young man who can stand at such a banquet in his twenties is not outstanding, but at least has a strong family background. This young man, dressed in a red robe that was classic among the nobles, and with the same heavy Iron Oak medal on his chest, at least fits the latter.

Dressed in a white aristocratic robe, the elegant and outstanding Offet showed a helpless smile to the cynical friend beside him, stretched out his finger and pointed to the young man who was leading a beautiful girl to dance in the center of the ball, and also had a heavy Iron Oak medal on his chest, and said, "Do you know him?? Ampere. ”

Ampere, who is no less tall than Offitt, has an evil cynical temperament and is even more outstanding than the elegant Ofit, glanced at it and sneered: "Where may you not know, isn't he famous at the award ceremony, and now Augustus, the red man next to General Burnham?" After a pause, Ampere deliberately looked at Offitt with an exaggerated appearance, and said, "Do you have a crush on him?" Well, that's a bit of a hassle! ”

Offet directly ignored the latter sentence, squinted his eyes and said calmly: "I knew him six or seven years ago, Augustus!" ”

Ampei was slightly stunned, and then a fine light flashed in his eyes, staring at Augustus, who was happily enjoying the musical beauty in the center of the council room, and said, "Could he be the grassroots civilian who slaughtered the nobles in the city of Alders back then, and finally gave up the first glory of recruits??" ”

"Who else but him? I had a hunch that this guy would never disappear into obscurity in Noxus, and he gave me a big surprise when I met him this time! Holding the chest that pierced the chest with the arrow that pierced it back then, and now it still hurts faintly, Offett laughed.

"I remember that the Imperial Knight Academy of Noxus didn't have this unruly and outstanding young man!"

"Of course he wasn't at the Imperial Knight Academy, he went to the Knights of the Hundred Leaves with his uncle Fransd and became a glorious Knight! To be able to achieve such a dazzling result in the three-year holy war is really worthy of my Orfit's opponent! Perhaps, our General Burnham will send him to the Imperial Knight Academy or the War Academy, which has a transcendent status in the Valoran continent, for training! Maybe the next time we see him, he'll already be a Noxus bigwig! Offitt said with a calm smile.

Ampei smiled, looked at Augustus playfully, and then swept over Ofit, who was beside him with a bright smile, and said softly: "Alder City has produced a lot of talents in your generation, you, your brother Solit, Augustus, and a woman who is about to take control of the head of the Bloodthirsty Knights, one of the ten Knights of Noxus?" I really envy that you can be born in Alder City at the same time! ”

Offet didn't respond, looking at the imperial capital Junjie beside him who had been pretending to be cynical but gloomy for more than ten years, he sneered in his heart, envy me? Hehe, if you were also born in Alder City, then you would have experienced the pain of being suppressed below forever. First there was Augustus, and then there was the woman who held the sword of runes and defied everything.

Offet quietly looked at Augustus in the center of the ball, and suddenly Augustus seemed to feel his gaze waving at him and showed a bright smile, Offit also chuckled, and then took the red wine glass and looked at Augustus's ampere clinking glasses with the same interest, and said softly: "He is the nightmare of my youth, but nightmares are just nightmares, and they only belong to the past!" ”

Ampere drank the red wine in one gulp and said with a bright smile: "I'm really looking forward to you two old rivals fighting again!" ”

Offet smiled silently, glanced at Ampere, who focused his attention on Augustus even when he was drinking, and the corners of his mouth hooked a faint arc, "Confrontation? Naturally, I'm going to fight Augustus, but I'm still a tempting candidate, isn't it?? ”

——————

"The temptation is over!" Looking at Pekosky who came over, the old man in blue, who was sitting in the center of the council hall, but there were few people who cared, said with a smile.

Pekoski nodded, pondered, and said, "I really can't imagine that the Sixth Knight of the Empire, who is famous for his conceit, arrogance, and scum, can teach such a terrible disciple who is more noble than nobles. ”

The old man smiled, his face calm without any surprise, he glanced at Augustus, and then immediately turned away, and said meaningfully: "Even a knight at the top of the holy coffin may not be able to get Burnham?" Darkwell appreciated, but he could! ”

Pekoski smiled and smiled wryly.

The old man stood up on crutches, and Pekoski hurriedly followed the old man and asked, "Are you leaving?" Excellency! ”

The old man nodded and said, "I originally thought that I could see the two old enemies of Burnham and Hai Ge Yasu competing against each other, so I was interested in coming to Egustin Cathedral to walk, but now that the banquet has lost its sight, it's time to leave!" ”

Pekoski sent the old man out of the Cathedral of Eugustín and into the carriage, and only after the old man had left did he get back on his feet. At this moment, Pekoski's face is no longer as respectful as when he faced the old man just now, and his face is unscrupulous, this is the true face of the vampire Count Pekoski.

With his left hand on his waist and his thumb colliding rhythmically with other fingers, Pekosky looked indifferently at the inconspicuous and dark-colored carriage that slowly drove away, and whispered to himself: "To be able to get the attention of the ancient Constantine family, to be able to get the favor of Princess Kiris, and to be able to get the appreciation of General Burnham, what is the unknown background behind this grassroots civilian Augustus??? (To be continued.) )