Chapter IX: Departure, Windsor Castle, Viscount

At eight o'clock in the morning, the team of the Ensberg family set off on time. In addition to a huge luxury carriage pulled by a pair of horses, there was also a team of twenty guards, and the captain of the guard was naturally a Hamilton knight.

Moriarty was dressed as a knight, but not in armor. Naturally, this way is to facilitate movement on the road, and when you reach your destination, you will naturally change back to your proper aristocratic dress.

Hamilton was still dressed in heavy steel armor, and even wore a "lion helmet" covered with visor on his head. In his hand, a knight's spear, nearly four meters long, appeared light. Fortunately, Hamilton's mount was strong enough, otherwise an ordinary country colt would have been crushed by the weight of his body.

The other nineteen men who followed behind Hamilton were all in leather armor, with standard swords pinned to their waists and "bridge iron hats" on their heads. Although the nineteen guards were also on horseback, they were not really knights. Mounts are just a means of transportation for them, and when a battle actually breaks out, they will fight as infantry swordsmen.

"Let's go." Moriatice took the reins in his hand and moved first.

Behind him, a team of more than ten meters long immediately followed.

"Master Mority, your back is straight, your wrists are relaxed, your hips are not too stiff, and try to match the ups and downs of the horses." From the very beginning of the road, Hamilton Knight began his riding lessons again.

"Okay, relax." Moriarty smiled at the knight guarding his side, trying to correct his posture.

"Master Moriarty, to be honest, I don't recommend that you do such a long ride at this stage. Although, the other day of practice in the manor, you have already mastered the basics of riding. However, seven hours of long bumps is still too much for beginners. Hamilton looked at Moriarty, who was meticulously carrying out his instructions, and said in a low voice, his words straightforward.

"Hehe, I know, Lewis, thank you." Moriarty reached out and patted the young mare's red mane, and the horse turned its head to the side and neighed happily.

"You're the instructor, it's up to you. If you think I need a break, I'll go to the back carriage and rest for a while. But until then, please supervise my riding lessons. Moriarty added.

"Okay, young master." Although it looked like the teenager on the other side would still insist on riding the horse for most of the journey, at least he agreed to supervise the whole process himself, which made Hamilton nod.

The countryside in autumn is full of golden wheat fields and busy tenant farmers.

The Ensberg family's team walked down the country road, careful not to touch the ripening fields. And when they saw the majestic noble cavalry, those tenant farmers would also hurriedly stop what they were doing and bend down to Moriarty and the others who passed by in the distance.

"This year's harvest looks good. Lewis, how is your estate, there should be a good harvest, too. Trying to maintain his correct sitting position, Moriarty looked sideways at the waves of wheat around him, and said to the knight.

"Yes, there was a lot of rain this year, and there was a lot of snow before spring, so the wheat was growing very well." Hamilton's voice sounded muffled through behind his visor.

"Unfortunately, Kent is too far south, and I have heard that in the northern part of the kingdom, the climate is hot enough that there are even two wheat harvests in a year." Moriarty continued.

"Yes. However, most of these productive areas are now in the hands of evil necromancers. Even if there were some good farms on the borders of the kingdom, they are now probably contaminated by the undead. At this point, Hamilton's words were filled with disgust and hatred. …,

"yes. It is ironic that the best grain-producing areas on the continent have been taken over by the Dejia Alliance, which does not need much food at all. Moriarty shrugged helplessly.

"I hope that one day, I can wipe out these inhuman scum." Hamilton let out a low snort.

With that, the knight turned his horse and galloped towards the back of the group. As the team leader, he needs to pay attention to every detail and step of the team at all times.

After about three hours of advancing at a constant pace, the Ensberg family finally left the country road and stepped onto a smoother, wider county road.

It was noon, and the whole cavalry stopped for a while, rested and eaten.

Because of Moriarty's special request, his food was not specialized, but like the rest of the people, he was fed on coarse bread with a small slice of ham, and his drink was water from his leather bag.

"Master Morati, for the next hour, I hope you can rest in the carriage." Seeing Moriarty eating the same food as himself without pretentiousness, Hamilton nodded secretly, but his words remained simple and stern.

"Okay, you're the captain." Moriarty didn't object, ate the bread roll in his hand in a few bites, and then stood up.

Truth be told, after three hours on horseback, Moriarty's thigh had been grazed in several places. At the same time, the body also consumes a lot. Because maintaining the correct riding position at all times is quite exhausting in itself. If it weren't for the fact that some time ago, the morning exercises, swordsmanship, equestrianism and other courses of Moriati Tong Guò had gradually trained the thin body to become stronger, not to mention horseback riding, even the bumps in the carriage in the morning could shake the original small body apart.

Getting into the carriage, the team is back on the road. Moriarty took out the ointment she had prepared and briefly treated and bandaged the wound on her thigh, then closed her eyes and recuperated.

An hour later, Moriarty was back on his horse again in good spirits, and the whole team was moving forward at a further pace.

In the afternoon, after more than 100 kilometers of travel, at the end of the road, Windsor Castle, quietly surrounded by a gentle moat, appeared in front of you.

At this point, Moriarty changed back into an aristocratic attire. Although he was not very interested in this overly flamboyant outfit, it was a necessary etiquette among the nobles of the kingdom.

When the team of the Ensberg family appeared in front of the castle, the steward of the Salk family, who had been waiting outside the castle, immediately greeted him. The Hamilton Knight, who was the captain of the guard, was one step ahead and stepped forward to greet him.

"Welcome, Sir Ensberg. Knowing that you are coming, the Viscount himself ordered me to be here to greet you. "Whether it was sincere or not, at least on the surface, the welcome steward of the Salk family was extremely respectful and courteous, both in expression and demeanor.

"Thank you, Viscount, for your concern."

Moriarty nodded slightly in the manner of an heir to a baronial family. Then, under the steward's guidance, he rode into Windsor Castle.

It is a castle in a typical medieval style. It is surrounded by tall granite walls, and at the four corners of the castle are four taller turrets. The only way to get in and out of the castle was a drawbridge that could be erected and a gate made of cast iron. The gate was so heavy that each opening required at least five strong men to pull through a guò winch.

As soon as you enter the castle, the light dims. On the outskirts of the castle is a large civilian colony that looks very cluttered, with mostly low houses and sewage flowing on both sides of the streets. However, because of the reception of noble guests, the commoners here had apparently received some kind of warning beforehand, and all of them were "peacefully" confined to their huts. Moreover, there were many soldiers armed with spears on both sides of the road. …,

"What a strong wall." Moriarty rode on his horse, looked around, and suddenly said to the leader in front of him.

"Yes, Lord Sir, Windsor Castle has been built almost two hundred years ago. For two hundred years, the castle's walls have remained unshaken in the face of thieves, mobs, and even the once formidable rebels. The steward replied proudly.

Indeed, the Salk family, as one of the principals of Kent, naturally has its own deep heritage and incomparable trump card. No matter how bad the situation is, as long as the Salk family is still protected by the walls of this castle, they have a chance to make a comeback. And such a solid hole card, to this day, the Ensberg family has never had.

Walking through the civilian quarter, the heart of the castle is in close proximity.

Unlike the humble and cramped civilian quarters, Viscount Salk's inner fort occupies nearly half of the central area of the castle. An inner fort wall of more than three meters separates the inside and outside.

At this time, Moriarty also jumped off his mount.

"Sir Sir, please." The steward saluted respectfully.

"Yes." Moriarty followed him into the inner fort.

Behind him, Hamilton still followed. The rest of the retinue and carriage were naturally tended by Salk's servants.

"Sir Ensberg has arrived!"

As soon as Moriarty entered the corridor of the Viscount's mansion, another steward with white curly hair who had been waiting at the entrance of the hall immediately chanted loudly.

Then, the door to the hall slowly opened. Immediately, a soft music with the aroma of wine slowly came out of the hall.

Moriarty froze, smiled, and walked inside.

In the hall, many people were already standing or sitting. At this moment, almost everyone turned their heads in unison and looked at Moriati, who had just walked in.

As the representative of the third-ranked powerful baron family in Kent, the arrival of Moriarty does have this weight to keep all those present paying close attention.

However, Moriarty was keenly aware that not all of the eyes that came to him were kind and joyful. Many of them have a vague contempt and hidden jealousy.

In response, Moriarty's smile became more and more gentle and indifferent.

In front of him, a sturdy old man in a blue military uniform and a golden ribbon with a red face laughed and strode towards Moriarty with his arms outstretched.

"Haha, welcome, handsome sir. I was saddened to learn that your father was not able to come, but now I am overjoyed to see you. Ha, welcome to Windsor Castle again. The old man said in a loud voice.