Yes, how many twists and turns and bizarre stories must happen in the middle to make a former imperial duke, a blessed god of war knight, and a wolf general with superior combat effectiveness finally become a "scholar" who is addicted to research in the laboratory? And this scholar can produce an entire day's math papers for his daughter at a rate of 30 questions per hour - in the name of "brain entertainment......

Andesa suddenly felt a chill on her body, and subconsciously shivered twice before she began to consider what kind of sentences she should use to tell her grandfather what happened to her father as concisely as possible.

"This thing...... It should have started with the snowstorm in Winterwolf Castle in the year of my father's disappearance," and finally, the young wolf general slowly broke the silence, "that year, my father did not fall under the siege of the Ansu people, but encountered the Cultists of the Dead of All Things who were operating at the foot of the Dark Mountains......"

The warm wind blew from the direction of the plains, stirring the lush fields of flowers and trees in the long-branched manor, the pool in front of the main house shimmered, the blades of grass and petals blown from nowhere fell on the water, spinning and waving a circle of subtle ripples, the maid in the manor bent down and reached out to pick up a beautiful petal that floated to the edge of the pool, but the petals suddenly trembled and curled, as if scorched by an invisible force, crumpled into a ball and quickly drifted in the other direction.

The maid raised her head a little surprised and nervous, and subconsciously glanced in the direction of the main house, but found nothing.

The sound of insects chirping through the open window, the heat of early summer noon had gradually passed in, Ferdinand reined in the power that had escaped accidentally, he listened quietly to Andesa's narration, his brows furrowed and sometimes calmed, and after a few ups and downs, all his thoughts and thoughts finally turned into a long sigh.

Captured by cultists, washed of faith, twisted by dark mysteries and twisted flesh and soul, degenerated into dark cults, infected with sin and depravity, and finally turned allegiance to a foreign land...... If he hadn't heard Andesa tell it with his own ears, he wouldn't have believed that these things had happened to the Empire's former illustrious star, to his proudest son.

The old duke couldn't help but imagine how he would have reacted to these things when he had been younger, at a more stern and cold age, whether he would have been the first to grieve for the suffering of Bard as a father, or to be angry at the dust of his family's honor as Duke Wendell, and he found that he could not imagine anything—too many people had changed forever after witnessing the greatest darkness and malice in the depths of this world on the battlefield of Winterhold, This also includes Ferdinand Wendell, who was once known as the "Iron Duke".

The old duke sighed again—he felt that he was old after all.

Father said...... He has done many wrong things, and he is not going to use the so-called 'involuntary self' as an excuse, he says that he has many crazy and depraved evil things that he did on his own initiative in a sane and sober state, because at that time he was completely addicted to the messianic self-emotion and wrong fanaticism brought about by the idea of the end of all things, and although he is forgiven today, he still wants to spend the rest of his life in the land he has hurted," Andesa watched with some nervousness as her grandfather's expression changed, after two sighs from the other, "Besides, he said that while he had pledged allegiance to Emperor Cecil, he had done nothing to harm Typhon's interests, including divulging any military and technical secrets—he wanted nothing more than to be a dutiful researcher. ”

"Dutiful researcher......" Duke Peridinand muttered softly, "So, he's not coming back—did he mention anything to me?" ”

"He inquired in detail about your condition, but he didn't ask me to pass you on anything," Andesa shook her head, "I asked him, and his expression at the time was something to say, but...... But in the end, he didn't say anything. ”

"I see," the old duke shook his head slightly, not as if surprised, but sighed a little, "when he still needs to rely on his father, I only regard him as a soldier of the empire and the heir of the family, and he is now out of both of these identities...... I shouldn't be surprised by this result. ”

"Grandfather, father, he ......" Andesa hesitated, she didn't really know how her grandfather and father got along with each other, the long childhood memories were blurred in her mind, so she didn't know what to say at this time, "He actually remembers you very much." ”

"I know, Andessa, don't worry – I know that," a slight smile appeared in the corner of Peddinand's eye, "I'm his father after all." ”

Andesa nodded slowly, and then couldn't help asking, "Do you complain about the decision he made?" He had renounced his identity as a Typhonian...... And probably stay in Cecil forever. ”

Paddinand did not answer for a moment, but thought quietly, and at this moment he suddenly thought of the dreams he had had, the "omens" that he had seen in the illusions of reality and fiction, which seemed to reveal the fate of Bard, for which he had been puzzled and disturbed, and now ...... He finally knew the truth behind these "omens".

After a while, the old duke suddenly asked, "Do you think he is doing well over there?" ”

"He's doing well," says Andesa with little hesitation, recalling her time with her father in Solimburg – and although the work seemed a little difficult for her to understand, the fulfillment and relief she saw in his father's face was not fake, "He has a new way of life and a new social life, and I can tell that he is enjoying the state he is in." ”

"Then I have nothing to complain about," said Duke Ferdinand in a low voice, "and after all these years, it is time for him to live for himself." ”

"Grandfather, Your Majesty's ......"

Duke Ferdinand shook his head slowly, he was about to say something, but a sudden knock on the door interrupted the old man's next movements—the grandfather and grandson looked in the direction from which the voice came at the same time, and an attendant pushed the door into the hall and bowed there: "Lord Duke, hostess, there is a royal messenger visiting. ”

"The Royal Courier?" Andesa confirmed in surprise, she subconsciously looked at her grandfather, but saw that the old man's face was calm, and Duke Peerinan nodded slightly to the attendant: "Please messenger come in." ”

In a matter of moments, the sudden royal messenger appeared in front of Andesa under the guidance of the attendant, a middle-aged man of a calm and confident temperament, wearing a dark blue coat with delicate silver trim and red patterns, and two attendants followed him, each holding a long, ornate wooden box.

Andesa couldn't help but guess a little vaguely about the purpose of Emperor Rosetta suddenly sending a messenger to come, and at the same time received the visitor from the Obsidian Palace according to the standard etiquette, after a few simple greetings, Duke Ferdinand asked about the envoy's intention, and the man in the dark blue coat smiled: "Your Majesty knows that General Andersa has returned to his territory today, the general has made great contributions to the empire, and has experienced a whole day of winter solitude, so he ordered me to send a gift of condolence——"

He turned and pointed to the ornate wooden box held by one of his attendants: "This is a knight's sword enchanted by the President of the Royal Mages Guild, Lady Windsor Marpel, which can manipulate the powerful power of winter or change gravity within a certain range at will, and can protect the user at a critical moment, making it immune to a legendary-level fatal damage, and His Majesty has given it the name 'Winter'." Now it's yours, General Andelsa. ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your gift." Andesa said immediately, and then the squire stepped forward to accept the gift of great honor, and after opening the gorgeous wooden box, a knight's sword with a sharp sword and a layer of ice that would never melt appeared to meet her eyes - this is indeed a good sword.

Even though the era of traditional warfare has passed, and in the face of powerful cluster artillery, this individual weapon no longer has the ability to control the entire battlefield, but it is still a good sword.

While ordering the squire to collect the gift, Andesa and Duke Ferdinand's eyes couldn't help but fall on the wooden box carried by another royal attendant.

"This second gift is for you, Duke Ferdinand." The messenger turned to Ferdinand Wendell, and his smile suddenly became solemn.

"Twenty years since the death of General Bard Wendell outside Winterwolf Castle, the Wendell family has done their duty and made an indelible contribution to the Empire, and now that General Andersa is in danger, she has saved the Empire's precious elite power from a catastrophe in the Winter War, and the entire Empire owes you and your family great dedication and sacrifice.

"Here's another sword, and while it's not as powerful and legendary as Winter, it's of great significance: it's His Majesty's sword for the past twenty years, and it's called 'Trust'.

"It also had a sister sword named 'Loyalty', which was the sword of General Bard Wendell, but unfortunately it was lost after General Bard died in battle twenty years ago. Now His Majesty has given this sword to His Excellency the Duke, firstly to thank the Wendell family for their long-term contributions, and secondly, to send a memory. I hope you will take it well. ”

Andesa listened nervously on the sidelines, and suddenly took a soft breath, and she realized a very crucial detail in the messenger's words-

Since a unit led by my father disappeared at the foot of the Dark Mountains twenty years ago, although almost everyone thought that the wolf general was no longer alive, all the official calibers of the empire for so many years have characterized this matter as missing, especially the royal family, in this matter, on official occasions, the word "killed" has never been used!

The young wolf general quickly realized something, she looked at her grandfather, and saw that the old man was momentarily stunned, and then his lips twitched slightly, as if with great difficulty it was finally possible to speak: "I...... Thank you for Your Majesty's grace ......"

"Please accept this gift," the messenger smiled, motioning for his retinue to come forward, "This is a wish from His Majesty. ”

"Okay, of course." Duke Ferdinand immediately spoke, and ordered his attendants to come forward and take the long wooden box, and when he opened the lid, a beautiful and practical talisman sword with sky blue gems inlaid on the hilt appeared before him.

"Did Your Majesty say anything else?" The old duke looked up at the messenger and asked quickly.

"There is only a very simple sentence," said the messenger, looking solemnly at the old man, "and he said, 'Every one is well.'" ”

"Everyone is ......well," Duke Ferdinand subconsciously repeated this sentence softly, and only nodded slowly after a long time, "I see, please allow me to express my gratitude to Your Majesty again." ”

The messenger did not stay long at the Manor on a mission, and he quickly left with his entourage, leaving the main hall of the manor with only Andesa and Ferdinand.

The two longswords of special significance had been put away by the attendants and sent to the nearby weapons showroom.

Andesa finally couldn't help but break the silence: "Grandfather, Your Majesty he ......"

"There is no need to speculate on His Majesty's thoughts, especially when he has already offered to give you room to turn around," Duke Peridinand shook his head, interrupting what Andesa was about to say, "Remember, child, your father is no longer alive, and from this day on, he died twenty years ago. ”

Andesa looked at her grandfather, then nodded slowly: "Yes, I understand." ”

“…… Let someone go to the cellar and fetch a bottle of wine," said Duke Ferdinand, after a moment of silence, "let's have a drink together...... There's so much to celebrate today. ”

……

The sun shone down on Aldernan, and after the fog cleared, the city finally embraced clear blue skies, and on this first summer visit, the city was greeted with a few rare clear skies of the year – the musty smell that had accumulated during the long fog season in the past quickly dissipated like snow in the sun.

In the study on the upper floor of the Obsidian Palace, Diana, the head royal maid, pushed open the door and came to Rosetta Augustus.

Rosetta the Great looked up from the scroll and looked at Diana: "It seems that the gift has been delivered?" ”

"Yes, the messenger has just sent a summons," the dark-haired Diana nodded slightly, "Duke Peddinand and General Andessa have already accepted the gifts, and the whole process is going well. ”

"Really...... Then they must have understood my intentions. ”

Speaking of this, the imperial ruler couldn't help but show a somewhat strange smile, and shook his head with a complicated expression: "But then again, I really can't imagine that Bard is really alive...... Although Ferdinand had mentioned his dreams and premonitions, who would have thought that these perceptions from the transcendent would be confirmed in this form......"

Commander Typhon was captured along with Andessa, and several of the more seriously wounded were transferred to the Thorin region to recuperate, and despite their limited access to information, the name Bard Wendell reached their ears and reached Rosetta the Great's bookcase upon his return.

It's a very simple and straightforward line of information, so simple that it's easy to see at a glance that it's not being kept secret or disguised.

In thought, Rosetta the Great couldn't help but whisper to himself: "From a certain point of view, this news is actually the ...... that Gawain Cecil took the initiative to pass on to us"