The breeze blows through the treetops and the leaves rustle like an afternoon song.

"It all started in your grandfather's time," Her Royal Highness the Princess's soft voice seemed to echo the tune, "it was almost sixty years ago, when Anson XI was still in power, and the kingdom still had the sword saint Daurus, the lord of Mithril Castle Tulaman, it was the year of thunder, Eruin had just issued a militia training decree, and Fort Riden-Van Mill Line was just beginning to be built, it was the most glorious period of this ancient kingdom since the Siphah dynasty, and at that time, your grandfather, It's one of the most dazzling names of all. ”

Brando was silent, he looked in the direction of the field, the clouds were floating over the stag forest, and the faint undulating mountain shadows to the south were none other than the mountains of Yu Song.

Sword Saint Darus is indeed a legend belonging to that era, the strongest sword saint ever seen in the Eruin Kingdom, and the only kingdom general who has served as the marshal of the Fire Sanctuary Alliance.

However, the light of this star did not last long, and soon after the end of the Holy War, he inexplicably disappeared from history, some said that he was dead, others said that he was actually just missing, and there were even rumors that when the kingdom was once again in danger, the Sword Master would return to the land to save Eruin from danger. But Brando understands that this is only a good wish, and that in another part of history, these legends have been buried in the dust with the fall of the kingdom, and perhaps no one will remember them for thousands of years.

If he didn't have the current experience, he wouldn't have understood that Daurus never left the kingdom, he was born in this land, died in this land, and until the last moment of his life, he was still incognito in this city on the edge of the kingdom.

No one would have imagined that outside Pragues, in this humble mill on the banks of the River Buchi, the heroes of the kingdom lived and buried.

"Princess Griffiin," Brando began, these things had nothing to do with his current situation, but he had a vague sense that there might be some connection there, "you want to tell me what happened to my grandfather in the end, and what prompted him to leave the center of royal power and live in seclusion. I know it must have something to do with Captain Bunid, their Highland Knights, and maybe with the Eruin royal family, that's why you're here now, right? ”

"You have always had an unusually keen eye for how things are going, Mr. Knight, you seem to be able to see the past and the future, and I have always admired you in the past, and I still do today," Griffiin whispered, but she shook her head again, "But, I really never deceived you, and I really don't know what happened to your grandfather." All I know is that after that the kingship waned, the kingdom grew weaker and weaker, the glory of Eruin seemed to be gone, and after the death of my father, my brother and I trekked through a dark and desperate wilderness until you appeared before us, Mr. Knight. ”

Brando seemed to be able to hear his own heartbeat, he didn't understand why Her Royal Highness would suddenly tell him this, he looked at Princess Griffine, and then there was a breeze in the afternoon, and the late summer wind crossed the fields, gently blowing the silver hair of the half-elf girl, and the skirt swayed with the wind. Griffi's slender hands pressed against the gauntlets of the sword, and he stood in the wind, with no look on his face, as if he had just mentioned these things casually, so that no one could guess what was in her heart.

But Brando pursed his lips, he knew that Princess Griffiin had invited him here with a letter, and even to avoid the eyes of the royal party and her grandfather, he must have told him something, and he was not in a hurry, so he also calmed down and waited.

Sure enough, after a few moments, Griffiin continued: "But you can rest assured, I can at least assure you that it was not your grandfather who was at fault in that turmoil, or even anyone in your family, who took responsibility for some reason and chose to live in seclusion with your family. I don't know much about what happened at that time, but there are secrets in the royal family that have been passed down from generation to generation, and one thing my father told me is that the Corcova family will always owe a favor to the Cadilloso family. ”

She glanced at Brando with silver eyes, "Of course, maybe it's two now......"

Brando was almost dumbfounded.

But this did not prevent his thoughts from spinning rapidly, and the information revealed by Her Royal Highness the Princess was quickly assembled in his mind, gradually piecing together a rough outline. In other words, when everything happened in the Alkashi Mountains, his grandfather, the Sword Saint Daurus, was not at fault, and it could even be said that he was responsible for someone or every force. A vein gradually became clear in his heart, no wonder the Yan Temple did not continue to pursue it after his grandfather lived in seclusion, it seems that the Yan Temple was likely to understand the inside story at that time, and everything after that may be just a statement made by the Yan Temple.

It's just that he still has some doubts about whose responsibility his grandfather is for, from the princess's words, it seems to be a responsibility for the Eruin royal family, but this is a bit illogical, because the Eruin royal family did not participate in that holy war at that time, and it is impossible to have anything to do with the battle in the Alkash Mountains. But if it were anyone else, it seemed that there was no need for the Corcova royal family to owe a favor to the Cadilloso family, who was the person or force that could have allowed his grandfather and the Corcova royal family to make such a great sacrifice for them.

Brando knew in his heart that if his grandfather had not left the center of kingship at the time of day, Eruin's kingship would not have decayed so quickly; Of course, this ancient kingdom may fall one day, but it does not begin with the blossoming of flowers and summer leaves.

Is it for the Temple of Fire?

He immediately shook his head, the attitude of the Flame Sanctuary would not be what it was later.

"Her Royal Highness really didn't know anything about everything at that time?"

"Mr. Knight, these were long gone by the time I was born, and all I know is what my father and my history teacher told me, and I am as curious about the history of that era as you are."

"No," Griffiin shook his head slightly, "I'm actually more unwilling than you, I don't understand why the first king Anson made such a choice, if it weren't for that, the kingdom wouldn't be as weak as it is today, and let people slaughter it." ”

Brando saw the glint in the eyes of Her Royal Highness the Princess, and his heart softened slightly, this was not his question, nor was it his wish.

May the black pine be evergreen, and may Eruin endure; May faith shine as brightly, and may the sword be as sharp as ever—

The ancient songs of the kingdom are the hope in the hearts of everyone who loves this homeland.

But he paused, and suddenly remembered what the real purpose of this princess was, and whether she had invited him here, and left him alone, to meet him alone, was it just to tell him this? She said that the Corcova family would always owe the Cadilloso family a favor, but she probably didn't have to tell him this, and if she still remembered the relationship between the Corcova family and the Cadilloso family, the relationship between the royal family and the Tonigle family would never be what it is today. However, Brando actually knew in his heart that this princess had never believed in her wholeheartedly.

She was always careful to maintain his relationship with her and her brother, even though she always knew in her heart that she was the grandson of the Sword Saint Daruth.

"Mr. Knight, I remember that you described to me in your letter about the future of this kingdom, that ideal Eruin, with a faith that shines with a different brilliance than today, was once the most desirable hope in my heart," like the fickle wind of the afternoon, Princess Griffiin suddenly changed the subject, and she said softly, "Now that Count Denel has been defeated, and Anlek is dead, and now that there are no enemies in the south who stand in the way of you, now you can tell me, Do you describe the story of that future afterward? ”

Brando was slightly stunned.

He looked at the effeminate half-elf girl, who stood there with her sword in her hands, as straight and sharp as a sword, and she showdown with him as if to ask him if he had eaten at noon, such a simple question.

Brando was silent for a moment.

"What does Her Highness think?" He asked rhetorically.

Griffiin didn't speak, and she felt a little uneasy in her heart. She once thought that there were many trustworthy people around her, and she fought towards that like-minded belief until she completely changed the face of this ancient kingdom. But she soon realized that these were just wishful thinking on her part, and that there might be many different futures for this kingdom, but the one she wanted was only one of them.

She looked at Brando, there was almost no emotion in her silver eyes, she just wanted to see through this person.

"A while ago, my brother Wang wrote me a letter that he planned to marry his sister to you." Princess Griffiin spoke quietly.

Brando seemed to have been hit hard.

At that moment, he understood the thoughts of Her Royal Highness the Princess.

Tonigel is now full-fledged, in the battle with Mardara and in the battle with Jean Denel, the army from Valhalla has shown terrible strength, Anlek and Jean Denel have fallen, there seems to be no army in the south that can stand in front of him, the new count, the Lantonilans are his best allies, the Vieiro army is in a state of decay, the highland knights of Karasu will only stand by him, Princess Griffiin looks around, Suddenly, he found that there was no reliable force around him that could contain Brando.

She tossed and turned night and night, as if suddenly she found that there was another Anlek beside her.

Although Brando had promised her an ideal Eruin, what should she do to believe him? Maybe the knight had really had that thought, but people change, just like Mr. Leighwoods, like Macaro, when a person is in a high position, his thoughts will gradually deviate from the original intention. She was born in the royal family and experienced the betrayal of the royal party, so she knows everything too well.

She now had only one way to tie Brando to her chariot.

She lowered her head, and a faint blush was dyed on her neck: "In order to repay the favor owed by the Kolkova family, the former King Anson once wanted to marry Princess Gloria to your father, but at that time, Mr. Scott already had a marriage contract, and she was your mother. After Anson the Great, his brother Obergu VI succeeded to the throne, and the matter was put on hold, but there was always a marriage contract between the Corcova family and the Cadilloso family until the time of my father, Obergu VII, when every descendant of the Highland Knights had a noble lady of Cadigrego to marry, but do you know why you didn't, Brando. ”

Griffiin called Brando's name for the first time, and she whispered, "Because you're betrothed to me, and Captain Boud knows that." ”

Brando took a heavy breath.

He felt that his mind was in turmoil, but he knew very well in his heart that it was impossible to say that he did not have the slightest vision for this princess. But what he liked was the strong, autonomous, and unrelenting princess, not Princess Griffiin, who easily promised to marry him in order to repay the favor, or to tie him to the chariot. What did she think of him, and what did she think of Roman?

He stared intently at Her Royal Highness's silver eyes, as if to see something in them.

But he was ultimately disappointed.

"I'm not An Lek, Your Highness the Princess."

Griffi's face turned red, as if she had been greatly insulted, she clenched her fists in some anger and looked up at him: "Mr. Knight, I never thought of it that way. ”

"But that's what you did, you knew there was a marriage contract between you and me, but why did you say it today? Because you know, the marriage contract has no value until today, and until then, it was just a verbal agreement, right? Brando's heart was cold, and he felt as if his faith had collapsed, and he replied angrily: "You have disappointed me so much, Your Highness Princess, you should understand that what I have done for you before is not because of such a superficial purpose. ”

He took a deep breath and replied incoherently, "Well, I admit that I once longed for you, but I longed for Her Royal Highness the princess who had the same ideals and beliefs as me, not for a woman who made compromises. Do you remember the ideal kingdom that I have described in my letter to you, Your Highness Princess, and what you are doing now is dishonoring it. ”

Princess Griffiin's face was pale, and she almost shook slightly, looking at Brando in disbelief.

"But you say it righteously," tears burst out of the half-elf girl's eyes, and she clenched her fists and almost cried out, "but do you remember what you said you did to me at Ampesel, Lord Knight!" ”

Brando felt a sharp sword pass through his heart.

He opened his mouth to say something, but he couldn't say a word.

He finally understood why Princess Griffien had trusted him before Ampesel, but after that she had carefully erected a strong wall, which he had always thought was on guard against her own full-fledged and jeopardizing Eruin's future kingship. But at this moment, he finally understood what a deep shadow his irrational behavior had planted in the heart of this girl who was only seventeen years old.

Brando was eager to slap himself in the face, what had he done, and he stood there, blushing like a soldering iron.

"I'm sorry ......"

"Your Highness the Princess."

"I'm sorry."

For a moment, he seemed to be able to find only such a sentence to express his heart.

Princess Griffiin bit her lower lip and looked at him, tears still hanging from her face, and she almost trembled with anger, but finally calmed down. Her Royal Highness wiped her tears and looked away, as if she was saying irrelevant words: "...... So, can I trust you, Mr. Knight. ”

Brando also calmed down.

The two of them stood in the courtyard, still blown by the breeze, and only the sound of insects was left in the countryside, and Brando's eyes saw several elk jumping through the forest in the direction of the stag forest.

There was as if there was a moment of silence.

He finally nodded.

"You said before that what you did for Eruin wasn't for such a superficial purpose, and you are still moving towards that ideal, right, Mr. Knight?" Princess Griffiin also looked in the direction of the forest, her face flushed and her voice pitifully low.

Brando nodded.

Princess Griffiin opened her mouth, as if the affirmative answer made her feel a little suffocated: "I'm sorry, I blame you, Mr. Knight. ”

Brando replied embarrassedly, "It's me who should say I'm sorry, Your Highness the Princess." ”

Griffiin turned his head and saw the legendary Earl with such an embarrassed expression, and could not help but burst into laughter; The smile on her face was the same as the smile she had on her face as she sat by the arched window in the warm and bright afternoon sunshine and listened to Overwell tell her the story of the young knight. Because in that story, the flag was so shining that it seemed to return to the kingdom of the ancients.

"Mr. Brando, do you remember the story I told you about your grandfather?"

"Huh?"

"Do you really want to know the truth?"

Brando was slightly stunned, and he looked at the princess suspiciously. But Griffiin shook his head: "Don't look at me like that, Mr. Knight, I didn't lie to you. But I know that there are still a few people alive about what happened during the Battle of Alkash. ”

"Who?" Brando's heart moved, as if he had caught a glimmer of light in the darkness.

"The Silver Queen, the Wind Elf King, and His Majesty the Pope of Faenzan."