Less than two weeks before the New Year, Prince Iscario and the Minister of War, Field Marshal Felix Zaclyde, finally agreed on the next battle plan. Therefore, he deliberately asked his younger brother Francisco to convene the Imperial Council again, and invited representatives of the six dukes' families to come to discuss.

"As you know, the Imperial Brother is about to leave the Imperial Capital and go to the Mirror Lake Territory to prepare for the decisive battle. ”

Prince Francisco's face didn't look good, and although he kept his chin on his palms to cover his face, others could see the paleness of his face.

"According to the news from Tiamat, the city of Kasyia is in danger, and it is likely that it has even been breached. The decisive battle is just around the corner, so the Duke of Wollaston and the Duke of Heslett are requested to mobilize the troops in their territory to participate in the battle as soon as possible. ”

Scripps VII's face turned pale, but after all this time, he was mentally prepared for this outcome.

"We've already issued a call order for the Territory, and in three days at most, I can gather them to the Mirror Lake Territory. ”

"That's the best. Wollaston's assurances made Francisco's face flush slightly, but he coughed again.

"You don't look well. Duke Heslett frowned, in fact, anyone could see that Francisco was wrong.

"Sorry, ahem......" Francisco covered his mouth to hide his gaffe, "this winter has been too busy, it looks like a cold, it should be fine after a while." ”

"Please take care of yourself. ”

"Thank you......"

Francisco thanked in a faint voice. It was a long time before he gasped for breath and had the strength to continue talking.

"Because Brother Iscario and Marshal Zaclyde will both go to the front, and the two Blackwater Lords and Voliva Lords will return to the territory to gather troops, so the Imperial Capital will be ruled by Brother Alcott, Duke Arnold, and please ask your troops to be responsible for the garrison of the Imperial Capital. ”

"Am I here to guard the imperial capital?"

Arnold was a little surprised, everyone knew that the first prince Alcot was a mediocre man, and it was the bureaucrats who were actually responsible for letting him govern. In this case, Arnold, who held military control of the imperial capital, almost became the most powerful person in the imperial capital, and once he wanted to, he could take the palace at any time, control Harold III, and then take power.

Of course, the current empire had no idea that Arnold would do this, and it was a question of whether this storm-torn country would survive the war, and who would scarce that bubble of power?

"So, don't you need our strength on the battlefield of Mirror Lake?" Juan asked a more interesting topic, although 10,000 people are not much, but for the empire, which is already inferior in strength, any force is precious.

"What Brother Iscario means is that in view of the question raised by Duke Arnold last time, if the White Ground people cross the Mirror Lake by boat and sneak attack the imperial capital from the northwest, then the imperial capital will be in danger. Therefore, the imperial brother hopes that Duke Arnold can guard against this, and once the Baidiren cross the lake and sneak attack, be sure to hold the imperial capital and hold on until the front-line troops return to help. ”

"What if the White Ground hadn't crossed the lake and attacked?" Mishelia then asked, the 10,000 men brought by Arnold were the combined forces of the Tamská, Norsvi, and Figlaf families, and letting this force garrison the imperial capital meant that she, as the representative of the Tamska family, also had to take responsibility.

"The Royal Brotherhood will confirm the number of the White Didian army on the front line, and after confirming that the White Didi have not divided their troops, he will inform this side, and when the time comes, he will ask Duke Arnold to support the front again. ”

"I see. Arnold thought for a moment, then nodded his head in response.

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"Temptation?"

On the return carriage, Arnold seemed to be muttering to himself, as if to the other two people in the carriage.

"I guess we want to test whether we're colluding with the whites. ”

Juan, who was sitting next to Arnold, snorted softly, with a bit of contempt in his tone.

"They still like it, and for these people with 'noble blood', doubt is a skill that they are born with. ”

"But it's safest to test us like this. ”

Michelia, who was sitting across from Arnold, glanced out the car window and spoke in a very soft voice, as if her lips were not moving.

"The territories of the three of us are too far away, and there are almost no connections and foundations in the imperial capital, so the royal family has the least to worry about us. Moreover, there is almost no reason for us to collude with the White Fielders, and if we pass this attempt, Iscario will be completely relieved to drive us. ”

"But we're not dogs at his beckon. Juan grinned, his expression a little unpleasant, "Now the royal family has a request for us, just like the war with the elves back then, they should know how to respect." ”

"So, what kind of respect and reward do you think the royal family should pay for our aid, and sign another copy of the Charter of the Fog Castle?" Michelia, apparently not liking Juan's tone, replied unceremoniously.

"Alright. Arnold stopped this quarrel that could break out at any time in time, "Such a quarrel is meaningless, and it is not good for us that the royal family is finished, and most directly, if the empire is defeated, it will be a problem for us to return to the territory." ”

Because of Arnold's words, Michelia and Juan stopped arguing, but they didn't completely let go of the mustard and didn't look at each other.

"Your Excellency Juan, I would like you to take the Northville men to the Azure Harbor to warn against a sneak attack by the White Guys. ”

"I see. Juan nodded, although it was a chore, he didn't complain, "Do you really think that the people of Baidi will cross the Mirror Lake to attack the imperial capital?"

"Although the risk is great, it is possible, after all, the benefits that come with risk are too great. If the Baidi people can sneak attack the imperial capital, then the war on the front line does not need to be fought at all, and the Baidi people have already won. There is such a temptation, if I were the coach of the white people, I would also be tempted. ”

"But once they encounter the Imperial Naval Army on Mirror Lake, then the Baidi people, who are not familiar with water stations at all, and are not even able to swim, will almost certainly suffer a crushing defeat. Michelia unceremoniously poured a basin of cold water.

"Therefore, in order to reduce the risk, there should not be too many people sent by the white people, about 10,000 or 20,000. This number, if it really suffered a crushing defeat, would not have much impact on the frontal battlefield, and moreover, this number was enough to threaten the imperial capital. Arnold said slowly, not affected by Michelia's coldness, "The Eastern Territory has a long coastline, and there are many people in the territory who are good at water, Lord Juan, there are many such people in the army you brought." ”

Juan understood why Arnold wanted him to go to the Azure Harbor, but despite knowing it, he glanced at Michelia.

"Yes, but that's the same with the people of Snowlen. ”

"You can't let a lady go to war. Arnold lowered his face and teased his nails as if there was something dirty on them, "Of course, I know it, but the Northway family doesn't have enough people. Since Iscalio has given me the defense authority of the imperial capital, then I can try it out, and I will let the Mirror Lake Navy cooperate with you. ”

Juan listened silently, and he found something special in Arnold's words.

"Does this mean that I will stay in the Blue Harbor during this time, and even if the Prince of Iscario summons us, we don't have to go to the front line?"

"Yes. Arnold nodded, "Don't you like it there?"

"I haven't been there before, so how can I say I like it or not?" Juan sighed, "Maybe that's a good thing for me, right?"

Arnold didn't speak, continuing to play with his nails.

"I'm in the place. Juan looked out the window and prepared to get out of the car, "I'll take my leave." ”

The carriage stopped, and Juan strode out of the carriage towards the Northway family's foothold.

"What exactly do you want to do?"

Michelia was still sitting in the car, and like Juan, she could hear something different about Arnold's arrangement.

"Maybe in ten days, I can become the imperial capital, no, the most powerful person in this empire, such an opportunity, if you don't do something, it will be called strange. ”

Arnold didn't hide it, and told Michelia about her ambitions quite calmly.

"The defense of the entire imperial capital is controlled in my hands, which means that the heart of the empire is in my hands, and it is easy to do whatever you want, this temptation, few men can refuse. ”

"But there's no way Iscalio won't be able to guard against you, right?" Mishelia frowned, she really couldn't understand the men's alleged ambitions at times, "he was going to test you, are you going to throw yourself into the net?"

"That's not all. Arnold waved his hand, "I still have self-knowledge, and I know how far to go." But then again, if I didn't act at all, the second prince with a family inheritance of "suspicion" would probably think that I had a plan. ”

"You're thinking too much. Michelia disagreed with Arnold, "No, Iscario knows that we can't collude with the White Landers. ”

"Really? At the critical moment when the Empire was at war with the White Grounds, the three eastern dukes were unanimously unable to send their main forces to the war, which is a very doubtful thing. Moreover, we don't actually have no reason to collude with the White Land people at all, and the Cold Mountain Territory is also within the threat range of the Snow Cavalry, 'betraying the empire for the safety of their own territory', I guess there are not many people who think this way, and there may even be quite a few. ”

Michelia frowned, she didn't like Arnold's way of thinking too badly of others, but at the same time, she had to admit that the possibility of Arnold's words did exist.

"And are you in any league with the White Di?" said Michelia, who didn't care about such a thing in the first place, though she wasn't without talent in this area, "or did you and my brother, and the venerable Duke of Æthelwlw, betray the Empire without my knowledge?"

"Huh. ”

Arnold couldn't help but laugh, he thought that if Serena was in Michelia's position, she would probably be teased like this.

No, she probably won't even bother with me.

Arnold's appearance came to Arnold's mind, and the smile on the corner of her mouth made Michelia look inexplicable.

"I can assure you that neither I, nor your brother, nor His Excellency the Duke of Æthelwolf, have done anything of this kind of disrepute. You will then enjoy the prosperity of the imperial capital, and as a lady, you should have the right to enjoy it, and you don't have to bear the responsibility like us. ”

"I hope so. Michelia was noncommittal, she knew that Arnold wasn't going to tell her true purpose, but Michelia didn't plan to ask either.

This is both a temptation and a warning.