"Even so, don't you want to accept it? It's not a harmful thing for Fegraf, why are you so stubborn?" the Duke of Æthelwolf shook his head and sighed, his expression somewhat resentful, "If you really care about your two sisters, then you should find a good home for them, I can't figure out why you rejected our proposal, is it in your opinion that the surnames Tamska and Northway are so unworthy of your sister?"

"This is not a question of worthiness, Lord of Æthelwolf, and my answer to this is no matter how many times you ask me. Arnold's resoluteness did not waver in the slightest, and he almost stubbornly confronted the old duke directly, "In your opinion, perhaps it is a matter of course to decide on marriage in this way, because it has been the practice since ancient times. But I will not accept this reason, if we just do things according to the rules set by the old people in the past, then what do we want us to do? The world will not change, just like the sunrise and sunset, all this is just a meaningless repetition and repetition. I believe that we are human because we have a self and a personality that distinguishes us from other individuals, and that is not worthy of respect? Therefore, I will not let my sisters sacrifice to the will of others, they have the right to decide their own future, this is my decision, no one can change it. ”

Arnold's categorical words echoed in the hall of the church, and Titus and Oz, who came from the Cold Mountain Territory, were already stunned and looked at their duke in amazement, while Louie, who was relatively unrelated, couldn't help but look at Arnold with a new eye.

"Can no one change your decision?" Louie's eyes finally became serious, "Isn't your father, Lord Tegman?"

"It's like I'm not going to bend my sister's will. Arnold glared at Louis, "My father can't twist my will. ”

"What an admirable determination—" Louis suddenly clapped his hands and praised Arnold aloud, "Cousin Arnold, I now have great admiration for you to be able to say such a thing—and I think I can accept your reasons for that. ”

The Duke of Æthelwolf's brows shrank, if Louis also gave in, then the marriage matter may really have no room for redemption.

"However, as you just said, if it is my will, then you have no reason to object, right?"

Arnold continued to squint at Louie, he was a man who was used to lying, he didn't care what kind of panic he said to achieve his goal, and he knew very well that Louie and him were essentially the same kind of people, so when Louie said this, he immediately became alert.

"You haven't seen my sister yet, have you?"

"Indeed, but we're cousins, if you don't mind, may I invite them to stay in White Horse City for a while......? How about visiting the place where my aunt lived in her childhood?"

Arnold pursed the corners of his lips, he really couldn't refuse this offer.

"The people you want to invite are Serena and Isabella, it's your business and theirs, whether you invite or not, or whether they accept it or not, you don't need my consent. ”

"That's right. Louis shrugged, "Then let's talk about this later, let's solve the problem at hand." ”

As he spoke, he looked at Archbishop Benedict behind him.

"If you're worried that Michelia isn't enough to represent Tamska's position, then add another candidate. ”

Arnold and Duke Æthelwolf also looked at Archbishop Benedict. They didn't think Louis would let the archbishop go with him, and in many ways Snowen couldn't do without him.

"Sharp, he's going to the imperial capital with Michelia, is that okay?"

Louis's bland words stunned both Arnold and the Duke of Æthelwolf.

Sharp, the half-brother of Louis and Michelia, in other words, the illegitimate son of the first Duke of Snowlon. Two years ago, the first duke and the eldest son died at the same time, and Gunther, Count of Rota, once supported this illegitimate son, wanting to indirectly control the Snowren Territory by letting Sharp, a puppet, inherit the duke. It's just that in the end, because of the Duchess Villanica's tough blockade of the news, before the information about the violent death of the duke and heir came out of White Horse City, most of the vassals were summoned to White Horse City, the situation was controlled, and Louis was directly supported to inherit the duke, so Gunther was not given a chance.

Therefore, for Louis, Sharp is definitely a thorn in his side, and the threat is no less than that of Gunther, Count of Rota, who has just been eliminated by him. Over the years, Louis has kept Sharp under house arrest in Whitehorse City, and he has not even allowed this half-brother to grow out of the city gates, and now he actually let this Sharp go to the imperial capital on behalf of Tamskika, which is simply unthinkable.

However, Archbishop Benedict was calm, just nodded, and did not question his duke's decision in the slightest.

Arnold suddenly understood that this was what Louis had already planned.

"Oh, that's a surprise. The Duke of Æthelwulf put his hand on his cheek and looked at Louis with interest, "I will regard this as the sincerity of Tamska, and I have no objection to this candidate." ”

"So be it, the Imperial Capital will get rid of you, Cousin Arnold. Louis chuckled, his face full of indifference, "Actually, there is nothing to be nervous about, what can those people in the imperial capital do with us? They are completely self-absorbed now, they are the ones who ask us." ”

Arnold glanced at Louie, of course Louie said this easily, after all, he was not the one who was going to the imperial capital.

"Then after I leave, Lord John Fonner will be in charge of supporting the city of Vodahara, and I will write to him to ask him to cooperate with your actions. Arnold said as he stood up, "Without further ado, I'm going to leave tomorrow, and please discuss the details with my subordinates." ”

Arnold turned his head and beckoned to Oz.

Oz was stunned, he quickly realized something, and stepped forward with a serious expression.

"This is the Knight of Oz Pildenor, a member of the Knights of the Blood Cross, a knight that my father and I both like, and you can discuss matters with him. ”

Both Duke Æthelwolf and Louis looked at Oz in amazement, apparently they did not expect Arnold to entrust such an important matter to such a young knight.

"Yes...... Knight Ozzy Pildenore, it seems that this name is worth remembering. Duke Æthelwolf looked at Oz and said in a nonchalant tone, "To be honest, I thought you would leave this to Lord Leslie." ”

"Titus will be with me to the Imperial Capital, I need a good general by my side, and now Na must assist Serena in Lionheart, and Titus must travel with me, so I need to let others carry these burdens. ”

Arnold's tone was understated and rather sophisticated, and the Duke of Æthelwlf did not think there was anything wrong with him.

"Got it, so I wish you a nice trip. Duke Æthelwolf stood up, ready to end the meeting, "We are busy with each other, and we have not stayed here for long, and since His Excellency Duke Arnold has proposed this method, then we on the Northville side will also leave the negotiation to our subordinates." ”

"Since you've all said so," Louis said with a shrug of his shoulders and a nonchalant matter, "then I'll do the same." ”

The intention of the alliance has been reached, and the next thing does not need to be done by the Duke himself, especially for the Duke of Æthelwolf, there are enough things waiting for him to deal with in the city of Vodahara, and if he wastes time and energy on other affairs, he will be less prepared for the next war.

After the meeting, the three dukes returned to their residences, just as Arnold came with half a blood cross, Duke Æthelwolf and Louis also brought a lot of people, in order to ensure the safety of the duke, their residence was surrounded by layers of soldiers, generally speaking, unless the three families directly turned their faces here, otherwise their safety should be absolutely guaranteed.

As Arnold made his way through the barracks and prepared to return to his lodgings, Snowlon's men approached him.

Accepting the invitation, Arnold returned to the church.

"To be honest, I'm a little curious. Arnold looked at Louis in the center of the church looking at the icon, and his eyes were looking for the figure of Archbishop Benedict, "Louie, you don't like me so much, why do you want to meet me so secretly? ”

"The Duke of Æthelwolff and we are too much older, and we still have less common words with him. Louis turned around, still with a flirtatious smile on the corner of his mouth, and looked Arnold up and down with a kind look, "In fact, for us, where there is a good impression of the individual, everything is just at the mercy of interests." I can join forces with you to banish Uncle Tagman, or I can help Northvi fight the demons, but that's only because it's good for us in Tamska. I can even marry Michelia to you if you wish. ”

"If that's in your favor, right?" Arnold squinted, looking at Louis cautiously.

"That's right. Louie shrugged, "No sudden kindness, no unnecessary malice, I just hope ...... You're doing me a favor, and it's all good for us. ”

Arnold stared at Louis and did not answer, and there was silence in the church for a minute.

"Kill Sharp, right?"

"It's convenient to talk to smart people. The smile on Louie's lips turned up a little more, "You just have to clean this up, of course, I will never admit that it has anything to do with that stupid death." ”

"Even if the vassals in your domain interrogate them, they can put the blame on me. Arnold snorted lightly, seemingly disdainful of Louis's methods, "If necessary, you can also use this as an excuse to attack the cold mountain leader." ”

"No, there's no need for that, Uncle Tegman is in my hands, do I need to make that much trouble?"

Arnold was silent again.

"So, where are my interests?"

"Michelia can marry you, if you like. In addition, I can also support your refusal to marry, so that the Northway side will not be able to continue to insist on this request. ”

"In my opinion, some are not enough. ”

"Oh, come on, cousin Arnold, it's a trivial thing that I ask you not to do enough, after all, we are relatives, so there is no need to be so careful. What's more, even if I'm willing to pay more, will you be able to accept it with peace of mind?"

"I never said I liked Michelia, she was just my cousin whom I met for the first time yesterday, and the conditions of the marriage do not have to be supported by you, and the Duke of Æthelwolf has no intention of insisting. So, the reward you're giving me is really just a verbal check, so why should I accept such a condition?"

"So......" Louis retracted his smile and his eyes narrowed dangerously, "what kind of return do you want?"