The sparkling waters of Lake Elena are particularly touching in the autumn afternoon sun, and the turquoise blue surface of the lake reflects the cosy sunlight and shimmers with an orange-red, reassuring light. The autumn breeze blows from time to time, bringing up the cascading waves, and Lake Elena in autumn is really refreshing.

But Arnold Svan Feglaf was in no mood to enjoy the view.

The young Earl of Gloomy Castle, surrounded by his guards, sat on his horse, looking blankly at the enemy in front of him.

He didn't wear armor because his father had appointed him as his chief assistant, Harper Davide, Baron of Hankston, told him: "As the commander of an army, you don't need to go into battle to kill the enemy, and once the war has developed to the point where the commander needs to go into battle himself, then the war itself has been lost." ”

And the retainer who taught Arnold to play without armor, Baron Hankston, who was deeply trusted by his father, Tiger Man Fegraf, Duke of Cold Mountain, coerced him and raised a flag against his father. Now that father and son are fighting each other, almost all of the 6,000 troops on Arnold's side are provided by Baron Harper.

"The enemy's formation is divided into three sections, and it looks like they are intending to outflank us from the left and right flanks, but the right flank of our army is leaning against Lake Elena, so we shouldn't worry too much. ”

Beside Arnold, Baron Harper, who was on horseback, gave his judgment of the battlefield. But the young earl could not see the slightest concern about the war on the old man's face.

This is not surprising, Arnold has long known that this is not a war at all, it is just a farce.

Glancing around sadly, Arnold saw all the knights in full armor, the only one unarmoured, unarmoured, and sitting comically on a pony.

Arnold's knight Judson Garcia noticed the lord's gaze, and he frowned, gently clamped the horse's belly between his feet, and came to Harper.

"Mr. Baron, why doesn't the Earl have a sword in his hand, and how can a lord command an army if he doesn't have a sword?"

Harper glanced at Judson coldly, because the other party was one of the few knights who belonged directly to the gloomy castle, so Harper couldn't transfer him away from Arnold without a reason.

"The Earl is still young, and he does not need to bear the heavy responsibility of command, so I will control the war. Moreover, isn't it your duty to share the sorrows of the Lord?"

Judson tried to speak, but Harper didn't give him the chance.

"Knight Garcia, it seems that you are very willing to share the worries of the lord, in this case, the left flank defense line is handed over to you, please be sure to defend it strictly, it is the key to our army. ”

Judson's eyes were on the verge of fire, and Harper was clearly intent on putting him in danger on the battlefield. As a knight, Judson had not many soldiers with him, and Harper put him in charge of the most difficult left flank defense, which almost wished he would die under the iron hooves of the enemy.

"Garcia Knight. Just as Judson was about to have a seizure, Arnold suddenly spoke, his voice not a little young childish, although young, but very calm, "I will take your loyalty to heart, but please do as Baron Davide says." ”

Judson looked at Arnold in confusion, but met the young man's calm eyes.

"Arguing with one's own people is not a sign of loyalty, and if you want to show loyalty, please offer your loyalty when I am in danger. ”

"Yes, ......Lord Earl," Judson bowed his head, then glared at Harper, and rode his horse to the left flank.

"Rest assured, Lord Count. Harper watched Judson go away, and said meaningfully to Arnold, "You won't be afraid of it, please trust me." ”

As he spoke, he glanced at Arnold deliberately.

"I hope so. But Arnold didn't look at him.

Harper furrowed his eyebrows slightly, Arnold's calmness made him a little uncomfortable, or rather uneasy. He turned his face and looked at his eldest son, Payne.

Arnold's captain, Payne, immediately understood his father's meaning, and he stepped forward and stood behind the lord, but his tall and straight figure cast a shadow on Arnold's head.

"Rest assured, Lord Count. The young and valiant captain of the guard said aloud, but although his tone was humble, his tone was not so, but there was a hint of command, "I will definitely keep you safe, so please sit here and wait for our victory for you." ”

Arnold grinded his teeth, and Payne's words, he could only listen in reverse.

This small action Harper and others naturally can't see it, but it doesn't matter, anyway, his obligation will only end at the end of this war.

"The enemy is moving. Harper looked towards the battlefield, and the dense army of the Cold Mountain Leader in front of him really divided into three groups and began to attack on three sides at the same time, "The middle lane is the banner of Lord Titus Leslie, he is the most courageous knight of the Cold Mountain Leader, and he attacks the middle lane, it seems that the enemy wants to break through our army's line as soon as possible." On the left flank was Lord John Fonner, who was a wise man at the Duke's side and who knew the Duke's mind very well, and if it were him, he would have avoided attacking the left flank directly head-on, and adopted the tactics of outflanking and blocking the retreat of our army. ”

Listening to Harper's words, Arnold couldn't help but feel a little sad in his heart, all of this was almost calculated, standing at the forefront were the knights and their soldiers who belonged directly to the Gloomy Castle, and the Hankston army hiding behind, or rather, the knights directly under the Gloomy Castle were all "squeezed" to the front line by Hankston's people.

"And what about the right flank?" Arnold looked to the right flank, but he was surrounded by the tall guards, so that he couldn't see the battlefield at all, "who is there?" ”

Harper pursed her thin lips, not knowing whether the expression was crying or laughing. "There is the banner of Baron Hottuburg. ”

"Huh-" Arnold couldn't help but sneer, but there was a bit of sadness in the smile, "Is it the bastard?"

"Please be careful, Your Excellency!" Harper immediately scolded, "Lady Abigay has been recognized by the Duke, and Baron William is a legitimate son recognized by the Church, and is your rightful brother!"

"Hmph, whatever you want. Arnold snorted coldly and said no more. He knew that the troops of Fort Gloom were all the cadres of the Cold Mountain Command, who had made great achievements and gained great fame when he conquered the Holy Helm Territory five years ago, but it was the army of Fort Hotu, which could only be counted for the age of the Baron of Fort Hotu.

Now, Arnold can fully imagine the situation on the battlefield blocked by the guards, compared to the center and the left flank, which must be fighting with the enemy with difficulty, and even the defensive line is a problem, while the right flank, both sides are probably so friendly that they can sit down together and share dry food, and then judge the battle situation in the middle and left flank.

Although the battlefield was not visible, the sound of soldiers fighting and shouting could still be heard in Arnold's ears. These voices are no different from ordinary battlefields, even if the war is so ridiculous.

The autumn wind was blowing in the wind, and it was a little cool, but it was very comfortable, and Arnold was not wearing armor, so the pleasant weather would have been a good day outing. However, Arnold, who is now on the battlefield, can only feel the chill, and the shadow of the sun is gradually elongated, even if Arnold can't see the battlefield, he can probably know how the occupation is from the movement outside his sight.

The soldiers surrounding Arnold began to shrink, and they were on a high ground, which was very clear from the enemy's field of vision. Now that the soldiers had made the circle smaller, Arnold couldn't help but see what was going on outside, and there was not even much space left around him.

"Has our army been defeated?" Arnold asked suddenly.

Harper rolled his eyes, and although his expression was still very serious, his eyes showed a slight surprise.

"I'm sorry, Your Excellency, but we have failed to live up to your expectations. ”

Although it was an apology, Arnold could not hear any sincerity in it, or rather, Harper's tone was as if things were supposed to go this way, everything was a natural thing, and now that it had come to this point according to the predetermined plan, the baron who had planned this rebellion was relieved.

How ridiculous that the commander of the First Army would breathe a sigh of relief when he talked about his defeat.

"Then surrender. Arnold lowered his head helplessly, his low eyes looked slightly in the direction of the gloomy castle, "There is no need to continue to let life die in this meaningless war, and you shouldn't want the casualties of the people in the Cold Mountain Territory to be too big in your plan, right?"

Harper stared at Arnold's side face, the duke's heir with a sad expression, not knowing if it was for his fate or something else.

"I see. Harper nodded, "Then, I will go to the duke's tent to ask for surrender, such a shameful thing should not be borne by you." ”

"Thank you so much. There was not a hint of gratitude in Arnold's words.

However, Harper didn't care, he looked at his son Payne, and then said, "Protect the Earl, he will still be your lord until the war is officially over, you know?"

"Yes, Father. Payne nodded vigorously and rested his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist, "I will fulfill my promise with my life." ”

Harper frowned slightly, he felt that Payne's statement was a little unlucky, but he didn't care about it when he thought that things had gone well so far.

After the old baron rode away with a few knights, Arnold turned his face and looked at Payne behind him. He and Payne grew up together, but Payne was eight years older than him, but his younger brother was born in the same year as Arnold, and their mother became Arnold's nurse.

"What about Doug?" he asked, "I haven't seen him." ”

Payne lowered his head slightly, what Arnold said Doug was his younger brother and Arnold's milk brother, if you want to say, Doug is Arnold's closest person, and the position of captain of Payne's personal guard should also be Doug's.

"He was chosen by Tyre to become a glorious paladin. Payne replied, sighing inwardly, for if he and his father could have done this, "On the other side of Lake Elena, at the monastery of Verkenre, he will serve Yelard and Tyre all his life." ”

"Is it—" Arnold sighed again, "in order to obey the Duke's orders, the Davide family can even go so far and send the second son to the convent, I really don't know whether to scold you for being disloyal or praise you for your loyalty." ”

"I'm sorry, Lord Count. Payne's tense face relaxed slightly, and he didn't want things to come to this if he could, "We're loyal to Fegraf, loyal to the Burning Knights. ”

"So—" Arnold's voice suddenly rose, "as soon as the head of Figlaf gives the order, you will turn your back on your lord, even if he is the next Duke of Leng Shan, the future head of the Figlaf family?"

"Lord Earl!" Payne's palm slapped Arnold on the shoulder, he did feel guilty about Arnold, but that didn't mean he could allow Arnold to vent so much, "Please be careful. ”

"Hmph. Arnold snorted coldly and turned his face back.

Payne breathed a sigh of relief, fortunately Arnold was calm enough not to mess around, but when he raised his face, he noticed an unexpected situation.

Knight Judson Garcia, who had been ordered to be in charge of the left flank defense line, was rushing here with a dozen cavalry!