Cheerful music can be heard next door, and Gray and Shelley are dancing on the dance floor, which has become the center of everyone's attention.

In the hall, Ireen and the king looked at each other, the light of the fire shining on their faces.

After a long time, the king drank all the wine in the cup, slowly stood up, walked to the wine cabinet behind Irene, took out a bottle of wine and poured it for himself, turned his back to Irene, and said, "I am in a difficult situation now, or even very difficult. After the Battle of the White City, the prestige of the royal family fell to an unprecedented low. I even found that some of the troops had disobeyed my commands. That's bad, isn't it? There's information that the Kingdom of Allen is already on the move. Probably want to take advantage of this opportunity to bite us. ”

Turning her back to the king, Irene said expressionlessly: "If the Allen Kingdom sends troops, I will resolutely stand on your side. ”

"I believe it, but I can't just believe it. With his glass in hand, the king walked back to his original position step by step, sat down slowly, and said, "You don't want me to be a king in name only, do you? A king in name and no reality will definitely not be able to govern the country well, and it will be the sorrow of the whole country." I'm in need of support right now, and a paladin who is directly loyal to me is the best choice. And, don't forget, you caused this result. ”

"Did I cause it?" Irene snorted, "Didn't you admit it yourself in front of everyone that it was your father's fault?"

"That's a way of saying it, and that's a way of saying it for me. You have to admit that there are always two ways to understand things. The king spread his hands and said, "The best welcome I have given you shows my generosity, and I do not blame you for the terrible situation you are facing." In fact, I never had a good relationship with my father. Very bad. I even suspect that he didn't see me as an heir. So, in terms of personal feelings, I don't think there's anything wrong with you doing that. I should even thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have ascended to the throne so quickly. But on business......"

"How's it going?" asked Irene nonchalantly.

After a pause, the king continued: "A man who is faced with the problems that you bring about every day, and he is anxious. Even if the root of the problem isn't you, there's no guarantee that he'll one day get crooked and start resenting you, isn't it? Maybe I'll soon get resentful because I'm too stressed, and then do something I shouldn't do to your Beshir family. Our two families have had a grudge ever since. ”

"You're threatening me!" Irene stood up and glared angrily!

"Calm down, calm down! There is no threat, we are just calmly talking about what is objectively possible. The king hurriedly leaned back, smiled and motioned for Irene to sit down, and then said, "You have to admit my sincerity, this welcome ceremony represents my sincerity." I really need a paladin by my side, especially when the kingdom of Isaac has no roots and the church has no interest in getting involved in secular power. In addition to what I just said, I can appoint Gray as Chief Minister, and you can also join the Auxiliary Legion. This is a great honor for the Besher family. ”

"I will not agree, thank you for the welcome ceremony of His Majesty the King. But I really can't accept your suggestion. Irene saluted politely and turned to leave.

"Stop!" exclaimed the king.

Irene stopped, her back to the king.

In the room, the fire in the fireplace was "sizzling".

Irene, who was already close to the gate, stood quietly with her back to the king.

After drinking the wine from the cup again, the king put the empty cup on the table, wiped his mouth and said coldly, "I am for Gray's good." Your Duchy of Besil is too small, and the kingdom of Isaac is where he can make a big difference. And even if you don't agree, I have other ways to get him to agree. ”

Irene said expressionlessly, "Gray won't agree. ”

"Really?" the king smiled, "what if I have a bishop sitting next to me? what if it means to canonize him as the Pope of the Holy Knight?" or...... It's simply the meaning of the Holy Spirit. ”

Irene was stunned.

"The Holy See has agreed to this proposal, and not only does it agree, but they welcome it very much. The Reformation in the Duchy of Besil gave them a taste of the sweetness, and now they want to turn their attention to the entire kingdom of Isaac. However, the Paladins are only owned by the Duchy of Behill. If Gray can be directly loyal to me, then my prestige will be increased, and the Holy See will be better able to carry out their Reformation. It's the best of both worlds. He is a paladin and should not belong to just one Duchy of Beshir. Isn't it?"

Irene's chest heaved slightly, silent.

Seeing that Ireen seemed to be a little shaken, the king simply said, "Let's explain everything." The reason why I talked to you first was to protect Gray's reputation. After all, the party who broke the contract, no matter what the reason, will eventually be condemned. And what we need is precisely his fame. It's up to you to tear up the vows, and this can be a good solution to this. And you won't lose him for it either, maybe even ...... Really get him. ”

"What do you mean?" asked Irene as she turned around slowly.

Leaning back in his chair, the king said, "A knight rode a horse, took an angel, performed holy arts, and fought alone against an army of 40,000 people, just to rescue the woman in his heart. Does this story sound particularly romantic? Do you believe there is no love in it? If I were a woman, I would have fallen in love with him. What a perfect fairy tale, it's every girl's dream. But he chose a count's granddaughter as a companion...... It's just a mismatch. ”

......

A dance song ended, and Gray took Shelley's hand and left the dance floor.

"You seem to be happy again. Gray whispered.

"Of course, I'm the happiest woman in the world, so why shouldn't I be happy?" Shelley took Gray's hand, smiled sweetly, and looked up proudly at the group of women who were about to snatch her from her, and who were now smoking.

Although she was not the most beautiful, richest, and most noble present, she had the love of the most valiant knights. At least that's what she thinks.

The black cat whispered: "I found that you sometimes, the means of chasing girls are really first-class. Sometimes it's too stupid to be true. ”

"Why do you say that?"

"Just now I was worried that you would accept an invitation from another girl. ”

"That's impossible, I've only danced with Shelley, or she taught me. I don't know how to jump ...... I'm afraid of making a fool of myself by jumping with other people. ”

"You're afraid of making a fool of yourself?"

"Of course. Catherine said that a great paladin should be a solemn knight, not a knight who makes people laugh. ”

"It seems that her education is quite useful. In short, whatever the reason, you are right to choose Shelley. After thinking about it, the black cat said again, "Do you know why she was unhappy just now?"

"Why?"

"Because she's worried you're being snatched away. ”

"But I won't. ”

"I know you won't, but she'll be worried, you know?"

Gray quietly glanced at Shelley and saw that she was acting normally, happy, and not out of the ordinary. Still, Gray could feel Shelley's hand holding him with a slight force.

"Like...... That's true. ”

"It's rare that you recognize me once. However, this is also normal, and any girl would be worried about that kind of scene just now. After all, you're so popular, and having a paladin is a dream for all girls. ”

"So what should I do to keep Shelley from worrying?"

"Don't hesitate, don't hesitate in any situation. Resolutely do not accept invitations from other girls, like dancing or something, you only dance with her. That way, I don't think she'll have to worry anymore. ”

"'Unswerving to the death of one's love,' this is one of the forms of chivalry, and I get it! You have to keep an eye on me, and you can't make me do anything that betrays chivalry. You know, it's not easy for a lich to fully understand human things. ”

"I will. ”

Turning his face sideways, Gray said to Shelley, "Shall we do another dance?"

"Huh?

"Yes, let's keep dancing, I'll only dance with you!" Under everyone's gaze, Gray bowed down seriously and saluted, "May I ask Miss Shelley, would you like to dance with the knight who loves you dearly?"

Shelley was stunned, and after a while, he smiled, solemnly pulled up the hem of his skirt and saluted: "Very willing." ”

Holding Shelley, Gray walked to the dance floor again.

Everyone was watching in silence.

The black cat sighed, "I like you to use the phrase 'knight who loves you deeply', really. It seems that chivalric fiction is still somewhat useful. ”

......

"Count Grugrew is an old fox, and even the entire Grugru family is a huge tumor. Look at their eight-color flags, I have checked them, and in more than 400 years, they have swallowed up seven families without blood. The key is that this family also has many heirs, marriages, and various conspiracies are their main means. It's terrible that my chief auxiliary minister is married to such a family. I need Gray to give me prestige, only to have the entire Grugru family pulled up and scattered their children to every corner of Isaac's kingdom, and then spiraled out of control. Didn't you just taste the taste of the big tail?"

......

Melodious music echoed in the hall, and the aristocratic girls standing on the periphery were so angry that they smoked.

Shelley knelt on Gray's chest and whispered, "I'm so afraid that you won't like me when you come to the Lion King Capital." After all, there are a lot of people here who are better than me. ”

"But you only have one. ”

Shelley's eyes were moist.

"If one day, I am surrounded by an army of 40,000, will you come to my rescue?"

"Definitely. ”

"What if it is the Holy Spirit that surrounds me?"

"Hmm......"

"Are you hesitating?" Shelley's eyes widened.

"Nope. Gray said seriously, "I'm just thinking about how I can save you without hurting the Holy Spirit." ”

Shelley sneered, hugged Gray tightly, and whispered, "Then I'm the same." I probably won't be able to beat them, though. ”

......

"So, my idea is to get Gray to break his engagement with the Grugru family and change it to anyone else. We have a lot of better girls in the Lion King, and there are four unmarried women in the names of all the dukes of Isaac. We also have princesses in our royal family. Even if Gray is not satisfied, I can find him a princess from another country to marry. The most important thing is ......," and after a pause, the king continued, "We still have you." ”

Irene stared blankly at the king.

The king looked at her with a smile, and those eyes seemed to be able to read through people's hearts.

"Dare you say that you haven't had a heart, and you don't want to lift the knight's mask one night and see a face that no one has ever seen, when everyone sees you as a couple?"

"There are not many people in the Besil family, and although they are much more powerful than the Gruglu family, they have a good reputation. And I'm not worried about the Beshir people being scattered throughout the kingdom of Isaac, because you don't have many people. Again, it's the best of both worlds. I've gained a paladin who will give me prestige without causing trouble. You, on the other hand, can have the knight you love. At the same time, the grievances between you and my two families can also be truly resolved. ”

"You're done?"

"That's it. ”

"I refuse. Turning around, Irene pushed open the door without hesitation and returned to the hall.

The king raised his empty glass and greeted the open door, "Think about it, and you will agree with my suggestion." It's good for all of us. ”