Ernest looked at the time again, and although he had to acquiesce to Swin and Sophia into his mansion for the sake of his wife, and entertain them like guests in the drawing-room, he still felt very irritated in his heart.

"If you have anything to say, just say it. Ernest put the watch back in his inner pocket, perhaps because of the weather, he was very bored, "I don't have much time." ”

"Looks like you're busy with business. Swain sat on the couch, and Sophia leaned next to him, "Is there any mission for the Imperial Capital Guard Force lately?"

Ernest's eyes were deflected, and although he couldn't put on an angry face, the momentum had already frightened Victoria on the other side. "Don't try to get anything from me, I know exactly what you're thinking. ”

However, Swain ignored Ernest's warning, or provocation, and still asked: "The fighting around Deweide has stopped, do you and your soldiers want to be transferred to the southern battlefield, or to guard the imperial capital, just in case?"

"If you don't want me to have a hole in my head," Ernest stared at Swain coldly, "just shut up, and of course, it's okay if you keep asking, I'll gladly honor my words." ”

"Really hospitable hosts. Swain raised his eyebrows, unimpressed by Ernest's threat, "It's classified, or is it just that you just don't want me to know?"

Ernest subconsciously stretched his hand to his waist, but he felt empty again.

Even Madame Jane sensed that something was wrong with this atmosphere.

Victoria couldn't help but swallow, the tense atmosphere was so tense that she couldn't even breathe, even if she wanted to say something, but when she saw her father's eyes, she couldn't say anything.

"Guest, your iced coffee. Just as the atmosphere dropped to freezing, Ramrem duly served Swin and Sofia coffee.

"Thank you. Sophia thanked her softly, then took her coffee and sipped it with her head down. Faced with the death between her father and brother, she was also extremely uneasy in her heart, but out of trust and support for her brother, she remained silent and silently stood by her brother's side.

Swain took the coffee and glanced at Ramrem.

"I didn't think I would get that kind of treatment. ”

Ramrem put away the tray and retreated behind Lady Jane and Victoria.

"Originally, there was really none, I only prepared the cup for Miss Sophia. ”

Swain took a sip of his coffee, and the cool and sweet taste suddenly overflowed between his teeth.

"Very honest maid. He looked at Ramrem, unable to discern anything on his expressionless face, "How about we make a deal, I will hand over to you Baron Deniz and the other Jericho retainers who are willing to follow you, and you will give me this maid, she is to my liking." ”

"Nope. Ernest flatly refused, "Those retainers are not your property, and you are not qualified to exchange them for anything." ”

"Really?" Sven put down his coffee as he straightened his legs, "Forget it, I'll just mention it casually." ”

He looked at Ramrem again, and the light in his unfluctuating eyes made Victoria on the side inexplicably frightened.

"Anyway, it's going to be mine in the end. ”

Ernest's hand clenched the armrest of the couch, and his patience with Swain was almost at its limit. At first, he thought that he might be able to figure out Swain's intentions and see what he had in mind, but now that Ernest had given up, seeing this man would only make his irritability burn even more.

"If you're just talking this nonsense, or just trying to waste my time, then that's the end of it. Ernest stood up and looked down at Swain condescendingly, "Please leave, I don't have time to accompany you like a child imitating an adult, holding a bunch of topics that you don't know." ”

"Why be so anxious?" Swain took another sip of his coffee, not at all wanting to leave, "I haven't finished my coffee yet." ”

Ernest snatched the coffee cup from Swain's hand and spilled it directly in Swain's face.

"Get the. Ernest's gaze was extremely cold, and the biting chill also revealed murderous intentions, "You are not allowed to set foot in my house again." ”

Everyone was taken aback, and several ladies exclaimed in unison. Sophia hurriedly took out a handkerchief and wiped her brother's face.

"As you wish. Sven wiped the stains from his face and stood up, not at all angry, and calmly accepted Ernest's insult.

Watching Swain leave, Ernest's anger calmed down slightly. He glanced at the cup in his hand and handed it to Ramrem. "Throw this cup away, and clean the couch well. ”

"Yes, sir. Ramrem took the empty cup of coffee from Ernest and turned his gaze to the couch where Swain had sit. It wasn't really dirty, the coffee was all spilled on Swain, and there weren't many stains on the sofa.

Victoria looked at her father, and stopped talking several times, and so did Lady Jane beside her, who didn't know what to say. Ernest is a serious person, but usually even when he is angry, he does not make such a rude behavior as spilling coffee, and Victoria and Lady Jane feel that Ernest is really angry now.

Ernest tugged at his bow tie and calmed his breath a little, trying to regain his composure.

"I'm leaving, you have to watch out for your own safety during this time. He looked at his wife, and although there was warmth in his eyes, Mrs. Jane intuitively sensed that Ernest only wanted to reassure her, so he made this expression.

Victoria and Lady Jane nodded honestly, although they couldn't help but worry in their hearts, but they also understood that sometimes it was better not to ask about men's affairs.

Ernest gave his wife and daughter one last last look, then turned and left the living room.

————————————

In the carriage, Sophia carefully helped her brother wipe her soiled clothes, although she didn't say anything, but what she thought was on her face.

"It's fine. Swain patted his sister on the shoulder and comforted her, "It's just iced coffee, it can't burn me." ”

"Luckily, Ramrem brought me iced coffee. Sophia looked at her brother distressedly, "But, but this is a little too much......"

Her voice was soft, after all, it was her biological father who was to blame, and even if the relationship between them was cold, she still maintained a certain amount of necessary respect.

"It's nothing. Swain didn't care, he didn't seem angry even when he was spilled coffee, "There is nothing to care about such an insult, and besides, the information I got from him is completely worth it." ”

Sophia looked at her brother in confusion, not understanding what he meant.

"Where are we going next?" "Since she couldn't figure it out, Sophia didn't want to, she had long been used to leaving everything to her brother, just like last time, "Do you want to go back?"

"Nope. Swain shook his head, "There are a few more people I need to visit." ”

"Who is it?"

"First to the Metternich house, and then, depending on the situation, to the Guderian family or to the Foreign Secretary Menken. ”

Sophia nodded, not asking any more.

The brother and sister kept silent very tacitly, Sophia would not ask much about her brother, and Swain would not hide everything from her sister, he would tell Sophia what he had done, but he would not say what he meant.

——————————————

Alexander frowned and looked at Franz, the head of the court in front of him.

"You mean, Jericho suddenly started visiting the nobles of the imperial capital?"

"Yes. Franz bowed his head and said, "In the morning, Count Jericho and his sister came to visit the house, and in the course of their conversation the Miss Sophia mentioned the state of affairs of her parents, for it was strange that Jericho was ...... Count Swain lived separately from Count Ernest, and the two did not interact with each other, so they asked a few questions, and the young lady told me about the visit they had just made to the Ernest family. ”

"Visiting Ernest?" Alexander's eyes widened, looking surprised, "That Swain, with his sister, went to visit the Ernest family, didn't they almost fight the other day?"

"It was said that the visit was not very pleasant. Franz bowed his head and continued, "Count Swain was also splashed with coffee by Count Ernest, and when he came to our house, he borrowed clothes from me, and I asked Miss Sophia about them while he was changing. ”

Alexander pursed his lips and fell into deep thought.

Franz also bowed his head and stood respectfully to the side, not daring to disturb the emperor's thinking in the slightest.

"The order for the transfer of the garrison of Ernest and the Imperial Capital has passed through which few people?" After a long time, Alexander spoke, "The order was issued yesterday, there should not be too many people who know this news, you make a list." ”

Although Alexander's words were very out-of-the-box, Franz immediately understood the emperor's thoughts - he was suspicious that Swain went to Ernest's house because he learned that Ernest had received a warning order, especially thinking of the invitation letter sent by Swain to the big names in the imperial capital a few days ago, Swain's series of behaviors looked really strange, and it seemed that he was deliberately trying to win over those who had the right to speak and weight in the imperial capital.

"Yes, because the order was issued yesterday, I still have a record here. As he spoke, Franz searched for the document in his arms.

Now Alexander's heart is quite uneasy, especially in connection with the relationship between Caterina and Swain, and the extreme trust she shows in Swain, Alexander is almost sure that this young man, who has suddenly come into the limelight in the last three months, must have received information from the palace of Tiamat and is preparing to take action for Katarina. And if Swain were to take action against Tiamat Palace, he would have to face the Imperial Capital garrison and the combined forces of Munster, Connaught, and Yanwan.

As for what kind of action it was, Alexander didn't have to imagine it at all, although he didn't know much about Swain, but just looking at his two exploits of killing Michel VII and Beria successively, Alexander knew that Swain was definitely not a soft-hearted guy, and what he planned would definitely not be a peaceful means.

Therefore, what Alexander was most concerned about now was who had leaked this information to Swain, especially the information that Franz had just told him, which made the Emperor begin to suspect that the person who revealed the news was among the people who knew about the warning order yesterday.

Knowing the situation in Tiamat's palace, and knowing yesterday's warning order, who could this person be?

Alexander's eyes were fixed on Franz, who was standing in front of him.

Could it be him? No, probably not, he only knew that there was a transfer order sent to Ernest and the Imperial Capital Garrison, but he didn't know the specific content.

Franz quickly found the document with the list and handed it to Alexander.

"As the order issued by the Tiamat Palace is to be kept confidential and a copy of it is to be given to the Prime Minister's Mansion as a backup, it should have been seen by Prime Minister Pitt, and it was delivered to the Prime Minister by his Principal Private Secretary, Mr. Karl Noe Fair, and to the Earl of Ernest by Sir Aguabie Noe Canon, Permanent Secretary of the Administration Department, as well as Mr. Keynes, who drafted it for you, and Ms. Hilton, the typist. ”

The latter two people, Alexander, didn't think about it at all, they were just small people at the grassroots level, and it was impossible for them to have any contact with Swain.

And one of these people was very much in line with Alexander's suspicions, who knew both the events in Tiamat's palace and the warning order of yesterday.