A sound of jubilation sounded like thunder, and the candles in the hall seemed to be vibrated by the sound. Flattered, Bode said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I just did as the Duke instructed. ”

"It is written in the Lord's Scriptures that excessive humility is pride. Constance said coldly.

"Haha!" said Count Varina with a smile, "Ladies and gentlemen, in order to celebrate the infallible return of His Holiness the Pope, I will hold a banquet in the castle tonight!"

"Ulla!" the nobles cheered. The servants had already been ordered to prepare for the feast, and now they were busy. Constance felt a little unwell at this moment of all the noise, and went up to the Count of Varina and said:

"Lord Varina, I wish I could take a break. In addition, the Holy See advocates frugality and self-purity, and I am afraid that I will not be able to attend your banquet. ”

"Oh......" Count Varina was a little disappointed. At this time, Margaret gently tugged at the corner of her father's clothes, suggesting that he could not be forced because he was the master.

"Then, please rest for His Majesty the Pope. Count Varina muttered to Margaret, who nodded and led Constance out of the hall. At the same time, the Duke of Savalon and the Duke of Wickwood began to take their seats. As guests, they knew it was their last dinner at Fort Varina. The Pope had arrived safely, and the war with the Knights was evident, so they had to go back to their fiefdoms to gather their armies.

Duke Wickwood had other plans in mind. The survival of Pope Constance is, of course, a trump card in the hands of the West Vecchian nobility to fight back. If the Pope is not unfortunate enough to die. The nobility could also wage war in the name of "against aggression". But Constance is the Pope of the Wikibians, and even though the Holy See is gradually degenerating, the Pope is still the spiritual hope of the Wikibians. Duke Wickwood is preoccupied with his adventures in Frost City. He shouldn't have followed the zealous Duke of Savallon. Fortunately, the value of surviving the Pope seemed to be worth the risk.

Duke Wakewood looked around. That Bode, right now, was answering Eleanor's questions. Eleanor's concern for her, in the eyes of the Duke of Wakewood, was nothing more than a girl's admiration for a fantasy knight.

The servants served red wine and buttered wheat bread. Rare birds and game were served. It can be seen that Count Varina has put all his heart out of entertaining the two great nobles of the West. Across the long table, Duke Savaloon was chatting and laughing with Baron Matt. The Duke of Savaloon is too upright. He was the last remaining old knight of Duke Wackwood's father's generation. His son drank gloomily, as if he were just sightseeing on this thrilling journey.

The vassals of Count Varina have long been ordained here. Although the war clouds had been gathering for half a month, and they had all gathered troops in their respective fiefdoms, the Count's orders could not be violated. Barons and knights of all stripes with their wives. Chattering around the long table. Some complimented the two dukes, while others watched and waited for Count Varina to speak.

The bard and the musicians stand on the small balcony on the second floor, playing the music of Shuya. Duke Wickwood sipped his wine, thoughtful as the crowd talked. Eleanor slowly approached him and said coquettishly, "Lord Duke, do you have anything to reward our warriors?"

"Hmm...... What?" Duke Wakewood woke up from his musings.

"He rescued the Pope. Eleanor then whispered.

Duke Wickwood's gaze shifted from Eleanor's face to Bode. Bode was now talking to Baron Matt about his adventures, though he couldn't hear clearly. It can be seen that his face always has a humility towards those whose status is higher than himself. Baron Matt smiled from time to time, looking interested. Duke Wakewood turned to Eleanor.

"Now is not the time to talk about this. Bode didn't want gold or silver. You know. More on that later. ”

Eleanor seemed neither pleased nor disappointed, so the Duke of Wickwood continued: 'I will not lie to you. ”

"Hmm. Eleanor was answered.

At this moment, Count Varina stood up, clapped his hands at the butler in the distance, and shouted, "You can go up!"

"Yes, sir!" said the butler to the cook's room. The eyes of the people were drawn to them, and after a moment the butler was led by two servants, who were carrying something like a stretcher, on which was a large scone as large as a shield. At the long table, several knights began to whistle: "Pie! pie!"

"Don't worry, lads!" said Count Varina.

The servants put the baked pie in the center of the table. None of the people touched the knives, and they all waited for Count Varina to speak.

"This is a dish that I have carefully prepared for all of you. Now, take the liberty of asking Miss Eleanor to cut it!"

"I?but......" Eleanor pointed to herself.

"It's all right, miss, this scone is easy to cut. ”

Eleanor looked at Duke Wackwood. The Duke shrugged his shoulders and smiled and said, "Go ahead." ”

Eleanor picked up the knife and slowly slice the scone in her direction. Suddenly, she exclaimed, and several live pigeons flew out of the hot pie. The nobles exclaimed, then laughed again.

"Your cook could come up with such a good idea!" exclaimed the Duke of Savalon, in astonishment.

Count Varina smirked, then raised his glass and said, "Enjoy, gentlemen!"

A few days after the meeting at Fort Varina, the Countess of Brutz was lazily lying on a luxurious chaise longue imported from Poriis, playing with the back of her pet cat's neck. The cat, like its owner, lies comfortably and meows from time to time. The Countess of Brutz, Cecilia Don Thierre, looked boredly at the busy harbor outside the castle. Morus is a large city second only to Frost City, and since the Knights took over Frost City, a large number of Frost City fishermen and seafarers have fled to Molus, bringing a large amount of income to the Countess of Bruts. The temporary refuge tax alone allowed the Countess of Brutz to build several warships.

The red-tiled and white-walled houses of Morus stretch slowly from the seashore to the foot of the mountain. On the hill is the castle of the Countess of Bruz. Cecilia's husband had neither children nor siblings, so since Cecilia's husband died in a hunting accident, she became the second largest landowner in West Wiki after the Duke of Wickwood and the Duke of Savalon. The nature of a woman keeps her away from the shouting of those warlike nobles. Therefore, whether it was the aggressive encroachment of the Knights, or the election of the Pope, she only sent a few people to a perfunctory discussion.

Recently, however, it has been different. Cecilia smelled the exotic incense burning in the room, and heard the footsteps outside the door getting closer and closer, and then there was a knock on the door.

"Madame, the latest news, request to report it immediately. ”

"Please come in, Baron Concha. ”

Baron Concha, who had a strong beard and was short, opened the door himself, and then closed it with his hand. Even when the news of the Knights' capture of Frost City spread, the rulers of Vikia and even Calradia were shocked, but the Countess of Brutz still held the mentality that no one would offend me, and I would not offend anyone, making the Counts of Brutz look like a small neutral country in Vecchia.

However, the vassals of the Countess of Brutz could not hold back. Baron Concha handed over a letter sealed with fire paint. Above, is the text written in beautiful italics. The Countess of Brutz sat upright, gently put down the cat, and opened the letter.

"To the Merciful Countess of Brutz, Cecilia Don Thierre:

Nearly a month has passed since the Knights of the Sword shamelessly seized the Holy Frost City from the Holy See of the Vecchians. Most of the noble nobles of West Vecchia escaped and returned safely to their fiefdoms.

The shamelessness and savagery of the Order infuriated the noble hearts of every Vecchian, and so, in Fort Varina, the united nobles had made an oath to mobilize all the forces of the West Vecchian nobles within two months, led by the Duke of Savalon and the Duke of Wakewood, and with the pious and fearless prayer of the Pope, to declare war on the Order in the name of the Papal States of Vecchia.

Madame, your justice and mercy have long been spread throughout Vikia by Brutz. Therefore, we seek your helping hand. Before the tentacles of the Knights' sins reach out to our Vikia, cut through the filth with the sword of nobility.

Authorized by the League of Holy Nobility

Honoro de Virta, Duke of Wickwood"

"Hmph, that's a nice thing to say. Cecilia threw down the letter. Baron Concha stared nervously at the piece of paper until Cecilia dropped the letter on the table and began pacing back and forth.

"Madame, there is a consensus in Brutz that we should fight against the Knights together with the nobles of Sivicchia. ”

"Tell the citizens of Morus if it's better to fight or to be peaceful?" said Cecilia.

"This ......," Baron Concha grimaced.

Cecilia walked to the window and looked out at the lively harbor down the hill.

"I am the master of Brutz, and it is only natural that I will defend the interests of Brutz. However, if the Knights insist on going on the ......"

"What if?" said Baron Concha.

"Then," Cecilia came back to her senses and looked at Baron Concha with a determined look, "the blood of the Bruts will be shed for their future." (To be continued......)