Chapter 2 In the Duke of Wickwood's palace in Frost City, there is a heated conversation. The living room is lavishly decorated, with expensive Poriis handmade blankets hanging on the walls, painted with religious stories. Eleanor and Duke Wickwood both stood and talked, Eleanor with a sad face, while the Duke was as calm as ever.

"I can't accept him as a bodyguard. A mercenary, penniless, without even decent clothes. The guards must be of noble origin. ”

"Why? He saved my life, and such a meager request could not be met?" said Eleanor, frowning.

"He is not a knight, and he has no right to meet the Duke at all. Duke Wickwood paused, "Not to mention Miss Noble." He stared at Eleanor.

"Where were your knights when I was in distress?" asked Eleanor.

The Duke was silent. After a moment, he sighed helplessly. "Well, I grant your wishes. ”

"No, that's what he wants. ”

The Duke touched Eleanor's hair. "If he takes the opportunity to ask for payment, I will give it to him. Are you satisfied? Not everyone is as chivalrous as you think. ”

"Thank you. Eleanor smiled with satisfaction.

The squire, wearing a feathered hat and a tight green and gold coat, looked at Pod with curious eyes. Bode's cloak still bears the blood of the moment, though Bode has tried to wash it off. Bode's arm was bandaged, but Bode thought he was fine. The squire led Bode into the duke's room.

Duke Wakewood looked at the mercenary without moving. He has long, reddish-brown hair and is young but weather-beaten. A pair of blue eyes reveal the extraordinary. The cloak is shabby, but the scabbard of the long sword at the waist is beautifully decorated.

"Welcome, brave sir. The Duke motioned for him to sit down. Bode was not accustomed to sitting in a chair with soft cushions. Behind the duke's chair is a shelf. It was covered with a cloth. Many aristocrats had a penchant for asking painters to paint their portraits.

"I am Duke Wickwood, and thank you for saving my sister, Miss Eleanor. ”

"It's over, sir. In the Lower Pod. ”

The Duke nodded, and then there was silence.

In order not to be cold, Bode tentatively said: "Mademoiselle is also very brave under the siege at this moment. ”

"But she's not a swordsman. The Duke smiled. "You said you wanted to join my duke's guard?"

"Yes, sir. Money is something outside the body. Serving adults is my wish. ”

"The guards are from an aristocratic background. The Duke smiled sarcastically.

"I am the second son of Baron Lanos of Svadia. ”

"Oh. "The Duke had never heard of this man, and he was not very familiar with the vast kingdom of Svadia adjoining him. He couldn't be sure if Bode was talking nonsense or if it was true.

"I can see that your lord is not an ordinary lord. Blue eyes stared at green eyes. "You can appoint useful people and convince people. ”

"How do you know?" said the duke, unmoved by the compliment.

"Not all knights in the Duke's Palace. As I entered, I chatted with the clerk and the others, all of whom were farm boys from Wackwood. ”

"I was only hired as a clerk if I had the talent. Among the warriors, the noble origin was still important. The Duke said.

"If war is near, you don't care about your origin. Pod said.

"How so?"

"The big shots and the Knights won't be at a stalemate forever, and the slightest change will upset the balance. ”

"Dangerous speculation can send you to the gallows. The Duke said coldly.

"Rumors? If the elected pope does not support the Order. Won't they take power with sword and fire?" said Bode boldly. "The Knights have the backing of the Nord Kingdom. The nobles had only disunited allies. ”

The Duke stared at Bode. He changed the subject, "Can you read and write?" "Yes, sir." ”

"Good. If you want to be my bodyguard, you have to convince others of your swordsmanship. The Duke said coldly.

"No problem, my lord. ”

It was close to noon, the sky was cloudless, the sun was dazzling, and only the snow in the corners of the ground suggested that it was still winter. Sunshine in the Northland. I don't feel the warmth at all. Eleanor stood in the cloister on the second floor of the Duke's Palace, her elbows propped up with her cheeks. Playing with the fox fur scarf around his neck, he looked at Bode and Sir Roland in the field below. Sir Roland came from a family loyal to the House of Vilta and was a knight with five wealthy villages and the chief knight of the Duke's command. Even the counts, the barons, under the duke, were willing to admit that a knight was better than them. Eleanor disagreed with this kind of exam, but the Duke told her that it was something that everyone had to pass, no matter how noble they were. Eleanor protested coquettishly that the best knights in the entire Wickwood should not be allowed to fight against a single mercenary. The Duke promised that as long as the mercenary lasted ten rounds, he could serve as a guard. Eleanor was a little uneasy about the men fighting for their will, but was happy.

Bode sharpened his sword with a whetstone in the corner of the courtyard on the first floor, and his voice was harsh and sharp. Sir Roland, on the other side, asked his squire to don his armor. From the face armor, arm armor to shin armor, they were all polished by the attendants. Sir Roland took an oak iris shield with a white stripe on a purple background painted on it. The squire handed over a long sword with a ruby at the tip, and Sir Roland slowly drew it. The people in the Duke's palace cheered in unison. Most of them were Sir Roland's associates, or the Duke's servants. The ignorant crowd is always interested in bloody brawls, and Bode can't help but smile wryly.

Bode took off his cloak and brushed his sword with a few sword flowers. He didn't even have a helmet, and his armor wasn't extravagant. The crowd of onlookers chattered and then laughed.

"Hey, this lord has such a big shelf!"

"Hahahaha......"

Bode walked to the middle of the snow-cleared courtyard.

Duke Wickwood paced to Eleanor's side. He couldn't help but laugh when he looked down from the second floor. Eleanor glanced at him and said, "He can go and get the armor now." Isn't there a lot of armory on the first floor?"

The Duke shouted downstairs, "Mr. Bode, you can go to the armory and get a piece of armor." ”

The onlookers laughed.

Sir Roland stepped onto the field. "You don't use armor?"

"No, I don't. It's so lightweight. "Don't blame me for the cut. Sir Roland pulled down his visor.

Duke Wickwood on the second floor waved to begin. The attendant quickly ran away from the field. Bode weighed his sword, looking at his opponent's protection with only eyes. With Sir Roland's first attack, the sound of metal clashing ignited the enthusiasm of the onlookers. Bode holds a sword in both hands. Try to overcome the impact of the hand that was injured a few days ago and go on the defensive. The crowd of onlookers shouted one after another, but most of them cheered for Sir Roland.

Bode slowly moved back, hoping to drag the heavily armored knight in a circle. Sir Roland was a seasoned knight, unmoved, holding on to his position, not moving an inch.

The audience got impatient. "Kill him. Jazz!"

"He's a coward!"

Bode ignored them. Each of his surprise assassinations was blocked by the iris shield. Sawdust flies, and after each attack it must be Sir Roland's chopping. Every time Pod caught it, he felt a strained pain in his injured hand. It can't be delayed. Bode thought.

Bod approached Sir Roland and slashed his shield with the advantage of the length of his half-sword. Sir Roland's one-handed sword was shorter and could only catch the attack. Bode moved Sir Roland closer to the side of the wall, but Bode was tired. The spectators in the back hurriedly got out of the way. The clatter of swords and the muffled sound of oak shields being slashed. was suppressed by the cheers of the audience.

The bandage on Bode's arm was oozing blood. Sir Roland will not miss an opportunity. While Pod's arm was slowly lifted from blood loss, he stabbed through the side of the shield. Bode hurriedly stepped sideways, but the sword still slashed through Bode's ribs.

Eleanor on the second floor covered her mouth in horror.

It's now, Bode thought. He used all his strength to slash his sword down, and Sir Roland raised his shield to block it. Sawdust flew and the oak shield was shattered. Sir Roland panicked for a moment, his center of gravity unsteady due to the heavy armor of his body. Bode pressed his whole body weight down. With a bang, the two fell to the ground together. Sir Roland's arm was crushed by Bode. Bode pulled out the dagger with his intact hand in exclamation. Pick off Roland's visor.

"I surrender. Sir Roland said helplessly.

There was silence. Bowde's face turned pale and he slowly stood up. Reach out to Sir Roland. The crowd erupted in cheers. Bode was amazed at the capriciousness of the crowd. Duke Wakewood looked at Eleanor's elated appearance and left with a smile.

In Castel Sant'Angelo, cardinals are conducting ceremonies before the election of the Pope. The grey exterior of the castle contrasts sharply with the ornate decoration of the hall. Every cup here is made of gold, and the benches are made of oriental wood imported from faraway Polyis in a dark red color. The velvet of Rodoco can be seen everywhere, and the silk flags are dyed white and yellow in the colours of the Papal States. Casstans of Ilifa and Lynch of Gerbert were in the pentmost rooms of Castel Sant'Angelo, and they were not allowed to attend the election meeting as candidates according to the Holy Codex.

"We, servants of angels, swear to uphold the holiness and fairness of the election......"

The bishops stood, taking the oath with their hands according to the canon. However, the bishops in red robes were thinking about how much they could gain from this election. The long table was covered with a tablecloth with golden tassels, and the bishops sat down in turn. Servants dressed in white put wickwood wine at the bishops' tables. The dark red precious liquid reflected the golden light of the candle flame, and the bishops began to await the speech of the esteemed Archbishop of Belize.

The Archbishop of Belize, following the tradition of numerous elections, begins with the glorious forefathers of the Holy See. Some of the bishops played with the wine glasses on the table, some casually flipped through the text on the table, and some seemed to close their eyes to recuperate. The bishops from Wickwood, Savalon, and the Western Diocese all sit on one side, while the Eastern Diocese and the Bishops of Gwendania sit together. The Order has its own military priest, so they have no right to attend.

The Bishop of Belize gave a lengthy speech, knowing in his heart that the bishops had this in mind. At the end of the speech, the bishops applauded symbolically, and at least for this moment the Holy See was unified. In the short time before the election, the two bishops began to woo neutral bishops who had not yet taken a position.

"One-half of the tax revenue of the town of Vino......"

"One in two, but ......"

"That's all!" (to be continued......)