XII

Three hours later, December 24, 1665, at five p.m. in the standard calendar

At this moment, if someone looked down on the entire world of human civilization west of the Great Wilderness from a high altitude, he would see a very peculiar man-made landscape.

Starting with the oasis towns established by humans in the Wilderness Mirage River, until the western border of the Elven Sacred Forest.

From the frozen harbor city of Diza in the far north, to the hot and hot frontier outpost of Nadit in the far south.

From the thousand-year-old Deland and Lennie, to the new fortress Newburg, which has just been built less than two decades ago.

At this moment, countless white holy lights—

At the same time from the churches of the Orthodox and Protestant churches.

At the same time, it shoots out of the monasteries and welfare homes presided over by monks and nuns.

At the same time, it was shot from the preachers who stood in the square holding aloft the emblem in prayer.

At the same time, it shoots from the palms of countless priests who wander in the field and are stationed in the army.

Millions, nay, tens of millions of people at the same time raised their heads, looked up to the sky, and prayed reverently.

"The grace of the gods be with us forever. Happy Advent. ”

"Happy Advent. ”

"Happy Advent!"

The official New Year's holiday begins at this moment.

A sea of joy spreads, and countless candles are lit and swaying in people's hands. The busyness and fatigue of the world have ceased, and the joy and pleasure of the soul world have been replaced.

Only the chefs are still busy, bringing a variety of dishes to the Advent dinner table.

Almost everyone is gearing up for this exciting New Year's holiday, which will be a happy, carefree evening.

*** ***

"The grace of the gods be with us forever. Happy Advent. ”

As soon as the bishop's prayer was over, the handsome young man with short brown hair rose from his seat and walked to the room behind the cathedral.

He pinned his blue emblem to his chest and greeted each of the busy priests he met along the way. After the Bishop was gone, it was time for Méti Croso's performance, and he, as the manager, to be exact, she, would naturally have to go backstage to oversee everything.

Tonight was very important for Bonnie Sefir, she had a deal to complete. It goes back to the night of the negotiation with Nikolai......

"One thing I would like to state in advance is that although we have reached an agreement, it may not be possible to implement it accordingly. Now, if I am alone, I am not sure that the bill will be passed in Parliament. After solemnly signing his name on the deed, the second secretary of state reminded.

The corners of Bonnie's mouth lifted slightly, and she nodded: "Is this why you chose to send a secret envoy? ”

"To be exact, there is now more than one such group of secret negotiations going on, and the Celestial Envoy of Liberation sent by the Empire is already in Fortiburg. Some Loyalists and localists were looking forward to the secret negotiations, and some of them wanted to be the new Duke of Julok. Nikolai's tone was contemptuous, "We intend to make a deal with Lenny in our favor first. ”

"Knights of Liberation...... The Knights, who are almost all spies?"

Nikolai nodded. Bonnie continued, "What is the envoy's name?"

"Viscount Vlasol Rasta, legend has it that he was the illegitimate son of the military minister Loren von Figota. ”

Upon hearing the name, Bonnie's toes, which had been tapping lightly on the ground, suddenly froze in the air, as if thinking of something: "Vlasol Rasta, one of the three heroes of the Knights of Liberation......?" Pay attention to it. You're not going to compromise with them, are you?"

"Neither we nor Marshal Govar are people who will yield to the Empire, but the situation is delicate. "After all, pro-imperial forces carry a lot of weight in the politics of the Rulockks, and there are many nativists who oppose peace negotiations by preaching that 'there is no autonomy without victory'......"

"What if I say I have a way to give you an edge in the parliamentary vote?" Bonnie casually picked up when the time came, "Do you have a list of members who might oppose you?"

"Yes, yes, but you're planning to bribe ......?"

Bonnie smiled mysteriously, "Of course it's not such a stupid approach. By the way, my young lady has always admired the one of you. ”

To this day, she remembered the expression on the face of the secretary of state at that time, and it was very funny indeed—she never expected to see such a complex and funny expression on Nikolai's cold and frozen face.

With such a happy mood, she pushed open the door of the makeshift backstage.

"Happy Advent, Métie. Ready? We're going to get started. ”

When Bonnie entered, the blonde maiden virtuoso was tossing a coin in front of the mirror, muttering to herself. Hearing her voice, Mety immediately hid the coin in her arms and stood up with a little panic.

"Bang...... No, Pluto, you're finally here. Are you going to get started?"

"Well, it's going to start soon. Do you remember the points we prepared together during the day today?" Bonnie stepped forward and patted her shoulder tenderly with her right hand, which was ready for blessing magic, "Don't be nervous. ”

"Don't worry, I'm an expert at playing. Méti lifted her chin and tried to look confident.

Seeing her expression, Bonnie felt a little funny: "That's good, good luck." ”

Hearing this, Méty interrupted her violently as if she had been stepped on by the tail, "Bonnie! No one told you that you couldn't say 'good luck' before any show?

Bonnie Seffir was stunned for a moment, trying to correct her mistitlement, but after thinking about it, she withdrew. She knew that the young lady was very nervous now.

*** ***

After driving Bonnie away, Métie Crosso sat down in front of the mirror again. Through the narrow door frame backstage, she could hear the noise outside. The kind of noise that always comes before the performance begins, a cacophony of countless whispers.

The sound was familiar to her, and she was tired of it. The title "Talented Girl Performer" is a fence for Mét, a fence that restricts her life. She has repeatedly tried to run away from home as a small resistance, but each time she has failed because of her own ability and the strength of her parents. She's the jewel of the Krosso family—and she's just the jewel. She should not have a mind of her own, nor should she have a will of her own, but exist as a totem of the family and the bank......

Méti Krosso slowly put on the gloves made of white silk, which looked quite elegant in the mirror. While putting on the gloves, Méti also got into the form of a virtuoso.

No matter the circumstances, Mety is confident that she can put on a perfect show. Ever since her parents discovered that she had a talent for it, all of her education and training have been made for it – an ability that has been part of her life. Then, as she played more and more with it, she discovered that she could use music to give her listeners a variety of emotions: happy, excited, proud, sad, low, ......

Méty Krosso stood up and looked at herself in the mirror. Off-the-shoulder translucent tulle evening gowns, light purple, purple as noble as violet. The effect will be not bad.

It had always been a secret, and she had no intention of telling anyone, including her parents. But it wasn't that long ago that someone saw her ability — and told her, "I need yours." It was the first time she felt that she was needed as a "Métie Crosso" rather than as a "talented girl virtuoso" or a "young lady of the Crosso family".

Métie Krosso pushed open the door and walked out of the room. There was no one outside, and Bonnie had left.

So, she canceled her latest plan to run away from home and decided to follow that person for her first performance just for herself...... But why was she angry with Bonnie just now? She wasn't so superstitious before......

Méti Croso walked down the narrow aisles of the cathedral to the main hall, passing the back of the organ that was more than 300 years old. Built during the golden age of the Second Empire, this organ is a large five-layer keyboard with twenty-two bellows, and is powered by both magic and manpower. More than a dozen monks gathered around the bellows, monitoring the more than fifty green and blue magic gems of various types dotted like stars from the main air intake, and preparing to use manpower to replenish the air volume in case of emergency.

Bonnie was about her age, but she had unfathomable pupils that didn't match her age. Although she has a fresh and cute appearance and seems to be non-threatening, she can hit the soft underbelly of a veteran like her father at the negotiating table. Méty had never seen anyone who could convince her father in business, but that day she heard "shrewd old George" muttering to herself, "The afterlife is terrible." She is a completely different type from Méti. What kind of life does this girl live as Méti travels around enjoying flowers, applause and praise?

Métie Crosso came out from behind the organ and looked around the room. Tonight's St. Warrens Cathedral was packed: after receiving a solemn invitation to a charity performance from the Council of Ministers, the vast majority of Kengele's celebrities decided to attend, most of them members of the high-ranking Parliament. She looked at the crowd and bowed slightly, provoking a round of applause.

The sixteen-year-old girl named Bonnie Sefir, who is now dressed as a man, is taking care of all the affairs of the charity show as her butler and producer. She must have gone to some of the back VIP seats to watch her play, right? Bonnie was always so confident and action-oriented......

Métie Crosol gently pulled up her dress and sat down in the organ's playing position. In an instant, there was silence in the venue. Sitting in front of the organ, she didn't look as good as her usual flying jump.

She can only vent her willfulness and use her lively personality to cover her true heart. Which is her true character, either as a virtuoso or as a regular person? Méty herself doesn't know. She wasn't jealous of Bonnie Seiffel...... It's envy. - Maybe that's why she feels inexplicably nervous and irritable when she sees Bonnie. The brunette girl can do anything confidently, just like a man, while Méty knows almost nothing and can't do anything......

"You can change the world with your performance if you want. I'm sure you can do it. ”

When they first met her, Bonnie Seiffel told Metie that.

Thinking of this, she actually calmed down.

It's not that she can't do anything, she still has something to play. In this matter, she can outperform Bonnie.

Then, she saw the music itself through the score in front of her.

Her fingers landed on the four-hundred-year-old keyboard, full of strength and confidence.

The eighth notes of the tablet leap out of her fingertips, then turn into sixteenth of the Allegro a few bars later.

Different tones burst out of the pipes, and even the surrounding fires were stirring up, filling the air with an atmosphere called "awe".

Those astonishing harmonies are like the work of an entire orchestra, containing the faith and piety of the golden age, flowing under the beating fingers.

"Convey the feelings of 'love', 'peace', 'trust' and 'cherishing life' into the minds of those who are dignitaries and nobles, and use your playing. ”

Meti knew that this was what she could do. As long as it's a positive emotion, it's not hard to convey it – people rarely really act on it, but they're easily moved by it.

Conquering the hearts of her listeners with music is her own magic.

*** ***

Gradually Nikolai Machiavelli began to feel that something was wrong – from the moment the organ sounded.

The melody of the organ filled his body and mind, from head to toe, immersed in that divine and majestic momentum.

He could even faintly hear the whispers of the angels in it, and could enjoy the extreme solemnity and joy in it, as if he was in another world, about to leave the earthly shell.

If he were just an ordinary person, or an ordinary magician, he would really be immersed in that atmosphere of peace and joy.

But he's not an ordinary person. He is the only known "half-body" of a dominating mage in this world. Although he does not use dominance spells, he is familiar with the forms of this type of magic.

How he feels now...... It was vaguely like Miss Maggia Verry's own use of domination.

The effectiveness is far from perfect, but the essence hidden in it is extraordinarily similar. With beautiful music as a medium, when someone reacts and wants to resist, they will also be suppressed by the immersive atmosphere around them.

He had always thought that the butler dressed as a man was what she called "Miss" herself, but now he had to start anew to assess the true abilities of this uninvited partner.

Could the other party also be a group of two or even more people, like him and Magia? Is such a shrewd person just a "doppelganger" of the person who plays the organ on stage?

"At tomorrow's benefit performance, if you feel that something is wrong, please let me know. I'll be waiting around to prove that I have no bad intentions. ”

Nikolai remembered the words of the woman who planned the concert reminded him. If it hadn't been for her reminder, perhaps he wouldn't have noticed the oddity...... But he wouldn't ask for her help. The Second Secretary of State simply rubbed the ring on his right index finger and stood up and walked out of the VIP room.

Bonnie Seffir waited outside the door as promised.

"Sure enough, those who have spears often carry shields, so I think it's been in vain. ”

"I didn't expect you to be able to influence the decisions of the council in such a deviant way. Where do you find talent? Monsters' friends are monsters too. Nikolai took his pipe out of his suit pocket, walked down the cloister on the second floor to the window, and lit it. Smoking was supposed to be prohibited in the church, but the Second Secretary of State didn't care about it at all.

"Your speech is very ungentlemanly. Bonnie frowned, "Is that a phrase for a young lady?"

"There are two kinds of women, stupid women and good opponents. You're the latter, so don't have to be gentlemanly. Nikolai tapped his pipe, "Anyway, you did me a favor in the vote, so that the peace talks between Magia and the others could be approved in Congress." That's a good start for our group. ”

"But will it be too late? I got the word that Vena Betsy had temporarily requested an emergency meeting for tomorrow last night. You should get this news too, right?"

Nikolai nodded slowly: "But I can't see through his intentions." Why did you choose Advent Day? Vena Betsy is a realist like our Marshal Govar, and it is impossible to disturb the New Year's holiday of the entire councillor for the sake of a good day. What is he going to do?"

Bonnie leaned against the pillar and listened to the organ move into the next movement, her fingers tapping.

"Let's think about what Admiral Betsy might do. He proposed that the likelihood of peace was close to zero. Betsy has the popular opinion of Phates on his hand, but this one doesn't make him anxious. There is a 12th division that can attack Kengrad, but this division is too weak in combat to be used. If you want to attack Forteburg, the 3rd Division can be used at any time, plus the 11th or 9th Division...... It can't be three divisions, otherwise the defense of the north will collapse. Have you received any news of the attack on Fortiburg?"

"If there is, I will receive it as soon as possible. Nikolai confidently replied, "No." Probably they were happily preparing to roast the firebird. ”

"It's already 6 p.m. on the 24th, and there are still 15 hours left until tomorrow morning when the council convenes. If Betsy were to conquer Forti in such a short period of time, he would at least have to enlist the assistance of the Southwestern Legion. If there was any change in the López army, I would have known about it as soon as possible, but I had not received any information about it, so it was impossible. There's no way they want to conquer Fortiburg...... So what exactly are they trying to do? Kengrad coup, Lenny coup, collusion with the Empire invasion?" Bonnie scratched her hair, "No! This is so unreasonable. We must have missed some important information, Betsy has, and we don't......"

"Would you like to try what Magia likes?" suggested the Secretary of State, "let's assume we're enemies first, and then push out the missing link." ”

"Good way. Bonnie nodded, "Let's start over." Now I'm Wiener Betsy. I made a new judgment and got an urgent piece of information - leave the content blank for now. Therefore, I need to rush for time, preferring to risk the displeasure of the members of the United Parliament......"

"So, why are we rushing for time?" Nikolai high-fived, "and we need to get the support of the parliamentarians!"

"Yes, we did something in advance that would have required authorization, so we needed authorization — only the movement of the army. Very well, this is the first assumption, we are rushing for time, for the mobilization of troops. The 11th or 9th Divisions were already approaching Forty Fort, and if they could get the first authorization to attack, they would have the upper hand...... I must be sure, then, that I will be able to get the Union Council to allow my troops to move, rather than leaning towards a peace treaty. ”

"Because they know about Chase Brighton's secret trip to Lenny's peace talks?"

"No, it would cast a shadow over Betsy's plans. It's not a recent thing, it's something new that would give Betsy an advantage in the council......"

Bonnie jerked up from the side of the pillar, "I see. I'm going to inform Lenny right away!"

Nikolai was stunned for a moment, and then the pipe in his hand shook violently: "I see...... I'm really blind." Sorry, I missed the company first. ”

The Secretary of State put away his pipe and hurried close to the shadow cast by the pillar, his figure in contrast to the darkness. The sound of the organ still surrounds it, mixed with the childish chorus of the choral corps.

"Wait a minute. Bonnie suddenly spoke, stopping Nikolai, who had just taken two steps.

"What?

"Happy Advent to God," Bonnie smiled a slightly mischievous smile, "and Miss Lily Maggie." ”

Nikolai's tense face relaxed: "I also wish you a happy Advent." May the cooperation be happy. ”

*** ***

At this time, Lily Maggie and her temporary employees who were about to foam at the mouth still drove their horses towards Lennie, who were long overdue for foaming at the mouth.

There are still sixty kilometers to go......

What an unfortunate Advent night.

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Welcome the majority of book friends to come and read, the latest, fastest, the hottest serialized works are all here!