To the north of the bleak mountains, the layers of dense forests were left behind by the glittering meadows of the moonlight, leaving only a heavy shadow of the night in the distance.

It was a dark blue, bright night. The bright stars are like sparkling diamonds, inlaid in the satin-like sky, and the Milky Way they are guarding is piled with light cotton wool, exuding wisps of dreamlike folds, extending into the distance of the sky.

In this beautiful night, there is a deep silence throughout the meadow, but this silence does not make people feel lonely. The blooming wildflowers exude a honey-like aroma and mix with the freshness of the grass, making people get drunk. From time to time, there were one or two insect chirps, like the whispers of everything in the night. And the meandering river on the meadow, carrying the silver scales pouring from the sky, undulating, playing a beautiful night song.

The river sank deep into the meadow's bosom, like an intimate lover, flowing slowly over her heart, washing out a quiet pool. Perhaps the gods did not want this pond to be so lonely, so a large tree grew on the bank, and its roots reached into the water, and the canopy of the tree covered the pond with a thick layer of shade.

Many black rattans hung down, stirring the gentle surface of the water with the night breeze.

At this moment, several campfires with warm flames jumped on the shore and lit up the space on the shore, and faint snoring and intelligible whispers wafted in the air, and they were sinking into sweet sleep with the exhausted traveler.

At one of the campfires, Teresa was looking at Sauvera, and it was only then that she had time to sit down with her brother, who had been worrying about her, for a good chat. "You've changed, Veran......" Her voice overflowed with concern, and her long eyelashes seemed to tremble slightly in the undulating shadows of her face because she couldn't bear it.

The thought of Uncle Tandra's brief description of their escape made Teresa's heart fill with bitterness. The Sovereign in her heart was not like this, the once cheerful and sunny boy was now sitting in front of him, only scars were left all over his body, his heart was full of exhaustion, and his eyes were becoming more and more deep and detached.

Sovereign tried to retort, but found that he didn't know how to speak, and finally just shook his head and smiled innocently.

Teresa rubbed Sovereign's hair dotingly, she didn't want to continue on this sad topic. "Uncle Tandra, do you know the identity of those assassins, and who sent them?" she asked.

Tandra shook his head slowly, staring at the campfire with a slight distraction. "I don't know, but judging from their combat strength, equipment, and the identity of the chief messenger order knight, it is no longer a private soldier, even a professional soldier. He sighed, and picked up the burning wood with his stick, so that the fire could shine brighter. "As for who sent it? To be honest, the top nobles of the other provinces, those dukes, are all suspicious...... It's just a matter of how many allies Donis has pulled together since we left Oak City. ”

Old Sean, who was sitting next to him, also sighed. "And they chose to ambush in the Westlands......" he looked around at the crowd and continued, "If the ambush is successful, and the news of Soveland's death in the Westlands is deliberately spread......" The old man didn't continue, but everyone gasped.

If the news of Soveland's death in the Westside Province was deliberately spread, the ambush would not only kill the Crown Prince in the way of Donis, but also drag the Swinston family in the Westside Province into the water. As long as Donis is willing, in the name of avenging the crown prince, he can start a war against the western provinces at will, and take the opportunity to unite with the dukes of other provinces to directly divide up the land in the west.

As for the truth, no one listens to the Swinston family's explanations, sometimes politics is like that, politicians just need a high-sounding name, not some inconsequential truth. Just like Cyrian's "treason", no one believed that the great Duke of the River would commit treason, but his opponents had to have a name to pronounce his death sentence.

"What's even more terrifying," Paislin continued with some hesitation, biting her lip, "where we are, how did they know about it? This is not the first time they've been ambushed, remember the battle at the Goat Hotel?" he looked up at the crowd. "If the plan of Essaouiran and I to go to the town of Kugir is not difficult to speculate, the route we will take through the bleak mountains this time is impossible for them to foresee. ”

Peslin's question silenced the crowd even more, and Sovereign glanced back at Kereny, Thomas, and Kuhl, who were sleeping not far away, and the three of them had fallen asleep after a brief dinner because of their injuries. Thinking about the ambush just now, it still makes people's hearts palpitate, especially Thomas, who was the most seriously injured, listening to Uncle Tandra's judgment, I am afraid that he will never be able to wield a long sword again in the future, what a cruel fact it will be for him.

Thinking of this, Sovereign squeezed his somewhat sour eyes hard, he didn't want his appearance to be seen by everyone and make everyone worried, especially at this time. No matter who stood behind the ambusher, this man was powerful, dangerous, and exceptionally clever.

Seeing that everyone's mood was getting lower and lower, Tandra changed the subject and said, "When will we get to Nightingale City?"

"At our current rate, it will take about two days. Teresa thought for a moment and then looked at Essaoweran. "Mother has been worried about you in Nightingale City, Veran, and believe me, everything will be fine. ”

"Well...... Sovereign chuckled and nodded.

"Teresa," Tandra said, glancing at old Sean to meet the latter's gaze, and then pondering, "where is your father, Murich, still in the Earl's Court in Nightingale?"

Teresa froze and seemed very reluctant to mention the name. "Yes, it's still ......"

"It's abrupt, but I have to ask, is he on the same page as Lord Eudora?" said Old Sean as tactfully as he could, "you know, it's important. ”

"Don't worry, Uncle Tandra, Lord Shaun, Mother's will is the attitude of the Western Province. Teresa replied firmly, "And it's not his turn to say no." As he spoke, he threw a few sticks of dry wood into the campfire, and struck a bright spark on the burning charcoal.

Tandra and Shaun Sr. looked at each other and said nothing, Paislin opened his mouth, but finally chose to remain silent, and Sovereign sighed under his breath.

Everyone seemed to lose the nature of chatting in an instant, and after saying goodnight to each other, they slipped into their own blankets, for for them, until they reached Nightingale City, it was far from victory, and there were still two days of continuous trek waiting for them. Sovereign lay on the ground, staring at the orange flames in distraction, and at some point the word stability seemed to be farther and farther away from him, and the words Teresa had said—you have changed, Veran.

"It's all changed......" Sawylan repeated in a low whisper, and it didn't take long for him to finally fall asleep at the end of the campfire.

......

At another time, in another place, there was also an unpleasant conversation.

In Nightingale City in the Upper West, Murich Dwikule, Earl of Fenris, is standing in his study at the highest point of the Count's residence, quietly watching this bustling but cage-like city through the window. The years have left too many traces on him, not only the gray sideburns and wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, but even the slightly fat figure wrapped in a navy blue short coat, all whispering that he is no longer the famous "Fenris Warrior" he was back then.

Across the long table behind him, a young man who looked a little similar to him was holding two letters and looking through them, frowning tightly, as if telling the seriousness of the content of the letters. The young man's name was Aubrey Dwikule, and as for his identity, it was a little embarrassing, he was the illegitimate son of Murich, and he was the well-known illegitimate child.

It's like old-fashioned lace news, when Murrich, Earl of Fenris, joined the Swinston family and married Eudora, Duke of the West, the young and handsome earl did not change his old habit of messing with flowers, or this is the nature of this group of aristocratic lords. In short, while Eudora was pregnant, his lover gave birth to a baby boy for him, who later became Aubrey Dwicule.

Of course, such a thing can't escape Eudora's eyes, and the result of this turmoil is that Eudora gave birth to Teresa prematurely, and her physical condition was completely crushed, and she even lost her fertility. And what about Murich, whose scandal was dismantled and publicized to the point that passers-by became known, and even became the laughing stock of the Orem aristocracy. He himself was kicked out of the castle by the powerful Eudora, and had to build an earl's palace in the city. Since then. The two of them became husband and wife in name only, and there was no other interaction except for necessary political meetings.

This impasse has continued to this day, so Teresa, who grew up next to Eudora, has not even the slightest favor, let alone respect, for this man who deeply hurt her mother.

Of course, today's conversation has nothing to do with this decades-old event, but is something more important.

In the silence of the study, the sound of the letter turning finally stopped. "One is from Baron Lunk Kajik, and the other is from Lord Duke......" Aubrey chuckled and shook the letter and said, "Well, this avoidable ** annoyance has finally come to the Western Province." ”

Muric turned around with his hands behind his back, and raised his eyebrows slightly. "Judging from the letter sent by the Duke, Teresa and her wife have joined His Highness, and if nothing else, they will arrive in Nightingale City tomorrow morning. His voice was a little different from that of his age, as if he had been hollowed out by wine over the years.

"Your Highness, haha...... O Homeless Highness......" Aubrey frustrated the letter on the table, "What is this letter from the Duke? For the sake of the Lord God, this is not a discussion at all, but a direct notice!" he stared at Murich and said, "Is she going through a symbolic process? Hell, did she think there were only their Swinston family in the West?"

"What else can I do?" said Murihy with some irritation, decades of extravagance had made the Earl tired of interfering in political affairs, "Eudora ......" he paused slightly at the mention of the name, "the Duke's health has always been very poor, after all, it is a bit inappropriate for her to appear in person on such an occasion, we only need to bring His Highness in, and then return to Fenrisburg, as for what they are going to do? Well, that's not my business." ”

"Father!" Aubrey stood up with some excitement, "Greeting Your Highness, are you going to push the Western Province into the fire pit of war with that crazy woman?!" he banged his fist on the table, "That's against the entire kingdom of Orem!

"What hell do you want me to do!" Murishi shouted, "As long as the Duke is here, whether war breaks out or not, or if he provides protection for His Highness forever, there is only one way to go to the opposite side of the Regent in the Western Province!

"Of course there are other options!" Aubrey said at once, "we have soldiers, we have fiefdoms, and we also have allies who don't want to go to war with the kingdom! Those other counties can't all be dead set on the Swinston family!, especially when it comes to the choice of life and death!" His face showed a thick grimace, "We just need to kill that crazy woman and sacrifice Her Highness to ......"

"Smack!"

Muric sprang forward and whipped his hand in Aubrey's face. "Shut up!" his face turned pale, and his body trembled violently with anger, "She's my nominal wife!Duke of the Western Province!Pinch out your damn thoughts!Don't even mention it!!"

Aubrey slowly turned his head and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "I beg your pardon, Father, I lost my word......" he bowed slightly, hiding his expression in the low head of his head.

Muric took a few deep breaths to calm his excitement. "Stand down, and prepare for Your Highness tomorrow. He said, wrapping up the conversation.

At that moment, a sharp knock on the door caught the father and son's attention. Soon, the old butler of Murich pushed the door open in a panic and walked in quickly, and such a reckless act made Count Fenris frown a little. But when the old butler whispered a few words beside him, Murich's whole body suddenly tensed, and he quickly stared into the old butler's eyes, revealing a shock and panic that could not be concealed. "You, what do you say?!......"