Elinor?

So, she's the daughter of the Duke of Boulder?

Charlotte's heart fluttered slightly.

With Leno leaving the family and relinquishing the right of inheritance, the only legal heir to the Duchy of Boulder is Eleanor, the only daughter of the Duke of Boulder.

If you don't count the age alone, the other party is still her niece.

Eleanor was betrothed to the Crescent royal family at a young age, and moved to the royal capital more than ten years ago to study and live.

She didn't know what the other party's personality was or what her appearance was, but looking at the other party's somewhat stiff smile at this moment, she inexplicably felt a strong sense of déjà vu......

However, this sense of déjà vu comes and goes quickly.

Eleanor's smile quickly returned to normal, as if the inexplicable emptiness just now was just Charlotte's delusion.

Charlotte had the heart to investigate carefully, but the Duke of the Moon Protector, who was an archmage, was next to her, so she didn't dare to act rashly, and Eleanor and the third prince also obviously had some kind of magic prop that could hide their breath, and Charlotte couldn't even sense their power.

At the same time, Philip, the third prince, who was standing side by side with Eleanor, looked at Charlotte with a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He smiled brightly and said gracefully and amiably:

"I have long heard of the pearl of Boulder, and Miss Charlotte of Castel has a beauty that even the gods would envy...... What I see now is indeed worthy of its name. ”

As soon as these words came out, the surrounding nobles couldn't help but cast their eyes at the girl and the prince.

Charlotte's heart skipped a beat.

The third prince's words sounded like a compliment, but they put her with the gods, and there was even a feeling of roasting her on the fire......

After all, in a world where there are truly gods, how can mortals be compared to gods?

Although Charlotte knew that the Crescent royal family was at odds with the church, she did not expect that even a prince would dare to speak so in public.

It seems that the differences between the royal family and the church are bigger than she imagined, and the open and secret struggle between the monarchy and the divine right may be more intense.

"Your Royal Highness, you are serious, everything Charlotte has is a gift from the gods."

Charlotte said reverently, and did not forget to draw a standard ring cross on her chest.

The third prince was obviously stunned for a moment, and then said with a smile:

"It seems that you are a true believer in the Holy Faith, as it is rumored...... Sorry, I was a bit presumptuous in my words. ”

As he spoke, he looked at Sebas beside Charlotte again, and said curiously:

"So, this elf is none other than Mr. Sebas, the 'Scarlet Blade'?"

Dark red...... Crimson Blade?

What kind of middle two titles are this?

Charlotte was visibly stunned.

She glanced strangely at Sebas beside her, and Sebas stiffened slightly for a moment, and then said elegantly:

"Your Royal Highness the Prince, it's all in the past, and it's also a name spread in the mercenary world of good things, and I'm just Lord Charlotte's butler now."

The third prince's face was abrupt and he bowed slightly.

He did not continue on this topic, but instead chatted with Charlotte:

"Miss Charlotte, I heard you're going north to the realm?"

"Yes, I just inherited the title, and there are still many things in the territory that I need to deal with personally."

Charlotte replied with a smile.

"How many days are you planning to spend in Anro? Castel is Boulder's back, and I'm Eleanor's husband, and you're naturally my friend. ”

"I have a wine winery in Anro, and in three days there will be a drinking party, when many lords of the kingdom will come, if you are interested, I would like to do my best to invite you to taste the best wines of Anro."

The third prince said enthusiastically.

As he spoke, he dotingly took his wife, Eleanor's hand, and Eleanor looked at Charlotte with a gentle, bright smile.

Even the Duke of Moon Protector smiled and said:

"Miss Countel, it seems that His Royal Highness the Prince is really looking forward to meeting you."

"The wines of our Principality of the Moon Protector are already the best in Siyunate, and the wines produced by the winery of His Royal Highness the Third Prince are famous even in our Principality, and even His Majesty the King is full of praise."

Charlotte naturally heard that this was the third prince trying to win her over.

The Castels are the preeminent nobles of Boulder, and if they can get Castel's support, Eleanor's position as duke will be more secure.

Of course, judging from the situation of the meeting, it is obvious that Philip is in charge between Eleanor and the third prince Philip, and it is really hard to say who will control Boulder at that time.

Either way, though, she wasn't going to wade into the troubled waters of Boulder's next power struggle.

She just wanted to go back to the Territory House.

Thinking of this, Charlotte pinched the corners of her skirt and saluted the third prince, and said slightly apologetically:

"Sorry...... Your Excellency Prince, there are some important matters in the territory, I am in a hurry, I can't stay in Anro for too long, and I will leave early tomorrow morning. ”

Hearing Charlotte's refusal, the third prince was not angry, but said with regret:

"That's a pity, Eleanor and I are also heading south to Boulder, and you don't know when the next time we meet."

Charlotte's heart moved slightly, and she suddenly heard the temptation in the other party's words.

It's a round and round to ask when she'll be back from the territory.

The Castel family's influence in the Duchy of Boulder was very large, and they had money in their hands, such a force that no one could ignore.

Charlotte didn't bother to go around the bush with these nobles, but said openly:

"Your Royal Highness, when I return to the territory this time, I'm afraid I will be stationed in Castel."

"You know, I'm too young, I'm a woman, and I'm not interested in serving in the Duchy, so there's no need to stay in Boulder City."

"However, as a vassal of Boulder, Castel will strictly abide by his contract, and it will not hinder Lord Eleanor's subsequent succession."

Charlotte suddenly broke the words, which made the third prince a little uncomfortable.

I saw him smile slightly and say:

"Miss Charlotte, thank you for your support of Eleanor, since you have a plan for a long time, I will not force you to stay."

After the invitation failed, the third prince stopped continuing the topic and instead chatted with Charlotte about what he had seen on the road.

I have to say that this third prince is really well-informed, and through her Charlotte, she knows a lot about the customs and customs of various places in the Crescent Moon Kingdom.

At the same time, as members of the royal family, there are countless nobles who want to get close to the third prince.

This made Charlotte inadvertently meet a lot of new nobles, and even talked about two businesses by the way, which was a small unexpected gain.

The banquet lasted until the early hours of the morning.

I have to say that this group of nobles who are almost all transcendent are really energetic, and they don't get tired after dancing for so long.

Charlotte was very tired, very tired.

In the first half of the month, she attended the banquet, and rarely met nobles with higher titles than her, and she was the protagonist of all kinds of banquets, and almost everyone revolved around her.

There were six or seven counts present at this banquet, and it was really tiring to chat with these old foxes.

Duke Yuehu took good care of her, leaving her with the best rooms in the Duke's Palace.

Back in the room, Charlotte closed the door and looked at Sebas:

"Sebas, what do you think of the Third Prince and Eleanor?"

Sebas was stunned, and didn't think much about the meaning of Charlotte's question for a while, he thought about it and said:

It seems that as the rumors say, the third prince has not given up on the succession to the throne and has been secretly expanding his power. Great host, you are right not to accept his invitation. ”

"No, I wanted to ask them if there was anything wrong with their mental state."

Charlotte shook her head.

"Mental state?"

Sebas frowned.

Then, his expression was solemn:

"Master, what did you find?"

Charlotte: ......

It seems that Sebas did not perceive that Eleanor was in the wrong state.

No, in fact, apart from the moment when they first met, Charlotte didn't feel that familiar hollowness in the time that followed, as if her initial impression was just an illusion.

Charlotte believes she doesn't have delusions for no reason.

But she didn't want to go into the nitty-gritty of the issue.

On the one hand, she is the heir of the Duchy of Boulder, and on the other hand, she is the pretender to the throne of the kingdom, no matter what is in it, she is too lazy to wade into troubled waters.

However, Sebas's words aroused a trace of Charlotte's curiosity:

"Sebas, you said that the third prince did not give up the inheritance to the throne, but I remember that the Crescent Kingdom implemented the primogeniture system, right? The succession of the kingdom should not be the turn of the third prince in any case, right? ”

Sebas replied respectfully:

"Master, the Crescent Moon Kingdom is indeed primogeniture, but the eldest prince of the Crescent Moon Kingdom has long been killed in the Star Moon War."

"Now, the king of the Crescent Kingdom is old, and the second prince who is the heir to the throne is very close to the church, and it is said that he is not liked by the current king, and the fourth prince is too young, so he ...... You get the idea. ”

Charlotte was stunned.

The aristocracy and the church, though separated by a strip of water, were at the same time inseparable.

Not to mention the prince of the kingdom, her proximity to the church has also caused the dissatisfaction of the lower nobles in the Castel domain, and even the envoys and representatives sent by the coming-of-age ceremony are not a heavyweight, let alone the king who has a disagreement with the church.

In this way, the question of the succession of the Crescent Kingdom may also be surging.

"So, he invited me to the drinking party in three days' time, and the lords of the kingdom at those drinking parties should also be supporters of the third prince?"

Charlotte wondered.

"I'm afraid it should be like this, not only that, but the third prince wants to rely on the Polder family to control the Principality of Polder, and I'm afraid it is also to prepare for the succession to the throne in the future."

Sebas said.

After speaking, his expression was a little hesitant:

"The host...... There's one thing I feel might need to be reminded of. ”

"Say."

"The associated Mithril Mine of the Castel Territory is the largest Mithril Mine in the Crescent Moon Kingdom, and its output also accounts for seventy percent of the Kingdom's Mithril production. Mithril is an important transcendent material, and if a war breaks out in the Crescent Kingdom in the future, I'm afraid we won't be able to stay alone. ”

"But as far as I know, the vast majority of the veins are controlled by the royal family, right?"

"That's true, but the veins are in Castel, and if a war breaks out, whoever controls Castel will control Mithril."

Sebastian tunnels.

Charlotte's heart moved slightly, and she nodded slowly:

"I see."

Sebas continued:

"Of course, I believe that with your might, no mortal can harm you, but if you want to spread the faith while avoiding the eyes and ears of the Holy Court, I think a stable Castel is necessary."

"Castel is the border of the kingdom, a place where the power of the Divine Court is relatively weak, and it is more north of the Great Duchy of the North with chaotic beliefs......"

"At the same time, through the dark forests in the east, you can reach the Eastern Yunette Blacklands, which are full of mercenaries, many tribes, and even more confusing beliefs......"

"Both of these places are perfect for you to spread your faith! And there are a lot of blood clans! ”

"As long as you gain a foothold in Castel, your faith will flow like a river to the north and east!"

Charlotte bowed slightly:

"I know about it."

Although she is still not sure what the use of faith is, whether it is useful or not, she will wait until she returns to the territory.

……

A good night's sleep.

Early the next morning, Charlotte said goodbye to the Duke of the Moon Protector and continued to set off north.

At the same time, the news of the departure of the Castel convoy also reached the winery of the third prince.

"She's already gone?"

Sitting on the silk seat with Erlang's legs crossed, the third prince Philip took a sip of wine and asked lightly.

"Yes, master, they are out of town."

In front of the third prince, the knight of the personal guard knelt on one knee and replied respectfully.

"Have you checked their strength?"

The third prince asked again.

"It's clear, there are more than two hundred and seventy transcendents, of which one hundred and twenty are Castre's armored cavalry, and there are twenty-three advanced ones, including one in the second order of the silver moon."

After saying that, the knight of the guard hesitated for a moment and asked cautiously:

"Master, do you want us to ambush them in advance?"

The third prince shook his head:

"No, if you make a move, anyone can guess that I did it."

As he spoke, he chuckled, took a ring from his bosom and threw it to the knight of the guard:

"Tell our friends in Violet, I don't want to see the little count of Castel return to the realm alive, and the ring is a reward."

"Of course, if they can bring the little count to me personally, the reward can be doubled...... I can even promise them a knighthood in the future and let them walk in the sun. ”

The knight of the guard took the order to retire, and the third prince drank the wine from the crystal cup and sneered:

"Since she is not willing to accept my kindness, then I have to release it in my own way."

After speaking, he pulled the chain in his hand, stepped on Eleanor who was crawling on the ground, and said with a smile:

"Honey, you say...... If Castel's heir is gone, will Castel's inheritance also fall on you?"

"Wow!"

On the ground, Eleanor stuck out her tongue and wagged her fake tail while flatteringly licking the tip of the third prince's shoe.

2-in-1

(End of chapter)