Although he didn't want to, Edward still smiled humbly when he saw the graceful and cold expression of Lady Angelica, no different from a standard "son-in-law": "I hope my arrival didn't surprise you too much, Lady Angelica." ”

"Do you still like to pretend to be so hypocritical, Viscount Edward Witwood, and de jure you should call me 'Mother'. Lady Angelica smiled coldly: "But that will make me sick, so forget it." ”

"For Alan's sake, I won't pursue your faux pas. Graceful eyes looked into the distance, and the hunting Blood Cross Battle Banner waved in the wind: "After all, you are now a nobleman with status, and you are still a nobleman with your own legion, and you are no longer the little squire who can be humiliated at the beginning." ”

"Then I thank you for your leniency. Edward smiled slightly, and looked indifferent to his wife's cold words: "When are we going to Seahorse Harbor?"

"In such a hurry?" said Mrs. Angelica, with disdainful curling of the corners of her mouth, and gracefully turned towards the grove beside the road, and said in an undeniable tone, "accompany me around the neighborhood, and hope to deign to you, the chief flag bearer." ”

"Of course, as you wish. Edward smiled and nodded, waving his hand at both Ludwig and Little Goodwin, who were trying to follow, to let them stay where they were.

There is no doubt that Lusen Minest is already the next lord of Seahorse Harbor appointed by the Marquis of Hollard. But Mrs. Angelica's influence within the Minest family remained undiminished. At least until Lusne inherited the title, he was the true Lord of Seahorse Harbor.

That's why Edward doesn't want to see her - Lady Angelica is too strong compared to Ruthen, and her status as Ellen's mother can hold her head down.

The only thing that worried him was that Holard's agreement with His Highness Anson was still only lip service. As for the entry of the Minest family into the war, he only told himself - if the lady Angelica did not agree, Edward would not be surprised at all.

Marco Tasker is right, this war is definitely not a "battle of life and death" for the Mineste family, they will not get more if they win, and they may be ruined if they lose, so Berion has plenty of reasons to rectify them.

Marquis Holard Minest is the leader of the Minest family, rightly so. But this does not mean that everyone will approve of his idea - and this lady Angelica has the second most voice in the whole family after the marquis, and if she stands up, I am afraid that this time the action will not be as easy as expected.

The quiet grove and the chaotic sound of birds constantly disturb people's thoughts, and they can't completely calm down. Edward, who was also walking behind Lady Angelica, could even hear the footsteps clearly.

From the very beginning, the two-front approach was risk-taking, gambling - because the outcome was so tempting that one had to make such an assumption. It is impossible to control the impulse, the urge to win.

"You're not the same as you used to be, Edward Witwood. Mrs. Angelica, who was walking in front, suddenly spoke, and there seemed to be a slight smile in her voice: "If it were a few years ago, you wouldn't have thought so much. ”

"People always change—time, circumstances, status...... Etcetera. Edward calmly responded, "Of course, there are some that will not change—determinations, dreams, goals...... And the promises. ”

"But if you change the same Edward Witwood. In order to get me to agree, he will do whatever it takes. Mrs. Angelica stopped suddenly. Turning around, there was a playful smile on his cheeks: "This one doesn't seem to be any different now, just slightly...... Gentleman some. ”

"I don't understand what you mean. ”

"You couldn't get the better of it. Lady Angelica said with some sarcasm: "Aren't you just worried that I will refuse and let Lusen hand over the royal fleet to you?"

"Now that we've come to this point, I can tell you very clearly that I won't agree, not for any other reason, but simply because I don't trust you. If it was Glynn Turn, I might have agreed, but you...... I'm guessing you're making this suggestion more than just to help His Highness Anson claim that position, right?"

"What else could I do otherwise?"

"You know best - yes, Alan likes you. I can't stop that. And I can't kill you, but at least I can give you no chance to succeed easily, no matter what you want to do!" Lady Angelica spoke, "Last time I was soft-hearted and let you take away the grain trade of the South - I won't be fooled again this time, Edward Witwood!"

"I can guarantee with my life and honor, this time it is all for His Highness Anson, if the royal fleet can launch a surprise attack from King's Port, it will definitely catch them off guard, and even take Turin City in one fell swoop!" Edward said unhurriedly: "I believe that His Highness Anson will never forget how important the Minest family helped him at that time!"

"Yes, but only if he can succeed - what if Berrion wins in the end?" Lady Angelica asked rhetorically, "It's not just that the royal fleet will be reclaimed by him!"

"So I only have one question. As her gaze grew cold, Mrs. Angelica looked at him: "Are you sure of absolute success?"

Edward's expression was still extremely calm, and he didn't look angry at all: "No-even the most perfect plan must have loopholes, not to mention that this plan is definitely not perfect, and it is a gamble." ”

"Then you should understand why I won't agree - you may be able to convince Luthen, but you will never be able to convince me. Lady Angelica raised her head haughtily, her gaze swept directly over Edward's head, "Go back, I think your soldiers should start worrying about their commander." ”

"As long as I give the order, they will stand there for a day and a night. Edward slowly put his hands behind his back: "And you just guessed one thing wrong. ”

"What?"

"The person I persuaded was not Lusen. Edward shook his head slowly, but his gaze never took off Lady Angelica's eyes: "The person I persuaded is the Marquis of Holard Minest, your father. ”

"Do you think you'll be able to convince me by moving him out?" Lady Angelica snorted, still full of disdain, "I thought you weren't so naïve anymore." ”

"I tell you this to let you know that your father knows this better than you do, for he knows what kind of fellow Berion is. Edward replied, "If he were to become king of the kingdom of Turin, the first thing he would do would be to exterminate the Mineste family once and for all - believe me, he would not skimp on a war for this purpose!"

"Many kings have thought so, but none of them have succeeded - they all need the Minestrians to keep the blood flowing in this fragile kingdom, or they will all perish!"

"Yes, but the problem is that no king could go to great lengths to achieve his ambition like Berrion Marcherus - if it had been Berrion and not Horace who had been crowned in the first place, he might have given up on this terrible ambition, but this is no longer the case. Edward's expression became more and more serious: "The Marcherus family has never been known for their longevity, His Majesty Horace is approaching, how many years do you think Berion can live?"

"A monster who only has a few years left to live, but who holds the supreme power of the entire kingdom, and even has an invincible army, is the only thing he wants to do is to survive the last few years in peace? No, he will definitely make a name for himself while he is still alive!"

"Tell me, therefore, Madame Angelica, what better way for future generations to remember themselves in today's kingdom of Turin, than to conquer the great wars of the Bloody Cliff and conquer all of Dominica, which will take generations or even dozens of generations, than to eradicate all the lords and nobles and unify the royal power once and for all?" )