With the sound of the horn sounding on the top of the mast, after a full ten days of sailing, the battleship flying the one-horned seahorse flag finally greeted the first rays of dawn and slowly sailed into Maple Leaf Harbor.

Completely different from the port of The Hague, as the kingdom of Turin and an important maritime route hub on the west coast of the eastern world, a distribution center for supplies and goods, although the port of Maple Leaf does not have an excellent inlet like the city of Turin, which can accommodate hundreds of sailing ships at the same time, it is also an extremely famous deep-water port.

In fact, most of the small merchant ships of the Kingdom of Turin, such as the Oak Barrel, do business between the port of Maple and the seahorse port of some Mineste families further south, but it is the King's Port of Turin, the largest port of the kingdom, because the route is too far and too expensive, except for the rich or nobles with strong capital and independent fleets, it is only the ocean-going merchants who visit.

Another important reason why it is well known to the people of Turin is that Maple Leaf Port is also an important military port in the Kingdom of Turin, and a considerable number of ships are anchored and maintained in the vicinity of the kingdom's fleet every year, making the nearby shipping routes much safer than others.

As a deep-water seaport in the ocean, Maple Leaf Harbor naturally has its own characteristics, and on the reef island, which is still some voyage away from the port, stands a white fortress shaped like a maple tree - the central tower resembles its trunk, and the surrounding walls and huge torches seem to extend from the branches.

And all the eaves of this fort were dyed red - from the sea level, it looked like a huge red maple tree, standing proudly in the middle of the port of Maple Leaf Harbor.

"That's the Maple Leaf Tower, which is said to be the origin of Maple Leaf Harbor. Standing on the edge of the ship, Alan introduced Edward with great interest: "You must have heard of it, right?"

"I've heard of a little - the captain who lost his way in the sea, ran aground here with a shipload of maples, and then, under the inspiration of the Radiant Cross, built this lighthouse with a thousand boulders and a thousand maples, and then the captain became the first lord of the port. ”

Edward replied to Allen's words with a somewhat emotional expression. Edward had never been to the port at all, and he knew that the story had come from the sailors on the barrel - a little story with a strong religious flavor that sounded not much different from the story of the founding of Rome and Athens in the previous days, and many people believed it to be true.

But Alan was still in high spirits: "Actually, we are not very lucky - if it is foggy, it is said that the torch on the entire lighthouse will be lit, just like the real burning maple leaves!"

"If we really encounter sea fog, I'm afraid we won't be able to get to the shore so smoothly. Edward just nodded, and replied very blandly, as if he had no interest in this very historical thing, and his eyes were a little distracted.

Although he hadn't docked yet, Edward could already faintly see the crowd standing on the dock waiting to greet him—especially the black-bottomed shield gun flag representing the Kwyn family, fluttering above the crowd along with a dozen colorful swallow-tailed flags, large and small.

In other words, Lady Angelica had arrived—although she had made an agreement with the guard Tasso, the fool did not understand why the lady wanted her life so much, and if she took her so-called "promise" seriously, she would be more stupid than him if she believed that Lady Angelica would let her go.

And Allen, who was on the side, obviously misunderstood something after seeing Edward's appearance, the smile on the corner of his mouth became a little pale, and he turned his head to the side in frustration. And Edward, who was in a state of contemplation, didn't notice the change in the girl next to him, and just waited quietly.

Finally, in the midst of the busy sailors on board, the battleship dragging the Oak Barrel finally docked at the edge of the dock in Maple Leaf Harbor, and the guard Tasuo, who had changed into new clothes, strode over with a sword on his shoulder, and the look on his face was always with a sense of pride, until he saw Allen.

"Disembark, Sir Ellen, your mother, Lady Angelica, is waiting ashore. Taso stood in front of the "little master" with a respectful smile, bent down and made a "please" gesture: "We can't let Madame wait, do you say?"

Alan nodded a little apprehensively, she now knew how reckless she had been, and glancing at Edward, who was still dazed, snorted softly and leaned back on his slender neck, and walked towards the wooden ladder without looking back—the girl hadn't forgotten about a damn squire's deal with her own business so quickly.

"Ah...... And you, Edward Witwood, and Lady Angelica have named you along. Seeing Alan walking away, Tasso said to Edward, who was still standing there, as if he had just remembered, deliberately lowered his voice, and looked at him with a bit of warning: "I think a smart person like you should know what he can and can't say. ”

Edward smiled contemptuously in his heart, but his face was still very indifferent: "I only say what I know, as for what I don't know...... I'm sorry Madam, but I'm afraid I can't do anything about it. ”

Tasso nodded in satisfaction, and then stepped out of the boat with Sir Alan Kwyn with Edward, his right hand holding the sword always close to Edward's side, apparently still not trusting him.

Mrs. Angelica, who had been waiting for a long time, stood at the front of the crowd on the dock, and when she saw Alan's slightly thin figure getting off the boat and smiling step by step, the lady's beautiful face showed an extremely excited look, her mouth pursed, and her plump waist trembled uncontrollably.

"My dear little Alan, my child!" pushed away the maid behind her, the graceful lady suddenly forgot all the etiquette and manners, and ran over in surprise and hugged Allen, who was taken aback by her, in her arms, trembling hands gently stroked her shoulders and back, and her originally mellow voice seemed to have become a little hoarse.

"You're not hurt, kid, do you have a cold, are you sick?" Only at this moment, Mrs. Angelica became a mother who was frightened for the sake of the child, and kept asking, her hands went back and forth on Alan's body and face to find the wound that did not exist at all, and even made her a little incoherent: "You met pirates, right? Did those villains give you ......?"

"Mother!" Alan really saw such a panicked mother for the first time, and he wanted to cry but was a little angry and smiled helplessly, his arms gently pressed Mrs. Angelica's shoulders, and the eyes of the mother and daughter looked at each other: "I'm fine, no one hurt me at all...... Speaking of which, I killed a few pirates!"

"What a kid who likes to come to Hulai. The frightened lady couldn't help but scold the girl, but she still held her in her arms again excitedly: "But it's still so brave!"

"Okay, now that it's over, let's go and have a good rest, take a hot shower and change into clean clothes, my child can't be so undignified. Lady Angelica cupped Alan's cheek, and her voice was soft and slow: "I also brought her that little maid of yours, and I think it is best to let her serve you." ”

The noble lady who slowly calmed down her heart finally regained her due grace, waved her hand and beckoned the little maid who had been hiding behind the crowd, and asked her to leave with Alan, but Mrs. Angelica still looked at the back of her daughter gradually leaving with some reluctance.

"Madam, pay attention!" Sir Rollas, who had been standing silently in the back, walked up to the front with some embarrassment and gently touched the lady's shoulder: "There are still people watching you." ”

"Ah......" Lady Angelica was stunned, only then did she notice Edward and the guard surnamed Tasso who was walking behind Alan, and her originally motherly smile became noble.

"You deserve to be rewarded for your protection of Allen, and for your faithful service without any obligation. Lady Angelica sighed with a sigh of relief, both helpless and a little glad, "And I will not be stingy with a reward—a reward worthy of your merits." ”

"For example...... I remember a manor that is still in my name, and still has a knighthood that no one inherits. Lady Angelica smiled quite calmly, but the eyes of the people around her were already straight: "Perhaps I can recommend a good young man to the kingdom and inherit that surname." ”

Hearing Lady Angelica's seductive "hints", Edward's eyelids jumped—wasn't the reason why he had come so far to inherit the title of Knight of Tornier?, and it seemed that this title was far from being as easy as he thought.

And now there is the same knighthood in front of him - obviously it also has something to pay, but it is much easier and more affordable than becoming a so-called Knight of the Sacred Tree.

"You don't want to?" Lady Angelica looked at Edward with some surprise on his expression, who didn't look like a squire dreaming of becoming a knight.

"I just don't think I've done enough to deserve such an honor. Edward smiled, his ceremonial gesture still meticulous: "At least in my opinion, it is an honor for me to protect Sir Alan Kwyn, and there is no need for such a reward. ”

With that, Edward still stood there calmly, smiling at the silent Lady Angelica. He didn't notice that behind the crowd, there was a little maid with a blushing face, hiding there and secretly spying on him.