The hall fell silent again.

Tails closed his eyes, as if tormented by his fate.

But no one knew that at the moment when Count Linna made a cruel suggestion, the second prince of the stars finally figured out something.

Connect.

He said silently in his heart.

The struggle of the Black Sand Lords, the interference of the stars, the rebellion of the Freedom Alliance, the war of Qiyuan City, and the storm of Longxiao City......

Most of the things are connected.

They all point to a key point.

That's ......

Tails clenched his fists.

Is it really as I guessed?

But in this case......

At this moment, a clear female voice sounded in my ears:

"No!"

This made the nervous Tails open his eyes and come back to his senses.

He looked up in amazement and looked at the throne of the Grand Duke at the top, along with many other vassals.

"No ......"

A crisp and decisive voice echoed through the hall.

It's Selma.

I saw that at this moment, she clenched her teeth, her expression was struggling, and her eyes kept wandering among the vassals.

Earl Linna, who threatened to release Tails in installments, was slightly stunned: "Ma'am?"

Thelma looked at Tails with a stunned expression, but after a few breaths, as if she had made up her mind, she turned her head and took a deep breath:

"Ladies and gentlemen, six years ago, in the presence of the king and the four archdukes, I promised in the name of the female archduke. ”

The archduchess seemed to stutter and nervous, as opposed to her previous toughness.

But she still tried to overcome her trembling, and said anxiously: "I promised ......"

"Tails, Tails will be a guest in Longxiao City...... I will be responsible for his safety. ”

"In Longxiao City, in front of my eyes," the girl cried out with a tense face, as if with all her strength:

"He won't, and he shouldn't be hurt!"

As soon as these words came out, the vassals reacted differently, and the expressions of the six counts, in particular, were the most complicated.

Promise?

Archduchess

Tails looked at Selma, who was forced to calm down, and only felt a sense of distress in his heart.

Selma.

You......

"Responsible for his safety?"

Count Linna seemed displeased with this, and his eyebrows almost stood up: "With all due respect, ma'am, but what about our safety?"

"What about the safety of the warriors who have ventured into battle to kill the enemy for your honor?"

The vassals seemed to resonate with Count Linna's words, and responded with low-key nods, hums, and other actions.

The Count of Nazaire looked at the Grand Duchess with a strange expression, as if he was hesitating about something.

Just listen to Count Linna's aggressive words:

"Where do you put these?"

Thelma's face turned pale.

"Don't tell me, in your heart, this prince of the stars is more ......"

Seeing that the opportunity was wrong, Lisban decisively reprimanded: "Linna!"

Lynna snorted angrily, turned his head away, and looked at Tails unkindly.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became awkward, and no one wanted to speak.

Ian, who was beside Tails, looked at the situation in the hall and exhaled heavily.

His Excellency the Viscount knocked his chair in dissatisfaction, venting his dissatisfaction with the unexpected situation: "Damn!"

He was probably the only time he was most like a Northlander.

Tails just lowered his head and listened quietly, ignoring the arguing in the hall.

After a few seconds, the embarrassed archduchess seemed to adjust her emotions.

"I'll talk to the stars. ”

She whispered.

"But until then, my guests will not be harmed in any way," the Grand Duchess raised her head and gritted her teeth, "This is our bottom limit." ”

The ministers frowned.

Tails sighed.

Worst.

Thelma, no.

You insist on such words......

"Negotiation?" This time, the person who spoke was Monty from Qiyuan City.

"From Longxiao City to Yongxing City, it will take a month to come and go, and it will take about a month," Monty stood in the center of the hall with his arms crossed, ignoring the strange expressions of the nobles on both sides, and said coldly:

"And the military situation is urgent—you can wait, but my boys and comrades can't. ”

"Moreover, we cannot turn this victorious war into a permanent burden for the real enemy. ”

He did not specify who the "real enemy" was.

Thelma was speechless.

The ministers began to talk again.

Ian frowned and wanted to say something, but under Monty's fierce eyes, he didn't say anything.

The pressure is back on Tails.

The mean Earl Curtson snorted lightly and sneered, "It makes sense. ”

"So," he shrugged, turning to Rinna, "the easiest way to do this is to send us our attitude with the letter—are you sure it would be useful to chop off one hand?"

Count Linna smiled at him.

Tails sighed: It's back to the topic.

"Someone has to let them know that the Northlanders do what they say they ......"

But they were interrupted again by the Grand Duchess.

"No!"

Selma gritted her teeth, beads of sweat could be seen on her forehead, and she seemed to be experiencing a very fierce struggle: "It's not that simple. ”

The vassals looked puzzled again.

The girl looked at Tails, and the anxiety and nervousness in her eyes did not diminish by half a minute.

"I remember that King Kessel had promised," the Grand Duchess gasped, trying to convince the men in the hall, "that whoever endangers the safety of Prince Tails, anyone, will become the eternal enemy of the Kingdom of the Stars—his head will be the condition for the coronation of the next King of the Stars." ”

"We have to be cautious. ”

This sentence seems to have a lot of effect.

At least, the vassals who had been eyeing Tails before and spoke disrespectfully to Tails took a beat, put away their discussions, and began to think about more questions.

Only Tails, who looked at the female archduke with a complicated expression, was quite unhappy in his heart.

She's protecting me.

Even that would jeopardize the prestige she had built up so hard to build today.

She's protecting me.

But, Thelma......

Finally, the Count of Lisbane broke the embarrassment.

"Madame's consideration is justified. The former prime minister, who has worked hard for decades for Longxiao City, coughed with the current regent.

Risban's eyes lifted and swept over each of his vassals: "If that king is really ruthless, risking the future of the kingdom and the life of his son, then no matter how many installments we 'release' this prince, the result will be the same." ”

"In the end, we can only be cornered: is Long Xiaocheng really ready to take down this prince's head in order to become the target of everyone?"

Silence fell back in the hall.

The Grand Duchess gave Risbane a grateful look: "That's right, Charles, I, that's what I meant." ”

Lisbane just nodded gently.

This caused the rest of the counts to frown and cast disapproving glances at the regent.

But the girl breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately.

Tails doesn't have to ......

But then she was slightly startled: Tails was staring at her from afar.

The Prince of the Stars sighed, hesitated, and shook his head at her gently.

No, Selma.

Other.

Tails thought silently.

Watching the prince's movements, Thelma in the seat was stunned.

She remembered Tails' previous words.

Promise me, Thelma. 】

[On the next political day, no matter what happens, don't do stupid things. 】

She looked at Tails, who shook her head helplessly, and couldn't help but bite her lower lip.

[Don't care about others, don't pay attention to others, don't have the slightest hesitation and hesitation. 】

To put it this way......

You, Tails, are you what you call "someone else"?

The girl thought bitterly.

In the corner of the hall, Tails was still shaking his head slightly.

[Just choose the path that suits you best and is the most suitable for the female archduke, it is enough. 】

I'll take care of the rest. 】

Thelma struggled to look at Tails.

But, but Tails, you ...... now

It's hard to protect itself.

"Oh, ma'am. ”

This time, it was Monty who spoke out.

The precursor of the Qiyuan City Mission deliberately raised his eyebrows: "But isn't it precisely to recreate the glory and courage of your father and ancestor and prove that you are a qualified ruler that you summoned the vassals to Longxiao City?"

"And now, in the face of the threat of the Imperial's empty words, you have flinched and feared?"

"All the previous words about maintaining the honor of the family were all meant to be fun?"

Immediately the hall resounded with discontented discussions, and the expressions of the vassals became much more ugly.

Thelma gritted her teeth again, her face tense.

"Be respectful, Death Raven," reprimanded the Golden-bearded Earl of Hearst unpleasantly, "you have served in the White Guards, and you have been favored by King Nunn, and there is no reason to embarrass his granddaughter." ”

"Speaking of which, you must know that I have left the White Blade Guards and left Longxiao City for more than ten years," Monty shook his head at the female archduke with a sneer, and did not hide his contemptuous tone: "Compared to back then, you are really old, and you are much more mother-in-law, I doubt ......"

Nicolais, who was beside the Grand Duchess, changed his face and said in a low and unquestioning voice, "Shut up, Monty. ”

Hearing the words of the old boss, Monty suddenly froze.

He snorted softly and didn't speak again.

Tails couldn't help but look back at the fierce-eyed Death Crow.

Something is wrong.

From this visitor from Qiyuan City, he once again felt a little inappropriate.

But...... What's wrong?

At this moment, the Count of Kierkegaard, who had not spoken for a long time, suddenly raised his head.

"Then we'll take him with you!"

The one-armed earl said sharply: "Take him and go to the west!"

Including the Grand Duchess, Tails, and Ian, the people in the hall were shocked!

The surprise lasted for a few seconds.

The Count of Lisbane frowned and said, "Bring it......?"

The one-armed earl nodded and said coldly: "We will march with this prince to solve the problem of the Free Alliance!"

"We take him to siege, we take him to battle, we take him to slash the enemy!"

"Leave the problem to the starmen on the other side of Fort Liberty, the stars with the cross-star flag. ”

The archduchess trembled and said, "What?"

The eyes of the vassals turned to Tails.

Tails was startled, and his face changed slightly.

"We will be on the battlefield and let the possible enemy know that their prince is in our hands," Kierkegaard said coldly:

"If they don't want to see tragedies and accidents happen, then it's better to keep to themselves. ”

"Waiting for us to get rid of the bastards of Liberty Fort. ”

His words fell, as if covering the hall with a layer of ice and snow.

"Hah!"

Monti laughed: "I like this idea! What cannot be solved at the negotiating table, of course, must be solved on the battlefield!"

Thelma looked incredulous, unconsciously looking at Tails and then at Kierkegaard.

Lisbane and Nazaire looked at each other, each thoughtful.

"Perhaps this is a good idea," said the aged Earl of Nazaire after a few seconds, "indeed, ma'am, your promise was very important. ”

"Prince Tails' safety is best not ruined in our hands. ”

"It is more effective to take the prince to the front line as a bargaining chip and make the opponent throw a rat on the battlefield than to involve all parties and have an embarrassing negotiation with an unknown outcome. ”

The Earl of Lisbane, who was in attendance, sighed.

"It makes sense: if something happened to Prince Tails because of his war with his own Star People," on the other side, Count Linna still had a flat expression, but his words were sharp, he looked at Thelma's flustered expression, and chuckled:

"The onus is not on our side. ”

Tails closed his eyes again and exhaled.

When the ministers agreed to send troops, there was a moment when he thought they had won.

However, the unexpected always comes suddenly.

I saw that the female archduke's eyes widened, and she subconsciously shook her head: "You, what are you going to do to him?"

Hearing the Grand Duchess's words, several counts frowned.

"If everything is restrained on the other side," Kierkegaard's deep voice seemed to have some kind of power, making people shudder: "Then as it is, the right is to take him for a walk." ”

There was a moment of silence in the hall.

Thelma swallowed her throat, and the archduchess's voice resounded: "If the other side ...... What about refraining?"

Count Linna sneered, and Count Curtson shrugged.

"Then do what we have to do," Kierkegaard said in a cold voice, "as long as you conquer Fort Liberty, it's all over." ”

What to do?

Tails silently lowered his head and did not speak.

What to do?

To solve the current dilemma...... There must be a corresponding price.

The question is......

Do you have to go that way?

That's ......

Earl Hearst looked at the expression of the Grand Duchess, shook his golden beard, and frowned: "I think it is feasible." ”

Thelma gritted her teeth.

"Charles," she said with difficulty to the last count, "do you agree?"

"Ma'am," the Regent of Lisbane looked at the girl, "this is the best thing to do right now. ”

"Countless people will go to war for you, so you must think about the war and their lives. ”

"No problem," Ian popped up at this time, his eyes lit up, he coughed lightly, and smiled again: "Qiyuan City will welcome His Royal Highness the Prince." ”

Tails clenched his fists.

He looked up and looked nervously at Selma, waiting for her response.

Thelma looked back at him hesitantly, and their eyes met in the air.

Tails sighed and shook his head slightly.

No.

Selma.

Don't, don't ...... for this

After a few seconds, the archduchess's expression became firm again.

She shook her head at Tails.

Tails was shocked: he understood the other party's response.

No.

No......

"No!"

The Grand Duchess raised her head sharply!

"Tails, he must stay in Longxiao City!

Thelma's expression was firm, and she said categorically: "And I promise, I promise to write to King Kessel in my own hand, reminding him that his heir is still with us, and to take all means to ensure that the Kingdom of the Stars does not pose a threat to our war." ”

Tails closed his eyes.

The vassal faces changed in unison.

They looked at their female feudal monarch with strange and dissatisfied eyes.

The atmosphere in the hall seemed to go back to before Ian's proposal.

Tails let out a long sigh.

Selma.

How do you ......

This will make our previous efforts ......

Alas.

Tails opened his eyes softly.

He gestured to Rolf behind him.

【Go for it.】 】

The ghost of the wind was slightly stunned, he nervously looked at the various unkind eyes in the hall, but he still bowed slightly, leaned against the wall and left.

Tails exhaled.

Eventually, it's still going to come to this?

His fists were shaking.

"Well, ma'am, your relationship with him, with this prince of stars, is really good," Monty sneered, "As rumored." ”

These words seemed to add fuel to the fire, making the atmosphere in the hall more solemn and serious.

Seeing that the atmosphere on the field was getting more and more wrong, Lisban quickly coughed and interrupted the death crow: "Ma'am, I don't like to say that, but ......"

But someone interrupted Lord Regent faster.

"For the sake of the gods, you have said 'no' a lot on this matter. ”

On the opposite side of Lisbane, Count Nazaire frowned and spoke slowly.

"As a ruler, ma'am, you certainly have the right to say 'no' and force us to do your will. ”

The old earl spoke word by word, as if cherishing every letter of the words.

"But remember, every time you say it, you pay a price. ”

"It's just that some of the costs are visible, and some are invisible," said Count Nazaire lightly, under the stunned eyes of the Grand Duchess, "unless you have the ability to fool your people again and again, these costs will be paid too much, and one day, they will converge into a huge debt that you cannot pay." ”

Thelma rolled up her hand under her sleeve and looked ugly: "Count Nazaire......"

Nazaire did not give the girl a chance to speak, but spoke his words one by one.

Of the six counts, Nazaire's words were not as soothing as Risbane, not as gentle and courteous as Earl Hearst, not as harsh and sharp as Earl Linna, not as harsh as Courtson, and not as powerful as Kierkegaard, but they seemed to contain a special power that could not be refused.

It's moving.

"And we're talking about those, ma'am. ”

"That's the soldiers of Longxiao City," Nazaire said softly, "the decision we made here is about their lives. ”

"Do you really understand the cost of saying 'no' here?"

Thelma was stunned.

"Those are the sons of countless mothers, the husbands of countless wives, the fathers of countless daughters," the old earl's words were slow, but every word made the vassals consciously listen quietly, "they, these northlanders, have left their homeland and gone to a foreign land in response to your call. ”

Thelma's breath was scrambled, and she looked at Nazaire in a daze, only to feel as if a thousand pounds of stone were being weighed down from the air.

Nazaire raised his head slightly, and said slowly, "And for whatever reason, you should not be disrespectful to your people for the sake of an outsider, a hostage of an enemy nation. ”

"And the price of doing so ......"

He looked directly at the Grand Duchess with his eyes: "Perhaps it will chill your people, all those who are willing to fight for you, and thus despise you, their rulers." ”

As soon as these words came out, the eyes of the vassals looking at Selma suddenly changed.

Selma, on the other hand, looked at the count in a daze, drenched in cold sweat and her lips trembling.

I saw the old Count of Nazaire sigh slowly: "Until one day, the debts accumulated by these costs will exceed the favor you and your family have given us, and our loyalty to you and your family. ”

"At that point, no one will be willing to fight for you anymore. ”

"Isn't it?"

The hall fell silent, and no one spoke anymore.

In the corner, Tails closed his eyes expressionlessly and shook his head slowly.

Looks like that's the end of it.

(End of chapter)