PS: It's the first time it's on the shelves, I'm really excited!

"What a touching act, my lord. It's so scary for you to go to such great lengths to do this, and allow me to offer my sincerest apologies. ”

The candlesticks lit in the small bedroom, the charcoal fire burning in the fireplace, the dim light of the fire illuminated the room, and there was not a sound in the corridor outside the door, only the crackling and burning sound could be heard.

"You've been talking more and more nonsense lately, it's annoying. Bran didn't even glance at the chief of the guard kneeling in front of him, he threw the big coat on the hanger, tore off the quilt and sat on the bed, took a glass from the bedside table, and took a sip.

"Get up, I hate to see people kneeling, especially those who are obviously insincere, and they have to look like they are genuinely afraid!" Bran glanced at the chief of the guard who was still kneeling there in disgust, "You can only serve your lord when you stand, don't you?

"Thank you for your kindness. The head guard raised the corners of his mouth slightly, walked to the front of the hanger and sorted out the dusty black coat for Bran: "In this way, because of the reasons below, the hostility of His Royal Highness Helena towards you has been resolved, and it is very smooth, isn't it?"

"I don't want her to hate me if she could. Bran gently lowered his glass: "In that case, even if you really become the emperor of the empire, it will make people feel boring." ”

In other words, it wasn't a show of affection out of necessity. The captain of the guard smiled even more, and walked slowly to Bran's bed, "You love her, that's why you were so ...... before."

"That's the end of it. Bran coughed twice. glared at him fiercely, and his face flushed: "I'll let you check." How's that about Theodore Julian?"

"Although the eyes and ears of the generals are all over the north, they are not omniscient. The chief guard shook his head, "Everything you know." I've already told you. ”

"Arrived in the north nearly four years ago, occupied Adolphin, now called Caesarea, with a population of nearly half a million, three northern towns, an army of no less than 20,000, the ruling family is Julian, the banner is a golden laurel with a red background, the leader is Theodore Julian, and the other members of the family are still unknown. Bran read it out as if he were endorsing: "It should be the regime-in-exile of some country overseas." Or a rebellious royal family on the run. ”

"Although the exploration of the Shijie Sea has so far been limited to the orc island in the south, it cannot be said that there is only one continent on this Shijie, my lord. The chief guard took the flask full of wine from the bedside and smiled at Bran's disgruntled gaze: "You are still underage, and drinking too much alcohol is not good for your health. ”

"That guy named Theodore, maybe it's because of his looks. Bran retracted his gaze slightly: "His influence on Helena is too great, the Romans are a serious threat, we must find a way to restrain them!"

"Are you afraid?" the Chief of the Guard smiled, "Are you not confident about tomorrow?" or do you doubt that your blood is really pure?"

"Of course not!" Bran retorted, "only the descendants of House Pendragon can draw Excalibur, there's no doubt about that. Only the descendants of the Human Emperor Aragorn are qualified to hold the Radiant Cross!"

"I don't know what the Roman wants. Maybe he's playing Helena's idea, the offspring of foreign royalty are indeed mysterious enough to be quite attractive to those cranky girls. Bran pouted, "But Helena is different! If he thinks he can get Helena by virtue of his looks, then he is very wrong." Helena is pure and kind. But he's also good at discerning people's hearts!"

"Then, presumably your affection has been felt by Her Royal Highness the Princess. The chief of the guard bowed his head: "I believe that Your Highness will be sincerely pleased with you." ”

"If that's the case. She's not Helena. Bran drank the wine from his glass and pinched the bottom of it. Put it in front of her eyes and carefully look at the carved pattern on it: "She is different." ”

Gently lowering the cup, Bran looked at the bedroom casually. The overly monotonous furnishings made the little duke show a trace of dissatisfaction: "It seems that Lord Julian is quite cold to the Elfwan family, and he doesn't even have a decent decoration." ”

"Because the person who originally lived here was only a chief of guard, and it was not enough for the Lord to arrange a more Haode room for me. After all, this castle was originally just Count Malbert's castle, and it was inferior to Larria in terms of size and facilities. The chief guard bowed his head and replied, "If you need it, I will go and ask him at once for another bedroom." ”

"Forget it, I've lived in worse than this anyway, at least with a feather bed. Bran yawned and waved his hand to His Excellency the Chief of Guard with sleepy eyes: "I'm going to rest, you can step down." ”

"Do as you wish, my lord. The chief of the guard gracefully bowed, and gently left the bedside with the candlestick, the candle flame reflecting Bran's peaceful sleeping posture, gradually seeping into the darkness.

"Well, then, I wish you a sweet dream, my Lord Duke. ”

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Gently closing the door, the head guard carefully blew out the candlestick in his hand, and with a gentle smile on his face, he stopped in place for a long time, not moving.

The cold touch coming from the neck is the edge of the sword. The finest forged steel can even be seen as bright as a mirror, so haode weapons require the foundry to spend half a year, or even a year or two of hard work to finely hammer out, but as long as it is completed, it can become a family heirloom.

"Can I see such a move as hostility to the Elfwan family?" The chief of the guard did not look back, and the smile on his face did not diminish: "Standing at the door of the Duke's bedroom with a long sword in hand, especially when the Duke has already fallen asleep, such a move can't be called a knight's behavior, right?"

"I'm not here to talk nonsense with you. Terenus, who was standing behind, looked at his back coldly, and the strength in his hand did not relax for a moment: "Your Excellency the Chief of Guard." ”

"No, maybe I should call you that. The flag bearer of the Knights of the Dawn said: "First Knight of the Knights of the Knights of the Dawn, Sir Ludwig Achart!"

"You may be able to deceive others, but you can't hide my eyes! What a wonderful performance, your self-proclaimed 'below' fault is your biggest flaw!"

"That's not a scarf, my dear old friend. Completely ignoring the sharp blade on his neck, Ludwig turned slightly, and the "face" of the original chief of the guard changed to a different appearance: "I never wanted to deceive you, because it is meaningless, and I have always been polite to old friends." ”

"You don't even bother to deny it. The strength in Terenus's hand deepened a little, and anger could almost burst out of his eyes: "You arranged the assassins who assassinated Her Highness Helena and Lord Julian, right?!"

"To be correct, I didn't mean to assassinate the two of them, I was just stirring up a relationship, and it looks like the person who executed it still needs to be practiced - it's really not professional at all. Shrugging his shoulders helplessly, Ludwig stretched out his right index finger and shook it gently: "If I really want their lives, do you think they can survive until now?"

"I can kill you right now!" Terenus glared at him, "Your head will hit the ground before you pull out the dagger in your right wrist!"

"I have no doubt about that!" Ludwig smiled, "Your swordsmanship is superior to that of any knight I know." The people who can win you, even in the era of empire prosperity, will not exceed the number of a hand. ”

"Ludwig, Ludwig. weishenme, are you going to die for Duke Elfwan?Did Bixia ever hurt you?!" Terenus looked at his "former" friend in grief: "What the hell happened, and how did you end up in the north?!"

"This is a very important mission, the Emperor has discovered a wandering Noldor Elf, and decided that he is likely to be the real culprit behind the Scarlet Scourge, and ordered me to hunt down this guy. Ludwig replied casually: "It's a pity that I failed, lost the trace of this guy near the Emerald Meadows, and fell outside the city of Marions." If it weren't for Duke Bran, I'm afraid the me you see now would be a ghost. ”

"So, you're here to repay the favor of saving your life?" Terenus sneered, "Am I supposed to be moved by your loyalty?, how did you forget the kindness of the Pendragon family to you?!"

"That's why I chose the Duke of Bran, because he also has the blood of Pendragon in his body. Ludwig smiled: "Actually, we are very similar, aren't we? Helena and Bran are the only meaning and value of our existence, but we choose different ways." ”

"I'm not like you, Terenus. You are too upright and loyal, it's hard to imagine how you from a ruined family can be so enthusiastic about an empire that has already perished?" Ludwig smiled: "Even if you let Her Highness Helena be a puppet, let the empire be revived!"

"But for me, the empire lost its meaning the moment Issos fell, and it didn't matter whether she revived or perished. Duke Bran is the meaning of my future life, I lost a life for the will of Bixia, Duke Bran gave me a new life, he is the only value of my existence, as long as it is what he wants, I will do my best to complete it. ”

"Even to destroy humanity for this?" Tyrenus couldn't help but ask.

"This question has no value in thinking, the human race is destroyed, won't the duke get nothing?" Ludwig frowned: "But since you asked, then I'll tell you." ”

"I will grant all the Duke's wishes. Ludwig smiled and said, "Even if it is the destruction of Shijie!" (to be continued......