The candles flickered softly, the dim light flickered slightly in the living room, and the black figures kept walking back and forth, knocking on the subtle sound of footsteps.

Helena sat in a chair, smiling at the not burly back, tilting her head, picking up the corners of her pink mouth, a pair of beautiful contacts under her long eyelashes bent into a crescent shape, and the blue depth carried a serene serenity.

Mesimus, who had been silent, was standing behind Theodore, and the knights were circling the city, with a rather large map in the center, and a round table in the middle.

The map, which Theodore had obtained with great difficulty, from a reseller in Salion, was not only obscured in many places, but also inaccurate in some towns, and there were many traces of alterations on the map, which were made by Caesarea geographers on the basis of the information at hand.

But such a map of the north and part of the south, which is not clear, is still worth a fortune, and there is nowhere to buy it if you want to buy it - this is not much more modern than the modern one, any city map is sold everywhere, fifty dollars a dozen. That's why this kind of work as a guide was so popular in ancient times, and it was not surprising that a good guide was even a guest of honor, and it was not unusual for a precious map to be exchanged for a small town from the monarch.

"As I said, we can't immediately announce Helena's true identity!" Diodore said to Terenus with a serious expression, "For now, we should even hide her!"

"That's true. Terenus, who was a little thoughtful, nodded in agreement with Theodore's statement, but still said with some stubbornness: "However, we should still strengthen the protection of Her Royal Highness! ”

"Of course, I don't have an opinion on this. Theodore smiled and said, "I will give you the small building on the west side of the castle as your temporary residence, and you can also assist my imperial guard in the defense of the castle." ”

"Weishenme wants to hide the identity of His Highness?" A knight couldn't help but stand up and said loudly: "I don't see any need for this, shouldn't we hurry up and unite all the lords?!"

"I think so too. Will said with some embarrassment: "Now that we have reached this point, we don't seem to have any reason to hide it anymore." ”

"Because we only have one chance. Theodore whispered, "There is only one chance." ”

"For the current lords of the North, it would be too abrupt to announce to them Helena, the heir to the Pendragon family! Theodore said in a deep voice: "They will feel that they don't know what to do, and that is very bad for us!"

"Perhaps most of the loyal lords will come at once and swear allegiance to Helena, but there will also be those who doubt the veracity of her identity and hesitate, or even reject it outright! ”

After saying that, Theodore also raised his head and looked at Will with a smile: "If that's the case, what should you do?"

"If this happens, it is tantamount to damaging Helena's reputation, and the lords who join us will also be suspicious, and if they send troops to quell the rebellion, it will consume the overall strength of the human race, and it will be greatly consumed! This is what the orcs want to see the most. ”

"Then what do you say you should do?!" Will asked, a little angry, "Do you just sit and wait for the orcs to come to the door?!"

"War. Terenus glanced at him: "A war, or rather, a war of absolute victory!"

"An absolutely victorious war?"

"What Her Highness lacks is prestige, unparalleled prestige. There's nothing like a big win that will make a person famous in a short period of time. Terenus continued with Theodore's words, "And a just, preferably war with the orcs, would spread the prestige of Her Highness throughout the North!"

"Where is there such a war?" Will asked again, "Do you want to take the initiative to attack the orcs?!"

"It doesn't take long, or it won't be long, someone will come to the door and ask us to send troops. Theodore said, pointing a short stick at the approximate location of Tulgar on the map, and then gently swiped towards Singal: "According to your information, the target of the orcs is Singal. They have 20,000 warriors, and the new gar has two legions of about 10,000 men, which are slightly inferior to the orcs, and after getting your news, they will at least transfer one of the legions back to the city to organize defense, and it will be difficult for the orcs to defeat it in a short time!"

"As far as I know, Grandduke of Urtok of Singar and Salion, as well as Brenus of Mistermai, are friends, and it is highly likely that they have sent messengers for help. Theodore raised his head slightly, and said, "And Rome and both of them have a covenant, and either of them, after receiving the news, will ask us to join us, so that we can have an excuse." ”

"Helena can be the supreme commander of this army and participate in the battle! Of course, we don't need her to actually go to the front. Theodore stood up and rubbed his shoulders with a slight relaxation: "When the time comes, we will be nearly twice as strong against the orcs, and we will also be a group of orcs who have been fighting under the fortified city for a month, exhausted and lacking food and drink, victory is almost certain!"

"As soon as the war is over, we will immediately announce the true identity of Her Royal Highness the Princess, and at least the two influential Grand Dukes will be recognized. Terenus also breathed a sigh of relief: "And when the princess's huge reputation can make the people of the north recognize her, even if it is only in name, all the lords will recognize the identity of the princess and her due rights at the first time!"

"Of course, all this is just speculation, and more verification and preparation are needed, there is nothing satisfactory in this world!" said Theodore, "and all we can do is be fully prepared for all eventualities!"

"As for the rest, it's time to pray to the gods. ”

"But wouldn't it be too risky?" Will looked at Theodore and lowered his tone: "Is there no more safe way?"

"If you go to war, you will be at risk. But if you don't do it, victory won't come to you on its own!" Theodore raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "Mehemus—!"

"Listen to orders at any time—Caesar. The calm middle-aged general, with a steady and deep tone, stood on Theodore's side like a mountain and a river.

"Go and get the First Legion ready, put the barracks on alert!Make sure you can assemble all of them at the first time!" Theodore calmly ordered, "But don't tell them why, just send them a notice in my own name." ”

"Let the messenger summon all the vassal lords of Rome and inform them that at least a third of the knights must be ready for battle! Theodore muttered, "We may not be able to wait until the war is at the door to gather an army!"

"Don't you inform the Council?" said Mehemus seemed to feel something unpleasant.

"No, no, no, this is just preparation, it is still within the scope of Caesar's authority, I didn't say that there will be a war!" Theodore smiled slyly: "Gather the knights, the army is under martial law, this is Caesar's authority." Since there is no war, there is no need to inform them!"

"After all......" Theodore smiled bitterly, "it is not easy to convince them!"

"Then, your order will be carried out. Mesimus's face returned to his composure, and after saluting Theodore, he strode out of the drawing-room, his red cloak dancing in the wind.

"It sounds like you don't have absolute authority in your realm?" Tyrenus asked with some curiosity, "What is that council?"

"Uh...... A bunch of nagging annoying old men, always arguing over this and that, they spend eighty percent of their day arguing meaninglessly, and then spend the second half of their lives in quarrels!" Theodore shrugged his shoulders as if he were whining, and said: "But it is undeniable that without these quarrels, then Rome would cease to exist!"

"Extinct to exist?"

"Because that's how Rome was born, we firmly believe that collective efforts are better than one person's arbitrariness. Theodore laughed and said, "Argument shows truth!"

"Okay, let's talk about something more interesting, like...... What do you think is lacking in our esteemed Highness Helena?" Theodore tried to pull the conversation back, turning his gaze to Helena behind him. The delicate girl was a little stunned, as if to say, "What happened?"

"There's nothing missing!" Tyrenus shook his head, "Isn't the status of the heir of the Pendragon family enough to show the prominence of His Highness?"

"Uh......" Theodore's gaze looked up and down the girl, like a master tailoring clothes for guests, and some too direct gaze made the girl's face reddened slightly, and she lowered her head slightly.

"An armor!" Theodore suddenly snapped his fingers and shouted loudly, looking at the old knight with a smile: "Our princess also needs to have a bright armor and a helmet so that all the soldiers' eyes can spot her immediately!

"I'll ask my best cobblers and tailors to make a lightweight fit for Helena. Theodore said, "Please also find someone from among your subordinates who is more experienced in this area, after all, style is also a problem." ”

"If you insist on that, then I have nothing to object to. Terenus frowned and replied in a muffled voice. He really didn't think it mattered.

"Caesar!"

Virgil's ever-hurried footsteps came from outside the door, strode into the drawing-room, and after a little salute he stood up, and whispered in Theodore's ear: "A group of Noldor elves have visited, and I have arranged for them to stay in the common room of the Government Council. ”

"They claim to be messengers sent by Van La of the Forest of Silence!"

(Sanjiang preliminary examination has passed!The good news was announced as soon as possible, thank you for your continued support, although this time it ............ It may be a potential push for Sanjiang...... Legend has it that this is the first recommendation of the pit father, but it is also a strong proof!

Let's do it together!)