Section 86 Coup d'état

The fact that the queen went out alone and hunted a giant bear was the only bright spot in the short and tedious hunt. The rest of the harvest was lackluster, basically a few rabbits, goats, doe and the like that couldn't be on the table, not even a male deer with beautiful forked horns. Of course, as for the Queen's capture of the bear, in fact, everyone knows that it is not the little girl's fault, at least not all of it. But according to ancient customs, the results of subordinates are equal to those of the monarch.

Several skillful servants peeled the bear offright. The bear was fatal in a single blow, and the bear's skin was barely harmed, making it a very good fur. It can be used as a cushion for the Queen's seat and can also be placed in the trophy exhibition hall of the royal palace for outsiders to see.

And so the hunt ended. Except for the small amount of prey, everything was safe and sound, and no accidents happened. However, the Duke of Byron did not attend, he was supposed to attend the hunt, but before the hunt began, he claimed to be sick and was absent. Of course, this in itself is not an outrageous thing.

By the afternoon of the next day, the whole team was back at Eagle Castle. Ahead was already a side gate of Eagle Falcon City, which was usually not opened, and several Praetorian Guard soldiers in the team had stepped forward to ask the guards to open the door.

Ashrufat, as usual, rode beside the queen's carriage. After all, there is a difference between men and women, although he is a personal bodyguard, but he cannot sit in the same car as the queen.

"Ashrufat!" "Ashrufat!" said the Grand Supervisor Skadera had come to Ashrufat's side. Speaking of which, hunting activities are also in charge of the palace master, so even such a simplified hunt makes him very busy. Ashrufat hadn't even seen him much for the past two days.

"Mr. Skaderra. Ashrufat replied. "What's the matter?"

"You're doing a great job. Skadera said. "I didn't expect to hunt such a prey in the last round...... It is also because of such achievements that this hunt will not look too shabby. He smiled. "If it weren't for that bear, this hunt would have become a laughing stock. ”

"It was just an accident. Ashrufat replied. "Mr. Skadra, why do you hunt only in such a small area......? It can be said that it is entirely because the demarcated hunting range is too small. Expand a little bit and you'll get much better prey. ”

"Maybe it's just that I'm an old man there. Skadera laughed self-deprecatingly. He looked up at the sky. At this time, the sky is clear, and a few white clouds dot the blue sky. "It's so suspicious. ”

"Mr. Skaderra. Ashrufat Zema approached Skadra and asked softly. "What are you worried about?"

"It's not worrying, it's just me...... Gruney seems to be the only one left now. Skadera replied softly. "Ten years ago...... Who would have thought of today?" he shook his head and sighed. "Maybe I'm underestimating the patience of others. In fact, there is really no need for them to be anxious, I am already an old man with few days to come, why don't I wait to let me be buried as soon as possible? Paul, who is the same age as me, is dead, how long can I last?"

"General Paul...... It's not ...... heard," Ashrufat remembered the rumors he had heard.

"No, the people of the church examined the body. The cause of death is unknown, but it is definitely not poisoning. Skadera said. "The church is trustworthy in this regard. Trying to get the church to give a false test...... It's not impossible, but the cost is too big for anyone to afford. In fact, it is normal for an old man in his seventies and eighties to die suddenly. ”

There was an extreme desolation and helplessness in his voice.

"Ashrufat, I vaguely remember...... You seem to be planning to spend a year in this personal bodyguard position, and then return to Brassian after receiving the knighthood. Isn't that right?"

"Ah, this ......" Ashruphat hesitated. Skadera was right, he had come to Eagle Falcon City with such a purpose. But now he has received the knighthood - canonized by the queen herself. Although the whole process was a little child's play, it was indeed the queen's canonization, which was irrefutable. For his original purpose, he was already meritorious and could go home. But I don't know what Lu Dao is for, he doesn't seem to have thought about it all the time.

"Actually, I shouldn't ask too much of you...... You've done a great job of that. Skadera said. "But can you stay a little longer, give me a little time, and find someone to replace you?"

Ashrufat didn't answer, just nodded silently.

"If something happens, can you ......?" Skadera looked speechless. “...... Remember your oath as a knight?"

Truth be told, Ashrufat didn't swear any oaths at all, but he nodded anyway.

"Very good, hopefully...... I don't know if I'm so hopeful...... They had the patience to wait for me to close my eyes on my own. With my own strength, I'm afraid I can't go back to heaven. When a person dies and returns to the temple of the gods, everything is empty, at least he doesn't have to live to see that scene. He sighed softly as he rode away from Ashrufat. "By the way, Ashrufat, Ishurufath, I've been so busy these two days that I forgot to tell you something. ”

"What's the matter?"

"Well, at the request of the Queen, you have been given a place to stay inside the palace. Skadera said. "Not a good place...... It was barely vacated. It's up to you to decide if you can't live it. ”

Aside from Skadra's sentiments, nothing happened next. At dusk, Ashrufat had already arrived at the palace with the little girl, and returned to the queen's bedchamber, which they knew very well. The little girl went back directly, and it took a little time for Ashrufat to change into the full set of equipment of a normal guard before returning to the dormitory. Now Ashrufat is now a "part-time" substitute teacher, so she is able to come and go in and out of her room freely.

"Ashrufat," the little girl asked suddenly when she saw Ashrufat come in. "How's your wound?"

"It's probably okay to deal with it. Naturally, Ashrufat couldn't tell the little girl that his wound had healed, and there wasn't even a scar left.

"Well, Skadera seems to have been nervous lately. The little girl said. "When I asked him to arrange a lodging for you in the palace, he agreed. I thought he would refuse. ”

"And what about Essien and Pharysses?" Ashruphat remembered his two colleagues. To be honest, he doesn't really have much to do with the other two right now. The former hasn't had in-depth contact since that time to drink, and the latter hasn't even drunk once.

"Who cares about them!" replied the little girl dismissively. "It's not interesting to be with them at all. Unlike you, anything will. By the way, teach me how to ride a horse while there's still a little time, I remember you told me last time that true horseback riding skills can't be honed by riding my pony. ”

"That's right. Ashrufat replied. "The horse...... Well, it's about the same as a wooden horse. However, horseback riding is not an easy task, it should be said that for ordinary people, horseback riding is a very tiring, laborious, and uncomfortable sport. As a queen, in fact, you don't need to learn this kind of skill, and there are few aristocratic women who ride horses when they go out, and they basically ride in a car. ”

"Really?" the little girl asked, confused.

"Hehe, I'm the champion of the Bracian horse race. Ashrufat said with a smile. "With me as a champion, you can't question me. ”

"Nonsense, I'm the queen! Champion or something, it's not me who has the final say!" replied the little girl. That being said, but it's all a joke.

"Horse racing doesn't require special adjudication. Just like war, a win is a win, a loss is a loss, a tie is a draw, facts speak louder than words, and no one's verdict is needed. Ashrufat replied.

"Forget it, Ashrufat, can you play the song from last time, the song composed by Garunas?"

The little girl seems to want to make up a dance that fits the song, so she has been asking Ashrufat to play this song for her from time to time. As for the reason, he didn't inquire, and the little girl didn't take the initiative to mention it.

Ashrufat did not refuse. He picked up the "Silver Wings" from the side and began to play. It's a sad parting song that somehow evokes Eshurufat's heart. He has already obtained the knighthood, in other words, he can say goodbye to the little girl at any time and return to his hometown with honor. But...... Every time I think of this incident, I feel a trace of melancholy in my heart, but I can't get rid of it. He vaguely remembered that someone who instructed him on the piano had said that songs must be played with the heart, and this is the real art of music. But he only had a rare impression. He couldn't remember who the person who instructed him was, and what the relationship was with each other.

At the end of the song, Ashruphat lowered his silver wings and found the little girl looking at him with an expression that seemed to be about to cry.

"Are you leaving?" she asked.

"Ah, I'm only going to change shifts tomorrow...... He suddenly remembered Scardera's previous arrangement. It was as if he had given Essien and Phalysis a long vacation? In other words, he was the only one of the Queen's personal bodyguards in the near future. Of course, Skadera also arranged for a small group of Praetorian Guard soldiers to be responsible for the safety of the little girl. This kind of disposition is unusual, and it is believed that the Grand Supervisor Skadera must have heard some rumors. No wonder he arranged a lodging for Ashrufat in the royal palace.

"No, are you going to leave me? ”

Ashrufat was going to say, "Of course not." But I don't know what to say. He could only barely smile a smile. "Why do you think so?" he asked

"That's how you feel in your songs. The little girl asked. "Why do you want to leave, don't you think being a knight is not enough?"

"I ......" Eshurufat could not say that it was because the little girl gave him the knighthood that he was going back to Brasian. So he turned his head to look out the window. "It's getting dark, Your Majesty. He said calmly. The little girl is a queen, no matter what her future holds, she won't have much to do with him.

Outside the window, you can see a firelight illuminating the night sky, and at a glance, you can see that there is a fire. Judging by the distance and direction, the fire occurred in the aristocratic district of Eagle Falcon City.

As they watched the firelight, a clear, chaotic sound could be heard in the distance. Screams, metal crashes, and human screams. This voice is not far away, it should be on the edge of the palace.

Before the two men could come to their senses, Ashruphat saw a figure stumbling in from the outside. It was a uniformed servant, covered in blood. "Your Majesty...... Dangerous...... A rebel army has attacked the palace......" The wounded man fell to the ground, but shouted this sentence in time before losing consciousness.