Thelma looked thoughtful.

The old earl leaned back slightly, and subconsciously looked at the dragon spear stone carving in the cloud above his head.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" said Nazel, drawing the attention of the vassals in the hall, not at all like an old man:

"It's been six years, when the power of the Heavenly King is no longer there, because of all kinds of broken reasons, the so-called balance, balance of power, peace, and tacit understanding in Longxiao City," Nazaire's face was tired, as if he was talking to himself: "It has long been broken." ”

There was silence in the hall, and many people were lost in thought at these words.

"The six most powerful vassals have broken one after another around the power vacancy left by His Majesty Nunn. ”

The other four counts moved in unison, except for the Earl of Kierkegaard, the other three all subconsciously avoided the gaze swept by Lisban.

"On the one hand, we, the Counts, suspect that the powerful Lisbane has monopolized the political situation, isolating the Grand Duchess, and trying to set aside the great legacy left by His Majesty Nunn. ”

"On the other hand, Lisbane sat in the seat of regent, and hated us for not obeying the orders of the previous king after his death, and for being selfish and wise. ”

Thelma froze.

Nazaire looked coldly at the ice-faced Lisbane, his eyes revealing disappointment and hatred.

"Slightly smaller families, on the other hand, are conservative in their own territory, trembling in this confrontation, left and right, lest they take a wrong step. ”

The hum of the vassals was quiet.

"And the calamity and the arrival of the Queen of the Sky, the sudden death of the Heavenly King, including the strange coronation of King Chaman here, how many storms have stirred up among the people, and caused panic among the people?"

Thelma bit her lower lip and subconsciously looked at Tails.

Nazaire turned to the Grand Duchess and said in an embarrassed tone: "You are single and unmarried, and the sensitive Prince of the Stars often accompanies the court, I don't know how many gossips have been aroused, and people are dirty. ”

Thelma stared at Tails motionlessly—but Tails just looked down at the tiles, though Ian winked at him a few times.

Nazaire's eyes flashed with pain and anger, making it difficult to distinguish between the true and the fake: "What is even more distressing is that in the past six years, what people outside Longxiao City have seen is the fact that the direct bloodline of the Walton family, which was once powerful and incomparable, has no one to inherit except for an orphan daughter. ”

"So, after the joint throne left Longxiao City, the greed of ambitious people like Chaman Rumba gradually rose, and the 'long-haired' Kurikun Ronnie of Qiyuan City became more and more rebellious, and the Fengzhao City, which has always been good friends, ignored the attitude of Fengzhao City, guarded the city and other places were vague about us, and the local nobles under the rule of other Grand Dukes only had more and more frequent conflicts with our vassals. ”

The Count of Nazaire raised his head in dismay, and straightened up from the back of his chair.

He said coldly, "Not to mention the Imperial neighbors in the south, I don't know how many times they have celebrated the fall of this city behind their backs. ”

Tails scratched his head, still pretending not to know.

Nazaire's tone became more and more stern: "Madam, it's been six years, and without His Majesty Nunn, Longxiao City can no longer be united. The embarrassment and resentment, the loss and pain of us falling from the clouds to the bottom, as the Archduke, really can't you see it at all?"

"Our so-called balance of power and balance was completely shattered long ago in the earth-shattering upheaval six years ago, with His Majesty the First King!"

The atmosphere in the hall changed from eerie to heavy.

Lisbane's face darkened.

Tails exhaled deeply: this Count of Nazaire......

He is worthy of being under King Nunn and serving him for many years.

If he weren't on their opposite.

In front of the pale face of the Grand Duchess, and the pensive eyes of the princes, Nazaire shook his head with a sad face:

"Now, ma'am, do you understand what your marriage represents, what it means that you have a strong husband, and what it means that you and your family have a healthy and reliable heir?"

Nazaire's face was stern and furious, and his words made the Grand Duchess pause on her last expression, speechless.

"Is this a sacrifice or a price to your detriment?" maybe," Nazaire glanced at the vassals in the audience, "but is this a must-do?"

Thelma looked at Nazaire in disbelief, as if she didn't know how to react.

"We respect you, ma'am," said the old Count of Nazaire, whose expression returned to his respectfulness, and he bowed to the Grand Duchess, "but I believe that the best way to show this respect is to truly regard you as the ruler of Longxiao City, and to show you the facts that the Grand Duke of the City should face, the price and sacrifice that should be paid, no matter how unpleasant and uncomfortable it may be, whether it is a predicament or an obstacle—marriage is only one of them." ”

Thelma looked at Count Nazaire, who seemed to mean the truth, with some confusion.

"Instead of treating you like a string-ripped puppet, locked in the deep palace after being fully decorated. ”

"Instead of claiming to be a shelter tree in the name of 'for your own good', rightly cutting off all ties to the cruel side of the world," Nazaire glanced contemptuously at the blue-faced Regent of Lisbane, "What we need is a Grand Duke who can protect and control Longxiao City, Madam." ”

"And not a vase called the Grand Duke, which is used to decorate Longxiao City. ”

"Nazaire!" Lisban's eyes sharpened: "What did you say?"

"He's just speaking our minds, 'Prime Minister,'" Count Lynna replied coldly, "I really can't imagine any kind of regent who would raise our lord and feudal lord as a princess of a country for six years, even if she is a girl, she is the last direct bloodline of the Dragonlance family." ”

Risban clenched his fists, and behind him, the Starfall, who was guarding the Grand Duke, blushed.

Tails slammed his shoulder: Ian leaned in.

"I can see the relationship between these six vassals," Ian whispered in Tails' ear, "But, this Lord Regent of Lisbane, in the past six years, he has been in Valhalla, is he blocking the sword for your little girl, or is he drawing arrows?"

You've asked where it's most important, Lord Viscount.

Tails took a deep breath and forced the conjecture in his mind down.

"Now, it's time to break that vase, ma'am," said Count Nazaire, ignoring Risbane, bowing to the Grand Duchess again, his eyes blazing, "The shattered tiles may sting your skin, but only blood can cleanse the hearts of the Northlanders—even if you are only a girl." ”

Tails listened to Nazaire's words, and a sudden sense of familiarity swelled up.

At this moment, it dawned on him that perhaps the Earl of Nazaire, or the other four vassals, were not selfish vassals, as Putile had suggested, nor were they all princes who were ready to move after Nunn's death, as Prisbane had been wary of.

Tails' gaze swept over the scheming Lysbane, the calm Nazaire, the friendly Hearst, the silent Kierkegaard, the cold Linna, and the unabashed Curtson.

On the contrary, King Nunn may have left behind for his successor a team that would be strong enough to renew the glory of Dragon Sky City.

It's just that this team has experienced the biggest accident left by King Nunn's untimely death......

A female archduchess.

Tails looked at Selma worriedly.

The Grand Duchess just looked at the Count in a daze.

It doesn't seem to react.

There also seems to be nothing to say.

"The Nazaire family has a saying: the noble are responsible, and the ruler must be sacrificed," Nazaire said coldly, "Do you want to maintain the honor of the family and keep the prestige of Longxiao City?" ”

"Ms. Selma. ”

No one knew that at that moment, Prince Tails, who was preoccupied, gently closed his eyes.

He remembered in a trance, that day many years ago.

Remembering the deep and majestic voice in that dimly lit burial chamber:

[Are you ready?]

[Started in the name of the Bright Star......"

"Fight for the stars, die for the stars, and ......]

Tails snapped open his eyes!

Just as the audience fell silent at the words of Count Nazaire, the silence was broken again by a familiar cry of pain.

"Eh, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, ......it hurts,

The eyes in the hall were once again looking in the same direction tangled and dissatisfied: the heir of Qiyuan City, His Excellency Viscount Ian Ronnie, was screaming exaggeratedly, rubbing his calves while looking at Tails beside him with disgruntle.

Still, Tails silently withdrew his foot, as if he hadn't kicked Ian's leg at all.

"What's the matter?" Earl Curtson's anger almost overflowed: "Your Excellency the Joker?"

The female archduke and the vassals also looked at it.

Ian sighed, ignoring the desperate call from the Qiyuan City Mission, shrugged his shoulders helplessly, and replaced it with a leisurely smile.

"Sorry to interrupt," Ronnie Jr. stood up, made a stop gesture, and smiled apologetically, as if he was really embarrassed, "You guys are talking hotly, but who remembers the original topic, remembers the Freedom League, remembers the ...... Are we the ones who matter?"

The six counts were slightly stunned.

"That's right," Ian frowned, looking at everyone in the hall, as if teaching children words, dancing and gesturing at the same time: "Pray-far-city......"

On the other side, the members of the mission in Qiyuan City sighed and lowered their heads, no longer holding out any hope.

Tails shook his head.

Here it comes.

He looked up, glanced at Thelma on the steps, and smiled reassuringly.

It's okay.

Just like many years ago.

"No," Count Curtson didn't take Ian's self-righteous humor at all, "I just know that a self-righteous clown insulted the whole of Dragon City yesterday, and today he came to us with a smile on his face, asking us to send troops to save them. ”

Looking at Ian in a straight position, the vassals looked at him coldly.

"Asking for help?"

"Save?"

Ian raised a brow, seeming a little surprised.

But in the next second, he showed a "I see" abrupt expression, and then grinned.

"Hahaha," laughing Ian shook his head and waved his hand, as if he had heard the most untrustworthy rumor, "No, no, no, I think you, including the Grand Duchess, may have misunderstood me." ”

Below the Grand Duchess, the six counts all showed strange expressions, and the remaining dozen or so vassals also frowned in unison.

"Actually, I didn't say anything about 'sending troops' from beginning to end," Ian shrugged innocently and winked imperceptibly at Tails beside him, "And I'm representing Qiyuan City, and I'm not here to ask for help from Longxiao City." ”

The voice fell.

Tails saw clearly: in the hall, almost all the nobles were slightly stunned.

Even the envoys of Qiyuan City were no exception, and the Death Crow even showed an exaggerated "what" mouth shape to Old Boni beside him.

This was also the reaction of the Grand Duke.

"What?" said Thelma, surprised.

"We can solve the war by ourselves," Ian shook his hand indifferently, "You are right: if you can't even solve the bunch of garbage from the Freedom Alliance, wouldn't it be too embarrassing for the Northlanders?"

Everyone was stunned.

The nobles in the hall looked at each other, as if they could not understand the meaning of this sentence.

The six most important counts fell into deep thought.

"But you are courting allies and isolating the king throughout the realm," said the Count of Nazaire, thoughtfully, "and once you get into a war that cannot be resolved quickly, the appeals of the Grand Duke of Qiyuan City to defend against the king will be all empty talk." ”

"Oh, I'm really just here to ask the Grand Duchess to sign the letter of condemnation to the King," Ian smiled, holding up a finger and waving it in the air, "but trust me, we don't need your troops." ”

Nazaire subconsciously looked towards Risbane, only to find that his old friend and old rival had just kept silent.

Something isn't right.

"Then the ...... of Qiyuan City" The female grand duke on the seat frowned slightly: "What are you here for?"

Ian took a deep breath, the smile on his face slowly disappeared, and the whole person became serious.

He turned his head and glanced around at the bewildered vassals.

"Twenty years ago, when my grandfather was seriously ill, the princes were suspicious, the fief was unstable, and my father was anxious......"

Ian, who sighed slowly, immediately spoke in a sonorous and powerful tone: "In the face of the rebellion of the Freedom Alliance, under the heavy pressure of the White Mountain and even the Kangmas people's brazen intervention, His Majesty Nunn made a wise decision and did not hesitate to send Prince Suril to lead the army to the west to help the battle of Qiyuan City. ”

Ian's expression was sad, and he bowed deeply to Thelma on the seat: "This grace and righteousness, the Ronnie family will always remember in their hearts." ”

The vassals looked at His Excellency the Viscount's unusual performance, and endless puzzlement filled their hearts.

Thelma glanced at Tails.

Ian straightened up, his eyes showing reverence and excitement: "And that war forged the glory of the Walton family: whether it was the army of the Freedom Alliance, or the mercenaries secretly sent by Commas, or the elite troops of the White Elves, they were all about to collapse at the touch of a button when facing Longxiao City and Exeter's world-strong army, and they were far from being able to do it. ”

Tails was secretly amused: "It's as if you had witnessed what happened twenty years ago, Lord Nineteen.

"Ma'am, your father and grandfather, oh, and your families who have joined us on the expedition," Ian smiled at the vassals, "You have spread the prestige of Longxiao City and the Dragonlance Family in the Golden Corridor, shocked the Commas, and forced the White Elves to retreat, which has an impact to this day." ”

"That is your grandfather's historical achievements, your father's military exploits, and your family's glory and honor. ”

Nicolas the Starfall grinned slightly, and Monty, the Death Raven in the audience, shrugged his shoulders in tacit.

Count Nazaire frowned: why did he say this......

Don't......

"But I can also see that the great Longxiao City is in trouble," his expression was the same as that of the Earl of Nazaire, who had just been distressed: "The scene of Fang Cai made me worried: you want to follow in the footsteps of your father and ancestors and protect the glory of your family, but you are forced by the situation in Longxiao City, and you can't move an inch. ”

The Waltons were helpless. ”

The expressions of the five counts, except for Lisbane, became more and more ugly, and their eyes became more and more suspicious.

"But it doesn't matter!"

Ian clenched his fists and swung them hard.

His Excellency the Viscount of Qiyuan City took a step forward without hesitation: "This regret of yours will be made up by me, the heir of the Ronnie family, Ian Ronnie of Qiyuan City." ”

The Grand Duchess looked at him inexplicably and blinked: "Huh?"

Tails lowered his head: Good, everything went according to plan.

Hopefully, nothing will come unexpected.

However, it was clearly a planned step......

But this slight unhappiness in my heart, what is going on?

Tails unconsciously tightened his fists.

I saw Ian's eyes resolute and his words sonorous: "Selma, please be relieved: on behalf of Qiyuan City, I will lead the army on the path of your father's expedition, carrying the banner of the Dragon Lance family, carrying the honor of your family, and fighting in the Freedom Alliance!"

His sudden change of address to the Grand Duchess surprised many people.

"In the name of the Walton family and the Ronnie family, I will teach the waste of the alliance a lesson, renew our history, and once again plant the dragon spear banner in the clouds and the knightly law banner on the head of Fort Liberty, so that all the bards who can find it can chant the great victory that belongs to us and belongs to Exeter!"

"I'm going to tell our enemies, Thelma Walton, the granddaughter of King Nunn and the daughter of Prince Suril," Ian behaved like a fanatical recruit: "The debt that belongs to the Dragonlance family has been recovered!"

Faced with his aggressive eyes, the female archduke was slightly panicked.

Earl Nazaire, who realized something, gritted his teeth and said, "Enough, Ian Pavilion......"

But the Count couldn't interrupt Ian.

"Please rest assured, the glory of the Walton family will not be degraded by the fact that Longxiao City did not send troops," Ian took a deep breath, his eyes full of pride and excitement, "because it won't be long before everyone knows that this war is not just Exeter's war against the Freedom Alliance." ”

"It's me, Ian Ronnie of Prayer City, fighting for Thelma Walton of Dragonsky City!"

The whole hall was boiling!

Nicolas had to take order again, suppressing the clamor of discontent and confusion among his vassals, even though his face was terrible.

"Wait a minute," the Grand Duchess seemed to finally sense that something was wrong, and she stammered, "Lord Ian, you are ......"

"And after the glorious victory, I will return with the glory of reproducing the exploits of your fathers and ancestors," Ian said, ignoring the stunned Selma, who was just blindly immersed in his own world, exhaled, and instantly changed from a "fanatical fighter" to a "tender poet":

"Of course, at that time, please grant me a request that I would be kind enough to grant, a request that I feel humbled and unbearable. ”

"Please, please?" Thelma turned pale.

For the first time, she glanced at the six equally ugly counts in the seat.

It was as if only at this moment were they the ones standing together.

Ian stretched out his hands and gently greeted the female in the seat: "This is the reward of Qiyuan City, and it is my sincerity, Selma." ”

"I will use this great war to win the right to get close to you—at this moment, in the moment of vassalage and territorial infighting, I am the only one who can preserve the glory of your family and the only one who can protect your prestige as a Grand Duke. ”

Thelma exchanged countless glances with the Counts, who were also caught off guard, and looked up with difficulty and embarrassment, "You mean ......"

Beside Ian, Prince Tails' face stiffened.

His fists tightened and tightened.

It's just the plan.

It's nothing.

It's just the plan.

Calm down, calm down, Tails.

He said to himself.

Ian took another step forward and looked at Selma from afar, a dream-like longing on his face.

As if that was his only pursuit.

"Let me continue to protect you with glory, good girl," His Excellency Little Ronnie said softly and tactfully, "Let Qiyuan City become your strongest backing and hole card." ”

At this moment, the hall really fell into a deathly silence.

The counts' faces were as pale as earth.

"Please let the Ronnies and the Waltons truly stand together and regain their glory. ”

With the most longing and tenderest eyes, Ian's words trembled with excitement:

"From now on, the honor of you and your family will be guarded by us. ”

"Beautiful and noble Lady Thelma Walton," said young Ian, who tried to suppress his passion, caressed his heart, and whispered:

"Marry me. ”

At this moment, in the Hall of Great Heroes, from the Grand Duchess and the six counts, to the rest of the vassals and even the guards, they were all stunned and inexplicable, as if they had seen the most incredible scene in the world.

Except for Tails.

The Prince of Stars, with a cold expression, was staring at Ian's legs, clenching his fists.

I almost scratched my palms.

Forget it, I'll just send it out.

From today onwards, I want to be a diligent codeword!

(End of chapter)