That night, under the gaze of Ginny and the merciless scolding, Tails struggled to eat a well-behaved dinner, and a boring lesson in etiquette that could not be avoided—after all, etiquette as a norm of behavior is also one of the criteria for dividing social classes—and he was able to handle the knife and fork with trembling hands and in accordance with the rules. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

But Tails could feel the anger and resentment hidden in Genie's wonderful eyes, and he vaguely knew that it had something to do with Gilbert's story of the history of the stars in the afternoon.

If the stars are there, the empire lives forever.

This is a heavy oath, even to someone like Tails, who is not familiar with the founding legend of Tormond I, his heart can't help but beat faster and his blood boils.

Gilbert and the guards in the hall, who later became known to Tails as the descendants of the remnants of the eventual empire, were such representatives.

Tails, however, was keenly aware of Ginny's disgust at this phrase, and even the meaning behind it.

But he didn't dare ask.

He didn't know what the attitude of this female official, who claimed to be his father's lover, was towards him.

In the way Ginny looked at him, Tails had seen the fleeting disgust in the other party's eyes, and had seen the reluctance she had endured and the hesitation when approaching him, but there was no sincere smile.

So, the whole etiquette class was extremely dull.

Until the scorching eyes of Genie, unexpectedly Tails, took the lead in breaking the silence:

"You don't like these rules and etiquette, do you?" Watching Tails bend his wrist to avoid exceeding the standard line of arm swings during the meal, Ginny suddenly said coldly, "Your expression is simply uglier than that of a horse that has just finished putting on its brands." ”

Tails was taken aback by the sudden question, and in a hurry he replied as decently as he could, "Well, Ms. Ginny, I know it's necessary, and I'm trying my best to get used to it......"

But his words were interrupted by another Ginny.

"Of course you have to learn these manners. She said coldly, but with mocking disdain.

"But it's better not to be their captive...... Walking, sitting and lying in a so-called noble posture does not mean that you are really noble. ”

"In the same way, just because you have a glorious and proud history doesn't mean you really ......"

Ji Ni didn't say any more, she subconsciously bit the second half of the sentence.

Tails' heart sank.

It seems that this lady has a different opinion about Gilbert's teachings?

"Ms. Ginny," he cautiously probed, "Gilbert's afternoon history lesson...... You...... You don't seem to ...... It's not ......."

"Hmph, what are you kidding, that's their great and long kingdom...... How dare I have any opinion. Ginny snorted, denying Tails' words, but the latter clearly read the mockery and sarcasm in the female officer's eyes.

Tails looked fixedly at Genie, at his father's lover.

"Lady Gini," Tails said cautiously, softly, "you weren't your father's, the court lady, from the beginning, were you?"

Ji Ni raised her eyebrows, and the beauty mole on her mouth trembled slightly.

"And you—don't like the etiquette, the rules, not even the rules," Tails hesitated, but looked at the knife and fork in his hand, and asked, "Don't like this country?"

The voice fell.

Genie looked at Tails in a daze.

This kid.

It's really sensitive.

Ji Ni turned her head to look at the gold and silver nine-pointed star symbol above the fireplace in the study, and did not say a word for a long time.

Just as Tails stuck out his tongue, thinking that he had asked the wrong thing, and was about to bow his head as if nothing had happened, and continue to fight with his knife and fork, Ginny sighed, looked at the knife and fork in Tails' hand attentively, and said softly:

"I was born in Buckvey City, in the county of Shud, a small city by the sea in the eastern part of the kingdom, not a prosperous trading port, but a good place in the stars to feed myself from fish. ”

"The lord of the city is my father, and he is well-known in the eastern counties. All along, he has strictly trained us to abide by the rules, conform to etiquette, and become ladies, hoping that one day our family can also become a famous family with a long heritage. ”

Tails' eyes were clear, and he hurriedly took advantage of Jini's inattention to secretly move his already stiff wrist.

"But I was a disobedient and rebellious daughter, and I hated these rules and manners from an early age. ”

"So much so that at the age of sixteen, and on the verge of adulthood, I am a wild girl who does not even know how to dance the ballroom dances of the court, and who eats rudely and talks presumptuously. Ji Ni under the lamp smiled bitterly and looked at the moon outside the window, but her tone was full of nostalgia:

"Of course, my father wouldn't let me go about it—anyway, the memories weren't very pleasant, things got a little stiff, and the family wanted to take away my identity and inheritance, and send me to the temple for sacrifice. ”

Tails stuck out his tongue out of sight, he knew that the sacrifices in the temple in ordinary temples vowed not to marry and to serve the gods for life.

At this point, it's probably not as simple as "a little stiff".

Ji Ni lowered her head slightly, her eyes darkened, but then she raised it and smiled happily.

"But at this moment, a prince, His Royal Highness, came to our castle as a guest. ”

What the?

Hearing this, Tails, who was moving his wrist, stopped.

Prince?

It can't be the bloody plot I thought, right?

Jenny continued:

"When he heard my story, he just laughed. ”

"His Royal Highness has forgiven me in public for my sins and promised me that I would not have to follow the rules and etiquette that ordinary noble maidens must follow. But the premise is that when I become an adult, I must find the means to make a living on my own in addition to being a noble daughter. ”

Is this really bloody?

But Tails also had some doubts in his heart - didn't that prince think of such practices and concepts, how to say, well, too advanced?

But Genie seemed to be talking to herself, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curled slightly, and she didn't pay any attention to Tails' reaction.

So I walked out of the family castle and followed the prince to the capital. ”

"From reading the court newspaper for His Highness every day, to the arduous clerk and storekeeper, to the scribe of a page and a copper coin, to the secretary of the Alert Department, to the fifth-level vigilant officer...... My life changed forever because of him. ”

Tails was stunned for a moment, he had the impression that Genie was a standard court nobleman, but he never thought that she actually had such a colorful past.

"However, after many years, I eventually became a court lady. Ginny shook her head self-deprecatingly.

"Look at me, a noble disgrace who hated manners and rules, and here I am, teaching the heir of the kingdom, the manners which I hated most. ”

With that said, Ginny's eyes returned to the table, staring at Tails—his knife had fallen again.

Tails chuckled awkwardly.

Ask a question that even feels a little bloody to yourself:

"That kind prince, is Kai - my father?"

Your father?

Jenny's eyes were a little blurred for a moment.

But Tails didn't get the answer he expected.

I saw the court lady turn her head slightly, and her face was complex and indistinguishable profound.

"No, it's not him. Ji Ni said softly:

"I still remember the smile on His Highness's face when he pardoned me, a shackled, dirty, crying girl. ”

"That warm, accommodating, sunny smile. It seems that he is feeling all the beauty of this world all the time, no matter how ugly and dirty it is, it will not move him. ”

"Your father, Kessel, was a gentleman who was known for his arrogance in the royal capital, and his face was full of smirks that made the ladies panic—but there was no such reassuring smile. ”

Tails looked at Genie in surprise.

King Kessel - Insolent, presumptuous, unscrupulous prince?

He saw Ji Ni's eyes flickering, as if containing infinite feelings and sighs, and then slowly spit out every word:

"On that day, it was the eldest son of the former king who came to our castle. ”

"His Majesty Kessel's eldest brother, Midil Bright Star, was once His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. ”

――――――――――――――――

"So, we thought it was the Corleone family who came to help, the so-called three masters," Duke Jenn frowned, put down a letter painted with black fangs insignia, and crossed his hands under the tricolor irises:

"It's just a loser in the clan infighting. ”

"In the name of the Corleone family, they used our invitations, our ships, and our clearance permits, and used our Cavendier family as fools, sailed across the Sea of Ends, escaped from the Hill of Pain, hid in Eternal Star City, lived in our manor for so long, and took a lot of blood. ”

"Is that so?"

In front of his desk, the Extreme Knights, Lord Cassien and Lord Seychelles who were standing, did not speak, but looked at the middle-aged bald man who was sweating profusely and kneeling on the ground between them.

Cassien remembered that the balding middle-aged man had come with him to the Old Duke's command to play for Cavendil's Tricolor Irises at the same time as the Tower of End.

Unfortunately, the middle-aged man lacked skill and was seriously wounded in a battle, so he could only handle clerical affairs, but even so, the old duke took pity on his situation and trustfully entrusted him with the affairs of the voyage.

What's his name?, Cassion searched for his memory, but couldn't remember.

"Yes...... Yes...... They showed the emblem of the Holy Blood, which was only available in Corleone's bloodline, and the blonde one threatened us with a foul attitude......" The kneeling middle-aged man, his head almost touching the ground, stammered and explained.

"They still have that ...... for you Your handwritten letter ......"

"Alright," Duke Jenn sighed and rubbed his brow, and Ashford, the butler next to him, immediately poured a glass of craft wine native to the Duchy of Thirla.

Jenn reluctantly showed a helpless smile: "It's not your fault in this matter, go down, remember to be cautious next time." ”

The middle-aged bald man kept nodding his head and confessing his sins as if he had been pardoned, and only then did he withdraw from the study tremblingly at the urging of Seychelles.

"He used to be a talent, but now he's useless. Jenn said with a look of regret and raised his glass: "Send him to the Eastern Continent again immediately." Dispose of him on the high seas. ”

"Don't do it inside borders or territorial waters, I don't want to commit murder. ”

When Cassian heard this, his heart moved.

"Lord Duke," he said reluctantly, "if you keep him, he will surely only be more dedicated ...... future."

Cassian didn't notice the code Seychelles was calling him.

"Forget about ordinary affairs, but I don't want to make mistakes in such key secret matters. "He has made a mistake once, and he already has a shadow in his heart, especially because his doubts about the future will only deepen with time." ”

"And he knew about our contact with Corleone, which involved that plan. ”

"You all know how important that plan is. ”

Cassion finally noticed the Seychelles code, and lowered his head and said no more.

"Next time we sail, let's get a new one," Duke Jenn took a disappointed sip of wine, "and they were far less lax when my father was still around. ”

Ashford replied calmly: "Loyalty and prudence take time. ”

Jenn shook his head and sighed, "It's a pity that what we lack most is time - that event is only in a month, and our manpower can't be involved, so it's best not to have any accidents." ”

Seychelles nodded slightly: "My lord, please rest assured, those mercenaries invited at such a great price, even if they assassinate Your Majesty, have enough chances." ”

Lord Cassien shuddered slightly, wondering why his colleague was so bold and arrogant.

Jenn paused for a moment before turning his gaze to Seychelles.

"Don't talk nonsense. The little duke said coldly.

Seychelles bowed his head and confessed, but secretly sneered:

It seems that the duke has no dissatisfaction.

"It's time for you to go, the Cullen family and the Nan Topian family will send people there, don't conflict with them at this point. ”

Jenn's eyes were cold, and he cautiously said to Cassian and Seychelles: "When those mercenaries succeed, you will dispose of the people who did it." ”

Cassion jerked, and he looked up in disbelief: "My lord, get rid of those people? Didn't we hire them under some other name? they, some of them were from me in the Tower of the End—"

Jenn suddenly looked at him!

The gaze is like a sword.

Cassion's throat shuddered, and the knight of the Extreme Realm couldn't say anything else.

"Then persuade your friend to go back," Jenn said calmly, but Ashford knew that this was a sign of his displeasure: "Go to someone who is not your friend." ”

Seychelles jerked at the back of Cassian's garment, snapping the latter's words back into his throat.

"As you wish, my lord. The shrewd Seychelles nodded, pulled the iron-faced Cassien, and led the way.

Jenn exhaled slowly, calmed down, and looked into the distance, the portrait of the old duke.

"Cassian is old. ”

He said lightly.

"After this incident, send him back to the Emerald City, or his own territory. ”

Ashford looked calm and nodded slightly

"As for the Corleone refugees, Ashford, you do it yourself, starting with the cavalry who suddenly broke into the vineyard that night," Jenn spilled the red wine at the bottom of his glass, his eyes cold, "Contact the Corleone family - write directly to the Queen of the Night herself - tell Cordelina what is going on here, and see the opportunity to raise our chips." ”

Ashford nodded: "As you wish." ”

"The temptation of the Mindis Hall, I remember was handed over to the Blood Vial Gang. Still haven't found Nekla?" Jenn narrowed his eyes and looked at Ashford.

"No, my lord," Ashford bowed slightly, "the Blood Vials are now leaderless and in chaos, and there are rumors that he has gone abroad to find the Blood Magician. ”

Blood Magician?

Jenn closed his eyes tightly and let out a breath from his nose.

His upbringing forced him to do his best to swallow the words that he wanted to say without grace but so much.

"There's no way, then just send our men to master the Blood Vial Gang. Duke Jenn opened his eyes, and there was no emotion in his pupils, and he put down his glass and said:

"In these two months, I will take control of all the rumors and news on the territory of the Blood Vials, from civilians to soldiers, nobles to merchants. ”

Ashford nodded slightly.

"It's time for the messenger sent to Exeter to return to see if the Grand Duke of Black Sand is willing to seize this opportunity. Jenn leaned back into the comfortable recliner, eyes narrowed.

Wait, Father.

Tricolor irises, which will soon go further.

If it goes well.

――――――――――――

Tell me something.

Wujian has a bad habit of uploading chapters first, and then browsing them over and over again in the reader's interface (which is more efficient, I can't see a ball on the codeword page at all), reviewing and modifying, and sometimes even overhauling.

So I see the book friends who have an update, first look at the time, if it is an update within 20 minutes, then Wujian is very likely to be still in the process of revising it with a notebook, and it will be revised in the background as a whole after a while, don't worry, wait a minute, after half an hour, and then look at it, then it will be the final version.

So at this time, just smile.

But don't be anxious, in case you read a draft of a chapter and are poisoned by typos and bad logic plots, isn't it the fault of no sword??

Promote another wave of book friend groups: 397147168, there are only four people at present, and it feels so desolate.

ps: Recently, I have been hesitant about several major plot points, and I especially need feedback from book friends.