An hour later, the Prince of Stars, who had just finished dressing up from the Courtyard of Blood, was walking down the hallway to the Hall of Heroes, accompanied by Rolf and Wya.

Tails took a deep breath and passed by a group of guards staring at him with a vicious expression, looking at the incomparably familiar layouts and furnishings in Valhalla, and his heart was heavy.

"Are you alright, Your Highness?" it was Waiya, who was slightly worried.

"It couldn't have been better," Tails replied with a straight face, "why do you ask?"

"Because when I was outside, Lord Putirai said that little Ronnie had come to propose...... If that bothers you......" Wya's mouth stopped abruptly, and he turned his head to see Rolf clasping his hands tightly on his shoulders, his eyes stern and shaking his head vigorously.

"Look, that's the problem," Tails let out a breath, "Everybody's thinking in the same direction, even you. ”

Wyaa and Rolf looked at each other.

"But the real problem is," Tails frantically turned his mind and unconsciously clenched his fists, "it's simply impossible. ”

Oh, yes.

Propose.

Are you kidding?

Just as Wyay and Rolf were becoming more and more puzzled, there was a dense sound of footsteps and conversation behind the corner ahead.

"Oh, the five-headed flail engraved on the skull, I know, it's a personal insignia that passed from Nunn the Smiling to Solon Walton the Great Six Hundred Years ago, when Walton's emblem wasn't a dragon lance in the clouds......"

It was a slightly flirtatious young male voice that seemed to be looking left and right on the way:

"Ah, this weapon must be the black-striped greatsword of the 'Army Crusher' Mostt Nagil more than three hundred years ago?"

The Prince of the Stars stopped.

"That's ......," Wyay wondered.

They soon had no need to wonder.

"It's just an imitation," it was Nicolai's voice, but it didn't sound very comfortable, "the real thing is buried with Moster—in the graveyard of the White-Bladed Guards." ”

The flirtatious male voice sighed: "Yes, I have to say, I am a little disappointed...... But it doesn't matter, anyway, you will soon be able to see the long-awaited and famous Soul Killing Gun......"

Tails' eyes narrowed: Nicollet and a group of Grand Duke's guards accompanied another group of strangers and stepped out of the corner.

The moment he saw Tails, the Meteorite frowned slightly.

"This is ......," Nicolas coughed.

Tails focused his eyes on the conspicuous and special young nobleman among the strangers, with a knightly code insignia embroidered on his shoulder.

"Thank you, Your Excellency, but I know very well who I am dealing with. In the mission of Qiyuan City, the neatly dressed and plain young man also turned his head and looked at Tails with his eyes intently.

He was very young, in his early twenties at most, with curly hair that had gone past his ears, and his face was much softer than that of the long-haired Grand Duke Tails had ever seen, with a peculiar smile in his eyes.

So, it's him.

The one who claims to be proposing to Thelma?

The young man turned the hidden smile into a distinct smile, and he took a decisive step forward and stretched out his palm under his robe: "First meeting, Prince Tails, I have long admired your fame. ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the mission of Qiyuan City turned their eyes to the prince in front of them, and their eyes contained all kinds of emotions.

Tails chuckled inwardly.

It turns out that I also have a reputation to speak of.

"Thank you," Tails pressed his heart and smiled and shook his palm, "Then you must be the son of Grand Duke Ronnie......"

The other man's palm was powerful, and there was a thin callus on the tiger's mouth and four fingers that Tails was all too familiar with.

A well-trained aristocratic warrior - perhaps just like his father.

But......

"Ian Ronnie, the Viscount of Windy City, a subordinate of Qiyuan City, has come to envoy Longxiao City," the young man named Ian interrupted him with a smile and reported to himself: "Father once said that there were many things that impressed him during his trip to Longxiao City six years ago. ”

"None other than the young and witty prince. ”

Tails' heart moved.

Outside of politeness, he grasped the key point - Viscount of Windy City.

Ian Ronnie, who has his own titles and fiefs.

Even so young.

Even if he is already the heir of the Grand Duke of Qiyuan City.

This more or less says something.

Tails let go of the other's hand.

"Please thank your father for me," Tails said quietly, suppressing the sense of disobedience in his heart, "I am also impressed by Archduke Ronnie - especially his fearlessness. ”

After hearing this, Ian's expression suddenly became very strange.

He took a breath and squinted at Tails, smiling rather than smiling.

Tails narrowed his eyes.

"Hey, hey, hey......" Finally, Little Ronnie laughed.

He shook his head, his expression was amused, and he opened his mouth to say a word.

The words were spoken extremely quickly, and the words were sharp and piercing, and Tails couldn't understand them at all.

But.

"Please forgive me?" Tails wondered, "I didn't hear what you were saying. ”

"Oh, I'm sorry," Ian spread his hands apologetically as if he had just reacted, "No, please forgive me. ”

"My accent follows my mother's, so sometimes I'm not used to speaking in a Northland accent. ”

Tails' heart sank.

Not used to the Northland accent......

But......

Ian laughed: "And what I just said is: thank you for your generosity, so that my father's stubbornness and stupidity can be described as fearless and resolute." ”

Tails was slightly stunned.

Stubborn? stupid?

The person who reacted like this was not only the Prince of the Stars, but also many nobles in the Qiyuan City Mission behind them had ugly faces, and there was also an older nobleman who coughed vigorously, reminding their Viscount His Excellency.

"Ah, we all know you have a cough, old Bernie," Ian said loudly and unceremoniously without looking back, "It's just that since you're in Longxiao City, let's be more restrained, okay?"

"That's exactly what I'm trying to say, little Ian," the old nobleman replied unceremoniously, "especially in the presence of the Prince of the Stars." ”

Little Ronnie snorted nonchalantly.

Nicolai frowned and looked at the interaction inside Qiyuan City, not saying a word.

"That's really ...... Novelty evaluation," the Star Prince smiled slightly awkwardly, pretending not to see the infighting of the Mission, "And from his son." ”

"It's not surprising, thanks to your wit and righteousness six years ago, so that his stubborn head remained on his neck, instead of following His Majesty the Former King to the Prison River to fulfill his loyalty, and by the way, leaving Qiyuan City in a mess," Ian smiled and shook his hand, showing a thoughtful expression:

"Of course, if it really happens, maybe I can inherit Qiyuan City earlier. ”

This sentence once again left Tails speechless.

There was another undisguised cough from the Mission, this time very loud and seemingly very dissatisfied.

"But that's my father, a typical Northlander," Ian sighed as if sorry, and immediately changed his smile to a smile, "And my mother used to say that the Northlanders have a fist-sized pit on the door of their heads, facing the sky—snow in spring and winter, and empty time and space in summer and autumn, hahahaha!"

As soon as these words came out, both the people of Longxiao City on both sides and the people of the Qiyuan City Mission became ugly.

Only Ian himself was smiling happily.

Wya's eyes widened and she made eye contact with Rolf, who made an "agree" gesture.

Tails twitched his face and laughed dryly.

He had a feeling: this Ian Ronnie is really something, how to say it......

Pit daddy?

Tails thought of the heroic and resolute Grand Duke Ronnie, and looked at the frivolous and impetuous boy in front of him, and sighed in his heart.

"Hahahaha," the prince smiled hesitantly, "I have to say, you still ...... It's not like your father's son. ”

"Ahh

"Am I really my father's son?" little Ronnie laughed heartily and said again, "Well, this is also the suspicion that has plagued my father for many years - I say, no wonder my mother died so early, is it to cover up ......"

Tails' smile froze on his face.

An unceremonious murmur came from the mission: "Ian!"

Ian lowered his head slightly, the light pulling a shadow across his face.

Immediately, he smiled again.

"Hahaha!" Little Ronnie laughed and waved his hand behind him: "Just kidding, look at your expressions!"

At that moment, Tails knew what that sense of disobedience was.

Ian Ronnie, this guy, he speaks and does things in a way that is ......

None of them look like a ......

Northlanders.

"Gentlemen," said Nicolais, who was the receptionist, looked warily at the two men who were talking, at least on the surface, "perhaps we should not have kept the Archduchess waiting?"

Ian looked at Nicola's appearance and shrugged.

"Come, Prince," said Lord Ronnie, ignoring the prince's embarrassed look, and put his hand on the latter's shoulder, "we will talk as we walk, and I believe we will become good friends." ”

Tails subconsciously tried to break free of his hand, but Ian just smiled.

"Trust me, Prince Tails," he said with elation on his face, but with deep meaning, "there are many things we can talk about. ”

"For example, the marriage of the Grand Duchess. ”

Tails froze.

Nicolas frowned, his face unswerving, but he didn't say anything after all.

"And," Ian said, pushing Tails and walking forward with him, smiling happily:

"Facing the Northlanders...... I think we'll be able to talk. ”

No.

Tails gave up on the self-cooking move of getting rid of Ronnie's hook and sighed.

For now.

Someone you can talk to......

Probably only Ada.

Tails gave a melancholy look at Waiya and Rolf and stepped forward.

"According to what you just said, your mother is a foreigner?" the prince asked keenly, recalling the scene, "from Commas?"

"Oh no, of course she's from Exeter," Little Ronnie replied in a brisk tone, "and from the city of Qiyuan." ”

"Pray for a local in Yuancheng?"

Tails frowned slightly: "But you just said that her accent is not ...... Northland"

The young Viscount of Windy City raised his eyebrows lightly, revealing an expression of "sure enough".

They followed Nicolais and slowly approached the Hall of Heroes.

"You haven't been to Qiyuan City, have you, Your Highness?"

"I haven't had that privilege yet. ”

"No wonder. Ian shook his head slightly meaningfully, and sighed.

He sighed: "When everyone talks about the kingdom of Exeter, they always say: It is the Northlands, the kingdom of the Northlanders—as if the Exeters were the Northlanders. ”

Tails was intrigued by the preset follow-up question of this sentence: "But?"

"But they've all forgotten," Ian said, turning his head and smiling, "there is at least one territory in the western part of the kingdom of Exeter that doesn't belong to the old Northlands, and its people aren't just rough Northlanders. ”

Tails moved slightly: "Pray for Yuan City?"

Ian nodded, his voice frustrating and powerful: "Pray for Yuancheng." ”

I don't know whether it was intentional or unintentional, but their footsteps slowly lagged behind Nicolas by a considerable distance: "Long before the ancient empire, there was such a barren and barren land, from the Xitao Cliff in the west to the barren rocky land in the east, and the people who lived on it struggled to survive, and were called 'bitter people'. ”

"That land was designated by the Ancient Empire as their province of Xitao, and it was very different from the province of Northland to the east and the province of Toto to the west. ”

Little Ronnie looked up and gently wiped the knightly insignia on his shoulder.

"After the end of the battle, the hero Nekajou's right-hand man, one of the Nine Knights, the 'Seeker of Truth' Kurikun Ronnie, came to the land called Xitao with his sword and axe, conquered up and down, expanded the territory, built a castle, and finally announced to the bitter people in the conquered land: From this moment on, they are all Exeters. ”

"He's the first Grand Duke of Qiyuan City," Ian chuckled, "Unlike the other Grand Dukes, the Truth Seeker is Lord Exeter who is a native of the Northlands, and with the way of the Northlands, he rules over countless bitter people in the West. ”

"I see," Tails mused, "I don't often hear about the 'Northland Unity' classes." ”

Ian shook his head and scoffed, "Of course, outsiders rarely care about such a distinction, even the Exeters in other places. ”

He raised his head with interest and looked at the decorations around him in the style of the Northlands: "It's no wonder that among the ten major territories of Exter, the Sentry Leader and the Vigilant City are vigilant in the north of the oldest defense line of mankind, the Glacier Sea and Elk City have the threat of the East Coast to worry about, the three southern realms near the north of the stars are needless to say, and Longxiao City and Fengzhao City are the center of the Northland since ancient times, which can be called the heart of the kingdom. ”

"In contrast, Qiyuan City, which is located in the west, is vast and sparsely populated, and can only deal with sand thieves and merchants, so it seems particularly insignificant, doesn't it?"

Nicollet looked back at them meaninglessly.

Ian immediately returned with a big smile.

"But you're still a member of Exeter," Tails shrugged, "and you've been a co-king." ”

Ian snorted.

"Three hundred years ago, if it weren't for the Nightwing King who had devastated the eastern part of the kingdom," he sighed, "it would never have been the turn of the Ronnie family to join the throne, and the coronation of King Irhasa Roni in the city of Qiyuan." ”

"There is a lot to see from the name—pray for the city, pray, for the distance," little Ronnie patted the prince on the shoulder, and said with a helpless face, "For Exeter, the city of prayer is only a distant part of the territory, so far away that no matter what happens in that wasteland, the rest of the kingdom only needs to pray from afar, even if it is taken care of with great mercy." ”

Tails didn't speak.

But his judgment of the situation and his estimation of Qiyuan City's intentions have changed many times.

But in the next second, Ian lowered his head, leaned close to Tails' ear, and whispered:

"The most important thing is that since it is not the land of the Northlanders, why should the people of the Northland pay attention to it, whether the bitter people of Xitao above are dead or alive?"

Tails froze slightly.

"It is enough to know that it still belongs to the kingdom of Exeter, and when you brag to outsiders, you can still use that big territory to show Exeter's national power, isn't it," Ian still put his shoulder on his shoulder, raised a finger, and whispered: "So, many Xitao people can't help but think: Northlanders, maybe all they really care about is the Qiyuan City drawn on the map." ”

"And this, this is the problem that Qiyuan City, the Ronnie family, who are from the Northland, has faced in the past six hundred years. ”

"Sounds tricky," said the prince in a low voice, "presumably, your father had to worry about the people under his rule—the question of the 'bitter people of the West Waves' that you speak?"

Ian smiled slightly: "It's the same as Longxiao City, isn't it." ”

Tails was silent.

But he had already heard something.

Little Ronnie raised his head again, and the volume rose to a normal level, so that everyone could hear: "God is merciful, for more than 600 years, we have taken care of ourselves. ”

Ian turned his head and smiled softly:

"Therefore, twenty years ago, when the Heavenly King did not hesitate to give an order in the name of the king to help the west......"

"This kindness and affection, the Ronnie family will always remember ...... in their hearts"

"Loyal alliances can be forged. Little Ronnie blinked slightly: "Therefore, as vassals, we are willing to follow such a king until the end of his life." ”

Tails raised an eyebrow and muttered, "I see." ”

The prince pondered the other's intentions.

His Excellency the Viscount of Windy City seems to be a frivolous thing, and he does not choose to say anything......

But......

From just now to now, under the literal ......

What he was trying to convey was......

Tails raised his head and lowered his voice, "Why did you send a message to invite me here, Your Excellency the Viscount of Windy City?"

"I'm just a prince in a foreign land. ”

Ian lowered his head and smiled mysteriously:

"As I said, in order to propose to the Grand Duchess, I need a reliable witness. ”

Tails' face remained unchanged, but he glanced at the people around him and deliberately walked faster.

He frowned slightly: "How do you know I'm reliable?"

Ian snorted through his nose.

"Because if it's not reliable," Ian chuckles, "you won't come." ”

Tails was momentarily speechless.

After a few seconds, the prince spoke up, "What if your estimation is wrong?

"I could be wrong," Ian maintained a mysterious smile, "but the Black Sand Collar can't be wrong." ”

Tails fell silent.

"Are you serious about proposing to the Grand Duchess?"

Little Ronnie shrugged: "Of course." ”

"Otherwise, if the Grand Duchess marries someone else, what will we do?"

Tails frowned, "We?"

Ian snorted, looked at him meaningfully, lengthened his voice, and repeated the words softly, "I-we." ”

Tails groaned for a moment.

Ian let go of his shoulders and looked around with interest.

"I see," Tails muttered for a moment, and whispered, "Is there anything important that will take a lot of time for the audience to come later?"

"I want to think about it," little Ronnie scratched his forehead, "in addition to the fake greetings to each other, there is also the handwriting letter written by my father in the style of ancient knightly sentences in crepe, and the crying and begging Long Xiao City to send merciful troops to save us from the scarred, and finally gritted his teeth to count the king's crimes and invite Long Xiao Cheng to join the camp of the righteous side......"

"It's gone. ”

Tails nodded, holding back a series of complaints about his words: "Then end it quickly." ”

"Tonight, I will invite the Grand Duchess and you to the dining-room for a meeting to discuss matters of real importance. ”

"It's just the three of us – and maybe the Regent of Lisbane, if he insists as he always does. ”

At that moment, Ian's eyes lit up.

"I'm looking forward to it," Ronnie said, "I promise, it'll be over as soon as possible." ”

In the next second, they finally came to the door of the Hall of Heroes.

The members of the mission paused in agreement, straightened their clothes, and then looked at Ian sternly.

Their eyes made Tails uncomfortable.

Ian had to let out a breath and flick the knight's code of laws on his shoulder.

"Are you ready?" Nikolai narrowed his eyes and surveyed the crowd.

Immediately after, he waved his hand.

With a heavy boom, the two guards steadily pushed the door open.

Inside, the rows of Grand Duke's guards are exposed, as well as the Grand Duke's throne at the end of the hall.

Including the ghastly black Soul Lance behind the throne.

Everyone in the hall turned their eyes in unison, looking at the entrance of the hall and looking at the visitors from Qiyuan City.

Ian narrowed his eyes as he looked at the ancient hall that represented Longxiao City.

Under the light of the sun and lights, the relief carving of the dragon spear in the clouds on the top of the hall is extremely conspicuous, making the always dark and heavy Hall of Heroes even more majestic and stable.

"Relax," Tails snorted, snorting as he tapped him on the shoulder. ”

The prince looked at the Hall of Heroes, remembering his unlucky first visit, and couldn't help but bow his head and sigh.

"Really?" Ian snorted, stepping forward into the hall.

Knock, knock, knock.

Footsteps rang out.

"Guest from Qiyuan City......" the herald spoke.

But the next moment, he was immediately interrupted by a louder voice.

"Your Excellency Archduchess Thelma Walton!"

Ian walked steadily on the stone floor, and while suppressing the herald's voice, he shouted, "Contemptible Ian Ronnie." ”

"On behalf of my father, Grand Duke of Qiyuan City, Kurikun Ronnie, I would like to extend my sincere greetings to you!"

What the?

Everyone in the hall poked their heads in surprise at Lord Ian Ronnie, who was walking slowly, not thinking of himself as an outsider in the slightest.

Tails sighed, he thought of the Chloe he had met before, and wondered why there were so many weirdos lately.

And they all like to report their own homes?

The prince subconsciously took a step behind and distanced himself from Ian.

Under the strange gaze of the Grand Duke's guards on both sides, the Earl of Lisbane, the Viscount of Reston and other nobles of Longxiao City, and even Ned Monty, who was also from Qiyuan City, Ian Ronnie kept walking, looking at the high throne Archduchess with great interest, and looked at her appearance: "This is the first time I have come to Longxiao City, forgive me for my excitement!"

In the seat, Selma, who was dressed up, seemed a little restrained, only to see her pursing her lips and her face tense.

Tails clenched his fists unconsciously.

The Grand Duchess took a deep breath and nodded to the Count of Lisbane next to her seat, then cleared her throat and said, "Thank you for your concern......

But once again, Ian Ronnie from Prayer City surprised everyone.

Under the amazed gaze of the audience, Ian Ronnie laughed and interrupted Selma's words without hesitation:

"On behalf of Qiyuan City, I hereby sincerely ask Long Xiao City to decisively send troops to join our war against the Freedom Alliance to protect your grandfather and father's honor...... Also, we really hate that co-lifting king who doesn't follow the rules - and I'm sure you do too," His Excellency Ronnie Jr. raised his hands, and his mouth kept talking, and the words that came out of his mouth slanted down like a surging river:

"Therefore I sincerely invite you, Archduchess Selma Walton, to sign the joint proclamation that will be plastered throughout the country condemning the king's atrocities......"

Without pause, Ian, who had a blank face, did not forget to take out a roll of the squeezed and slightly deformed letter from his arms, blew the obviously damaged fire paint on it, and handed it to the meteorite who was staring at him in confusion.

“...... All the details are written in my father's letter - but I really recommend that you remove all the adjectives and read it again, it will be much smoother. ”

Ian let out a breath, seemingly glad that he had uttered such a long list of words.

After a few seconds, he showed a big smile: "And I guess, this is the end of our meeting?"

The voice fell.

The entire Hall of Heroes was silent.

A whole few seconds.

Come to an end?

What do you mean?

No one seemed to react, and Tails looked at Ian in the field dumbfounded.

Soon, in the Qiyuan City mission behind Ian, there were unanimous sighs one after another.

Tails also heard the voice of the old nobleman of Qiyuan City suppressing himself and angrily "I knew it would be like this".

Thelma reacted from shock.

She seemed a little overwhelmed, and looked at Lisban, whose brows were getting tighter and tighter, and then at Tails, who was covering her forehead: "Uh, I think ......"

"Just now!"

Ian raised his index finger and once again snatched the right to speak in the hall, and his tone was so happy that the audience was stunned again:

"Prince Tails from the stars, invited me to enjoy the stellar delicacies he brought tonight, and to be honest I can't wait for it now—so we might as well stop here?"

At this moment, everyone's eyes turned in unison, staring at Tails.

Under the gaze of the audience, the Star Prince scratched his forehead in pain.

He could only twitch his face and reveal an ugly and embarrassed smile.

Ian Ronnie.

This guy ......

[I promise, it will be over as soon as possible.] 】

This guy ......

Ian, still smiling, bowed deeply, "Thank you again for your hospitality!

Without hesitation, he turned around.

Strode out of the Hall of Heroes.

On the way, he didn't forget to give Tails a thumbs up, revealing his neat white teeth.

Knock, knock, knock.

As before, Ian's footsteps faded away.

until it is no longer heard.

Leaving the hall full of hardcover and stunned nobles and guards in the city.

In the silence of the audience, who did not know how to react, a clear cough sounded.

"That's really ......," the Regent of Lisbane's face turned very bad, and he said cryptically, "It's a surprise." ”

"The ......"

"You know," Ned Monty, the "Dead Crow" who had met Tails before, stood at the bottom, seemed to be a little embarrassed, stretched out his hands, and smiled at the audience:

"That is why, His Excellency the Grand Duke has appointed me as the precursor of the mission. ”

The Starfall took the letter that Einsey had given him, and looked at Monty with an ugly face.

I see.

Monty - That's what you meant when you asked me to "entertain" Lord Ian.

"Also, by the way, introduce ......"

"What you just saw is Ian Ronnie, the son of the Grand Duke and the Viscount of Windy City," as if to relieve ridicule, Monty laughed and pointed in the direction where Ian left: "The nobles gave him a nickname......"

Monty shook his head, as if he wanted to laugh:

"'Nasty' Ian. ”

The hall was quiet again, so quiet that Tails wanted to sneak away.

In the awkward atmosphere, a call sounded abruptly:

"Well, sorry, excuse me again. ”

Everyone turned their heads in unison.

At the door, Ian Ronnie's face reappeared.

I saw that he was still smiling, and looked at the people in the hall with wonderful expressions:

"Excuse me, where's my room?"

(End of chapter)