Xia knows very well that, as the leader of a group, he really has no sense of responsibility.
To personally send Daphne back to the imperial capital, such a determination is a certainty. Traveling all the way to the imperial capital, the journey is long and time-consuming, and the current military and political affairs in the entire northern garrison area, including a large number of official affairs in the migration office, are waiting for his family to handle. He said go away...
You know, when I thought about sending someone to the imperial capital to inform Adrick of Hasting's movements, I thought about it for a long time. But I didn't expect that now, I have to go to the imperial capital in person.
"It would have been better if I had known that I had taken a trip..." Xia sighed in her heart.
This journey along the way, although there is such a stunning beauty as Daphne by my side, and the relationship between the two has experienced such intimacy... But this journey is not pleasant, and there is no taste of charm at all.
Coming all the way south from the Agate River, although the two shared a horse, they seemed to fall into a tacit silence on the road.
Daphne didn't speak, and Xia didn't want to speak. Such a cold atmosphere is like an invisible wall between a man and a woman.
Lightly riding in plain clothes, the speed is naturally much faster than that of a large group of horses.
After the Agate River, in order to avoid trouble, Char also tried to choose a secluded path to walk. The two were on their way and mostly avoided staying in towns and cities. Most of the time, they would rather sleep in the wild.
A pile of bonfires, simple food... It was just like the tender scenery by the mountain, forest and creek, but there was no such atmosphere anymore.
Daphne's attitude towards Char is a deliberate indifference, and he keeps a distance from Char. In his words, he must be called "General Char".
Although Xiaya understood Delphine's intention in his heart, and also knew very well that this woman made such a choice for the responsibility of the family, but—as a young man with little experience in relationships, he was faced with such a complex It's hard to stay sane when you're emotionally entangled.
Although he is all-powerful, although he has a heroic soldier in his hand, although he is already a prince on the dominant side of the contemporary era—but in the final analysis, he is still a young man in his early twenties. He has no experience in dealing with emotional matters. In this cold war between people, he just kept silent.
Although he understands Daphne's difficulties intellectually, he is emotionally unacceptable, intolerable, and unable to let go!
This woman... dammit! How could she do this to me! !
Like all young men in the world who have tasted bitter feelings for the first time, Xiaya is full of resentment.
"Actually, if you really don't want her to leave, just take her back, tie a rope to the horse's back, go north, and return to your territory in a few days. She is a weak woman, how can she still Can't resist you?"
Dora was a little disdainful of Char's "cowardly" behavior.
Xia Ya was annoyed, and said coldly: "What do you know! Since she can be so ruthless, do you want me to forcibly tie her back? Shouldn't this kind of thing be your own wish? Since she is ruthless, Why do I still ask her! Hmph, I'm a dignified man, don't you have dignity!"
When Dora heard this, she smiled disdainfully, and only said one sentence: "Stupid boy, you two are both ordinary fools. Between men and women, there is no reason to talk about such things as anger. What dignity is, it's just that you can't put down your face and It's just a shelf."
"You dragon knows a shit." Xia immediately counterattacked.
Dora stopped talking immediately.
For Daphne to call himself "General Char" when he opened his mouth, Char was very annoyed, and when he was angry, he simply opened his mouth and closed his mouth and called himself "His Royal Highness Queen".
Two couples who used to mix oil with honey and met naked, suddenly had a ridiculous taste of royal courtesy and courteousness.
How could Daphne not understand Char's anger? She looked at the pain and anger in Xia Ya's eyes every day, her heart softened, and she didn't know how many times she wanted to jump directly into Xia Ya's arms, but she forcibly held back. She knew very well that she It is not easy to make a determination, if it is weak again, I am afraid that it will really be too cruel.
On one side is the man whom he loves for the first time in his life, but on the other side is his old father and brother, and the heavy surname Minas!
In order to maintain the status of the family and maintain the glory of the family, the Minas family needs a queen! Instead of a woman who is missing inexplicably outside!
The Minas family needs a queen! Even a queen who died in the imperial capital! You can't just disappear inexplicably! Even if he died, he had to die in the imperial capital, and as a queen, he would die dignifiedly.
Maybe this is my only "value"...
※※※
Although Xia Ya's face is indifferent, but he is tough on the outside and soft on the inside. Although his heart is full of anger, he still takes great care of Daphne. In his heart, he has regarded Daphne as himself. woman.
Along the way, Daphne could naturally feel Xi Ya's meticulous care everywhere, all kinds of things about food and lodging, this man took good care of himself, and even knew that he was weak. With the bonfire on, every time Daphne woke up, he would find the man covering him with his felt.
Waking up from a dream in the middle of the night a few times, looking at the back of Xi Ya sitting by the bonfire, Daphne didn't know how many tears he shed. When it was dawn, his eyes were red, but he still tried to look indifferent. Come.
Between the two, despite the cold war, they silently maintained a tacit understanding: mounts.
Although they passed through towns all the way south, neither Char nor Daphne offered to buy another horse as a mount.
The two rode together all the way.
Because this is already the only chance for the two to get close to each other now.
Although I hope in my heart, this road to the south will continue like this forever, walking with Xia Ya, even if this road is another hundred years, it will be good to go to the horizon.
But no matter how far the journey is, there will always be one day. Moreover, the two of them rode lightly on the road, without luggage and without a team of horses and horses, and the speed was much faster.
After traveling all the way, it only took half a month to reach the Armenian Military Region.
This is already the last stop before heading to the imperial capital. Passing through the Armenian Military District, even if it officially entered the original Osgilia administrative region.
Because General Adric in the imperial capital was preparing for war, the Armenian military region also began to mobilize and guard. In order to prevent spying by the imperial army, the Armenian military area is strictly inspected, and the unfamiliar faces and travelers are strictly inspected. However, for the powerful Xia Ya, naturally he would not take it seriously. Avoiding those patrolling soldiers is just a piece of cake.
It's just that Xiaya knew that Hughes had seen him, and that Daphne's appearance was too attractive, so the two of them hurried on their way and simply bypassed the capital city of Armenia, Merika, and took a detour to the imperial capital. At that time, there was already a checkpoint of the Rebel Society on the road. On the border of the Armenian Military Region, there were many checkpoints, but with Xi Ya there, avoiding these was not a problem.
When he finally walked out of the Armenian military region and entered the Osgilia region, Daphne's indifferent face was stretched all the way, and finally something changed.
Her eyes began to show panic and nostalgia. When she was on her way, she sat on a horse and hugged Xia Ya tightly with her arms. Her arms were so hard that she seemed to have used up all her strength.
When he stopped to rest, Xiaya could feel the wetness of his clothes behind him!
"If... if..." Xiaya looked at Daphne, and finally softened her heart, put aside the coldness of the past few days, and whispered: "If you regret it now, it's still too late. I'll take you to turn around and go back, Get out of here, okay?"
Daphne took a deep breath, looked at Xiaya, opened his lips, but didn't say a word after all.
Xia Ya waited for a while, finally sighed and walked away silently.
The imperial capital is already shaking in sight.
The two knew very well that this should be the last night before arriving in the imperial capital.
In fact, if they didn't stop to rest and just galloped on the road, they would be able to reach the imperial capital before dark, but both of them silently acquiesced to this rest.
It seemed that both for Char and for Daphne, they were looking forward to this last night.
After tonight... all of this is really over!
After dinner, Daphne was still sitting by the bonfire in a trance, looking at the fire, listening to the sound of the crackling sparks, Daphne was at a loss.
Suddenly, his body warmed, and the felt covered his shoulders.
"rest early."
Xia Ya's voice was low and scary.
Daphne gave a soft "um", but this time, she suddenly backhanded Xi Ya's hand holding the felt, held it gently, then tilted her head and leaned on the back of Xi Ya's hand .
Xia Ya's body froze, standing behind the woman, without speaking.
"Will you leave this felt to me?" Daphne whispered, "This... has your scent on it."
Xia Ya felt sour in her heart and nodded: "Okay."
Until this moment, the young man still held a glimmer of hope in his heart, hoping that Daphne would suddenly change his mind.
But after he waited for a long time, Daphne just held his hand and tilted his head, but didn't say a word.
Xia Ya took a deep breath, and her heart gradually cooled down.
He knew that things had no hope of turning around.
"Tomorrow, I'll take you into the city, but I can't take you back to the palace directly. Garcia wants you to die. If you go to the palace quietly, I'm worried that he will kill you quietly. I thought about it, only first Contact your family, I know how to find Roddy, find your brother Roddy, and then hand you over to him. He will naturally arrange the matter of returning to the palace. At that time, your Minas family will escort you back to the public. The palace, everyone knows about it. Even if Garcia wanted to hurt you, he wouldn't dare to do it for a while, I..."
When Xia said this, she gritted her teeth fiercely: "You know very well that you are going to die when you go back like this, right?!"
"Don't worry." Daphne tried his best to make a reluctant smile: "After I went back, I immediately called me sick and went home to recuperate. Garcia had no excuse to refuse this request. I went back to my own home to recuperate. Roddy and my father protect me, Garcia can't openly send someone to kill me. I... I will be careful. After all, my public identity is the queen of the empire, and he will be careful about whatever he wants to do."
"How long will you bear this responsibility?" Xia Ya sneered: "You just wait, waiting for him to come up with a way to kill you? Just waiting to die in silence?"
"Wait for my brother to inherit the title, wait for my brother to step into the position of power, and wait until the family's position is stable, then my mission will end. At that time, if I hadn't died, I..."
Xia Ya said indifferently: "Even if you can wait until that day, your brother will be in power, you don't have to support this by yourself... But at that time, you were still the queen, the queen of the empire."
When Daphne stiffened, he suddenly turned around and threw himself into Xia Ya's arms.
What else did Xiaya want to say, Daphne's soft and cold lips were already on his mouth!
Her lips were cold.
"Love me." The woman whispered softly, "It's the last night, love me!"
Beside the bonfire, the two finally hugged tightly together.
※※※
One night of passion, when the day dawned, Daphne was lying in Xiaya's arms, she looked at the rising sun, and tears flowed from the corners of her eyes.
Xia Ya hugged Daphne gently and whispered, "Let's go back, okay? I'll take you back!"
Daphne took a breath, wiped the corners of his eyes, and forced a smile: "Don't say that, you know my determination."
She sat up and lifted the felt covering the two of them. Her naked and soft body was exposed to the morning sun. With a pain in her heart, Xia Ya turned her head away.
Daphne turned around, cupped Xiaya's face with both hands, and whispered, "Look at me, I want you to look at me, look at my body, I want you to remember me!"
Under Xia Ya's gaze, she stood up naked, put on her clothes one by one, held a comb, and quietly combed her golden hair.
This is a horn comb, bought on the road. At that time, when the two passed by a small town, Xiaya didn't say much, and when he bought the comb silently and gave it to Daphne, he just said: "I don't think you brought a comb, use this. "
This is just a rough country thing worth only a few copper horns. If such a thing is in my own home, I am afraid that even the maid at home is a hundred times better than this.
But holding this rough comb, Daphne seemed to be holding the most precious treasure in the world, quietly combed his hair, put the comb in his arms, and put it close to him.
※※※
The imperial capital, the palace of the Duke of Minas.
The streets outside the Duke's Mansion were very lively. A luxurious carriage was parked beside the road. The grooms in bright clothes sat in the carriage and waited quietly. There were also some guarded soldiers who went back and forth. moving.
Judging from the badges on the carriages, one is more prominent than the other, and the carriages are also luxurious!
Outside the ducal mansion, there were many distinguished guests, and the streets were crowded.
Such a scene, if placed more than ten years ago, would have been a common sight. It's just that since the late emperor Cantos the Great began to deliberately weaken the influence of the Minas family in the imperial army, and gradually became suspicious of the Duke of Minas, the once prominent Duke of Minas' mansion, Gradually the door fell coldly.
When Duke Minas handed over his final military post and finally changed from a marshal who held imperial military power to an old nobleman who only had the duke title, the street in front of the Minas family would no longer be there. It has never been so lively.
However, after the chaos in the imperial capital, the door of the Duke of Minas, which had been deserted for many years, finally showed its former prosperity again.
The circumstances of the times are really unpredictable.
When Emperor Cantos was alive, the line of the Minas family, which had already declined, was now on the verge of revival when he was Emperor Garcia.
The dignitaries of the imperial capital, who is not in the dark sea, who is not born with a pair of vicious eyes? Who is not a delicate heart
The current situation of the empire, anyone with a little heart can judge that the revival of the Minas family seems to be just around the corner!
The army of the Empire is now dominated by the Adric family! Although Adric was upright and loyal, he also made great contributions to the empire.
But these old scumbags in the imperial capital who have been immersed in the murky waters of politics all year round, everyone understands the truth: in the army, the Adric family is the dominant family and must be tabooed by the emperor! This is not because Adric's own loyalty is unreliable. But as an emperor, no emperor can tolerate such a situation! Even the founding emperor would weaken the military power of Duke Tulip! It is impossible for any emperor to tolerate an army leader whose influence is beyond his control!
To balance, we must differentiate!
To differentiate Adric's influence in the army, the original layout of the royal family lies in that General Spahn. If Spahn was alive, his qualifications in the Imperial Guard and his contributions in the Osgilia War would be enough to compete with Adric in the army.
But Spahn is dead!
Died at the end of the war!
This made the royal family's strategy of balancing and dividing the military to fail immediately!
There are only two ways to divide the too huge influence of Adrick in the army: either, step on Adrick directly!
This one is obviously impossible! Now that the national disaster is on the horizon, the Empire needs a name like Adric to support the building that will fall. Moreover, Adric has outstanding military exploits, is loyal and honest, and has excellent reputation. At this time, if he were to attack him, he would probably cause a mutiny from the army and a strong backlash from the army.
Then the only way is to find a figure who can stand up to Adrick and divide the current situation in the army.
After thinking about it, the only person with qualifications and ability to do this is only one name!
Minas!
In terms of qualifications, no matter how outstanding Adric was in battle, he would definitely be eclipsed when compared with Duke Minas!
Duke Minas was a soldier all his life, and most of the high-ranking generals in the army were his subordinates or disciples.
More than credit, Duke Minas's outstanding military exploits, decades of military career, and established prestige are also incomparable to Adric, a middle-aged general.
Even though he has been neglected by the royal family for many years, he is still alive! If you want to find a character who can stand up to Adrick, the Minas family is the best candidate!
What's more, if it is more intimate than the royal family, the daughter of the Minas family is a real queen! The emperor's wife! It is also a family of royal family! It's much more intimate than a foreign general like Adric!
Seeing the re-emergence of the Minas family, it is already overwhelming.
Even the prime minister, Sarum Bonelli, has entered the palace many times to have secret conversations with Emperor Garcia.
The prime minister has suggested to the emperor many times that the Minas family must be reinstated.
The suggestion of the old prime minister Sarum Bonili is naturally pertinent, and it is also very consistent with the current situation. But such a reasonable suggestion never got a clear answer from Emperor Garcia.
From the Prime Minister's point of view, this is the best way out now. Although Emperor Garcia is a bit extreme, he is not stupid. It should be understood that this is a good strategy!
But why, it has been unwilling to let go
Although Sarumbonelli also vaguely knew that His Majesty the Emperor himself had a "special hobby", he also vaguely understood that the relationship between the Emperor and the Empress was definitely not good. But he is a statesman. In his opinion, as an emperor, such minor issues must give way to major events. When it is needed, what should be done and what should not be done, the emperor must have The emperor's decision is right!
Whether the relationship between husband and wife is good or not, in the face of major national affairs, it is simply a trivial matter that is not even worth mentioning.
Sarumbonelli thought so, but the emperor's delay in expressing his position made the prime minister a headache and puzzled.
Such a simple matter, such a clear situation, what is there to hesitate
But the emperor did not let go. As a prime minister, he could only suggest many times, and he could not force the emperor to make a decision.
As the time dragged on, Sarum Bonelli felt a little dissatisfied in his heart: the matter of life and death is a matter of national importance, how long will the Emperor delay it? !
The nobles of the imperial capital have begun to follow the Minas family's path again. In the past few days, there have been many distinguished guests. Those old nobles are busy coming to the door to find the old duke to make friends with the old man, and the emerging powers are busy trying to please the young Lord Roddy.
For a time, the father and son were very popular in the imperial capital.
However, the father and son still kept a low profile. Although the guests who visited almost lined up a street every day, the old dukes were all closed because of illness, and only a powerful and powerful elder of the empire could Qualified to enter the duke's mansion to see the old duke gossip and chat.
And the little lord Roddy was even more decisive. He reported to the military every day. This little lord had a position as an imperial reserve officer, but he was always being held down by Duke Minas. Officers who have never been awarded real titles and reserve officers only report to the imperial capital on a regular basis to do some unimportant clerical work.
Although Rhodey is not as low-key as his father to thank guests behind closed doors, but these days, he has rarely made friends with others. Those powerful and powerful people in the imperial capital or various banquet invitations, the little duke will all use the excuse of "busy military affairs". Lose.
After ordering Mao in the imperial capital every day, he would go home and practice martial arts behind closed doors.
The little duke had lived a wild life, but now he lived almost like an ascetic.
The father and son became more and more so low-key, but other people became more and more convinced that this was a deliberate gesture of keeping a low profile by the father and son knowing that a recovery was in sight.
Prime Minister Saron Bonelli also visited the old duke twice, but the old duke was just gossiping with him, and he shied away from the things in the army that the old prime minister was tempted to talk about, and only talked about himself. Having been discharged from the army for many years, he is already tired of military affairs and is unwilling to express any views.
The old is not slippery, the young is not soaked in oil and salt - the emperor is slow to express his position, making the old prime minister really have a kind of irritability that has nowhere to go.
"Your Majesty, what is he waiting for! What the hell is he thinking!!!"
Every night when I came home, the prime minister was puzzled in the study, and there was always an urge to smash the table!
Although the emperor's hesitation and hesitation were too stupid in the eyes of the prime minister, if it were someone with a short temper, he would have called out the "dizzy lord" long ago. However, Sarumbonelli was the prime minister of Tuogu selected by the late emperor, and he was also an important minister of the empire that Garcia leaned on his arm. His fate was firmly tied to the royal family. Others could scold them or be dissatisfied, but he could only keep silent. endure, and then think hard about countermeasures.
Salon Bonelli was even more worried about one thing: if it was too late, the Minas family would be dissatisfied!
As soon as possible to win over the Minas family, the situation will naturally be very happy!
But now, the entire imperial capital is looking at the Minas family eagerly, but the emperor just doesn't speak. After a long time, if the Minas family is dissatisfied, and when the time comes to use others, the situation will not be beautiful.
With such thoughts in mind, the prime minister visited Duke Minas once again. He tried his words, but the old duke did not show any dissatisfaction at all. He just talked about some past events, showing a relaxed and calm attitude.
But the more the Duke of Minas is so calm, the more uneasy the Prime Minister is in his heart!
Can't delay any longer!
If he drags it on, if he annoys the Minas family, the old man will just throw his hands away and really ignore it. At that time, where will he find a military figure who can compete with Adrick? !
The prime minister had no choice but to enter the palace again to see the emperor.
This time, Salon Bonelli simply sighed in his heart, and after seeing Garcia, he finished his salute, and then he directly pointed out his purpose!
"Excuse me, Your Majesty, what are you waiting for!"