Heinrich stood for a while in the corridor.
No need to think about where the queen's rage came from. Heinrich knew where his mistakes were. He was used to analyzing the shortcomings of everything with the queen first, and then proposed solutions. They used to be the closest teachers and students, and there was no need to have so many scruples in the conversation.
But now, the queen is no longer willing to listen.
She can give that trust, and she can take it back without hesitation.
"Mr. Heinrich."
A familiar voice sounded, and Heinrich looked up to see Mrs. Kelly standing in front of him looking at him. Her tone was alienated, and she did not hide her hatred at all, and handed him a mailbox.
"This is from His Majesty."
The bronze letter box was cold, and Heinrich held it tightly. At that moment, he didn't even know what was going on in his heart... Adele was his best student, except for one class. He once hoped that she could be as cunning and vicious as a "Heinrich".
This was originally the easiest course they thought.
It turned out to be the worst failure.
Having witnessed countless filth, Adele has become more just and strict.
This characteristic is particularly prominent after she became queen. She is not stingy in repaying those who have been kind to her, but she will not let them gain power indefinitely. However, the latter was what the Heinrichs wanted - they didn't want a just monarch, they just wanted the empire in their own hands.
The coldness on the bronze post spread throughout his body along the palm of his hand. Heinrich couldn't tell whether the Queen's anger just now was to transfer him away from Dalton's surveillance, or...or...
He didn't want to think about it any more.
"She has been amazingly good in every class," Heinrich heard his own voice sound hollow, and he took out another letter and handed it to Mrs. Kelly, "give this to her."
Before Mrs. Kelly could say anything, Heinrich had already quickened his pace and left in a hurry.
... ... ...
"You seem to be particularly opposed to my acceptance of John VIII's marriage proposal."
Adele leaned tiredly on the chair, she still maintained a calm expression, but the hand on the side of the chair was clenched tightly, the veins were very clear under the translucent skin, and the joints were terribly pale.
Dalton looked at her.
Perhaps many times, haggard will greatly reduce the charm of beauty, but this definitely does not include Adele. Sunlight fell on the queen through the rose window in the room, and the fine dust in the air flew like gold powder, and the fatigue between her brows turned into the sadness of the goddess under the goldsmith's carving knife.
Even on the night of the mutiny, Dalton had never seen her show such a look.
Maybe there was, but that was covered under darkness and cloaks.
Dalton realized that Heinrich had indeed been very important to her.
He had also heard about something between Adele and Heinrich. Adele was expelled from the court by her father. During the several years of exile, only the double-headed snake was by her side. The young heir of the family. Many people privately speculated about the queen's feelings for Heinrich.
Should he be regarded as a brother, a father, or a further... lover
Why didn't the arrow just go straight into that guy's skull
Dalton couldn't restrain his hatred of Heinrich, which contained both the original dislike of the nobles and the newly added element-a man's jealousy of another man.
"And what is your objection?"
Adele raised her face and looked at him, perhaps because she was tired, her voice was so low that it was almost inaudible.
Dalton didn't answer right away.
There are many reasons. For example, John VIII is a complete believer in the old gods. For example, the ambition of the Yager Kingdom for the Roland Empire. It was the fire that made him tear up the letter without hesitation.
"Dalton, tell me."
"You don't want to marry a stinking pig, do you?" Dalton shrugged, making no secret of his distaste for King Yager, "I'd rather believe in the devil's promise than his contract. I bet, in When those idiots in Congress were thinking about how to satisfy him, he was thinking about how to swallow you and Roland."
Adele didn't speak, and looked at him for a while, a short smile flashed across her face.
Dalton caught it, and couldn't help but feel strangely better.
"That's right." Her voice returned to normal and steady, "However, as Heinrich said, if I reject his marriage proposal, then what Roland will welcome is not a terrible king, It's a fleet. Is there anything you can do about it?"
"The Moore mercenaries have just arrived at the port and haven't left yet." Dalton said, "If the ten cannons are returned to them and a certain payment is paid, they will help us fight the enemy."
"What's the winning rate?" Adele asked. "Although I don't understand military affairs, I hope you can tell the truth. You must know that white lies are sometimes worse than cruel truths."
Dalton hesitated for a moment: "There is a chance of winning, but you can't engage in a naval battle with the opponent. You must let them land."
"Then what do we have in our port?" Adele asked, and then quickly answered by herself, "Wool, red wine, cloth... This is the most prosperous place in Roland now, and the drought has not passed, if the port is destroyed by war , Then what do we need to maintain the army and keep the government running? And, Dalton, as a believer in the New God religion, you should understand what the port means to us better than I do."
"We need allies." Dalton said, a trace of gloom crossing his face, "You have another choice."
The Queen looked at him.
When the words were spoken, Dalton regretted them almost immediately. He quickly suppressed the trace of regret and avoided the queen's gaze.
"Roland is not the only enemy of the Yager Kingdom. Our neighboring Root Empire established Protestantism as the state religion two years ago, and John VI has been trying to attack it." Dalton said quickly, "The Emperor of the Root Empire John VI came young, he is only twenty-four years old this year, and he is not yet married... The alliance with the Root Empire can give us a powerful ally, and John VI's fleet will have to turn back to defend itself before reaching the strait s country."
"Sounds good." Adele nodded calmly, without any abnormality on her face, "What does he look like?"
"… very handsome."
"Better handsome than you?"
"… No."
Dalton gritted his teeth and answered. After the answer, the atmosphere in the room became stagnant.
"When did the ambassador of the Root Empire arrive?"
"Three days ago."
"Why didn't you tell me then?" Adele's eyes fell on Dalton's face, and Dalton felt like she was looking for something, "Or, you invited me to hunt today just to talk about it ? You want to persuade me to marry the emperor of the Root Empire? Right?"
Dalton silently stared at the torn letter on the table.
Why didn't you say it three days ago
Because he wasted a lot of strength at that time, he restrained the urge to draw out his gun and shoot an empty bullet at the face of the arrogant Lute Empire ambassador. He repeatedly warned himself that the marriage between the queen and the Protestant empire would be more conducive to the consolidation of the position of the New God sect, and could even have a further impact on the Congress.
Because of this, he didn't tell the idiots who thought Adele had become Queen Lute to go back.
But for three full days, he didn't want to mention this matter to the queen at all.
Until... until damned Heinrich brought today's worse news.
"Please come here, Mr. Dalton." Adele said softly.
Dalton came to her, and she raised her hand and grabbed his collar, pulling him towards her. Those magnificent eyes stared at him for a long time, and Dalton could clearly see his own shadow in them... She could conquer everyone with such gazes, gazes that seemed to be deeply in love.
When this thought flashed through his mind, the queen raised her hand and pressed a finger to his lips.
When her fingertips carried the warmth he was familiar with and ran over his lips with some strength, he subconsciously remembered that kiss full of blood and contention in the colonnade of the statue.
—Don't agree to his marriage proposal.
This sentence seemed to be blurted out soon.
Snapped.
There was another crisp sound.
Adele withdrew her hand whose fingertips were whitened from excessive exertion, and pushed him back violently. Her slap was heavier than that day, and a bright red palm print instantly appeared on Dalton's pale and handsome cheek—it can be seen that its owner definitely used 100% of his strength.
"You can arrange the ceremony to welcome the envoys of the Lute Empire," the Queen sat with her backlit. "You can also start arranging marriage negotiations."
Dalton wasn't sure if he saw a gleam of water in her eyes, and he took a step forward.
"Dalton," Adele said, "now you get out too."
……………
Mrs. Kelly pushed open the door and walked up to the Queen.
Adele leaned back in the chair, thinking about something, her expression was extremely calm, without any fatigue, sadness, or anger. Hearing Mrs. Kelly walk in, she raised her head and smiled: "Get the map for me, dear."
Mrs. Kelly not only brought her a map, but also brought her a basin of hot water, soaked a soft white cloth in the water, and then gently wiped the Queen's left hand with it—Adele's slap to Dalton Some are too hard, and the palms are red at the moment.
"Why didn't you cry this time? Kelly."
Adele cracks a joke, which gets a condemning look from Kelly.
"Are you really going to marry Emperor Root?"
Mrs. Kelly hesitated for a moment, but she still asked her doubts. The question of her identity was actually a bit over the top. But after so many years of getting along, her relationship with the queen is far more than a master and servant.
The queen is her raised princess, her master, and her faith. And she is an integral part of the Queen's life.
"It's just an alliance." Adele said casually, unfolding the secret letter that Heinrich had given to Mrs. Kelly, "Marriage negotiations will take at least two years, and by the time the contract is formally signed, the matter should have been resolved long ago."