"They are worried whether you have been confused by Roland's witch."
The Duke of Leicester said in a low voice.
He accompanied Orsis through the Kashmean cathedral's mansion. The gray stone walls of this classical era building are inlaid with rose windows decorated with stained glass. The whole mansion is immersed in a holy and romantic style. The evening bell and garden are all romances described by poets.
"Don't tell me, you think so too." Orsis said, buttoning the gold buttons on his cuffs. "Don't be so stupid, Lester."
The Duke of Leicester showed an awkward smile, squeezed his eyes, a little narrow and obscene, he seemed to want to say something.
Orsis gestured: "Shut up! Don't let me know what you're thinking."
The Duke threw up his hands regretfully, abandoning that terrific, well-known joke. At this moment, he saw Orsis suddenly stop and look to the other side. The Duke of Leicester followed his gaze, and the expression on his face instantly became subtle.
Connecting the east and west houses of the church is a covered bridge with cross arches on the top. This is a person standing in the shadow of the beams, looking at them indifferently.
The man's facial features were strong, his cheeklines were half hidden in the shadows, and his drooping eyes, which were naturally cruel, showed a kind of calmness like a cold-blooded animal when he looked at people without emotion. He was wearing a black embroidered safari jacket, the cuffs of his forearm showed his strong and beautiful muscular lines, and he was tall and stern.
The Duke of Leicester can be 100% sure that there is no trace of kindness in his eyes.
The Duke took a step back. He was one of Orsis's playmates when he was young, and he was close to Orsis, so he didn't have to be so scruples when speaking in private. So, he let out a gloating laugh unceremoniously, teasing his friend who has been meticulous and elegant since childhood: "Look, your rival in love."
He thought that Orsis would give him a foolish look as usual, but he saw Orsis staring at Roland's marshal indifferently.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
For a moment, the young black-haired Marshal of the Empire withdrew his gaze and left without saying a word. When the golden rose on the shoulder turned around, it flickered in the sunlight.
"I heard that Adele gave someone the royal rose as his family crest." Orsis also looked away, and asked casually, "That's him?"
The Duke's laughter stopped abruptly, and he stopped gloating all of a sudden.
"Gods!" He looked at Orsis in surprise, "You won't... no, not really?"
He knew Orsis too well.
With Orsis' character, there is absolutely no such thing as "casual". Whatever he mentions, he must regard it as something that must be taken seriously and has been rigorously investigated. Since he knew so clearly who Queen Roland gave a golden rose to, it meant that he had already carefully investigated all the rumors related to Queen Roland.
The Duke of Leicester's scalp instantly went numb.
He is a good player in the field of love, and he knows nothing more than what it often means for a man to pay so close attention to a woman.
Orsis glanced at him lightly: "She is not just a woman, she is also Roland's monarch and an ally of the empire."
The Duke of Leicester was relieved and relieved.
so far so good…
Indeed, the marriage contract between Queen Roland and Orsis is essentially an alliance between the two countries. Orsis does not want to see her personal feelings affect the alliance between the two countries, so naturally he must investigate all the scarlet messages related to her.
"Yes, it's him." The Duke of Leicester didn't dare to joke anymore, and became serious, "The youngest Marshal of the Roland Empire, it was because of him that our previous plan to interfere in Roland's 'spiritual battle' was abolished—he was Just a captain, he has already stopped our mercenaries."
Speaking of this, a faint shadow passed over the face of the Duke of Leicester.
"I didn't expect that in just a few years, he would become the Marshal of the Roland Empire."
"It sounds like you think his role as Marshal Roland is not a good thing for Root?" Orsis asked calmly.
The Duke of Leicester nodded slowly, very solemnly: "This man's military ability is too terrifying. I have seen him once on the battlefield. If I didn't know that he was suppressed by Roland's rotten nobles with all their strength, I would definitely ask you Get rid of him no matter the cost."
"It's rare to hear you make such an assessment."
"You would have thought so if you had met him in battle," said the Duke of Leicester.
He remembered the ambush that had been hastily encountered.
In the continuous autumn rain, the Duke of Leicester led a mercenary army across the low hills. In that year, the Roland civil war, the short-lived Roland new king passed away, and the vacancy of the throne caused the Roland regime to fall into chaos. The religious war that broke out in this context affected the fate of the ancient empire.
Just as the Yager Kingdom spared no effort to support the local nobles in the Rose Strait and established a secret fleet, John VI tried to seize the Roland throne, and the Root Empire also wanted to support a Roland puppet regime.
The Duke of Leicester and another general were ordered to enter the Roland Empire.
The Root Empire did not use the empire's army, but hired a team of Sawyer mercenaries known for their bravery and combat skills. The large army made a feint attack, but the Duke himself took a light cavalry and hurried along a secret road to meet secretly with one of the heirs to the throne of Roland at that time.
The operation was secret and swift, and everything was carefully arranged.
As a result, on the way, they encountered an ambush.
In the rainy autumn, only a lunatic would lie down in the mud for three days, waiting for a goal that he didn't know if he would come. The Duke of Leicester almost wanted to ask the other party's commander, isn't he afraid that they will detour halfway? Are you not afraid that they will come later
Before retreating in embarrassment, he glanced at the opponent's commander from a distance.
The black-haired officer held a gun and stood on the long horizon amidst the smoke and flames of war.
"That's right," the Duke of Leicester said softly, "in this world, military geniuses are not uncommon. There is nothing terrible about an experienced and brilliant general. lunatics. They are fearless, and under their leadership lambs will become wolves."
The Duke of Leicester paused.
"If such a person has been suppressed, it's fine. Once he gains trust and authority, he will be an extremely sharp sword."
"It's really not good news for Root," Orsis said calmly. "This time, if there is a chance, get rid of him."
"yes."
The Duke of Leicester accepted the order with awe.
He subconsciously thought, if a reasonable "accident" was created on the battlefield, he would forget the initial surprise.
The Duke of Leicester did not notice that Orsis did not directly deny his guess.
The sunlight is divided by stone pillars and arc arches, and falls to the ground piece by piece.
The young Emperor Root looked at the direction in which the black-haired officer was leaving, his silver-gray eyes showed a metal sword-like texture in the sunlight, carrying imperceptible, personal hostility.
… … … … … … …
Dalton opened the door and found the familiar figure at a glance.
The exquisite crystal chandelier reflected the light in the room, and the queen was still asleep, sitting in a broad chair in front of the fireplace. The palace dress of dark red velvet hung down beside the chair, and she was completely enveloped in the firelight of the fireplace, staring at the flames in a daze. Standing at the door, Dalton felt for a moment that the lines of her cheeks seemed to be carved out of stone.
Perhaps, her whole body was carved out of stone.
"Dalton?"
Adele didn't look back, she shouted softly with a little doubt.
"The soldiers have been recruited?"
"Gunners and ordinary soldiers will gather at the port of Cohemia and Silver Bay. The shipyard has been preparing since last year. According to the suggestion of the ship designer, they adjusted the composition of the fleet. Everything is ready," Dalton said. Stepping on the soft wool carpet, she walked towards her, "But I have a question."
"What question?"
Adele looked sideways at Dalton, he looked the same as usual.
"sit down."
Dalton did not sit down on the chair according to her will, but walked up to her and half knelt down on the cushion in front of the chair. He was tall and thin, with a straight waist, and when he was half-kneeling, he didn't look submissive and humble, but instead had a faint sense of oppression.
"I want to know if you are fully sure about this war."
Adele leaned back in her chair, frowning: "You are a general, Dalton. You know that the battlefield is unpredictable, and no one can boast that they are sure of victory."
"In that case, I understand," Dalton's face was flickering from the fire in the fireplace, "now some people are trying their best to claim that this is a 'Battle of God's Blessing', and I will try to curb such rumors as soon as possible."
"There is no need to contain it," Adele said. "Roland once lost to the Yager Kingdom, not only lost the sea area and fleet, but also lost the courage and self-confidence of many people. The rumors of the 'Battle of God's Blessing' can make our There is nothing wrong with soldiers bravely defeating former enemies."
"You really know these things," Dalton said in a low voice, a thin shadow was cast by the brow bone, and it fell on his eyes, like a suppressed storm that was about to destroy the calm, "or, this is actually something that happened. With your permission?"
"What are you upset about?"
Adele didn't answer, but caught the weirdness in his tone tonight, and asked in surprise.
"What am I upset about?" Dalton forced himself to smile, and suddenly clenched his hand hanging by his side, "I just want to know, do you know the risks of doing this? Do you think you really Blessed One? Do you know how many people are dissatisfied with the pope's acknowledgment of your 'sacred site'?"
His speaking speed was getting faster and faster, and it was almost difficult to suppress the anxiety in his heart.
"Many accept you - a woman to be their ruler - because you bear the title of 'God's Blessing', and if your honor of God's Blessing is damaged in this war, they will throw you off the throne at once .Since you can judge the defense of the castle, you should know how much risk there is in a war."
"I appreciate your concern, Dalton."
Adele smiled gently, with an intimate tone.
Dalton had known before that her gentleness and closeness hid an unshakable determination, but he had never hated it like this moment.
"Now that you know, let me suppress this kind of rumor—even the pope would not dare to gamble on the victory of a war with his prestige." Dalton didn't know what expression he had, he had faint hope , begging her to change her mind, "Promise me, let me stop it, Your Majesty."
"Sorry, I can't do that."
The queen refused softly but without a trace of wavering.
"Why?" Dalton stared at her gravely, "You don't even care if you die without a burial?"
"Did you hear that?"
The Queen frowned and did not deny it.
"Aha! This is so funny!" he laughed queerly, his voice sarcasm, "a knight swears to defend his lord with his life, and the lord treats his own life as an insignificant thing? Well, you told me so early in the morning I, I will help you end yourself, the owner of the thirteen ports is more cost-effective than the fleeting marshal of the empire."
He was about to feel hatred out of thin air.
He leaned against the wall, listening to her casually talking about "death without a burial" in the conference room where everyone dispersed, and listening to her calmly say "I am Roland's queen"... an unknown fire burned in his heart , Countless flames licked his heart, anger and sourness, pain and resentment intertwined.
Roland Roland.
For the first time, he hated this word so deeply.
As much as he had loved her justice, her kindness, and her mission before, he now hated her justice, her kindness, and her mission.
He is willing to draw a sword for her, and is willing to go through life and death for her, but she doesn't care about whether she will die without a burial, so what's the point of him drawing a sword and going through life and death
"Since you want your knight to watch you commit suicide, what do you want your knight to do?" He laughed angrily, stood up, tore off the golden rose on his shoulder, and threw it to the ground, "How great is that ! Queen Roland, who gave up everything! Queen Roland, who died at the place where she was buried! Do you always forget who is the one who has been favored by you?"
"It is my people."
In the firelight, the silver-haired queen folded her hands and answered calmly.
"Subjects?" Dalton sneered, "Subjects like me who force you to sign the Marshal's appointment letter? Subjects like Heinrich who can never be trusted? Have you forgotten how many people are right? Are you malicious?"
Dalton almost laughed, almost roared at her angrily.
Did she think that everyone would appreciate her efforts? Did she really not see that countless people were clinging to the frame of the empire, locking her tightly from the beginning to the end, sucking her flesh and blood
"Since you forgot, let me remind you!"
Dalton drew his gun, almost gritted his teeth, and pointed the muzzle at her forehead.
In the firelight, every line on his face suddenly tightened, as cold as cast iron.
"Wool merchants will not see that the regulations of navigation are protecting their trade, but will only resent the expansion of the cotton industry for forcing them to lower the price of wool; commoners will not remember how much power you won for them that they did not have before, but will only resent that they feel Privileges aren't enough; the poorer the more greedy they won't thank you for keeping them from freezing to death, give them cotton cloth they'll ask you for another carriage, give them a carriage they'll ask you for another manor The nobles don't care if they will corrupt Roland or not, whoever affects their interests today will be their sworn enemy!"
He bent down and put his face close to the masked queen.
"Look, there are many people like me who find that you are worthless and want to draw your gun and shoot you!" His expression was full of undisguised malice, "Do you think forgiveness and grace can help you?" Earn loyalty? How naive! This world is full of despicable and vicious people like me!"
"Do you know how many people are cursing at you in the tavern at this moment while receiving your favor? Do you know how many people are cursing day and night, wishing that you are a woman with a crown, such a woman? Should a witch like a monster be thrown on the stake immediately?"
"Ha!" Dalton laughed sharply, "Guess what, if you lose, who will remember who you fought your back for?"
Adele said nothing.
"How sublime!" said Dalton, full of resentment. "Have you forgotten that you are a man, what are you but Roland? Are you blind and deaf? Do you not see that it is sucking you up until Are you bloody?"
"so what?"
she asked slowly and clearly.
"I'm going to die and get a bad name, what about you?"
The firelight fell on her eyes, and Dalton saw his own shadow in the rose-colored eyes.
"What about you, Dalton?" Her voice was soft, and the wood crackled softly in the fireplace. Her eyes were as quiet as a dead sea, once raging and roaring, but now there is only silence that accepts everything, no one can see the true joy, anger and sorrow in her heart, "I will die."
"I will die and they will put me on the guillotine and hold my head high for all to see..."
A very soft voice, with a slight chill in my ears, lingering.
The line of Dalton's lips was pulled so tightly, like a sharp knife edge. He gritted his teeth, wanting to be indifferent and hard-hearted.
But the voice fell lightly, without joy or sorrow, and a shocking scene involuntarily appeared before his eyes... The executioner swung the knife, blood splashed on the ground, the palace skirt fell to the ground dirty, rough hands Grabbed the pale head with closed eyes, the rose petal-like lips were as dry as paper, the swan-like neck was cut off, flesh and bones...
No, stop thinking about it.
It was her trick of playing with people's hearts again.
"They will leave my body in the field, and hyenas and crows will fly down from the sky, fighting over who will eat the flesh first. And my head will be planted on a flagpole and hung on the city gate. You can point and say 'bitch' and anyone can spit on it..."
The blue veins on the back of the hand holding the gun were tense and trembling violently. For the first time in his life, he couldn't hold the gun.
"Dalton," she asked, "what are you going to do?"
What is he going to do
what will he do What can he do
Violent, ferocious, and uncontrollable emotions, those images brought out anger and hatred stronger and more terrifying than the ambition that dominated his life.
The gun fell to the ground, he clasped her thin shoulders, and kissed her fiercely and desperately, as if he wanted to tear all the words she said into pieces.
She held out a hand to him, and Dalton seized it at once, and held it tightly.
"I… "
He hugged the silver-haired queen tightly, as if he was afraid that she would disappear into the darkness forever in the next moment. The muscles on his cheeks twitched and twisted slightly, as if he was laughing or crying.
"Kill them!"