Tread Tread...
Amidst the heavy footsteps, a group of heavily armed guards patrolled past.
The light of the torches gradually faded as they went away, and the courtyard was once again shrouded in darkness.
In the shadows in the corner, Ke Lin slowly quickened his pace, following the vague smell of blood, he gradually came to the northwest corner of Swallow Butterfly Castle.
A strong foul smell hit his face, almost making Ke Lin faint.
It was the smell of horse manure.
Only then did Colin realize that he had come to the stable.
damn it!
Colin cursed secretly, the smell of blood was covered by the smell of horses, and it was a little difficult for him to tell the direction of the source.
But fortunately, this place is already located on the edge of the Fort of the Swallow Butterfly, so Colin searched nearby one by one.
Soon, he found the source of the bloody smell again—the bell tower.
This is an old bell tower that has experienced a hundred years of wind and rain. The mottled outer wall and the vines covering it are the traces left by the years.
clang!
At exactly one o'clock in the morning, the ancient clock tower made a dull and hoarse sound.
Colin hid in the shadow not far away, but did not step forward immediately.
Because, with just such a rough inspection just now, he has already found three hidden posts around the bell tower.
There must be something wrong here!
However, Ke Lin was not sure that he could enter the clock tower without alarming the secret sentry.
Just when he was about to leave, the heavy door of the bell tower suddenly opened.
Amidst the creaking sound, a wheelchair was pushed out.
The man in the wheelchair couldn't see his face clearly, but Colin guessed his identity.
Earl Morrison's father - Franco Morrison.
After the death of the old count, his son Franco was originally the first heir to the title, but unfortunately, Franco was seriously injured in a battle many years ago and has been paralyzed to this day. Inherited by the old earl's grandson, Saeken Morrison.
Colin looked at the back of Franco going away, and various thoughts flashed in his mind.
Finally, he quietly followed.
Franco's wheelchair was not fast, and he was walking towards the inner courtyard along the central axis of the Swallow Butterfly Castle.
They encountered a wave of patrolling guards along the way, and they immediately stopped to salute and greet Franco.
From their greetings, Colin also confirmed Franco's identity.
After following for another distance, seeing that Franco was about to enter the main castle, Colin deliberately stepped up his footsteps and walked out from the shadows.
Sure enough, Franco also stopped.
"Viscount Angelet?" Under the quiet moonlight, Franco recognized Colin.
"Are you? Knight Franco?" Colin pretended to meet him by chance.
However, this is indeed their first meeting, and Franco did not attend the previous silent ceremony and welcome banquet.
The Franco knight looked to be in his fifties, with a gloomy temperament, a thin face, narrow eyes, thin lips with no blood, and an appearance of frailty.
Years of paralysis had devastated this once famous northern knight to the point of emaciation.
"This is you?"
"Oh, I can't sleep late at night, so I came out for a walk, I hope I didn't disturb you." Colin walked forward with a smile.
Sure enough, the smell of blood became stronger.
"Of course not. I couldn't sleep either, so I came out for a walk." Franco nodded, looking at his right hand.
When Colin was wondering, the maid pushing the wheelchair explained softly: "Master Viscount, Mr. Franco wants to shake hands with you."
Only then did Colin lean over slightly, and held the other's skinny right hand.
Cold and creamy, like holding a dead fish.
"Sorry, I'm inconvenient, that's why I didn't attend your welcome banquet." Franco smiled apologetically.
"You're welcome." Colin quickly let go of the opponent's hand and said with a smile, "You were injured to fight the troll, and you are a respectable knight."
Franco laughed at himself: "I'm just a poor guy who was defeated by the trolls, but it was you who wiped out a troll army of 100,000 trolls outside Windhowl Castle, and beheaded the troll emperor with your own hands before Wangcheng!
Such a record is a well-deserved hero of the North, a role model for knights!
Had it not been for my inconvenient health, I would certainly offer you the most sublime knightly etiquette! "
Ke Lin waved his hands again and again, and said humbly, "It's all thanks to the soldiers who fought the enemy bravely. I dare not take the credit alone."
Franco smiled, and then changed the topic: "Did Sekon tell you that he wants to marry Miss Nina?"
"Yes. Madam Grace did ask Vera to help connect the Earl." Colin thought that the other party also wanted to intercede for his son.
But unexpectedly, Franco slowly shook his head: "Can you tell Miss Vera not to agree to this marriage?"
"Oh? Why?" Colin was puzzled now. Isn't this Morrison family "St. Hilde's noble lady control", why does this person not want their son to marry Nina
The expression on Franco's face was a bit gloomy. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Your Excellency, Viscount, do you know why the Morrison family is so obsessed with marrying the daughter of the St. Hilde family?"
"Why?" Colin asked with interest.
"You should have heard of the theory of 'blood purification'?" Franco asked back.
Colin nodded.
This is actually what Bachelor Dawn told him. Simply put, it means that people in this world firmly believe that bloodline is an important determinant of the upper limit of the strength of a family descendant.
The reason why the paladin family can continue to produce paladins is because of their noble and sacred blood.
Therefore, the nobles of the Glorious Empire frantically pursued noble daughters from paladin families for a period of time, and tried every means to marry them back home, trying to purify their bloodlines.
However, the reality is cruel.
Since the founding of the Glorious Empire, the number of paladin families has not increased at all. Those nobles who have married daughters of paladin families for several generations have found that their descendants have not improved in strength at all.
On the contrary, it allowed the power of the paladin family to spread through marriage. Their attempt to purify the bloodline only helped the paladin family consolidate its rule.
So, gradually, the nobles stopped pursuing the daughter of the paladin family, and the marriage became more pragmatic.
But only this Morrison family is an exception. They still seem to have not given up on the theory of blood purification, and they are still pursuing the daughter of the St. Hilde family.
Franco said solemnly: "The Morrison family has been deeply poisoned by this theory. Due to the precepts of their ancestors and the traditions formed over the years, they can no longer see the reality clearly. Therefore, I hope you can help I prevent this tragedy from continuing."
"Tragedy?" Colin was stunned for a moment, "This can't be a tragedy, can it?"
Pain appeared on Franco's face: "You may not know that I originally had two brothers, but one of them died at an early age, and the other...was born with a deformity, and he probably wouldn't live for a few years. He had to endure inhuman pain, so he was killed by his father...
And my child, Saken is actually not the only one, but his brothers and sisters... Hehe, they are either dementia or disability!
Therefore, the bloodline of the St. Hilde family is no longer a gift to us, but a curse! "
Only then did Colin understand what Franco meant by tragedy.
It seems that the long-term marriage has gradually assimilated the genes of the Morrison family into the St. Hilde family, causing them to be better than close relatives even though they are not close relatives.
Therefore, the evil consequences of inbreeding have gradually appeared in the descendants of the Morrison family.
And this evil result, in the eyes of Franco, who doesn't understand genetics, has become a blood curse.
"Okay. I will pass on your request to Vera, but I want to remind you that your mother attaches great importance to this marriage, so..."
"Thank you so much! Mother, I will persuade myself."
Colin sighed secretly, the Morrison family is really tangled.
It's no wonder that the three generations of their direct line are not prosperous, so they are all asking for trouble.
After that, the two chatted casually again, and Colin found that this Franco was quite optimistic about the current situation in the northern border, thinking that the current chaos was only temporary, and it would not take long to calm down.
Colin didn't know if this Franco was just being polite on purpose, or because he was closed in the fort for a long time, he was a little slow to the changes in the outside world.
However, he didn't intend to delve into it further.
He was more interested in why the other party entered the clock tower late at night.
And why is there a lingering smell of blood
Of course, Colin also knew that it was impossible to ask Franco such a question directly, so he left after talking nonsense with him.
Watching Colin's back gradually disappear into the darkness, Franco suddenly asked, "How long has he been with us?"
The maid pushing the wheelchair shook her head: "I'm not sure either."
Franco narrowed his eyes, with a cold light shining in his eyes, and ordered in a low voice:
"Add more people to the bell tower."
"Yes, my lord."
(end of this chapter)