The soft light of the crystal chandelier illuminates the nave of the church.
Count Falco stepped on the thick light yellow wool carpet and walked slowly into the hall.
At this time, the night was dark, and there was only one old pastor who was on duty in the church.
"May I help you?"
"I'm looking for Archbishop Ajani."
The old pastor frowned immediately: "Sorry, it's too late today, the archbishop has already rested. You can come back tomorrow..."
"Earl Falco." At this moment, the emeritus bishop suddenly appeared in the hall and greeted Earl Falco, "Please follow me."
Earl Falco smiled apologetically at the old pastor, and then followed the emeritus bishop to the backyard of the church.
During his mission to Cold Winter City this time, his father, Marquis Dawson, asked him to find a way to meet Archbishop Ajani.
Although that unreliable guy in Wells often does some stupid things, he also contacted the church leader in the north after all. Now that the peace talks with the St. Hilde family have reached an impasse, the Dawson family is going to try the church. There may be some surprises along the way.
"Boom boom boom."
The emeritus bishop knocked lightly on the door, and a lazy voice came from inside: "Come in."
"Count Falco, please." The emeritus bishop smiled and extended his hand.
"Thank you, Bishop!" Earl Falco smiled at the emeritus bishop, and then pushed the door open.
This room should be the living room dedicated to the archbishop. Although the layout inside is not luxurious, it is quite exquisite.
As soon as Falco entered the door, he saw Archbishop Adjani's back. She was standing quietly in front of the window, looking at the dark night sky in the distance.
Perhaps because it was not in public, the archbishop tonight was not wearing a priest's robe, but a purple dress. The dark clothes formed a strong contrast with her white skin, which further highlighted her unearthly temperament, just like a descendant. Angel.
On the window sill beside Adjani, there was a crystal vase filled with half a bottle of water, and a bunch of purple irises were inserted in the water, which just matched the color of Adjani's clothes.
The evening wind blowing the petals of the irises outside the window also spread an intoxicating fragrance into the room.
"Good evening, Count Falco."
Adjani didn't turn around, but just lowered her head and fiddled with the petals of the iris.
But just such a back view already made Earl Falco's heart beat faster and his mouth dry.
He finally understood why his younger brother was so obsessed with this woman.
"Good evening, Your Excellency the Archbishop! I take the liberty of visiting, and I hope I didn't disturb your rest."
Adjani pointed sideways to a small round table in the room, and said softly: "Don't be so nervous, sit down and drink something."
Count Falco thanked him, then sat down at the table, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.
The bitter taste lifted Earl Falco's spirit slightly. Seeing Adjani looking out of the window in a daze, he spoke again:
"Your Excellency the archbishop, I came to you this time mainly to thank you for the news you delivered last time on behalf of my father. Although the Marquis of Menam was not fooled by the St. Hilde family, the Dawson family still thank you for your kind reminder. .”
"Really? The relationship between the Maynam family and the Dawson family really surprised me."
Because Adjani turned her back to Earl Falco, he couldn't see her expression, so he nodded with a smile and said:
"Don't worry, our dwarves have been fighting for this common goal for thousands of years, and it is not a simple provocation that can divide our alliance."
At this time, there was a faint noise coming from outside the window, and the expression on Adjani's face also became very exciting.
Although Earl Falco was a little surprised what was going on with the noise, he couldn't go to the window to look at it. It would be too impolite, so he temporarily suppressed his curiosity and continued:
"Your Excellency, the negotiations with the St. Hilde family have reached a deadlock. So I think, can you put some pressure on the St. Hilde family to facilitate this peace talk
In return, our Dawson family is willing to support all your actions in the north, including, ahem, the succession of the Duke of the North. "
Hearing this, Ajani finally turned around.
There was a faint smile on her delicately carved melon seeds like cream, and her eyes, like autumn water, fixedly stared at Earl Falco.
Earl Falco only felt an unknown flame rising suddenly from his lower abdomen, which made his whole body hot and almost uncontrollable.
"Count Falco, what do you think is my position on the issue of the succession of the Northern Duke?"
Adjani's lazy and slightly hoarse tone, like a swan feather, kept stirring Earl Falco's restless heart.
"I..." Earl Falco breathed heavily, his face was flushed, and his eyes were fixed on Adjani, as if he wanted to melt her completely with his eyes.
"You what?" Adjani turned her right wrist slightly, and a long purple whip flew out, slapping Earl Falco on the shoulder.
"ah!"
Count Falco screamed.
He didn't understand why Adjani suddenly turned his face, but what was even more shocking was that he himself was clearly a fourth-tier fighter, and he didn't even escape a priest's attack just now!
You must know that the priest is an auxiliary profession, and he is not good at fighting at all.
Moreover, the speed of the whip was not fast. If it was normal, Falco felt that he could dodge it completely.
But now, he found that his legs seemed to be filled with lead, his whole body was on fire, and his brain was filled with all kinds of messy thoughts, and he couldn't keep calm.
"Count Falco, what are you trying to say?"
The smile on Adjani's face became sweeter, and her voice was as gentle as a wife greeting her husband who had returned home, but at the same time, she threw out the long whip mercilessly again, knocking Count Falco over with a snap on the ground.
There is a problem with the tea!
Earl Falco finally reacted, but at this time his consciousness was on the verge of collapse.
In his eyes, Adjani in front of him has completely changed from an angel to a devil, although he has no idea what the other party's reason is for doing so.
The noise outside the window was getting louder, and at the same time bursts of fire gradually lit up, dispelling the darkness covering the earth.
Adjani took one last look at the movement outside the city, put away the long whip, and then strolled towards the door.
When she reached the door, she put one hand on the handle, but turned her head to look at Earl Falco, who was struggling on the ground, as if expecting something.
After a while, Earl Falco finally raised his head and let out a strange roar.
His eyes had turned red, as if he had completely lost his mind. When he saw Adjani at the door, he jumped up from the ground and rushed forward.
A smug sneer appeared on the corner of Ajani's mouth, and she immediately tore off the sleeves of the dress, revealing her smooth white arms, opened the door at the same time, rushed out, and cried out mournfully:
"Count Falco! You, what are you doing!"
…
"Count Falco, Count Falco!"
Earl Anka knocked on the door for a long time, but found that there was no response at all.
An alarmed patrolling guard came over and said, "Count Falco is out."
"Do you know where he went?"
"Sorry, I don't know either."
Earl Anka was anxious and didn't know what to do for a while.
He was woken up by the noise outside the city. Winter City was built on a mountain, and Lion's Roar Castle was on the top of the mountain. Looking down, he could see the flames in the dwarf camp outside the city.
Earl Anka didn't know what happened there, but guessed it was probably not a good thing.
Seeing that Count Falco was not there, Count Anka walked towards the main castle alone.
"May I ask if Miss Vera and Viscount Angelet have a rest?"
The guard glanced at Earl Anka, and then motioned for him to go in.
Earl Anka hurriedly pushed open the heavy door, and saw Colin and Vera in the hall at first sight.
"Count Anka, can't you fall asleep?"
Colin didn't seem surprised by Earl Anka's arrival, he turned his head and greeted with a smile.
But Earl Anka's heart sank because he saw Colin wearing armor with Vera's assistance!
"An... Viscount Angelet, what are you going to do?" Earl Anka asked shakily.
Ke Lin patted the Judgment Blade on his waist, and said with a smile, "Some people outside the city are dishonest and noisy at this late hour. I have to teach them a lesson."
Earl Anka's forehead was covered with cold sweat, and he said with difficulty, "Master Viscount, what happened outside?"
"You go and have a look with me, don't you know everything."
Colin had already put on his armor at this time, kissed Vera on the forehead lightly, and then extended an invitation to Earl Anka.
But the bad premonition in Earl Anka's heart became stronger, and he said anxiously: "Master Viscount, are you planning to start a war!"
Ke Lin's face turned cold, and he said forcefully: "The war has already started from the moment you besieged the city!"
"I..." Earl Anka wanted to defend himself, but Colin had already strode out.
"Miss Vera! Is it true that the St. Hilde family really wants to fight with the dwarves forever?" Earl Anka still didn't give up, and shouted at Vera.
However, Vera ignored him directly, took Colin's arm, and walked out together.
Earl Anka stood there for a while, his face changed drastically, and he finally followed after gritted his teeth.
(end of this chapter)