"When did this happen?"
"About four months ago."
Marquis Garcia froze for a moment, then glared at Colin.
Obviously, Marquis Garcia had calculated that the time when Vera was pregnant was the time when he decided to lead an army to force the Pope to abdicate.
At that time, he was immersed in the grief of losing his daughter, while Colin on the other side knew that Vera had awakened, but kept him in the dark, and even thought of creating a human being...
Colin avoided the gaze of Marquis Garcia in embarrassment, and persuaded:
"So, Lord Marquis, if you want to witness the birth of this child with your own eyes, please don't act recklessly."
The joy on Marquis Garcia's face only lasted for a while, and then quickly faded away.
He bowed his head in silence for a moment before speaking again:
"Colin, Vera and her unborn child are entrusted to you to protect..."
Seeing that the Marquis of Garcia still hadn't changed his mind, Ke Lin hurriedly said, "Master Marquis, why are you doing this?"
"I'm so tired… "
"Huh?" Colin froze for a moment.
The Marquis Garcia's face showed pain, and his tone was deep:
"do you know
Since the withdrawal of troops from the Tianduan Mountains, I haven't had a good night's sleep.
As soon as I close my eyes, the bloody faces of the imperial soldiers who died in battle in the Tianduan Mountains, the countless people howling in pain and suffering under the ravages of the orcs, and the Western Territory that has become a hell on earth... will all appear in front of my eyes, and they will torture me. inside..."
Colin quickly persuaded: "However, Lord Marquis, these are not your fault. The defense line of the Tianduan Mountains cannot be defended. It is the most stupid behavior to fight the orcs there. Your strategy is the only one that can win hope."
Marquis Garcia shook his head slowly, and said in a deep voice:
"No matter what the reason, it doesn't give me peace of mind.
I have an unshirkable responsibility for the soldiers of the empire and the people of the western border who died at the hands of the orcs.
Yes, they are a necessary sacrifice, the price of victory.
However, they are also fresh lives, and they are sins that I must bear... "
"Master Marquis..." Colin looked at Marquis Garcia, who was immersed in pain and guilt, and became more and more anxious, "I believe that if those who died at the hands of orcs knew that their sacrifices were valuable, they would certainly willingly Give your life."
Marquis Garcia smiled wryly and said:
"No, they won't. They'll just resent that I didn't give them a choice.
And this kind of sacrifice without choice under the pressure of authority is not a dedication at all, but a sacrifice. "
Before Colin continued to persuade, Marquis Garcia said again:
"I didn't say this, but Vera told Sirius Saint Hilde herself."
Colin was stunned for a moment.
He did know that when Vera met the previous Duke of St. Hilde again in Ice Rock City, she had resolutely stated that she would not forgive the other party's actions, no matter what difficulties he had.
At that time, Vera had said something similar.
Because in her opinion, no matter what the reason is, Siris St. Hilde's use of authority and conspiracy to sacrifice his eldest son, adopted daughter, younger brother, northern nobles, soldiers, and even the Black Cavalry is a crime. unforgivable.
"What is the difference between my behavior and Siris?" Marquis Garcia's eyes once again turned into a deadly darkness, "I can't face Vera, and I can't face the torture of my inner conscience. Death, in fact, is the most important thing. Good relief is the only way I can redeem myself."
Colin opened his mouth, but didn't know how to persuade him.
Marquis Garcia let out a long breath, suddenly smiled, and said:
"Besides, if I don't kill Reinhardt, how can the imperial coalition forces gathered in Storm Fortress retreat smoothly
Don't say that you have a way to convince Emperor Reinhard to agree to my plan. You should know this is impossible.
It was impossible for that headstrong and stupid emperor to admit that his previous strategy was wrong, let alone bow his head to a person he had already declared a traitor.
So, let me use this method to atone for the sins of this precarious empire and those soldiers and people who died tragically at the hands of the orcs. "
Colin looked at the firm and gentle gaze of Marquis Garcia, and his heart felt blocked.
Perhaps the moment Marquis Garcia decided to withdraw his troops in the Tianduan Mountains, he had already made plans to make atonement with death.
No matter what excuses he had, no matter what lofty goals he was aiming for, Marquis Garcia could never escape the torment in his heart.
Everyone thought that Marquis Garcia was a cowardly deserter, but in fact, he was the most courageous and dedicated knight in the empire!
Also a real hero!
However, heroes are not always understood.
The fate of heroes seems to always have a tragic ending.
Colin was still thinking hard about how to persuade him, but Marquis Garcia had already stood up.
"Go to rest early." Marquis Garcia seemed to have let go of the burden, and he felt much more relaxed. "The future of the empire, the future of the northern border, and Vera... I will leave it to you."
After speaking, he left without looking back.
Ke Lin stared blankly at the slightly hunched figure of Marquis Garcia disappearing into the darkness, unable to calm down for a long time.
No!
Can't let Garcia die!
Colin clenched his fists, thinking hard about the solution.
While meditating, a burst of familiar rose fragrance suddenly came from the tip of his nose.
Turning his head to look, he saw Queen Midella reappearing at some unknown time.
"Your Highness, didn't you go to rest?" Colin forced a smile and saluted.
Queen Midella smiled slightly and said:
"I couldn't sleep, so I went out for a walk."
Colin is not in the mood to pay attention to this coquettish queen now, what's more, what happened to Oak Manor last time has made him determined to keep a distance from this woman.
"Your Highness, it's getting late, please allow me to leave first..."
"Didn't you persuade me?" Queen Midella suddenly interrupted.
"What?" Colin froze for a moment.
Queen Midella chuckled and said, "What else? Didn't you just try to dissuade Marquis Garcia from assassinating Emperor Reinhard?"
Colin didn't answer, but just looked at Queen Midella quietly.
Queen Midella rolled her charming eyes, and said coquettishly:
"What? Don't trust me yet
Garcia had already told me his plan. What's more, without my cooperation, how would you mobilize the imperial coalition forces to retreat after the death of Emperor Reinhardt? "
Colin calmed down his impatience and asked:
"So, Your Highness, what do you want to say?"
Queen Midella approached a few steps, came to a rather ambiguous distance, and exhaled like a ranch:
"I want to say that I have a way to persuade Garcia to give up the plan to assassinate Reinhardt."
(end of this chapter)