"Only pretentious people think they can break the rules with impunity." When Tracy Wiggins sat down, her petticoat fell along her knees, and every wrinkle was stretched straight by gravity. Will it fall off? DeWitt secretly guessed.
"...In fact, they can only obtain the self-satisfaction of the rebellious period. Adults should not pursue illusory things, not to mention that your pursuit is worthless to others."
"You must know balance. Measurement! Between nobles, between subjects, between masters and servants... it is good for you to master the distance scale. Similarly, when faced with suggestions and advice, you have to think carefully before making decisions. Remember, try to follow the rules..."
He rubbed the pattern of the carpet with his boots. "Even if I follow the rules and the result is unsuccessful, what can I say at this point?"
"Then give up," Tracy instructed. "Never break the rules first."
DeWitt couldn't understand. Giving up was not what he wanted. He had given up so many things in his life that it was difficult to give up anything he had on hand. But he won't dissent either. After all, the meticulous teachings were given to the king's eldest son, Ister, but not to a border prince. He's almost used to it. The royal party arranged for teachers to teach etiquette and knowledge, and did not care about his level of political commentary. And except for the palace guards he met every day, he had no friends, let alone the nobles who surrendered to him... Only Duke Wiggins was like a noisy cicada who would show up every time the flaming moon came. But she wasn’t here to support me.
DeWitt had had enough. "I understand, Aunt Tracy."
Tracy wanted to say something else, but then someone knocked on the door: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Queen wants to see you."
DeWitt almost beamed with joy. He didn't want to listen to his aunt for a second. No matter how nice she said it, it was impossible for her to oppose the royal party, let alone oppose the eldest son of the king, Ister. After all, Tracy is also Easter's aunt. What's the point of listening to her nagging?
Tracy gave him a stern look and walked neatly out the door.
Her tea cup was untouched, but she left a gift for DeWitt. He unpacked them casually and played with the gold and silver objects. The smooth metal surface reflected the scale pattern on his forehead, and the gray-green pupils were also out of place. DeWitt's hand shook and he almost threw the thing out, but he held it back in the end. "There really isn't what I want." He complained, leaving the gift behind and exiting the room.
The corridors of Dragon's Den were equipped with electric lights after Tracy and the Oath Keepers Alliance got online. DeWitt also had to admit that Duke Yotsuba's business acumen far exceeded that of the royal party. These "candles" connected with thin lines and engraved with magic characters work steadily in every corner of the palace and seem to never go out.
If I want Tracy to support me, DeWitt thought bitterly, I'm afraid I have to wait until the "candle" goes out. Maybe she was trying to persuade me to give up...
He was thinking so deeply that he ignored the sound of the door closing in his ears. "Sir Herne."
DeWitt turned his head and saw another young nobleman walking out of another room. This man was actually compared to me by Tracy, and DeWitt looked at this guy carefully.
"Don't recognize me, eh?" Tivin Messatori said rashly, before he even realized it.
"No. It's an honor to meet you, Your Majesty the Duke."
"It seems I'm quite famous."
"No one will ignore the Duke of Eagle City and the Lord of the West, even if this is indeed the first time we meet."
Duke Tiwen smiled slightly. "Why don't you tell the truth? You are familiar with my father, not me."
Birnas Messatori was the former Duke of Eagle City and was sentenced to death for treason. His title and fief should have been taken back, and the family should have fallen accordingly, but his ally, the Archbishop of the Kingdom, Peyton Forest, insisted on retaining Messettoli's status and only pushed the head of the family out to apologize. The Royal Party did not dare to offend the Gaia Church, so they agreed to his suggestion.
The former Duke who died for treason was Tivin's father. It is said that the royal party made repeated selections before finding a satisfactory heir from among the sons of Biernas. But even so, the new Duke did not become a puppet of the royal party.
Flying Eagle City is located to the west of the royal capital, Iron Claw City, and relies on the Jinque River to connect the east and west of the kingdom. The tributary passes through the shimmering forest along the bank, making it beyond the reach of the Four Leaf Castle in the south and free from the troubles of the fiefdom border. Promoted by the superior geographical environment, Messatori has always been the richest family among the princes of the kingdom.
Relying on money to pave the way, Duke Tivin won over a large number of nobles and gained a reputation for generosity among his vassals. Because of Bishop Paton, the royal party was unable to suppress the arrogance of the Westerners, and finally reached a consensus with Messettoli not to mention the past events.
But DeWitt knew the real reason. In any case, we also need the wealth of the Western Region.
"Honestly? I'm not familiar with it anyway."
"Oh, it seems that this is the basis for our conversation. You can look at problems from a developmental perspective, Sir, and the royal party should learn from you." With a flash of sparks, the Duke lit up his cigarette.
Maybe he doesn't want to be regarded as an outlier. DeWitt realized that it was only at this time that the royal party began to "nostalgia" again. They consciously or unconsciously linked the former duke's treason to his son, as if they could foresee the future.
DeWitt would be happy to ally himself with such a person if the church was not behind it. But since he learned that even the royal party had difficulty restricting the church, he felt that these clique behaviors were very low-level. Even if we have to deal with him, Gaia Church is a better choice than Tivin Messatori. I've had enough of this man's cigarette smoke. "I have to go, Your Majesty the Duke."
"I've never been to Knight's Bay." Duke Tivin was mistaken. “But people say it’s a great place.”
"Really? What's so good about it?"
"Well... the transportation is convenient and there are relatively abundant marine specialties."
"Rich products?"
"At least there are abundant aquatic products."
"Of course. The races are also richer, aren't they?" DeWitt felt even worse.
"You mean the mysterious race? It is said that Croita sent an envoy to Eastman, maybe he will go to Knight's Bay."
"What?" DeWitt frowned, "The envoy is at Knight's Bay now?"
"I didn't say that. Even if your territory is on his itinerary, it won't be the first. The tower messenger should be in the Four Leaf Territory now."
.
.
His heart skipped a beat, the territory of the Wiggins family?
"Perhaps the Sky Tower discovered something good there. Of course, it may also be that the envoy prefers the Four-leaf Field... Tell me, what exactly is he looking for?"
Tiwen guessed casually, not even believing the latter reason himself. The southern region is a resort for people to vacation in the Flame Moon, but he has not heard of any great magician or paladin captain of the Sky Realm who needs to escape the summer heat.
But the most important thing about Croita is the astrologer. These mysterious creatures are different from the magic sticks who deserve to be burned on the stake. The sun will not dry them to dehydration...unless it is a shallow sea fishman.
It seems that Her Majesty the Queen invited Duke Tracy to discuss the matter because of this matter. DeWitt replied: "You can ask Duke Wiggins. I'm sorry that I don't know."
"I hate cats." Tiwen flicked the ashes from his cigarette.
DeWitt said coldly: "I'm sorry that I can't do anything, Mr. Teawin. I'm going to visit my pet, and I believe you won't want to come with me. I'm sorry."
He emerged from a hazy mist and passed by the Duke of the West. The young man took a deep breath and felt as if his throat was filled with smoke particles. He couldn't help but cough twice at the corner.
At this time, he could still hear the young Archduke saying to his back: "There is an unknown person in Knight's Bay. You'd better be careful. I wish you good luck, Prince Herne."
DeWitt's steps lost their rhythm for a moment. He didn't look back, didn't say anything, and acted as if he hadn't heard anything.
Tiwen threw away the cigarette butts and crushed the ashes on the red carpet with the soles of his shoes. He raised his head and glanced at the Wiggins family lounge, showing a pleasant smile.
…
After passing through dark mountains and winding roads, Uriel finally stood at the foot of the castle. The tranquility here contrasts with the chaos in the distance, and the leaves of the forest are turning like floating waves.
A whistle sounded overhead.
"Who is it?" the guarding soldier stuck his head out and asked.
"I am a mercenary from Knox. The messenger from Croita asked me to report the news."
The apprentice had already thought of his explanation on the way, so he didn't panic at this time. Because of Victor, the Knox Mercenary Group enjoys a special status in the Clover Territory. Uriel didn't know this, but he knew that Mr. Eds should have been named in the Wiggins family, and there was nothing wrong with pulling the flag of the mercenary group.
Anyway, no one jumped out to expose his lies. As long as he entered the castle, he could have another excuse.
Joey threw him the token of the Sky Tower, a coat of arms. Uriel hung it on his chest and injected a little magic power into it, and the golden star pattern lit up with radiance.
"Back off, the city gate is about to open." Since the ice sword he was holding revealed his identity as a mysterious creature and bore the emblem of the Sky Tower, the guard believed Uriel without hesitation.
There is still some distance between the walls of Frostleaf Castle and the inner castle. The patrolling knights are marching in formation. People are doing their work in an orderly manner, and the clashing of armors seems to have become a neat rhythm.
When the apprentice walked into Frostleaf Castle through the wide door, he felt like he was in a dream and his hands and feet were cold because he had enjoyed such grand treatment for the first time in his life.
But just when he thought he had passed the level, he saw a knight at the end of the road who stopped in his tracks. The opponent was holding an iron gun, and the armor on his body was as shiny as water. He frowned when he saw the apprentice: "Are you a mercenary from Knox? Why haven't I seen you before?"
Uriel had a premonition that something was not good, but he had to bite the bullet and said: "I don't think you have met every member of the Knox Mercenary Group."
"Of course I have seen it." Unexpectedly, the knight fired his spear and retorted without hesitation: "Knox's mercenaries are not all mystics, but they are all outstanding adventurers - boy, you can climb How many mountains?”
Have I been found out?
The apprentice's heart skipped a beat at first, and then he felt that this guy was just trying to find fault with the egg.
Mysterious creatures have the help of magical power. Even if their physical fitness is not strong, Eze and Joey are not seen exercising all day long. Uriel raised the sword in his hand - this ice weapon was as heavy as steel of the same volume, because Joey did not simply shape the ice, otherwise the sword would never be able to cut iron like clay. The sharpness comes.
It is a magical weapon.
Uriel suddenly felt blessed and realized that this was probably a temptation. Adventurers are not a popular profession among nobles, and most of the nobles' retainers also feel a headache: adventurers are mostly mysterious creatures, and they are not like civilians who can be scolded at will, especially large mercenary groups.
Obviously, out of prejudice or some darker psychology, this knight had doubts about the apprentice's excuses that were subjectively influenced. Even if Uriel was really a mercenary of Knox, no, maybe he unconsciously wanted to deliberately stop it just because he believed this rhetoric.
According to the apprentice's plan, this episode shouldn't have happened.
However, there is always a kind of people in the world who can handle it well even if they have no experience when they are exposed to new things or encounter new situations——
"In fact, I can still carry this sword when climbing the mountain." The apprentice replied. Since the other party came forward for personal reasons, the matter would be easier to handle.
He tried his best to look calm, and puffed out his chest to make the sky emblem more eye-catching: "Master knight, when you are holding the dust-free weapons in your hands and guarding the door or the street corner, the adventurer has already Hiding next to the monster’s lair and setting a trap——”
The knight's expression was not good: "We fulfill our duties. This is the noble mission of knights. But you are always the one who breaks the rules. Lord Victor has to deal with fights involving adventurers no less than three times a day."
"If you can focus your extra energy on business, the reputation of adventurers will not be worse than that of businessmen."
It doesn't look like the matter is serious.
Hearing the knight's words, Uriel secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He found that the other party was just dissatisfied and had not risen to the level of hatred.
So the apprentice doesn't want to waste time. Just like the knight said, he has serious business now——
