I don’t know what my brother will think. Mike lit the envelope on the flame, and the pungent smell of burning paint floated in the air. When the ashes fell to the ground, he opened the window again, and the cold wind rushed into the room, taking away the heat from the fireplace. The curtains whipped violently against the wallpaper.
The war was ending, and the news seemed like nothing more than a rumor. Mike sat in the velvet chair and felt something was wrong. He was used to saddles and grass, and a seat that was too flat and too soft felt weird. Peace is an uncomfortable chair for the Empire. The dispute between Aurenia and Saint Valoran has lasted for thousands of years, and the hatred accumulated between them is even deeper than that of their old rival Alainvor. But in the eyes of the imperial nobles, things are not so difficult. Ah, it doesn't matter, once the contract is signed, enemies become friends. From now on, Saint Valorin will be our friendly neighbor, and perhaps we can marry our daughter to them in the future. What a happy event. He almost laughed.
Obviously, the arrival of peace was not what people expected. But the opinions of ordinary people are worthless. The real opposition still comes from the aristocratic group, the border lords, imperial officers, and merchant guilds who made their fortunes through war. They invest in the battlefield like they invest in addictive tobacco. Weapons, food, equipment, and soldiers are all thrown into the shimmering forest. The cost is already high, and if they don't get back profits, these people will never give up.
No one takes big risks for a small profit; only big returns attract attention. If the war had been stalemate, the voice against the war might not have been so loud. However, now that the Silver Song Knights have forced the forest race into a desperate situation, with just a little effort, Saint Valoran will disappear from the continent of Binyaio. The imminent victory taught people to throw down their chips. Nature elves and those Heather believers either fled to the elemental realm, or simply went underground and defected to some of their ancestors. Perhaps the elven ancestors in the underground would still laugh at these descendants for their short-sightedness and slow reaction. Anyway, the Empire doesn't care where the forest races go.
We need gems and metals, herbs and secret realms, woods and stones. The forest races occupy these and refuse to sell them. If I were the Emperor, Mike thought, I can't think of any reason for the Empire to live in peace with them.
The nobles of the imperial capital diligently moved seats, but I'm afraid the border lords wouldn't appreciate it. After all, as long as negotiations and agreements can solve problems, history will not let our ancestors create armies and weapons. Before returning to the imperial capital, Mike had always wanted to know how the cabinet allowed the emperor to issue an armistice. They should have been the most determined war faction. He didn't expect the answer to be so ridiculous.
"Sir" someone called outside the door, "Your Highness"
"You'd better call me by name, Sir Veronka. I know you are happy to be a commander." Mike said as he opened the door. Before arriving in the imperial capital, the Silver Song Knight was still his superior. The empire's armistice decision not only affected the border, but also affected me.
"Of course I'm happy. Not just anyone can be the heir to the empire."
"Indeed." He had to admit. Mike's last commander died of a curse assassination, two weeks after they just announced their alliance. At that time, he was serving as a staff officer in a certain legion. The fact that Veronca is alive to this day shows that the assassins have not been successful so far. Of course, it was also because the other party came from a small noble family in a remote countryside. His brothers were less worried. "Unfortunately, I haven't obtained the title of Knight of Silver Song yet."
"Nothing changes," his former commander said nonchalantly. "Knight titles are worthless these days."
"The Silver Song Knight is different."
"It will be the same soon." The knight captain chose the chair opposite him and sat down, crossing his legs. "Saint Valoran has surrendered, and my army is worthless." He grimaced. "Perhaps the cabinet will direct us to go south. Alan Wo is a good opponent."
"Alanwo has to import even steel and rock, and the cabinet looks down upon it." Mike told him, "You might as well convince my father."
"Your father was convinced by the cabinet. He gave up on the Blue Forest. Is Thurston crazy?"
Thurston Sterling is the Prime Minister of the Empire. If he is crazy, I am afraid there will be no normal people in the cabinet. Mike did not intend to discuss his mental problems. "He cannot control the situation. Sterling's territory is to the west, bordering Blackwood County. After defeating the forest race, they are the biggest beneficiaries. Of course the nobles will be dissatisfied."
"Oh, I got too little, so I would rather no one get it."
"Put aside your reckless knightly thinking, Sir. The fight between the imperial nobles is not that childish. This little undecided disagreement will not make them angry." He paused, because the real reason seemed more ridiculous. "It's the Tower of Sky. The astrologers stopped the cabinet."
"It sounds like they successfully prevented the meteorite from falling." The knight captain sneered.
"It is not difficult to exchange gifts for promises. Moreover, even if the forest race is completely defeated, the remaining soldiers will not be cleared away in a while. The noble big shots do not want to waste time on guerrilla groups and self-defense forces as many as leaves. The Holly Agreement satisfies Exploiting resources for profit and vanity achievements for the sake of face are enough to convince most people to give up. There are both praises and warnings in the prophecy of the National Preceptor, why should the Prime Minister refuse?"
"I would know it if he was an astrologer."
"There is no one else. We all know that the wizards of the Mercury Temple do not care about the forest race. They are eager to destroy Saint Valoran so that they can obtain inexhaustible research samples."
"Research sample" There was a flash of doubt on Veronca's young face, but he quickly returned to the topic "Have the green elves of Saint Valoran learned to bribe astrologers?"
"Between survival and destruction, there seems to be no hesitation." Mike replied, "No matter what, the warning of the National Master cannot be ignored. He has brought a prophecy."
"I know, I know. People are talking as if it's already happened." This was supposed to be a secret, and Mike narrowed his eyes. Veronka learned from his colleagues that the Silver Song Knights were indeed imperial elites, but most of the elites came from noble families, and few were promoted civilians. It is not surprising that the poor cannot light the fire except from the First Source. Veronca did not notice his secret observation. "The National Preceptor has brought a prophecy, and the cabinet cannot ignore it. But the content is too bizarre. Mike, do you think it is possible?"
"If it really happens," he said slowly, "the death of the great monarch of Orenia has caused turmoil in the court, people are in fear day and night, and the cabinet is in a state of distress. It has nothing to do with the signing of the agreement."
"He is your father."
"Oh, I haven't forgotten, but how can I cry bitterly or come back to life?" The knight captain couldn't help but smile. "Since neither our National Master nor the Mercury Temple can save the life of the monarch they are loyal to, what can I do?" Mike sighed, "The prophecy is not destined, I can only hope in the gifts of the gods."
"So, the prophecy is impossible to happen. Your Highness, you think so"
"I am not the one who hastily ended the expedition for this reason, sir. I have long admired the title of Knight of Silversong."
"I owe you a conferment ceremony, Your Highness." Veronka yawned, "Of course, you can find another Silver Song Knight." He didn't care at all. "Now the case is solved. The imperial advisor threatened the cabinet with the emperor's life to stop the expedition. Damn it, are these magicians finished? What secrets are there in the Cangzhi Forest?"
Mike had an in-depth understanding of the rumors about Cangzhi Forest. "The forest race believes that the Glimmer Forest is the scar of Knox." He replied, "Once Saint Valoran is disintegrated, the order will be destroyed."
"What should we do? Now we are calling on everyone to plant trees."
"Only the trees planted by the green elves are qualified." Mike corrected seriously, "We can't live without the forest race."
"I would rather plant green elves in the ground. To hell with them and the druids, how could the Imperial Master believe such words? Even if the Imperial Master believed it, His Majesty the Emperor would not be stupid. There must be other reasons."
reason. Everything happens for a reason. Nobles pursue power, merchants desire profit, and monarchs seek conquest. Mike didn't know what motivated Veronca. He came to Malandeno from the remote countryside and relied on his strength to become a bystander in the center of power. He is a Knight of Silver Song personally conferred by His Majesty the Emperor, so no one has heard of his scandals; he never hides his desires, so no one knows his weaknesses. Mike knew that what he wanted was not a knighthood, but a personal canonization from his father. But what Veronka wanted was that he was content to be the emperor's bodyguard, although this was considered the greatest honor for a minor noble.
No matter what, I had to handle his temptation perfectly. This guy is not stupid at all. "If you ask me, the cabinet believes that they have invested enough, and it is time to harvest." Mike said, "After the defeat of Saint Valoran, the Cangzhi Forest is a newly developed territory, and two-thirds of the noble families will They are greedy for the treasures within. And according to the law, the Sterling family will be the lords of the local lords."
"Is such that."
"Our great Majesty Elber, the Lord of the Restoration of Humanity, will soon watch helplessly as the territory of the Stirling family occupies one-third of the Aurenia territory." He looked at the top of the golden tower outside the window and said, " And the patriarch of this family, Duke Thurston Stirling, is currently the Prime Minister, with all the power and nominal control over the cabinet."
"That's it. Your Highness, please continue."
"Should we continue?" Mike asked, "Aren't these reasons enough to convince my father?" Power and life, if the expedition shakes one of them, his father will order an end. What's more, now they are all under threat. If I were the emperor, I would be convinced.
"That's absolutely true. But I heard that laws made by one emperor can be revoked by another emperor."
Mike began to look at him with new eyes. My feeling is correct, he is not as simple as the captain of the Silver Song Knight. While following the team as a page, Mike never heard Veronca talk about politics. His conversations with his colleagues were often vulgar and superficial, but now he was testing my attitude. This is the way of secret agents. The key is who he works for.
He was very interested in the position of the former chief, but he still explained as usual: "It is very difficult to change the law. It will not only have to adjust the regulations of the judicial organs, but also incur opposition from the princes. My father will not consider doing this. Why should I give it to you?" A truce is necessary when the princes challenge the king’s authority.”
"There are also prophecies." Veronka reminded, "Although many people don't believe it, a few believers have the power to subvert the court. You should know this, Your Highness."
I know everything. "Thanks for the warning, sir. Guarding against them is a must." I know more about politics than you've ever fought, Mike thought. Maybe this is the only thing I have over him. Who would have thought that one day I would be compared with this hillbilly Silversong Knight? This thought disappeared and reappeared. "But you can't ask me to convict others based on speculation, Sir Veronka. After all, our Prime Minister has done a great job, is loyal and reliable, and is dedicated to the country."
"I'm not so sure. Thurston plans to send the Knights of Silversong to attack Alanvor."
"Dispatch," Mike repeated subconsciously, "the cabinet has no authority to dispatch the Silver Song Knights."
"His Majesty the Emperor thinks so too. It's a pity that my immediate boss believed in that prophecy and was willing to take risks to contribute to the new emperor's accession to the throne."
It turns out that he didn't want to betray the emperor, but he couldn't disobey the order. They had no choice but to go to the original attendants and hope for my participation. He had to admit that he found the right person. I must be involved in this matter. "I am the eldest son." Mike heard himself reply, "If the prophecy really comes true, the law stipulates that I should inherit the throne."
"Your judicial system is empty. Justice needs to be enforced to maintain dignity, otherwise the law will be a piece of waste paper. Your brother took away the Silver Song Knights, Mike, from the emperor."
It seemed like he wasn't thinking. Mike touched the cuffs and unbuttoned them. He took a bottle of wine from under the table. My brother is on the move.
He poured the wine into the gold cup, and the two flying dragons carved on the side wall immediately broke away from the constraints of the plane and fought among the clouds decorated with foam. Amber wine is like flowing honey.
The knight tapped the side of his cup impatiently. The bubble disappeared, but the room echoed. "I don't believe in prophecies," he confessed, "but something is definitely going to happen."
That's right. "He was afraid he'd lose the election," Mike told his former commander. "The rebellion was just around the corner."
"The defeated Duke Thurston is your brother's mentor." Veronca reminded, "But I know you are not afraid, Mike, you have a way. Can you please stop beating around the bush? I'm going to vomit."
The law supported me, but he knew that these words would not appease the other person. "The power of the cabinet is rooted in the laws of our ancestors and I dare say that the wishes of the prime minister are not important."
Veronka didn't understand "What does it have to do with the cabinet? I mean the princes."
"Of course it does. Do you know Bernard Sterling?"
