"God forbid, I should really pray that this linen robe doesn't smell like salted fish... You know the way back, right, boy?"
Ravel's rotating brown eyes made Luca feel uncomfortable all over. The young man nodded to him and eagerly got into the wooden building.
This building was built by the Earl for Uncle Zeman, at least that's what he said. In Valaifahan, whether it is the official residence of a nobleman or the mixed residence on Crab Island, most of them are made of stone due to the materials taken from the mountains. Although such a wooden building is not eye-catching, it is still rare.
The light in the room was very dark, and iron buckets containing various colors of paint were piled up scatteredly. Luca walked carefully among them, for fear of accidentally knocking them over.
Zeman was sitting on a high chair, shading the painting. When his nephew came in, he stopped writing and cleared his throat and said, "Put the letter down. If you want, you can stay the night."
Zeman intended to persuade his nephew to stay. Although the count would return home tonight, he would probably not come to his small wooden building. When he needed himself he only summoned him across the cobblestoned path to his chambers.
"No, uncle." Luca waved his hand quickly: "I want to find Giotto. He also lives on this street."
"Giotto? Who is he? Okay, whatever, but I have to remind you not to get too close to these noble young masters..."
Old Zeman was completely immersed in his creation, and Luca also wisely retreated to a square table and sat down. It was still early, so he could have a full meal, then rest for a while and wait for Giotto to come to him, just like As usual.
The table was filled with various dishes, most of which were untouched. When the old Zeman was painting, he often did not think about food and drinks. The servants would leave after delivering the meals, and wait until the sun went down before bringing fruits, vegetables and fragrant tea.
Although he had just eaten fried potatoes and salted fish, Luca still could not resist the temptation of this delicacy. He picked up a gelding leg of lamb and took a hard bite. The grease dripped down the corner of his mouth, and drop by drop of paste was on the table; the fat goose was roasted until golden, and its neck was raised high, just like a domineering person. noble lord, not to mention the sweet boiled milk mixed with honey, mead and refined salt..."
After a full meal, Luca poured himself a glass of ale, followed Uncle Zeman's example, shook the glass, and drank it down.
I am a big shot, and only big shots drink ale like this!
Maybe one day I will become a knight, Luka thought. I will ride a white horse galloping on the avenue of Valaifahan, and countless girls will cheer for me.
Luka's eyes felt heavy, and the plate in front of him stretched and shrank, and finally turned into a hammer and hit him on the bridge of the nose...
When he opened his eyes again, he was dizzy by the splendid curtain wall.
He rubbed his eyes, stood up and looked around. On one side of the long hall were glazed floor-to-ceiling windows, and on the other side were relief carvings of the ancient gods.
Two closed golden wooden doors stood majestically in front of him, with a portrait of Alexander I carved on them.
Luka took a deep breath. The solemn and sacred atmosphere made him a little at a loss... What should he do? Why is he here? Countless questions came to his mind, and the young man stood there blankly, not daring to take a step.
The sound of a bell made Luka startle, and the young man realized that it was already sunset. The golden wooden door slowly opened, and four white-robed guards walked out first with swords in hand, standing on both sides of the door. Immediately afterwards, countless gentlemen in purple uniforms filed out, with bursts of laughter from time to time. "Luca!"
Just as the young man was about to take out his right foot, he heard a crisp sound and froze in place.
It's Giotto!
Luka was secretly happy and walked forward quickly. He stopped two steps away from Giotto and looked at him in surprise.
I saw Giotto wearing a red velvet dress, light yellow trousers that reached down to his waist and ankles, and a Caspian sword on his waist. Even a blind man would not turn a blind eye to the seven rubies inlaid in the hilt of the sword. …
Luca swallowed his spit, raised his eyes and scanned upwards, only to see two golden leopards vividly embroidered on the family emblem on Giotto's chest.
He is actually a prince!
Luka was shocked for a moment. Even the poorest of Crab Island residents recognize the emblem of the two-headed golden leopard.
If there is a person with a two-headed golden leopard embroidered on his chest, kneel down and kiss the soles of his feet.
Luca remembered what the old monk said to him and knelt down on one knee.
“They come out of the storm, prosperity and peace.”
Giotto helped up the trembling Luca and joked: "Why don't you recognize me?"
"Ah Giotto, my lord, my lord...what shall I call you?"
"Your Highness!" The voice of a kind person sounded in the young man's ears.
"Oh, yes! Of course, Your Highness! Please forgive me." Luka never imagined that the boy in front of him was actually a prince. He guessed that Giotto was a noble young master, perhaps the heir to an earl or something, but he never guessed that he was a prince!
"He is saluting you. You are a two-headed golden leopard just like me!" Giotto looked at Luca with a smile, completely ignoring the shocked eyes of everyone present. "As you say, you come out of the storm."
If Luca hadn't eaten a whole leg of gelding before, he would have passed out now.
"I'm sorry, you, oh...I mean you..."
Luka subconsciously stepped back, but was held down by a thick palm.
ah!
He almost screamed.
"Prince Luca, maybe I should call you that."
Luca turned around and saw a burly middle-aged knight saluting him. He was wearing a set of dark green leather armor, with a light yellow cloak hanging on the leather armor, which made the knight even more heroic and powerful.
The boy carefully observed this unfamiliar face - a high nose bridge, deep-set eye sockets, long blond hair, and an inconspicuous brown beard...
I don’t know who led it, but there was a burst of cheers in the palace hall.
"Long live Gallipoli, long live King Carl, long live Prince Giotto, long live Prince Luca..."
Long live Prince Luca? Is he also a Valaifahan prince?
The young man and Prince Giotto walked forward along the Hall of Mirrors surrounded by the ministers. It was so beautiful, the young man thought to himself, and the dense air was so beautiful that it took his breath away.
It rained heavily.
Rainwater flows down the golden dome, forming a curtain wall in front of the colorful curtain of the palace.
Trugreen walked through the corridor in a hurry, not wanting to take a look at the beautiful scenery in the rain. Frenzotis warned him that something big would happen in the near future with the fall of the Holy Forest Tower, but he ignored it...
The beams and columns on both sides of the corridor are carved with ferocious gargoyles. There are hundreds or even thousands of them. Although they are huge in number, they have different expressions and no duplicates. No one knows when these gargoyles were carved. Maybe there were these holy works when the city of Vernequet was founded, or maybe they were brought from the east when Duke Emaner married Princess Lore. Accompanying gifts.
"The Eastlanders love gargoyles as the Vallefarhans love smoked fish."
Trugreen stopped in front of the church. After a long time, the small window on the stone door opened, and an old woman stretched out her head and whispered softly: "He is not here, you can leave."
"Gods, only the Grand Master can save Burna!" Trugreen stepped forward and shouted excitedly: "Midsummer is approaching. If the ghouls are reborn from the land of the barren tombs, plague and death will follow."
The old woman shook her head: "Ghouls have been extinct for a thousand years. Perhaps the Lord needs to care more about the mob than these filths."
Trugreen was unwilling to give in: "The maester said he saw filth, and only pious prayers can eliminate it..."
"Prayers can't eliminate anything. Perhaps you should hone your military skills instead of sitting in front of the church and reciting scriptures."
Trugreen was filled with rage, but luckily reason prevailed. He was a man from Florenzotis, he told himself in his mind. If this old guy hadn't said this, he would have asked the Guards to capture her. But there is some truth to what she said. Burna is a confederate kingdom, and although the city of Vernaquet is the most powerful, it cannot call the shots in everything.
"The saint always has mercy on all living beings." Trugreen's lips opened slightly without any emotion.
"Saints sometimes need to be pitied more." The old woman's face was full of sarcasm, and she closed the stone door fiercely.
Crazy, this old man is completely crazy, even the servants of God in the church are crazy!
He turned and walked away quickly, with enough anger in his chest to burn the filth of the temple.
Since Burna was a kingdom abandoned by the gods, he thought, let the gods go to hell.
Trugreen had nothing else on his mind now.
...
...
If there is an afterlife, Giovanni thought, he must not become a damn royal knight.
Even if Holy Lord Sylvia hears it, she will definitely agree with him.
Flowers and flames, shields and storms, the guardians of the kingdom's dignity offer their honor, wealth and even life, and from the moment they put on their white robes, they are with the sun, moon and stars...
Giovanni and his colleagues in white robes have recited these bullshit oaths countless times. The archbishop made them swear, King Carl made them swear, and even the untouchables of Crab Island who live in the dirty corners think that they are loyal to the king. Minions.
Hey, if one day he can duel with King Karl, he will definitely stick the spear through the belly button of the fat pig king, damn the bullshit oath!
Giovanni tightened his leather armor tightly, put on the golden face-protecting helmet, and walked towards the Little Mia Palace in frustration. He was chosen to be the martial arts master of the new prince, which meant that he had to grovel in front of a young man all the time, and flatter him with a smile on his face to please him. He may not be able to use a spear, or even a sword.
I heard that he was an illegitimate son, a damn king. He had sown countless seeds in his youth, but in his old age and frail body, his father's love overflowed and he brought illegitimate children into the palace. There are really more princes than crabs by the Red River these days.
Giovanni was not a fool to please his master, never - especially to an illegitimate son.
"Hey, Francisco, Duke of Iron Fist, I guess you are here to meet Prince Luca."
Giovanni walked up quickly and greeted Duke Iron Fist "warmly". The middle-aged man in lake blue velvet in front of him was short, stout, and somewhat bald. His two deeply sunken eyes were no different from those of a dead fish. Such an appearance was far from handsome, but he had a noble personality. ’s surname! These days you only need to have a noble surname to become a duke!
"Perhaps the true God heard His Majesty's call and instructed me to be His Highness's master."
Duke Iron Fist's answer was beyond Giovanni's expectation. Yes, he was the prince's martial arts master. He also needed a scribe, and who could be more suitable for this position than the "knowledgeable" Lord Iron Fist?
"The true god may take a nap," Giovanni changed the topic: "But he will wake up eventually."
"Of course, maybe we can train His Royal Highness to be a qualified knight in just two years. I mean, oh, princes are all knights, right?"
Yes, all princes are knights, even bastards, Giovanni thought to himself.
"Yes, knights can only be canonized by knights, and I happen to be a knight." Giovanni spread his hands and said softly: "I just don't know what his Highness's temperament is like. I mean Prince Suna accidentally shot him to death on his first hunting trip. Viscount Lumby, and His Highness Maximilian's crossbow accidentally aimed at Countess Barbara's butt..."
"Prince Luca has all the makings of a good knight."
Duke Iron Fist coughed twice: "The golden leopard has two heads, one represents bravery and the other represents humility."
"They protect justice and help the weak...Okay, my Lord Duke, the oaths of these knights are clearer than yours. I have to say that if we continue to talk like this, His Highness the Prince may be unhappy!"
Giovanni stretched out his hand to invite, and Duke Iron Fist nodded and walked towards the door first.
The Palace of Asia Minor has been around for a long time, but after some rest it has been revitalized. They passed through the flower beds and the four-eyed fountain, walking slowly under the watchful eyes of many guards.
“What a beautiful little building!”
This palace was originally built by the Duke of Norton. Later, William I the Conqueror used trebuchets and cannons to blast open the gates of Vallefahan. The Gallipoli family also successfully became a royal family and ruled this rich and prosperous East for generations. country.
"You who are knowledgeable must know that this palace is a hunting palace. King William always stays here for a few days every autumn hunting. Some people say that he hides his beauty in the golden house here. Another saying is, tsk tsk, he likes to enjoy it. A teenage boy…”
Giovanni enjoyed the pleasure of this indulgence. If indulgence was the devil, he would be willing to sacrifice himself to him. Palace life was too depressing, and sometimes he even felt that he was not as good as a bitch. Yes, a prostitute sells her body, but apart from the title of Royal Guard, how much more noble is he than a prostitute?
The cramped environment makes people crazy, enough is enough, he often says to himself, enough is enough!
Asia Minor is just a temporary palace. Although it is only more than ten miles away from the royal city, the temporary palace is just a temporary palace. The environment here is much more relaxed, and the one he has to serve is just an illegitimate child.
If King Karl really liked his illegitimate son, why didn't he just take him to the palace? This illegitimate son got the title of prince but that was it.
...
...
