Crown of Chaos

That afternoon, under Ms. Raul's warm invitation, Aaron and Eleanor did not leave Ms. Raul's manor, but stayed to attend Ms. Raul's ball.

Aaron took the stage to play "Shalish Palace" at the beginning amidst the cheers of the crowd. His melodious singing, magnetic voice and completely emotionless playing ignited the atmosphere of the venue.

"Welcome to Salish's palace~"

"What a lovely place, what a lovely face."

“There are so many guest rooms in Salis Palace~”

“You can find this place no matter what time of the year~”

Relying on the violin presented by Samir, Aaron maximized his power of Slaanesh. His charm power overwhelmed the entire venue. Even the servants with the lowest status could not help but sing along with Aaron. Everyone on the dance floor Whether it was druids, mages, or even paladins, they all swayed together as if they were on drugs.

Aaron is spreading the corruption of Slaanesh, and so far, it's working out well.

After the song was over, Aaron came off the stage to dance with Eleanor, then secretly left the dance floor and found a place to sit down and rest.

Naturally, Miss Pastor, as Aaron's female companion, kept a close eye on him throughout the whole process. Many people wanted to come up and dance with Aaron, but they were all politely rejected by Aaron.

After all, Eleanor was watching.

Holding the charming pastor lady in his arms, Aaron leaned on the back of the long chair and put his hand into Eleanor's skirt, feeling the ultimate silky tenderness and fullness without saying a word.

Eleanor carefully covered her skirt with one hand to prevent others from noticing that Aaron's hands were touching her legs in gray aurora silk. Miss Priest looked at the eight or nine couples dancing on the grand dance floor. The men and women were singing and dancing, and when they saw the poet laureate from the Harpers League reciting a song on the stage, they couldn't help but said: "Speaking of which, isn't Ms. Raul going to attack Arabelle? Then why is she holding a banquet here? ?This banquet is expensive, right?"

"Yes, it's a lot of money." Aaron nodded. He put one hand around Eleanor's waist and kissed her on the lips: "You must be thinking why Ms. Raul has obviously left. If you spend all your wealth to raise an army, why spend so much money on this banquet?”

"How do I know what's going on in your aristocratic circles?" Eleanor had already changed back to her previous dress and high heels. Seeing that there was no one around, the priestess let Aaron take advantage of her, and she said with some emotion. : "If I were to go back to a year ago and think about it ten thousand times, I would never think that a priest like me would find a noble boyfriend."

"Ms. Raul organizes so many activities precisely because she needs everyone's help and needs more people to join." Aaron sighed: "For nobles, decency is most important in many cases, even if they are poor. When you are down and out, even if your business is difficult, you still have to maintain your dignity, maintain your expenses, and maintain your appearance."

Aaron didn't understand many things in his previous life. Only after becoming a noble in this life did he understand how the aristocratic circle works.

In the country, nobles often have to maintain their dignity until they go bankrupt!

For example, fox hunting is the favorite sport of nobles. Everyone goes hunting in the country manor in the summer.

The price of a fox hunting hound is as high as 400-700 gold lion coins, which is equivalent to the annual income of a relatively well-off middle-class family (based on the income of an excellent blacksmith).

(The annual income of master dwarf craftsman Foujar is more than 1,000 gold lion coins. If the business is good, 2,000-3,000 is not a problem.)

In fact, as Eleanor's pastor of Su Lun in Shenhai Town, her annual expenses are only 60-100 gold lion coins, which is considered a relatively comfortable life. You must know that the two middle-aged people in Aaron's family In addition to providing food and accommodation for the maids, he only paid the two maids a combined salary of 75 gold lion coins a year, which was only recently increased to 80.

But some big nobles spend as much as 4,000-5,000 gold lion coins every year on the hounds and horses they raise just for fox hunting!

How many Arabel refugees in the refugee camp can be saved with this money?

That's why Aaron showed little interest in donating money.

Let’s not talk about anything else, let’s just talk about this manor. Ms. Raul needs twenty or thirty servants to maintain this manor, right? The annual salary of a low-level maid is at least 30 gold lion coins. It usually takes 35-40 to find a qualified maid who can do most of the housework.

How much will this cost?

Not to mention social expenses. In addition to the fox hunting mentioned earlier, the nobles of Cormyr held various social dinners, drinking parties, speeches, plays, etc., which were all huge expenses.

What? You said you didn’t participate or hold it to save money?

Okay, it turns out you are the legendary disgrace of the nobility! Don't expect anyone to take you to play.

The Salian family, which had been deprived of its title before, had become a noble disgrace. Aaron's father, Manuel, did not have so much money to attend social activities and maintain the family's dignity, so the influence of the Salian surname continued to decline. , by the time they got there, no one in the aristocratic circle would take them to play.

Therefore, the nickname "The Last Salian" given to Aaron by the aristocratic circle not only has the meaning of regret, but also has a bit of malice.

"But now they start taking you to play again?" Eleanor shook her calves, and Miss Pastor asked curiously: "Didn't it mean that Salian no longer has any influence?"

During this time, Eleanor had already begun to help Aaron deal with some things at home, and invitations to various New Year banquets came like a snowflake.

"Isn't it that your boyfriend has done a lot of things?" Aaron held Eleanor in his arms and smiled: "The aristocratic circle is like this. If you are very powerful and influential, then you don't need pomp and circumstance. Dignity, if you lack strength and have no actual position in the palace, then the more you need to maintain dignity, even if you are heavily in debt, you will need it even more."

"Because only in this way can we ensure that there is still a chance to turn around."

Taking risks is risky, and people will die! There is no risk in being pompous and decent, the most you can do is to incur debt!

For nobles, it is not clear how to choose?

Who wants to go out and fight for life and death when they can live a life of fine clothing and food at home?

"Hey, your aristocratic circle is really dirty!" Eleanor was speechless. Miss Pastor pinched Aaron's face: "Anyway, you can't become like that! I have an obligation to keep you away from those unclean and corrupt lives. ~”

Aaron just smiled: "Okay, dear~"

The young couple chatted with each other in the corner for a while, and finally someone discovered them.

Holding a glass of strong drink in her hand and wearing a black feathered peacock diamond fairy high-neck see-through dress, Ms. Karina from the Harpers Alliance swayed closer. She decisively ignored Eleanor who was held in Aaron's lap. , a pair of eyes with bright pink hearts: "Your Excellency Aaron Salian, would you be honored to dance with you?"

After saying that, the Karina lady licked her lips and looked like she was eager to devour Aaron in one bite.

"Sorry, ma'am, I would have loved to accept your invitation, but I have to accompany my girlfriend." Aaron smiled calmly.

"Oh, Your Excellency, your girlfriend is very good. I don't think she needs your company for such a long time. You still have a long time with her." Ms. Karina was a little disappointed when Aaron rejected her directly.

"You are right, so for you, it is the same for me." Aaron nodded.

Only then did the lady from the Harpers' Alliance realize Aaron's verbal trap. She glanced at Eleanor reluctantly and saw that Miss Priest had no intention of getting up from Aaron's lap, so she reluctantly left.

"You are so popular." After Ms. Karina left, Eleanor snorted in a weird voice, which was so cute: "Do you want me to stay away for a while? Is one hour enough?"

"I was thinking that there should be rooms in Ms. Raul's manor, right?" Aaron said meaningfully, and at the same time, his big hand under Eleanor's skirt was quietly reaching up.

The pastor lady immediately slapped his big hand away as if she was electrocuted: "No! I don't want to be in a place like this. Who knows how many people have been in this kind of room before?"

"But..." Aaron said frustratedly.

"No!" Eleanor's attitude was firm: "I emphasize again, Aaron, at home, in our room, I do whatever you want, but it is absolutely not allowed outside, it is very dirty!"

Aaron sighed. Miss Pastor was a bit mystical in this regard, and he respected Eleanor's thoughts.

After a while, Abigail, the mage from Waterdeep City, appeared, holding a wine glass in his hand: "Hello, Ms. Dineful, Lord Salian, can you forgive me for my trash talk during the duel? "

"Hello, Mr. Gale from Waterdeep City." Aaron showed a bright smile: "Of course, please sit down."

Gale sat two positions away from Aaron. The mage first chatted about a few useless topics, and then immediately asked: "About your magic... I am very interested. My colleagues are all interested in it." very interested."

"So, we invite you to visit Waterdeep City at a time you think is appropriate. We look forward to you showing us your magic, and let us explore the secrets of the Magic Web together and lead to the source of arcane magic."

"If there is a chance, I will." Aaron did not answer directly.

"I'm serious. With your magic talent, as long as you are willing to go to Deepwater City, you will definitely have the opportunity to become a masked lord in the future." Gale picked up the wine glass: "Among the warlocks, there is an arcane magician like you. This is the first time I’ve seen someone with controllability.”

"So, I can take my talents to the West Coast?" Aaron laughed.

"If you have this idea, then why not?" Gale turned his attention to Eleanor: "Waterdeep City even has the largest silver altar of Our Lady, the Mansion of the Moon."

Yes, the largest Temple of Selun in the country is located in Waterdeep City. It is a great building known as the Mansion of the Moon.

The three of them chatted for a while, and Samir and Eleonora came: "Aaron, Eleanor, and Gale, you are all here."

"Ms. Raul invites you."

Ten minutes later, in the inner room of the manor, Ms. Raul, wearing a phoenix crown and an earl's attire, met Aaron and Eleanor in the room.

"Please take a seat, son of Manuel, the sunken flower of the Silver Virgin." The furnishings in the room were relatively simple, mostly simple and old decorations. Ms. Raul saw Samir come in with Aaron and Eleanor. , a smile appeared on his face.

"I'll ask you one last time, Viscount Salian, do you really want to join the Battle of Arabelle?" The lady lord spoke concisely and to the point. She stared at Aaron: "Alice Seer mentioned you to me."

"You are the last bloodline of the Salian family. You have unlimited talents. You are the key training target of the royal family. Your strength is also good... Salian, I tell you honestly, I am not sure of victory in this war. Even so, do you still want to participate?" Ms. Raul sat behind the desk and took out a file bag from the drawer: "War is not a child's play, son of Manuel, I fought side by side with your father, I hope not……"

"I hope." Aaron smiled, and he shook his head repeatedly: "My father spent his whole life fighting to prevent the kingdom from being overthrown by evil. When he died in a bloody battle with several drow under the city of Tifantun, he thought about it. Are these?"

"I am a noble of Cormyr, Ms. Raul. I don't need many reasons to fight for my country. I enjoy so much."

"I understand what you mean, but this is my choice."

"Your choice?" Ms. Raul smiled noncommittally and did not continue: "There is always a reason for any choice, Salian, I was once an adventurer!"

Aaron knew he needed to get some real information, but Ms. Raul still had doubts about his motives for joining the Liberation Army.

He needed to put that doubt to rest.

Regarding the fiefdom, he couldn't tell Ms. Raul directly because it was a private agreement between him and Alice Searle.

Fortunately, he still has a wild card.

"I saw many statues in the royal library, my Countess." Aaron changed the subject calmly: "And I heard that there is a special room named It is the Purple Dragon Pavilion, used to display the portraits of the kingdom’s heroes over the past millennium.”

"Yes, that's right." Ms. Raul nodded: "Only the real heroes of the kingdom can be painted by painters and hung in the room to highlight their achievements. These people are called 'heroes on the wall'... Do you want to Do you want to become a 'hero on the wall'?"

"It's not me." Aaron shook his head: "It's my father. My father has always had a wish. He wants to become a hero on the wall."

"I'm tired of being called the son of Manuel, Ms. Raul. I hope that when people recall my father as a hero in the future, they will say, 'Oh, he is the father of Aaron Salian. '!" Aaron's eyes were blazing, and the young man showed his ambition without any concealment: "I want my father to become one of the 'heroes on the wall' and have his portrait painted in the Purple Dragon Pavilion. In the future history, Manuel is mentioned in the book, and his greatest contribution is that he gave birth to me, Aaron Salian, with the battle mage Elizabeth!"

"This is my little selfishness, Ms. Raul, and it does not conflict with fighting for the country."

As soon as Aaron said this, Millman Raul's last doubt was finally dissipated. She nodded slowly: "What a big ambition, Aaron Salian, you want Manuel to rely on himself alone." Because of your contribution to childbirth, you will be selected as the portrait of the hero on the wall of Zilong Pavilion. Do you know how far you have to go?"

"Let's start with the recovery of Arabelle, my lady lord." Aaron did his part: "What can be a more glorious cause than shedding blood for the country?"

"Okay! Very good!" Ms. Raul couldn't help but laugh heartily. She clapped her hands vigorously, and her laughter was full of uninhibited joy: "I once thought that the old Salian family was finished! I didn't expect it, I didn't expect it, like It’s like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Salian family finally has such a character!”

"I accept your joining, son of Manuel. Take this and report to the army camp in Evening Star Town before February 15th, and prepare to fight for Cormyr." Ms. Raul took out a Roll up the parchment and hand it to Aaron: "This is my warrant!"

"Thank you." Aaron took the order and held it in his hand.

"And this, this is the information about the orc Great Khan Turgeon. Take it back and look at it." Ms. Raul took out another long parchment roll and mentioned Turgeon's name. Ms. Raul almost said Subconsciously covering the scar on his face: "I know you have performed many feats before, but war is different from adventure. Moreover, if we want to defeat the orc tribe entrenched in Arabelle, we must face Turgeon and his The army of ancestors!”

"The army of ancestors?" Aaron took the parchment roll.

"Well! This Great Khan of the Orcs is not only a super powerful shaman, but he is also the one-eyed favorer of the Orc God!"

"He owns a pair of legendary totem poles, which were condensed through witchcraft using the bones and blood of his orc biological parents."

"He can use these totem poles to summon the ancestral spirits of the orcs to join the battlefield!"

"My army and I were defeated by the ancestral spirits summoned by Tujin! Those pure killing machines scattered my army and slaughtered my people."

"So, if you want to regain Arabelle, in addition to defeating the thousands of orc tribes under Turgeon's command, you must also defeat more than 10,000 retinues composed of goblins, hobgoblins, orcs, gnolls, mountain giants, ogres, and kobolds. Apart from the army, our most powerful enemy is the soul of the orc ancestor summoned by Tujin."

"They gave me the biggest defeat of my life."

"In order to cover my escape, my entire battalion of 200 guardsmen were slaughtered by them. Their heads were skinned and their bones scraped."

"I can only bear this kind of loss once, just once... So this time, either I will chop off Tujin's head to comfort the souls of the soldiers, or my head will be hung on Tujin's totem pole."

"This is a very tough war, Aaron Salian, much tougher than you think."

"This is your last chance to quit."

"Don't make a decision in a hurry. Read the information I gave you first."

"I will wait for you at the camp in Evening Star Town until February 15th."

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