Kingdom’s Bloodline

The other Grand Dukes looked at Grand Duke Heisha with different expressions, and listened to Lecco's refusal, but they had no intention of refuting.

Rumba stared at the four of them blankly.

No.

His fists were slowly clenched.

"Why?" Rumba said with some difficulty.

Grand Duke Ronnie smiled coldly, and walked forward slowly.

"What do you say?"

"We will not cover up a traitor who betrayed the Lord," the Grand Duke of Qiyuan City's eyes lit up: "We will not even join forces with him for the so-called interests."

Rumba didn't say a word, just looked terrible.

"Even if the sword is added to the body," Grand Duke Ronnie said with a firm expression, "Even if the head falls to the ground."

"killer."

Trudida on the side rolled his eyes, while Olsio snorted coldly.

The Grand Duke of Lombard clenched his teeth, with inexplicable emotions rolling in his chest for many years.

No.

"My behavior may be difficult for you to understand." He restrained his emotions and gritted his teeth.

"But that's unavoidable," Lunba said with a cold look in his eyes, "sooner or sooner, someone has to do it."

"As a last resort?"

Grand Duke Olsio shook his head slowly: "A person who is forced to do so will not have so many follow-up plans."

Rumba threw off his cloak, and his voice suddenly increased:

"Can't you see it?"

"That's right, Nunn's death has caused the entire situation in Exeter to take a turn for the worse, and the balance is out of balance."

Every word of Grand Duke Heisha seems to be filled with years of resentment and anger:

"But what I'm trying to do, isn't it about us, rebalancing this bad situation?"

"Even for Exeter—why don't you understand!"

boom!

The sound of palms slamming on the square table.

All the grand dukes turned their eyes to the dignified and solemn Grand Duke Lecco.

I saw the bald old man who didn't usually participate in the discussion stand up tremblingly from his seat.

"The one who doesn't understand is you."

The old Grand Duke's voice was low and seemed to be very distressed: "His Excellency Grand Duke Charmain Lombard."

Rumba stared at him blankly.

"What we are worried about is not the interests of the territory," Grand Duke Lecco exhaled, his eyes no longer dimmed, but sharp-edged: "It's not about reputation."

"It's not even the creed of the Northland, or any loyalty to the lord."

Grand Duke Ronnie snorted.

Rumba trembled slightly, staring at Lecco closely.

"It's you," Grand Duke Lycco's face twisted, and his words resounded in the hall, every word was like iron, every sentence was forged: "Charmain Rumba."

"Rule breakers."

"The one who broke the statue."

"You are the one who worries us the most in this farce."

Rumba paused for a moment, then opened his eyes angrily.

Grand Duke Lecco leaned on the back of his chair, left his seat, and walked up to Lumbard step by step, looking at his uncertain expression.

"The co-governance oath stipulates the relationship between us and the king. It is a sacred contract between the ten supreme powers in this land." A classic that has been forgotten: "The rules it left behind have maintained our stability and unity for more than six hundred years."

Rumba turned his head and looked at the other three Grand Dukes, but they all looked at him silently with cold eyes, without any intention of speaking.

The old man's words continued.

"It endows the king with supreme prestige and leadership, but it also defines the boundary between the king and the princes, 'I obey the king's order, and my land obeys me'."

The Grand Duke of Lecco said sadly: "It means more to the Northlanders and Exeter than the giant dragon on the national flag.

Even better than Nakaru's prestige, better than the Sky Queen herself. "

"It is the basis for Exeter's unified existence and undivided existence."

"Whenever a vassal is trampled by the royal power and the right of self-government is violated, the co-government oath is his last shield."

"Whenever a subject disrespects the monarch and develops inexplicable ambitions, the co-governance oath is also his greatest constraint."

"It's Exeter's flag!"

Grand Duke Heisha looked at Lecco blankly.

At that moment, Rumba felt that what he was facing was not an old grand duke.

It is a tradition and power that has lasted for more than 600 years, has a solid foundation, and is unshakable.

"No matter how powerful King Nun is, he can only restrain his power within the scope of the co-governance oath," Grand Duke Lecco's voice became more and more severe: "Instead of using violent and bloody methods without limits, forcefully The land will erase the lords and vassals, territories and territories that you dislike from history and maps!"

Grand Duke Lecco observed Lumbard's expression and sighed long.

He put his hands behind his back, lowered his head, turned away from Rumba, and started pacing.

"That's right, we, Exeter, have also faced collapse and destruction countless times."

"However, relying on the willingness of the Grand Dukes to abide by the tacit agreement and maintain the rules, relying on the proud tradition of the Northland, relying on the wisdom and talents of countless people who love this land deeply, relying on the co-governance oath to treat the ten Grand Dukes equally , relying on the awe and trust in the co-governance oath witnessed by Her Majesty Queen Krulesis," the old grand duke slowly raised his head and looked at the stone sculpture of the Dragon Spear in the Cloud above his head:

"Every time, the powerful and proud Kingdom of Exeter has overcome the difficulties."

Grand Duke Lecco turned around abruptly, his bald head reflected the flickering fire, as if the temperature in the hall had also risen a little.

"Compared to the bloody civil strife in the history of the stars, the fragile countries achieved through compromise in Dragon's Kiss, and the ridiculous and ineffective separation of powers in the Kingdom of Allenbia..."

"Compared to the city-state conflicts that came and went back and forth in the Commas Alliance, the Humble Dynasty used the Temple of the Sun to supervise the country but still could not eliminate the embarrassment in the audience..."

"Compared to the powerful but short-lived big tribes on the Kiseli Grassland, the Suye Dynasty has a different kind of rule based on tradition and ethics..."

The old man guarding the city took a deep breath, and said word by word in the most solemn and dignified tone he hadn't used for a long time:

"The Kingdom of Exeter after Nakaru, ten middle-sized princes, ten famous ancient families, and nearly ten million rebellious and valiant Northlanders, brought this piece of land together. The forces on the land that once brought down the empire have gathered under the banner of the black-bottomed red dragon like never before, and it continues to this day."

"And after the end of the Empire and the end of the War of the End, as the strongest in the West, always stand proudly in the North, awe-inspiring the neighbors, and shocking the world."

"Even in the face of Queen Heilan's orders, she can stand firm in the continental war without being humble or overbearing."

The brazier in the hall burned more and more vigorously, and the shadows of several grand dukes were reflected on the stone wall, shaking back and forth.

Like other Grand Dukes, Rumba listened to Lyco silently without saying a word.

Grand Duke Lecco looked at him, first narrowed his eyes, and then sighed deeply.

"But you, Charmain Rumba," said the Grand Duke in a low but clear voice:

"You scare us."

Rumba's expression began to twist, and his fists became tighter and tighter.

"You have done something to the person sitting on the joint throne." Grand Duke Lecco said indifferently.

"You broke these rules, broke this foundation, and tore up this oath in your own heart." Grand Duke Lecco's face was pale, his tone was heavy, and his fists clenched in his robes were slowly clenched: "And It’s unimaginable that we’re going to make up for the cost of fixing it.”

"This is the essence of Nunn's death."

"This is 'for the future of Exeter'."

The old man's voice fell softly.

Trudida on one side applauded.

"I'm not as eloquent as the old man," the Grand Duke of Reconstruction Tower said with a chuckle, "but that's probably what it means—of course I want to carve up Dragon Clouds City to gain new territories, but if it's at the price of not being able to sleep in the future, I'm going to be A guy who may go crazy at any time as a neighbor puts my family and my descendants in danger of losing the balance of the country..."

Trudida spread her hands, indicating that she was done.

"There is a reason why we abide by the so-called northern creed and honor." Grand Duke Ronnie looked at Rumba indifferently: "And you, do you think that is just a joke, just meaningless pedantic hypocrisy?"

Olsio crossed his arms and slowly raised his head to look at Grand Duke Heisha: "Is it clear?"

Rumba looked at Grand Duke Lecco in disbelief, and then at the other three Grand Dukes.

"Yes, put the blame on the stars, feed us restless fellows with benefits, maintain the most false and superficial balance, whitewash the peace—you can deceive the people as much as you want," Lecco nodded slowly , with a sad expression: "But you can't deceive yourself."

"You are no longer a member of us, no longer a member of the Covenant of Governance," the bald Grand Duke said indifferently:

"Your existence and your actions are the greatest threat to Exeter's stability."

"Kingslayer, Charmain Rumba."

Rumba lowered his head lightly, only his right hand kept trembling.

Deathly silence.

The five Grand Dukes stood face to face in the hall, their figures shadowy under the surrounding braziers.

It was just one figure among them, but it seemed particularly lonely.

He stood alone in front of the fire, facing the eyes of the other four who were watching the dead.

His right hand was weakly pressed against the old sword at his waist.

It seems like a century has passed.

Finally, Rumba's voice sounded faintly.

"Is that what you're afraid of?"

At this moment, his voice sounded exhausted, "Me?"

The four grand dukes looked at him coldly.

It seems to be looking at a seriously injured person who has no hope of surviving on the battlefield.

"Hmph." Rumba snorted softly.

He took a step forward, walked gently to the rectangular table, and glanced at the eleven seats above.

Rumba first glanced at the seat at the farthest end with complicated eyes.

A second later, he sneered and stretched out his hand to pull a chair away.

"Notice!"

Grand Duke Ronnie crossed his arms and called Rumba to a halt without any politeness.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, and warned coldly: "The fourth on the right—that's the chair of the Cameron family."

Rumba's hand stopped in mid-air.

"Each of the ten Grand Dukes has a seat that has been fixed for six hundred years." Grand Duke Trudida turned his head meaningfully: "Don't take the wrong seat."

Rumba didn't move.

But in the next second, his hand was on the chair without hesitation!

Boom!

Amidst the sound echoing throughout the hall, Rumba lifted the chair of the Cameron family without hesitation, and pulled it heavily in front of him.

Grand Duke Ronnie's face turned cold.

But that's not all.

Rumba reached out again and pulled out another chair beside him.

Under the unkind eyes of the four Grand Dukes, Grand Duke Heisha sat heavily on Cameron's chair.

Then, Rumba leaned back, raised his legs presumptuously, and put them on another chair.

In this lying posture, he faced the four grand dukes standing in the field rudely and presumptuously.

The Grand Dukes looked at him in disbelief.

"I wanted to do this a long time ago," Lunba leaned back on the chair, crossed his legs, looked up at the four princes, and sneered:

"It feels good."

Ronnie clenched his fists tightly, his eyes were breathing fire, and he was about to step forward, but Olesi grabbed his shoulders.

"Calm down, his soldiers are outside the door..." Grand Duke Welland reminded his colleagues: "Prime Minister Lisbane is coming soon."

boom!

Rumba unceremoniously pressed his saber on the table.

"so……"

He leaned back in his chair and snorted:

"Is this what you're proud of?"

"The oath of co-governance?"

"Protection keeps the great Exeter, does it?"

The four grand dukes just looked at him coldly, as if they no longer bothered to speak.

Rumba watched them silently.

one second.

two seconds.

Rumba sneered and dropped his legs from the chair.

He put his arms on the table and clasped his hands.

But the princes still looked at him unkindly.

Rumba's eyes were fixed on his saber for a long time.

His eyes gradually wandered.

It seems to see the distance.

"You still don't understand," Rumba's voice sounded again, but this time, there seemed to be relief and a sigh hidden in his tone, "I don't understand what is really threatening us."

"In your eyes, the only impression is that Exeter is still strong and proud, and dominates the Western Continent."

"But this kind of impression still stays in the whole country's southern expedition that shocked the Western Continent twelve years ago."

Grand Duke Lecco frowned.

"Your eyes," Lunba said indifferently, "I have never seen the distance between my own territory and Dragon Clouds City."

"Your ears can only hear the yelling and whispering from your own dominion meeting to the king's election meeting-oh, and maybe the sound of the tax collector's purse every year."

"And in your heads?"

"Become a nobleman, get a title...become an heir, get qualifications...become a grand duke, get power...become a king," Lombard shook his head disdainfully, and said with a smile: "Control Exeter."

Just like the past six hundred years.

Rumba's expression darkened.

No matter how big the waves are, they are also submerged in this suffocating past.

He sneered and said, "But do you really think that things will come and go like this, and history will repeat itself forever?"

Ronnie interrupted him coldly: "What do you want to say?"

But Rumba ignored him.

"The last time we fought against the Starmen was twelve years ago—they called it the 'Year of Blood'. Ha, to them, we are also one of the people who brought blood."

Charmain Rumba said quietly.

As if talking to himself.

Trudida and Grand Duke Lecco exchanged a look, seeing the doubt in each other's eyes.

"What about the last big battle with the Starmen?" Rumba was still talking to himself, with a strange light shining in his eyes.

No one answered.

So Rumba continued to shake his head and said to himself: "Yes, more than a hundred years ago, before and after the Fourth Continental War."

"It's been so long that I can only find it from the history books."

Rumba closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

Grand Duke Heisha looked at Olesiu. This time, he finally stopped talking to himself.

"Rebion Aurelius," Rumba raised his eyebrows and raised his right hand to signal him, but the latter remained motionless: "Do you remember that prisoner?"

Grand Duke Olsius frowned

"captive?"

"Hmm." Rumba raised an index finger and tapped it in the air, as if recalling.

"Twelve years ago, when I just became Grand Duke, we captured the Broken Dragon Fortress," he frowned slightly, "After more than a month of spring, hundreds of thousands of Exeter warriors marched southward to the stars singing war songs. "

Following the memory of Grand Duke Lombard, several Grand Dukes also bowed their heads, thinking of the war years.

"When we broke through the Cold Fort," Lunba said indifferently, "because the scene was too chaotic—tens of thousands of people looting in disorder—so we were left to count the spoils and deal with the logistics."

"I found all the clerks and officials who could read and count that I could find in Heisha collar." Grand Duke Heisha snorted, as if disdainful: "You are similar."

Olsio shrugged.

"They spent a day and a night counting the captives, food, and seized," Lumba sighed: "Then, then those idiots..."

Grand Duke Olsio frowned, and took Lumbard's words: "...they gave a wrong number and made a grain transportation plan according to it."

Rumba snorted, with a lot of sarcasm in his emotions.

"That day, something went wrong with the food that was supposed to be delivered to Dragon Clouds City and the others: Thousands of soldiers didn't have lunch when they were besieging Ice River City, and the timing of attacking the city was delayed because they had to go to the surrounding area to collect food," Lumbard said. Shaking his head, his eyes were full of nostalgia: "Nun's reprimand warrant came the next day, and he scolded us as usual, 'Forget about fighting, can't you count it?' His exact words."

Grand Duke Olsio sighed: "He always thought we were holding them back."

Rumba nodded.

"It's normal. After all, it's an unprecedented expedition. Hundreds of thousands of people will eat and drink." Olsius shrugged. Not wrong."

"That's right," Lunba said with serious eyes, "We fined a lot of people and killed a lot of people—the logistics are still a mess."

"Do you still remember, at that time, a captive named Urad, a lowly Northland commoner living in the north, said that he had studied arithmetic and clerical documents in some bloody accounting school in the south, so he volunteered to help us."

Olsio didn't speak.

He remembered.

Lunba sneered: "I remember, you were so angry that you wanted to behead this arrogant prisoner who boasted that he could handle the luggage of a hundred thousand troops for us."

Olsio narrowed his eyes: "But you stopped me."

Rumba sighed.

His eyes are quite complicated.

"That's right," Lumbard said in a low voice, "that captive—gathered hands from his peers: star people who had learned arithmetic, literate stars, and stars who knew the market: they took a pen and paper and spent a long time Got it all sorted out, the numbers are accurate and organized."

"King Nunn's reprimand warrant finally stopped coming."

Grand Duke Ronnie frowned impatiently: "Why do you say this?"

Rumba raised his head sharply, his eyes were sharp: "Because it's not a coincidence—didn't you feel anything about the war twelve years ago?"

The expressions of the princes changed slightly.

"Remember, you guys—maybe Ronnie was too young to catch up. Both Lyco and Trudida were on the front line, beside Nunn." Rumba shook his head.

Grand Duke Ronnie narrowed his eyes.

Grand Duke Lecco didn't speak, he just looked at Luba blankly.

"Later, although it took a lot more time and casualties than expected," Grand Duke Heisha let out a long breath, with fear in his eyes: "But our invincible army finally made a smooth journey in the northern border. smoothly."

Rumba narrowed his eyes and changed the topic:

"Until I met those child soldiers from the south."

"Well," Grand Duke Trudida nodded, with an extremely serious face, and took over the conversation: "Duke Xinghu, John Canxing's Starlight Legion."

Grand Duke Lecco and Grand Duke Olsio moved slightly at the same time.

"No."

Grand Duke Lunba shook his head and denied: "Xinghui God of War was already dead at that time."

Caution flashed in his eyes: "To be precise, what we are facing..."

"It belongs to his captain of the personal guard, Sonia Sutherley..."

"Starlight Legion."

No one spoke.

Until Grand Duke Lecco sighed, tremblingly said a special name:

"'Immortal Starlight'."

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