Lord of War

Because the Royal Rose Manor is a supply station for spring hunting and autumn hunting for nobles in the royal capital, the decoration of every room here is very noble and luxurious. However, because few nobles stayed here overnight, or stayed for too long, there were not many rooms available for living.

However, due to the arrival of Asuna and others, a lot of efforts have been made to renovate and rectify the place, so the soldiers of the Thundering Front do not need to find an open space in the manor to set up tents. After all, part of the purpose of this manor was to provide hunting nobles with a place to gather and show off their trophies, so there were many rooms with a lot of space, and with a little modification, it could successfully provide a dormitory for multiple people to live in.

Of course, part of the reason for this is that the number of Thunderbolt soldiers led by Asuna is not large-only about 500 people, which is almost a strong combat unit. With Asuna's status as Grand Duke Garrod, leading such a group of soldiers is almost the limit. If you want to bring the entire Thunder Front, then it will definitely cause some troubles.

However, considering the scale of the Royal Rose Manor, five hundred thunder strikers are enough to defend the place tightly. Of course, the most important thing is that Vivian, Asuna, and Elizabeth are all veterans in the battlefield, not the kind of empty talkers, so after several assassinations, the loopholes in the entire Rose Manor were repaired in the first place. The defense is even more complete than Asuna's lair in the Principality of Garrod. Nowadays, even if it is someone from the Priory or the League of Assassins, it is almost impossible to sneak in silently.

Along the way, Sean mostly observed and rarely spoke.

But because of this, he was more able to feel the pressure from Asuna and the others. Even Vivian, who was the most carefree, seemed a little silent, presumably because she had hardly slept well recently.

In the small living room, Xiao En and the others basically avoided the choice of camp when communicating with Asuna, as if they were talking with old friends reunited. But because everyone seemed preoccupied, Sean was the one talking most of the time, and the others were listening. The only one who can still show normal social etiquette is probably Princess Voorhees, who is not very familiar with Sean.

For this princess, it fits Sean's definition of "princess" very well.

Princess Vorshees has long golden hair with slightly curly ends, and her long eyelashes make her eyes look lively and energetic. Coupled with an oval face and a small nose, all of these are It made Princess Voorhees look extraordinarily quiet and well-behaved. In fact, this princess is indeed the case, because in the normal conversation process, she seldom speaks, but is more like a listener, and even takes the initiative to get up and pour tea for everyone, which is not at all like a princess. your Highness.

In this princess, what Xiao En saw was the tranquility and elegance of the ancient nobles, but not the hostility emanating from the common nobles today.

This made Sean somewhat understand why this princess is so popular.

It's just that this excessive quietness and elegance also made this Her Royal Highness look a little too gentle and kind. Such a character is actually not suitable for governing a country. At least Sean didn't see any courage in this Her Royal Highness. . And according to Xiao En's knowledge of Her Royal Highness, many of her decisions are too idealistic, and many times she only considers the lowest level of civilians, but ignores the interests of the nobles.

Although Sean does not reject this kind of naivete,

It can even be said that he has a good impression, but he also knows that it is precisely because of this that Her Royal Highness can hardly get the support of those middle-level nobles-no one is willing to spit out the benefits they have obtained, especially those who are more powerful than businessmen. To be more selfish aristocrats. If the occasion and environment were different, even Asuna might not support the princess.

Maybe it was because the princess didn't have the habit of staying up late, so at midnight, the princess, who had been dozing off but trying her best to endure, finally returned to the dormitory to rest accompanied by Elizabeth under Asuna's persuasion.

And with the departure of Her Royal Highness, the warm and joyful conversation atmosphere deliberately created in the small living room finally completely disappeared.

Instead, there was an almost suffocating silence.

"Miss Asuna, I think your decision...was a bit too hasty." After a moment of silence, Sean finally broke the frozen silence, "His Royal Highness Princess Voorhees...is not an ideal person. Kings choose. She..."

Sean frowned slightly, as if he was thinking about what kind of vocabulary to describe it would be more tactful.

"Insufficient courage, so she is a little timid; she has little contact with the outside world, so she is very naive, and she thinks about everything too ideally, which seems a bit unrealistic; although Her Royal Highness has been trained as a lord in a systematic way, she has no actual management experience. Territory, so many government affairs considerations and response methods are not accurate enough." Asuna's voice was very low, but she mercilessly said what Sean had never said, "Of course I know that Fersh Her Royal Highness Princess Si is not a qualified heir to the throne...but, I have no choice."

I have no choice.

Those five simple words almost exhausted all of Asuna's strength.

At this moment, what Sean saw was the heavy pressure on Asuna's body that was almost unbearable.

Sean glanced at Vivienne, who scratched her hair a little annoyed. Obviously, she is clear about the source of this pressure, but she is not clear about the specific solution. After all, this kind of thing is more difficult for her than having to face an enemy army that is three times her own. So when she found Xiao En looking at her, Vivienne could only sigh helplessly, looking a little helpless.

"Is that Prince Adams really that outstanding?" Sean frowned. "Even though the situation in the South was so difficult, I never saw you look like this. You are a Valkyrie who dominates the battlefield! You once If you can defeat that His Royal Highness Adams, then you can too now!"

"That's not what I'm worried about." Asuna said helplessly, "Although the Covenant Legion is tricky and troublesome, I may not have no chance of winning. On the frontal battlefield, as long as I give Elizabeth some time, I am fully capable of This legion is wiped out. Maybe they will not die, and they will appear again after a while, but I dare say that in the entire Kingdom of Ryan, except for the group of people under your command, no one can defeat me head-on on the battlefield. "

Asuna emphasized the front and the battlefield, so Sean naturally heard another meaning in it: "Those assassins... didn't come for Her Majesty Voorhees, but for His Majesty. ……you?"

"To be precise, it should be aimed at us in this manor." Vivienne corrected, "I, Miss Asuna, Her Royal Highness Princess Voorhees, and Elizabeth were all attacked by assassins. Finally At the beginning, we thought it was just a coincidence, after all, we are the ones who protect Her Royal Highness, so we should be the blocking stone to prevent their assassination, but later we found out that this is not the case."

"If you kill His Highness Voorhees, I can understand that there is one less heir to the throne; if you and Elizabeth are killed, I can also understand that it is to make Miss Asuna lose her left and right arms. So..." Speaking of this, Xiao En's gaze seemed a little uncertain, "These assassinations... don't come from other heirs to the throne, but nobles with ulterior motives trying to create chaos..."

"Miss Asuna and Elizabeth don't think so either." Vivienne nodded, of course there was not much expression on her face, "Miss Elizabeth thinks it should be those political enemies back then. covert operations. But..."

"There are too many political enemies, so it's hard to tell who is the most likely." Xiao En took the words with a wry smile, with a look of helplessness on his face, "And most of these political enemies are also because of Miss Asuna. It was established by supporting me, and now these political enemies are basically gathered under the command of the third prince, His Highness Allan, so it is naturally impossible for Miss Asuna to choose to join His Highness Allan's camp, plus the irreconcilable conflict with His Highness Adams, So I can only choose...His Royal Highness Voorhees."

"That's about it." Vivienne nodded.

"But Miss Asuna is now the Grand Duke of the Principality of Garrod, so she doesn't have to choose." Sean was a little puzzled, "Why do you have to choose to stand in line?"

"It's the same reason as before, because His Highness Adams was once humiliated by me." Asuna finally said at this moment, "Others may not understand him, and they will be deceived by his superficial appearance, but in fact, His Highness Adams is narrow-minded and holds grudges very much. , if he ascends to the throne, he will definitely take revenge on those who humiliated him back then, and I will naturally bear the brunt of it... And after he ascends to the throne, if he summons me to the capital, do you think I should Come?"

When asked by Asuna, Sean was stunned: "You are already the Grand Duke of a country, so you have reason to refuse."

"Then I will be branded as a rebel." Asuna could see clearly, and said softly, "My Duchy of Garrod is no more geographically closed than your Duchy of the Void. If I am charged as a rebel, once Ryan sends troops to attack, I can only defend Garrods Fortress, if Garrods Fortress falls, I will have no danger to defend."

Sean recalled that during the war with the Darbion Kingdom, the outcome of the final battle was also fought on Garrod Fortress. After he and Asuna teamed up to capture Garrod Fortress, the entire Dabion Kingdom no longer had any dangers to defend, and in the end they could only retreat to the capital of the Dabion Kingdom. However, that magnificent capital city was finally captured by civil strife after being besieged for many days because there were no escape routes or secret granaries.

"But didn't you say that on the frontal battlefield..."

"Then have you ever thought about how I would respond if His Royal Highness Adams asked my father to be the commander in chief of the army?" Asuna's understatement made Sean speechless.

Others may not be clear, but Sean already knows that the feud between Asuna and her father Roald is only on the surface, in order to comfort the heart of the emperor sitting on the throne. But it is precisely because outsiders don't know this, so Adams has all the more reason to let Roald, the "Shield of Ryan", serve as the commander-in-chief of the first army, and if Roald refuses to serve, then Adams, who has already ascended the throne, will also have The reason is to clean up the Evans family.

From all these perspectives, Asuna was indeed at a point where she had no choice.

She can only help Princess Voorhees ascend the throne and become the first queen of Lane. Only in this way can she keep herself, her father, and the entire Ivans family, otherwise, her ultimate affiliation is either to submit to Adams and let Adams bully and humiliate her, or to be charged as a rebel or patricide.

"If...I mean if..." Sean said in a deep voice, "If His Royal Highness Adams is no longer here, then..."

"What if His Highness Arlan ascends the throne?" Asuna asked back.

"It doesn't matter." Sean said softly, but there was an indifferent tone in his voice, "It's better to say that this is a good thing."

Asuna raised her eyebrows. She was so familiar with Sean that she could already guess what Sean wanted to do just by hearing Sean's tone at this time: "You want to break away from Ryan's vassal?...Then you Have you ever thought about it, if His Highness Allan ascends to the throne, and after you get rid of the vassal, he appoints me as the commander-in-chief of the army to attack your Void Principality, how should I choose?"

"Then you should come when the time comes." Xiao En smiled, and said indifferently, "If you are the commander-in-chief of the army, then we can have a good show between us... Anyway, this You don't have to worry about it at all."

"No, I don't agree." Asuna shook her head and said resolutely, "In this case, why don't you help me and let Her Highness Voorhees take the throne, so that we will There won't be any contradictions and conflicts. Even... even if you want to break away from Ryan's vassal status, it is not impossible to become a country of your own, His Highness Voorhees will definitely not make things difficult for you."

Asuna knew very well that Xiao En already had a legendary powerhouse under his command, so it was impossible to stop Xiao En from leaving his status as a vassal principality. In fact, in the history of the Miracle Continent, all those who follow the legendary powerhouse are the kings of a country, not just a grand duke. Therefore, Xiao En wants to leave his status as a vassal principality. This is not a rebellious or incomprehensible behavior. It can only be said to be the only way for a strong man to pass.

Moreover, in Asuna's view, if Her Highness Voorhees ascends the throne, after the Void Principality breaks away, it can continue to establish a friendly relationship with the Ryan Kingdom, and this relationship will not be in the hands of future generations. destroy. Of course, another condition for Asuna to help Princess Vorshees fight for the throne also lies in this point. After all, Asuna also has a legendary strongman sitting under her command now.

While Sean and Asuna were still communicating in the Royal Rose Manor, Alexis left the manor filled with the scent of roses.

The Royal Rose Manor was established on the outskirts of the capital of Lane, but even though it is a suburb, it actually takes more than two hours to travel one way by carriage. And for the sake of beauty, the Royal Rose Manor was built halfway up a low mountain. Except for the necessary land area for the manor, the surrounding forests were not cut down, and the original ecological appearance was still maintained, but a large number of buildings were built at the foot of the mountain. The wall encloses the entire mountain.

This is the place where the nobles of the capital go hunting in spring and autumn, and it is called the "hunting mountain" by the common people of the capital.

Alexis is now in the dense forest behind the hunting mountain, about an hour away from the Royal Rose Manor in a straight line. But for legendary powerhouses, it may only be ten minutes. (To be continued) [This text is provided by Qihang Update Group @沃林主持] If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation. ) Bring Meng Meng Da Cupid @除落de Cupid