Chapter 325 The prince from the depths of the vast ocean!
The Holy City of the Empire never lacks news, but Prince Colin's return from the storm is definitely the biggest news in the past month!
There is no other reason -
Whoever suddenly learns that his empire has an extra seven million square kilometers of land, would also be excited to have a drink in the tavern.
Even if these seven million square kilometers have nothing to do with him, he does not have a glass of beer.
Of course, the people of the empire do not need to be discouraged. After all, these seven million square kilometers actually have little to do with the empire. Currently, only a small piece of the northern coast of the Janna continent belongs to His Majesty the Emperor.
But...so what?
A long time ago, their colony in the New World only had a small fishing village called Porto Saldo, but today, a thousand years later, it has become twenty colonial states, leaving only the bad land in the middle that is connected to hell that no one cares about.
They believe that as long as time lasts long enough, their grandson's grandson's grandson... will definitely see the imperial flag planted all over that barbaric land.
This glass of beer is just an early celebration!
As the continent of Janna replaced the Great Storm as the hottest topic in the Holy City, the name "Prince Roxai Colin" also entered the horizons of the citizens of the Holy City, and spread almost throughout the streets of the Holy City within a week.
A prince who survived a catastrophe was stranded on a desert island after being shipwrecked. Instead of being defeated by the desperate situation, he relied on his own efforts to gain a foothold on a continent full of pagans! He mercifully took in those same poor people who fell into the water, ignited the fire of civilization in the wilderness, reclaimed the barren land... and continued the family's glory as the spreader of the Saint Sith faith until the Imperial Navy fleet arrived!
The believers saw piety, the soldiers saw loyalty, the farmers saw land, the citizens saw wealth... Almost everyone could see elements that fit their own political spectrum, not to mention that this story itself is full of legend!
Especially——
I heard that this man is very handsome.
Although true and false rumors are flying all over the streets, the news that "he will arrive in the Holy City this weekend" is enough to make the whole city excited.
Ziyue, captain's cabin.
Sitting at the oak table, Luo Yan casually flipped through the manuscript in his hand. The early morning light passed through the mist-filled glass window and fell on his clean and neat collar.
Teach stood in front of the table with his back straight, like a student.
After waiting for a long time for a response, he secretly glanced at the Demon King and felt that the Demon King sitting there was like a lifelike oil painting.
Is this guy really a human?
It has been more than a month since we set off from Deadwood Port.
Under the pressure of the devil, Baron Tich Kosia finally wrote the novel "Kosia Drift".
The content is as thick as more than sixty pages. A brief summary is -
A nobleman of the Holy City who failed in business was missing for ten years after being shipwrecked (actually he became a pirate). Finally, relying on his hard work, he accumulated rich wealth and glory under the stern but benevolent Prince Colin, and became a baron with a rich seaport as his territory.
While Tiqi was secretly observing the expression on his face, Luo Yan had already read the entire book from beginning to end and had a general understanding.
After reading through the whole text, although there are many grammatical errors and typos, the flaws are not hidden, the story is sufficient, and the characters are quite pleasant.
As for the rest... Anyway, the most important thing in the Holy City is cultural people. When the time comes, we can just find someone who writes novels.
In short, there is no big problem with the content.
On the surface, this is a story about "Mein Kampf", but actually the core is cut out - my living father, Prince Colin.
One's efforts are important, but hard work alone cannot earn a seaport in the New World, let alone the Old World. It is possible for the territory to be lost.
It is possible in the continent of Janna.
"Not bad."
Hearing the Demon King's evaluation, Teach breathed a sigh of relief, and then said with a wry smile.
"I don't understand, why should I write my story? Compared with my little story, your version is obviously...well, more legendary."
As if he had guessed that he would ask this question, Luo Yan smiled faintly and continued slowly.
"The reason why an epic poem can be passed down through the ages is not because it tells everything that people want to see, but because it leaves just the right regrets in just the right place."
After a pause, he continued.
"And... I don't want people to think that I am boasting, so I need to borrow the words of others to write about Prince Colin in the eyes of Baron Corsia."
Tich was impressed in his heart and did not say another word.
At this time, there was a knock on the door. Lumir opened the door and walked in, saying respectfully.
"Lord Demon King, we are coming."
Luo Yan did not raise his head, still looking at the book in his hand, and reminded him gently.
"Pay attention to your title."
Lumir was stunned for a moment, then smiled knowingly, nodded and said.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Prince."
Luo Yan nodded with a smile, then closed the book and handed it to Tiqi, who was still dazed.
Even though he has seen it many times, Teach will still be shocked unconsciously by the acting skills of the Demon King - the master completed the identity switch in just an instant.
The person standing in front of him at this moment seemed to be a nobleman of the imperial royal family, with profound historical heritage and cultivation.
No wonder he was able to deceive the nobles of the Principality of Campbell, and for the first time he had the idea that those country bumpkins did not lose unjustly.
"What are you waiting for? It's time to meet the emperor's servants."
Hearing Luo Yan's voice, Tiqi woke up from a dream and responded quickly.
Craft forthlves in in ininginging in ‘… Your Highness the Prince.
Before the seagulls get up for food, curious citizens have gathered outside the port.
Some of them stood on the roof of the warehouse, and some climbed up the street fence. Even the terrace of the clock tower was occupied by people who got up early.
"Have you heard? The Colin family was the most noble prince around the emperor back then!"
"Nonsense! How come I have never heard of the surname Colin?"
"That's why the family is mysterious. It is said that their ancestors were extremely rich and owned large territories overseas!"
"I heard that their lives have been miserable for the past five hundred years, and they are so poor that they can't even eat..."
“It’s not a big deal if they don’t have enough food to eat, don’t they have a good relationship with the lizard people? Besides, I heard that he is very handsome!”
“I heard from my cousin that he will come riding a dragon!”< br/>
“Nonsense, how could a dragon fly so far?! But I heard that he brought back a whole ship’s worth of gold coins to repair the ancestral home!”
h “The ancestral home? Where is it?”
"I don't know... Until yesterday, three knights and one baron had claimed that they were a descendant of the Colin family, but only one of them seemed to sound more reliable, and it seemed to match the files at the customs."
Humbling among the crowd, rumors and fantasies rose like steam in the morning mist.
Just as everyone stood on tiptoes and looked around, waiting expectantly for the illustrious person who had stepped out of the legend, there was a sudden noise from the edge of the crowd.
"Make way! Give way, everyone!"
Sir Edmond Dantès squeezed into the crowd, sweating profusely, followed by his entire family. "We are relatives of Prince Colin, let us pass!"
People turned around one after another, but they didn't see any royal nobles. They only saw a pretentious guy trying to put on a facade, and they suddenly burst into laughter.
"Are you a relative? I'm Prince Colin's cousin!"
"Hahaha, I'm Prince Colin's grandfather!"
"Look, the noble relative is still squeezing in by himself, but there are no guards to help him. Open the way!"
"Hahahaha!"
The atmosphere at the foot of the Imperial City is much more open than that of the cities in the vassal states. No one in the Kingdom of Lane or any remote town would dare to tease a guy suspected of being a noble like this.
Laughter came and went. Edmund blushed and his lips trembled slightly, but after all, he was not as experienced as these guys who spoke freely.
He silently cursed these short-sighted civilians in his heart, and pulled his wife Anna to continue pushing forward, while also protecting his lovely little daughter Emily.
"I told you we should go out early!" Anna muttered complainingly, completely forgetting that she was the one who spent the longest time putting on makeup, even more time than her eldest daughter Sofia.
Sofia lowered her head and tried to defend in a low voice: "Mom, it's you——"
"Shut up!" Before she could finish speaking, Anna glared at her with eyes like goldfish, and then continued She complained to her husband and said, "Look now, we can't get close to the front at all!"
"Okay, I get it! Just say a few words less...don't embarrass me later! Damn it, I should have come alone!"
Edmund gritted his teeth and forced his way to the place closest to the cordon, only to find that the place was already crowded with people.
But he was not discouraged. With an attentive and smooth smile on his face, he just squeezed out a space in the crowd and stuffed his complaining wife and four worried children into it.
The family finally stood at the "special seat", although there was still a long distance between the so-called special seat and the pier.
They were squeezed between a group of vendors and porters, with the morning seawater and fish scale residue that had not yet dried under their feet.
“Quick, quick, kids, follow up, we have to stand closer – your Uncle Colin came all the way from the colony to see us, and we can’t let him not find us! Remember, after you meet him later, introduce yourself in the order I told you... These ancient families They all pay great attention to etiquette. If I hear no Lucian, I am talking about you! "
"I know...how many times have you said it." The eldest son Lucian complained in a low voice and hid his sleeves to avoid being smelled by the fishy smell of the port.
The open space in front of the port was cordoned off by the Imperial City Defense Forces. This was the closest position they could get to.
The city defense soldier carrying a musket glanced at the family that kept pushing forward, frowned, but paid no attention to them.
Edmund still held his head high, as if someone would call him "Your Excellency" in the next moment and welcome them into the ranks of dignitaries.
Although no one here looked at him twice.
"Stand still! Emily, don't lick the candy anymore!" Anna Dantès frowned and couldn't help but pat her little daughter's hand.
"But Mom, I haven't had breakfast yet..."
"Eat, eat, eat! Just know how to eat! Be careful to become that little thing like Margery!"
Margery is Emily's classmate at Notre Dame School, a chubby little man whose family is in the candy business. Although Anna often praised her in front of her mother about how cute she was when they met in person, there was obviously another story behind the scenes.
By the way, the so-called Notre Dame School is a characteristic of the Ossian Empire and its colonies. It is mostly run by widows or old women at home, with a small number of people. It is open to preschool children aged 2 to 6 years old. The price varies depending on the status of the principal.
Generally, middle-class families who are relatively wealthy but not rich enough to hire a tutor will consider sending their children to such a school. It's not to learn anything, but mainly to ensure that my children don't play with wild children outside.
In addition, the identity of the principals of some Notre Dame schools is not simple, especially those with expensive fees.
Even though those widows or old women with children are already marginalized in the aristocratic circle, their connections are still something ordinary people can only look up to, and opening schools is just to maintain luxury expenses and maintain the expenses of their ancestral homes.
Emily's school falls into this category, and admission requires an interview. Although the Dantès family is just an inconspicuous little sparrow in the Holy City, they are absolutely willing to spend money on their children's education.
Even if a lot of it is money wasted.
"Okay..."
Emily spat the candy back into the candy wrapper with a murmur, put it secretly into her pocket, looked up at her mother, and peeked at her father's somewhat haggard face——
Her father had a confident smile on his lips, and stood upright, like a straight cane, just like the one held in her teacher's hand.
He was wearing a lavender satin dress, the embroidered edges at the cuffs were a little yellowed, and the metal buckle was made of copper covered with silver, but it was polished to a shine. In addition, he wears an ancestral brooch with the family crest on his chest - although even he himself is not sure of the origin of this thing.
In short, little Emily has not seen this brooch on her father's chest for a long time.
Sofia quietly approached Emily and whispered softly.
At this time, there was a commotion in the distance of the pier, like a circus that had been waiting for a long time and finally started.
Everyone looked up and saw a tall ship approaching the shore. The purple flag on the ship was fluttering along with the white mist from the chimney.
Prince Colin's family crest is particularly conspicuous in the sunlight.
Little Emily was surprised to find that it was the moon on her father's chest!
"Coming!" Sir Edmond Dantès clenched his fists in excitement, like a rooster that had sucked in enough air to crow.
A young man wearing a luxurious robe slowly walked down the gangway. His temperament was calm and calm, not affected by the noise around him at all.
Especially that kind smile that is like a spring breeze, like the rising sun on the sea.
The girls lying on the railing all blushed, and some enthusiastic older girls whistled and threw handkerchiefs at him - although most of these handkerchiefs fell into the sea or were picked up by seagulls, or covered on the back of a bald sailor's head.
It’s not just the girls who are enthusiastic -
It’s the young guys too.
They whistled and high-fived in welcome, and some put their palms to their noses and shouted loudly, trying to attract the attention of the patriot——
"Welcome home!"
"The sacred light will always protect you!"
"Your Highness Colin! Do you still lack knights? Look at me!"
"Look! Sofia! That's...Prince Colin! I told you, he is a good family!" Anna held Sofia's hand tightly, and the latter's cheeks had turned red into ripe apples. She lowered her head to adjust her skirt because of nervousness, and her lips were unable to say a word.
"He won't be able to hear you if you shout here. We have to find a way to get in..." Edmund was so anxious that sweat broke out on his forehead and he looked around nervously.
He obviously underestimated the enthusiasm of the citizens of the Holy City towards His Highness the Prince. With this attitude, he would not be able to get close to His Highness the Prince no matter what.
What if there is no one to pick up the Prince when he gets off the boat, and he can only stand awkwardly at the port... What should I do? !
At this time, someone suddenly fired a salute.
Just a "bang" sound was heard, and thousands of ribbons dispersed the seagulls flying beside the pier like little snakes swimming in the air.
Scenes that Edmund did not expect came one after another——
A carriage decorated with patterns of golden roses and scrolls stopped at the edge of the pier, stopping steadily at the feet of the prince. The car door was opened by the servant, and a handsome middle-aged gentleman stepped out of the car. His golden hair exuded a warm light like holy light in the sun.
"It's Mr. Cassidy Hilfin!" Sir Edmund's youngest son Francois recognized the man at a glance and couldn't help but screamed.
"Do you know him?" Emily raised her little head and asked with a sweet voice.
Hands of eyes fell on his youngest son, Francois said breathlessly.
“Know him!? I see his portrait every day! That’s the president of the Imperial Academy of Art!”
Edmund naturally recognized him, and a layer of sweat subconsciously broke out on his forehead—Cassit Hilfin, this big shot is more than just the president of the Academy of Art.
It is said that he is the popular figure around the Pope and the leader of the entire holy city's cultural community!
Why is this big shot even here?
No, not really, right? !
Edmund was sweating profusely, but his unscrupulous eldest son Lucian curled his lips and snorted disdainfully, "Isn't he just an artist? What's the big deal..."
His eyes were quietly staring at a group of royal knights who appeared at the port at an unknown time, and a trace of anxiety could not help but arise in his heart.
If he fails to pass the exam as a knight apprentice and misses the age for selection into the Royal Boy Scouts, his mother will nag him again to become a retinue of his uncle in Thebes.
Although Uncle Thebes has a good character and is a relative of their family, he will never let him fight with demons with bayonets, but after all, serving as a follower is a job that only scumbags compete for. How could he do it!
Sophia reminded her softly.
"Mr. Hilfen is not an ordinary artist... He has made statues for the emperor. If you have his recommendation, you can enter the Royal Knights directly."
Lucian shut his mouth instantly.
At this moment, the welcome ceremony on the pier has come to an end.
It seemed that the distinguished Mr. Hilfin did not want to keep the guests from afar waiting, and the motorcade quickly left the pier accompanied by the Royal Knights.
The crowds who had feasted their eyes dispersed one after another, like well-fed pigeons, with satisfied and leisurely smiles on their faces.
The excitement is over.
It’s time to go to work.
However——
Edmund was desperate.
"I told you that we should go out early and stand in front!" Anna complained sharply as she watched His Highness Colin get on the Sylfen family's carriage, "Now, they just got on the Sylfen family's carriage! They didn't even look at us!"
Sophia also looked disappointed, and her slender hands quietly pushed her hair behind her ears. She had been preparing for today for a month. Not only did she put on carefully designed light makeup, she also put on the white dress that looked most like a "noble lady", just to win Mr. Colin's favor.
It's a pity——
They didn't even make eye contact.
"Okay, okay, now is not the time to complain to each other..." Edmund interrupted everyone with a headache. He was also unhappy, but he still had to maintain a gentleman's appearance.
Watching the carriage go away, he did not remember the person who had left it here. He was disappointed and muttered in a low voice.
"Colin...ah, he is indeed a noble person. How could he remember us poor families..."
He seemed to have forgotten that he and Prince Colin were not even close to each other. So far, the relationship between the Dantès family and the Colin family was just his wishful thinking.
Sir Edmund shook his head and prepared to leave, but before he took a step, a young and clear voice came from behind, gently interrupting him.
"Are you... Sir Edmond Dantès?"
Edmund looked up suddenly and saw a young man standing in front of them. He was tall and tall, with a sword at his waist and a short purple cloak.
His skin is tanned and he looks like a sailor who has been at sea all year round, but the purple cloak cannot question his nobility.
In the empire, purple dye was the most expensive, and few nobles were willing to use it on their servants.
"You are?" Edmund subconsciously used a cautious tone, showing the restraint when facing a big shot.
Lumir smiled gently and said politely but not condescendingly.
"I am Mr. Colin's servant. He told me that Sir Edmond Dantès is a very important guest. He specifically asked me to come here to meet you."
Edmund was stunned for two seconds. It was not until Anna poked him with her elbow that he suddenly came back to his senses.
"His Royal Highness Colin personally ordered you to come? Haha! Let me just say, of course he remembers us, our relationship is thicker than water!"
Edmund looked at his family members in surprise. He was so triumphant that he wanted to make his voice loud enough to be heard by the guys around him who had looked down on him.
Everyone had different expressions - Anna rolled her eyes, but straightened the corners of her curled lips. Sofia was a little embarrassed and winked at her father, hinting him to calm down.
Emily and Francois were too young to fully understand what this meant to their family, so they just followed their father and became silly and happy.
The eldest son Lucien's breathing became rapid.
Especially, he thought of what sister Sophia said just now - Mr. Hilfin is not an ordinary artist, and a letter of recommendation can send him to the Royal Knights.
Based on the relationship between Uncle Colin and Sylfin, in other words... Is it okay to join the Royal Knights? !
He swallowed his saliva excitedly, wishing he could recognize Colin as his father!
Looking at the family leaving him alone, Lumil was embarrassed but didn't care, and coughed lightly.
"If you don't have anyone else to wait for...can we take a step to talk?"
Edmund quickly looked at Lumil and said with a smile on his face.
"Of course! Please come with me, Mr. Lumil! You are here to take us to Mr. Hilfin's manor, right? We——"
"Of course we will go to your house first."
Lumil interrupted him and said politely and undeniably.
"His Royal Highness Colin has prepared a gift for you, but before that...there are some things that I need to confirm first."