Chapter 473 It was not just the saint who heard the oracle, but the Grand Duke also heard it
Prince Colin’s voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally weighty.
The sound of the piano flowing in the reception room seemed to have been cut off by an invisible hand. The servants carrying the silver trays slowed down one after another, and held their breath for a while, as if they were chilling.
The smile on Edward Campbell's face froze, and there was a trace of astonishment in his eyes. It seemed that he did not expect that His Highness Colin, who was having a friendly conversation just a second ago, would turn his face.
He looked into Colin's eyes, and saw that in those deep purple eyes, the warmth like the spring breeze had disappeared, replaced by heartbreak and disappointment——
It was as if he had really done something evil.
Edward didn't understand why he suddenly became angry. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, but they were as tangled as a ball of yarn that he couldn't sort out.
What does he... mean?
Does it refer to the land dispute between the Principality of Campbell and the Kingdom of Lane?
But how is this possible? !
The dispute between the Duke and the King is not something that is on the table. Even Irene doesn't know much about it. At most, she is aware of it.
At least in name, the Northern Rescue Army of the Principality of Campbell is dispatched to save the compatriots in the Twilight Province!
And he has never claimed any title for any piece of land in the Twilight Province. He just wants farmers who have lost their land and cannot adapt to urbanization to find jobs in the Twilight Province.
But if it’s not because of the land dispute... then what could it be?
Edward couldn't understand, couldn't it be that His Highness the Prince was an old friend of the King of the Kingdom of Lane and was trying to beat him up on behalf of the King?
No man has ever made Edward have so many thoughts pouring out of his heart at once, so much so that he forgot his words for a moment.
Luo Yan did not give him too much time to think, but went straight to the point, concentrating his flying thoughts on his sister.
"Please forgive me for saying this, Your Highness Edward, are you a little too harsh on your sister?"
Sister...
Ah...that's it.
Edward's hanging heart suddenly fell back to the ground, and the sweat that had just crawled out of his back was also unknowingly put back.
Luo Yan looked directly at the up and down eyes, and continued in a serious tone.
"I just returned from the front line, and I saw with my own eyes the tragic situation outside the city at dusk. It cannot be described as war, it is simply a living purgatory! The altar of the cultists, the clones of the chaotic evil spirits, and the endless tide of rats... Until now, I can't forget the smell of sulfur and carrion! Why did you put Irene in such a place?"
“She is your closest relative! Even if she is the holder of the Light of Praise and bears the expectations of many of you, please don’t forget her——”
"That's enough, Your Highness Colin!" Edward interrupted, holding his shoulders with both hands, a look of sadness and helplessness on his handsome face.
Luo Yan knew it when he saw his expression.
After the initial ups and downs, the Grand Duke's acting skills also improved. Although it is still far behind him, it is enough to fool those knights who are blinded by love.
Obviously.
In the mind of the Grand Duke, he had become a man who was dazzled by love, and his whole mind was devoted to his sister.
Where is this criticism? It’s obviously a good thing!
The Principality of Campbell was in need of an ally. Edward had been thinking about how to pull himself into the chariot, but now the opportunity was presented to him.
Luo Yan could feel that he was already excited and wanted to jump up, but he still had to make a helpless expression, pretending to be the weak one.
This is really embarrassing for him.
"Your Majesty..." The butler took a step forward, trying to ease the atmosphere between the two, but was driven out the door with a look from Edward.
Not just a butler.
Including the servants in the reception room and the pianist playing the piano, they were all dismissed by Edward with his eyes. Only the two people standing at the door of the huge reception room and corridor were left.
Luo Yan asked him what he meant with his eyes, but Edward did not explain. He just patted his shoulder lightly and then let go of his hand.
"Let's sit down and talk, Your Highness Colin."
His voice was a little hoarse, as if the entire Thunder City was weighing on his shoulders, and there were too many involuntary and helpless difficulties.
Luo Yan made an expression as if he had taken the bait, closed his mouth and did not speak. He followed him to the sofa in the living room and sat down.
Edward picked up the crystal decanter on the table, poured him a glass of amber wine himself, and then poured himself a glass.
At this moment, it seems that the person sitting here is not a king of a principality, but an elder brother who is under tremendous pressure.
"This matter... is far more complicated than you think."
"This is not an excuse," Luo Yan picked up the wine glass, but did not drink it. Instead, he stared at him and continued, "I don't have a sister, but I think even if I did, I would never use her kindness to complete my plan knowing that there is danger."
As if he was not surprised that he thought so, Edward smiled self-deprecatingly, took a sip of the amber wine and said.
"It's true that I appointed her as the commander of the Northern Rescue Army, but do you think I want her to go?"
Luo Yan said disapprovingly.
"Is there anyone else who can order you?"
"No!"
Edward responded simply.
"This does not require anyone's order at all, it is the inherent obligation of the Campbell family! The only blame is that my father handed the sword to her. If I had taken the sword, I would have gone there without hesitation and fulfilled the mission given to us by Saint Sith! It is true that I entrusted her with a heavy responsibility, but even without my order, she would still go!"
There is nothing false in this statement.
Luo Yan has no doubt that if Edward inherits the "Light of Praise", he will definitely use its power without reservation like Irene did.
This guy is an ambitious person, but he is not a rat who cherishes his life. The nobles were greedy for enjoyment, and the businessmen were chasing money. Only Edward Campbell could be called a "patriot". After all, this principality really belonged to him.
Others are just joining in the fun.
"But even so——"
Edward interrupted him and said with a sigh.
"Your Highness Colin, let me tell you a story."
Luo Yan looked at him.
"Tell me."
"To understand all this, you must first understand the situation of our Campbell family."
Starting at the amber liquid in the glass, Edward collected his thoughts for a moment, spoke slowly, and told the story that has been passed down for thousands of years.
“For thousands of years, our Campbell family has guarded the southern frontier for the kingdom and opened up the land south of the Wanren Mountains. Our castle is built on the entrance of the labyrinth. Part of our walls are made of the bones of our ancestors, and part of them is The bones of the Cult of the Mechanic God. It is no exaggeration to say that our family has shed more blood for this kingdom than some nobles in the royal capital have drunk."
His voice was calm, but there was a suppressed resentment.
"However - what did we get in exchange? No glory, no trust, only the endless suspicion and wariness of the Devalou family!"
Edward smiled self-deprecatingly, the smile was full of cold irony, as if he was mocking the king's stupidity, and also seemed to be mocking the fate of the Campbell family.
"In their eyes, we are not a strong shield that protects the kingdom, but a tiger that lives beside them. They always want to put us in a cage and pull out our claws, just because our achievements are too dazzling, just because we have won the love of our people!"
Luo Yan has been listening in silence.
At this moment, he frowned just right and asked with a hint of hesitation in his voice.
"How is this possible? The king would actually be suspicious of his vassal who has made great achievements in battle?"
This question is just right. What Edward longs for most at this moment is the "relaxation" and "integrity" of the imperial prince who come from the center of the civilized world.
Or—
Ignorance.
"Maybe? Haha, this is what is happening to us at this moment!"
Edward stood up suddenly and walked to the window, turning his back to Colin, as if he didn't want him to see his "pain".
Luo Yan is very familiar.
A long, long time ago, when his acting skills were not so proficient, he would also use a deadpan expression to cover up that he didn't know how to act sincerely.
Over time, he developed his special ability to hold back.
…The king has never trusted us, and he even wants to suddenly send a flood and wash our home and our glory into the whirlpool sea! This kind of suspicion is just an undercurrent in peacetime, but when the real disaster strikes, it becomes the deadliest poison!"
"When chaos rages in the Dusk Province, when the Green Forest Army's rebellion burns every inch of the land, and when tens of thousands of people die in famine and war, what is our King doing? He chooses to pretend that nothing happened!"
Edward's voice was low, but gradually became louder, like a flash flood that had been suppressed for a long time before bursting out.
"Because in his eyes, it's just a "controllable mountain fire"! It can burn the damn weeds for him, and by the way, it can also make his pasture more fertile!"
Luo Yan's face showed a shocked expression at the right time.
"You mean... His Majesty the King deliberately set this fire?!"
"I have no evidence, but he proved everything with his actions." Edward turned around slowly, with long-simmering grief and indignation on his face, "We wrote to the royal capital again and again, presenting the most urgent military information, requesting troops to assist our compatriots... but all of them came to nothing!"
"I can even guess what he will say in the end. It must have been another treacherous person who blocked those letters for him. He knows everything, and now he has become an old man who can be deceived by others!"
"He is the worst!"
He returned to Colin and sat opposite the Imperial Prince, leaning forward and staring at him with red eyes.
"I have no choice, Your Highness Colin! Neither I nor my sister have any choice! Maybe you will say cold-bloodedly that it is the king's land. If he wants to set fire to his own mountain, let him burn it... But after all, it is our compatriots there. We drink from the same rushing river. At least half of the blood of the Campbell people belongs to the Lane people, and half of the blood of the Lane people belongs to us!"
"If I don't Let Eileen go, if I order her to stay as my brother, the entire Dusk Province will be reduced to scorched earth, and tens of millions of creatures will become sacrifices to Chaos and the King! Maybe the empire has never cared about us, but we can't just watch our innocent compatriots die!"
Luo Yan was silent for a long time, the expression on his face changed from shock, to confusion, to surprise... and finally turned into a heavy sigh.
He spoke slowly, with a hint of bitterness and difficulty in his voice.
h "So... Her Highness Eileen resolutely led the army to help when the king refused to send troops?"
h "Yes!"
h Edward answered without hesitation, his tone decisive.
"The governor sent us a letter asking for help, and I also sent letters to His Majesty Theoden more than once, reminding him to pay attention to the overflow of refugees in his territory. But the result is just like what you saw outside Thunder City before, the hordes of refugees almost overwhelmed us! Even for ourselves, we have to send troops north!"
When he said these words, he seemed to have completely forgotten that those refugees were not all from the Twilight Province, but a considerable number of them were serfs driven away by Baron Gus.
Even——
Even the matter of sending troops to Dusk Province itself was at least half of the reason for diverting the internal conflicts piled up outside Thunder City.
But, this is not important.
· A group of people who are still hungry can claim to save the world. Naturally, the Duke of Campbell can also generously send troops to solve the problem of food and clothing for his neighbors.
Luo Yan knew what he wanted to do, and he was here just to provide him with courage.
After listening to the impassioned speech, the prince of the empire slowly stood up from the sofa.
A trace of guilt flashed across that handsome face, and soon turned into self-blame.
In Edward's surprised eyes, Prince Colin made a solemn aristocratic gesture to apologize to the Grand Duke.
"Your Highness Edward, please accept my sincere apology, I... wrongly blamed you."
Edward looked at him in surprise, then showed an embarrassed smile on his face, coughed slightly and said.
"No... you actually didn't blame me wrong. As you said, I am indeed an irresponsible brother. I just hate that I don't have that ability. If I were stronger, maybe I wouldn't have to let my sister go through life and death for the Campbell family."
He might be really a little embarrassed, but Luo Yan was not at all, his voice was as sincere as ever, and even a little touched.
“It’s not just this.”
After a pause, he continued.
"Before I came here, I heard some untrue rumors, saying that Campbell sent troops to the Dusk Province for the fertile land that was uncultivated after the war... I almost believed the slander of those villains, mistakenly thinking that you were doing it for your own selfish desires. I apologize for my previous rudeness and narrow-mindedness for putting Her Majesty Eileen in such a dangerous situation!" Edward immediately stood up and took a step forward, holding Colin's arm with a generous smile on his face, as if he didn't care about any offense just now.
"Your Highness, please don't say that. As a brother, I can only be grateful that you are so concerned about Irene's safety. As for those slanderous words... I have long been used to hearing them. Let them say whatever they like."
Unexpectedly, those rumors actually reached Colin's ears.
He said why his Highness suddenly attacked him at this time. After a long time, when he was digging into the king's corner, the king's hand had quietly reached out to his thigh, blowing the wind of discord into Prince Colin's ears.
This Siodeng——
Him cannot be taken lightly.
Edward's eyes flashed with fierceness, and the idea of teaching the Devalu family a profound lesson had never been so strong.
He cleared his throat and said in a serious voice.
"I can swear to Saint Sith that I, Edward Campbell, have never coveted the title of king! Everything I have done is only for the people of the Principality of Campbell and the Kingdom of Lane. The words of Steward Sklair are just lies used by the king to cover up his incompetence and cold-bloodedness!"
Irene's eldest brother has indeed made a lot of progress, and every sentence of these words is true, although it is not the literal meaning at all.
Luo Yan admired his progress in his heart, but his face still showed sympathy for the Campbell family and anger towards the Lane royal family.
He sat back on the sofa, picked up the untouched wine glass, drank in one gulp, and slammed it on the table.
His fists were clenched, seemingly unable to suppress the rage in his heart.
“I am moved by your righteousness, and I am even more ashamed of Theoden de Valu’s incompetence and cruelty! What has he done with the sacred mission entrusted to him by Saint Sith? Is it a shield for hypocrisy and cowardice? His people are suffering in the fire, and his heroes are guarding his territory. However, he was sleeping on his throne, planning to let them kill each other, encourage the common people to kill their nobles, and then use the hands of the Inquisition to liquidate the peasants, and now he was slandering their heroes! "
Edward was shocked!
Although he also thought about some impassioned speeches, he did not expect this level. However, when Colin made this point, his mind suddenly opened up.
It turns out there is this level of interpretation!
The throb in the depths of his soul was no less than when he read the words "all men are priests" from the New Testament.
At that moment, Edward Campbell seemed to hear the oracle——
『The tribunal is the king’s accomplice. 』
The Imperial Prince’s words had not stopped yet, and His Highness Colin spoke in an almost trembling voice.
"I cannot forgive! Such a king...does not deserve the loyalty of the Campbell family at all! He himself is a disgrace to the empire!"
After saying this, he looked at Edward with burning eyes, and as Edward expected, issued a declaration from the prince of the empire.
Even better than he expected!
"Your Highness Edward, from today on, I and the Colin family I represent will become the strongest allies of the Campbell family!"
"The problem of Dusk Province is our problem. Whether you need political support or material assistance, we will provide help to you without reservation!"
"This is not only for Her Highness Irene, but also for the glory and justice in my heart! I am even willing to go to the Holy City for you again and bring your story to the Senate!"
Edward leaned forward excitedly and held Colin's hand tightly.
"Your Highness Colin! On behalf of the Campbells and the Lane people, I would like to thank you for your generosity. I didn't expect that there are nobles like you who uphold justice in today's empire! Your friendship is the most precious gift that the Campbell family has received! With your support, maybe we can solve this problem once and for all!"
"Oh?" Luo Yan raised his eyebrows and said with interest, "It seems that you already have a plan, can you tell me about it?"
"Of course!"
Edward stared at him with bright eyes.
The bottom line is that the king was unable to control that land, but was unwilling to give up the power in his hands, so he could only keep the people there weak and poor, artificially creating hunger and chaos, and ultimately giving Chaos an opportunity to take advantage!"
"There is only one way to save them, and that is to help them get rid of the king's control and let the people there live as wealthy a life as in Thunder City!"
"It is not an easy thing to deprive a noble of his title..." Colin's face showed just the right amount of suspicion.
Edward continued without stopping.
"Strip the king's title? Ha, they always slander me like this, but in the conscience of heaven and earth, I have never thought of it that way!"
After a pause, with a glimmer of light in his eyes, he threw out the idea that had been brewing among his staff for a long time.
"We don't need to take away his title, but we need to take away his power and give it to someone who is truly qualified to control it."
Luo Yan looked at him and said.
"Can you be more specific?"
Edward nodded, lowered his voice, and no longer concealed his ambition.
"My plan is that in the future, the governor of the Twilight Province will no longer be appointed by the king, but will be jointly elected by all the nobles in the province, selected from a lord without a fief or even a commoner!" The province's governance power, military power and even independent diplomatic power must be in the hands of Twilight Province's own people! This is the successful experience of Thunder City, which can be copied to them! "
This statement seems to be a compromise, but in fact there is no compromise at all.
Since the Devalou family is so afraid that the Twilight Province will become the Twilight Principality, then let the things they are always worried about happen.
For them, this might be a relief!
Perhaps the Twilight Province will give some token taxes in the first two years, but what will be handed in later will definitely be a loss-making account.
The kind-hearted His Highness Colin showed a thoughtful expression, and seemed to be really considering the feasibility of this plan.
As Edward expected, those eyes gradually brightened, and they made no secret of their admiration for him.
"What a genius idea... just go ahead and do it, Your Highness, I will do my best to support your plan!"
Looking at His Highness Colin who stood up from the sofa again, Edward stood up with him and held his hands tightly.
「Thank you for your support!」
The shrewd chess player is looking at his "chess piece" with pleasure, but he does not expect that the clever hunter often appears as the prey.
Looking at the ambitious "chess player" approaching the key position, Luo Yan couldn't help but smile.
Campbell's ancestors probably would not have thought that their descendants would point their swords at their king under the instigation of the devil.
But then again.
If they knew how the Devalou family treated their children like a dirty rag...
I'm afraid they would acquiesce to all this even if they knew.
(End of this chapter)