Chapter 666: Act 28 – The Princess and the Princess II
The sound of the brass door handle turning pierced through the dark emptiness, and Princess Grifian opened the wooden door with a creak as she stepped out of the room. Her silver curls framed her elflike, slender face, which still bore a hint of redness around her eyes, but she had already regained her usual aloof demeanor.
“Margadale… has she been sleeping like this all these days?”
“Yes, it’s as if she were dead. Although her basic bodily functions are still maintained, that’s nothing more than a superficial phenomenon,” a girl’s voice interrupted, clearly too self-aware. Following the direction of the voice in the dark, Princess Alorze’s golden curls shimmered like gold. She was holding a bright red wild fruit, taking a bite and letting the juice trickle down the curve of her mouth and chin. However, the young female dragon didn’t seem to mind, instead staring at Brendel and Grifian with her cat-like golden eyes: “In fact, you could say that what lies in bed is merely a soulless shell—this description should be quite apt in human terms. If she were human, she would have died a long time ago.”
“Your Highness is asking me, Alorze,” Brendel replied with a serious face. Ever since this young female dragon had come to his territory alone, she had been eating and drinking there thanks to his reputation and the dragon clan’s intimidation. The only noteworthy thing she had done was to check Margadale’s condition—yet that was merely out of her curiosity. It was also evident that, despite traveling in human society for a long time, she had not learned how to speak more tactfully with others.
“If she’s asking me, I wouldn’t respond. What do you think I am, Brendel?” Alorze narrowed her eyes dangerously, but at thirteen years old, her height didn’t give her much intimidation.
“Enough of that. It’s nothing.” The princess interrupted them, not wanting Brendel to annoy the dragon clan because of her. As she walked forward, she turned her head and quietly asked, “Lord Earl, do you have any thoughts about the alliance between Anlek and Rendener?”
Alorze snorted coldly.
Brendel was taken aback; he had thought Princess Grifian would first ask him about the nun princess, but unexpectedly she brought up an old matter. He had already thought through this issue while on the coach, and he believed that a beheading tactic would be the most effective against Count Rendener.
After all, times had changed. Unlike when he first arrived in Toniger, where Count Rendener held overwhelming strength compared to him, now even with Duke Anlek and Count Rendener combined, they might not be his opponents in high-end combat: Duke Anlek had renowned eagle swordsmen and silver knights under his command, as well as several famous swordsmen and a few vassals, while Count Rendener had only seven or eight golden-tier lackeys left. Even if Dejyar hadn’t died at Ampere Seale, Brendel could still handle them easily.
This was indeed Vaunte, where individual strength had a considerable weight in warfare. Looking back at several holy wars in Vaunte’s history, the higher-ups of the various armies were mostly outstanding figures, with many being exceptional like his grandfather Darus.
However, the only problem was that the scheming in war was always reciprocal. While he plotted against them, Duke Anlek could very well be plotting against him too. The strength he displayed during the battle at Ampere Seale was already astonishing. Although the public largely believed that Williams died under Erluin’s first fleet’s fire, the subsequent encounter with the eagle Dejyar, as well as his achievements against titans, had already drawn attention to him, a rising star from Erluin.
The title of Count Toniger had spread throughout Erluin, even within the higher-ups of the Crusian clan, becoming a well-known name. Whether in the frozen fields to the north or the farmlands of the Southlands, no one was unaware that Erluin had gained a sword saint.
Moreover, he was a descendant of that Darus.
Such news could not escape Duke Anlek’s ears, let alone the fact that the old fox had personally experienced the war. Since he clearly knew of the vast disparity in strength yet dared to expose himself, it was either sheer arrogance or some ulterior motive. Brendel would rather believe it was the latter.
Therefore, in addition to the beheading tactic, it was better to be prepared for conventional warfare. However, the territory of the Anlek province was vast, and Count Rendener’s land was mountainous, making it necessary to consume a lot of time to fight in both places, not considering the involvement of the Crusian clan. Count Rendener had long been battling alongside Duke Vieiro, and he maintained a substantial number of private soldiers in his territory, while Duke Anlek had long been plotting and had a team predominantly composed of elite troops.
On the princess’s side, aside from the Royal First Fleet still resting at Ampere Seale, the only forces she could rely on were the army of Vlada and the Southern Army, in addition to the promised support from Duke Lantonrand and the Highland Knights. However, the Southern Army had long been deprived of supplies, and most of their structure was incomplete. Duke Lantonrand’s forces had also suffered heavy losses in the battle at Ampere Seale, so the only ones available for immediate deployment would be Vlada’s noble army and the Highland Knights, along with a pitiful amount of military strength from Toniger.
These ragtag armies together could not form an absolute advantage against Duke Anlek and Count Rendener’s forces. Even without considering Duke Anlek’s schemes, subduing both Rendener and Anlek would likely take years of effort. The problem was that Brendel was very clear that Erluin simply could not spare the time for such a protracted war.
He had to seek aid elsewhere.
The best choice, of course, was Duke Vieiro, who had a bitter feud with Count Rendener.
Princess Grifian quietly listened to Brendel’s thoughts. As the sunlight outside the courtyard passed through the archway and fell on her face, the half-elf maiden stopped, turned her head back: “I understand… the war with Rendener will be entirely your responsibility, Lord Brendel. Let Vlada’s forces also be incorporated under Toniger’s command.”
Brendel suddenly froze: “Your Highness?”
He certainly understood the implications of this statement, but it seemed he hadn’t reacted immediately, instinctively stopping in place to look at the princess.
The sunlight after midday seemed to have just crossed over the wild grape trellis in the courtyard, casting a vibrant green hue across the final stretch of corridor before the archway, imprinting it on the princess’s long dress.
Time seemed to stand still for a moment, silent as a grave.
Princess Grifian looked at him, her silver eyes reflected only a calm hue: “There’s no need to say more. I trust you, Mister Brendel.”
“But—” Brendel felt a little dry in his throat. Although the princess had handed him the keystone on that day at Ampere Seale, the urgency of today was starkly different. Now, Princess Grifian was entrusting him with nearly all her power, which seemed somewhat indulgent.
This did not seem like the behavior of a clear-headed politician.
But the princess did not seem to want to give him a chance to speak. She lowered her gaze, her thick eyelashes fluttering slightly, and continued quietly, “There’s one more thing.”
“Hmm?”
Brendel let out a gentle sigh. Thankfully, Alorze had already lost interest and walked away; otherwise, she would have been sure to mock his flustered state.
“Margadale… is my dear friend. I know she became like this because of me. In any case, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, I hope you can awaken her.”
“Only you have such ability near me now.”
“So, will you promise me?”
Brendel did not look at the expression on the princess’s face, but he could hear the rare softness in her tone. He didn’t say much, only nodded. In fact, even if Princess Grifian hadn’t mentioned it, he would find a way to awaken Margadale.
They had fought alongside each other, making them comrades. This was something the senior had explicitly said.
“I understand.” He replied.
Princess Grifian lifted her head, observing him closely, and then moved a couple of steps closer. She reached out a hand and pressed it on his noble scarf, smiling with some relief: “Thank you, my knight. You have never let me down.”
Then she stepped back, took one last look at him, lifted her skirt, walked down the steps, and quickly disappeared into the courtyard, leaving Brendel standing alone under the archway, somewhat dazed.
“It seems the princess has a good impression of you, Brendel.” Until a clear voice interrupted his thoughts.
Brendel raised his eyebrows slightly, turning his head to see a familiar face. Romaine, dressed in her thick merchant outfit, stood a little behind him, her arms crossed, curiously watching the direction where Princess Grifian had vanished.
He didn’t even know when she had arrived.
Seeing the question mark on her face, Brendel couldn’t help but ask somewhat annoyed: “So, you’re not jealous at all?”
“A bit, yes.”
Brendel glared at her.
“Is my answer wrong, Brendel?” Romaine looked at him, shrinking her neck.
Brendel sighed, extending his hand: “Give me your hand.”
“Why?”
“That’s an order.”
“Oh—”
Miss Merchant thought for a moment, vigorously wiped her hands on her leather coat, and then placed her hand in his palm. Brendel felt the slight coolness of her touch and couldn’t help but glance at the young lady, his heart softening: “Have you been out to the street?”
“Not yet, Flour won’t let me go out. If I had known, I wouldn’t have borrowed that gun from Xi, it’s really unfair. I clearly returned it to her.” Romaine’s face was sullen.
“I’ll accompany you for a walk.”
“Really?” Miss Merchant asked in surprise.
“Of course.”
“Well… Brendel, can you really awaken that princess? It sounds like something from a knight’s story, a prince and a princess. When she wakes up, will she marry you, Brendel?”
“That’s not something you need to worry about.”
Brendel replied irritably.
…(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please consider voting for it on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
