The fiefdom increases by 1 soldier in 1 second, and the empress kneels down and begs not to rebel

"Jingle Bell..."

The clear and melodious sound of bells rang all the way through the streets of Salivia at night.

Dingle was sitting in the car, leaning against the wall. The window was open, and the breeze blew gently through the window towards his face, bringing with it the smell of fireworks from both sides of the street. Fleeting voices came from the passing houses, as if someone was whispering in his ear.

Dingle closed his eyes contentedly and dozed off again.

I don’t know how much time passed.

"Hey! Jeff!"

The sudden shout made Dingle, who was half asleep, open his eyes. As soon as he looked up, he saw a carriage coming from the opposite direction on the street outside the window.

"Jeff, tell my wife I'll be home before twelve o'clock!"

The driver shouted to the oncoming carriage, and a reply came from the other carriage:

"it is good."

Dingle looked in the direction of the sound and saw that in addition to the coachman sitting outside the carriage driving the carriage, there was also a person standing behind him.

The figure seemed familiar. Dingle rubbed his eyes and stretched his head out. At this time, the carriage was about to pass by.

"Stop!" Dingle shouted immediately after seeing the man clearly. The driver quickly grabbed the reins and the horse slowly stopped.

"Smeder!" Dingle yelled.

"Ok?"

"Stop! Stop!" The oncoming carriage also stopped at the shouting, and the two carriages stopped side by side on the road.

Dingle opened the door, jumped out and walked to the front of the carriage. As soon as he approached, a man's voice came from the carriage.

"Colonel! It's you. I thought I heard it wrong."

"How come you are here? What a coincidence." Smeder, who was standing behind the coachman, looked at Dingle with surprise.

Dingle also showed a faint smile on his face, and he looked Smed up and down.

Smed was not wearing a military uniform, but a linen cotton coat that was very common among civilians. The clothes were obviously ill-fitting and very loose, which made Dingle not even sure at first that this was Smed.

In addition, he wore a colorful wreath on his head, which even Dingle found a little funny.

As he looked around, Dingle smiled and said, "I just met with Huffman and Pocker and was about to go back to the Royal Castle."

"I heard you were injured, but it looks like you've almost recovered."

Hearing this, Smed said with a bitter smile: "I can move and walk, but it still hurts... It may take some time to recover to normal."

"I'm sorry, Colonel, forgive me for standing here and talking to you. I moved too much when getting in and out of the car, and it hurts a lot there, and I can't sit, so I..." He scratched his head awkwardly.

Dinger didn't care, but smiled and said: "I was wondering why you didn't sit in the car, but stood outside. It seems that the wound still has some impact."

As he spoke, Dinger reached into his arms and said, "The wound hasn't healed completely yet, why are you in such a hurry to get out of the hospital?"

Smeder blushed slightly and said, "I don't like the hospital environment. I don't want to go there anymore. I'd better get out early."

Dingle did not notice the change in Smed's expression. He had already taken out a cigarette box from his pocket, opened the lid and took out two cigarettes.

Just as he was about to hand it to Smed, Smed said, "No, Colonel, I...I...I don't smoke anymore. I've already quit."

He stared at the cigarette in Dingle's hand, swallowed unconsciously, and waved his hand to refuse.

Dingle looked at Smeder in surprise: "No way? You... quit?"

Smeder took his eyes off the cigarette with difficulty and said, "Yes, I quit. After I went into the hospital, I decided never to smoke again. Of course, I still don't, ha." He scratched his head again in embarrassment.

Dingle said with a smile: "I can't believe that these words came out of your mouth."

"When I met Huffman and Poker just now, I gave them each a box. Of course, there was also a box for you. I specially asked Poker to bring it to you."

"Thank you for your kindness, but...I really won't smoke anymore. I've made up my mind. Although I've made up my mind several times before, this time I'm really going to stop smoking," said Smed.

After he finished speaking, Dinger put away the cigarette box, lit the cigarette in his hand, took a puff and asked:

"Why is this? Why are you suddenly so determined?"

"Smoking is harmful to your health and affects your life span," Smed replied seriously.

Hearing this, Dingle couldn't help but laugh: "Don't tell me you only found out about this recently."

Smeder also smiled and said, "I've known this for a long time. There is no smoker who doesn't know this."

"Then how did you suddenly figure it out?"

"It is because I have been saved that you have heard of the misfortune that befell me in the Place Saint-Marie. I do not want to go to the hospital again."

"Is that because of this? Well, that's not like you." Dingle shook his head and looked at Smeder deeply.

Smeder's fair face began to turn red visibly. "That's it. I will never smoke again."

"Oh, by the way, there is one more thing I need to tell you." Smed changed the subject.

"what's up?"

"I have decided to retire, Colonel." Smeder's face became serious and he said this to Dingle.

Dingle put down the cigarette that was about to reach his mouth, raised an eyebrow and said, "Retired?"

"Yes, Colonel." Facing Dingle's gaze, Smeder's eyes were a little evasive, and then he said: "I just made the decision tonight. The request for discharge has not been submitted yet, but I think it should be possible..."

"Okay." To Smed's surprise, Dingle said.

"After fighting for so many years and now being injured, it's no problem for me to retire. The request letter hasn't been sent yet, right? When I return to the Royal Castle, I'll write a letter to the military and ask them to approve it as soon as possible."

Smed looked at Dingle in astonishment: "You...you think I did this..."

Before he finished speaking, Dinger interrupted and said, "Since you have made up your mind, then do it. There is no problem. I support your decision."

"But what are you going to do after you retire? Have you thought about it?" Dinggel said with a smile.

Smeder felt relieved, and his tense mood immediately relaxed. He grinned and said, "I'm doing my old job, making bread."

"But...I don't plan to follow my father back home. I want to be in Salivia."

"Let's see if I can open a bakery." Smeder looked longing.

"That's a good idea. Just do it. I'll come and try your cooking skills then." Dingle said as he took out a pocket watch from his arms and checked the time.

"Okay, I'll give you a discount then." Smed replied with a smile.

Dingle put away his pocket watch and said, "Then it's settled."

"You should go back and rest. Poker and Huffman probably don't know that you've been discharged from the hospital yet. I think they will be very happy to see you back."

But Smeder suddenly blushed, shook his head and said, "Colonel, I'm not going to the bus stop. I'm going to No. 28 Tanin Street."

"You are at your relatives' house in Salivia?"

"Um...no."

"That's? Oh, by the way, I have something else to ask you. How is the girl you took to the hospital now?" Dingle asked.

Before Smeder could answer, the window of the carriage behind him was opened from the inside out, and a slightly pale face peeked out:

"Are you talking about me, sir?"