before he was crowned king

Mars closed the document and scanned the thugs tied to the iron poles.

He said that he was attending a banquet at Earl Shelter's castle, but in fact he was reviewing the results of the interrogation in the dungeon under the hall.In fact, Mars doesn't need to waste too much time in this cold and humid place. Earl Shelter is very skilled. These mercenaries can't bear the pain, and their mouths have already been pried open. Everything, no matter how big or small, was said in full.

According to the records, about a month ago, someone brought [-] gold coins to find this vulture mercenary group. This person asked them to pretend to be robbers, kidnap low-level citizens of a village and send them to the trading point.The hirer, a wealthy nobleman, said that Baron Tolland would pay the rest of the money after the transaction.The mercenary group accepted the deal, but before they could collect the final payment, the so-called Baron Tolan who would pay died inexplicably.

It was too much of a coincidence that the boss of the mercenary group felt that he might have been tricked, so he checked the details of the mercenary and found that the other party was near the capital, so he sent a dozen of them over and ordered them to use the transaction evidence left behind To coerce the other party to pay a large amount of ransom.

"Where's the transaction evidence?" Mars pointed to the record and asked.

"Here, Your Highness." Lambert held a silver square plate, and all the evidence recovered from the mob was placed in this well-sealed metal box.Mars looked into the box, and there were two notes conveying the message, a contract signed by both parties, and a silver cufflink.

"What is this?" Mars looked down at the cufflink with intricate patterns.

"They said it was stolen from the hirer by their accomplices at the time of the transaction," Lambert said.

"It's very special." Mars twisted the cuff button, "It's very similar to yours."

"Mine?" Lambert didn't respond, "You mean... mine?"

"Yes, there is a small 'h' engraved on the edge, it should be made by the same person." Mars turned his head and asked, "Didn't you find it?"

Lambert looked down at his cufflinks and was stunned. There was indeed an inconspicuous "h".

"Where did this cufflink of yours come from?"

"It seems... It seems that my servant bought it from a silver shop on Shanger Avenue." Lambert recalled vigorously, "Please allow me to ask."

"Didn't you just show off to Sean this afternoon?" Mars asked.

"We just mentioned something casually at the time." Lambert's face was a little stiff.

"Really." Mars nodded, and put the cufflinks back into the box, "Take it to the place where you bought it and check, maybe you can find out that its owner is Karel Vik."

"Calle Vic? Viscount Carle?" Lambert asked curiously, "How do you know? Is it because he is the attendant of His Royal Highness Fern?"

"I remember he wore it at the ball held by Ornis last year." Mars stood up and walked outside the dungeon, "Lambert, why hasn't your father come back yet?"

"I'm sorry Your Highness, my father entered the palace to discuss matters in the afternoon, and logically he should be back." Lambert was also a little strange, he clearly agreed with his father to meet His Highness in the evening, "Do you want to have some dinner first?"

Mars stopped and raised his hand to interrupt Lambert: "Entering the palace? Why?"

"For the state meeting in half a month." Lambert said with a smile, "We now have the handle of His Royal Highness Fern, and my father is trying to clear up the relationship in private. After all, smart people know how to stand in line. Wait until it is made public. when--"

"Stupid." Mars snapped and Lambert was stunned. "Who allowed you to do this?"

"Your Highness, what's wrong with you?" Lambert was a little at a loss. He didn't know what he said wrong. After so many years, it was the first time he saw His Royal Highness so angry.

Mars stared at Lambert, with blue veins on his forehead, he suppressed his emotions: "Do you know what you are doing?"

"Your Highness, my father and I...just want to help you." Lambert panicked.

"Stop, let your father stop all actions." Mars ordered irrefutably.

"But—" Lambert didn't understand the seriousness of the matter.

"Lambert, your father wants to lead the dignitaries to expose my brother's scandal in front of the queen. You are not helping me, you are... forcing the palace!" Mars waved his hand, and then supported the painful head, "Do you understand?"

"Forcing the palace?! Your Highness, why do you say that? Our family has served the Saint Via Empire for generations, how could we do such a thing? We just hope that Her Majesty the Queen will see clearly the ugly face of Her Highness Fern, and understand that you are the most suitable for the Empire. His heir." Lambert knelt on one knee, bowed his head and said quickly.

"Interfering with the coronation of the heirs, isn't this forcing the palace?" Seeing that Lambert still didn't understand, Mars no longer knew what to say.

Sweat was beading on Lambert's brow, and the wool-blanketed aisle was silent.Mars didn't speak, and Lambert didn't dare to get up without authorization.

A waiter in a black formal suit walked quickly.

"Master." Facing the frozen atmosphere at this moment, the waiter swallowed, "Someone is coming from the palace."

"Did father come back?" Lambert stood up under the signal of Mars.

"No, no, it's Her Majesty's maid." The waiter said cautiously, "Madam Baumier."

The corners of Mars' mouth were pressed down, his eyes were menacing, his current complexion was extremely bad, like an ice edge under the eaves in winter.

The woman dressed in restrained and low-key stood upright in the empty hall, and when she saw Mars coming, she raised the hem of her skirt and saluted slightly.

"His Royal Highness Mars."

"Mrs. Baumier, why did you come here?" Mars was eager to know the situation, and he didn't pay attention to the superficial politeness.Mrs. Baumier is Fiona's biological sister. After marrying a baron, she lived in the palace and became a maid of Queen Karina.Because Fiona was a member of the Falcon Society, he still had some kind of friendship with her.

"I heard that there was a night banquet held at Earl Shelter's mansion, and Her Majesty the Queen ordered me to come, saying that Earl Shelter would not be able to come back to host tonight." Madam Baumier looked around and said after a pause, "But it seems that now, The night banquet at the Earl's Mansion has ended early."

"Mrs. Baumier, what happened to the Earl?" Upon hearing the news of his father, Lambert couldn't help but stepped forward and asked anxiously.

"Master Lambert, I don't know anything about the specific situation, and the most important thing now is not your father." Bao Mier's eyes fell on Mars's face, "Your Highness, Her Majesty the Queen wants to see you .”

"Mother knows I'm here, she wants to see me?" Mars asked in a low voice, as if thinking about something.

"Yes, Your Highness. The carriage is already outside, please come back to the palace with me." Bao Mier said with lowered eyebrows.

"I see." Mars let go of his tightly clenched hands and let out a breath. Mrs. Baumier's words had already given him many reminders. It was obvious that Her Majesty the Queen already knew something, and the actual situation might be worse than him. Worse than imagined.He must return to the palace immediately.

If time permits, Mars wants to drink a glass of spirits before leaving.This is not surprising, that majestic and splendid palace is his home, and it is also the eye of the storm where power revolves. Stormy.

The carriage drove all the way to the center of the capital, leaving behind the sound of rolling wheels in the silent night, and did not stop until the solemn and tall arches.

After the curfew, there were no other people in the palace except the patrolling guards. During this time, the palace gates were closed, and no one else could enter. Even as Mars, he did not have the right to open the palace gates privately.However, Baumier had the queen's token on him, and their carriage drove in through the small door on the right.

"Be careful of the steps." Mrs. Baomier held the palace lantern and walked in front of Mars to illuminate it.Mars was silent along the way, Madam Baomier couldn't help comforting, "It's okay, Your Highness Mars."

"Thank you, I'm fine." Mars lowered his head and looked at his feet, and suddenly asked, "Mrs. Baomier, do you know how many steps there are in front of this hall?"

"This...probably only the people who built the palace know." Mrs. Boumier said.

"A total of [-] steps. First, there are [-] small steps, and then there are [-] large steps. Before Salfid III, there were [-] small steps, plus [-] large steps." Mars slowly Said, "One hundred consists of ten tens, symbolizing the 'Ten Commandments' and 'Ten Forgiveness' in the Holy See."

"I see. You are very knowledgeable. I think you have read a lot of books on this subject, and you even know such things." Mrs. Baomeier nodded. Mars Salfield is recognized as the smartest among the Queen's children.

"It's not in the book, but I actually counted it myself." Mars said calmly, "I probably counted it more than twenty times."

Bao Mier was taken aback for a moment, thinking for a while that Mars was joking.

She didn't know that Mars was not a humorous person, and he was not in the mood to joke now, he did do stupid things like counting steps, and it was also on such a sultry night.The mother randomly checked my brother's studies in the main hall, while he was driven outside the hall to wait boredly.

Mars knew that his mother's expulsion from the temple did not mean to treat him and Fern differently on purpose. The main reason was that he was too mischievous when he was a child. Relying on his natural good memory, he always deliberately said things before his brother spoke. Find the answer to the mother's question.He knew very well that Fern would feel uneasy because he lost to his young brother in front of his mother. He liked to see Fern make a fool of himself. , but can easily get all the brothers.

Mrs. Baumier coughed a few times. She thought it might be because she was wearing a long skirt that made it difficult for her to move. Did you build three new steps after taking the throne? Why is that?"

"Are you interested in why?"

Mrs. Baumier only nodded when she raised the topic.

"I guessed the reason randomly. Do you know about fortune-telling?" Mars strode up the steps, turned his head and raised his eyebrows, "You can try to use the major arcana card to calculate."

Madam Baumier frowned, the young man's words sounded like he was not answering the question, he was not answering the question at all.But now she can't ask anymore, because the young man has already opened the door and walked into the hall.

There was a dead silence in the palace, only the footsteps of Mars alone could be heard.

The crystal clear and noble throne glowed with a dark light, and a solemn and elegant woman sat on it, like an oil painting intertwined with beauty and power, which made people yearn for but also feel awe.

That holy light was not magic, but the Throne's own glow in the night.This unique throne of the Sanvia Empire is made of a large piece of colorful fluorite salvaged from the magma.Once the stone came out, it became famous because no one could explain why the gemstone glowed at night without energy.People began to call it a miracle until it spread to the capital, and finally Salfid I bought it back to the palace and made it into the throne in front of him.

"Mother." Mars saluted.

"Mars Salfield." Uncharacteristically, the woman called out the young man's full name.

Mars' pupils shrank slightly, and he lowered his head. A terrifying oppression made him lower his head, unable to look directly at the woman's face.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty." Mars knew the woman's attitude, and changed his address accordingly.

"Why are you apologizing?"

"Because of what Earl Shelter has done." Mars no longer needed to hide anything, he raised his head earnestly, "But please believe me, I don't know anything about this matter, I would like to swear by my surname... ..."

"Mars, I'm very disappointed." Queen Karina interrupted Mars' oath, "You are very smart, but you treat yourself like a child and haven't grown up until now."

When he heard the word "disappointment", Mars's face turned ferocious for a moment. He lowered his head to hide his expression, but he couldn't restrain the violent fluctuation in his heart.

He couldn't hold it back, and let out a low laugh with complicated emotions.

"Children? Then what do you think an adult is like?" Mars raised his chin and snapped his fingers. "People who disregard human nature, ignore the law, trample on life at will, and sell their fiefs for profit... I think so Adults should be more unforgiving than children in your eyes."

"Mars."

"You know everything now, right?" Mars didn't stop, pressing harder and harder, "My brother is doing good things outside, and he is selling your subjects for profit."

"Mars, you are grounded." Queen Karina tapped the ground with her scepter, "You cannot leave your bedroom for a period of one month."

"Your decision is to ground me? Do you think it's fair to me?" Mars looked up at the woman's youthful face, his whole body suddenly became quiet, his voice was no longer agitated, and he returned to normal .

"Your Majesty's decision is correct. I apologize for the previous collision and rudeness. I will follow your instructions and stay in the bedroom and reflect on all the mistakes I have made." Without looking at the woman's expression, he stood up and bowed back. Push the door and go out.

The door was pushed and closed on both sides, and the palace fell into dead silence again.

Queen Carina laid the scepter across the two armrests of the throne, and sighed inaudibly.The man wearing the long sword came out from behind the throne with strong and firm steps. He walked to the throne and stood still, kneeling respectfully in front of the woman on one knee.

"Your Majesty, Earl Shelter's residence has been arranged." The man said, "When it comes to the State Council, he will never say anything harmful to the royal family."

"Wood, get up, Mars has already left." Karina said, "You are now the number one knight of the empire, and you don't need to kneel to anyone."

Wood stood up and said with a smile: "Indeed, but you don't belong to anyone, you are my only one."

Karina's expression slowed down, as if she didn't hear the misunderstanding, she just ignored it: "Is His Royal Highness Fern in the palace?"

"His Royal Highness Fern did not return to the palace tonight, and should be resting in the capital's pavilion. Are you going to summon him?"

"No." Karina's eyes darkened, "It's too late."

"Then how do you decide to deal with His Highness Fern's matter?" Wood asked.

"Don't reveal it, wait for my order." Karina waved her hand, looking a little tired.

"Yes." Wood nodded, "What about His Highness Mars? Is he really going to be grounded for a month? If His Highness doesn't show up for a month, there will probably be a lot of rumors outside."

"At least before the state meeting, he needs to reflect on himself. I'm still here, and he's already thinking about ruining his own brother." Queen Carina's face was stained with anger, "And it's for some Asians. Orc."

"Your Majesty, I think this matter should be the idea of ​​Earl Shelter and others. If His Royal Highness Mars knew about it, he would never allow them to do such absurd things. You understand that His Royal Highness Mars was a child. I respect you very much and love you very much.”

"I know what you said. But Wood, he shouldn't do this, he shouldn't hurt his brother." Karina said slowly, "I am the only female heir to Saint Via, and I am also the only female heir in history. One and only. I am different from other male rulers, I have conceived all my children myself, I refuse to fight for the throne, I refuse to fight for blood, and I refuse to lose any of my children."

"I can understand your thoughts, you are a queen and a mother."

"The eldest son's succession is my insistence. I will not let this rule be broken, because I know very well that if this iron rule is broken, a bloody storm will sweep the entire palace." Karina closed her eyes slightly. Eye, "I am fair. I will give each of them the strength to rely on. Even if I am gone, each of my children will be safe."

"Your Majesty, Your Highnesses will understand your good intentions." Wood comforted.

"I just hope that everything will be as I want it to be." Karina said, "By the way, write a letter to Tisifeng, asking her to come back to the capital before winter, Ornis has been thinking about her recently. "

"Yes." Wood smiled.

"Is Raphael still studying in the Holy See? I haven't seen him for almost a year." Karina asked.

"Yes, His Highness Raphael's divinity is rare. I heard that a bishop privately recommended His Highness Raphael to the Pope as the candidate for the next Holy Son." Wood said.

"Holy Son? They want to train Raphael to become the next pope?" Karina frowned slightly.

"Yes, the general Holy Son is the candidate for the next Pope." Wood hesitated to speak, "But their decision seems to have other intentions."

"They want the unification of theocracy and kingship, and they have never given up." Karina rubbed the scepter in her hand and said softly, "Two lions are two lions. If you want to keep one, you have to kill the other."

The dim light of the palace lamp illuminated the keyhole. After Bao Mier served Her Majesty to sleep, another noble maid took her place. She opened the door and returned to her room.

"Fiona, haven't you rested yet? Aren't you going to the academy tomorrow?" Baumier shouted looking at the light shining through the crack of the door.

"I'm asleep, I'm already asleep." The girl's panicked voice came from the door, and then the overflowing light disappeared.

Mrs. Baumier sighed, there was nothing she could do with her boyish sister.She walked through the open study room, looked at the messy desks, and couldn't help sighing again.

"It's always like this, who will want you in the future?" Bao Mier complained softly, walking to the desk.

There were two books spread out on the desk, and a piece of paper in the middle, on which was written the choice question of "love or not". She took the piece of paper, turned to the back, and found two small names, one It was the name of her own sister, and another named "Eryx".

"What are you doing? Alex? It seems to be the young master of the Cabed family." Bao Mier looked at the immature handwriting and couldn't help but raise his mouth. "Could it be that Fiona likes this boy?"

Bao Mier shook his head with a smile, ready to put the paper down.Only then did she notice that there were many cards with gorgeous patterns arranged under the sheet of paper. They were spread out randomly, some with their backs up and some with their faces up, as if they had been deliberately disrupted with resentment. .

"Major Arcana cards... Fiona is using these cards for divination." Bao Mier suddenly remembered what the silver-haired young man said to her in front of the palace, and the other party asked her to try to do the math.

Baumier looked at these cards at a loss. She had never learned divination, and she didn't even know how to arrange and draw these cards.

"What are you thinking about? Your Highness may just say it casually." Bao Mier quickly gave up. She tidied up the desk and prepared to put all the cards into the box.

"Huh?" After Bao Mier sorted it out, she suddenly discovered that the backs of these major Arcana cards were marked with numbers.

"Four steps?" Baumier drew out a card marked four.

"What does [the Pope] mean?"

Bao Mier quickly found the card marked with the number eight from the pile of cards. She turned the card face up and swallowed unconsciously.

The beautiful woman on the card is wearing a gorgeous long dress, stroking the prostrate lion at her feet, bending over, with a triumphant smile after conquering the world.