Before he was crowned king II

"I remember that you have given up sweets." Sean walked in the empty corridor, "How did you change your mind today?"

"I don't need a reason for what and when I want to eat." Herrell crossed her arms.

"There will also be a lot of sweets at the dinner party, you can taste them as you like." Sean stared straight ahead.

"Forget it. Watching you and that kid with a bright body play a scene of brotherly love will only spoil my appetite." Helear said quietly, "I hate the tenderness between human beings."

"Brotherly love, you say me and him?"

"Of course, don't deny it." Herrell sneered, "I said before, after you know his life experience, you have already started to soften your heart!"

Sean didn't refute, and he himself couldn't understand the attitude towards Erics.

After weighing the pros and cons, his reason can make a decision to hurt or kill Erics, but his body will refuse to execute it out of some instinct.

I'm afraid such an explanation would not be convincing, and it sounded like an excuse to himself.

The surroundings were quiet, Herrell looked at the young man's straight back, his rose-colored eyes flickered with a strange light.

"There are still two hours." Sean broke the silence first.

Helle frowned.

"One year ago today, I said your name and made a contract that I don't want to die. "

Sean's thoughts fell into memories, and that night of flames seemed to happen yesterday, "In exchange, I promise to help you kill the God of Light."

Herrell froze for a moment, then snorted inexplicably.

"Of course, Mary Victoria's death is not the final curtain, and we still have a lot of deployment to do if we want the "General". "

Sean looked at his fingertips and counted the time, "By the way, the court should make a decision on that matter. After all, the whole winter has passed, and many people are anxiously waiting for the final result of that Highness. "

Before sunset, a black carriage drove into Saint Via's palace and stopped outside the prince's bedroom.

The lights in the private study came on.Mars propped his hands on the table, several stacks of documents almost completely covered him like small snow peaks.

These are the tax records of the empire's aristocratic territories within one year, and behind every black and white letter signed by the lord is an astonishing amount of real money.

The treasury is the core to ensure the normal operation of the imperial palace.If any nobleman has the opportunity to access these confidential documents, he will definitely keep them carefully. He can't wait to guard them all day with his sword in hand. He will definitely live up to Her Majesty's trust and respect for him.

But Mars' performance was extremely negligent, and he even took out one of them to pad his own glass for brewing scented tea.

There were still unfinished comments on the paper pressed by the quill. Mars glanced down, with a rare irritated expression on his face.

He simply crumpled up the "check" marked with an amount of 1000 million Queen's coins, and threw it behind him.

Lambert, who had remained silent all this time, bent down and picked up the ball of paper on the ground.

"It's full of loopholes..." Mars pinched the bridge of his nose, "No, it should be made up. A small village with a population of less than 1000 can pay [-] million queen coins a year?

Is he playing an idiot who can't count, or is he underestimating the discernment of normal people?

I'd love to ask him for himself what he thinks of the state's finances, for there are stupid holes like this in any record. "

"Her Highness Fern may not have thought that these records would be verified by you one day, just as he did not think that he would be grounded for the whole winter." Lambert said.

"The punishment of grounding is too light for him." Mars looked cold, "Look at how much the good deeds he and his hawks and dogs have done have been caught by the orcs, and the order that His Majesty has worked so hard to establish has been messed up. Two Waiting for citizens' policies to be implemented is completely reduced to a piece of waste paper."

"His Royal Highness Fern is indeed..." After all, the other party is a royal family, and Lambert can't use too many adjectives.

"It really failed his mother's careful teaching for more than ten years..." Mars gritted his teeth slightly, "I can't even imagine how disappointed my mother will show when she sees this paper full of lies."

Mars knew what kind of idiot his brother was, but what the other party did always easily crossed his bottom line.

What Sean said was right, he was not willing to assist, let alone hand over the only throne of Saint Via to Fern Salfield.

The sound of crisp footsteps approached, and someone knocked hurriedly on the door of the study.

"Who is it?" Lambert walked over and asked.

There was no answer outside the door, Lambert lowered his head, and a white envelope was stuffed in through the crack of the door.

"Here's the news, Your Highness." Lambert immediately put Mars in his hands, "It should be from the palace."

Mars tore open the envelope, and his mind, which was exhausted because of his brother, suddenly cleared up.The verdict he had waited all winter had finally come!

"Mother decided to send Fern to the Gray Tower." Mars said.

The gray tower, like the gray wall, is a landmark building in St. Viadu, symbolizing the inviolable royal power.

It is located on the north bank of the Rio Grande. It is a palace, a fortress, and even a prison. Unlike the palace dungeon, it is specially used to house noble lifeless prisoners.

"This is the best result, Your Highness." Lambert looked a little happy.

"Yeah, this is already the best result." Mars squeezed the envelope and chuckled a few times.

After all, his elder brother was the first heir. No matter what irreparable mistakes he made, Her Majesty the Queen would not be able to kill her own son, or really let the other party fend for itself in the dungeon. Imprisonment in the Gray Tower forever is the most important thing. Severe punishment.

Mars understood his mother's thoughts, and he was not so cruel that he had to take Fern's life.

Yes, that's enough. To be imprisoned in Gray Tower Fern means to move out of the palace, far away from the political center of the empire, and can no longer contact anyone casually.

Fern Salfield was completely out.The boulder that had stood in his way since birth finally shattered.

"Tonight is a day worth celebrating, Lambert." Mars frowned slowly, and he burned the letter paper clean.

"The carriage is ready, Your Highness." Lambert bowed and saluted, "Congratulations..."

Mars took out a velvet box from the drawer, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but…

He suddenly had a strong premonition that today was a lucky day in his life, and that everything he thought in his heart would be accomplished smoothly.

The sound of whips sounded outside the courtyard, and the two steeds with shiny manes neighed. The wheels that could carry a thousand catties accelerated, and the horseshoes slammed hard on the watery and gravel road of the palace.

The low-key black carriage galloped towards the sunset.

Rose Manor Castle, Sean was wearing his clothes and passed by the fragrant flower fields, and the old butler with white hair respectfully followed behind him.

"It's still as organized as before." After returning this time, Sean's mood was very calm, "You took good care of this place, Thomas."

Thomas is a loyal servant left by his mother Dinia. He has a very high mobility that does not agree with his age. He has been a housekeeper in Rose Manor for many years, and he is also a witness who rarely knows about his relationship with Alex. people.

"It's a great honor to be recognized by you, Master Sean." Thomas said in a humble tone, "Please rest assured that the affairs of the manor are not neglected, and Master Erics has grown up and has been working hard on all aspects of the house. Industry."

Sean let out an "hmm" without much surprise.As Erics said, he rarely praises Alex, and often only points out the shortcomings.

Although he always said that the other party was not very smart, Sean would not really underestimate Erics' talent and ability because of this.

After all, the lion looks like a mastiff, and only the torn enemy knows that it is the overlord of the grassland.

"Xion, you're here." Xien walked into the splendid hall, and the person walking towards him was wearing an embroidered white dress. The ring of broken diamonds inlaid on the cuffs and neckline shone under the light, making the other person tall and perfect His figure became more and more handsome and noble.

"The clothes seem to be made in the style of Toyo." Sean said.

Alex looked down at himself and smiled: "Yes, this dress is left by my father. It's also the first time I wear it. I was just worried that it might be too exaggerated."

"You are the main character today, this outfit suits you very well."

It turned out to be the clothes left by Viscount Norman, no wonder he felt a little familiar.

"Viscount Erics." The man's voice came from the other side of the hall, and the two were interrupted after a few words.

"Sorry, Sean, I may have to leave for a while." Alex said, "Grandpa Toms, please take care of me."

"Yes, master." Thomas bowed.

"It's okay, I just want to eat something." Sean found a seat and sat down, looking at the few people who were walking by Alex.

"Who are they?" Sean asked casually after taking the drink from Thomas.

"The descendants of the knights who once captured the southern region of Vilado for the founding emperor of Saint Via - Baron Browning, and several other friends who should travel with the baron."

Thomas glanced at him and said, "About two months ago, the baron himself gave up the ownership of the southern city of Torrevieja, and applied to the queen to enter the gray wall and return to the capital for refuge."

"The descendants of the fearless warriors have fallen into shameful deserters." Sean put down the glass and said to himself, "Has the great empire finally rotted to the inside?"

"Master Alex seems to be in trouble." Toms narrowed his wrinkled eyes slightly, hiding a sharp and unkind look in his eyes.

Not far away, Ericsson was surrounded by several people and pushed to the side of the card table. The Baron Browning with a mustache pressed the young man's shoulder, and secretly revealed a sly smile.

"Can he play cards?" Sean supported his head, looking at Alex with a reluctant expression expressionlessly.

"Master Alex is probably not good at playing cards." Butler Thomas squeezed his hand tightly, "At least I have never seen it... But these people often hang out in casinos and bars, and they are all veterans of playing cards."

"Toss the chips, two hundred and one rounds." Sean basically understood what the baron wanted to do.

"I seem to have won the first game." Thomas was a little surprised. He saw Baron Browning push two chips to Alex, then stood up and began to applaud.

Some guests around were attracted by the bursts of applause.

"Viscount Alex, your card skills are really superb! It's really easy to win this game!"

"No, I'm not really good at it."

"You are so humble! Your card skills are absolutely superb!" Seeing that the crowd was attracted, Baron Browning sat back at the table again, with a warm tone, "During the rest of the banquet, please give me another chance to learn from each other. Chance!"

"I bet on Viscount Erics!" Someone suddenly spoke first in the crowd.

"I choose Lord Browning."

"I'm also asking for a hundred gold coins."

Everything happened so naturally.By the time Erics wanted to stop this gambling game, the atmosphere in the entire hall had already been stirred up by Baron Browning and his companions.

Except for him, the protagonist, almost everyone around him indirectly participated in this gamble, and they were very interested.

"Baron Browning, as the host, I still need to take care of other guests. Let's play the cards next time I have a chance."

Alex also faintly felt that something was wrong, and he had doubts since winning the first game.

Although playing poker is very dependent on luck, he can be said to be a half layman. He doesn't understand technical terms at all. At most, he understands the general rules of the process.

"Wouldn't it be a little disappointing for you to say that?" Cards of different suits flicked from Baron Browning's left hand to his right like water, "And now the guests in the hall are not all gathered around you? They all I look forward to your poker skills!"

The corners of his mouth were cracked, and his greed could not be concealed in his smile, "Don't worry, it's only two hundred for a game. We don't have much money to play, and it doesn't matter if we lose."

The situation is a bit out of control, and many people are betting on the bet between them.Alex frowned, and he found that he seemed to have stepped into a trap carefully designed by Baron Browning.

"Can you bring me one, please?" someone said lightly.

With a click, an extra seat suddenly appeared on Baron Browning's left.The young man who sat down naturally fiddled with the chips of different colors on the table, "I also like playing poker."

Although the young man said that he liked playing poker, most people could not hear how much he liked it from the young man's tone.

"Sir, are you sure you want to join the game?" The sudden entrant made Baron Browning stunned, because he didn't know the identity of the opponent, and his tone was very cautious.

"Yes. It's interesting to play poker when there are many people, what do you think?" Sean looked into the eyes of Baron Browning, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.