The Duke in the Spire of Thorns

Celeste spent a long time in the underground library. He tried his best to read all the alchemy books he found.But there is not much useful content in these books.

Alchemists have always been very mysterious. In order to prevent outsiders from prying into their knowledge, they created a set of "cryptic words" that are only circulated among the alchemists.In this way, without the teaching of other alchemists, ordinary people would not be able to understand the "cryptic language", which played a very good role in keeping it secret.

Celeste is feeling bored because of them. As an ordinary person, he also knows nothing about argots. In his opinion, many contents are just a simple patchwork of different words and sentences, meaningless.

But he didn't feel anxious, because he knew that someone would come to help him solve this problem soon.

"The more powerful the alchemist appears, the worse the weather will be?"

Celeste was sitting at the desk, and in front of him was the handbook of an apprentice alchemist, which contained some strange things.

He yawned and began to doubt his choice: could alchemy really make him healthy?

"You know what, you should rest."

Eswell stood waiting outside the door, and Celeste didn't want others to know that he was trying to study alchemy, after all, it wasn't something that could be brought up on the table.

He pressed his hands on the table, propped up his body with strength, and walked out slowly.

Eswell was waiting for him outside the door, and as soon as Celeste opened the door, Eswell stretched out his arms to hug Celeste.

"You can take those books to your study and read them."

Eswell said helplessly while raising his legs and stepping up the stairs: "The underground library is damp and cold, which is very bad for your health."

Celeste nodded casually, and then said, "Don't worry, I have a measure."

He rested his head on the side of Elsevier's neck, which was so warm he liked it.

Eswell hasn't worn his knight armor for a long time. As the knight commander, he has a beautiful set of silver armor that people can't take their eyes off.However, after assuming the role of Celeste's transportation tool, he began to wear those soft and comfortable robes, and the knight armor was naturally sealed.

The stairs connecting the ground and underground libraries are spiral, and the height of each staircase is not low, but Eswell always has a way to make it as if walking on the ground, and Silest, who is held in his arms, does not feel it. to a little bump.

After a sumptuous lunch, two guests were welcomed in the castle.

Bishop Kenneth was still smiling, but the man in black robe standing beside him seemed eager to blend himself into the shadows.

Bishop Kenneth walked forward under the guidance of the maid. He held a hemp rope in his hand, and the other end of the hemp rope was in the hands of the man in black robe. Kenneth strode forward and walked into the living room.

Celeste was sitting in front of the fireplace waiting, knowing Kenneth was coming while he was still outside the castle.

"Good day, Your Excellency."

Celeste responded to him politely, and then he set his sights on the man in black who was being led by Bishop Kenneth.

The black-robed man wears a long hood, and Celeste can only see his chin, which is not a pleasing chin. Dust and dirt cover his complexion, and his lips are also dirty .

Celeste frowned, and looked at his bound hands, which were also dirty and black, with large ulcers on the back of the hands.

This is the alchemist?

Celeste thought that Kenneth would at least let the alchemist clean himself up before bringing him to see him, but it was obvious that this poor bishop didn't understand noble etiquette.He excitedly said to Celeste: "My lord, this is the alchemist."

"Untie the rope from his hands."

Celeste ordered that Bishop Kenneth's rudeness had made Celeste completely lose his favor with him.

Kenneth's expression remained unchanged, he untied the hemp rope from the man in black robe, and then casually threw the rope on Celeste's carpet.

"This is the punishment that the Holy Lord asks us to inflict on thieves."

Kenneth said that there was some hypocritical piety on his face, and after noticing that Celeste's eyes were always on the hands of the man in black, he said: "According to the instructions of the Holy Lord, we The hand of the thief should be put into boiling water, so that he can no longer harm good and poor people."

How cruel!

Celeste thought: Behold, here is the holy bishop, the mouthpiece of the great Lord on earth.

Then he thought of Lot's wife and the great flood.

He snorted coldly in his heart, didn't say much, and his attitude became obviously cold.

The man in black stayed, and Celeste ordered the housekeeper to take him down to clean himself up, and then bring him to see him three days later.

"Your Mightiness."

Just when the butler was about to take the man in black down, the man in black who had been silent all this time spoke.

"Thank you for your generosity, much appreciated."

Celeste didn't think there was anything outstanding about this alchemist at first, until he opened his mouth to thank Celeste.

There was a strange grace in his accent and intonation, which is not something common people can have.

This is a man of the aristocratic class!

"I suppose you would like to meet me in three days?"

Celeste asked politely. The man in black was obviously flattered. He paused and said incoherently, "Oh... I am willing, I am very happy."

The living room returned to silence, only Celeste and Elsweer standing beside him remained.

"Don't you want to do something?"

Celeste picked up the book again, turned to the page he had read before, and planned to continue reading. Sitting by the warm fireplace and reading is a kind of enjoyment.Elsevier was standing beside him, not too far away, not too close, he stood upright, and seemed to have no intention of leaving.

"Staying here to protect you is what I want to do."

Eswell said he smiled at Celeste, who didn't seem bored or bored at all.

If he stayed here, he would need to take care of Celeste like a servant. In fact, he did a very good job. At least Celeste's personal servant is almost useless.

But this is not a long-term solution. After all, Eswell is his knight commander. Although he was sent to Celeste since he was a child, he is also a nobleman, but he has no title to inherit.

So Eswell is not suitable for this kind of thing.

"I'm thinking." Celeste said cautiously: "If you want, then you can find one of your knights to serve me instead of you."

He said: "After all, you are the knight commander, and it is humiliating to always do these things."

Elsevier shook his head and said softly, "No, my lord, I don't want to."

Celeste looked into his eyes inquisitively, trying to see whether it was a beautiful word against his will or a loyal and honest word.Eswell's pupils were emerald green, and Celeste couldn't see any emotion in him.

Judging a person's general thoughts from the eyes is a compulsory course for nobles to learn since childhood. Celeste's grades in this course are not bad, but he can hardly see Elsweer's thoughts.

There is basically no emotion in Eswell's beautiful emerald green pupils, at least in Celeste's view. At first, he was not close to Eswell because of this, but as time went by, Eswell Swell proved his loyalty with practical actions, and Celeste slowly became close to him.

Similarly, Celeste couldn't see anything from Eswell's eyes this time.He withdrew his gaze and said concisely: "Tea."

After finishing speaking, he lowered his head and immersed himself in reading again.

After a while, a cup of hot tea with just the right temperature was brought to him. Celeste picked up the teacup and took a sip. The slightly bitter tea liquid slid down his throat. After the bitter taste gradually faded away, he left Between the lips and teeth is a pleasant tea fragrance.

"Please look up."

Eswell's voice sounded, Celeste heard him, but he deliberately pretended not to hear.Eswell looked down at him, stretched out his hand, gently lifted Celeste's chin with his fingertips, and took out a silk handkerchief to wipe the corners of his mouth.

"You know, you are offending your master."

Celeste waited until Elswell put away the handkerchief before saying slowly: "According to the usual practice, I should punish you now."

Elsevier didn't make a rebuttal, and knelt down on one knee in front of his master meekly, waiting to be dealt with.

"Let me think about it." Celeste deliberately elongated her voice, acting as if she was in a dilemma, "Since you like to stand so much, then you can go and sit next to you."

"As ordered."

Elsevier sat down on the chair closest to Celeste.

The fire is burning, and there will be some "crackling" sounds from time to time. Autumn is about to pass, and the weather is gradually getting colder.But this is the south, and the climate is much warmer than that in the north.

Celeste thought before going to bed for an afternoon nap, maybe there really is no "only Lord" in this world, and the so-called "sacred scripture" is probably just a tool fabricated by the church to grab money and power.

Otherwise, how could those cruel and rude members of the church have been running rampant with impunity?

"Sleep, I wish you a sweet dream."

Elsevier lowered the bed net for him.

Now, Celeste's vision is dim, but through this dim light, he can still see a pale black shadow on the bed curtain.

There was no doubt that it was Elswell.

Eswell will stay by Celeste's side after he falls asleep. Although sometimes he will pretend to leave, but Celeste knows that he will come back when he falls asleep.

But he never speaks out.