Chapter 648 - v4c32Another Chance(3) (2/2)
“We applaud our majesty’s authority. Now that the territories in the Seas of the Dying Moon have also returned to our fold, we are close to finis.h.i.+ng the unification of the Darkened Kingdoms, which began a thousand years ago. With the exception of that woman Alvitr, who is planning who-knows-what, we only have the Kingdom of the Spiders to worry about. Tagus, the dying moon has risen again. To be able to partic.i.p.ate in such a historical moment gives me such an antic.i.p.ation.” The Yinstar Dragon looked at the kneeling Black Knights and couldn’t help but discuss this quietly with his companion.
“Antic.i.p.ation is not a feeling the dead should have.” Tagus said calmly, without any changes to his expression. As the most n.o.ble of the Meinlayn vampires, he was allowed to wear the gold embroidered black robes of n.o.bles and looked ridiculous next to the non-t.i.tled Yinstar Dragon. “Madara has begun to operate according to the will of the Mercury Staff. It is like a curse and not a goal. The world of the living takes but a moment to decay in the eyes of the Undead. To me, only time, truth, and dust have value.”
“That is why the mortals outside call us the stubborn skeletons.”
“But the show is just beginning, Tagus. The arrival of the Black Knights today is just an appetizer.” The Yinstar Dragon never felt self-conscious because of his humble stations. Instead, he continued eagerly, “Look, his majesty has recalled the Bloodstaff. Something good must have happened.”
Tagus remained silent. In fact, he already knew what happened. A week before, two n.o.bles of the dark were attacked, one after the other, in Madara’s southern territory that was close to Aouine. The castle of one of the vampires was practically burned to ash and all that remained were the signs of a huge “cleansing” by fire. Almost none of the Undead survived.
This meant that at least one group of the knights of the Holy Cathedral of Fire have snuck into the borders of Madara.
For this to happen at this time of year, Tagus smelled the scent of conspiracy even though this was not a rare occurrence along the borders of Aouine and Madara. The humans answered the call of the Holy Cathedral and the Undead fought to occupy their territory. They both often sent private groups of knights or formed armies to invade each other’s territory.
Except that ever since the coronation of Aouine’s Oberg the Sixth, Madara has s.h.i.+fted its strategy from defensive to offensive and gradually gained the initiative in this war.
But the present was no longer the past. The contract between Aouine and Madara has just pa.s.sed its first anniversary and rumor has it that the human kingdom was mired in a civil war; they clearly would not think lightly of declaring war right now.
So now it became a question of who was trying to muddy up the waters and sneak away with benefits.
The indifferent vampire squinted his only remaining eye. He lifted his head and saw the Dark Leader, who had taught Aouine a painful lesson at Karsuk just as the Yinstar Dragon predicted, slowly walk to the middle of the hall, adorned in a b.l.o.o.d.y robe. This was Cheque, the King of the Necromancers and the Bloodstaff.
“My honored majesty, I have brought you a piece of unhappy news today.”
“Those humble humans have once again challenged your honor on Madara’s territory.”
“Those stubborn human n.o.bles seem to have forgotten the pain of the wounds from the battle a year ago.”
“Today, I am asking your permission to bring them new terrors.”
The hoa.r.s.e voice of the Bloodstaff echoed under the dome of the Holy Palace of Eloideniel, but Tagus and the Yinstar Dragon both narrowed their eyes at those words.
…
Brendel lightly tossed the letter from Delphine’s hands back at her. He examined the woman closely. In fact, he’s already encountered her before at the Loop of Trade Winds, but he’d only seen her from afar and was nowhere as detailed an examination as today.
He had to admit that her beauty was enough to bend anyone’s heart to her will. Of all the women he’s met, only the Princess Gryphine could give her a run for the money.
But compared to Delphine’s scheming and evil ways, the Royal Princess was as naive as a child.
“Lady Delphine, I do not know how I have offended you. But I do not think you need to risk it all to take revenge upon me… Lady Veronica asked you to deliver this message to me. Come to think of it, it doesn’t seem like Kirrlutz is planning on declaring war with Aouine and instead, have a favor to ask of me –”
He paused and then couldn’t resist giving a slightly sarcastic twist to his words, “If she knew this is how you presented the terms to me, she would probably be dissatisfied.”
The daughter of the Prime Minister remained silent and stared at him codly. The hatred in her eyes was like a hissing poisonous snake, which made Brendel frown. For the life of him, he cannot figure out what he has done to offend her so that she would look at him as if they were mortal enemies.
Luckily he did not need the woman to speak. He looked at the letter, the content of which he was already aware of. He lifted his head and silently ran through the course of history in his mind and figured out which event was happening.
The Bloodstaff had staged a show, which had also happened before in the course of history. He had thought that the course of history had been so completely altered that this would not happen, but he hadn’t counted on the unfortunate King of Necromancer still bringing the trouble to his doorsteps.
But Brendel squinted his eyes and wasn’t too worried.
This was an excellent chance. It was rare to encounter a historical event he was familiar with, and he doubted he’ll get many such chances in the future.
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