Sword of Dawn

The reception officer was stunned for a moment, probably because he didn't expect the legendary Grand Duke's speaking style to be like this, but he quickly adjusted: "Your Majesty has considered that everyone is tired, so he arranged the meeting time for tomorrow."

"Really..." Gao Wen deliberately paused for a long time, and continued when the reception official was about to break out in a cold sweat, "Then I would like to thank His Majesty for your kindness. But since we don't meet today, I don't I have to go into his castle—I'm not used to living in the Silver Castle."

The face of the reception officer changed slightly: "Then you..."

"It's more comfortable to live in your own home," Gao Wen smiled, "I just don't know if 700 Crown Street has been demolished by you after [-] years?"

Hearing the words No. [-] on Crown Street, the faces of the reception officials and several nearby inner court officials involuntarily changed slightly: Although Francis II had reminded them, they really did not expect that Gao Wen's request would be in this direction !

It was the residence of Gawain Cecil in the royal capital 700 years ago.

Although Gawain Cecil was the Duke of the South, he lived in the southern fief most of the time, but like other pioneers at the same time, he also had his own residence in the royal capital, which was the founding king Charles I. Mansions built for each of the first pioneer knights, and these mansions are located on Crown Street - the closest block to Silver Castle.

Whenever the pioneers went from their fiefs to the capital to discuss matters, they would live in their mansions, which was the rule back then.

Now that 700 years have passed, all the pioneers (except for the one who just cheated the corpse) have died, but every house on Crown Street still maintains the same appearance as before, and the royal family is still investing, and it has been maintained during these 700 years. Renovation and repair work to ensure their permanent existence.

In fact, they have become a living fossil-like existence, but these living fossils are still inhabited: the descendants of the various pioneers are still alive, and they all inherited the legacy of their ancestors.

The only exception is the Cecil's family - since the talented Grumman Cecil was born that year, No. 100 Crown Street has been taken back to the royal family for [-] years...

"No. [-] Crown Street..." the reception officer stammered, "It's still there, but it has been completely renovated many times..."

"Oh, that's for sure. After all, it's just a house, not as strong as a castle," Gawain laughed. "But since it has been renovated, it means that it is well preserved now? It should be fine for me to live in, right?"

"Of course..." The reception officer originally planned to say that he had to consult the king before making a decision, but after seeing Gawain's half-smile expression, he was speechless, "But..."

"I know, it has already been taken into the royal family, right?" Gao Wen didn't intend to embarrass a person who just ran errands, so he said, "But I heard that there are no people living there now-in fact, the 100 Has no one lived in it for a year?"

"Yes, after all, the former monarch left there... a lot of things, no one dared to take them away, and no one is qualified to inherit them today, so No. [-] Crown Street is still vacant."

Gao Wen continued to smile: "Since there is no one to inherit it, it should be fine for me to go back to my house for one night, right?"

"Of course." The reception official remembered the order passed to him by the king's servant, and had no choice but to nod, "Then please wait a moment, my lord, and I will lead the way..."

"No need, I still remember the way to my home." Gawain waved his hand, "Just go back and tell the king that I will come to Silver Castle to visit him on time tomorrow at noon."

Then he turned the horse's head and patted Rebecca's head before leaving: "Silly boy, let's go."

Rebecca was shocked for a moment: "Hey? My lord ancestor, aren't we staying in the palace today?"

"What's so good about the palace? When I built it, I told Charlie that the land he chose was not good enough. As a result, the roof cracked a lot in the third year after it was built. Let's go, I'll take you to the place where I lived. A place, that’s like a home.”

Seeing Gao Wen and his party leaving on their own, the reception officer felt the cold sweat that had been brewing for a long time finally flow down his forehead, and then he grabbed the person next to him: "Quickly, send a druid who can turn into a bird! Go to the crown!" Street No. [-], let them prepare quickly!"

Chapter 0026 Is this a former residence?

Gao Wen didn't let the team go too fast, because he guessed that the reception staff needed to make hasty preparations to prepare the house at No. Staff who do what they are told.But even though he led the team around the street half a circle, when he arrived at No. [-] Crown Street, he still saw some people in waiter uniforms running in and out sweating profusely.

But anyway, their preparations are almost done.

A tall and thin butler-like middle-aged man wearing a white wig and black bow tie came out from the mansion, and bowed in front of Gawain's horse: "Your Excellency, your mansion is ready, my lord." It is James Bryan who is currently in charge of managing this property, during your stay in the capital, it is an honor to serve you as your butler."

"Brian...I have an impression of this surname," Gao Wen thought for a while (searching memory), and said with a smile, "ah, yes, Holly Blaine, Charlie's little attendant back then, the surname Blaine Charlie gave it to him."

The middle-aged man who called himself James Blaine had a sense of wonder, and everyone who was lucky enough to deal with the ancients (and this ancient man still knew his ancestors) would probably feel the same sense of surprise: "Yes... yes, Holly Blaine is the ancestor, our family has served as royal servants for generations, and the royal family's direct property in the capital is also managed by members of the Blaine family..."

Gao Wen chuckled: "Yes, my house is now the property of the royal family."

James Brain broke out in a cold sweat on the spot—the embarrassment index of this topic is definitely the most embarrassing in the capital today. For example, it is equivalent to tying you to a chair and reciting to your face the youth written in the space when you were 14 years old. sad literature...

But Gao Wen was just joking with the other party, and quickly skipped the topic: "Let everyone not have to worry about it, I won't live long."

James Bryan straightened up: "After receiving the order, I will serve you with all my heart. It is our responsibility to prepare the house properly."

"For example, clear out the ticket sellers at the entrance and those who act as tour guides inside first?"

"……what?"

It's really troublesome to communicate with people from other worlds.

Gawain waved his hand in a somewhat disinterested manner, got off his horse, handed the reins to the attendants who had been waiting, and then led his great-granddaughter on floor N+1 and a large group of people into the 700-year-old building. old mansion.

Indeed, as the inner court official said before, these historic and significant mansions on Crown Street not only remain, but also maintain their original appearance through continuous repairs - 700 years, even with magic Unscientific things exist, and many things should have been decayed long ago, so Gao Wen is almost sure that at least half of the things here are no longer the original things, and they are just plausible, but he himself does not understand these things anyway. Didn't care - he wasn't the real Gawain Cecil.

Passing through a small garden and vestibule, passing a short corridor, followed by the main hall—as the residence of the Founding Duke, the scale of No. [-] Crown Street is really a bit shabby. The families that bought property in the capital were able to build a house twice the size of this place in the city, so Amber muttered as soon as she entered the door: "That's it? It's far worse than I thought..."

"This was built 700 years ago," Gawain glanced at the half-elf. "The Silver Castle at that time was only a circle bigger than here."

"I think it's pretty good..." Rebecca whispered, "The castle I live in is not as good as here except for the huge foundation..."

Amber rolled her eyes and said, "That's right, after all, you are almost ruining your family."

"You are not allowed to throw fireballs here," Gao Wen held Rebecca and Amber's heads in a smooth manner, "You should also be honest, don't try your best just because you have first-class escape skills, one day you really meet a shadow master, you may be on the spot passed away."

After letting the Byron knights and soldiers settle down and rest under the leadership of the attendants, he arranged for Betty to go to the kitchen to help prepare dinner (the little girl's frying pan finally came in handy), and then Gawain circled around the main hall .

"It's really all preserved..."

After going around twice, Gawain sighed softly. The memories in his mind kept pouring out, imprinting with everything he saw in front of him. He couldn't help sighing because of the familiarity from his memory.

Rebecca also walked around behind Gawain, looking at the utensils displayed in the main hall with curiosity and mixed emotions.The first generation of pioneers back then all had their descendants, and many of those descendants now even live on this Crown Street, but she, the descendant of the greatest of the pioneers, the current head of the Cecil family, has lived until today Only then did I know what the house my ancestors lived in looked like.

There are many things here that she has only seen described in the family books, such as an ancient battle ax hanging on the wall of the main hall.

"This is what I won from Charlie during the swordsmanship competition. In fact, it's not a magical weapon, but a dwarven battle axe." Gawain pointed to the ax on the wall, and said casually while retrieving his memory. "I don't know how those short stumps are developed. All of them only reach my waist, but they have a lot of strength. Such a big ax seems heavy for human soldiers, but they can swing it like the wind with one hand. .”

However, Rebecca noticed the name Gawain mentioned: "Charlie...could it be Charlie, the founding king?"

"Charlie Moen, the guy who is called Charles I today, who else could it be?" Gawain smiled, "He is the only Charlie I mentioned."

Although it's just wearing the shell of Gawain Cecil, the feeling of this No.1 blowing ratio is really cool.jpg.

However, Gao Wen's performance is not just a No. 1 reputation, but he really needs to familiarize himself with his current identity on many occasions—for a long period of time that can be expected, this Gao Wen. Cecil's identity is obviously of great use.

Amber is not interested in such things as family history, kingdom secrets, etc. After going around the hall and weighing how he would be beaten up by Gawain if he stole here, this professional but The half-elf lady who cherished her life even more, sat down on the sofa and looked around while dangling her feet: "Speaking of which, do you insist on coming here to pack up and take away the things here? Lost, there are not many opportunities to find an excuse to move things like today..."

Gao Wen was dumbfounded: "Where did you come up with this idea?"

Amber was proud: "Don't be shy, what a normal way of thinking - if you are worried that there are too many things to carry, you can leave them to me, and I will help you take them out without being discovered - with my With my skills, I can almost empty this place in the time it takes me to go out to buy vegetables three times..."

This kind of thief who carelessly discusses how to steal things with the original owner is really a rare breed. Now Miss Amber is not only a disgrace to elves, she is even a shame to thieves...

Evolving from racial shame to professional shame feels like an incredible achievement.

"Forget it, if I really want to take something away, I don't need to ask you for help." Gawain waved his hand, interrupting Amber's unrealistic thoughts, "No matter how confused Francis II is, he wouldn't be so confused about this kind of issue." Haggling over every ounce."

Amber blinked: "Okay, yes, I think most of the things in this room are really worthless, almost all are replicas, only the ax and the vase by the door are real... oh, the vase is also fake. "

Damn, how old is this girl, and she has already appraised everything here? !

Do you have the ability to spare a little bit of energy to take care of your bad mouth and exercise your courage by the way?

Seeing that no one was willing to talk to her, Amber shook her legs for a while and started to find a new topic: "By the way, why are you dragging me here? I'm not your knight or soldier, I'm just passing by Little thief, can you help me with anything?"

"First, you dug my grave. Although you said you took refuge in it, it is still a crime of hanging according to the kingdom's law. I, as a party involved, exempted you from the crime. You don't feel that you have the obligation and need to help me do it. Something?" Gao Wen looked at Amber, "Secondly, I really like your ability - of course not the ability to steal things, but your talent as a stalker. This is the capital, I don't know How many people are staring at this place with various purposes, staring at each of us, and Byron is a knight who is only good at fighting head-on, Rebecca is only good at fireball, I have not fully recovered my strength yet , so I do need you, a skilled shadow master, are you satisfied with this answer, Miss Amber?"

Gao Wen's tone in the second half of the sentence had become serious, and Amber was also affected by the serious tone, and her expression was a little dull for a while.

She really didn't expect Gao Wen to talk to herself so solemnly - as a petty thief with a natural reputation of -1 with all nobles, even if she was killed, she would never have imagined that she would be so solemnly entrusted by a nobleman.

And the other party was the legendary Grand Duke Cecil.

Looking back, you can blow it for half a year!

"You...you've already mentioned this point, so I'll help if I help," the half-elf lady looked away unnaturally, "but you can praise me a few more times——Master Shadow, with superb skills That part, if you repeat it twice, I won't ask you for money..."

Gawain turned his head to look at Rebecca: "Can you control the fireball technique to the point where it just hits the face without killing anyone?"

amber:"?!"

But Amber didn't enjoy the treatment of the fireball technique, because the butler of the Bryan family appeared.

"My lord, we have guests." James bowed slightly politely, "Prince Edmund is visiting."

Chapter 0027 The Problem of Succession

Gawain saw the prince in the reception room, and Rebecca who was dragged by Gawain to see the world was present at the same time.

Edmund Moen, the most important heir of Francis II, King of Ansu.Gao Wen didn't know the prince before, but for this trip to the capital, he specially asked Hetty and Viscount Andrew to learn a lot about the contemporary royal family, so he knew a lot about the contemporary royal family.

Francis II is now old, but he has few heirs. Except for the youngest son Edmund Moen, he only has one son and one daughter. Among them, the eldest son Wales is extremely mediocre, and he is cowardly and not good at strategy. It was the old king's heart disease, but the old king had only one son in the first half of his life, so Wales was established as the crown prince for 17 years, but later, Francis II got a son when he was old, and a favorite concubine suddenly He gave birth to a pair of twin children, Princess Veronica Moen and Prince Edmund Moen.

Compared with the mediocre eldest son Wales, the twin siblings can be said to have been born out of nowhere. They showed outstanding talents at a very young age-both martial arts and wisdom were highly praised by their court teachers.The old king, who had been worrying about the issue of heirs, was saved. Without much hesitation, he canceled the eldest son's status as crown prince and prepared to transfer the inheritance rights to his new children.

The ruling and opposition parties had no objection to this, and even the Prince of Wales accepted this arrangement indifferently.

Ansu's succession to the throne is not limited to men and women, but in the end the crown prince still fell on Edmund Moen, not because of the old king's arrangement, but because Princess Veronica voluntarily renounced it before the announcement of the new crown prince The succession to the throne, and converted to the Church of the Holy Light, became a nun in the Radiant Cathedral (now promoted to a high-ranking priest), which was obviously the result of an arrangement in advance - the old king logically sent his blessing to his daughter , and sent her into the church, and then made Edmund the crown prince, so the inheritance of the Ansu royal family was completed in a fairly stable situation.

Many people think that Princess Veronica's "conversion" is actually a move by the royal family. Through this method, King Ansu placed high-ranking members with royal blood in the self-contained Church of the Holy Light, and one who gave up The right to inherit the throne, and the princess who wholeheartedly converts to the God of Holy Light is indeed a character that the church cannot refuse-no matter in terms of symbolism or benefits.But at the same time, there are also opposite opinions, who believe that this is a sign of the growing influence of the Church of the Holy Light and its erosion of the royal family.

There are quite a few holders of both opinions, but in Gao Wen's opinion, they should all be strategic fools. After all, they are just blind BBs...

Gao Wen was not interested in the division of interests behind these royal stories—or in other words, he was not yet able to think about these divisions of interests, so he just focused on the young man in front of him.

Edmund Moen was a very handsome man, with both a heroic temperament and a calm and bookish atmosphere. His behavior was as standard as a textbook. After meeting, he only said hello, and Gawain and Rebecca muttered to each other. : "See, learn a little - don't just think about killing people with big fireballs all day long."

Rebecca wanted to remind the old ancestor that he was the one who urged him to hit someone with a fireball just now, but he didn't dare to say anything because he was afraid of being beaten.

Edmund had a thoughtful smile on his face: "I hope you can get used to living here. If the servants and maids are not in place, you can directly tell Butler James."

"Don't worry, there's nothing I'm more used to than living in my own home." Gawain sat down on the high-backed chair, "You guys have kept this place pretty good, basically the same as it was 700 years ago... You even kept it It’s really good enough to restore my favorite tea set. Sit down, you’re welcome.”

"Keeping the former residence of the hero is to defend our glory," Edmund said with curiosity and respect, "I am not afraid of your jokes when I tell it. I grew up listening to your stories, and I even collected a set The replicas of old weapons and armor are in the room, dreaming that one day you can expand the territory and defend the people like you... It's a pity that no matter whether you are a crown prince or a king, you can't live so casually."

Gao Wen looked the prince up and down several times, until the prince moved uncomfortably and said, "Is there something wrong with me?"

"Talk to me and let go, don't act like you are facing an old man," Gawain waved his hand, "I have been dead for 700 years, but I was only 35 when I died, and I am not much older than you."

Edmund showed a bit of embarrassment: "Um, you're right, I can't help but add those 700 years to your age..."

"There must still be a generation gap of 700 years," Gao Wen smiled. "For example, when we talked back then, we were much more straightforward than modern people. We just need to fight or drink together to get to the point, but modern people But it takes a long time to be courteous."

Edmund froze for a moment, then laughed suddenly, as if relieved: "Let me just say, you won't be as difficult to deal with as my father thought - he also told me to pay attention to etiquette for a long time. I told him everything, too much nonsense is going to be annoying."

"Look, I really like this way of speaking," Gao Wen nodded, "Then just tell me, you came here today to find out about me?"

"...You are too blunt..."

"The ancients were outspoken," Gao Wen waved his hands, thinking that anyway, those guys who had been dead for hundreds of years would not jump out of their graves and beat him. How come it fits, "So you don't have to hide it - your father sent you here to find out what I, who suddenly popped out of the grave, is going to do, right?"

Edmund shrugged: "This is not what my father meant - he is very cautious, even if he wants to understand your purpose, he would not do such a reckless thing as sending me to ask directly. This is what I mean, and I'm... really curious about your purpose."

Gao Wen motioned for the other party to continue talking.

"It's been so long since you woke up, you must already know that many things have changed in the past 700 years, especially... the changes from 100 years ago," Edmund said, and glanced at Rebecca, "You are for For the benefit of the Cecil family?"

"This question is too general. I am definitely here for the interests of the Cecil family, but what part of the interest is the focus?" Gawain glanced at the prince, "From my point of view, there is nothing I can ask for. At least, the most direct—the hereditary dukedom of the Cecil family and the southern fiefs are a big point that can be discussed, isn't it?"

Edmund was stunned for a moment, as if he was not sure whether Gao Wen was serious, but he still forced a smile and replied: "Your title and fief have been inherited by your descendants after your death. Then your descendants violated the laws of the kingdom and were unable to keep their titles and fiefs, all of this was done within the framework of the laws of the kingdom..."

Gawain adjusted his posture, approached Edmund, and said with a half-smile: "Yes, according to the laws of the kingdom, but according to the laws, my heirs can only fully inherit my title and fief after I die, and in my case While alive, only my eldest son has my second-level title and has limited 'jurisdictional power of attorney' (Note), while all Cecil's heirs except the eldest son have only noble status and do not hold Has any juridical authority - obviously, I'm alive now, and there's nothing in Ansu's law that says how a man who's dead and back is supposed to define when his succession comes into effect and when What is invalid, and how should the contradictions arising during the effective and invalid periods be defined.”

(The right to act on behalf of the law refers to the right of qualified aristocratic heirs to act in the name of the family, enjoy corresponding privileges and bear corresponding risks and responsibilities in Ansu law.)

Edmund: "?!"

Gao Wen spread his hands: "So the first step is not established - the inheritance is invalid, the Grumman 100 years ago should neither be a marquis, nor should he have any legal power to act on behalf of the Cecil family, you just Taking something that wasn't in his hands from someone who had no right to inherit."

Rebecca stared blankly at her old ancestor, never expecting to have such an operation, while Amber, who was eavesdropping on the ear in the next room, turned her head and glanced at Knight Byron: "It's amazing—it's even better than I'm still shameless!"

In front of Gao Wen, Prince Edmund's expression was on the verge of collapse. The corners of his mouth twitched, and he choked out a sentence: "But when the law was enacted, who would have thought that you would suddenly come back to life... let alone , you have indeed died once."

"So, when you talk to me, put those logics and rules aside, they have been invalid when I unraveled the coffin," Gao Wen laughed, "Of course I am not talking about those who have been The confiscated fief and the title of my descendants came from it. I know what that prodigal son did 100 years ago. I would have beaten him to death. I just want you to know that if I really want to discuss the inheritance interests of the Cecil family with you in the words of the Kingdom Code, there are really too many tricks to talk about-who let the inheritance right A whole bunch of articles revolve around whether I will die or not?"

"Okay, okay, I understand," Edmund raised his hand in surrender, "You said just now that people 700 years ago were straightforward and not good at deviating, but now it seems that you are probably worse than my debate mentor." Difficult."

"I have not only experienced the barbaric age of Anzu, but also the most prosperous time of the Gondor Empire, so don't underestimate the ancients 700 years ago," Gawain curled his lips, "When we were barbaric, we could drink blood like hair, When we are elegant, we can give a red wine 36 names, and each name has a sonnet."

"...This is really powerful," Edmund was convinced, "Then can we talk in detail about what you are going to talk to my father at noon tomorrow..."

Gao Wen nodded, and said in his heart that it was exactly as he thought. Compared to the meeting in public at noon tomorrow, today is probably the real negotiation session...

Chapter 0028 New Visitors

Edmund Moen was smiling when he left, and it seemed that the negotiation was quite satisfactory for him, but the prince declined Gawain's invitation to stay for dinner—he said he To return to Silver Castle as soon as possible, the old king is still waiting for his good news.

After Edmund left, Rebecca commented: "He seems to be a very kind person—I thought the crown prince would be a particularly difficult person to get along with, a lot of court etiquette and so on..."

"That's because he is standing in front of an elder from 700 years ago, not a dilapidated border viscount." Gawain glanced at Rebecca, "Do you think he is showing his usual appearance here? Just right On the contrary, just because his performance just now is almost completely in line with my communication habits, I can be sure that he has done a lot of homework before he came."

Rebecca: "Huh?"