Scepter of Thorns

When Edward walked into the study, a large bouquet of blooming roses was randomly thrown in the corner.Even if they are stained with dust, they are still as beautiful as before.

"This is Qiangwei?" He was a little surprised, "But in the evening, they will be cleaned up, and they will be crushed to pieces and mixed in the garbage."

Soon he noticed Edmond's expression, and Edward shrugged, "Well, pretend I didn't say it."

"There are two pieces of news, one is good and the other is bad. Which one do you want to hear first?" Edmond clasped his hands on the desk. He sat opposite and took out a data book.

"It doesn't matter, I only care if they are accurate."

"The good news is that the engagement is cancelled." Edmund stared at the ring on his hand. "The bad news is that your bloodline has been questioned, and the temple will come to arrest you."

Even though it was such serious news, his tone was as light as announcing that there would be rain today.

"As a believer in light, isn't your father being questioned about intercourse with demons?" Edward raised his head from a pile of documents and looked at him with a half smile.

"So I'm about to go to trial." Edmond also smiled, with a sinister taste in his smile, "You can probably guess who is going to attack us."

"Joker."

They pronounced the name together.

"Master Spade." Edward tapped his knuckles on the table, "Don't you have any countermeasures?"

"What do you think I should do?" asked Edmond.

He pondered for a moment, "The pope should have the highest say in matters of faith."

"Olando." Edmond raised his eyebrows, "Why should he help us?"

"It's not help." Edward's eyes flashed an unclear light, "It's an answer."

"Who was the first to hear about my parentage?"

"Serones Tammy, a lady from a noble family, and a close friend of Princess Ostana. She claims to have detected dark elements in you, and this family already has many priests who have the perception of light elements. Extremely high, so Mephisto attaches great importance to her words."

Serones, a very familiar name.Edward narrowed his eyes, he remembered, the divine heir who targeted him everywhere when he was in the God Realm.

It turned out that she was the person behind the veil that day, and the sudden killing intent was very clear. She wanted to attack him, but she was self-defeating and hurt herself instead.

He slowly stroked the ring on the ring finger of his left hand, which saved his life.

Edmund did not disturb his thoughts, but waited patiently.Edward quickly figured out the cause and effect of the matter, and calmly replied: "Generally speaking, the priestly families are relatively foolish and loyal, because beliefs often serve the rulers, isn't that true?"

"Yes, the Tammy family has absolute loyalty to the monarch, and this is one of the reasons why Mephisto believes in her."

"Then this conservative and pedantic family should dislike Eldest Princess Ostana, not only because of her uniqueness, but also because of her gender."

"Yes, they do think female rulers are inferior to men."

"I believe Mephisto is a good father, but I don't believe he is a good husband." Edward glanced at Edmund meaningfully, "So—"

"He has an illegitimate child." Edmond continued, "This is a rumor that has been circulating in the court, and only Princess Ostana knows nothing about it."

"Only rumors with tacit approval can spread in the court." Edward laughed. "Obviously, this is paving the way for the future heir. He must be a pure-blood clan, unlike Ostana's name. I know this very well, because no one thinks that such an arrogant princess can inherit the throne—the same is true of the Tammy family."

"The future of a country is far more important than a princess." Edmund applauded, "And then?"

"Mephisto may think about the purpose of the Miss Tammy's friendship with Ostana, but he will pretend to be ignorant in front of Ostana, because he can't let his daughter notice People around her disdain her. But he won't really rest assured, he will check Miss Tammy's background."

"Honestly, I'm curious, Edward." Edmund asked casually, "How did you know Seronius, and what caused you to have a deep grudge?"

Edward smiled half-smile: "Are you sure you want to listen?"

"Forget it." He waved his hand, and the instinct to detect danger reminded him again, "Go on."

"There's something wrong with Seronius herself, I'm sure, because she's not really Miss Tammy at all. Mephisto will find out about that, and—" he made a relieved gesture, "the conspiracy is here we go."

Edmund continued with a smile: "A prince who is not good in a short time and his eldest son who is favored by God, and a daughter of a princess who is very likely to be in danger, his choice is clear."

"And then came Olando." Edward closed his fingers, as if he was holding something tightly, "He can't completely prove my innocence, after all, my blood cannot be changed. But he can prove my loyalty Faith, and Mephistopheles will take him at his word—a pious pope would not lie on this matter."

"So he will start thinking about the purpose of the Tammy family." Edmond nodded, "What about Olando?"

"As for Olando, there is no need to come to ask for help, because Mephisto will ask for us."

Edmund nodded, and the smile on his face deepened, "You speak very well, Edward. But have you ever thought that Mephisto is determined to take this opportunity to kill me with his own hands? Then he doesn't You won’t think about the Tammy family, and you won’t ask the Pope, what shall we do then?”

"Father." Edward looked into his eyes, "If Mephisto really wanted to kill you, or if he had the ability to kill you, then I don't think you'd survive to this day."

"I believe in you, father." He continued, "I don't think such a small attack can defeat you, so my focus is on how to use this opportunity to launch a counterattack against the Tammy family-after all, you They want to reform, and this conservative and pedantic family will become the biggest obstacle."

"If you can't do it, then I will lose." Edward looked very indifferent, "Even if I was arrested and imprisoned, it would be due to my lack of political ability, and I will have to blame myself. What's more, if the ruler of the heavens is such a low-level and you are more than just a prince now."

He said so.However, there are more unsaid words. Edmond has hidden too many things from him, and he also wants to test Edmond's influence in the heavens in private.

"Really." Edmund chuckled, "Then let's have a gamble."

A golden-red coin twirled lightly at his fingertips, and then slammed it on the table.

"I'm betting that Mephisto and Olando will call you into the palace again, and interrogate your beliefs when I can't follow. This is my bargaining chip. If you win, you can take it away. "

It's really just a very common coin, and it's the cheapest currency in the heavens.It has a sword and wings on the obverse and a number 1 surrounded by thorn flowers on the reverse.

Edward stretched out his hand, tentatively touching the coin lightly, its coldness still carried Edmund's body temperature.He put it in the palm of his hand, as if holding a gem.

"A very good chip," he said, "then I bet Mephisto won't come to me, and he'll try Seronius Tammy, though that won't do her any good. "

"The game is established." Edmund looked at the coin in his palm with a slight smile, "Can you put it down now, it does not belong to anyone until the winner or loser is determined."

pat-

In the next second, a touch of golden red fell from the sky, and the afterimage flew around, but was caught by the slender fingers and tapped crisply on the table.

The sword and wings are facing up to cover the numbers on the back, and at a certain moment, its value also becomes confusing.

※※※

If you turn the time back to three o'clock in the noon, the moving sunlight will shroud the Seine Palace, where the gardens are as gorgeous as a maze.

"Edmond, my dear brother." Mephistopheles smiled and put his arms around his shoulders, "How long has it been since we've been like this?"

"Yes." Edmond's expression was blurred by the light, "I remember we used to play around here when we were young."

"Ah, I remember that too. At that time you also had a black cat, her name was Queen."

"But she chose to leave me later." Edmond lowered his eyelashes, "Maybe it's because of growing up."

"Grown—yes, we've all grown up, Edmond." Mephistopheles was like an old friend reminiscing. "Even our children are having the best time in their lives now."

"Ostana is indeed a very different girl. She has more ideas than ordinary princesses." Edmund's words sounded like a compliment. "I heard that she had a good time with Miss Tammy's family recently?"

"I'm old, and I can't keep up with the rhythm of young people, so I'm very happy if Ostana can find a suitable playmate." Mephisto changed the subject, "Where's Edward? How is it?"

"He is a devout believer, and he goes to church to pray once a week." Edmond stopped in his tracks. In front of him was a rose frame in full bloom, full of fragrance.

As if recalling something, he stroked the soft petals with his fingertips, "I remember what my father said."

Both of them were silent, and Edmund finally withdrew his hand. He turned to look at Mephisto, and his faint smile disappeared.

"Do you think what your father said is true?" Mephisto asked after a while, "You know what I mean."

"He has no need to deceive." He said lightly, "You have seen the end of Olando. After paying such a high price, it is just a meaningless title of eternal life."

Mephistopheles was lost in thought, and he started pointlessly fingering his knuckles.Edmund glanced at him, saw his absence at a glance, and made an appropriate remark.

"I remember that Priest Tammy once resolutely opposed the matter of divine favor. He even caused a storm in the temple." His tone was meaningful, "I don't know who he wants to target."

Click till.

Edmund looked at the rose caressed by the sun at three o'clock in the afternoon again, and he saluted, facing the flowers.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty. Then I will not bother you any further."

Only then did Mephisto come back to his senses, "Ah, my dear love brother, please feel free."

He laughed, "Yes, Your Majesty. Also, your flower stand is really beautiful."

"If you like, I can give you a large bouquet of fresh roses." Mephisto returned to his full smile, and he called a guard, "Pick the roses from this shelf and send them to the prince's mansion."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

His smile was a little more satisfied, and then he never looked at the blooming flowers again, because their fate was decided in an instant.

That is, they are really beautiful.

----Chapter59. Blooming & Finishing----

The author has something to say:

It was mentioned earlier that Joker gave Edmond a rose...if you remember...