The King's Follower [Rebirth]

"Your dance moves are getting more and more exquisite, Your Highness." Marquis Condra looked at him affectionately. He was not wearing an ordinary nobleman's dress, but an officer's dress. , looking extraordinarily majestic and mature, attracting the admiring gazes of many Asian orcs and the jealous eyes of orcs.

"The same goes for you, Cousin Charlie." The muscles on Edward's face have cultivated an acquired instinct, and even though Edward was not at all happy to dance with this cousin, the muscles on his face still dutifully adjusted a polite smile .

"Want to have another dance?" Marquis Condra bowed again and held out a hand to him.

After weighing it for a while, Edward put his hand into the palm of Marquis Condela.If he doesn't jump now, Marquis Condra will definitely leave with him, and he will have no peace for the remaining hours, but if he continues to jump, he only needs to endure it for a few more minutes. Group ballroom dancing requires changing partners.

The music sounded again, and the people on the dance floor quickly stood in two parallel circles connected head to tail. Following the beat of the music, they saluted twice and began to take dance steps.

"You look much better." Marquis Condra stared at his face. "This time I came to Hull, I always felt that something was wrong. It seemed that something was missing. It took me a long time to remember." Looking into Edward's eyes, he seemed to hope that he could continue his words.But Edward just smiled and continued to the next dance step, so Marquis Condra could only answer this question by himself.

"Where's your salon, my dear prince?" Marquis Condra's expression was exaggerated, "I always remember your music salon and poetry salon. Everyone sat together and recited the poems they created loudly, and then A musician who has turned this verse into a beautiful tune! Oh, that is wonderful! When shall we continue the salon, my good lord? I am in the barracks, writing dozens more A poem, I just want to read it to you."

"I'm afraid I won't have this opportunity again, Cousin Charlie." Edward said lightly, "When I open the salon, I would like to dedicate it to the Supreme Orgona. If you are willing to read the previous chapter with me I would like to invite you for the writings of human beings."

Marquis Condra's eyes widened suddenly, as if someone had shot an arrow in his chest.

"Is this true?" he asked eagerly, "Do you really want to dedicate your life to Orgonla and to the Church? That's impossible, Your Highness, you are the crown prince, the future king, You still have a responsibility on your shoulders!"

"All life belongs to Olgonla." Edward said evasively, just when it was time to exchange partners, Edward turned around and put his hand in the next partner's.Even if Marquis Condela wanted to say something, he couldn't say it now.

The two rows of dancers take the center of the hall as the axis, and after each set of movements, they move in opposite directions and come to the next dance partner.This song lasts 10 minutes, Edward has changed three partners, his dance steps and smile are meticulous, but in fact his thoughts have drifted away.

He just remembered that during the New Year's Eve Mass, the person who first talked to him was not a member of the Liberal Party. He was the chief bishop of the diocese of Dry City, the cardinal of Somerset, and the deputy of Archbishop Francis.

Did the church get involved too?Edward pondered the question.The church is different from any party. Orgonla's teachings require monks to be sober and ascetic, to stay away from power, enjoyment, and disputes. Therefore, interfering in politics is obviously not in line with Orgonla's requirements.But the church is closely related to everyone's life. Even if they can't hold any official positions, the priests who walk in the palace and the noble mansions of officials still have a lot of influence on the political arena.Compared with politicians who have always had a bad reputation, the appeal of God's closed door among the people is obviously much higher than them.Archbishop Francis seems to be theirs already, but there are twelve cardinals in the church, and he still has many choices.

Thinking of this, Edward suddenly had an idea.There is no one around him who he can trust, and he does not dare to contact anyone who can be snatched at will, but the priests are different. Now everyone in the empire knows that the crown prince is obsessed with religion, and the king also knows that he intends to join the church in the future, so , he cannot contact nobles and ministers, but he can contact the cardinals of the church.

The pope with the highest status in the church is elected every ten years. As the religious leader of the empire second only to the king, the pope has great power and shady wealth, which makes all the cardinals who are eligible to run for the pope fight You live and die, colluding with politicians, doing your own thing, and controlling each other's elections.Edward can use the discussion of doctrine as an excuse to meet with cardinals who can be allied and reach cooperation.

However, before that, he wanted to confirm one thing.

Just as he was thinking about it, he subconsciously followed the music and moved to the next dance partner, when he suddenly realized that this dance partner was exceptionally short, and when he looked again, it turned out to be William.

"Your Highness." William raised his hands high, lest Edward need to bend down to match his dance steps, "Are you tired, why have you been absent-minded?"

Edward raised his eyebrows: "When did I lose my mind, where did you see it?"

William strode stridingly, afraid of missing the beat, and said, "I, I just noticed it." In the next movement, the two dancers had to get close to their bodies, making a few laps and then taking a few steps. William hurriedly approached. Edward whispered, "Your smile just now was extremely fake." He hurriedly added, "Actually, it's not very fake, but I know what it looks like when you are really happy."

Edward took the opportunity to pinch his neck: "You are a big kid." He smiled, "Do you still want to dance?"

"Do you want to rest?" William said cheerfully at once.

"Then it seems that you don't want to jump." Edward took William's hand and left the team directly. Another pair of orcs and sub-orcs hurriedly filled the vacancy caused by them.He took William back to his seat and sat down. The chair dedicated to the crown prince was very large, and it was more than enough for another William to sit down.Edward searched the crowd in the hall, and after a few minutes, he finally found August. He was talking to a noble orc, and soon felt the eyes of the crown prince on him, and hurriedly left the orc , squeezed through the crowd, and came to Edward.

"What's your order?"

"What is the name of the great and epoch-making inventor you mentioned?" Edward asked.

August hesitated for a moment, then glanced at William who was sitting beside Edward: "Your Highness?"

Edward waved to him and said, "Sit next to me. Also, don't forget, I told you once, the importance of this child to me."

August pursed his lips, and a helpless smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He sat down on the steps at Edward's feet, raised his head and said softly, "My lord, please don't make things difficult for me."

"This is the foundation of everything." Edward lowered his head, "Don't push yourself too far."

William was confused by their inexplicable conversation, he grasped Edward's clothes in confusion, and leaned towards him.He didn't like that Edward had secrets with other people that he didn't understand, and it made him feel excluded from some part of Edward's life.However, he obediently kept his mouth shut and did not disturb the conversation between the two of them.After all, he is also involved now, and thinking of this, he is happy again.

"Okay, Your Highness." August stepped back, "His name is Michelle Wilton."

"You said he was originally from the Cuthbert Empire?"

"Yes."

"Where was he born?" said Edward. "It was impossible for them not to find out the history of such an important man."

August paused for a moment. He didn't know what the Crown Prince was going to do with these questions, but he said truthfully: "Bucholz County."

"Who did he offend?" Edward continued to ask, "You said he offended a nobleman and was imprisoned. Who is this nobleman?"

"Why do you want to know this question?" August wondered.

"I just want to know how honest you are with me." Edward looked into his eyes, "If the first conversation was full of deceit and lies, then we won't need further conversations in the future .I would not trust a collaborator who is full of lies."

"Well, prudence is a noble virtue." August tilted his head, "It's Earl Ahmad of Aisha City, Bholz County. In fact, this conflict was formed in this way." August Sturt moved a little closer, his face almost touching Edward's thigh, "Mr. Wilton was obsessed with inventions and neglected his family. Earl Ahmad took the opportunity to seduce his wife, and after his wife became pregnant Abandoned her. Mr. Wilton challenged him to a duel, but was framed by the Earl of Ahmed at the time and thrown into prison. His wife knew that she was sorry for her husband, and committed suicide after giving birth to the child."

"Amood?" Edward was really surprised, "If I remember correctly, the Earl of Ahmed was also named Sutherland. The first Earl of Ahmed was the second son of the Duke of Shiring at that time, because he was not qualified Inherited the title, and made a lot of military exploits, so he was named Earl of Ahmed."

"You have a good memory."

"I remember that the first Earl of Ahmed was more than 100 years ago." Edward said, "Is it the first or the second who had an abnormal relationship with Mrs. Wilton?"

"It's the first one, Your Highness." August moved closer.

"Where is Mrs. Wilton's child now?"

"Who knows." August shrugged. "Mr. Wilton is Cuthbert who left alone. Earl Ahmed doesn't seem to want to be responsible for that child. He was probably adopted by the church."

Edward nodded, and couldn't help sighing: "This world is so small." He said with emotion, "Such an important person was actually driven away by the Sutherland family. Could this be a preordained fate? "

"Perhaps." August said, "Your Highness, are you satisfied with my answer?"

"Then I don't know." Edward said with a smile, "Aisha City in Buholz County is famous for its hot springs. I heard that hot springs are very good for people's health. My physical injuries have healed, but the space Seeing no improvement, maybe I should go to the hot spring to relax? Don’t you think so, dear brother?” He put his arms around William and stroked his chin.

"As long as this hot spring is really good for your body." William gently rested his head on Edward's arms, "I will listen to Your Highness in everything."

"Very good." Edward said with satisfaction, "When the New Year's holiday is over, let's go to the hot springs in Aisha City. Let me think about it, who has a manor in Aisha? It seems that I have to disturb him."