By right, Beninger had long exceeded the expected duration of a young noble's travel in the Royal Capital; his father's letters urging him to return home and inherit the territory arrived one after another, yet the young man still lingered in this place.
Everyone nearby could see that what had captured this young man's heart was none other than the elder princess of the Erune Royal Family.
Princess Griffine had just turned sixteen in July, which was precisely the age for the Royal Family to discuss marriage. It's just that Oberg the Seventh doted on her exceptionally, preferring to have her by his side, accompanying him for two more years — moreover, Oberg the Seventh understood that his youngest son, Hazel, was naturally timid and indeed needed his sister's assistance.
However, to Beninger, this was a good thing, as he understood clearly in his heart that he had no chance with this princess; the longer she stayed with Oberg, the longer he could remain here.
Of course, he did not lack self-pity and regret. If he were the eldest son of Duke Sifah instead of the youngest, the scenario would likely be very different.
But now the young girl's words made his heart beat faster: Princess Her Highness mentioned she would return to her own territory, which was a massive turning point. In the history of Erune, it was rare for direct members of the Royal Family to return to their own territory, but every time, something significant happened.
Gazing at this princess, Beninger felt both anticipation and some fear for the unknown future, making him seem indecisive. He believed that once they left, it would stir up more than just a storm in Erune.
In the dim candlelight, the determined gaze of the sixteen-year-old elder princess of Erune contrasted with the hesitant expression of the young man, making the hall momentarily silent.
"What are you worrying about, Beninger?"
"I have some concerns, Your Majesty, he..." For a moment, the young man didn't know how to express his thoughts.
In fact, ever since June, precisely when Madara's envoy arrived, no one from the Inner Ministers, who Oberg the Seventh had trusted in the past, had seen him except for Prime Minister Klug. Even his daughter and son were forcibly confined, their activities limited to within the Royal Capital.
The rumor that Oberg the Seventh was under house arrest had spread quickly, but it didn't cause much reaction among the nobles. Ever since appointing Klug as the Prime Minister, Oberg's favor towards him had grown, and Klug's faction had become an influential force in both the court and the country, a well-known fact.
This faction never interacted with the local populace, a trait that earned Oberg the Seventh's trust. Thus, the Royalists turned a blind eye, and in terms of governance and strategy, Klug's abilities were indeed unquestionable, earning him the title of the greatest politician of the Kerkova Dynasty since Ansen XI. This text is hosted at n0velfire.net
Some even compared him to the famous Prime Minister, Archbishop Po Wa of the Harvey Church during the Ansen XI era.
Things, however, took a drastic turn for the worse around April and May; it seemed Klug intended to seize power, coupled with the raging Black Rose War, making the political situation in Erune seem rather turbulent.
Though suspicion and distrust spread among the high-ranking nobles, the core figures of the Royalists, Ou Fuwei'er and Everton, were on their way to negotiate with Madara. Meanwhile, the most reputable of the remaining three giants, Archbishop Greggs of the Harvey Church, remained behind closed doors.
This made the situation in the Royal Capital appear even murkier and more obscure.
But at this time, the elder princess of Erune suggested returning to her own territory. Regardless of whether they could escape this gigantic prison, could Her Highness the princess really bear to leave her father, the king, unattended?
The good relationship between Princess Griffine and her father was well-known. Beninger, being the princess's close retainer, knew this even better.
But the Half-Elf Girl, with an unchanged expression, quietly responded, "With my father's character, he would never agree to such an absurd arrangement with Madara. Although I still don't understand Klug's true intentions, one thing is clear: our presence here is of no use."
"First, I need to send my brother away; this is one of my responsibilities. I must take the initiative, prioritizing the Royal Family's interests—if something were to happen to father, I believe he would understand all this."
"Your Highness..." The young man stared blankly at the Half-Elf Girl, who was a foot shorter than him, as though she wasn't sixteen but rather a mature, excellent politician.
Griffine glanced at him and said, "Rest assured, Beigening, I am not unprepared. With the connections of my mentor, we can still play our own game—don't forget that I have never trusted that scoundrel Klug; they would not dare to harm my father."
The princess suddenly paused as she noticed the grim-faced Madara envoy walking out from the door.
At this moment, the living and the dead exchanged a glance.
Then they passed by each other.
However, while the Royal Capital of Erune was shrouded in chaos, Brand, who was well aware of the pending turmoil, leisurely sat in the 'Cross Star' Tavern in the White Swan District of Brags. He occasionally prodded the bartender for information about the Golden Wine and checked the clock on the wine rack at intervals.
The hour hand was about to strike twelve.
Brand did not expect his luck to explode in one night, immediately finding the lead for this ongoing quest and completing it easily. He was merely killing time while waiting for someone.
When the church bell outside tolled twelve times, the bar door finally opened again.
Standing outside was a girl in a deep blue military uniform, her long ponytail tied at the back, her cheeks slightly flushed, looking at him with bright, light brown eyes.
It seemed Frey had officially become a knight. She wore a formal sash and knight's belt with a church-issued longsword at her waist and a pair of polished boots.
She certainly looked like a valiant Female Knight.
But her concerned expression betrayed her. Walking in, she glanced around and focused on Brand. Taking a deep breath, she immediately approached and asked,
"Are you leaving, Brand?"
... (To be continued. To know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com, support the author, and read the genuine novel!)