Chapter 1141: Chapter 284: The Big Shot’s Game_2
Duke Anlek slowly descended from the carriage, holding a silver cane. His eagle-eyed gaze swept around, and his stern expression slightly softened upon seeing the Princess nearby. He dusted off his robe with his hand, displayed a smile, and strode over graciously, extending his right hand to Griffine, "Today, you are the most beautiful princess in all of Vorn."
Griffine maintained her usual demeanor; she raised her hand to allow the powerful Duke to escort her, "Thank you."
"It is truly my honor to wed a wife like you."
"As per the agreement, when Haruz ascends the throne, I will naturally become your wife, Lord Duke," the Half-Elf Girl responded calmly.
Duke Anlek smiled without replying.
Behind them were Duke Anlek’s close ministers and Royalists like Ou Fuweier, Macaro, and Liwu. These people exchanged glances, appearing harmonious on the surface. However, this harmony rather expressed a fixed meaning within the noble game rules, which naturally held different significance in the eyes of the discerning—of course, to most commoners, De Jiar, with a bandaged hand and an ill-tempered face, stood out the most among the group. This Highlander’s most outstanding swordsman narrowly preserved his right hand in the previous duel, but the wound on his arm wasn’t going to heal anytime soon.
Guests in the hall whispered again upon seeing this recent news figure. The duel De Jiar held in the Andeflarla Great Cathedral had already spread across Ambeser, making the participants the focal point of discussion. Alas, the honor from this distinction brought not glory, but shame; De Jiar’s face turned Qing Tie, and this once proud eagle of the Highlanders seemed unable to feel proud anymore.
Marquis Youxi was one of the duel’s witnesses. He stood on the terrace, smilingly greeted Duke Anlek, thanked him for lending his guards, and apologized for his own recklessness. But once he watched De Jiar and the others enter the hall, he couldn’t help but think back to that day’s events—
Who exactly was that young man? The Holy Temple’s side remained tight-lipped, as if no one aside from the Great Priest knew his origin, seemingly emerging out of nowhere. But, emerged out of nowhere? Was that possible? He had thought he had grasped the details of all of Erune’s families, but now it seemed the kingdom’s waters ran deeper; Marquis Youxi rubbed his furrowed brows, Wood was a Kruz person, and he had long known the Kruz Empire had bought many underground forces within the kingdom, but why act during this season was hard to say.
Perhaps a pawn of Wood himself? It didn’t matter, as it wouldn’t be his headache, Marquis Youxi thought, and suddenly a figure flashed across his mind.
At this moment, the big shots representing each faction of Erune had already begun arriving; luxurious carriages pulled up one after another, parking among the trees outside the manor. First came Duke Sifah’s carriage—as the Queen’s brother, the future King’s uncle, Duke Sifah decidedly aligned himself with the Northern Group. Following closely was Marquis Balta, arriving from Sword Castle, a family long controlling the White Lion Legion for the Kerkova Royal Family.
The enemy of the White Lion Legion was the Cruz people, but who the enemy of the Sword Castle family was, now, that was hard to say. Marquis Youxi found himself sneering inwardly, but the next carriage gave him a slight pause—the pitch-black carriage slipped into the woods like a ghost, its Shield Emblem appearing so unfamiliar, with a red background bearing a Broken Sword as if reminding the world of its unique pride. Marquis Youxi hesitated for several seconds before realizing, the Yanbao Family, this outlier within the circle of Erune Nobles, had also arrived at Ambeser.
His eyes showed a glimmer of surprise.
Not just Lord Marquis, as when Anlek and the Princess arrived earlier with their presence, the entire hall of the manor went silent at this moment. What Yan Castle meant to Erune wasn’t clear to many, but in terms of mystery, this family perhaps ranked in the top three within this ancient kingdom. The last time the Earl of Yan Castle paid visit to the King of Erune was thirty years ago, suggesting a tacit agreement existing between the kingdom and this ancient family, allowing the kings on this land to ignore and remain indifferent to one of their vassals.
