Chapter 498, The Weight of the Crown

()ps: The Snake and the Rat have been updated, the waste of the empire, Barto man, for the ladies!

In May, the old world, the capital of Brittany, Courona, the Royal Palace.

The dinner was held in the banquet hall, where Richard, the current King of Knights, entertained Lawn Leo Cornwall, Duke of Connet.

The banquet was sumptuous, with a starter of vast ocean halibut fillet with lobster mousse, and a main course of Roast venison with Cornish soft cake, truffle sauce, braised red cabbage, roasted potatoes and roasted walnuts, pumpkin and roots celery.

There was only the sound of clashing knives and forks at the dining table. This was a private banquet for two people, so the scene was small. Except for the chief guard of the palace, Earl Taubote, and two waiters, Richard retreated everyone.

The wrinkles on the Knight King's face were getting deeper and deeper, and Lawn Leo Cornwall felt very uncomfortable looking at his uncle's gray beard.

Richard is almost one hundred and twenty years old this year. Looking at his aging appearance, deep wrinkles on his face, and somewhat rickety body, it is really difficult for Lawn Leo Cornwall to distinguish the old man in front of him from the old man who just Chosen as the King of Knights, he is a high-spirited man who is connected with the strong man who fought side by side with Imrik, the prince of the high elf Caledor dragon, against the frenzy of the Beastmen.

At that time, Richard, who was only in his 80s, was elected king at the king election meeting after John II was deposed. He was also a brave paladin when he first succeeded to the throne. front.

Time flies, more than thirty years have passed, and Lawn can't help but feel a little dazed, and at the same time feel very sad.

Ever since he failed to suppress Ryan, and chose to bear the responsibility of Jules' death in the subsequent Egil invasion, Richard has been in a semi-retired state. In fact, the kingdom's power has fallen to Regent Lawn. With the Duke, except for some necessary occasions and ceremonies, Richard has rarely carried out practical activities.

"So, together, Boderick and Ryan regained the Trident of the Sea God, and also helped the empire fight a battle?" The old Knight King was in good spirits. He ate slowly, and then said: "What's the result? Woolen cloth?"

"The result is naturally that the human coalition won. The vampire baron Leopold Harken was beheaded by Ryan, and the corpse king was directly turned into gold by the great alchemist of the empire, Balshazer Geert." Lawn Nodding, he put down the knife and fork, and said in a brisk tone: "It's another victory. The entire kingdom is currently in the most peaceful era in decades. Mu Xilong's vampires have been severely frustrated, and whether it is the beastmen, The Greenskins, the Undead, and the Chaos threat to the north have all died down for now, and we've gained rare breathing space and time."

"Lian Malcador, he will be your biggest opponent in the succession to the throne." Who knows that Richard didn't look very happy, but frowned even tighter: "Lion Cole, you are ready to compete with him Are you ready?"

"Of course." Lawn nodded. He seemed optimistic about this, and even a little excited: "I made an agreement with him to work hard to see who can defeat Mu Xilong first."

Richard didn't speak, he ate seriously, picked up the fish bones and cut the venison with a knife and fork, and slowly put the meat into his mouth, chewing.

Lawn also stopped talking, he waited for his uncle's instructions.

Venison is the top meat in Britannia. The laws of the Knight Kingdom stipulate that only nobles can eat venison, and if it is rare for a period of time, only the nobles and Holy Grail Knights are eligible to eat venison.

Richard liked to eat venison the most. The King of Knights often went hunting in the mountains when he was young. Lawn thought that decades had passed, and his uncle's habit of eating venison hadn't changed.

"Lion Cole, how many years ago did Ryan become the Holy Grail Knight?" Richard said slowly until he was almost finished eating.

"Eight and a half years ago...almost nine years." Lawn replied respectfully.

"Where's Francois?" Richard continued.

"About thirty years ago."

"Berhemond?"

"Fifty years ago.

" Lawn answered one by one.

"What about you?" Richard looked at Lawn, unable to see his thoughts in his cloudy eyes.

"Six years." With some doubts in his heart, Lawn still answered.

"Where's Callard?" Richard asked.

"Calad-Galament? Didn't he become the Holy Grail Knight and return to his hometown a month ago, and become the Earl of Galament again?" Lawn was puzzled in his heart. I was talking about the conquest of Mousillon, what did my uncle ask? up this?

"Ryan, François, Bohemond, and Callard, aren't they all knights of the Holy Grail? Knights of half a kingdom who have experienced many battles and made countless achievements. You have fought side by side with them, you, the Holy Grail Knight at the peak of the legend, don't first think about how to build a good relationship with them and thank them for their contribution to the peace of the kingdom, but instead want to fight Mu Xilong with all your heart? You should have How about respect? Do you think that when you really want to compete with Ryan, how many knights in the kingdom are willing to obey your orders?"

"..." Lawn said nothing, he felt dizzy from being hit in the head.

"As a lord, the most important thing is nothing more than two things, personnel and financial power. As a candidate for the Knight King, the most important thing is nothing more than two things, the support of all knights and nobles in the entire kingdom, and the approval of ladies." Richard sneered : "Do you think you are sure to win? After all, Ryan doesn't even have a duke title?"

"But Musilon is a cancer of the kingdom! We must get rid of it, no matter what the cost." Lawn did not admit his mistake under Richard's verbal attack, he took a serious attitude: "Whether it is me, Ryan or anyone else, we You can't get around Musillon, after all, the lady's oracle has made it very clear, whoever can conquer Musillon will be the new Duke Musillon!"

Richard stroked his goatee, looked at Lawn for a long time, and then nodded: "Well, you are right about this insistence, Leon Cole, some issues are issues of principle, and the struggle in our kingdom is a matter of principle. It's one thing, but it's another thing to talk to the outside world. You must stick to your position when it comes to right and wrong. If you tell me to give up fighting Mu Xilong at this time, then I will write to Her Majesty Morgiana tomorrow and tell She and I want Lane to take over as king too."

Lawn only felt a cold sweat on his back.

That's right, although Richard has not handled some things well in recent years and he has to be in a semi-retired situation now, many people have forgotten that he is still the knight king who has worked hard to govern the country for more than 30 years after he ascended the throne. ! When John II was deposed and the entire kingdom was in chaos, it was he who stabilized the situation as king and ensured that Brittania did not collapse on its own amid civil strife.

Although the suppression of Ryan failed and the battle was unfavorable in the past few years, with Richard, at least the royal court is still operating stably. Whether it is the assembly of the knight army or the resumption of production after the invasion of Chaos, Richard at least supports Lawn. down.

"Lion Cole, think about it carefully. If you say that the king election meeting is held now, how many dukes will support you?" Richard stroked his beard, and he said seriously: "Think about it carefully, I will be one, Count yourself as one, Alderlad, the Duke of Lyonnaise, and Theodoric, the Duke of Berleon... also count him as one, and what else?"

"..." Lawn wanted to talk about Montfort, but he immediately realized that the Duke of Montfort, Forkad, had just been saved by Ryan.

In the same way, Hagen, Duke of Gisoleoch, is also not established, and Casvann, Duke of Palavon, has doubts.

"There is also a lady's attitude, don't forget, Her Highness Morgiana is now stationed in Ryan's territory." Richard sneered: "Ryan is still the lady's God's Choice champion, your advantage is not as great as imagined , Leon Cole."

After pausing for a while, Richard nodded when he saw his nephew was thinking, and then said: "Nevertheless, you still have an advantage, that is, you are the heir to the throne in the orthodox sense, and you are also my designated successor. But you have to understand why you are the target of succession, why we choose you, so you have to stop some actions!"

"The base under the throne cannot be moved."

The old king's words touched the deepest worry in Lawn's heart.

When Lawn Leo Cornwall traveled in the human kingdom as an expeditionary knight, he naturally noticed the various drawbacks of the knight kingdom. Britannia is a country that is far superior to the empire across the mountain in terms of its technological level and social vitality. Somewhat behind.

As one of the champions selected by the fairies in the lake, Lawn is certainly not an idiot. He has a lot of deep thoughts about this, that is, the reform of this country is imperative, so after he took office, the regent of the kingdom presided over In addition to tax reduction activities, they even took the initiative to contact the dwarves of the Empire and the Gray Mountains.

He also hopes to introduce the empire's muskets and cannons, as well as the empire's engineers. For this reason, he has made many contacts with the empire and the dwarf kingdom of the Gray Mountains, hoping to sign a stable firearms purchase contract, and even attract some people to Kuro Na set up a factory.

For this approach, Richard not only did not object, but supported Lawn's approach, but when Lawn wanted to go further, Richard's attitude immediately made a 180-degree turn. The old king Resolutely oppose him, like Ryan, to carry out deeper reforms to the civil system.

The reason is as Richard said, the pedestal under the throne cannot be moved. What makes Lawn the most popular candidate now? As long as he reveals such intentions, the nobles who support him may abandon him at any time and replace him with a new one.

This is the biggest problem facing Lawn.

If he wanted to do something and fundamentally change the country, he had to become a king.

But judging from the position he represents and his fundamentals, if he wants to become a king, he cannot attack the existing system.

"Lion Cole, you are different from Ryan Malcador." Richard's cloudy eyes looked at the mango and lemon dark chocolate and fruit desserts, and he continued: "Lion's territory can be said to be similar to a wasteland. , he relied on his own strength to build the entire territory into what it is now. His territory started from scratch, and he has the strong support of the lady and Her Highness Morgiana, so his affairs can be done, but you are different , look at your principality, and then look at this royal capital, which one doesn't have hundreds of years of accumulation?"

"So Francois married Suria to Ryan, and he used Ryan's territory as a pilot? After Ryan successfully promoted his own reforms, Francois slowly followed." Lauren nodded: " So why can't we do it?"

"Why not?" Richard shook his head again and again: "Ryan can trade with the wood elves as soon as he arrives in the territory, can you? Ryan can let the dwarves set up factories in his territory with a few words, can you? Ryan and the empire The relationship is good and the trade is endless, can you? Ryan can let the high elf supreme mage Teclis travel across the ocean to attend his wedding ceremony, can you?"

"Ryan is very smart. He never monopolizes a large amount of trade dividends and land development dividends brought by him as the core. On the contrary, his system will not harm the interests of others." Richard continued: "It is precisely Because the system he established brings a large amount of dividends so that François, Boderick and the nobles who support him will be fed without harming their interests. These people are willing to reform with Ryan! This is the essence of you and him the difference! You don't have a piece of white ground!"

Richard's words made Lawn Leo Cornwall speechless. The Holy Grail Knight and the Duke of Connet turned pale. He realized what a huge problem he was about to face.

"So I didn't need to abdicate before but I wanted to abdicate, but now I should abdicate but I persisted." Richard smiled: "The position of the king is not that you can order the nobles of the kingdom at will after you sit on it, but you It is more convenient to command the nobles of the whole kingdom after sitting on it, the throne is bestowed by the ladies, but it is the freedom of the nobles to obey the king's orders."

"If you want to wear a crown, you must bear its weight." Richard's words were filled with endless bleakness, and he whispered: "Before I became a king, I was full of thoughts of reform, but when I After I was really elected as the king at the king election meeting, I had to do what the dukes expected. Everyone wants to be a king, but few people realize what kind of responsibility they have to bear when sitting on the throne. If you don't even have this courage, you are not worthy to be a king!"

"So...uncle, how can I solve this dilemma?" Lawn frowned. He realized the difficulty of the problem. The Holy Grail Knight, who was nearly fifty years old, seriously asked his uncle, who was nearly one hundred and twenty years old, for advice.

"It's still Mousilon." Richard closed his eyes and said slowly.

"Or Mu Xilong?" Lawn faintly felt that he had caught something.

"That's right, it's still Mu Xilong. If you can completely solve the cancer in this kingdom and recover Mu Xilong, who has not been solved for hundreds of years, then you will gain the support and trust of the nobles. With prestige, there is trust." Richard sighed: "With trust and support, you have the capital to promote reforms, so you can understand why I beat Mu Xilong several times after I took the throne. Bar?"

Looking at his old uncle, the Duke of Connet, Lawn Leo Cornwall, suddenly burst into tears. He could feel that Richard was getting old, and his last bit of vigor had already followed the defeat of Ryan and the battle against Jules. Dead and gone.

"Uncle, if you abdicate, who will support me in advancing the pace of reform?" Lawn's voice was a little trembling, and he swallowed a mouthful of saliva, only to feel that his shoulders were heavy. It was the weight of expectations and responsibilities on his shoulder.

"People will grow old one day, Leon Cole." At this point, Richard smiled freely, and the wrinkles on his face were all opened: "One day, I have been an old man for more than thirty years. King of Knights is a very short term among the kings of all dynasties, but I think enough is enough, let me stand on the last post, the future belongs to you...or Ryan Malcador."

Coming out of the palace, Lawn Leo Cornwall only felt a layer of fog in his sight. He opened his mouth and looked at the boundless night sky, but he couldn't make a sound.

Britannia, the kingdom of knights, where will it go in the future?

No one knew, but Lawn knew he was going to work on it.

Until death. Fu Pin Chinese

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