In the afternoon, Rody left the Duke's residence. He bade farewell to Miss Nicole and returned to the barracks.
The moment he entered the barracks, he felt the strange gazes of the soldiers. They looked at him with a smile. A few higher ranked officers had already come over and vigorously patted his shoulder. When they finally pulled him into a big tent everybody cheered.
Rody smiled wryly. The soldiers cheered as if they had won a battle. In the end, one officer shouted out indicating that he was proud of his commanding officer for successfully winning the most beautiful flower amongst the nobles.
Although wine was forbidden in the military, everybody had demanded it. Rody then took the soldiers out to the pub to have a drink. At the pub, the emotional officers broke many wine cups and drank many barrels of wine. They then shouted their victory slogan as they returned to the barracks.
The subsequent matters were relatively more simple. Rody and Nicole appeared together in public every day. Together, they attended various activities and banquets held by the nobles in West Hill. They were like lovers in front of everyone. Since he had 'started' his relationship with Nicole, he could not see Myka for a while. Otherwise, if it was known that the lover of the Duke’s sister had another woman, there would be a huge uproar.
As the news gradually spread, the relationship between Viscount Rody and the Duke’s sister was already known by everyone. Even people in the far away Imperial Capital had also received the news.
Some people could not help but suddenly realized that His Majesty's earlier marriage proposal to Miss Nicole was rejected presumably because she already had a lover. However, Rody’s identity was a little strange, as if Rody had suddenly appeared out of thin air. Perhaps, he was really just an ordinary low-ranked officer.
After the Military Minister, Marquis Garoline, received that news he fell into deep thought. Rody and Nicole?
The old Marquis sighed. It seemed like His Majesty the Emperor really wanted to win over the Tulip Family. After the war, the Tulip Family’s influence had become very strong and peerless. The Empire's first family's power was deep rooted and they also had the undying loyalty of the Empire’s most powerful army, the Lightning God’s Whip. The Duke of the Tulip Family had also been appointed as the Marshal of the Empire.
That Rody must be His Majesty’s illegitimate child. His relationship with Miss Nicole … isn't it obvious? It must have been inspired by His Majesty!
However, this is strange. Initially, the father's marriage proposal was rejected. But, he then allowed his son to pursue…
Marquis Garoline did not care about how strange it was. Matters involving power struggles were naturally strange and complicated.
It is impossible to win over the Tulip Family. Looks like the only way to revitalize the Lionheart Family is through Rody.
Perhaps... Perhaps, His Majesty has the intention of making his illegitimate child the Crown Prince?
Marquis Garoline then shook his head as the various complicated thoughts crossed his mind. No matter what, he would need to create a connection and win over Rody.
Fifteen days after the Duke of the Tulip Family nursed his injuries in West Hill, a group of strange guests arrived at the barracks in the West Hill City.
Except for the middle-aged man, who wore an ordinary noble’s clothes, the rest of those people were neatly dressed in the warrior’s uniform. The middle-aged man introduced himself as Baron Gadar, from the Imperial Capital. He requested to see His Excellency Viscount Rody and he also claimed to be his good friend in the Imperial Capital.
The officer of the Imperial Guards gave a strange smile as he told him that Rody was not in the barracks. He suggested that he could look for Rody at the outskirts, north of the city. Early that morning His Excellency Rody had received orders to bring along some men to escort Miss Nicole. The nobles of West Hill were having a hunting party at the hunting grounds on the outskirts of West Hill.
The hunting grounds in the north of West Hill was the property of the Tulip Family. It was a Black Forest. The outer perimeter of the forest was surrounded by a simple and crude wooden fence. Normally, the Assistant Governor would send men to upkeep the grounds. A group of soldiers would also take turns to guard the place.
The hunting grounds were specially meant for the nobles' hunting activities. Hunting was an activity only among the nobles and was very popular in the Empire. The Empire's militaristic nature and the law of the nobles' inheritance had encouraged the maintenance of these practices. Hunting was a good form of exercise that could develop their fencing and horsemanship skills.
It was the end of autumn and leaves were already starting to fall. About a dozen magnificent carriages were parked outside of the hunting grounds. It was almost noon and the drivers of the carriages lazily rest on the cushions.
The road leading to the hunting grounds were guarded by a group of armored Imperial Guards and the Lightning God’s Whip. There were also about a dozen Imperial Guards standing at the entrance of the hunting grounds.
Baron Gadar and his subordinates were obstructed by a few layers of security. Finally, after he produced something to prove his identity, the soldiers allowed him in. However, his subordinates had to stay outside. In accordance with the rules at the hunting grounds, each noble was only allowed to bring in up to two bodyguards.
That was an old tradition amongst the nobles of the Empire. Hunting expeditions help to develop their horseback archery. There would be no point in bringing a large group of people. If they did, then it would not be called a hunt. There would be no difference compared to having a picnic.
Such activity was popular amongst the nobles because it was exciting and risky. If they brought a large group of people to protect themselves, then there would be no meaning to it.
Baron Gadar took two of his subordinates along. They then took three bows and several arrow pouches before they rode their horses into the hunting grounds. The hunting grounds of the Tulip Family covered an area of at least ten square kilometers. There was a dense black forest in the hunting grounds and a small lake at the center of the forest.
As autumn was almost over, there were many animals that came out to forage for food for the winter. That was the best time to go hunting.
The one responsible for leading Baron Gadar was a cavalryman from the Imperial Guard. The news they received about an hour ago was that Miss Nicole and a group of nobles were at the center of the forest near the lake. The nobles would signal the guards outside once every two hours. They communicated using special fireworks. The firework would be tied to an arrow and then it would be shot towards the sky. The exploding fireworks in the sky would show their location.
After all, hunting was a dangerous activity. Although there were people guarding the hunting grounds, for an area of about ten square kilometers, it was inevitable that occasionally there would be some trespassers or emergence of some large beast.
They galloped on the road in the forest for a while until they finally came close to the lake at the center.
From afar, a sharp whistle could be heard from the direction of the lake. It was a whistle used during hunting to drive out the prey. Using that method, the frightened prey would be driven to a pre-set ambush. After that, the prey would be surrounded and shot. That was the method used to deal with some of the larger prey.
In the dense forest, there was a short stretch sloping upwards. About a dozen horsemen were gathered together up there. Gadar and the others immediately went up the slope. Before they could approach, two cavalrymen rode forward and blocked their way.
Gadar looked at the two cavalrymen blocking his way and became alerted. The two cavalrymen wore the armor and uniform of the Lightning God's Whip. As the Lightning God's Whip was responsible for guarding Miss Nicole, it meant that Rody was in front.
The two cavalrymen from the Lightning God's Whip were obviously elites. Although they were just sitting on their horses, Gadar could feel a murderous aura. That kind of aura could only come from people that had fought in life and death battles.
The Imperial Guard who led them in, went up to the two Lightning God’s Whip cavalrymen, to relate the message. The two cavalrymen then looked at Gadar vigilantly before they opened the way and let Gadar through. However, Gadar noticed that their hands were constantly on the hilts of their swords. Gadar was certain that if anything went a little bit wrong, the world renowned Lightning God's Whip would immediately draw their scimitars.
The two Lightning God’s Whip had made way for Baron Gadar to pass through but they still followed him closely. Gadar was calm but his two subordinates could not help but feel a bit angry. One of them could not help but whisper, "They are so arrogant. What is so great about the Lightning God’s Whip?"
Gadar immediately turned around and fiercely stared at his subordinate. He also could not help but glance at the two cavalrymen following them. The two cavalrymen had heard the man's words but they did not show any sign of being irritated. Their facial expressions were still cold and filled with pride and confidence. However, they just looked over in disdain.
Gadar could feel that their self-confidence and pride was no pretense. It was the pride and dignity that came after going through truly tough experiences. He could also feel the way they looked at his subordinates. It was a disdainful gaze like a valiant wolf watching a dog baring its fangs and brandishing its claws.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login