* * *
Diego came every day since he first came and went. I used to come over the curved valley for the day and talk to Albrecht for a while, and then I would hang out again and go back to Zigmunt.
He didn't just come and talk about marriage issues, he talked about how he had been for 10 years, what had happened in the south, etc.
Albrecht did not usually have a friendly atmosphere because he answered short or short.
Diego thought Albrecht had made good progress considering he had not met the envoy.
I didn't insist on negotiating, I just waited for Albrecht's deadline.
“You know what? There are all kinds of people in Sigmund's camp right now. Merchants used to follow the army, but it's a little different now. The members of the League of Merchants and executives are here to see you. ”
“They're the ones who always smell money and move around. If Zigmunt really surrenders, their interests will be swayed, so they'll come to know. ”
“Even so, you're more attractive than you think. No, the whole North is watching you. All the others left, crowded like clouds to see your face. Many of them are wealthy. All the wandering bards are counting on you to come. ”
Diego purposely brought out a bright topic. One of the techniques of diplomacy was not to lie, but to create an atmosphere according to the need.
Albrecht didn't care how many people were there to see his face. Rather, it bothered me.
After gaining control of the Middle Kingdom, the Confederacy of Southern Merchants and Nobles could not manage Carpen alone.
Battles were a rare era for manageable talent. Even if I set up a school to prepare for the future, it was not easy for me to find a teacher who knew how to write right away.
I didn't want to attract the merchants or priests who knew how to write. Albrecht wanted to use them as needed, but he wanted to stay away from merchants and priests.
‘But do you really want to surrender? ’
Even though you are a party, if you step back and objectively look back, Sigmund's proposal was shocking.
Eating the family after absorbing the bloodline was a distant thing, even if it actually happened, and surrendering could cause her throat to fall immediately.
Albrecht thought we should see if Zigmunt was serious or tricky. He turns his head to look at his old friend.
Ten years ago, there were many years of years buried on my face. He was a completely different person from when he was stealing. The brown eyes contained strong, firm, and relaxed.
In a way, it seemed like a typical article, and in a way it seemed like an experienced merchant.
“How's Rodrigo? ”
With Albrecht's unthinkable words, Diego's eyes widen. He remembered his son, though he seemed to have been passing by briefly. A comfortable and natural smile was put on Diego's mouth.
“You're doing well. I'm 10 years old now, and I admire you. Unlike me, he's a natural boneless. I was going to teach you how to be a merchant, but it didn't seem to interest you very much. He's interested in swords. If I hear you mention it yourself, I won't be able to sleep at night. ”
Albrecht simply smiles. It was the first time I laughed since the apostle began to come and go. Albrecht makes up his mind and throws it away.
“Tell Sigmund. We'll have the meeting in three days. I've set a date. You decide where you want to meet. ”
The answer Diego was looking forward to finally arriving. But Diego didn't look so happy. It's just a stone bridge now.
Even if I met Zigmunt right away, the meeting could always be broken down.
“By the way, the meeting place is important for your well-being, but is it okay if we set it up unilaterally? ”
In Diego's words, Albrecht only smiles for a few moments.
“Shouldn't you be worried about Zigmund's whereabouts everywhere? ”
Diego couldn't wait. Worried about the world's greatest knight and mercenary, that's a ridiculous question to ask yourself.
“Good. I'll tell him. I'll come back when the place is set. ”
Diego leaves his words behind and politely bends over and turns back the way he came. In his waist was Ernst's sword.
There was nothing to do but set the meeting place up very loudly. So the next day Diego came back and announced the location.
One day from Albrecht, there was a basin the size of the city of the Earth.
A large river runs along the middle of the basin, upstream not far from Albrecht's encampment.
However, there were rivers flowing beneath the deep ridges, and the main roads were blocked with rocks or trees, so they could not be used as drinking water.
The basin was named Roeland, the land of Heinrich, the firstborn of Sigmund. The meeting place was set in between because there was a Sigmund encampment not far from the valley to the basin.
Two days later, Albrecht prepared to go to the meeting point from dawn. With the help of Rosamund, you are equipped with golden armor, and your waist is filled with the sword that Iliya and your father gave you.
With an axe in one hand, you step out of the tent, feeling tired of the fresh air coming from the nearby trees.
After the tent, you climb up to Lindehorn and throw the axe at Herman nearby.
Yurgen carries a flag with a sword eagle on it, and Randolph leads the guards. Einhardt is next to him.
Albrecht looks at Rosamund, who shows himself on the horse. He pushes his horse close to her, lowering his waist to the side and kissing her lightly.
“I'll be back.”
“Yes.”
Given what Albrecht was up to, it was never pleasant for Rosamund.
However, the couple were able to bear with each other because they were connected by strong faith, trust and love.
Ordinary couples and couples have gone through experiences that cannot be experienced together. We fought wars together, held dragons together, and shared each other's accomplishments.
Even if the world perishes together. Love will never change, even if another wife is born.
Albrecht turns his horse around in his helmet. I slowly left the encampment with my wife's gaze on my back. The knights and soldiers all came out, stripping off their helmets and showing their respect.
The soldiers were all filthy, but the equipment was well-groomed. The knights and soldiers looked at their king with complex eyes. Are you sure you want to marry Sigmund's daughter?
It was true that they would not dare to interfere in the business of the royal family, but they did not want to interfere as Northmen. But I also wanted to get out of this damn valley after the war ended.
The horses groan as they tread on the angled stones. The sun has just begun to rise, and you reach your head out carefully over the ridge and carefully observe Albrecht.
Albrecht walks up and down the valley, riding with difficulty. Every day, I felt Diego's struggle crossing this path.
Of course, riding horses in valleys, valleys and valleys was not usually difficult, nor was it appropriate. But apart from the war, it was true that sophisticated horseback riding could be practiced.
Enemies stare down at Albrecht's group from above the unoccupied ridge.
He hides himself from the trees and wears a golden helmet, but he tries to see Albrecht's face somehow, moving his head around.
Around the time the sun confidently showed its presence in the middle of the sky, Albrecht was able to escape the valley. And the plains spread out in front of me like a lie.
After being in the narrow valley for several months, you feel a chill in Albrecht's chest. Now I feel like I want to live a little.
A chilling breeze across the plain, something you couldn't feel in the mountains, blows to Albrecht. A red, white, and juicy drink tucked into the head of a golden helmet lies slightly back.
The golden armor that glittered from the hillside by the split sunlight on the branches wrapped the Albrecht in a dazzling light when the sunlight was right at noon.
You can see Sigmund's army from afar. It was too far away to tell for sure, but the spread and tearing of the equipment was a Straggler's signature move.
‘Even with the terrain, you managed to stop me with such an army. ’
A river flows far behind that army, and many more than tens of thousands of troops are swarming like clouds.
Everyone rushed to the river and somehow stepped on a box to see Albrecht, or sat on the shoulders of a friend, father, or colleague.
Albrecht comes out of the valley, and the crowds rumble.
“The King in the North! ”
“There he is! ”
“Where!”
“I can't see! Get out of the way!”
“Don't push! ”
“Ahhhh!”
It seemed that everyone in the North continent had gathered, including nobles, merchants, vagrants, prostitutes, noblewomen, barons, priests, knights and soldiers' families.
It was an era without telescopes, so far away they couldn't see it visually, but people frowned and tried to see Albrecht's face somehow.
Even if I could see one, Albrecht couldn't see his face because he was wearing a golden helmet and lowering his mask.
I could see only flashing light in people's eyes, but I could not see the human form. But it was even more stimulating for people. It felt like a messenger of God just descended from heaven.
He who was born with God's bloodline, who took the Lord's call and restored the Holy Land, who is the king of all knights, the dragon-killer, the lord of strength and mercy, the conqueror of iron and blood, the great hero who had never been on the North continent before, Albrecht.
The noise of the people became louder and louder. Many tried to cross the bridge to get closer, but Sigmund's forces set up a barricade and threatened to use their spears to block their approach.
Despite this distance, Albrecht hears hundreds of thousands of clamoring in his ears. It sounded like thunder from afar.
Albrecht looks at the zigmunt between the opposing team and himself. I was wearing dark brown hair, but I could see white hair, but my face was not that different from about 10 years ago.
He was on a horse, covered by dozens of knights, wearing chain armor and a coat. I see Diego nearby.
I didn't set up a tent or anything like that at the meeting place, but I didn't know if I was going to run away right away if something went wrong.
Either way, Albrecht leads his knights and gallops to him with his bold red cloak.
It was a long way from Zigmunt, so I had to run a little longer. Dozens of knights, including Albrecht, run through the fields, trampling on grass growing to the human calf.
Sigmund's army and hundreds of thousands of troops moved their heads and eyes as Albrecht moved.
Immediately, Albrecht approaches in front of Zigmund. Sigmund looks at Albrecht with trembling eyes. Beyond the veil, the blue eyes look at you. How long have you been waiting for this moment?
Albrecht reveals his face as he lifts the veil. The scar, starting from the chin and going from the left lip to the bottom of the left eye, was creating a deep valley with a hot beard.
Pure eyes turned cold and bold with iron and blood. Facing that look, Zigmunt felt some emotion. Zigmunt calms his trembling heart.
“Long time, Your Majesty. Reminds me of the last thing I said to you when we split up. whether your light will remain or lose its light the next time you see it, or whether it will emit a brighter light that I dare not even look at. ”
Albrecht was indifferent to Zigmund's words. You just take off your helmet and throw it to Herman right behind you. I swiped the glittering blonde with my hands roughly several times in the sunlight.
Randolph, Hermann and Jurgen stare at each other as if through a zigmund, and Einhardt can't help but make fun of the pen, writing things down on a little piece of paper.
The Knights of the Northern Army stare at the other Knights with their furious eyes. Whenever something happened, I was ready to rush in and hit them all.
The opposing Knights try not to lose, but it seems Albrecht pushes you back.
The people around him said that or didn't see anything but Albrecht in Zigmund's eyes.
“But I never imagined that you would actually emit visible light. ”
The golden armor continues to emit a brilliant glow that makes it hard for Zigmund to see.
Albrecht's eyes widen. It was like a lion or a tiger craving into a beast.
“I don't remember you being a father. You don't need a long horse. Tell me, why did you marry in the condition of surrender? ”
Albrecht's eyes twinkle with the eyes of the beast seeking prey. Depending on the answer, I could have struck and killed him right away.
Then Zigmunt fixed his face. After closing your eyes for a moment, you awaken a distinctive, cruel and sharp look.
Zigmunt knew better than anyone that he might die here. But I wasn't afraid. I was prepared to lose my life.
“Why do you always wear a sword around your waist when you use an axe? ”
Albrecht doesn't answer Zigmunt's questions, but just stares at him. Zigmunt was speechless.
“It's just in case you lose the axe, or just in case. ”
After saying that, Sigmund is silent for a moment. I just glanced at Albrecht. Their gazes were intertwined in the air. Then he revealed his true intentions without hiding them.
“So is your country. I support you and the Queen. But you have to be prepared for anything. That's why we need a replacement. ”
Albrecht's eyebrows twitch.
A surrogate? Did you just call your daughter a surrogate? ’
Albrecht flies inside. Who in the world would call their daughter a surrogate?
In this era, aristocrats generally used their daughters as tools for marriage. No, it was a parent's right to decide their child's marriage in the first place.
However, the sane person did not really treat his daughter as an object. Isn't she your daughter, though? At least as long as we live together, we are family.
Albrecht is exhausted and unable to speak. For whatever reason, it became clear why Albrecht himself hated Zigmunt. The statue was not right.
To be precise, Zigmunt remained attached, but to Albrecht himself, Zigmunt was the supreme. He used to be, but he was a creepy guy. You feel sorry for Maria.
Albrecht turns his gaze away from even looking at him. You can see Sigmund's army and people from afar.
And he remembered his army and Rosamund. I didn't want to, but it was time to think about reality. He turned his gaze to Zigmund again.
“There are two conditions. First, take the whole army across the river. I'll have my army stationed here. ”
With the conditions Albrecht was only thinking about, Diego beside Zigmunt was embarrassed.
I did not speak to Diego about the terms and conditions in order to explore Sigmund's reaction directly.
Sigmund simply glances at Albrecht. Even though I was just looking at it quietly, a unique charisma came out. Nevertheless, Albrecht was also not to be overwhelmed by yesterdays and days.
Albrecht's demand was literally to give up all of his strategic and tactical advantages. In other words, give up your life.
Of course, crossing the river was a difficult task, but Albrecht was defeated several times.
Albrecht thinks marriage is also a marriage, but the most important thing is to make sure that the opponent really surrenders.
He didn't miss the point, he knew exactly what it was, and he deliberately made too many demands.
“I understand.”
Zigmunt accepted without a word of concern. The knights around me, including Diego, were startled.
In fact, Albrecht was also surprised. He doesn't seem to know what his demands mean.
But you will find out whether or not you really follow your demands. Albrecht said there was a second demand.
“My queen, Rose, needs to see Maria for herself. I will decide the date again. ”
“Of course, Your Majesty. ”
Once again, Zigmunt immediately accepted Albrecht's request. Rather, Albrecht was embarrassed. I just asked him a pure question.
“Are you sure you want to surrender? What if I endure you right after you've surrendered? ”
Zigmunt answered without hesitation again.
“If you're getting married, it doesn't matter if you hit me on the neck. And this is a different story, but in a different way than you, I also wager my entire life on war. However, if you let me live, I will do nothing but protect your country. ”
Even that Albrecht cooled his spine. It hasn't changed that I'm a scary person before or now. Once I'm surrendered, I'll dump him in the countryside. Or should I just kill him? Can we use this guy?
Albrecht suddenly remembers Balthazar. Balthazar led 20,000 troops in the first place. With that kind of character, I couldn't even see him coming out of the conference room.
“What happened to Balthazar? ”
A cold smile was emitted from the cruel and sharp impression of Zigmund.
“Rats have to explode on time. Your Majesty."
He was a decorator, but he led 20,000 men. You killed him? You took 20,000 in that short amount of time and then confronted me? Albrecht has really lost his words.
< 173 > End