The Amber Sword

Marshall looked at the forests on the hillside, which made the Sapphire Mountains appear deep black in winter, and a patrol of soldiers was slowly slipping down from the hillside woods, with only a few men's armor still intact, but the robe had long been broken and hungry as a rag, with some using sharpened wooden sticks as weapons and everyone starving. He lowered his head and silently wiped his long sword, which had been curled, because Tonigal's White Lion Knight was the finest piece of equipment on everyone - only produced on a small scale in hand-workshops, and the refined armor and swords, especially those purchased in batches seven or six years ago, were the highest standard of purchasing set by the merchant lady and produced by the master Hazel craftsmen.

The ruined cotton coat of the soldiers of the noble army could not stop it at all. The Lord's knights' armor, that is, the cutting of two more swords, sometimes did not even need to break the armor cone. He remembered the look of amazement and fear of the blonde knight in the first battle. But good equipment does not dictate the victory of a war of great power against disparities, with the Goran-Elson army forming a layered blockade to the south, numbering several thousand, and the Stone Ghosts and Irons of the Sassards, the White Lion Guard and the Valkyries protecting Her Royal Highness day after day in the direction of the Sapphire Mountains, where there is no food to support an army, especially in the winter, even if there are only a few hundred of them, and the rebels trying to trap them alive.

Marshall chewed on a hard-boiled grassroots, his last food reserve. As for not remembering exactly how long I hadn't eaten, my brain was a little numb. The last time I ate a roasted mouse with a colleague, I forgot when it happened. But food is getting harder and harder to find. Soldiers on patrol are less prepared than looking for food. Hundreds of people cross the mountain forest like a disaster. Even the frozen soil layer needs to dig up a layer of animals searching for hibernation below. If the bark of sapphire wood is not poisonous, it can also be used to cook soup.

He remembered the first few bloody battles in which both sides fought their best to defeat each other, but the nobles retreated after paying a heavy price and chose not to fight. In the first battle, he remembered killing three people, covered in wounds, and the more he killed later, the fewer wounds he received, and nobody killed him - the other side stopped attacking. Sometimes he wants to say that he may be better off dead in those bloody wars, not to be offended.

He was one of the third white lion knights, the last white lion knights to be trained by Tonigal before the war. He was a true Tonigal, of civilian origin, and had a good track record when he was elected, and was overwhelmingly crowded. But three days ago, he replaced his captain and became a great knight, and in Eruin, this step meant becoming a true nobleman, and then a sealed baron, but it didn't make any sense, because no one knew if he could survive the next battle, just like the man he replaced.

Marshall has no regrets.

He was not the eldest son, and before the Second Tonigal War, his shoemaker dad kicked him into the barracks and made him stand up like a real man to defend ‘what's really worth defending’. But he didn't catch up with the war, because the first week he entered the barracks, the war ended. During the Battle of Ambessel, he was selected for the White Lion Guard, which in a sense was remarkable.

But he's just a little sorry.

The White Lion Guard will not easily admit defeat.

It's like the lions lost their lion king, and if that lion king were still there, they wouldn't be in this position.

Marshall put down the cloth gently, and the sword of the curly blade sparkled in the cold of winter, as bright as a pool of spectacular blades reflecting a handsome face, which looked very serious. The young knight was slightly stunned, because it was not his own face.

He raised his head in dismay and cast a tall shadow on him.

When he shouted, his sword fell to the ground.

Now...

The Lion King is back.

The long princess's face leaned pale against a roll of mats, revealing a long meditation in her silver pupils. She was wounded, weak and almost shape-shaped. Her hands were already very thin, and now she can clearly see the shape of the femur, almost beneath the clear skin, the blue veins flowing, some morbid beauty.

A gap in the tent door slanted open, the bright light flowing in from the outside and falling on her, she sat stubbornly upright, holding her sword with her hands and looking in that direction for a long time.

Freya couldn't help but look at her like this. Last night Brunhild told her that Her Royal Highness was in a cold sweat in her sleep. The sweat soaked her coat, but she woke up silent, as if the wound had been completely healed.

“Eat something, Your Highness.” She couldn't bear to persuade again.

“And you?” Griffin turned back and asked.

“I've eaten.” Freya replied hastily: “The soldiers found some tits...”

And then she couldn't go on, because Her Royal Highness looked at her with a smile, and she pointed to what was on that plate: "The tits go south of Chablis in the winter, and this is chicken, just like what you gave me yesterday, and yesterday you said you found a speckle, and we ate half of it, and that's the other half you were supposed to eat in your stomach? ”

“Your Highness, I...”

Griffin shook his head: "Freya, I can eat Miss Roman's loss-making business no matter how long it lasts, thanks to her being able to distribute it as military food. These marinated chicken flavors are unique and taste like a year of dry wood. Hasn't anyone told you that?” Her pale face blinked with some playful twinkles: “As a princess, my tongue is very picky. Although you are Everton's daughter, you may never understand what a noble life is like as a civilian. ”

The revealed knight blushes, and she finds out if her brain is really not enough, otherwise why can't she even do something as simple as lie?

But Griffin's smile converged, and even in such a weak state, she showed a majestic aura, frowning: “Freya, did you secretly save your rations for me? ”

“But I'm not like you, Your Highness...” Freya exclaimed hastily.

Gryphine looked up at her and said, "You're my commander, silly girl. ”

She reached out and gently touched the sword.

“We've figured it out, Antina. After she left Maggie Tan, she went to the lighthouse, and we're closing in on Goran-Elson, and there's got to be a chance to get her back. If my wounds don't heal, you will carry my sword, plenipotentiary for my will, and you must rescue her. ”

“Your Highness! ”

Griffin held her up, “This is also for Tony Gere's war, Freya, and... I, I can't be sorry to Mr. Brando. ”

She squeezed her eyelids gently, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, and her voice went down: “I don't want to stay sorry, you know, Freya; I don't want to be sorry to everyone, like my father, he owes you Bucci people an apology...”

“He's him, you're you,” Freya's chest fluctuated a little: "Anyone in Butch curses your father for saying he's a faint king, but he has a good daughter, and for your sake we're even willing to forgive your father for his mistakes. Because we only hope that Her Royal Highness will live well and that one day the kingdom will be better off with her eyes! ”

Griffin's eyes were a little red, and she smiled, “Don't worry, I won't give up so easily, even in the darkest of moments, I haven't been knocked down. I am Hal Foo's daughter, and there is blood in her body, and no one can defeat me, not death. ”

Her words suddenly stopped.

Silver eyes are actually a little stiff.

Freya was just about to say something, but a slender palm was already on her shoulder.

Freya was almost frozen and she obviously felt someone entering the tent, but she thought it was Brunhild because the goddess of martial arts didn't communicate. But as soon as she felt the familiar temperature of the hand applied to her shoulder, she immediately realized...

Who's back.

The strong knight immediately had a layer of water in her eyes. Her eyes were red as if they were rabbits. Turning back, tears snapped out of her eyes. She wanted to tell the man in front of her how difficult their situation was; she wanted to tell him how worried she was about the war in Tonigal; and she wanted to tell him that Antitina had been taken away by those men and had died in vain.

She wanted to cry like a child.

But it was her duty to stand still and still let tears flow across her face, tears blurred to look at this familiar face in front of her.

Brando watched with some heartache the Goddess of Martial Arts who cried into tears.

He never thought that the flag of Eluin in his memory would one day be handless in front of him, like a child with no legs, strong and firm, soft and thin, two distinct American staggered moments, profoundly touching the softest part of his heart.

But Her Royal Highness was still beside her, and Brando could only wipe away the tears from the face of the goddess.

“Sorry, ladies, I'm late. ”

“But in my opinion, it's always just the right thing.” Her Royal Highness replied with a slight smile.

In a narrow tent.

They looked at each other so silently.

Stand alone.

Sitting alone in bed.

Freya suddenly realized that he and Her Royal Highness might have a lot to say, that her tears were still dry and she held Brando tight for a moment and secretly shook his hand. Brando understood what it meant to come to her and sighed at the kind girl, and he smiled at her and nodded.

“Me and I went to see Miss Brunhild, she and I may have something to look for me...” Miss Knight found an awkward excuse and turned around and went out.

When the two of them passed by by mistake, Brando stuck it in her ear and said, "There's food out there. I brought you supplies. ”

Freya's face was blushing and her head ran away.

Princess Griffin looked at the interaction between the two with a bright eye and a smile, but there was some concern in her heart.

“No one can defeat you, no death, Your Highness,” Brando looked at his princess: “Because they are not enough for you, your knight is in front of you, and no one can do it without my permission. ”

“Nor with your permission," Princess Griffin added, "Mr. Knight, you seem to have been through a lot. ”

“Yes, does it smell a little muddy? ”

“No.”

Even though she was very weak after that, she couldn't help laughing.

Brando likewise felt the change in Her Royal Highness, who had grown more mature, perhaps this was really her, and gradually coincided with the shadow of his memory. He took out the bottle of the angel's heart, indicating that she would drink it, but the elf girl did not move, but looked at him with the eyes she had hoped for.

Brando stunned and jumped slightly in his heart.

He lifted up the weak girl, both of whom snuggled so vaguely, that the fairy princess looked at him with trust, Brando's heart beating somewhat faster and lowered the angel's heart bottle, dropping a drop of luminous light on her thin tongue tip.

The princess swallowed it, and the pounding life force in the liquid immediately began to work. Her withered limbs were rehydrated, her skin became snow and bursting, her silver eyes lit up a little bit, her cheeks became healthy and red, and her scattered silver hair gave off a burning glow, which was like a flower that had once again begun the blooming process of life.

Griffin looked at all this incredibly shocked and didn't even care when his injuries were completely healed.

“This is…”

“This is the Angel Heart Bottle. ”

“Is that the sacred object formed by the blood of the angel? ”

Brando nodded.

Her Royal Highness seemed to be caught in contemplation: "I owe you more, Mr. Knight. ”

“I'm just worried Her Royal Highness still remembers hating me," Brando answered helplessly. “Let's just call it even. ”

Princess Griffin looked up with some shame: "Don't mention that!” But it was in her shameful and angry memories, which are now slightly sweet.

The topic also embarrassed a half-esque girl, slightly disengaging her from his arms.

Brando, though somewhat disappointed, also understands that His Royal Highness's actions today have proved his confidence in him, and he cannot afford to be on foot, not to mention that the distance between the two just now has made him a little blush.

Princess Griffin calmed down and began to describe what happened after he left. Some of these things have been heard of by Brando in their own right, but from Her Royal Highness the Princess, they are in a different mood.

When Brando heard about the domestic part of Eruin, some ambiguity in the tent had long faded to near nothing.

After a long talk, Princess Griffin suddenly stopped and asked, “Can you tell me something about the Salads? ”

This topic is like opening a Pandora Magic Box and silencing the tent.

Brando looked at her with surprise and thought Her Royal Highness would not speak voluntarily. Thinking about it, I was not prepared to tell you all about what happened after I left Eruin, and finally I mentioned the Sardines.

He did so in order to avoid embarrassment to His Highness, and the elf girl obviously understood that, with a little warmth in her heart.

She actually knew something about Brando's trip from other sources, but after all, it wasn't so detailed that she could hear God several times. She is a good listener and a good upbringing keeps her unconscious tiredness out at all times, not to mention the intriguing story of Brando herself, which Her Royal Highness has whispered on several occasions.

But when it came to the last part, Princess Griffin's divinity went cold.

She had no idea that so much had happened in the world, and Eruin's nobility was still arguing over a few trivial things, even disturbing the kingdom and colluding with outsiders and cults. This is a ridiculous joke. Perhaps it seems to outsiders that this ancient kingdom is an irremediable abandoner.

When Brando finished his last sentence, the tent calmed down again.

Both of them looked down at each other as if they were thinking about something and there was silence in the air.

For a long time, Princess Griffin said softly: "So at least a lot of the royal party knew from the beginning that the Sassards were standing behind the dragon of dusk? ”

Brando nodded silently.

Princess Griffin has no expression on her face, she seems to be measuring something in her heart, but when she finally opens her mouth, she takes almost a great deal of effort to say: “Ancient nobles built this kingdom with their noble beliefs. Eru has never forgotten those who fought to change its destiny, but history has always changed, and some people have indeed become so untimely...”

Brando looked at her fist-shaking hands and her fingers were visibly white, even slightly trembling.

Born in the middle-aged age of flowers, she witnessed the best spirit of the kingdom.

But she also witnessed her father die of cold-blooded politics, and she hates this age-old system more than anyone, but also has a rare tenderness in her heart among politicians.

At this moment, however, she has cut off countless lives in just one word, including those who worked with her, those who supported her, her friends, even her grandfather, the relative who had reached out to her in her despair.

But if the history of a kingdom cannot advance in blood, it can only be dust in flames.

Brando wanted to comfort the weak girl, but he said:

“Not enough. ”

Princess Griffin raised her head and looked at him coldly with her silver eyes.

“This time, Your Highness, don't forget I'm opposite you. ”

Her Royal Highness took a deep breath, as if she had already made a great determination: “I married you, we had an engagement, you can in the future...”

Brando laughed bitterly, even though it was also a political marriage, but his heart was slightly warm. At least he understood that, in her mind, his status could even be equal to her ideals and beliefs - he looked at the princess but was reluctant to see her soft heart at this time.

He shook his head, not knowing whether he should be happy or angry, because that was not what he wanted: "Haruze is the king of this kingdom, Your Highness, and if we are to give Eruin the brightest future, we must give him the most orthodox name. ”

The tent was stuck in death-like silence.

It took a long time for Princess Griffin to raise her head and look at him with some resentment: “Well, as you wish, I will punish you, Count of Jeannel and Tonigal, Lord of the Cold Cedars, the hero of Eruin, in public for blasphemy against members of the royal family, with no center. ”

Brando scratched his head with embarrassment: "Stop, stop, I'm not that great, Your Highness, there's actually a relatively gentle way, maybe I'll leave Eruin. Next, Eruin will also be involved in the war with the Dragon of Dusk, and I am confident that the forces of Tonigal and Valhalla will be the backbone of this war, and I entrust it to you in the hope that you will use them well. ”

“Eru, for what reason are you under your command, you mean me and Haruze are just puppets under your control?” Princess Griffin had no expression and changed her cold tone: “Unfortunately, Count, after you left, Elouin turned to the embrace of the Dragon of Dusk. Anyway, her selfish eldest princess and the king only cared about their own people, and I'm afraid the Elouin could not afford to save the world with such a great responsibility. ”

Brando knew he had offended the princess and couldn't stop crying for a moment.

But after a while, he heard Princess Griffin asking in a hidden way.

“… where are you going? ”

“Perhaps we should go to the Bukas first and then St. Osor...”

He wanted to go on, but Princess Griffin's words interrupted him:

“At least before you leave, Mr. Knight, can you hold me again? ”

Brando stunned for a moment.

He raised his head and Princess Griffin's slender neck slowly became reddish and her face was so cute that she flanked her head slightly without looking at him.

Brando opened his mouth and he wanted to say he couldn't - but found his body completely out of control.

He felt his heart beat so fast that, slowly and somewhat gently kneeling under the princess, he could not even look into each other's eyes and gently held Griffin in his arms, feeling only that the half elf girl was lightweight as a feather.

Princess Griffin curled in his arms, gently listening to her knight's strong heartbeat.

She said softly: "I'm sorry if I accidentally diluted Miss Roman's position in your heart, but I was also your fiancée...”

What could be softer than a strong, proud princess to lay low and speak in your ears, but as she said, what could he say besides blame himself?

Sorry, I can't say those three words easily because I am responsible for this kingdom...

Because of the promised kingdom, it is harder to forgive the king.

Brando listened silently to His Royal Highness...

“I have one last request," Princess Griffin said in a gentle voice, “Mr. Knight. ”

She looked up at him.

“Please be sure to bring Miss Antina back. ”

Brando nodded seriously.

Because it was not a promise, but a promise for the two women.

……