Knight and Wand

Chapter 172 Earl of Glade

As the giant beast gradually descended in front of the welcoming team, the strong wind from its dragon wings blew up the ground into flying sand and rocks.

The flying dragon raised its ferocious long horns, and slowly approached with its sturdy body covered with huge scales and chitinous dragon skin.

The hind legs fell to the ground, and with a violent tremor of the ground, the dragon's wings folded into front legs with a whoosh, and it crawled down heavily. The movement of its front paws touching the ground caused the earth to tremble again.

The cloaks of the nobles in the front row were blown up by the sound of the sweeping wind.

Their expressions were relatively calm, but the younger nobles in the queue who had never seen the king riding a dragon in person could not help but exclaim in low voices at the shocking huge dragon beast in front of them.

Many young nobles were too embarrassed to admit that their legs felt a little weak. They might be brave, but facing the legendary dragon beast at such a close distance, they couldn't help but break out in cold sweats.

Leon glanced at the young men from the Thorn Flower family swallowing their throats, and he didn't laugh at them in his heart. He understood this feeling very well.

In his previous life, when he first approached large machinery on a construction site, even ordinary excavators and trucks, he also felt nervous about the large equipment in motion.

This is the case when facing inanimate tools, let alone the monster in front of them that can open its bloody mouth and devour everyone at any time. The intimidation caused by this monster is a hundred times greater. This kind of fear is the instinct of living things.

You have to know that even if you don't count the dragon's thick tail, its body alone is as huge as a five-story building.

Such a monster that looked like a god or demon, with its ferocious vertical pupils approaching, if most of the people present were not warriors with extraordinary courage, ordinary civilians would probably be frightened to cry and scream, and their eyes would roll back to death at the sight of it.

No wonder the royal family’s emblem uses the dragon. It turns out they really do raise dragons.

Leon looked at the flying dragon and wondered how much food such a huge beast would eat in a day.

He now understood why he was told not to ride a horse today.

If it is not an extraordinary warhorse that has been accustomed to the existence of dragon beasts since childhood and has not been frightened to death, an ordinary horse would probably be so frightened that the dirt would flow out of its mouth just by hearing the dragon's roar and smelling the horrifying heat wave from the dragon's body.
The flying dragon rumbled slowly towards the nobles who came to greet the king. Its ferocious dragon eyes swept across the crowd, and then it slightly turned its body.

The nobles also saw the king sitting on the dragon saddle and looking down at his ministers.

"Gentlemen, salute your king." General Trosa, who was at the front of the team, shouted loudly.

All of a sudden, the clanging sound of large pieces of armor could be heard, and the crowd that had been standing shoulder to shoulder suddenly shrank a lot in an orderly manner, like a storm pressing down on a wheat field.

All the men placed their hands on their breastplates, knelt on one knee, lowered their heads, and expressed their submission to King Orland sitting on the dragon's back.

There was the sound of chains snapping, and a heavy armored body fell to the ground. Leon heard the clanging sound of steady footsteps moving slowly forward.

A steady and majestic voice reached everyone's ears: "Stand up, my loyal subjects and brave soldiers."

After getting the king's permission, the great nobles in the front row nodded again and stood up again, followed by the vassal teams of each family.

Leon helped Jian Ge stand up and looked curiously at the current monarch of Orland who usurped the throne of Olivia's father.

The other party's burly body was wearing a set of gorgeous and heavy golden armor.

A scarlet cape with an embroidered animal collar was fastened to his shoulders by a shield necklace with intricate heraldry printed on it.

Looking at his face again, under the dragon-tooth-shaped crown that symbolizes royal power, is a middle-aged man with dazzling golden hair and no signs of old age.

With green eyes and golden beard, Ledwin III had a sharp and chiseled appearance, appearing stern and heroic.

Especially those fierce eyes and eyebrows, which exude an aura of majesty without even being angry.

Leon couldn't help but sigh. The bloodline of the commander of the Yanyang Guard has continued from ancient times to today, and it has produced many talented men and beautiful women. This Ledwin III is actually a handsome middle-aged man who looks young and strong.
He had often heard Baron Elliver mention the king's nickname "Old Dragon" and had thought that the king was an old, frail man.

After all, he is nearly fifty years old, which is not young for a ruler. At least for the ancient kings in Leon's memory of his previous life.

"Your Majesty, I am deeply honored to fight under your command again. The loyal army of Grayshan Valley will always be ready to obey your orders." General Trosa greeted the monarch at the front of the team.

Ledwin smiled at his trusted minister and said, "Don't flatter me, old friend. When it comes to commanding battles and conquering cities, who in the kingdom can rival the Earl of the Stag? Seeing how you have easily captured a steady army in Marmor County, I'm sure your ability to lead an army is as good as ever."

After saying this, Ledwin looked at Baron Farolis standing beside him, his majestic eyes revealing a hint of meaning.

"Baron Elliver, this battle to expand the territory to the south, the Farolis family has made great contributions. I have lived in the royal city for a long time, and I never thought that you would be such a loyal minister to the state in the southern border."

Although it was a boast, there was a hint of amusement on the corner of the king's mouth.

Elipher bowed his head to the "old dragon" that was hitting him, and replied calmly: "How dare I call myself a wise man, Your Majesty? I have always been loyal to my ancestors' teachings. I, the Flower Thorn, will always guard the dragon's lair of Drakmar, just as I have vowed for a thousand years."

祖训
Ledwin did not respond. The amusement on his face disappeared and he stared silently into Elifer's eyes.

He still remembered the time when the other party almost became the last head of the Thorn Flower family. After several rounds of mediation, the other party handed over taxes to him in the palace and earnestly requested to inherit the title, showing his determination to go all out.

After a long time, Ledwin stopped examining him and walked past Elifer, waving his robe.

".With sharp thorns like you surrounding me, I will be able to sleep well in the future."

As he spoke, he gestured behind him without even turning his head. The flying dragon, which was looking down at everyone from above, hummed softly, turned around, and soared into the sky with a roar, flying towards the camp set up for it by the Thorn Flower family.

Ines, who was at the front of the team, followed her father's footsteps silently.

She put her hands behind her back and asked quietly beside Ledwin, "Father, you won't blame me for sneaking to Kantadar, right?"

"Since you dare to come here, why should I say more?" Ledwin glanced at his daughter who was wearing armor and pretending to be serious, raised his eyebrows, and hesitated to say: "You are dressed like this."

Needless to say, he knew exactly what his clever little daughter was up to.

But when he turned his head and glanced at the fat boy Ledwin from the West family behind him, he couldn't help but frowned.

Seeing the sharp gaze of His Majesty the King, Ackerman shrank his head in fear and dared not look directly at him. He slowed down his pace even more, fearing that he would not be able to hide in the crowd.

Looking at the first-in-line heir to the Duke of West's throne, Ledwin, who had heard about his character before, felt both satisfied and disappointed.

Looking at his daughter again, Ledwin felt a little guilty as a father. He raised his hand and ruffled her hair. He said in a helpless and indulgent way, "Go ahead, but don't treat war as a joke. Don't lose your life."

"Yeah~ I understand." Ines smiled at her father and did not argue. The nobles on both sides of the road also turned around and followed the king, with guards marching on both sides.

The city gate sounded a neat sound of trumpet music welcoming the king. A six-horse carriage that had been on standby, avoiding the dragon's might, drove out of the city gate and soon picked up King Ledwin and Princess Ines.

Only a few people were left in the noble team to meet the king's army, and then they returned to the city in the luxurious carriage arranged by the Farolis family.

"Why doesn't His Majesty the King of Orland enter the city with the royal army he brought with him?" Lohak whispered to Azerien beside him in the team.

"I think that even the war horses of the King's Cavalry can't withstand the might of that giant... uh, 'flying dragon'." Azerien recalled the knowledge in Leon's book, changed the way he used to call the dragon, and speculated.

"That king may not even be marching with the royal army," Leon interrupted.

Judging from the incredible speed of the giant dragon after it took off, he even suspected that King Redwin was still in the kingdom of Kronia the day before, and today he calculated the date and time and flew directly from the kingdom to the city of Archers on a dragon.

Ledwin rode the huge beast directly in front of the nobles of the kingdom. There was no doubt that his move was to show his power.

But if they arrived with the king's army and scared the horses they brought and made them run away in all directions, it would turn into a farce.

After escorting the king to the inner castle of Aches, Elifuer naturally gave up the throne and the well-arranged lord's room for the monarch to rest.

The Cronia royal army set up camp outside the city, and the king's guards and court officials entered the city a little later.

The grand investiture ceremony was not held on the same day as the palace officials who came with the army needed some time to discuss the ceremony process with the Farolis family and understand the banquet arrangements.

However, the familiar officials of the royal court quickly took over everything.

The next day, the Knights of the Flower of Thorns, dressed in aristocratic robes and groomed themselves, followed the Elliver family in their best attire and waited with the lords in the castle hall which served as the meeting place.

The arched domes and colonnades here have long been replaced with paintings and decorations brought from the Thorn Flower family.

In the solemn and dignified hall, the nobles chatted with each other in low voices, waiting for the venue to complete the final preparations.

Leon looked around at everyone boredly, and his eyes turned to Ines who was standing next to General Trosa in the opposite guest group.

The princess changed out of the exquisite armor she wore yesterday and put on a palace off-shoulder dress that was more suitable for her status as a princess.

She wore a small princess crown inlaid with diamonds, and the chest of her dress was embellished with exquisite gems, which complemented the girl's hair and eye color.

Leon couldn't help but take a few more glances at the other person's appearance at the moment.

Of course, it was just pure appreciation. The other person's blonde hair was similar to Olivia's, and Leon couldn't help but think of his lover at home wearing the same clothes.

Especially the pure white princess dress, which looked like a wedding dress at first glance, made Leon fantasize about Olivia's future day.

However, compared to the decent and elegant Ines, Leon was attracted by a striking figure next to the girl.

Although it may be rude to think so, the chubby guy in aristocratic formal wear is indeed very "conspicuous" among the large group of tall and strong military nobles in the hall.

In some ways, she is even more eye-catching than Princess Ines in her gorgeous dress.

The fat young man followed Ines and stood in the same row as Count Trosa. On his left stood a heroic young man with a proud look in his eyes. The contrast between the two was even more obvious.
Of course, no matter how conspicuous he is, what is certain is that the fat guy is obviously a member of the top nobility in Orland.

Leon tilted his head and asked Azerien, confirming the dress accessories before confirming that this young fat man was at least an earl, but he didn't know if it was a subsidiary title.

And the young noble on his left should be an extremely rare marquis?

The music played by the court musicians interrupted Leon's idle speculation.

The nobles' conversations also quieted down.

The accompaniment indicated that the ceremony officially began, and the guards opened the door to welcome the king.

King Ledwin III, dressed in royal robes, entered the hall with his hands behind his back and a dignified manner.

He walked through the crowd's bows, as if he were still in Orlando's palace.

After the king turned around and sat upright on the throne, the court officials beside him came forward, unfolded the edict, and read it aloud to the noble lords with their heads held high.

Eliphius, who was crowned, responded to the call and stepped out from the ranks of the Pharos family.

He walked steadily forward, came to the king's throne, knelt down and saluted, and listened silently to the clerk reading out the monarchy and kingdom of Orland, officially recognizing his own and the Farolis family's legal endorsement of the right to rule the entire county under his feet.

After the long edict was read, Ledwin slowly stood up from his seat.

The attendant held an embroidered carpet in his hand and handed the scepter and golden ring on it to Redwin and Elifer.

"Erifus Pharos, today I grant you the power to rule Gladeshire. You and the descendants of the thorn flower must abide by your loyalty and oath and guard this new border for the kingdom."

After saying this, Ledwin III picked up the two earl's symbols and handed them to Elifer.

The other two attendants skillfully put on the earl's cloak that represented his status for the Lord of the Thorn Flower.

Elifer looked up and solemnly reiterated his oath of allegiance, then put on the ring, stood up with the scepter in his hand, and retreated to the center of the hall.

At this moment, the Lord of Thorn Flowers regained the same status as his ancestors.

Although it was not the same territory, there was no doubt that the scope of the county under his rule was even larger than that of the family in the past.

".Respectfully, Lord Glade."

Led by Ser Balfe, the Knights of the Briarflower bowed in salute.

Hearing the pleasant title, Elifer breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and returned to the team under the eager gaze of the knights of the Farolis family.

"Let the banquet begin," announced Ledwin III from his throne.

I'll take a nap first, and then continue when I get up. I've already outlined the next four or five chapters. Let's see if I can work harder during the day and save some draftsヾ(°°)
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(End of this chapter)