Women only affect my ability to spread the fire

Would anyone dare to convict the prince's adoptive father, even if he was just a prince living among the common people?

However, since old Ernst was able to adopt Mark, is he really just an innocent cattle herder?

Russell frowned, he felt that there were indeed many doubts in this.

The most crucial thing is that Russell still hasn't been able to figure out who his friends are - Friedman is not that reliable in Russell's eyes, and who are his enemies besides Ludwig?

Although Russell was just passing by at first, as the storm escalated and Margaret's family was involved, Russell didn't think he could stay out of it by not taking sides.

Therefore, Russell did not stop the spread of chaos, he also wanted to use the chaos to see people more clearly.

Continue to shamelessly ask for leave...

I don't understand what happened. Maybe it's because I've had too many COVID-19 infections and my immunity has dropped too much. I haven't been feeling well recently and I have a headache so much that I can't type.

No update today, please forgive me.

125 Ludwig Returns

Friedman looked at Mark, who was frowning but still unconscious, without saying a word, staring at the pair of furry wolf ears.

Then he looked at the almost empty medicine bowl and the green soup splashed on the sheets and blankets, thinking about something.

Friedman looked at Russell.

This is indeed a good time. Should we launch an attack on the collusion between the royal family and wizards now?

Friedman tried to ask with his eyes.

In fact, Friedman regarded Russell as a figure like the son-in-law of the Knights Protector, and believed that he must be able to represent the opinions of the Knights Protector, so he asked this question.

However, Russell could not understand his eyes at all, and had no idea what Friedman wanted to express.

The only thing Russell could judge was that since Friedman didn't say it publicly, what he was going to say was something that the frightened maid couldn't hear.

Russell gave him a puzzled look and shook his head, indicating that he had no idea what he was trying to say.

It’s not the right time now, right? I understand. I will continue to endure it.

Friedman nodded, a look of understanding on his face.

What did you understand? Russell was speechless.

By this time, the chaos had spread.

The maid's scream was like a stone hitting a calm lake, causing ripples to spread outward.

Groups of people rushed to the cellar, and after seeing the pair of furry ears with their own eyes, they all expressed their respect for His Royal Highness the Prince.

No one questioned the identity of His Royal Highness the Prince, as if no one knew that he was just the adopted son of a cattle herder.

Only then did Russell realize that having animal characteristics was a necessary and sufficient condition for determining whether one was a royal family. Before this, he thought that this was not a characteristic exclusive to the royal family.

As the news spread, the cellar was soon packed.

As the hostess here, Elda also came to this dark cellar with her maid Rhea.

Russell could see that Elda was just trying to remain calm, her eyes were full of confusion and fear.

However, Elda's maid, Rhea, seemed much calmer than her master.

Before Elda had the chance to climb into the cellar, someone complained to the crowd crowded in the cellar, asking how could the noble prince be allowed to condescend to live in the cellar?

So everyone, who had just woken up from their dream, hurriedly and carefully carried their prince out.

After being criticized, Elda was terrified and had to give up the main house where she had just lived for a few days to the visiting "Prince" and returned to her lady's room.

As for the cattle herder, old Ernst, almost everyone ignored him.

The uninformed knights subconsciously did not connect an old cowherd with the royal bloodline, while the informed servants did not dare to say a word in front of the circle of bigwigs - at least in the eyes of the servants, these impoverished knights could be called bigwigs.

Soon, the cellar became quiet again, with only Russell and old Ernst left, and the floor was messy and in disarray.

Even the torches originally in the dungeon were taken away and used to escort "His Royal Highness the Prince".

The dungeon was engulfed in darkness. Russell, who had dark vision, hid in the shadows, holding his breath, as if he did not exist in the dungeon.

Russell stared at old Ernst closely. He wanted to see if old Ernst was also an actor like Ludwig and Friedman.

Russell waited patiently, but old Ernst's breathing was still steady and long, and he was still in a coma.

At this time, Russell heard footsteps coming from afar, and he was not unfamiliar with the footsteps, as they were those of Knight Ludwig.

So Russell quietly hid in the corner, hiding his figure, wanting to see what Ludwig, who had returned, wanted to do.

Did Ludwig intend to kill him outright? Did old Ernst really have a background as a royal servant?

Russell braced himself and was ready to take action if necessary.

Ludwig casually stuck the torch he brought into the wall, stood in front of the bed, and stared at old Ernst quietly for a while.

After confirming that old Ernst was still asleep, he became impatient, raised his hands, and hit old Ernst left and right, waking him up from his sleep with crackling sounds.

Ludwig didn't care about old Ernst's groans. He ignored the panic in the old shepherd's eyes and asked directly, "Tell me, why did you kill Adrian Heinrich?"

"What? Master Adrian is dead?" Old Ernst couldn't help but smile despite the burning pain on his face, then seemed to realize that there was something wrong with this smile, and he restrained himself a little.

But this restraint failed, and he finally grinned with a happy smile.

The old herdsman's series of facial muscle movements were also related to the slap he had just received, which made his expression look very strange.

Especially under the flickering torches, the interweaving of light and shadow made the old herdsman's facial expression look as if it had undergone a complex geological movement. Combined with the wrinkles on his old cheeks, he looked fragmented yet filled with joy.

The expression was so funny that Russell almost laughed out loud.

"Well, you beat him, so he died. Tell me, why did you beat him?" Ludwig was unmoved and continued to ask.

"Hiss, I clearly didn't fight back. It was Master Adrian who pounced on me and beat me. I just remember that I was beaten up by him, and then I stopped working for him." Old Ernst said.

Ludwig seemed to have grasped something and asked coldly, "You said you won't work for him anymore?"

"Yes, it's not just me. No one works for him anymore." Old Ernst looked at Ludwig as if he were a fool. "Didn't you tell me, Master? Who will work for him after he dies?"

Russell was now quite certain that old Ernst was making fun of Ludwig. He enjoyed seeing Ludwig's jokes, but it was a little difficult for him to hold back his laughter.

But Russell still didn't know why Ludwig was so anxious for old Ernst to admit to killing Adrian.

Russell could confirm that this was probably not because he was being targeted. Russell did not remember ever expressing his desire to help old Ernst.

Although Ludwig had previously tried to "frame" Russell for having a past relationship with the old cattle herder, such an excuse was just a clumsy fabrication, and I'm afraid Ludwig himself would not believe it at all.

The author says:

Author's words: Thanks for the tips and coins without a nickname

Thanks to Bloodthirsty Copper Bull, reader 1697116370, and normal human male for the coins.

126 The Cowherd's Confession

So, was Ludwig anxious to clean up the mess of the royal family? A prince who lived among the common people had a cowherd as his adoptive father, which was probably a scandal.

No, judging from the way Ludwig complained about the royal family last night, it would be difficult for him to remain so loyal to the royal family after losing Eleanor.

So, maybe this has something to do with Elda's maid, Rhea?

It was Rhea who dragged Ludwig away last night. Perhaps there is some secret cooperative relationship between them.

From this perspective, the person who killed Adrian Heinrich was most likely one of the master and servant.

Leia's skills are pretty good, but as for Elda...

Russell could confirm that Elda Heinrich was a helpless young lady - unless her strength was so unfathomable that neither Russell nor Margaret could see it.

Then old Ernst's words quickly ruled out the possibility of hidden strength.

Old Ernst said, "Even if you ask me to recall that morning... well, I was confused, but that was only after Master Adrian beat me up. I still remember what happened before that."

Old Ernst fell into reminiscence: "That morning I came back from herding cattle, my belly button was exposed, and the wind made me feel cold."

"Then I drove the cattle to the barn. No one greeted me along the way. I thought that Master Adrian, who came to check on the cattle every morning, was still asleep."

"But I was coaxing the calves when I saw Master Adrian come out of the house with Miss Elda in his arms and go around the corral. I was hiding so well against the wall that I thought they didn't see me."

It turns out that old Ernst discovered the scandal between Adrian and Elda...

If Elda's strength was truly unfathomable, then there was no need for her to submit to her uncle. There were countless ways to control her uncle.

In fact, she even succumbed to Father Berthold's coercion.

After confirming that Elda had little fighting ability, Russell thought that old Ernst should not have revealed this secret so casually.

It might be okay if he publicly revealed the private affairs of this big shot, but under the explosion of public opinion, no one might care about him.

But if you reveal it in private... I'm afraid your life will be in real danger.

Russell felt that old Ernst was probably angry because he was beaten for no reason, so he wanted to make trouble for him even if Adrian was dead.

Just as Russell expected, old Ernst began to complain.

"When I could no longer hear the footsteps, I went back out to herd the calves. Then Master Adrian suddenly appeared and beat me up, knocking me unconscious in the pen."

"All my bones felt like they were falling apart and about to explode. I remember being numb all day, and then it started swelling and the pain was so severe I couldn't move... I don't know how I ended up here, and I'm still in pain!"

Old Ernst complained and sighed loudly, as if he had completely given up on everything. He didn't care at all that the person in front of him was also a knight. He just kept complaining.

Russell kept an eye on Ludwig, always on guard against his possible murder.

Russell thought that Ludwig, who was in collusion with Rhea, would most likely help Elda get rid of old Ernst.

"You insist on saying that I killed him. Maybe I did, but I really can't remember. You said that killing someone always leaves traces, right? There should be, especially when I killed my own master!"

"That morning, I apologized to a gentleman who asked for directions, coaxed the calf into drinking a few more sips of Baldhead's milk, and then was beaten up by Master Adrian. You see, my memory before that was very clear. I think if I really killed my master, I would remember it too."

Russell believed that old Ernst did not kill Adrian because he asked the bald cow.

However, under Ludwig's repeated questioning, old Ernst even began to doubt himself.

"You said I killed him. Maybe I did, but I really don't remember. But it's also possible that Master Adrian killed himself."

"Master Adrian is in a very bad temper. He thinks everything is bad. For example, the cattle trough is dirty, the cow dung in the cattle pen is not cleaned up in time, and there is no water in the trough..."

"He dislikes the thinness of the cows, and even my thinness is something he can't stand."

"But, sir, tell me, how can I not be thin? I have so little to eat. And I have to get up before daybreak to drive the cattle to Kirch, where Master Adrian has bought a piece of land and has the right to use the common land there to graze the cattle."

"I wait till the cattle have finished their grazing, and then I drive them back a long way, in time for matins. It's like an endless pilgrimage, sir!"

To Russell's surprise, Ludwig actually listened patiently to old Ernst's nagging and complaints, and showed no signs of wanting to kill.

Finally, Ludwig said, "Hmph, old man, do you plead guilty?"

"Now, you see, I've been arrested... I think I was arrested. I remember I was lying in bed at home, and my boy Mark was taking care of me..."

Russell noticed that Ludwig's face twitched when old Ernst said this.

Russell thought that perhaps it was due to his long-standing instinct to protect the royal family that Ludwig subconsciously wanted to say or do something, but he still forced himself to hold back.

However, the more Ludwig tolerated, the more Russell felt that something was wrong.

An impatient opponent is not scary, but an opponent who is scheming and wants to take revenge on you is probably not so easy to deal with.

Should I kill him right here?

This thought suddenly came to Russell's mind.

So Russell stared at Ludwig's back, as if he was wondering where to stab him.

"Very good. When you appear in court for trial, you are not allowed to lie. Just tell the judge your story honestly. Do you understand?" At this time, Ludwig nodded with satisfaction.

"When has my old Ernst ever lied? God will never forgive a liar."

As if sensing danger, Ludwig picked up the torch and left in a hurry.

Russell, who was still thinking about how to deal with the aftermath, did not act in a hurry.

Old Ernst fell into sleep again out of fatigue.

Russell was left in the darkness wondering about Ludwig's motives for interrogating old Ernst.

It seems that the relationship between Rhea and Elda, the "master and servant", is becoming more and more intriguing. Are they really master and servant?

Ludwig, who was colluding with Rhea, was trying to get old Ernst to publicly reveal Elda's affair with her uncle...