For example, I plant some flowers and plants in the courtyard, extract the fragrance of the flowers myself, try to make some clothes, go for a walk by the river to watch the sunset, etc. My latest hobby is to learn songs from the nuns in the church, and then use them to soothe me to sleep at night.

I rolled out of bed, walked over to the table, and picked up the book. On the cover, in elegant, outlined handwriting, were the words "Cradle in the Moonlight." Turning the pages, I discovered there were no profound truths or longing fantasy stories, just a collection of quiet, simple poems.

I quickly finished reading this book that had no interest in me, put it away again, and sat on the bed before my sister came back.

————

The scene in the dream stopped here, and the roar of artillery fire woke me up from my childhood memories.

"Lord Isaiah, Lord Isaiah!" The messenger hurried to the room where I was resting temporarily, but was stopped by the adjutant at the door.

"What happened?" I quickly sat up, picked up the wide-brimmed hat beside me, and walked quickly to the command room.

"The enemy has launched another attack. This time they have mobilized a lot of artillery and blasted a hole in the front. Now many cavalry are rushing in. Although the trenches at the back have temporarily resisted them, they won't hold out for much longer."

"Oh, it seems the enemy is well aware of our arrangements."

Although I was annoyed, I still spoke calmly. Years of military career had given me such a cold expression that it was difficult for people to see through me.

Now I am at the forefront of the confrontation between the Eastern and Western Empires, Typhon Fortress on the Godan Plain.

In recent years, this old fortress has been transformed into a solid fortress for us. It has become an unshakable fulcrum on the Gaodan Plain, greatly hindering the offensive of the Eastern Frontier Coalition. As the commander on the front line, I have also thwarted the enemy's attacks several times and now I have become the highest-ranking general in this area.

Looking back on the dramatic changes of the past few years, I sometimes find it incredible that I, the unappreciated second son of a baronial family, could now hold such a high position.

When I was very young, I understood that the so-called nobility also had great differences, and the gap between them was even greater than the gap between pigs on the ground and dragons in the sky.

Not to mention the four top dukes, they are all kings of their respective regions within the empire. Even the second-class earls are powerful forces entrenched in various places, and they are the existences that all parties need to win over and consider.

As for the lowest-ranking barons, some may become household names in the imperial capital, while others may live in an extremely remote mountain village in the western border, with less than a hundred households in their fiefdom.

Therefore, even though I entered Emenas to study when I was young, I did not get carried away and think that I had transcended the constraints of the past. Compared with the various encounters in life, sometimes the impact of personal efforts is so small.

I never thought that I was more hardworking than my classmates, or even less talented than my childhood playmates and friends, but just because I had a very good sister, I easily got that precious letter of recommendation for admission.

Count Wolfthorn is a famous family in the West, a direct vassal of the Salus family, with his own elite legion and vast lands. When I was a child studying in the city, I could only hear about such a noble from afar from other people's mouths and dared not even dream of getting involved with him. But then, overnight, I became involved with him.

Because my sister was liked by the heir of Earl Wolfthorn and later married into his family, I also benefited from the connection.

Not only does it have a recommendation letter for admission, but upon graduation one can directly join a large army for training. And today, after the empire has undergone several dramatic changes, he has taken over the command of the front-line army and become a powerful general with more than 200,000 soldiers under his command.

Perhaps the talent is really fading. People like Darcy, who we once had to look up to, those heroes who were the focus of attention during their college days, have all been wiped out in the Western Expedition and the Civil War, leaving only mediocre people like me and those who are slightly luckier.

I once thought that I had reached the pinnacle, but after actually sitting in this position, I found that it was not the case. Even though I am now a general commanding countless legions, it does not mean that I can be worry-free and do whatever I want.

Most of the soldiers in these legions are subjects recruited by the nobles of the Western Territory. Among them, the middle and lower-level officers are almost all children of nobles from the Western Territory. Among the high-level officers, although there is no one with a higher position than me, the background and power behind them cannot be easily offended.

It's like dancing in shackles, which is a true reflection of the environment we are in.

It is indeed a huge difference from the scene I expected when I was young.

I grew up watching those knights and admired the characters in them. Many of them have prototypes in history and are real heroes in history, so they are more real and desirable.

I will become that kind of person, shining and bright, making my family proud, and being able to protect those close to me, so that they can live an easy and comfortable life.

Rather than envying the glory of saving the world, I envy the great freedom that heroes can obtain.

Because they are heroes, they can do many things that others need to be cautious and patient about. Not only will they not be blamed, but they will also be understood and forgiven by others.

Why do I have to emphasize this kind of thing? Because I have always had a vague wish and idea.

If I were strong enough, my sister wouldn't have to marry for the benefit of the family. She could freely choose the life she wants, and I could occasionally eat the dinner she prepared, listen to her humming songs for me, and telling me stories from far away.

But such things are ultimately rebellious, so I never told even my best childhood playmate.

Later, with my sister's marriage, this dream was mostly shattered. After entering Emenas, although I studied hard and integrated into the aristocratic circle in the West, in the final analysis, I still didn't want to make my sister sad.

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