Chapter 62 [Mostly Lex's storyline]
Having decided on their destination, Mela and her group left Greystone Town quietly early the next morning.
However, Mela and Yuriel had a slight disagreement about the specific route.
Yuriel believed they should head straight east, as this was the fastest and shortest route to Erica's location.
Mela, however, had a different opinion: "What we should do most right now is leave Redcliff territory as soon as possible to prevent the church people from catching up with us."
If they followed Yuriel's plan, it would take them at least seven days to leave Redcliff territory. During that time, if the church caught up with them, their situation would become extremely precarious.
But if they followed Mela's idea, they could have reached Gardner Territory, which borders Redcliff Territory, in just three days.
Even the church's pursuers cannot enter other lords' territories without the king's permission.
Therefore, just in case, Mela felt they had to take a longer route.
“I don’t think it’s necessary,” Yuriel insisted. “As long as we stay hidden the whole way, they will never know which direction we’ve run off to, let alone catch up with us.”
Especially now that they've left Golden Oak City quite far, even if the church members wanted to, they probably wouldn't be able to track them down.
"So how did they capture you in the first place?" Faced with Yuriel's stubbornness, Mela's tone became less polite. "Do you really think that all the knights who surrounded you were members of the Church?"
The church can indeed support a certain number of knights, but the entire church's knights number only two or three hundred, and they are scattered throughout the kingdom with the various bishops. Logically speaking, it is impossible for such a small number of people to keep Yuriel trapped on the mountain for a whole winter.
Unless there are other people involved.
For example, the lord of this place, Count Sarre.
With Count Salle's help, the Church wouldn't even need to go to great lengths to search for them; they could simply send people to guard the border of Redcliffe and wait for them to come to them.
That's why Mela believes they should leave now before Radcliffe territory is sealed off.
"Alright, then tell me what we should do next?" After listening to Mela's analysis, Yuriel was convinced.
"It's very simple."
Mela picked up a twig, drew a simple map on the ground, circled a small dot, and told Yuriel, "We're right here now."
"Next, we need to cross this valley and pass through three towns in a row to reach Glorious Town, the outermost edge of Gardner Territory."
As Mela explained to Yuriel, she drew a winding route on the ground, clearly having planned their journey in advance.
Seeing how knowledgeable Mela was, Yuriel couldn't help but feel a little strange: "Why are you so familiar with these places?"
It felt as if I had personally experienced it.
Well, that's all thanks to Lex, since no one knows his kingdom better than a future king.
Mela raised an eyebrow and deliberately changed the subject to dodge Yuriel's question.
Given Lex's status, Yuriel would definitely be furious if she heard this. If it weren't for the persecution by the royal family, how could the witches have fallen to such a state of being treated like rats in the street?
Mela could understand Yuriel's hatred for all people with the surname Nurengel, but she didn't want to cause any trouble at this crucial juncture when companionship was needed.
Speaking of which, Lex has been gone for so long, I wonder how he is doing, and whether he has returned to the palace.
*
"Your Highness."
Chelger walked down the long corridor and stood next to Lex.
The boots struck the ground, producing an empty echo.
Unlike the more luxurious and ornate style of the royal palace, the Northland, due to its poverty, even the lords' manors adopted a more rugged and unrestrained style. For example, huge buildings were erected directly on the open land with massive stone pillars, resembling a giant beast that inspired awe from afar.
Even the roses planted in the garden are not delicate roses, but crimson snowbells that can bloom in the dead of winter.
Although it is not yet the season for the red snowbells to bloom, only a few slender stems hang on the weathered stone wall.
Lex had changed out of the simple clothes he wore in the Dark Forest. The elaborate collar accentuated his swan-like long neck, and the glittering gold buttons shimmered in the sunlight. His glance was filled with an intimidating aura.
This noble and unapproachable Lex was the Lex that Chelge knew, and also the Crown Prince who made the various lords who received the secret letter and rushed to the territory of Arland willing to submit.
“Your plan is going very well. These lords all seem quite willing to be your helpers and serve you in your return to the palace,” Cherge said.
After leaving the Dark Forest, Lex and Chelge quietly headed north and arrived at the territory of Yarant, where they met with Grind.
Just as Lex had expected, Grindke successfully became Viscount Arland's personal attendant. However, when facing Lex, he honestly told him that Viscount Arland might not be someone who could be trusted.
Lex nodded, not surprised by Grinkel's statement, clearly having expected it.
So, half a month later, the new Viscount Arland hurriedly took office and welcomed Lex and Cherge into the manor as distinguished guests.
Meanwhile, Lex secretly sent messengers to the other lords in the North, inviting them to meet quietly at Arland Manor.
Cherge had been worried that not many lords would be willing to accept the invitation, but the number of carriages that had been arriving at the manor over the past two days surprised him a little as he stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor.
All thirteen lords came, without missing a single one.
Seeing this, Lex curled the corners of his lips indifferently.
Just like now.
"Of course they're willing to serve me. After all, they've been in this barren north for far too long. If they don't take this chance, how can they possibly carve out a piece of the pie from the other lords?" Lex said indifferently.
These northern lords didn't care about the rich lands, but they could think about the wealth accumulated by other lords over generations.
“Especially compared to Severi, who is only six years old now, I am clearly a more worthwhile option to bet on.”
In the past few days, Lex has learned a lot about his brother from Viscount Arland.
A child who can't even endure the hardship of practicing swordsmanship and only knows how to whine to his mother is no threat to Lex at all.
His only advantage over Lex was that he had a queen mother who had meticulously planned for many years and was deeply favored by King Nurenger IX.
In addition, Elijah has replaced many people over the years, replacing most of the ministers who were somewhat close to Lex, and instead promoting many of her confidants.
This includes her two cousins, Antonio and Celdo. One became the current Chancellor, and the other succeeded Chernobog as Commander of the Knights after Chernobog left.
Therefore, even if Lex returns to the palace, he will still be subject to their control and be hindered at every turn.
This is also why Lex chose to go to Arlant first.
He needs a group of supporters.
In a way, we should thank Elijah for her foolish idea, which gave the lords a legitimate opportunity to recruit a large number of slaves. Otherwise, even if Lex had the support of the lords of the North, he would not have been able to shake Elijah's power that she had built up over many years.
This is a force of tens of thousands of soldiers who are ready to go to the battlefield after much training.
When the numbers increase, the disparity in strength between the two sides in terms of weapons, equipment, and even years of training and close coordination may not be so great.
"So, should we continue to stay in the territory of Yarant?" Cherge asked.
Lex replied, "No, we're going to find Fernanki."
Putting aside other things, although Fernaki's Furhorst Territory does not have the vast fertile and flat lands of the south, it does have seafields that produce a large amount of sea salt.
The pure white sea salt flowed to various places by a constant stream of horse-drawn carriages, and brought back mountains of gold coins that could rival the sun in brilliance.
Lex wanted to obtain the armies offered by the lords of the North, and besides the promises made after he ascended the throne, he also needed tangible incentives.
Maintaining an army is very expensive.
Moreover, Lex added, "I need Fernanki's wisdom and reputation."
Back then, Fernaki was known throughout the kingdom for his outstanding wisdom; otherwise, he would not have been able to gain the favor of King Nurenger IX at just over twenty years old and become the youngest prime minister.
Fernanki, having served as prime minister for so many years, naturally commands considerable prestige. Even though he returned to his territory a few years ago and resumed his position as Marquis of Furhorst, it didn't diminish his influence.
“Speaking of which, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen that guy Fernando,” Chelge chuckled.
Mentioning this old friend from many years ago naturally puts him at ease.
Despite their friendship, it didn't stop Cherk from leaving Fernanki's mansion in the capital without saying goodbye after learning that Lex had escaped by chance, and even deliberately avoiding the men Fernanki sent.
Faced with Lex's teasing, Cherge sighed, "There's nothing we can do. After all, we can't trust Fernando the same way we trust each other, Your Highness."
Upon hearing this, Lexton immediately fell silent.
Cherk was right. The reason he was so loyal to Lex was because he was grateful to Lex's mother, Lilyles, for her help in promoting him.
It can be said that if Lillieles hadn't spoken up, affirming Cherk's abilities and giving him a fair chance to compete, Cherk, no matter how skilled he was in martial arts, would never have been able to sit in the position of Knight Commander.
But Fernanki was the prime minister chosen by Nurenger IX. Strictly speaking, he was actually loyal to Nurenger IX.
If Lillieles hadn't arranged for him to be Lex's tutor beforehand, their relationship would have been merely that of crown prince and prime minister, and there wouldn't have been enough for Fernando to repeatedly defend Lex in front of Nurengel IX and Elijah.
Therefore, there was always a layer between him and Lex.
But it doesn't matter, Lex doesn't care, because when he can't get any closer to Fernanki, the enemy is even more foolishly pushing Fernanki further away.
“We’ll leave the territory of Yarant first thing tomorrow morning,” Lex instructed Chelge.
“Alright.” Cherk had no objection, while inwardly calculating how to get to the east of the kingdom as quickly as possible, to Fernaki’s territory of Furhorst.
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