Chapter 6 A Failed Marriage
Chapter 6
6.1
When Lorenz Ebrard returned to Oplenseeburg, Euridsi was standing by the window, folding his arms and watching:
The bright sunlight of noon shone down, illuminating the slowly opening gate of the castle.
At the end of the cobblestone avenue, a huge blue-black flag first appeared: it was the flag of the Knights of Oprunsi, with the "Starry Compass" emblem of the Ebrard family embroidered in the center.
Under the banner of the "Starry Compass", the Knights of Oprunsi, composed of knights from three tribes, entered the city in order:
Walking in the front were the knights of the Chimera Orcs.
They were tall and strong, and every step they took on the stone slabs caused a faint vibration, as if the untamed wildness of various orcs was still hidden under the silver armor, which was frightening.
Walking in the middle is a human knight.
They all wore silver armor and carried long swords, standing in neat rows. No one talked, no one looked around. The human knights had the neatest formation and the most disciplined.
Walking at the end were the Centaurs.
Half-man, half-horse, they held bows and arrows, their hooves treading steadily on the stone bricks, their postures as graceful as bronze sculptures in epic poetry. The moment they entered the city gate, the centaurs stomped their hind hooves on the ground in unison, making a unified "boom" sound.
Ever since Supreme King Lucinda unified the Ethereal Continent and implemented multi-ethnic coexistence and co-governance, the knight orders in major cities have gradually begun to be composed of knights from various ethnic groups, each taking on different tasks.
The entire patrol team of the Oprunsi Knights was well organized, like a torrent of metal, slowly flowing into Oprunsi from the open city gate.
Chimera orcs, centaurs, and human knights each have their own style.
However, there was one person in the knight ranks who could easily attract people's attention even among the knights with different styles:
That was Lorenz Ebrard.
In the center of the queue, Lorenz rode a white warhorse, with an upright posture and a gentle expression; the breeze blew his golden hair, and the golden color seemed as dazzling as the midday sun.
Duke Ebrard and Lady Beatrice were both beautiful, and Lorenz was naturally handsome as well; however, what made him stand out most was not his beautiful appearance, but his upright and heroic spirit:
Sincere, kind, and cheerful, few can resist Lorenz Ebrard's charm.
Euridice looked at Lorenz in the queue and sighed softly.
"It's still so dazzling," she said.
When Eurydice and Lorenz got engaged, someone once said to her, "You really got the best husband."
And Oulidsi couldn't say anything to refute it.
Her husband is not only handsome and kind, but also has outstanding abilities.
He once took the knight trial of Timis Academy together with more than a hundred young knights. With his own ability, he passed the academy's selection and became a senior knight.
After that, he defeated all opponents inside and outside the academy and became the adjutant of the Knight Commander.
Lorenz Ebrard, although he was a child of the Ebrard family, he did not obtain his position in the Knights Templar by relying on the protection of his family.
In fact, Lorenz Ebrard had a more real reputation among the Knights of Oplenci than his father, Luce Ebrard.
People can see Lorenz's abilities and intentions, and are willing to respect him.
After all, he truly respected the knight's sword in his hand and the fairness of the selection.
Olidisi thought about this and smiled slowly.
"That's why," she murmured to herself, "you've become the object of the Duke and Duchess's hatred, Lorenz."
Lorenz himself once said to her: "Tisi, my mother, my father, and I are no longer on the same path."
One hundred years ago, after the war that unified the Ethereal Continent, the Eblad family was defeated, and the power of Oprunsi was taken over by Queen Lucinda:
The management of taxation fell to the county administrator, the formulation of laws fell to the county judge, and the jurisdiction of the Knights Templar fell to the Knight-General, rather than the Abrad family, the former masters of Oprunci.
Administrators, judges, and knight commanders were all appointed by the Queen through selection based on their abilities, not through inheritance from aristocratic families.
Officials selected by the Queen and hereditary nobles like the Duke of Abrad are naturally in hostile camps.
Beatrice Karagaran and Luce Ebrard, the powerful couple who have controlled the family for decades, are unwilling to hand over the power and glory of Oprunsi to the "administrators sent by the king" and "judges of commoner origin."
The Duke and Duchess wanted to restore the family's former glory, expand the power of the nobility, maintain the family bloodline, and allow the family to continue from generation to generation.
However, Lorenz was unwilling.
He agreed with the Queen's decision and even said it in person in the meeting hall of Oplensi:
Honor should be based on dedication and ability, not bloodline and surname.
He said in person: "Administrators, judges, and knight commanders should not be inherited by the nobility, nor should they be determined by bloodline, but should be selected through ability."
The first serious quarrel between Lorenz and his mother was caused by his rejection of the Duchess's private proposal to replace a candidate for the magistrate.
The second time was because he insisted on opposing his brother Lucian from joining the Order (Lorenz once said with a headache: "He can't even use a knight's sword.").
After the third argument, he and his mother never had a good conversation again.
And she, Euridice Arquitas, was the one who stood beside Lorenz and stuck with him to the path of "relying on talent, not bloodline."
They are not only each other's wife and husband, but also steadfast allies and comrades-in-arms.
They stood together with the judges and administrators of Oprunci, blocking the ambitions of the Duke and Duchess and preventing them from controlling Oprunci as they pleased.
Until the end, Prince Constance joined forces with the Karagaran family to rebel against the queen, and the war broke out. Lorenz went to the front line to fight as the knight commander, and it was also Euridsi who was stationed in Oprunsi to guard their ideals.
However, war is ruthless. When the news of Lorenz's death came from the front, Duke and Duchess of Ebrard immediately took action.
They killed the administrator and judge of Oprunsi, framed Euridsi, and burned Euridsi alive in the Judgment Square in the name of "witch hunt".
Euridsi looked at Lorenz slowly walking into the city, a trace of sadness appearing on his face.
She thought sadly: How could I not have loved?
They are not only partners, but also like-minded confidants and people who support each other.
Of course she loved him. Very deeply.
"But," said Euridsi, "this marriage ends here."
The maid asked her, "Madam, what did you say?"
Olidisi came back to his senses.
She smiled at the maid and said, "I think Lady Beatrice must have prepared a grand 'welcome home' luncheon for the Earl when he returned from his inspection tour of the territory."
The waitress nodded at first, then hesitated: "Well... Lady Beatrice, the Duke, and Lord Lucien will all be attending. If Madam doesn't want to participate, then..."
Olidisi understood what she meant:
Ever since the huge conflict between Euridice and the Duchess, the two sides have never met at the dinner table again.
Olidisi curled up the corners of his mouth and smiled lazily: "You're right, I don't want to go. I don't want to see their faces."
The waitress was a little embarrassed and even more hesitant: "But, the Earl... the Earl might want to see you first."
"Oh, yes." Oledsi sighed slowly, a half-smile on his face. "Of course he wants to see me first. So, I'm here and not going anywhere."
6.2
The Abrad family's lunch was very luxurious.
The banquet hall of Oplensi Castle is very spacious. The vaulted ceiling is painted with an intricate star map, and the walls depict the glorious deeds of the Abrad family. Sunlight shines into the banquet hall through the colored glass panes, making the murals on the walls and ceiling shine brightly.
The luncheon prepared for Lorenz was arranged very well by Mrs. Beatrice:
The long table was covered with a brand new dark blue velvet cloth, and on both sides were placed intricate and gorgeous crystal candlesticks and freshly picked seasonal flowers;
Porcelain plates, silver forks, glass goblets, everything was carefully arranged according to aristocratic etiquette. The waiter stood by the fireplace, lighting the fire to the appropriate temperature.
Musicians and painters are all ready and on standby.
Duke Lucien Abrad's hair was neatly pomaded, Lady Beatrice's gown was wrinkle-free, and their youngest child, Lucien Abrad, looked very smart in his new dress.
Everyone is waiting for Lorenz to return from his inspection——
However, Lorenz did not show up.
He was not present in the banquet hall.
The master and his servants waited for too long. The appetizers prepared by the kitchen were heated in the oven again and again, but Lorenz still did not show up.
The Duchess's expression gradually grew stiff. Lorenz's brother Lucian couldn't help but whisper, "Lorenz... he clearly changed out of his armor and returned to Fort Oplensi. What was he doing?"
The Duchess's expression went from stiff to gloomy.
Looking at his mother's livid face, Lucien suddenly realized: "He's going to find—"
He suddenly stopped talking and did not say the name "Olidesi".
His mother looked at him coldly, her eyes as sharp as a drawn sword.
After a while, the Duchess said coldly, "Lunch is cancelled. Lucien, you should go and finish your college work."
Lucien, angered by the Duchess, muttered quietly, "Why blame me? It's all Lorenz's fault. Well, even if Lorenz went to find her first, it wouldn't take him so long. What on earth is he doing?"
In fact, Lorenz himself did not expect that he would be delayed in the South Wing for so long.
He returned to Fort Oplensi and went back to the South Wing first, simply because he wanted to see his wife, Euridsi, first. It was that simple.
However, Lorenz didn't expect that Euridsi was half-lying in their living room, pointing her finger at him and saying, "Do you want to do it?"
The author has something to say:
----------------------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com