Whispers of the Gods

Chapter 119 Zhuoke V (4)

"Compensation? How did lending me an army become your compensation?" he asked.

"Because before that, I need you to help me first." Lozaria withdrew her hand and took another sip of her wine. "Help me in the war against the dukes, Drake."

"Is this the price?" Zhuo Ke narrowed his eyes, "The price of saving my brother?"

"If you like to think of it that way," Lozaria said, "but I call it an opportunity, a chance to prove yourself."

Zhuo Ke snorted disdainfully, and said stiffly: "I don't need to prove myself to anyone."

He caught a glimpse of the smile on the corner of the queen's mouth, and felt a little uncomfortable, "Is what I said funny?"

"How many battles have you fought, Your Highness Drake?" she asked him. "I mean real war."

After a while of silence, Zhuo Ke spoke slowly, admitting with great reluctance: "Zero times."

He had never been in a war, and the most recent war in the Hastza Empire ended shortly after he was born.At that time, his father, Vigrich, had just ascended the throne, and he negotiated peace with King Halibe Redmoore of Musor, ending the second southern expedition of his grandfather Ataginu the Hammer.

Zhuo Ke can only learn about war from books or from people's mouths. If he can also be a mercenary outside for a period of time like the guards of Aiga, he will definitely gain more experience.

"Do you think you're a capable commander?" Lozaria asked, "or a good fighter? I haven't seen you fight, nor have I seen you lead."

"I can lead an army just as easily as I can defeat the best warrior in your kingdom." Zhuo Ke replied confidently, "'Ruggy Bear', your brother 'Black Army Lord', they can't beat me. "

"Historians won't write your big words into their history books." Lozalia said, "They will only record what people saw with their own eyes. There are many things you need to prove, Zhuo His Royal Highness.

And when your father hears about your stellar record at Vivaria, he'll be impressed too.Maybe at that time, he will face up to your ability. "

Face up to my abilities?Maybe.In his father's eyes, he was always not good enough.In Wigrich's eyes, the ideal heir is his second self, and the only one he trusts most is himself.But even so, he will still listen to the advice of the cabinet-except for Chuck, he is not really a member of the cabinet for his father, he just wants his chief law enforcement son to learn more from other members.

But how can those people have so much to learn?His uncle, High Priest Bechar Apollion, always liked to sing against his father and was completely a troublemaker; Lord of the Navy Odoma Greyport and Minister of Finance Allowin Francak had their own problems. The quarrel between these two people can give Zhuo Ke a headache every time;

The Minister of Keeping the Seal, Bavor Gray Harbor, only knew how to blindly agree with other people's views. The Spymaster Hagen Elhazer seldom spoke, and Zhuo Ke even thought him dumb for a period of time at the beginning.Only the military commander, Gosfried Mast, has some insight. Zhuo Ke agrees with his more radical strategy. If he wants to restore the glory and greatness of the empire, the best way is to speak with a sword. like their ancestors.

"Why are you doing this?" Zhuo Ke demanded, "Why does Queen Vivalia want me to lead her army?"

"My brother is still up north and we haven't had his pigeons for a while. I need to rendezvous with him and for that I need as much strength as possible." Lozaria replied, "I can feel you Your highness, Zhuo Ke, you want the opportunity to prove yourself, and those who have something to prove are often the ones who work the hardest."

"Work hard? I'm not a damn pawn, I'm the heir to the Hastza Empire." Zhuo Ke shook his head and refused, "I don't serve Queen Vivalia."

"Think of this as a mutual aid, Your Highness Zhuoke." Lozaria said flatly, "You help me, I help you. You are a brave warrior, but if you don't have soldiers under you, you can only be a Brave warriors. And as I happen to have soldiers, I would give you an army, and you too can go from being a warrior to being a leader."

Zhuo Ke raised his head slightly, looking down at Lozaria.Her blue eyes were as clear as a stream but as deep as an abyss, and she sucked his gaze in.

"This is your choice," Lozaria said softly, "Here, you will be free."

The servants brought out honey cakes with almond paste, and Duck thought about his decision.

"I promise you," Zhuo Ke said, "I will help you clear the barrier between you and your brother, and then I will take the army you promised to me to rescue my brother."

"Of course, it's a deal." Lozaria nodded with satisfaction.

"His Royal Highness Zhuo Ke, please think again." Ai Jia on the side persuaded, "Let's go back to Madkalin with us, it's too dangerous here. His Majesty Vigrich must also be trying to rescue Meng His Royal Highness Di."

"This is not only for Monty, Edgar, my decision is also about myself." Zhuo Ke turned to look at him, "After leaving my father, I gradually began to understand that I was saving myself. "

Drake got his first taste of freedom when he drew his sword against Leo Corva, and he didn't want to give it up so soon.If he returned to Madkalin, he might not even have the chance to go to the battlefield.

"His Royal Highness Zhuo Ke..."

"I'm the heir to the Hastza empire, what kind of future emperor didn't prove anything before he came to the throne?" Zhuo Ke sighed, "All I need are these opportunities, Egar. I thank you for helping me All done, but I can't go back because I still have an empire to inherit, and I don't want to be known as a mediocre emperor, or an incompetent who only executes my father's plan."

"I like your ambition, Your Highness Zhuo Ke." Lozaria said with a smile, "I was also an heir to the throne, although I was an unlikely heir to the throne. We can't win what was originally given to us, But at least we need to prove that we are worthy of this seat."

"Is that why you poisoned the dukes in King's Grove?" asked Drake. "That's a good way to prove it."

"Sometimes in order to survive, you need to do something like this." Lozaria picked up the wine glass and slowly poured the wine on the honey cake on her plate, as if painting a picture on the sweet plain. A river of blood. "In these great family forests, you're either the hunter or the hunted. The Korva are the survivors, and we always have been."

(End of this chapter)