In the Name of the Queen

"Roland, this is the roster of the Knights. There are seven gold-level knights, each with an annual salary of nine pounds and fifteen pence; twenty-three silver-level knights, each with an annual salary of seven pounds and fifteen pence; and two hundred and fifty bronze-level knights, each with an annual salary of five pounds and fifteen pence. They have only received half of their salary in the past three years. How much salary should be paid in total?"

Count Sif blinked, put the roster on the round table in front of Roland, and asked Roland proactively.

Roland's mouth curled up. Which elementary school student in China would not know this question? He just thought about it for a while and gave the standard answer.

"The total is four thousand four hundred and seventy-four pounds and ten shillings."

Sif looked at Roland with a smile and asked softly, "How did you calculate it?"

"First calculate the annual salary of the three levels of knights, and then calculate the total for three years."

I didn't expect that I would have to work as a part-time math teacher. Roland wondered if he would also get a raise.

Sif smiled and shook her head, her lips full of the joy of victory. Finally, there was something that could surpass Roland.

"You calculated wrong. The result you calculated is exactly twice as much."

"That's right."

Roland corrected calmly:

"Half of it is the salary supplement, and the other half is the reward for loyalty. Although many knights go out to make a living privately, they at least maintain the establishment, they deserve it."

Sif was silent.

Her attempt to become a teacher failed again. She was still a student.

The lesson Roland taught her was called winning people's hearts.

She stood up, pinched the corner of her skirt, and thanked Roland solemnly.

"I remember it, thank you."

Roland watched Sif take bags of gold coins from the butler, put them into the box with a pious expression, and sealed it, and nodded secretly.

I am not afraid of students being stupid, but I am afraid of them not wanting to learn.

This class is a special class, only for Sif, and it seems to be effective.

Thanks to the developed maritime trade and the domestic textile, alchemy, and coal industries, the fiscal revenue of the Sussex Empire ranked first in the world last year.

The data released by the Imperial Ministry of Finance is more than 73 million pounds.

If you want to take back the power of 70 million pounds, it would be somewhat impolite if you can't even give up the reward of more than 4,000 pounds.

Roland didn't feel bad at all for doing the Queen's work and selling the Queen's jewelry, and even planned to let her continue to bleed hard.

After the gold coin box was sealed, Roland didn't rush to leave, but asked tentatively:

"Sif, is your friend convenient to go with you?"

"Which friend?" Sif was a little curious.

"The Knight of the White Rose."

Roland smiled and explained: "I'm not an orthodox knight. Dealing with these knights may cause trouble. The Knight of the White Rose should be able to resonate with them."

"Is that so? Then wait a moment, I'll see if she's nearby."

Sif left in a hurry.

Roland opened his palm, and in his palm was the crystal pendant that Sif gave him.

There was a hint of warmth in the coolness, very beautiful, just like Sif herself.

This is a souvenir of flawless friendship.

He couldn't bear to crush it to summon the Knight of the White Rose.

So he just asked Sif to call someone directly.

After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, the sound of iron boots stepping on the floor came from the corridor.

Roland knew that the White Rose had arrived.

A female knight wearing full-body mail appeared at the door.

Just as Roland was about to go up to meet her with knightly etiquette, the female knight lifted up her visor, revealing her beautiful face.

"White Rose Knight, summoned."

"Ah? It's you!"

Roland was surprised, and then relieved.

He was really stupid, really.

He only knew that the White Rose Knight was a young girl, but he forgot one thing.

The White Rose is the core component of the royal emblem!

It's not his fault.

Even a wise man can make mistakes, let alone him.

Sif smiled happily.

She finally got the upper hand in front of Roland.

Thinking of the White Rose Knight charging ahead and fighting to exhaustion in the battle to encircle Lori that day, Roland's eyes gradually softened.

Sif is an earl and a high-ranking noble, but she often forgets this when she gets along with him.

Flawless friendship can really break through class barriers.

Roland remembered the whole process of the white rose blooming at night clearly and would never forget it.

He solemnly extended his right hand to Sif.

This time Sif did not refuse or hesitate, and put her left hand wrapped in gauntlet on it.

"Let's go!"

In the carriage, Sif was wearing mail and sitting upright.

Her mail was made by alchemists with mithril. It was harder than steel but several times lighter, so it was not too heavy to wear.

Thinking that she was about to go to the Knights, she was a little nervous and asked tentatively: "What do you need me to do later?"

"Watch, learn, and fight if necessary." Roland said calmly.

Sif: "."

Roland smiled and teased: "Do you think our appointment will be smooth sailing? Do you think the knights of the Royal Knights are really loyal?"

Sif stared at Roland and deliberately imitated his voice and said:

"Half of it is back pay, and the other half is a reward for loyalty. Although many knights go out to make a living privately, they at least maintain the establishment, and they deserve it."

After imitating, she glanced at Roland with a smile on her lips, and the meaning was very clear.

You said this, right?

If it were someone else, they would definitely be embarrassed to be slapped in the face by their own words, but Roland is not an ordinary person.

He laughed, restrained his smile and said: "They are loyal, but not completely loyal."

"You mean, loyalty does not mean absolute disloyalty?"

There was a bit more solemnity in Sif's tone.

Roland pressed down with one hand and glared at her angrily, "Don't be so extreme, okay?"

"What did I say before, how to tell friends from enemies?"

"Those who have common interests are friends, and those who have conflicting interests are enemies!" Xif replied instantly.

"What's one more thing?"

"Let there be more and more friends and fewer and fewer enemies!" Sif thought thoughtfully.

She clenched her fists subconsciously, and the coldness of the mithril gauntlet made her more awake.

"I understand. Although these people have problems, they remain loyal in name. We should treat them well."

Roland looked at Sif in surprise and said nothing.

Sif felt a little guilty and didn't dare to look at Roland. She lowered her head and asked softly: "Did I say something wrong again?"

"No, you're absolutely right."

Roland felt relieved that he had indeed protected the wrong person.

He whispered: "Let me tell you a story."

Sif's slight embarrassment was swept away. She took off her gauntlets, held her chin in her hands, looked at Roland with a smile, and assumed a listening posture.

For some reason, when Roland looked at Sif, the figure of the flower sea elf appeared in front of him again.

They overlapped and seemed to be one person.

"Why don't you tell me?"

Sif's reminder made Roland wake up from his stupor.

What are you thinking about?

Sif is Sif, no one else. This comparison is disrespectful to her.

He cleared his throat and started speaking.

"Today's story is called, 'A Thousand Pounds of Gold for the Bones of a Horse.'"

Sif didn't complain about how much money she would lose by buying horse bones. She was an excellent listener and would not easily interrupt Roland's rhythm.

Not far from the Knights' station, Roland's story was told briefly, but the meaning was conveyed.

After listening to the story, Sif was finally able to express her thoughts.

"You mean, these 'loyal' knights are all horse bones?"

"Not necessarily. If they can accept the new concept of knights, they will be horses. If they can't accept it."

"That's horse bones!"

Sif answered instantly, she knew this question.