Volume 2: Empire Chapter 67 Big Brother
Christina and Milscom walked one after the other on the cobblestone road. The palace complex at night seemed like a quiet jungle, and the two had different moods.
Christina was dignified and noble, and her temperament could not be violated. Milscombe followed her closely, like a loyal dog, with a fiery gaze. Although he was old enough to be Christina's father, he could not resist the charm of the young queen, and after watching her countless times, he secretly vowed to protect her.
Neither of them said a word, only the sound of their footsteps in unison could be heard on the road they walked along.
Until they arrived outside the door of the Queen's bedroom.
Christina stopped walking, without turning back, and asked, "Last time you told me... His Majesty wanted to kill the Acting Governor of Meteor. This time he is holding a coming-of-age ceremony ball for Princess Dale, is he going to do it?"
Milscom immediately saluted and replied, "Your Majesty needs to conduct a deeper assessment of the Acting Governor of Meteoric Star. If it is determined that he will endanger the foundation of the empire, even if killing him will lead to a major crisis, Your Majesty will get rid of him."
Christina did not respond immediately. She was silent for a while before she said, "Your Majesty is old, and his thinking is not as clear as before. He may even do some extreme and stupid things. He doesn't even trust his own son and daughter, so he will naturally speculate maliciously about everyone.
Meteorite has a very healthy relationship with all parties in the court. His ability to reconcile conflicts between all parties is the cornerstone of the empire's stability. Raging Waves City is the empire's window to the world. The wealth it creates and the economic effects it drives are the empire's reliance on dealing with various crises.
Losing Meteorite is a price the Empire cannot afford! And Meteorite's loyalty to the Empire is beyond doubt!
If Your Majesty is foolish enough to kill Meteor, the Royal Knights and Palace Guards must protect him and return him safely to Raging Waves City."
Milscombe replied without hesitation: "As you command, Your Majesty. I will keep an eye on your Majesty's health and will also arrange for someone to protect the Acting Governor of Meteorite."
"Thank you, Milscombe, we are all for the Empire."
Christina never looked back at Milscombe as she walked up the steps to the bedroom and into the open palace gate.
Milscombe stood there looking at Christina's back until she disappeared into the closed door, then he turned and left with lingering feelings.
Christina returned to the palace and walked in the empty corridor. The magic lights lit up one by one as she approached. She liked quiet and solitude, so there were not many servants here, and all of them went back to their rooms to rest under her orders.
Christina pushed open the door and entered a room. This was not her bedroom, but a study. She walked to the desk and sat down. She waved her hand and the lamp on the desk turned on.
There were paper, pen and some unfinished books on the table. There was a thick book called "Collection of Emperors of the Empire" with a bookmark in the middle, and the paper was covered with densely packed reading notes.
Christina did not pick up the unfinished book, but spread out a new piece of paper and picked up the pen to start writing.
All she wrote were the documents she had just read for Emperor Augustine, as well as the imperial emperor's instructions. Her strong memory allowed her to remember every word she had read, even a single punctuation mark.
It was unknown how long it took, but Christina finished all the carbon copies. The thick paper represented how many events would happen in an empire every day, and an excellent emperor had to respond to each event as quickly as possible.
Christina sorted and bound the carbon copies of the documents, and then read them carefully one by one according to their importance. She put herself in the position of Augustine the Great, thinking about the reasons behind his instructions and what purpose he wanted to achieve.
Such was life at Christina's court.
After the death of his first queen, Augustine the Great's mental and physical condition deteriorated rapidly. Although he married Christina for political reasons, his health did not allow him to come here.
Therefore, Christina has a distinguished status, but she is also a canary trapped in the palace. She can only pass the boring time every day by reading a lot, and then she finds that she has an addictive interest in some areas.
She liked to look at the cultural customs of various parts of the empire, like to read the personal biographies of emperors and ministers, and like to imagine what decisions she would make if she were in that position.
Hobbies made the days pass very quickly and also changed Christina's mood little by little.
She noticed Milscomb's affection for her, and then turned it into an obsession. She didn't need to give anything, just let Milscomb see it often but not get it, and you will fall unconsciously.
So Christina learned a lot of things she didn't know before, understood how fierce the court struggle was, and also knew the purpose of Emperor Augustine holding a coming-of-age ball for Princess Dale.
The person most trusted by the Emperor of the Empire became the Empress of the Empire's eyes and ears, and could even disobey the Emperor of the Empire's orders.
Luke knows what the real Queen Christina is like.
In the Empire Collapse plot of the Anno game, after the death of Emperor Augustine, the eldest prince led his troops to attack the palace. He thought he could ascend the throne smoothly, but he didn't expect that the Royal Knights and the palace guards all joined the Queen.
Therefore, Luke knew very well that in the palace, not everyone could die as the emperor wanted, but anyone Queen Christina wanted to save could be rescued.
In addition to making money and future economic colonization, Raging Waves City's comprehensive investment in the Kingdom of Lucien is also an insurance policy that Luke takes out for himself.
That's why Luke was able to rest easy in his bedroom alone.
The royal knights and palace guards patrolling outside the window are now all our own people.
Luke and Agatha drank bottle after bottle of wine, talking about everything from canned food to military rations, the economic development of Raging Wave City, the civil war in the Rio Republic, the war in the Tedega Hills, and the potential crisis in the North.
Abyss Temple, Blade Brotherhood, Cross Society, Reform Society, Cabinet, Palace...
Neither of them tried to alleviate the effects of alcohol on their brains, and they took advantage of their tipsy state to talk about many things that they couldn't normally talk about.
Agatha drank another glass of wine. The stimulation of alcohol made her skin flushed, and her eyes were a little blurry: "I found that there is a natural tacit understanding between us. This tacit understanding existed when you were still in the Cape District. Although you have caused me countless troubles, the trust between us is getting closer and closer.
I believe you can bring new vitality to this decadent empire and let the subjects of the empire live a happy life."
Luke smiled and said, "Let everyone live a happy life? You think too highly of me! I just want to make myself live a more comfortable life, but somehow... step by step it became like this.
I actually like adventure, and there are still many places in the world that I have not been to. If I didn’t have so many responsibilities on my shoulders, I would really like to just board a boat and go out to sea, and then land anywhere at random.”
Luke is an adventure player in the Anno game. He travels around the world and experiences different secret realms and dungeons. He hardly participates in the plots of the ruling class of the country, and lets them drive themselves.
Therefore, Luke has no intersection with the Golden Shield Empire court in the game, and all he has are materials compiled by other players in the mobile phone database.
Agatha looked at Luke with a meaningful smile on her face: "Dale is also very eager for adventure, maybe one day you will let go of everything you have now and explore the vast unknown world.
Don't ignore Dale tomorrow... Tell her about your past adventures and she will forgive you.
It’s too late, you should go to rest… I’ll go back to rest too, good night!”
"Good night, Your Highness the Princess."
"Be careful! My people are outside the door. If there's any danger, rush outside."
"Thank you, Your Highness. I will be careful!"
Agatha left Luke's room, and the windowsill was filled with empty bottles. Luke lay on the soft big bed, and the alcohol and sleepiness made him fall asleep quickly.
The incense brings a good sleep and wakes up refreshed the next day.
Luke got dressed and prepared to go find Dale. Although he really didn't know that Dale was waiting for him yesterday, in this situation of course he should go and apologize first and make things clear.
But as soon as Luke went out, he saw McDonald waiting outside.
"Your Highness, what are you doing here?"
McDonald, who had been waiting anxiously, smiled immediately after seeing Luke. Regardless of his status, he saluted Luke first, and then said eagerly: "Governor, I asked many people yesterday and found out that you are so rich. No wonder you invested so much money in us without blinking an eye, just like throwing a stone into a pond.
It turns out that the money is really just a stone to you.
Sister Christina... Her Royal Highness the Queen asked me to study with you, so I have been following you during my time in the Empire.
From now on you will be my big brother!"
Yesterday's conversation was a huge blow to McDonald. Although the Kingdom of Lucien was not rich, as a prince, he had seen money and was a little bit unconvinced that Meteorite could invest so much money in the Kingdom of Lucien just by opening his mouth.
It's not like I haven't been to Nutao City before. No matter how rich it is, it's just a city. How can it be compared with a country?
So after the dance, McDonald asked around.
result……
The amount of taxes that Raging Waves City pays to the empire in one quarter is more than the entire wealth output of the Kingdom of Lucien in one year.
McDonald knew that the Kingdom of Lushen was poor, but he didn't expect it to be so poor. His status as a prince, which he had been proud of, suddenly became meaningless.
Now there was an opportunity to hook up with a rich man, and McDonald thought about it all night and made a bold decision. Then, at dawn, he came early to block the meteorite.
Isn't it just being a younger brother?
The Kingdom of Lushen has always been someone else's younger brother!
And Luke never expected that you, McDonald, are also a prince of a kingdom, and your sister is the queen of the empire, but you would actually worship him as your big brother in public.
You are too casual in being a little brother.
And...what about seniority?
MacDonald and Augustine the Great are of the same generation.
Luke immediately said, "Your Highness, follow me and I will teach you carefully. This elder brother is not someone you can worship casually."
Who would have thought that McDonald was determined to be the younger brother: "Don't worry, brother, this is a decision I made after thinking carefully all night.
My father said that our ancestor Lusien was able to preserve the country because he worshipped the Golden Shield Empire as his suzerain at an early stage, and only by following the strong in time can one keep his job.
I am the youngest prince of the Kingdom of Lucien. I am not destined to inherit the throne, but I have a heart to be the richest prince.
I believe that my brother can definitely help me realize this wish."
I have to admit that although the family motto of the Lucien royal family is cheap, it is definitely practical.
No wonder McDonald was so smooth in paying respects to his elder brother, with almost no psychological burden.
It seems that Sinclair's seniority has to be upgraded to a higher level.
Thinking of Sinclair, Luke saw his hurriedly leaving back. He thought he was here to see him, but after hearing what MacDonald said, he couldn't accept the reality.
The relationships in this royal family are so messed up!
"Well, since you sincerely acknowledge me as your big brother, I will reluctantly acknowledge you as my little brother. From now on, I will help you make money hand in hand, and I guarantee that you will become the richest prince in the world."
MacDonald said happily: "Thank you, big brother. I will be satisfied if I can be the richest prince in the Kingdom of Luthien."
"Being the richest prince in a kingdom, wouldn't that be a slap in the face of me as the eldest brother? He must be the richest prince in the world!"
McDonald was still very conservative and said: "I set a small goal, to be the richest in the kingdom!"
"That's possible! Come on, I'll take you to meet some people now... The future is an era of mysticism, and they hold the code to future wealth."
"Yes, Brother Meteorite."
Luke took McDonald to the residence of the students of the Department of Mysticism. Even if Dale was not there at this time, the students there knew how to find her.
Because of Dale's special relationship, the students of the Department of Mysticism were arranged to live in a building. When Luke and McDonald arrived, Jennifer, the leader of the team, was lining up the students for roll call. This is the palace, and she must keep an eye on these energetic and mischievous students.
Dai'er lined up with the students and listened to Jennifer arrange today's activities.
Today is a continuation of the celebration. The palace will organize noble children from all over the country to visit the Imperial History Museum. They will experience the glory and power of the empire and tell their family elders what they have seen.
The war against the Tedega Hills continues to this day, and many noble lords have not yet expressed their positions. The empire does not want to add more enemies.
Luke asked McDonald to go to the museum with the occult students, and he stopped Dale himself.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were waiting for me to invite you to dance again yesterday. I was with Her Majesty the Queen..."
Dale said coldly, "I didn't wait for you. You were a bad dance partner and made me sprain my ankle, so I sat until the end of the dance."
"So that's how it is..." Luke suddenly realized: "The princess said you were waiting for me to invite you to dance a second dance, which made me feel guilty. Now...
I still feel guilty!
I'm sorry, I'm a beginner and my dancing is really bad. Is your foot better? "
Dale looked at Luke, her expression somewhat relieved: "Did Sister Agatha say this? What else did she say to you?"
"We also talked about the crisis facing the empire. There is a war in the south, bandits are being suppressed in the west, and the north may be invaded. The empire will be in great trouble in the next few years. Raging Waves City must be prepared to deal with various crises and provide support on all battlefields at any time ..."
Dai'er listened and exhaled softly, revealing a guilty look. She said softly, "You guys are still worrying about the Empire's affairs so late, and I...
Come with me for a walk, I want to hear what the country is facing.”
Luke asked worriedly, "Is your foot okay?"
Dai Er smiled playfully: "It's already healed just now."
