Chapter 9 Chapter 9 The Fortress of Rights
The young man who never knew Aaron McFerdy, who was not and could not be, asked exactly the same question.
"How did things become like this?"
The young man named Idris Titania Duke, aged 25 years old, is the acting ruler of "Sky City". Competitors with the same status have died or fled one after another. He should be one of the lucky ones who has power in his hands without breaking a sweat.
However, Idris is not as satisfied with the status quo as those who are dissatisfied with him deliberately spread rumors and slanders. He is just a king standing on thin ice. Once the prince gets out of bed and shouts loudly, he must bow his head Take back the seat of the executor of power, and if the two traitors, Alex Albert and Chu Shilang, join forces to win a military victory, Idris will sacrifice his own life in addition to his power .So Idris summoned all the Titania cadres in the "Sky City" and demanded that all swear allegiance to the death. In addition, he also ordered the cadres stationed all over the universe to sign the oath.
"I swear allegiance to His Royal Highness the Lord of Titania and his agent, Duke Idris!"
Everyone respectfully stated on the form and in writing that once there were flaws in Titania's rule and the ability to punish disloyal people declined, they would not hesitate to turn their faces and refuse to admit it. Until now, it has mocked the ethics of loyalty like this, shouting that power is the truth of rule.Not relying on the loyalty of the ruled, relying on its own hegemony to maintain operations represents Titania's self-esteem, and Titania, which relies on the power of others, does not deserve even a milligram of survival.For Idris, he doesn't want to be "the first Titanian who relies on external forces", let alone the civil war in Titania, why does he care so much about the reactions of Alex Albert and Chu Shilang ?
Idris ordered the entire Titanian army to gather in the "City of Heaven", and used his position as the Minister of Defense of the Vldana Empire to summon the national army. They can also function in rear defense or supply, there is no time for them to idle now.
"How could I lose to that guy, Alex Albert? He was defeated by thieves twice in a row. I want to face him head-on and crush him!"
Idris has considerable self-confidence and arrogance. The problem is that no one believes this except him. Idris seems to be able to hear the outside world talking: "Mr. Idris will never beat Mr. Albert!" This is because he himself is too suspicious. In fact, on the other hand, this may be Idris' real enemy.His excessive sense of competition with others often makes him underestimate the opponent's strength and prevents him from grasping the situation from an objective perspective, because subjectivity and emotion often precede observation and analysis.
What happened next after Chu Shilang's battleship "Goddess of Morning Sun" set off from "Tiancheng"?Idris's memory is a bit chaotic, and the impression of each picture is very vivid, but the sequence cannot be completely arranged.Idris only remembered that he watched Chu Shilang's small fleet gradually disappear in a string of light spots from the transparent wall, and at the same time thought to himself: "It's best not to come back forever!"
Suddenly a woman's high-decibel scream penetrated his ears.
"Someone assassinated His Royal Highness! Hurry up and catch the prisoner! The prisoner must be Chu Shilang!"
Idris acted reflexively, and when he ran away from the transparent wall, his right hand had already pulled out the charged electron gun at his waist.The crowd in gray military uniforms turned into gray waves and swayed, one after another roared and screamed against the eardrums, and couldn't feel what happened for a while. At first, the scream to inform the unexpected situation was From Teresa, Duchess of Titania, who keeps blaring at the top of her lungs like a lone opera diva.Lying on the floor at the side was the feudal king Yashuman. At the same time, a man continued to point his gun at the feudal king, and galloped away in an unnatural posture. He was also wearing a gray military uniform...
The guards hesitated to shoot, fearing that if they shot rashly, they might hurt the nobles of Titania. Seeing their reaction, Idris cursed on the spot.
"There's nothing! Are you made of wood?"
Although Idris has extraordinary courage and talent, he has not been loved by the soldiers. His words and deeds should be one of the reasons, because he has always lacked the relevant cognitive ability to understand those who are lower than him It also has feelings and self-esteem. "Noble people are always ungrateful" is a motto that has been handed down since ancient times. Those in high positions take others' obedience and service to them for granted, so they can hurt and betray each other without caring.However, at this time Idris acted more decisively than anyone else. He chased after the escaped sniper alone, and several guards rushed to the front, ready to stun the sniper with the handle of a long gun. Their purpose was to I wanted to capture the prisoner alive, but unexpectedly, I was shot by the sniper. As a result, two soldiers fell to the ground. Idris followed closely and asked the prisoner to surrender. , while Idris moved half a second faster, he pulled the trigger, and the electronic light penetrated the sniper's face just below the stone eye, opening a hole with a diameter of one centimeter behind the prisoner's head, and immediately blood Build a slender sky bridge.
"Die! Die! Die!"
The continuous shouting and strafing made the sniper's fallen body bounce around. Every time the electron beam hits, the muscles and muscles are stimulated, and the prisoner's body rebounds accordingly.The uniform was torn, the skin was cracked, and blood splattered in geometric patterns on the floor.
"Your Excellency, the terrorist is dead, go back and visit His Royal Highness's injuries."
A middle-aged native official with a short black beard grabbed Idris from behind to calm him down.Idris threw down his pistol, sent someone to summon the royal doctor, and rushed to the prince's side.The prince Yashuman, who was lying on his back on the floor, was not unconscious. He held down the right side of his abdomen with his thick palm, and stared at the high circular ceiling with piercing eyes.
"His Royal Highness, please cheer up!"
"...Mr. Idris? Where's the prisoner?"
"Don't worry, Wei Chen has already killed him."
"You killed him?"
"That's what he deserves."
"You're right, but dead people can't speak."
Even the pain of the wound could not remove the sharp thorn in the prince's tone. After being awakened by the prince's short sentence, Idris looked in the direction of the man he shot and fell to the ground in astonishment. At this time, the imperial doctor arrived. Soil guards and sanitation soldiers also rushed forward.
After handing over the feudal king to the care of the imperial physician, Idris walked towards the sniper, and the soldiers made way for him.When Sir Idris looked down at the bloody face of the young sniper, a surge of anger and hatred rushed straight up. He kicked the prisoner, and a blunt sound evoked Idris's memory. He thought of Terry What Madam Sha shouted at that time, so she stared at the general beside her and shouted.
"Don't allow Chu Shilang to leave! You must ask that guy about this matter! Bring him back!"
In fact, there is no need for Idris to exercise the legal right of arrest. As long as Chu Shilang is recalled to "Tiancheng", Chu Shilang can fully understand the political meaning of this.It's just that in this case, whoever is in Idris' position will issue a wanted order.
"I didn't design to frame Chu Shilang, this time he provoked the incident. If he thinks he has no fear, he should accept the summons and return obediently, otherwise, that guy has something in his heart!"
Idris still thinks so until now, but he has never been able to determine that Chu Shilang is the mastermind behind the attempted assassination of the feudal king.
After the autopsy, the sniper's body had a drug reaction, which confirmed the existence of an unknown conspiracy. Even if it has not been confirmed, it can be speculated that the possibility of mind manipulation is quite high.On the other hand, under the command of Idris, Colonel Geldwin of the Gendarmerie immediately launched an investigation into the identity of the sniper.The sniper's name is E. White, a first-class soldier, single, and was born on the Vldana home planet. He was once suspected of being a royalist radical loyal to the Vldana court. However, his family background is quite simple, and it is almost impossible to get along with Vil The Dana court is related.
However, this incident was used by Idris as a sharp weapon to oppress Vldana Emperor Harusha VI. Idris's attitude towards Harusha VI had always been rude and hostile, and it was even more so at this time. Intensified, until the truth of this incident became known and it was proved that it had nothing to do with the court, the emperor's family was strictly prohibited from leaving the palace and the surveillance manpower was strengthened.
"Hateful Idris! Hateful Idris!"
Harusha VI cursed the young duke like an actor in a classical drama, because what else could he do but curse!
Amidst the indignant curses, Alex Albert and Chu Shilang, who were far away on the planet Baghuo, issued a manifesto criticizing Idris's arbitrariness in order to gather anti-Idris forces. One of the articles clearly criticized Idris : "It is rude and rude in the Vldana court, and it is out of proportion for a courtier." It is enough to make the helpless Harusha VI happy and hooked.
Although Idris was referred to by the two dukes as "the sycophant of the monarch", he did not indulge in anger. He planned to deal with the internal problems of the clan first. This action showed the basic principles of his thinking mode.Idris had invited Lady Theresa, the mother of the late Jharish, to his office, primarily to ask her something.
"Duchess, I invited you here this time because I have something to ask you, maybe you already know."
"Huh? What's the matter?"
The madam's eyeballs rolled around, appearing restless.
"Duchess, I hope you don't say that you have forgotten. A few days ago, you shouted: This is a good thing for Chu Shilangyu! Since you would say that, I wonder if you have any basis?"
"Ouch? That's weird."
Madam Teresa deliberately shook the fat in her throat.
"Where are you referring to strange?"
"Because, it sounds to me, Mr. Idris, your words seem to be defending Mr. Chu Shilang."
"I just wish to find out the truth, Duchess."
"Oh, yes, is that so! I thought you would be very happy!"
"His Royal Highness suffers this time, what am I so happy about? Madam, I hope you don't hide anything, and answer me honestly, you are not the one who drove the assassin to murder His Royal Highness, trying to frame Chu Shilang, right?"
Idris intentionally made a surprise call to his wife, forcing her into a psychologically weak position and telling all the truth.It's just that I didn't expect the effect of the dramatic medicine to be too strong. Madam Teresa screamed, her whole body fell back and the chair fell to the floor, her eyes rolled and her mouth foamed.
Since then, Theresa, Duchess of Titania, suffered from relapses of hysteria and had to be confined to a special ward.The sharp corners of the luxurious furniture are all cut into rounded edges, and the walls are stuffed with thick layers of cotton wool. The meals that can only be described as sumptuous are all packed in paper tableware to prevent the violent passion from rushing at any time.Two female doctors and six nurses with strong arms are in charge of her ward.After arranging the above measures, Idris was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. Although she didn't get the point, through this arrangement, Mrs. Teresa was like a curfew. Previously, she wanted to get a seat at the five-family meeting. The proposal was a nightmare for the whole of Titania, and it was impossible to realize it now. It was just so hasty, and even the late Duke Zhelish would roar angrily if he knew it.
Only a few days later, Idris actively investigated another woman, and the target was Countess Theodora Titania. Through various secret reports, she pointed out that she was trying to incite Lady Teresa's political ambitions.When Theodora was summoned to the office, Idris didn't even say please sit down, and the poisonous gas in his body condensed on the tip of his tongue and attacked her.
"I really admire you for not running away."
"Why do I have to escape? Sir Idris, the confidant of His Royal Highness."
"Stop pretending to be stupid! A vixen."
Idris cursed suddenly, as if swiping a sharp sword.Theodora's calm attitude was not affected at all, she just cast a cold look at Idris and sat down on the chair in front of the table. "Who allowed you to sit down!" Idris did not blurt out this sentence, and he immediately interrogated.Before the vassal king was injured, although the two were close partners in bed, once the hypocritical tenderness was discarded, Idris is now a ruthless judge.He laid out multiple reports in front of him, alleging that Theodora's visit to Mrs. Teresa was suspected of instigating and inciting her to fight for the representative meeting of the five families.
"Excuse me, what is the crime?"
Theodora replied with a thin smile.
"I didn't exclude anyone, I just found someone to fill the vacant seat. As for who will find Mrs. Teresa, it's just a political choice, and it's not a question of guilt."
"Stop playing sloppy with me!"
Idris gritted his teeth.
"Your so-called political choice is to let Mrs. Teresa attend the meeting, and then you manipulate her from behind the scenes to gain real power. There should be a limit to what you can do!"
After being impeached harshly by Idris, Theodora remained calm as always, facing back the line of sight of the vassal's agent.
"Even if this is the case, it is still a problem between Madam Teresa and me. After becoming a member of the five dukes, it is natural to have a staff or think tank. As a friend of Madam Teresa, I am obliged to give advice What's wrong?"
"Your friend must be very surprised, but you talk about this kind of friendship that is used and manipulated. Which dictionary is it from?"
"What qualifications do you have to talk to me about how to make friends? You don't even have a friend yourself!"
If Theodora's intention was to hurt Idris, she had succeeded.Idris's face suddenly turned the color of fluorescent paper, and he recovered in less than two seconds. He immediately called the guards, and his voice was mixed with suppressed excitement. It sounded like a half-tone yodel with falsetto The music, the six strong soldiers who were ordered to enter the room couldn't hide their puzzled expressions for a moment.
"Guards! Put this woman under house arrest in her residence. It is strictly forbidden to go out. All visitors must be searched and checked. Phone calls and emails must be filtered. Report to me every day!"
"Don't be deceived by this female fox, no one is allowed to let her out without my direct order!"
"Okay, how long is the deadline?"
"Until I nod yes."
Idris waved his left hand from top to top, ordering everyone to back off.Theodora stood up gracefully, but Idris didn't hear her whisper.
"Hmph! Coward! Then wait to see you crushed by the burden of power that you can't handle. I really look forward to the situation in a hundred days..."
Theodora left surrounded by guards, and Idris clucked "Vixe!" again towards the closed door, and then expressed his distressed mood into words.
"Really, is there no one trustworthy here? I have to do everything alone..."
The monopoly of power is also a confirmation of isolation. It seems that the ruling system of the five families that lasted until not long ago seems to have certain advantages.Idris refused to admit it even though he was killed. The two men, Alex Albert, who was in charge of the foreign expedition, and Chu Shilang, who was in charge of the internal affairs, had outstanding leadership skills.Now that two pluses have turned into two minuses, the change in value directly becomes the burden of responsibility on Idris's shoulders.Although Idris handles every issue perfectly with his own strength, this is because the war between the two factions of Titania has not yet started. Immediate bankruptcy. "I can't even take a step away for half a day. If someone takes advantage of my absence in Tiancheng to secretly support His Royal Highness and launch a coup, the consequences will be disastrous." In fact, no one in "Sky City" has the power to launch a coup d'etat. Even if he understands, a trace of uneasiness in his heart still cannot be erased.Therefore, Idris did not return to the Vldana court to continue to serve as the Minister of Defense. It was not that he gave up his position as a minister, but was temporarily represented by his subordinates, while he stayed in the "City of Heaven". Therefore, His Majesty Harusha VI, Emperor of the Virdana Empire, was able to return to a peaceful life, and he was naturally ecstatic about it, because he would no longer have to see Idris in the court.Although the Deputy Minister of National Defense in the acting position is Idris's subordinate and also the emperor's monitor, but Idris is not only the symbol of Titania who oppresses Harusha VI, but also includes Harusha VI himself abomination. In addition to such outrageous examples, Idris has also been publicly attacked. "Think about it carefully, everyone. Who can benefit the most from the vassal's injury and recuperation? And who is the one who holds the dictatorship in Tiancheng now? All the eyes and criticisms are on Idris! The mastermind of this incident and this split situation is Idris, don't think of it as a second person! We have absolutely no betrayal against His Royal Highness, what we want is to deprive Idris of the status and power obtained by improper means. He is the loyal minister of His Royal Highness, and Idris is the traitor, the Titanians should unite and attack Idris!" This is part of the declarations made by the Dukes of Albert and Chu Shilang, and Idris was furious after learning about it. "Those two guys are no longer dukes, but criminals! How can the regular army of Titania obey a commander who is guilty? Those two guys don't even know how to write justice!" It was reported that none of the soldiers of the Baghdad Expeditionary Force commanded by Alex Albert had left the camp. This news made Idris shaken. At this time, a non-commissioned officer named Colonel Marichal spoke. The man was the middle-aged officer with the short black beard who grabbed Idris from behind during the attempted assassination of the feudal lord. "Your Excellency, the most important thing right now is that His Royal Highness is safe and sound, as long as everyone understands that His Highness completely trusts you." "Then what do you say should be done?" "This subordinate dares, according to this subordinate's opinion, you can respectfully ask His Royal Highness to stand in front of the communication screen and personally express your trust in Your Excellency Idris with respect. In this way, the soldiers of the expeditionary army will also abandon their confusion and resume their work. Loyalty to Sky City." "Do you mean that the soldiers are not convinced by what I said?" "Your Excellency, this subordinate has no such intention..." "I understand what you mean. I was talking too much just now. Please don't take it to heart. I will remember your suggestion, Colonel. I hope that if you have any suggestions from now on, it's okay to say it clearly." Idris also expressed his gratitude to his subordinates for their faithful advice, but it was impossible for him to pull the feudal king up from his sickbed, so this rare trick could not be put into practice. The only remaining advantage is that the wives and concubines of the feudal king Arshuman did not interfere with Idris's words and deeds. They devoted all their efforts to taking care of Arjuman and rarely had time to see Idris. According to the tradition of Titania, the wives and concubines of the vassal king and the four dukes cannot and must not participate in the operation of the power center.In the history of ancient dynasties, in order to prevent the empress and Waicheng from taking the power of the country for themselves, there are endless precedents in which the mother was forced to commit suicide after giving birth to the prince.Although Titania adheres to the ruling principle of advocating pure blood, the practice is not so good that it would rather be broken than broken, but it must also forcefully exclude in-laws from intervening in politics. Then again, now Idris needs to select someone from his side who can assist him, and the sooner the better! On May 10, Idris summoned his younger brother Radmus to his office again.After all, for Idris, the only family member who is useful is Radmus.Although my younger brother Jelfa respects his elder brother very much, but he is only thirteen years old this year, let alone the future, at least at this moment he cannot become a useful motivation, so even though there are many dissatisfaction, Idris can only promote Radmoz .Idris' competitor, the late Zhelixu, was also troubled by the incompetence of his younger brother Arthurs. Thinking that there were no underachievers under Alex Albert and Chu Shilang, Idris It caused an unknown fire again, it's better for someone to pull those two guys' hind legs! Idris prepared dozens of professional titles and titles for Radmoz, but among them, officials who might hold too much real power were carefully eliminated, and finally the position was not very important, but the form lacked the necessary ceremony. An inescapable authority.Radkuz seemed to have seen through his brother's intentions, so he did not accept it.Idris looked helplessly at his younger brother's refusal of the position recommended by him. "Radmotz, it's not that I don't want you to be a high official. Once you have too much authority, do you think the outside world will accept it? After all, you are still too young, so I think you'd better work hard to enrich yourself. Let’s talk about it after turning twenty.” "But I became the personal guard commander of the Vldana Empire at the age of seventeen!" This arrogant statement made Idris furious on the spot. "You said what feats you have done! Don't forget that I let you climb to that position! You can't do anything, you will only have unnecessary disputes with others, and you will embarrass me! Do you hear clearly? ?” "Brother, you mean that you have helped me a lot, but I think you are only thinking for yourself." "What did you say?" "In the eyes of my eldest brother, I am not only a tool to expand my power. I know that you have always hated me, elder brother. Since you hate me, you want to promote me, because this is just a means used by my eldest brother to become a vassal king in the future. Now The development of the matter is not as expected by the eldest brother, should I blame all the faults on me?" Idris could see that the torch full of anger in Radmoz's eyes was burning fiercely, and an inexplicable chill ran down Idris's back, and he had to listen quietly to his brother's long speech. "I've always tried my best to think for my elder brother. Now, although my elder brother is acting as the vassal king's power, in fact..." Radmotz closed his mouth suddenly, as if someone had covered his mouth with an invisible hand. "What do you mean by that?" "Brother, you'd better stop asking. If you know too much, your position will be even worse." "……what?" Idris once again pierced his younger brother's face with sharp and menacing eyes, and he suddenly felt an unprecedented uneasiness attacking him.What kind of mystery is this kid trying to play?Idris carefully observed his younger brother's expression. Radmotz's expression was blunt, reminiscent of some kind of reptile, but the sluggish expression was also a kind of armor that could hide Radmotz's heart.Idris couldn't stand this moment of simmering silence, and just as he was about to question his brother, the internal comm blared.At this point it was difficult to tell which of the brothers the bell had saved.It was the prince's physician who sent the contact, saying that Idris was summoned for the honorable injury. So Idris, who got nothing, repelled his younger brother and rushed to the prince's ward in a panic.After the attendant doctor gave instructions, he left Idris alone to face the injured. Before Idris could say hello, the feudal king who was lying on the hospital bed asked. "Sir Idris, how is the situation these days?" This is a question that should be taken for granted rather than expected, but it is difficult for Idris to talk about it, and even the truth must be embellished with words. "Tiancheng's loyalty to His Royal Highness is not shaken at all. They are all filled with righteous indignation for Alex Albert and Chu Shilang who abused their power at the time of His Royal Highness's calamity, and vowed to punish them... ..." The empty but impassioned speech was mercilessly interrupted by a deep voice. "Sir Idris." "Yes, it is." "What's the situation outside Tiancheng?" Up to now, Idris understands that he can't deceive the prince. Looking back now, the fourth duke has always been in awe of the prince Arjuman, and he often feels a heavy sense of coercion and domination from the prince. Now Idris is the only one left to bear this pressure, but unfortunately this realization does not make people feel honorable, but requires painful awareness. "The words and deeds of Alex Albert and Chu Shilang showed no reflection or remorse at all, and they even incited the troops under their banners and even summoned unscrupulous elements from all over the world, which is enough to prove that these two people intend to openly rebel against His Royal Highness." Eyes that erased his expression stared straight at the ceiling. The king of the clan, Arshuman, remained motionless like a statue. Idris endured his own voice and the long silence. Just before his endurance was at the limit, The feudal lord who had been staring at the ceiling before finally turned his vocal cords. "Alex Albert and Chu Shilang, I intend to give them expectations and authority." "Which two are the conspirators! Your Highness!" Idris understood that his current words and deeds seemed a little naive in front of the wounded vassal, but his tone was still very excited. "Those two people falsely accused me of putting His Royal Highness under house arrest in an attempt to carry out an arbitrary dictatorship. What a despicable lie! It cannot be easily forgiven!" "It would be nice if that was the case." "what……?" "If you really have such arrogance, then this unique throne will naturally fall into your hands." The feudal lord waved lightly at the speechless Idris, motioning for him to back down.Idris, who walked out of the ward, staggered slightly and looked as if he was drunk. The attendant doctor standing outside the door raised his eyebrows slightly, and silently watched the young Duke leave without saying a word. According to the internal regulations of the Titania family, Chu Shilang Titania is no longer a duke, and all public offices and status except for the title have been taken away, and he has become a commoner.However, the officers and soldiers of the Titanian army who expedition to Baghuo still called the two dukes as before, and the two accepted this title generously. "Although don't worry, Sir Chu Shilang, although there is nothing you can do about the property, but your title will be awarded to you by the Ebinger Kingdom, and so will Sir Albert." Princess Lydia patted her chest to express, while the two dukes expressed their gratitude in a serious manner.After finishing his hospital life at the end of April, Albert Albert reappeared in front of Jiang Tu and was warmly cheered. He went to Chu Shilang's residence. This was the first time he greeted him after he was discharged from the hospital. "Miss Chu Shilang, I hope you pay attention to your own health and safety." Alex Albert said as the two shook hands. "With my own strength, I can't fight against the vassal king. I also need to rely on Chu Shilang's personal connections and political connections." "The target of our battle is not the lord, but Idris." "That's right, you can't be heard by the local soldiers, or it will be bad, I will be careful, but personally, thinking of confronting the feudal lord can strengthen my determination." Alex Albert had already delivered a speech to the entire Titanian army stationed in Baghee. In the speech, he severely criticized Idris's arbitrariness, saying that Idris was under house arrest for the vassal who was hospitalized for treatment. He and Chu Shilang could not forgive Idris's illegal actions can only be resolved by remonstrating with troops, so the enemy is not the vassal king, but Lord Idris! Only 4% of the entire army said they wanted to leave the command of Alex Albert and Chu Shilang. Once it was confirmed that the vassal king Yashuman was safe and sound, this number would probably increase to more than 20 times.But in fact, the statement that the vassal king is alive was announced through Idris, and the focus returned to the question of whether Idris' words were credible. "Perhaps His Royal Highness has died a long time ago, or is in a critical state." Rumors like this are circulating in the army. In addition, Idris's personal reputation compares with Albert and Chu Shilang. Naturally, the latter has an overwhelming advantage. It can only be said that Idris is too ignorant of life , because he was extremely eager to be the next vassal king, he designed to squeeze out the two dukes who were far ahead of him. The above formula was easier for the soldiers to accept.They don't hate Idris for it, but the future vision of Titania under the dictatorship of Idris after the loss of two dukes is not what they like.If you want to continue to accept the rule of Titania, the two dukes should be better than Idris! Amidst the inclination of the majority of the soldiers, a small number of breakaways were already preparing to leave Baghee. Although they had been approved by the two dukes in advance, on May 15th, Earl Elman still visited Chu Shilang on behalf of these people. After saying goodbye before leaving and accepting the polite greetings, Chu Shilang asked in a calm tone. "By the way, Earl Elman, are your negotiations with Fang Xiuli and the others going well?" "So you already knew." A seemingly bitter expression flashed across Earl Elman's face, and then he hid his inner world under the veil of etiquette. He expressed to Chu Shilang with a typical middle-aged gentleman's demeanor. "I am a nobleman of Titania, and I have a clear conscience for myself and others in every word and deed. If you can't accept the existence of those bandits...then attack them! Anyway, they are all on the same ship." Earl Elman made a frightening proposal, and his idea had already been guessed by Dr. Li and the others. "It turns out that this kind of thing is really something that only Titania can think of, but I won't do it." Chu Shilang chuckled and dismissed Earl Elman's proposal. "Could you please tell Fang Xiuli and others, I will wish them a safe entry into Tiancheng." The word gentleman is not enough to describe Chu Shilang's magnanimity, and it also aroused Earl Elman's suspicion on the same day.His seemingly gentle eyes stubbornly explored Chu Shilang's expression, but found nothing. Chu Shilang, Falmy's agent, escorted Earl Elman to the Central Spaceport. He thought he could take the opportunity to see the true face of Fang Xiuli and his party from Lushan Mountain, but it turned out to be the opposite. The pensive Chu Shilang reported the whole story.It is now an early summer afternoon, under the light of the stars, the greenery is extraordinarily abundant, and the plants also exude lively vitality. "I'm sorry to ask an indecisive question at this point..." Falmy blurted out his doubts. "Are we really going to fight His Royal Highness?" The moment Falmy said it, he regretted it. He didn't want to be regarded as a coward or sloppy in doing things. He only hoped that his expression would be more correct, so that he could be praised by Chu Shilang. "Secret Falmy was born in Tiancheng like me, and I didn't even dare to think about such a thing when I stayed in Tiancheng, but now we are hundreds of light-years away from Tiancheng, it may be because of this that this happened. Have an idea." Chu Shilang turned his head to look at Falmy and chuckled lightly. "I don't have a deep hatred for the vassal king personally, so I can confront him head-on, and the same is true for Sir Albert." What time is it, and you still doubt whether you really want to fight, you are so stupid!Falmy blamed himself. "Not only Earl Elman, but even Fang Xiuli and his party have left this confused planet safely. I can understand that you must have your reasons for letting them go. Please tell me if you can?" "This is because if we continue to use the traditional Titanic approach, we will lose the meaning of fighting and winning, at least let people outside Titania more or less expect that our actions will bring about change .” At this time, the air was flowing, and a gust of wind messed up Chu Shilang and Falmy's hair. "Originally this was just a civil strife in Titania. It was not so much a war as a fight. However, it also has historical value to some extent. This time we hold traditional Titanian methods and values. Therefore, this war has the significance of being open to the public for the first time.” Perhaps this is just an illusion, but this appeal seems to be able to satisfy the subconscious frustration of the vast majority of citizens who adopt a passive and tolerant attitude towards the status quo. "From the perspective of the outside world, our battle will be recognized by the majority. We don't need to seek help, as long as we win as much as we want." When it came to the last paragraph of his lines, Chu Shilang showed a rather disdainful expression.Unlike Idris who is hiding in the cage of "Sky City", Chu Shilang has to travel around the universe to obtain diplomacy, commerce and security guarantees. He understands that the passive support forces of Titania expect absolute security and a little change.As long as Chu Shilang doesn't force the opponent to "gamble his life to fight together", the opponent should maintain a friendly attitude towards Albert and Chu Shilang. "So, what are our chances of winning in the actual combat?" "Alex Albert will win, if it's head to head, no one can beat him." "Yes, I think so too..." Falmi reserved the statement that he fully agreed with. In fact, Alex Albert had been defeated by Fang Xiuli twice in a row, and Fang Xiuli was likely to continue to use tricks to defeat Alex Albert for the third time. “一次作战的失败还不至于击垮我们，而问题就在这个节点上头，随着方修利屡屡立下功勋，伊德里斯看在眼里真能安心吗？” 褚士朗的双眸蕴含着深邃的目光，他是名绅土，同时也是铁达尼亚贵族。这次褚士朗默许艾尔曼伯爵与方修利离开巴格体，其背后有着充足的政治考量，因为他猜测一旦方修利一行人进入“天城”，将成为动摇铁达尼亚的军事与政治最大的不安定因素，这不是内心想像的期待，而是一种即将实现的预测，他计划利用各种手段多管齐下以提高准确率。 “褚士朗卿，可是方修利一行人原为不肖之徒，你想他们会不会在内部策动政变，借机占领天城呢？” “就算天城毁了也不关我的事！” 语气之激烈令法尔密顿时把呼出来的空气吞了进去，经过这么长久的时间，法尔密在此刻才得以窥视到褚士朗内心世界的一隅。 “在离开天城之后我才第一次了解到，那里既非城堡亦非宫殿，而是一座牢笼！待在里头，就等于跟宇宙隔离，误以为一族内部的纠葛与阴谋是人类社会的一切，铁达尼亚自认是宇宙的核心，其实并非如此，一个与世隔绝的流放地才是天城真正的面貌。” 褚士朗眺望着这个小型花园里的小巧喷水池，仿佛将之视为天城一般。 “伊德里斯是唯一留在那个流放地的囚犯，正因为他留在那里，我们才得以脱离。” “如此说来，我们这次是要跟恩公作战罗？” 法尔密会如此形容是由于他对“天城”有不同的评价，就跟先前他自己所明言的：“天城”是权威与权力的泉源，他内心无意识地渴求着褚士朗不同于自己的见解会因此出现龟裂。 “是的，毕竟我也是铁达尼亚，与其身负污名被杀以搏得后世的同情，我宁可选择在现实世界里维护自己的权益，成为叙事诗的主角是毫无意义的，我要和亚历亚伯特共同应战然后获胜。” 褚士朗静静地述说自己的想法，法尔密则默然凝视着他的侧脸，一时之间感到没来由的呼吸困难。 “接着逼迫藩王亚术曼殿下隐退，放逐伊德里斯，瓦解天城，由亚历亚伯特继任藩王，我则负责辅佐他，趁着他和我均健在的期间以循序渐进的方式将铁达尼亚的规模缩小到一个普通的名门家族，谨守本分世代繁衍下去，这就是我心目中的铁达尼亚理想图。” 褚士朗头一次如此明确地说出自己的构想，法尔密被他的气势所压倒，虽然与自身的野心与理想大相径庭，但是由褚士朗的口中说出来，仿佛事情已经成功了一半。突然间，有股强烈的冲动驱使着法尔密，他很想将父亲生前告诉过他的秘密以问句的方式脱口而出，经过数秒的挣扎他终于屈服于冲动之下。 “恕我提出一个鲁莽的问题，阁下之所以将藩王位交给亚历亚伯特卿，是否因为你们二人有血缘关系呢？” “是令尊告诉你的吗？” "Yes, it is." “你这个问题的确问得很鲁莽，法尔密卿。” 褚士朗的语气与表情并没有太显著的变化，反倒是法尔密的心理一直调适不过来。此时间褚士朗淡淡地道出一个严肃的事实。 “亚历亚伯特与我是表兄弟，同时也是亲兄弟。” "...?" “意思就是说，亚历亚伯特的母亲是我母亲的妹妹，而亚历亚伯特的父亲也是我的父亲，我们两人在母方算是表兄弟，但在父方即为亲兄弟，这就是你想知道的实情，法尔密卿。” "so……" 法尔密哑口无言，原来褚士朗的父亲与身为姐妹的两名女性同时往来，而这对姐妹后来又与其他男性结婚。法尔密知道。 亚历亚伯特与褚士朗的生日是在同一个月份，也就是说他们两人几乎于同一时期受胎。 “这就是铁达尼亚，以延续血缘统治为最优先目的，甚至可以无视基本人伦的存在，我认为天城就是这种扭曲价值观的象征。” 褚士朗不再开口，而法尔密不知如何应对，只有定定地伫立在难耐的沉默之中，将他从无形的桎梏里拯救出来的是一名少女活泼的声音。 “褚士朗卿，法尔！一起来吃午餐吧，饿着肚子是没办法上场作战，也没办法用功念书的。” 看着莉蒂亚公主朝绿色的庭园奔来，褚士朗朝法尔密笑道。 “那位小公主总是对的，空腹时即使摆出多么正经的表情思考事情也无法做出最好的结论，我们还是乖乖听从贤者的忠告吧。” 褚士朗挥手回应公主，一秒后，法尔密也跟着仿效。星历四四七年五月十九日，正值伊德里斯·铁达尼亚给予亚历亚伯特与褚士朗出面受审期限的前一日。
The monopoly of power is also a confirmation of isolation. It seems that the ruling system of the five families that lasted until not long ago seems to have certain advantages.Idris refused to admit it even though he was killed. The two men, Alex Albert, who was in charge of the foreign expedition, and Chu Shilang, who was in charge of the internal affairs, had outstanding leadership skills.Now that two pluses have turned into two minuses, the change in value directly becomes the burden of responsibility on Idris's shoulders.Although Idris handles every issue perfectly with his own strength, this is because the war between the two factions of Titania has not yet started. Immediate bankruptcy. "I can't even take a step away for half a day. If someone takes advantage of my absence in Tiancheng to secretly support His Royal Highness and launch a coup, the consequences will be disastrous." In fact, no one in "Sky City" has the power to launch a coup d'etat. Even if he understands, a trace of uneasiness in his heart still cannot be erased.Therefore, Idris did not return to the Vldana court to continue to serve as the Minister of Defense. It was not that he gave up his position as a minister, but was temporarily represented by his subordinates, while he stayed in the "City of Heaven". Therefore, His Majesty Harusha VI, Emperor of the Virdana Empire, was able to return to a peaceful life, and he was naturally ecstatic about it, because he would no longer have to see Idris in the court.Although the Deputy Minister of National Defense in the acting position is Idris's subordinate and also the emperor's monitor, but Idris is not only the symbol of Titania who oppresses Harusha VI, but also includes Harusha VI himself abomination. In addition to such outrageous examples, Idris has also been publicly attacked. "Think about it carefully, everyone. Who can benefit the most from the vassal's injury and recuperation? And who is the one who holds the dictatorship in Tiancheng now? All the eyes and criticisms are on Idris! The mastermind of this incident and this split situation is Idris, don't think of it as a second person! We have absolutely no betrayal against His Royal Highness, what we want is to deprive Idris of the status and power obtained by improper means. He is the loyal minister of His Royal Highness, and Idris is the traitor, the Titanians should unite and attack Idris!" This is part of the declarations made by the Dukes of Albert and Chu Shilang, and Idris was furious after learning about it. "Those two guys are no longer dukes, but criminals! How can the regular army of Titania obey a commander who is guilty? Those two guys don't even know how to write justice!" It was reported that none of the soldiers of the Baghdad Expeditionary Force commanded by Alex Albert had left the camp. This news made Idris shaken. At this time, a non-commissioned officer named Colonel Marichal spoke. The man was the middle-aged officer with the short black beard who grabbed Idris from behind during the attempted assassination of the feudal lord. "Your Excellency, the most important thing right now is that His Royal Highness is safe and sound, as long as everyone understands that His Highness completely trusts you." "Then what do you say should be done?" "This subordinate dares, according to this subordinate's opinion, you can respectfully ask His Royal Highness to stand in front of the communication screen and personally express your trust in Your Excellency Idris with respect. In this way, the soldiers of the expeditionary army will also abandon their confusion and resume their work. Loyalty to Sky City." "Do you mean that the soldiers are not convinced by what I said?" "Your Excellency, this subordinate has no such intention..." "I understand what you mean. I was talking too much just now. Please don't take it to heart. I will remember your suggestion, Colonel. I hope that if you have any suggestions from now on, it's okay to say it clearly." Idris also expressed his gratitude to his subordinates for their faithful advice, but it was impossible for him to pull the feudal king up from his sickbed, so this rare trick could not be put into practice. The only remaining advantage is that the wives and concubines of the feudal king Arshuman did not interfere with Idris's words and deeds. They devoted all their efforts to taking care of Arjuman and rarely had time to see Idris. According to the tradition of Titania, the wives and concubines of the vassal king and the four dukes cannot and must not participate in the operation of the power center.In the history of ancient dynasties, in order to prevent the empress and Waicheng from taking the power of the country for themselves, there are endless precedents in which the mother was forced to commit suicide after giving birth to the prince.Although Titania adheres to the ruling principle of advocating pure blood, the practice is not so good that it would rather be broken than broken, but it must also forcefully exclude in-laws from intervening in politics. Then again, now Idris needs to select someone from his side who can assist him, and the sooner the better! On May 10, Idris summoned his younger brother Radmus to his office again.After all, for Idris, the only family member who is useful is Radmus.Although my younger brother Jelfa respects his elder brother very much, but he is only thirteen years old this year, let alone the future, at least at this moment he cannot become a useful motivation, so even though there are many dissatisfaction, Idris can only promote Radmoz .Idris' competitor, the late Zhelixu, was also troubled by the incompetence of his younger brother Arthurs. Thinking that there were no underachievers under Alex Albert and Chu Shilang, Idris It caused an unknown fire again, it's better for someone to pull those two guys' hind legs! Idris prepared dozens of professional titles and titles for Radmoz, but among them, officials who might hold too much real power were carefully eliminated, and finally the position was not very important, but the form lacked the necessary ceremony. An inescapable authority.Radkuz seemed to have seen through his brother's intentions, so he did not accept it.Idris looked helplessly at his younger brother's refusal of the position recommended by him. "Radmotz, it's not that I don't want you to be a high official. Once you have too much authority, do you think the outside world will accept it? After all, you are still too young, so I think you'd better work hard to enrich yourself. Let’s talk about it after turning twenty.” "But I became the personal guard commander of the Vldana Empire at the age of seventeen!" This arrogant statement made Idris furious on the spot. "You said what feats you have done! Don't forget that I let you climb to that position! You can't do anything, you will only have unnecessary disputes with others, and you will embarrass me! Do you hear clearly? ?” "Brother, you mean that you have helped me a lot, but I think you are only thinking for yourself." "What did you say?" "In the eyes of my eldest brother, I am not only a tool to expand my power. I know that you have always hated me, elder brother. Since you hate me, you want to promote me, because this is just a means used by my eldest brother to become a vassal king in the future. Now The development of the matter is not as expected by the eldest brother, should I blame all the faults on me?" Idris could see that the torch full of anger in Radmoz's eyes was burning fiercely, and an inexplicable chill ran down Idris's back, and he had to listen quietly to his brother's long speech. "I've always tried my best to think for my elder brother. Now, although my elder brother is acting as the vassal king's power, in fact..." Radmotz closed his mouth suddenly, as if someone had covered his mouth with an invisible hand. "What do you mean by that?" "Brother, you'd better stop asking. If you know too much, your position will be even worse." "……what?" Idris once again pierced his younger brother's face with sharp and menacing eyes, and he suddenly felt an unprecedented uneasiness attacking him.What kind of mystery is this kid trying to play?Idris carefully observed his younger brother's expression. Radmotz's expression was blunt, reminiscent of some kind of reptile, but the sluggish expression was also a kind of armor that could hide Radmotz's heart.Idris couldn't stand this moment of simmering silence, and just as he was about to question his brother, the internal comm blared.At this point it was difficult to tell which of the brothers the bell had saved.It was the prince's physician who sent the contact, saying that Idris was summoned for the honorable injury. So Idris, who got nothing, repelled his younger brother and rushed to the prince's ward in a panic.After the attendant doctor gave instructions, he left Idris alone to face the injured. Before Idris could say hello, the feudal king who was lying on the hospital bed asked. "Sir Idris, how is the situation these days?" This is a question that should be taken for granted rather than expected, but it is difficult for Idris to talk about it, and even the truth must be embellished with words. "Tiancheng's loyalty to His Royal Highness is not shaken at all. They are all filled with righteous indignation for Alex Albert and Chu Shilang who abused their power at the time of His Royal Highness's calamity, and vowed to punish them... ..." The empty but impassioned speech was mercilessly interrupted by a deep voice. "Sir Idris." "Yes, it is." "What's the situation outside Tiancheng?" Up to now, Idris understands that he can't deceive the prince. Looking back now, the fourth duke has always been in awe of the prince Arjuman, and he often feels a heavy sense of coercion and domination from the prince. Now Idris is the only one left to bear this pressure, but unfortunately this realization does not make people feel honorable, but requires painful awareness. "The words and deeds of Alex Albert and Chu Shilang showed no reflection or remorse at all, and they even incited the troops under their banners and even summoned unscrupulous elements from all over the world, which is enough to prove that these two people intend to openly rebel against His Royal Highness." Eyes that erased his expression stared straight at the ceiling. The king of the clan, Arshuman, remained motionless like a statue. Idris endured his own voice and the long silence. Just before his endurance was at the limit, The feudal lord who had been staring at the ceiling before finally turned his vocal cords. "Alex Albert and Chu Shilang, I intend to give them expectations and authority." "Which two are the conspirators! Your Highness!" Idris understood that his current words and deeds seemed a little naive in front of the wounded vassal, but his tone was still very excited. "Those two people falsely accused me of putting His Royal Highness under house arrest in an attempt to carry out an arbitrary dictatorship. What a despicable lie! It cannot be easily forgiven!" "It would be nice if that was the case." "what……?" "If you really have such arrogance, then this unique throne will naturally fall into your hands." The feudal lord waved lightly at the speechless Idris, motioning for him to back down.Idris, who walked out of the ward, staggered slightly and looked as if he was drunk. The attendant doctor standing outside the door raised his eyebrows slightly, and silently watched the young Duke leave without saying a word. According to the internal regulations of the Titania family, Chu Shilang Titania is no longer a duke, and all public offices and status except for the title have been taken away, and he has become a commoner.However, the officers and soldiers of the Titanian army who expedition to Baghuo still called the two dukes as before, and the two accepted this title generously. "Although don't worry, Sir Chu Shilang, although there is nothing you can do about the property, but your title will be awarded to you by the Ebinger Kingdom, and so will Sir Albert." Princess Lydia patted her chest to express, while the two dukes expressed their gratitude in a serious manner.After finishing his hospital life at the end of April, Albert Albert reappeared in front of Jiang Tu and was warmly cheered. He went to Chu Shilang's residence. This was the first time he greeted him after he was discharged from the hospital. "Miss Chu Shilang, I hope you pay attention to your own health and safety." Alex Albert said as the two shook hands. "With my own strength, I can't fight against the vassal king. I also need to rely on Chu Shilang's personal connections and political connections." "The target of our battle is not the lord, but Idris." "That's right, you can't be heard by the local soldiers, or it will be bad, I will be careful, but personally, thinking of confronting the feudal lord can strengthen my determination." Alex Albert had already delivered a speech to the entire Titanian army stationed in Baghee. In the speech, he severely criticized Idris's arbitrariness, saying that Idris was under house arrest for the vassal who was hospitalized for treatment. He and Chu Shilang could not forgive Idris's illegal actions can only be resolved by remonstrating with troops, so the enemy is not the vassal king, but Lord Idris! Only 4% of the entire army said they wanted to leave the command of Alex Albert and Chu Shilang. Once it was confirmed that the vassal king Yashuman was safe and sound, this number would probably increase to more than 20 times.But in fact, the statement that the vassal king is alive was announced through Idris, and the focus returned to the question of whether Idris' words were credible. "Perhaps His Royal Highness has died a long time ago, or is in a critical state." Rumors like this are circulating in the army. In addition, Idris's personal reputation compares with Albert and Chu Shilang. Naturally, the latter has an overwhelming advantage. It can only be said that Idris is too ignorant of life , because he was extremely eager to be the next vassal king, he designed to squeeze out the two dukes who were far ahead of him. The above formula was easier for the soldiers to accept.They don't hate Idris for it, but the future vision of Titania under the dictatorship of Idris after the loss of two dukes is not what they like.If you want to continue to accept the rule of Titania, the two dukes should be better than Idris! Amidst the inclination of the majority of the soldiers, a small number of breakaways were already preparing to leave Baghee. Although they had been approved by the two dukes in advance, on May 15th, Earl Elman still visited Chu Shilang on behalf of these people. After saying goodbye before leaving and accepting the polite greetings, Chu Shilang asked in a calm tone. "By the way, Earl Elman, are your negotiations with Fang Xiuli and the others going well?" "So you already knew." A seemingly bitter expression flashed across Earl Elman's face, and then he hid his inner world under the veil of etiquette. He expressed to Chu Shilang with a typical middle-aged gentleman's demeanor. "I am a nobleman of Titania, and I have a clear conscience for myself and others in every word and deed. If you can't accept the existence of those bandits...then attack them! Anyway, they are all on the same ship." Earl Elman made a frightening proposal, and his idea had already been guessed by Dr. Li and the others. "It turns out that this kind of thing is really something that only Titania can think of, but I won't do it." Chu Shilang chuckled and dismissed Earl Elman's proposal. "Could you please tell Fang Xiuli and others, I will wish them a safe entry into Tiancheng." The word gentleman is not enough to describe Chu Shilang's magnanimity, and it also aroused Earl Elman's suspicion on the same day.His seemingly gentle eyes stubbornly explored Chu Shilang's expression, but found nothing. Chu Shilang, Falmy's agent, escorted Earl Elman to the Central Spaceport. He thought he could take the opportunity to see the true face of Fang Xiuli and his party from Lushan Mountain, but it turned out to be the opposite. The pensive Chu Shilang reported the whole story.It is now an early summer afternoon, under the light of the stars, the greenery is extraordinarily abundant, and the plants also exude lively vitality. "I'm sorry to ask an indecisive question at this point..." Falmy blurted out his doubts. "Are we really going to fight His Royal Highness?" The moment Falmy said it, he regretted it. He didn't want to be regarded as a coward or sloppy in doing things. He only hoped that his expression would be more correct, so that he could be praised by Chu Shilang. "Secret Falmy was born in Tiancheng like me, and I didn't even dare to think about such a thing when I stayed in Tiancheng, but now we are hundreds of light-years away from Tiancheng, it may be because of this that this happened. Have an idea." Chu Shilang turned his head to look at Falmy and chuckled lightly. "I don't have a deep hatred for the vassal king personally, so I can confront him head-on, and the same is true for Sir Albert." What time is it, and you still doubt whether you really want to fight, you are so stupid!Falmy blamed himself. "Not only Earl Elman, but even Fang Xiuli and his party have left this confused planet safely. I can understand that you must have your reasons for letting them go. Please tell me if you can?" "This is because if we continue to use the traditional Titanic approach, we will lose the meaning of fighting and winning, at least let people outside Titania more or less expect that our actions will bring about change .” At this time, the air was flowing, and a gust of wind messed up Chu Shilang and Falmy's hair. "Originally this was just a civil strife in Titania. It was not so much a war as a fight. However, it also has historical value to some extent. This time we hold traditional Titanian methods and values. Therefore, this war has the significance of being open to the public for the first time.” Perhaps this is just an illusion, but this appeal seems to be able to satisfy the subconscious frustration of the vast majority of citizens who adopt a passive and tolerant attitude towards the status quo. "From the perspective of the outside world, our battle will be recognized by the majority. We don't need to seek help, as long as we win as much as we want." When it came to the last paragraph of his lines, Chu Shilang showed a rather disdainful expression.Unlike Idris who is hiding in the cage of "Sky City", Chu Shilang has to travel around the universe to obtain diplomacy, commerce and security guarantees. He understands that the passive support forces of Titania expect absolute security and a little change.As long as Chu Shilang doesn't force the opponent to "gamble his life to fight together", the opponent should maintain a friendly attitude towards Albert and Chu Shilang. "So, what are our chances of winning in the actual combat?" "Alex Albert will win, if it's head to head, no one can beat him." "Yes, I think so too..." Falmi reserved the statement that he fully agreed with. In fact, Alex Albert had been defeated by Fang Xiuli twice in a row, and Fang Xiuli was likely to continue to use tricks to defeat Alex Albert for the third time. “一次作战的失败还不至于击垮我们，而问题就在这个节点上头，随着方修利屡屡立下功勋，伊德里斯看在眼里真能安心吗？” 褚士朗的双眸蕴含着深邃的目光，他是名绅土，同时也是铁达尼亚贵族。这次褚士朗默许艾尔曼伯爵与方修利离开巴格体，其背后有着充足的政治考量，因为他猜测一旦方修利一行人进入“天城”，将成为动摇铁达尼亚的军事与政治最大的不安定因素，这不是内心想像的期待，而是一种即将实现的预测，他计划利用各种手段多管齐下以提高准确率。 “褚士朗卿，可是方修利一行人原为不肖之徒，你想他们会不会在内部策动政变，借机占领天城呢？” “就算天城毁了也不关我的事！” 语气之激烈令法尔密顿时把呼出来的空气吞了进去，经过这么长久的时间，法尔密在此刻才得以窥视到褚士朗内心世界的一隅。 “在离开天城之后我才第一次了解到，那里既非城堡亦非宫殿，而是一座牢笼！待在里头，就等于跟宇宙隔离，误以为一族内部的纠葛与阴谋是人类社会的一切，铁达尼亚自认是宇宙的核心，其实并非如此，一个与世隔绝的流放地才是天城真正的面貌。” 褚士朗眺望着这个小型花园里的小巧喷水池，仿佛将之视为天城一般。 “伊德里斯是唯一留在那个流放地的囚犯，正因为他留在那里，我们才得以脱离。” “如此说来，我们这次是要跟恩公作战罗？” 法尔密会如此形容是由于他对“天城”有不同的评价，就跟先前他自己所明言的：“天城”是权威与权力的泉源，他内心无意识地渴求着褚士朗不同于自己的见解会因此出现龟裂。 “是的，毕竟我也是铁达尼亚，与其身负污名被杀以搏得后世的同情，我宁可选择在现实世界里维护自己的权益，成为叙事诗的主角是毫无意义的，我要和亚历亚伯特共同应战然后获胜。” 褚士朗静静地述说自己的想法，法尔密则默然凝视着他的侧脸，一时之间感到没来由的呼吸困难。 “接着逼迫藩王亚术曼殿下隐退，放逐伊德里斯，瓦解天城，由亚历亚伯特继任藩王，我则负责辅佐他，趁着他和我均健在的期间以循序渐进的方式将铁达尼亚的规模缩小到一个普通的名门家族，谨守本分世代繁衍下去，这就是我心目中的铁达尼亚理想图。” 褚士朗头一次如此明确地说出自己的构想，法尔密被他的气势所压倒，虽然与自身的野心与理想大相径庭，但是由褚士朗的口中说出来，仿佛事情已经成功了一半。突然间，有股强烈的冲动驱使着法尔密，他很想将父亲生前告诉过他的秘密以问句的方式脱口而出，经过数秒的挣扎他终于屈服于冲动之下。 “恕我提出一个鲁莽的问题，阁下之所以将藩王位交给亚历亚伯特卿，是否因为你们二人有血缘关系呢？” “是令尊告诉你的吗？” "Yes, it is." “你这个问题的确问得很鲁莽，法尔密卿。” 褚士朗的语气与表情并没有太显著的变化，反倒是法尔密的心理一直调适不过来。此时间褚士朗淡淡地道出一个严肃的事实。 “亚历亚伯特与我是表兄弟，同时也是亲兄弟。” "...?" “意思就是说，亚历亚伯特的母亲是我母亲的妹妹，而亚历亚伯特的父亲也是我的父亲，我们两人在母方算是表兄弟，但在父方即为亲兄弟，这就是你想知道的实情，法尔密卿。” "so……" 法尔密哑口无言，原来褚士朗的父亲与身为姐妹的两名女性同时往来，而这对姐妹后来又与其他男性结婚。法尔密知道。 亚历亚伯特与褚士朗的生日是在同一个月份，也就是说他们两人几乎于同一时期受胎。 “这就是铁达尼亚，以延续血缘统治为最优先目的，甚至可以无视基本人伦的存在，我认为天城就是这种扭曲价值观的象征。” 褚士朗不再开口，而法尔密不知如何应对，只有定定地伫立在难耐的沉默之中，将他从无形的桎梏里拯救出来的是一名少女活泼的声音。 “褚士朗卿，法尔！一起来吃午餐吧，饿着肚子是没办法上场作战，也没办法用功念书的。” 看着莉蒂亚公主朝绿色的庭园奔来，褚士朗朝法尔密笑道。 “那位小公主总是对的，空腹时即使摆出多么正经的表情思考事情也无法做出最好的结论，我们还是乖乖听从贤者的忠告吧。” 褚士朗挥手回应公主，一秒后，法尔密也跟着仿效。星历四四七年五月十九日，正值伊德里斯·铁达尼亚给予亚历亚伯特与褚士朗出面受审期限的前一日。