novelraw #145 - Section 145
#145 - Section 145
She stared and stared, lost in thought, feeling inexplicably sad, which made Roger uneasy.
Roger waved his hand in front of her eyes: "Sis, what are you thinking about?"
"N-Nothing..." Angelina snapped back to reality, turning her face away. "Where did I leave off?"
Roger said with a cold face, "Don't bother. I don't want to hear it. Let's just go to bed early."
"???"
"If you don't share your true feelings with me, what you're saying can't be the real deal."
"You ungrateful brat, that's all stuff I worked hard to summarize... Oh my, are you throwing a tantrum because your attempt to care for your sister failed?" Angelina vaguely understood the subtext, her eyes brightening.
Roger just stared at her without a word, indicating, 'I'm very angry, I'm very dissatisfied, you better confess everything honestly!'
This childish behavior made Angelina want to laugh.
But her lips twitched, and she instantly remembered her younger brother, whom she had painstakingly raised, growing increasingly distant, and a feeling of grievance welled up in her heart.
She raised her little foot and kicked him on the shin: "It's all your fault, suddenly not being a good-for-nothing anymore!"
Roger also felt wronged: "Isn't bringing honor to the family what you've always wanted to see?"
Angelina's small face looked pitiful: "I did want to see it, but if the price is growing further and further apart from you, and only talking a lot when we encounter official business, then I feel like family glory isn't important anymore..."
"Ah, this, am I really that bad?" Roger tried hard to recall.
Then he realized that it seemed to be exactly as his sister described!
If it weren't for the fact that they had to work together to promote the Oath of Honor, they might not even have had today's conversation.
He's surrounded by hustle and bustle, and his sister's side isn't lonely either, but the only one who can really have a heartfelt conversation with her is probably him, her younger brother.
Like accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger, her friendship with Her Majesty is such that only Her Majesty can confide in her, and it's impossible for Angelina to pour out her heart to the Eternal Night Empress...
Even if the Eternal Night Empress is willing to listen and doesn't find her long-winded, Angelina's personality wouldn't allow her to trouble Her Majesty.
When he's busy, she also won't cause trouble...
Only when he comes to talk to her, asks her for help, can Angelina feel like her brother is still the same as before, and then vent a little bit of the emotions she's accumulated in her heart.
"Sister, you're so silly..." Roger couldn't help but sigh, but he was smiling, and also feeling a bit moved.
In this world, there are always older sisters who are like mothers, silently giving, silently dedicating, not wanting a single reward, just wanting to help you fly higher.
When they feel they have no value, they take the initiative to hide, bearing all the grievances themselves.
Angelina defiantly put her hands on her hips and roared: "Where am I silly? The entire Charles family was built by me, I fed you and took care of you until you were so big, and now that your wings have hardened, you dare to say your sister is silly?"
A strong arm suddenly wrapped her in its embrace.
The previously mighty and awe-inspiring Imperial Right Minister instantly stiffened, her small mouth slightly open, her beautiful eyes wide, watching the indulgence and doting growing in her younger brother's eyes, looking down at herself...
Her brain went blank in an instant, and all her thoughts vanished.
"Sis, if my wings have really hardened, it's also to help you shield you from the wind and rain."
Roger's chin pressed hard on the top of Angelina's head, "I neglected you before. But don't worry, I won't leave you, never... But I'm very stupid, you also have to say what you need, so I can know, a crying child gets milk!"
"Hmph, all you do is spout platitudes..."
Angelina complained, but her body gradually softened, leaning in his arms.
Finally, she hugged Roger back, sighing softly.
The warmth emanating from the tall teenager, who was now a head taller than her, gave her a long-lost, yet inexplicably comforting sense of reliability.
The originally delicate young man had become increasingly angular due to these days of training.
From this close-up, upward-looking angle, Angelina's vague memories of her father, Old Charles, also surfaced somewhat.
That man seemed to have also said that little Angelina was too well-behaved, and that she needed to cry and make a fuss so that adults would know she needed help...
Bah, bah, bah!
Why did she suddenly think of her father?
Angelina lowered her head, feeling her cheeks burning, and tightened her grip on Roger's arm.
He's just a stinky little brother, could she really count on him to protect her... Hmph!
Since her parents died, Angelina had single-handedly supported the family, raised her younger brother, and then busied herself with imperial affairs.
Although she enjoyed it, she also bore immense pressure, never relaxing, often waking up in the night, afraid that the great situation would suddenly collapse.
She had never imagined that in the end, it would be her own brother who spread his wings like an angel, protecting her under his wings.
This guy's tone is improper, his attitude is a bit cocky, making it seem like she needs him very much...
Angelina raised her head, stroked Roger's jawline with her small hand, felt the short, stiff stubble, and revealed a shallow smile.
Barely passable, rounded up, this family can be considered to have a man.
......
......
Arcane Capital, Maple Spirit Moon Shadow Palace.
Roger was going crazy with the Dark Night Guards, but he was also worried about this side.
Therefore, a shadow puppet constructed by the Shadow Doppelganger could only follow the Eternal Night Empress to pay attention to the changes in the empire's latest policies, so as to offer advice in a timely manner.
At present, it is a critical period for the empire to move towards centralization. If the hereditary land nobles are cut to the bottom, it is very likely that a civil war like the Rebellion of the Seven Kings will break out if it is not handled properly.
Although the Eternal Night Empress would not treat herself as Chao Cuo and send herself out, and the nobles have no chance of winning, but after all, wasting time is not good?
So Roger felt that he still needed to keep an eye on the Eternal Night Empress to avoid an oolong like killing the incarnation of the God of Nature.
Under various conditions, the identity of Dio Brando became active again in Aodu and began to attend cabinet meetings.
Xia Ti Veronica expressed strong protest, which caused great interference to her judgment of the situation.
Currently, the turmoil in the Qing Teng Empire is gradually subsiding.
The nobles themselves are not united. After the celebration night of the Triumph, those who fled fled, those who courted death courted death, and those who surrendered surrendered. It is absolutely impossible to repeat the grand occasion of directly confronting the Eternal Night Empress.
The Eternal Night Empress's fierce reputation is well-known, and the Dark Night Guards' lightning victory also made the nobles feel the more disparate gap in strength. The possibility of civil war is declining in a straight line.
With the Dark Night Guards' activity in the empire, sifting through the scum among the nobles, the nobles all obeyed obediently, and the civil war can be said to have been basically eliminated.
Of course, giving a sweet date after a beating is also a conventional combination punch.
While the Dark Night Guards were killing indiscriminately, Angelina also sent lobbyists to promise the surrendered nobles various rights and guarantees after losing their territory.
And most importantly, the Oath of Honor that can prolong life.
In fact, Roger is more accustomed to calling this thing a thought steel seal.
The magic ritual of the Oath of Honor, led by the Eternal Night Empress herself, has not yet been truly completed, but it does not prevent Angelina from making empty promises and appeasing the emotions of the nobles.
Becoming a high-level professional can increase lifespan, but no matter how strong the nobles' bloodline advantage is, not every child has this potential.
So the magic ritual that directly prolongs life is still quite precious, and the price paid is only "the need to be loyal to the empire". In the eyes of many people, this is a quite profitable transaction...
Nobles were originally going to swear allegiance, but the current oath is no longer just a casual statement, but a magic ritual with infinitely great constraints.
It's not unacceptable either.
The key is that there is no better option if you don't accept it...
It's really difficult to be a noble.
The Eternal Night Empress plans to build a spectacle-level altar specifically to carry the Oath of Honor. In the future, new nobles will come here to conclude the oath, and it will also become a fixed etiquette.
Roger thought this was a good idea and sent a unique building material.
Chamberlain Kaniton, that is, Duke of South Kaniton, has been successfully sent back to the empire by Tasika.
The altar has lights, fire, and is big enough, so it can always help his soul find a permanent home, reminding the nobles of the price of disloyalty.
Isn't this idea great?
Chapter 127: Flames Burn the Soul, Glory Eternal
Arcane Capital, Maple Spirit Moon Shadow Palace.
"Your Majesty, I suggest that the soul of Duke Nan Kaniton be placed in the sacred fire burning on the altar. He must constantly chant the main oath of the Oath of Honor in order to alleviate the pain of the flames burning his soul; in the future, if more heinous nobles are discovered, they can also be treated in the same way, and finally achieve a polyphony of loyalty."
Roger controlled the shadow puppet to transform into Dio Brando and enter the palace to report to the Eternal Night Empress that Duke Nan Kaniton had been captured, and gave a personal opinion by the way.
"Sounds good."
The Eternal Night Empress nodded slightly after hearing this. Such a disposal is indeed more appropriate than direct beheading, and it is also more relieving.
Duke Nan Kaniton hoarded grain and speculated on grain prices, colluded to provoke the noble class in an attempt to subvert the Queen's notification, actively fled and betrayed national interests.
Any one of these three is a capital crime that the empire cannot tolerate.
But his dog life only has one, and can only be killed once, which is too cheap for him.
Putting him in the sacred fire of the altar like lamp oil, enduring the pain of the flames burning his soul day and night, is worthy of what he has done.
At the same time, letting a traitor of the empire constantly chant the Oath of Honor to pledge allegiance to the empire, this scene is ironic enough to think about!
At that time, whether Duke Nan Kaniton is howling and repeating, or reciting in pain and numbness, it should be able to play a certain warning role to the swearing nobles, right?
Roger bowed and saluted when he heard the Queen agree: "Then I will retire, and I will send someone to transfer Duke Nan Kaniton to the Secret Law Society for detention later."
The Eternal Night Empress smiled and said: "There is no need for this. I am going to entrust the construction of the swearing altar to Aiqing Dio. There is no need to be stingy in terms of expenses and manpower, and the lamp oil will naturally be handled by you."
Roger frowned slightly. Your Majesty, is it really good for you to over-exploit labor like this?
[Here it comes, you spend a lot of effort to make shadow puppets, isn't it just because one Roger is not enough, and you want to exploit one person as two people?]
[It's really a good calculation, even capitalists are not as good at calculating and exploiting as you! I spit!]
The Eternal Night Empress heard this familiar voice of the heart. Although she was being complained about, she was unexpectedly happy.
Great, the little guy's mental strength has finally recovered, and she can copy homework with peace of mind again!
Wait, I'm not a masochist, I'm not happy because I'm being scolded, I'm happy because I can be scolded again...
Uh, it seems like something is wrong with this too!
The Eternal Night Empress waved her hand, dispelling the strange thoughts in her mind.
She will not be like those strange officials in the military department, who are full of energy when they are scolded.
She didn't wait for Roger to decline, and said first: "This altar will also be used as a garrison for the Dark Night Guards. I believe you will be more comfortable if you design and construct it yourself, right?"
This sentence really made Roger hesitate.
Although he often hangs the saying that building spectacle structures will ruin the country, if he thinks about it, his office will be inside a spectacle structure in the future, wouldn't that be a very respectable thing?
It just so happens that he also has divine architectural design ability, and if he has money and people, it is not difficult to create a spectacle, right?
It just so happens that the Dark Night Guards supervise the empire's nobles, and it is very, very reasonable to be stationed in the fiefdoms of the empire's nobles!
"Your Majesty has an order, I will do my best." Roger finally agreed.
The Eternal Night Empress snorted inwardly, look, look, it's not just me who likes to be grandiose, right?
It seems that my art of controlling subordinates has improved again!
......
......
In a month, the Dark Night Guards traveled from south to north throughout the entire empire, completing a major reshuffle of the noble class, handling countless old cases, and the people of the empire welcomed them along the way, ending the suffering of countless people.
With the end of the Dark Night Guards' public trial of the nobles, Roger Charles also became the most beloved big figure in the empire, second only to the Eternal Night Empress, in the position of commander of the Dark Night Guards.
His reputation is in full swing, and he returned to the Arcane Capital in triumph.
While the Dark Night Guards relentlessly rectified the nobles, Angelina used gentle means to repeatedly win over and negotiate, completing the preliminary preparations for promoting the Oath of Honor.
Although Angelina's tone is always very gentle, her younger brother is holding up a butcher knife, trampling the nobles' past dignity and pride into the dust.
So as long as the conditions are not particularly excessive, who would really be so open-minded as to refuse the conditions proposed by Angelina.
The nobles were also afraid that Angelina would give them a look, and the big knife would be砍砍on their heads.
As we all know, the Right Minister is not the kind of person who reverses black and white.
But her younger brother is now in a state of madness, scurrying around the empire like a wolf, who can guarantee that the trial will definitely be fair?