You were made to farm, and now you're the emperor of an empire?

Chapter 116 The Guardian Family

Tiehua County.

Count Moya arranged a welcoming ceremony.

The visitors were Gael, the eldest son of the Archer of the Cracked Armor, and Macol, the eldest son of the Archer of the Raging Tide.

Dusk.

A procession of hundreds of knights surged through the great iron gate.

Macol was still young, his skin was somewhat rough, and his terrifying dark blue eyes inspired fear.

Prince Gael was no longer so young; wrinkles had crept onto his face, and his dark brown hair was turning gray.

He appeared gloomy, and the aura surrounding him was heavy and oppressive.

Tiehua County and Jinyinhua County are adjacent and very close to each other.

Ironflower County produces iron and is one of the key transportation routes connecting the Grand Duchy of Liejia with the outside world.

An insurmountable natural barrier, offering both offensive and defensive advantages.

As the Grand Duke's right-hand man, Count Moya believed that as long as the banner of Ironflower County stood, Dragon Castle would not be threatened in any way.

Honeysuckle County is a fertile land, said to be sown with seeds that will grow gold, and the soil is so rich it's practically dripping with oil.

Everyone knows that honeysuckle is Gaelic's flag and coat of arms.

Grand Duke Liejia especially favored his eldest son.

Honeysuckle County is a royally granted county, and the previous Black Iron King personally bestowed upon Gale the title of County King.

In Honeysuckle County, the Prince of Gael enjoyed various privileges.

The latter lived up to expectations, managing it meticulously and making it one of the richest and most fertile lands in the Grand Duchy of Rift Armor.

Count Moya believed he knew the eldest son's character.

He became the lord of Ironflower County twenty years ago, and had dealt with this Prince Gael countless times, and had also heard certain rumors circulating from Honeysuckle County—

Prince Gael outwardly possessed the air of a nobleman, but inwardly he had a terrifying personality; if anyone made a mistake in front of him, he would skin them alive.

He ordered everyone to act in accordance with their status and not to overstep their bounds in the slightest.

His wife, the second daughter of the former Black Iron King, was seen behaving intimately with a certain knight. He ordered the knight's legs broken, forcing him to crawl around the Honeysuckle Castle until he died a gruesome death. His first wife wept constantly afterward, and died of illness without finding peace.

His children feared his father, and his grandsons feared his grandfather;
The maids and servants were replaced one after another;
Everyone lived in constant fear... including even the instigator, which was chilling.

To outsiders, Prince Gael had an exceptionally good reputation, being known for his excellent upbringing, good family traditions, and generosity.

He remained unmarried for the rest of his life for his wife, had no illegitimate children, was loyal in love, and tolerant of his people; he was practically a paragon of nobility.

As a neighbor of Prince Gael, Count Moya had his own opinion of the eldest son.

……

The dinner was exceptionally lively.

Overlooking the entire hall from the high platform, Prince Gael sat at the head of the table, followed by Earl Moya, and finally Macol Fury.

The three sat in a row.

Count Moya waved away the male servants and personally poured a glass of wine for Prince Gael.

He was somewhat old, tall and thin, with an upright character, but his movements were very agile as he poured wine for Prince Gael. He was a famous strongman in Ironflower County, and once mounted on his horse, he was also a renowned knight-errant.

Thieves, bandits, barbarians, and pirates rose up everywhere, but Tiehua County remained steadfast.

"Has the Grand Duke still not given his consent?" Count Moya asked somewhat cautiously.

Prince Gael had an inescapable gloom and repression on his face, but rumors circulated that he was kind and approachable. However, not everyone had the opportunity to meet this man of noble birth.

Some say that one's appearance reflects one's heart, but Count Moya believed that one should judge by appearances, not by heart.

Gail said, "You have made a grave mistake by sounding the alarm bell. Do you know how furious and horrified that father was when he heard the bell ring?"

The count said bitterly, "This is our fault, but it was by no means our intention! We only ask for your understanding, Your Excellency, and we implore you not to indulge in pleasure. At this moment, you should prepare your troops and horses to deal with any unforeseen circumstances."

"Moya, do you know why Father doesn't want to see you?"

Count Moya remained silent. As a subject, he could not bear to see his lord fall into depravity, so he could only offer advice every day, which aroused the Grand Duke's annoyance.

The mistake made more than a decade ago completely alienated them from the Grand Duke.

Count Moya was deeply troubled. His grandfather had died young, and his father had also passed away from illness, making him vow to stay by the Grand Duke's bedside before he died.

Now he can't even get into the Grand Duke's Dragon Castle.

Now, so many years have passed, and each time he can only ask Prince Gael to relay his message and beg for mercy, but to no avail.

The Moya family has caused trouble, so they must bear the consequences.

But how will Tiehua County position itself in the future?

“I know you are loyal, but no one can persuade Father. He is completely ignoring the fact that some people equate him with the King of the Highlands of Eagle City.” Gale frowned, his face showing some disgust.

Count Moya assumed that the eldest son simply disliked the King of the Plateau.

The highland kingdom was shattered, and barbarian tribes launched raids, plundering as if they were entering an uninhabited land.

The lord of Eagle City, as a king, did not send troops to conquer, but only cared about enjoying himself, so his reputation was naturally very bad.

The Grand Duke of Cracked Armor was compared to him...

What a disgrace this is for a subject!

“The Grand Duchy will not fall to such a state!” Earl Moya said firmly.

Grand Duke Rage Tide sealed off Sinnoh and the Holy See, while Grand Duke Oak watched over the Dark Sea, confronting the demons.

Only the Grand Duke of Cracked Armor is located in the heart of the Black Iron Kingdom, a true rear area where no war can be ignited.

Which foolish barbarian or pirate dares to invade the Grand Duchy of Rift Armor?
Who dares to cause trouble?

Who dares to disobey?
He considered himself the Grand Duke's right-hand man, so he felt he had to give them a good beating.

No one on this land should underestimate the Guardian Family!
"You've misunderstood. I mean, are we just going to continue like this? Sit and wait to die?"

Earl Moya noticed that Prince Gael's face was clouded with gloom, as if it were about to drip water. "What we need now is not peace! We've had peace for decades! The structure of this land has remained unchanged for decades, like a stagnant pool. Wars are raging everywhere outside, and we can only turn a blind eye? Become mere decorations?"

Prince Gael stared at him with a gloomy look in his eyes.

Count Moya felt a sudden chill run down his spine as he realized that Macol was also silently watching him with his dark blue eyes. Those eyes seemed to surge, like a turbulent tide, engulfing him completely. The water in the air seemed to wrap around his neck, giving him an indescribable feeling of suffocation.

He suddenly had a bad feeling; the deeper meaning in Prince Gael's words made him shudder.

"The Moya family will always be the most loyal protectors of the Grand Duke of the Cracked Armor!"

These were his father's last words, and decades later, they remain as clear as ever.

So he swore again, "As long as the Duke of Liejia gives the order, the entire Iron Flower County will surely come out!"

“But can my father still give orders? He’s old and blind, doesn’t care about any political affairs, and can’t even stand up. Can he still lead us through all the hardships?” Prince Gael gritted his teeth, suppressing his anger, with a sense of oppressive gloom.

"He's no good! He's unfit! This land needs a new ruler! It needs a Grand Duke of Cracked Armor who is in line with the times! Let my father rest!"

He stared at him with a sinister look, his face quite aged, but now his expression relaxed, his wrinkles smoothing out, like a withered flower bud blossoming in a second spring.

And those crimson eyes revealed a greedy, burning heat, like the eyes of a legendary, greedy dragon.

Count Moya's ominous premonition suddenly intensified, giving rise to an unprecedented fear.

His hands, which could steadily lift a fifty-pound sword, began to tremble, and he could no longer hold the knife and fork.

He thought he was hallucinating.

In the bustling castle hall, guests clinked glasses and toasted each other, creating an exceptionally intense banquet atmosphere. The drinks emitted an alluring aroma that made one dizzy.

But those two gazes never left him, staring at him intently, like sharp daggers pressed against his back.

It's like the scorching flames of desire that burn people to death, and also like the icy, damp seawater that can drown people.

This is utterly outrageous!

Who are the instigators?
Who is the disobedient one?
The intense emotions overwhelmed him, leaving him dizzy and filled with a deep sense of guilt.

He knew the Prince of Gael's thoughts and was willing to be loyal to him, but only until the Grand Duke passed away.

When Prince Gael ascends to the throne rightfully, the Iron Flower County will surely follow his lead and support their only master!
But is that possible now?

too early!
That's too early to say!

He preferred to hear nothing at all, taking it as an illusion created by an evil wizard in his ear, a trap set to incite conflict between him and Prince Gale.

"Let's eat, let's eat..."

Count Moya ignored the evil wizard's tricks and vowed to find the wizard and tear him to pieces after the meal!

Prince Gael awaited the Lord of Ironflower's response, but was disappointed by his perfunctory reply.

As Count Moya reached for the roasting food, a flash of cold light appeared.

He was startled at first, then saw a gleaming silver dagger pinning his hand to the wooden table.

The hand holding the dagger was also somewhat aged.

"The Duke of Liejia has decreed that the Ironflower County has been abusing its power and disrespecting the Duke's authority! We are hereby ordered to reclaim all honors of the Moya family and execute them!!" Prince Gael roared, his dark voice echoing throughout the castle hall.

"Do not!!"

Upon realizing what Gale was saying, Count Moya was heartbroken and let out a bloodcurdling roar!
In an unprecedentedly critical moment, he didn't know why he said no!
Is it confrontation? Or indignation?

Or is it a denial of an order that would tarnish the honor of the Moya family?
He wants to clarify the facts for everyone!

They are utterly loyal!
The honor that belongs to Aaron Moya cannot be taken back!!
They are the guardians of generations!
Count Moya withdrew his hand, and the gleaming silver dagger sliced ​​his palm in two without hesitation, blood splattering everywhere.

He was going to rush to the clock tower to ring the alarm bell, just as his child had done fourteen years ago. The power of that bronze bell would surely awaken the sleeping Dragon Castle and make the Grand Duke of Cracked Armor re-examine his duchy and territory, and sort everything out!
The warriors of the Guardian Family are about to don their armor and go to war!

Go and suppress all traitors!
He still has so much to do, so much more...

But it's too late!
Because Markel behind him suddenly stood up, there was only enough time for him to let out a mournful and heartbreaking scream.

"Aaron!!"

Count Moya called out his grandfather's name.

The eldest son of the Duke of Fury drew his longsword and slashed fiercely. With a thud, the bloody head rolled off the platform!
Warm, bright red blood spurted out five meters away, splashing all over the steps.

In an instant, the entire banquet was dyed crimson!
The guests remained frozen in place for a long time. Upon witnessing this turn of events, they finally erupted in various screams, cries, expressions of grief and fear.

At that moment, the knights brought by Prince Gael and Macol also launched their attack.

There were dead and injured, there were those who resisted, and there were those who wept and despaired.

The entire hall was in complete chaos.

No one knows who knocked over the brazier, no one knows who lit the curtains, no one knows who burned down the beams.

The entire castle burst into flames.

The banner that had stood atop the castle tower for decades, embroidered with a large shield and bursting with sparks, crashed down amidst the chaos and flames!

The towering clock tower and the large bronze bell hanging there silently watched all of this.

It emitted a silent, trembling sound, as if it had traversed countless mountains and rivers and pierced through the barriers of space.

The silence was deafening!
Boom! !

A young knight, thousands of miles away, was suddenly awakened from his sleep. He was soaking wet and looked terrified.

It seemed as if I heard a bell tolling from the depths of my soul.

It tore open that bloody scar on its own.

at the same time.

Inside Dragon Castle, the sleeping Grand Duke Crack Armor opened his eyes, as if he had heard something.

But the sound was distant and unclear.

He quickly fell into a deep sleep, his bloated and obese body as still and lifeless as a mountain of corpses.

(End of this chapter)