Heir to the Kingdom of 1.4 billion people

Chapter 97 World Famous Paintings (Highest Level! You’d be a shame if you didn’t read it)
In front of the hospital bed in the military camp, the smile on the face of the King of Gluttony gradually disappeared.

"My loyal knight, has your crippled body affected your mind, causing you to make such an absurd wish?" the king lamented.

"I am a merciful king, so I grant you the right to renew your wish. Please think it over carefully."

The king held the man's drooping hand on the hospital bed and spoke gently.

"Exempt the grain tax in the southern border."

Seeing that he was rejected, Leo spoke again with difficulty. His chest heaved violently, and every breath seemed to be squeezed out of his lungs, with a hoarse murmur.

The king's brows furrowed tightly, then quickly relaxed.

The kingdom's top painter was standing by, recording the final honor of this brave knight; he needed to pay attention to his image.

"Leo Martha, my selfless knight, grain tax is an important policy of Sosia and it is of great importance. You are a patriot and should put the country first!" The king advised patiently.

"I remember that the Martha family has been in the earldom for nearly a hundred years. I allow you to exchange this wish for the title of marquis."

"Or, I know you have a lovely daughter who is about the same age as my second son. Perhaps Martha and Sosia can become relatives by marriage."

"After all, the loyal are never let down by Sosia." The King of Gluttony said meaningfully, not forgetting to glance at the Lord of the North and the Lord of the West Valley behind him.

However, even though the king had generously granted a gift that was enough to drive countless nobles crazy, the dying knight's choice was still:
"Abolish...food tax...will never be changed"

After saying this last sentence, the man's half-open eyes gradually closed, his lips trembled slightly, and he seemed to want to say something, but he could only make a weak sound.

Finally, he closed his eyes completely, and the faint sound of his breathing completely disappeared in the room.

Crimson Fire, dead.

This means that the wish he made before his death can no longer be changed.

The expression on the face of the King of Gluttony became gloomy at a speed visible to the naked eye. His brows were furrowed and his eyes were cold.

The whole person exuded a chilling aura, as if the air around him became heavy because of his presence.

Do you want to regret it?

The king thought about the cost of regret. It was too high!
The Red Flame, who had previously thought that he would sacrifice his life for Sosia, was the kingdom's only loyal subject and was moved to swear an oath with his honor as proof.

If he were to go back on his word towards the victim, not only would the royal family's credibility be destroyed, but his own protection would also be affected due to his honor.

I can only promise.

This damned Crimson Flame, why didn't it die earlier? Why did it have to die at this very moment?

Due to the famine in the missing area, it will probably take several more years to achieve promotion.

The king suppressed his inner dissatisfaction and anger, and finally said in a solemn voice with an expressionless face:
"I, Lawn Sosia, declare in the name of Sosia IX."

"Southern Territory, from now on, grain tax will be exempted for twenty-five years!"

After saying this, the King of Gluttony shook off the Crimson Fire's hanging hand and walked away.

This historic scene was quickly painted by the kingdom's top painter in the corner using his protective ability.

The knight who was seriously injured and dying but still spoke with difficulty, the king who walked away in a huff, the Lord of the North with a mocking face, the Lord of the West Valley who clasped his hands together in remembrance. These subtle details are clearer in the master's pen than the details seen by the human eye.

The painting was eventually named "The Knight's Last Whisper" and sparked unprecedented enthusiasm and discussion in subsequent exhibitions.

However, it was soon banned from exhibition because it was an obstacle to the royal power. It was eventually bought at an auction by a mysterious wealthy man at a sky-high price, and then disappeared.

Twilight City.

This city-state, located at the junction of the plains and dense forests, looks particularly magnificent in the afterglow of the setting sun.

The city wall is about twenty meters high and is built of gray-white huge stones.

Outside the city wall is a sparkling moat, like a green ribbon surrounding the city.

A huge arch bridge spans the moat, with two lifelike red fox statues carved on both sides of the bridge.

At the city gate, there were two extraordinary knights in armor and a group of soldiers on duty.

At this moment, people who wanted to enter the city had formed a long queue, stretching for hundreds of meters including people and carriages.

"Your Highness, do we really have to queue?"

Berg looked at the endless queue in front of him, then looked at the notice not far away that said nobles did not need to queue, and looked embarrassed.

He felt that given His Highness's status, Twilight City should not only open the city gates and lay out carpets to welcome him, but at least it should not let His Highness waste his precious time waiting in such a long line.

"Let's get in line. There's no need to expose your identity for such a small matter."

Xia Mingyu got out of the car and stretched lazily.

He traveled around the southern border this month, and every day he was either on the road or busy helping the villages along the way deal with various problems, which really tired him out.

Now that he was in Twilight City, he could finally take a break, and he was also very interested in the city-states of this world.

rustling.

At this time, a gentle evening breeze blew by, and Xia Mingyu leaned on the carriage and looked up at the sky above his head.

The setting sun is like a flame, lighting up the clouds in the sky and dyeing them into a gorgeous rose color.

The emerald green forest in the distance turned into a silhouette in the twilight, its outline blurred and soft, as if blending into the sky.

Only when a few birds flying home across the sky occasionally come to my senses and realize that this is not a painting.

"Huh" Xia Mingyu took a deep breath.

He began to understand why Leo changed the name of this city to Twilight City.

It has been a month since I last saw him in the Spark Hall. If time passes at the rate of one day per year, he should be almost there by now.
"Your Highness, you are finally here!"

At this moment, a deep male voice sounded in his ears.

He looked in the direction of the voice and saw Count Martha's eldest son Roy, the powerful Crescent Knight standing not far away and looking at him with surprise.

"Your Highness, my mother, Countess Martha, had something important to discuss with you, so she went to Black Wolf Castle some time ago. Unfortunately, you had already left to travel the southern border by then, so she was unable to see you."

"My mother believes you will eventually come to Twilight City, so she has asked me to wait for you at the city gate. I hope you will condescend to move to Red Fox Castle so that she can meet you."

Roy bowed and asked sincerely.

"Of course, but I don't have to queue anymore, right?"

Xia Mingyu looked at the still long queue in front of him and thought that if he continued to queue, he might not be able to enter the city before dark.

"Hahaha, Your Highness, you are truly humorous! Even the almighty King of Gluttony wouldn't dare to keep you waiting this long!"

Roy laughed heartily, then leaped into the front room of the carriage, pushed Berg aside and took the reins of the horse from his hand.

It seems that he is going to be a groom himself.

Tatata!
The wheels of the carriage rolled over the stone slabs of the arch bridge and rushed straight towards the city gate.

"Who? How dare you charge straight into the city gate? Stop immediately."

The two extraordinary knights on duty saw this scene and immediately shouted and tried to stop the carriage.

However, after seeing the face of the coachman in the carriage clearly, their pupils suddenly contracted and their expressions were full of disbelief.

"Lord Roroy!"

As an extraordinary knight from Red Fox Castle, Roy Martha is their superior and master.

What these apprentices didn't expect was that their master would actually have to work as a rickshaw driver one day!
How noble is the status of the person in the carriage?

"Gray, Mai Lin, you two guys, get out of my way!"

"Yes!"

The knights hurriedly made way, allowing the carriage to pass through the city gate smoothly.

After seeing this scene, the civilians who were lined up in long queues cast envious glances at the carriage that was going away.

Oh, if only I were a noble too!

As soon as you enter the city gate, the hustle and bustle and prosperity hit you in the face.

Xia Mingyu looked out through the window of the carriage and saw smooth stone pavement on the street, and two-story wooden and stone buildings filled the street.

Blacksmith shops, laundry shops, bakeries, spice shops. All kinds of shops are lined up side by side.

In the city square with a fountain in the center, you can see street singers and flower girls holding flower baskets everywhere.

hum!
As dusk approached, a melodious bell rang from a distant bell tower, echoing throughout the city. Hearing the bell, people who had been working all day stopped their work and headed home with smiles on their faces.

"What a beautiful city! This is the treasure you've exchanged your life for, Leo..."

Xia Mingyu watched all this quietly and thought to himself.

Red Fox Castle.

living room.

A huge crystal chandelier hangs from the tall vaulted ceiling, and candlelight refracts through countless cut facets, shining brilliantly.

There was a roaring fire in the fireplace, the crackling of logs and the fragrance of pine.

Xia Mingyu was standing here, staring blankly at the mural hanging on the wall - a middle-aged man who was seriously injured and dying on the hospital bed, was struggling to open his mouth to beg the king who had left in anger.

The painter of this picture is very skilled. He perfectly depicts the pain, worry and uneasiness on the man's face, which can make every viewer empathize with him.

Although he looked very different from the boy in the Spark Hall, Xia Mingyu could still recognize him from his familiar features - he was Leo.

The hero who fought alone in the past.

"Your Highness, do you like this painting? It was given to my husband as a last tribute before his death. People call it 'The Knight's Last Whisper'."

The silver-haired old woman came over with two cups of hot tea. Seeing Xia Mingyu staring at the murals in a trance, she couldn't help but smile.

"Please take a seat. This is the best black tea in the entire Kingdom of Sosia, unique to our southern region—Dusk. Please enjoy it."

Xia Mingyu sat on the soft sofa, took the hot tea handed to him by Rosa, and glanced down.

The color of the tea is like the sky at dusk, between amber and dark red, as if it has gathered all the afterglow of the evening. A fragrance rushes into the nose along with the hot air.

Xia Mingyu took a sip and felt as if the tip of his tongue was wrapped in a layer of soft silk. Then the warm feeling spread from his chest to his whole body. He felt as if he was gently embraced by a pair of invisible hands, and his mood inexplicably became a lot lighter.

"What a gentle tea!" Xia Mingyu couldn't help but say.

"My husband once said the same thing." When talking about her husband, a hint of tenderness flashed in the old woman's still bright cyan eyes.

"My Lord, I wonder what you want to see me about today?"

"Thank you for coming. My husband left a letter before his death, and asked someone to tell me that I can only give it to the understanding blue star, mobile phone, and sand sculpture."

Soon, with Rosa's narration, Xia Mingyu gradually understood the whole story.

Leo's suicide note?!

After hearing the news, he was suddenly filled with anticipation and anxiety.

He was looking forward to it because he could still see the message Leo left, but he was also nervous because he didn't know whether the man would regret entrusting him with such a heavy mission in the end.

It’s so heavy that it takes a lifetime to carry it.

Under Xia Mingyu's nervous gaze, Martha took out an envelope with a yellowed surface and handed it to him.

After opening the envelope with slightly trembling fingers, Xia Mingyu took out the letter inside.

However, the content on it soon made him stunned, because it was a blank piece of paper.

"Your Highness, could you please tell me roughly what is written on it?"

Noticing the surprise on the young man's face, Rosa couldn't help but ask.

After all, this suicide note prevented her from sleeping peacefully for ten years, and she was also curious about what secrets her dull husband had that he had to hide from her.

"This"

Looking at the white paper in his hand, just when Xia Mingyu didn't know how to explain, his consciousness suddenly became blurred.

Spark Hall.

When Xia Mingyu regained consciousness, he came here.

At this time, under the crystal dome, the torch on the second black prism on the right was burning brightly, burning more vigorously than the torches on the other prisms.

A middle-aged man covered in blood was leaning on this prism, breathing with difficulty.

The moment he saw Xia Mingyu, a bright smile still appeared on his tired and dry face.

The man's lips moved, but he was dying and could not make any sound.

But Xia Mingyu still understood what he said - touch my head again.

Without hesitation, Xia Mingyu walked to the man's side and gently placed his palm on his red hair, just like he did to the timid little boy in the past.

"Rest in peace, your mission is over. You are a great knight, more brave and selfless than anyone else, including me."

Xia Mingyu whispered, he knew what the other party wanted.

The man who got what he wanted raised the corners of his mouth and slowly closed his eyes.

With a rustling sound, his remaining body turned into countless points of light that poured into the torch on the prism behind him.

At the same time, the pitch-black prism gradually turned into a red color like jade, and vivid murals appeared on it.

A beggar knocked down by a carriage, a boy training in the moonlight in the martial arts arena, a young man holding a violet and hugging a girl, a father holding his daughter, a dying knight pleading with the king.
This is the life of the red fire!

Reception room.

Xia Mingyu woke up suddenly, and then found that the white paper in his hand was already filled with densely packed words, as if the previous blank space was just his illusion.

He quickly read the contents of the letter:

Your Highness, by the time you see this letter, I will have already died in the past.

Although I've already told you, I think you'll probably still blame yourself, so I'll emphasize again—although I know the end, every moment of the journey fills me with longing."

I remember the violets blooming that day, the loving look in my wife's eyes, the warmth of her lips, the crying baby, and my daughter holding me and saying she would marry me.
Thank you, Your Highness, your kind and generous heart, for giving me, a beggar from the slums, such a wonderful life.

I am grateful to my master Tamerlan. I hope he will not resent my stupidity as his disciple. He has to teach me hundreds of times something that I can understand once.

Thanks to Uncle Hercules, although he always looks cold, he still secretly taught me some body-building and fighting skills, and taught me how to read.

I really have a lot more to say to you, but unfortunately my body can't hold on for much longer, and the King of Gluttony is on the way.

You must remember that the leader of the rebellion, Grand Duke Mason, was a great warrior. It was not me who took his head, but he gave it to me. Please be sure to save the people of the East who will surely be liquidated because of the rebellion in the future.

The following words are for Rosa, please pass them on to her:

My wife, please do your best to assist this prince. He is my great benefactor. I respect him like a father and firmly believe that he will bring light to the southern border and the entire Sosia.

And please plant a bunch of violets on my grave. I still feel very sorry that I soiled your long skirt that day.

Rosa, I really love you!

In the living room, after reading the entire letter, Xia Mingyu stood there in a daze for a long time.

His heart was beating so hard it seemed like it was going to jump out of his chest. He had read the letter over and over again, but the waves in his heart were still surging.

"Your Highness, are you all right?"

Seeing him so distracted, the old woman beside him couldn't help but express her concern.

"I'm fine." Xia Mingyu shook his head, then handed the letter in his hand to Rosa with some apology.

"My Lord, the last two lines of the letter were left for you by Leo."

Upon hearing this, the old woman's eyes suddenly burst into an unprecedented light. She quickly took the letter paper handed to her by Xia Mingyu and focused her eyes on the last two lines of text to read.

Plant a bunch of violets on my grave. I still feel sorry for staining your dress that day.

This plain sentence pierced Rosa's weathered heart like a sharp arrow.

"What an idiot!" Tears welled up in her eyes as she cried out.

Is she sad? No, she is just regretting a love that she missed for ten years.

"Mom, what happened!"

The moment they heard the crying, the two brothers Roy and Roland, who were waiting outside the door, immediately broke through the door and rushed in.

Then, they saw a scene that they would never forget in their lives - their mother, who was always elegant and dignified, and seemed to have aristocratic manners engraved in her bones, was now holding a piece of letter paper and crying like a child.

Is the world crazy?
The two brothers, Roy and Roland, looked at each other and silently slapped each other with all their strength.

(End of this chapter)