After I died, my personal maid rebelled.

At the same location, but at a different time, after Oswald left, Elene took out a gold coin and played a little game with Luna where they could only nod or shake their heads.

"Is it related to the demon race?"

As soon as Elena asked the question, Luna immediately shook her head.

"Is it related to nuns?"

Luna shook her head again.

"Is it related to the royal city?"

This time, Luna finally nodded, and Elena handed her the gold coins. Both of them smiled, achieving a win-win situation.

Luna: I haven't revealed any mission details at all.

Elena: All I need to know is that the source is in the royal city.

After Luna, who was smiling more brightly than a flower, left, Elene sat in the Duke's chair, resting her chin on a pen, and began to think about the task the Duke had assigned to Luna.

The first question is, in the royal city, what common ground do I have with Luna? There's only one answer: the Central Academy.

One of them dropped out of school, and the other was the top graduate.

The second question is, why didn't the Duke let himself participate, and instead chose Luna after hesitating?

Elena speculated that this was likely to cultivate Luna or to plan Luna's power in advance.

After repeatedly reviewing the Iron and Fire plan, Elena had guessed that the Duke would focus more on military matters.

Kuogu City will soon become the military center of the Northern Territory, while Ice City will only have the power of a political center in the future.

The best person to wield this power is another Charles, namely Luna Charles.

The third question is, when will Luna carry out the mission?

The answer is simpler: it was during the time Luna went to the royal city before and after the king's wedding.

Luna is to represent the Northern Territory to meet the King in the capital, while Elene needs to prepare many things in advance.

First, the list of candidates needs to be determined. According to tradition, Luna needs to bring at least one marquis and one earl.

The counts were all settled, but the remaining two marquises were either on their way back to the Northern Territory or had gone to the summer pastures to graze their livestock, and their whereabouts were uncertain.

We can't exactly have Luna take Annie with her, can we?

Therefore, after consulting the Duke, Elena chose the prudent Earl Morpheus and the young Earl Pete, who had studied in the royal city and was skilled in social interaction.

Besides the three-person caravan, the task of escorting them was assigned to Luna's three hundred cavalry.

But since they were going to congratulate a wedding, the cavalrymen couldn't wear heavy armor, nor could they bring long weapons.

Otherwise, three hundred well-trained heavy cavalrymen could do so much more if they entered the royal city.

To emphasize the Duke's majesty, Elena had to order the soldiers to wear uniforms made in a hurry, all of which were black with red rose patterns, which was also the symbol of Luna's personal guard.

In addition, there are a series of preparations, such as gifts for the king, a list of key figures to be visited, and candidates to express the demands of the Northern Territory.

"You want to learn knife skills from me?"

Alini was so busy she barely had time to breathe, yet Luna still had the leisure to cause her trouble.

"Yes, I plan to go back to school and learn a few moves from you to teach those guys a lesson." Luna clenched her fists, looking eager to try.

Setting down the document in her hand and picking up another, Elena dismissed it as childish musings and changed the subject, asking, "Why do you think my swordsmanship is so amazing?"

Luna raised her head proudly and said, "My brother said that your twin swords, which seem to only involve simple forward slashes, are actually made by a ghostly figure with swift and fierce blades, capable of taking a person's head in just a few steps."

……

Elena: I think I'm an office worker.

"Your swordsmanship is already among the best of your peers." Elena sighed, not wanting to pay attention to Luna, and quickly frowned at the documents in front of her.

"But I want to defeat more than just people my own age," Luna said, pouting and hugging her arm. "Besides, I always feel like my swordsmanship can't improve any further. What's that saying again? You have to learn from everyone."

In the end, she turned her attention to Luna, patted her head, and helplessly put down her work.

It is said that one vine cannot grow two kinds of melons. She really couldn't understand how Oswald, with such a cautious and steady personality, could have a sister like Luna who loves to show off.

"Come with me."

Luna faces a common dilemma among young people, and her solutions are similar.

But Eleanor still wanted her to know that the Duke's swordsmanship was not as simple as she imagined.

Leading Luna to a small room, Elena took out her key, opened the door, dusted herself off, and went straight inside.

Luna peeked out from behind, taking in the surroundings.

The room was so empty that one could immediately notice a divine weapon standing on the central wooden frame.

It was obvious that it was not a sword, but a nearly two-and-a-half-meter-long, ancient and imposing yet incredibly sharp lance.

The blade gleamed with a cold light, and the dusty wooden pole was covered with densely packed magical runes.

Strangely, while the room was full of dust, the lance was spotless and well-maintained. Clearly, this weapon was used frequently, so much so that the environment was deliberately kept dry to prevent the wooden shaft from getting damp.

Alene said in a low voice.

"The smelting techniques of the dwarven master, the millennia-old blue steel wood of the elven kingdom, and the top-notch magical craftsmanship of mankind—these three combined to create the one and only battlefield weapon passed down through generations of the Duke's family before you. To prevent you from damaging it while playing around, the Duke did not tell you about it before."

"Now, pick it up."

Luna stepped forward in a daze, first letting out a long sigh, then pressing her hand close to examine it closely. Finally, she seemed to have made up her mind, grabbed the wooden pole, and pulled hard...

Ok?

Feeling the weight of the lance, Luna immediately put her other hand on it, but no matter how much strength she used or how she changed her approach, the lance remained unmoved.

Whoosh! Unwilling to accept defeat, Luna gripped the wooden pole with her arm, roared angrily, and exerted force with her feet, barely managing to lift the lance a third of its length.

"What about your swordsmanship? Have you forgotten it?" Elena reminded her coldly.

Luna quickly let go, took a step back, and carefully observed the shape of the lance. A strange and superfluous movement in a certain starting stance came to mind.

She grabbed the lance above her center of gravity, took a side step and kicked it, and the lance quickly left its original position, spun half a circle, and landed steadily on Luna's hands, who was already standing and sinking.

Luna's smugness lasted only a few seconds as she stood in a horse stance. It has to be said that her posture resembled that of a vanguard general on the battlefield.

But soon, the heavy weight of the lance made her face turn red.

"This weight wasn't right for you," Elena comforted Luna after helping her put the lance back in place. In fact, Oswald was probably the only one among the recent dukes who could wield this weapon.

It is common knowledge that in short-weapon combat, the sword comes first; in long-weapon combat, the spear reigns supreme. So why would the Charles family, a military aristocracy, pass down swordsmanship?

Because the Charles family valued cavalry.

Swords and spears are the same type of weapon. Sword techniques are just the foundation, providing a certain level of short-range weapon combat capability. Moreover, when fighting on terrain such as city walls, swords are no less effective than knives.

Once it comes to cavalry field battles, the lethality and armor-piercing ability of the lance will be immediately and directly demonstrated, making it a formidable weapon on the battlefield today.

Sweating profusely, Luna nodded quickly, "I understand, I know how to improve my martial arts skills!"

"That's good."

Elena turned to leave, only to find that Luna showed no intention of moving an inch.

She turned around in confusion, meeting Luna's resolute face. Luna stretched out her hand and declared with righteous indignation, "Call me when it's time to eat. I want to spend a little more time with the senior!"

Senior colleague...

Alini sighed, "Fine, as long as you don't bother me."

Time flies like an arrow. After Elena had arranged everything and the guards had changed into elegant and capable formal attire, Luna also awaited the day to head south to the royal city.

The residents came to see her off. Luna, who loved to show off, changed into a military uniform, held a replica of a lance, and instead of taking a carriage, she led her white horse and swaggered up to Elena.

Elena was giving instructions to the two counts when she heard the sound of armor. She glanced at Elena briefly before turning her head away.

She took a deep breath and reminded the heavily pregnant Earl Morpheus, "Don't let the young lady bring these things into the capital."

The old count turned around and saw the swaggering General Charles. He almost choked on his breath and immediately said, embarrassed, "Yes, I've remembered it all."

Elena turned and stared at another androgynous creature. "Pete, you must also report your location to our soldiers before engaging in social activities, and be mindful of your attire."

More flamboyant than a woman, Pitt smiled elegantly, swayed his hips forward, flicked the rose on his ear with his delicate fingers, and opened his fiery red lips.

"Rest assured, Secretary General, I will surely become the most beautiful presence in the royal city."

After saying that, he glanced at Luna, a hint of disdain in his eyes.

Hmph, that young lady is anything but elegant. Attending social events with her might even ruin my beauty...

Eleanor didn't bother looking at him any longer and turned back to continue instructing the old count. "Don't let Pete wear a skirt. I don't want any strange rumors to circulate in the Northern Territory."

"Yes."

The old count readily agreed, and his already high blood pressure began to rise rapidly.

When it came to Luna, Eline's gaze was piercing, and all she wanted to say was three words: "Don't cause trouble."

Of course, she had repeatedly emphasized the things to pay attention to and the Duke's bottom line during these days, and had forced Luna to memorize them.

The meaning of "don't cause trouble" is twofold: first, you yourself must not get into trouble; second, do not provoke the king or royalty.

As for the rest, the Duke's exact words were: "Take care of it yourself and we'll see when the time comes."

"it is good."

Luna nodded vigorously, snapped on her armor, swiftly mounted her horse with her spear in hand, turned the reins, and shouted to her guards, "All soldiers, join me in the capital!"

"Here you go!"

The guards responded in a resounding chorus, mounting their horses in quick succession, followed by a chaotic clatter of hooves. Abandoning the caravan, Luna led three hundred cavalrymen, galloping out of the city gates.

"What's going on? Are we going to start a war with that brat king?"

Old George, who had come to watch the commotion, tapped his pipe, smacked his lips a few times, and looked in the direction the cavalry had left, sighing with some difficulty, "This number of men isn't enough."

Elena remained silent, gazing at the azure sky of the northern territory, her thoughts swirling.