The east side of Tate City is known as the "Land of Thousand Lakes". The large and small lakes are as smooth as mirrors and are like pieces of green agate, contrasting with the surrounding lush green woods.
Such a beautiful place is naturally occupied by the royal family and the nobles. The private estate of James, Duke of Peforth, is located on the shores of a gentle lake that seems to have no waves, making people feel relaxed, peaceful and quiet.
A four-wheeled carriage pulled by a dragon-scaled horse slowly stopped at the entrance of the manor. Fatty Arthur, regardless of his clumsiness, opened the door in front of Lucien, jumped out, and then made a gesture to help Lucien.
Lucien smiled and shook his head. He took a step and appeared directly behind Arthur. He seemed to be talking to himself: "What's the point of doing this? As long as we run Holm Mining Union Bank, Minerals and Harvest Company well,
That's the best way to behave in front of Her Majesty the Queen."
There is no doubt that Natasha also inherited the shares that Prince Patrick "invested", so Lucien often teased her that he worked hard to invent magic items and accumulated a lot of wealth, and he didn't have to worry about the magic before being promoted to legend.
The materials were exchanged, and it was a time when she was high-spirited and proud, but her wealth far exceeded her own by inheriting the inheritance alone, which really made people envious and jealous.
Arthur turned around, followed closely behind Lucien, and smiled without blushing: "I respect you from the bottom of my heart, Lucien. The alchemy substances and magic items you invented have allowed me to gain unimaginable wealth, and
I also successfully squeezed into the inner circle of Duke James and the others, so what I just did was all sincere actions and had no other purpose. You said that Her Majesty the Queen is very satisfied with the promotion and development of Minerals and Harvest Company, but what about Holm Mining Union Bank?
Did she say anything?"
"Her Majesty the Queen is from Valorite and doesn't know much about the banking industry that only appeared in the countries around the Storm Strait, so she doesn't have much to say. Find an opportunity to write a report on the bank's introduction and future development direction and submit it to her.
." Lucien understood that in order to promote magic items and subtly influence Holm and the middle and lower-class people of the Kingdom of Brianna, there are three directions that must be grasped. One is the simplification of magic items and the scale of production.
The second is financial support with banks as the core, and the third is the control of public opinion.
Of course, the premise of everything is still based on the strength of the Magic Council.
"Okay." Arthur said with a smile. The flesh on his face, which was so fat that it felt swollen, was piled up, and his eyes were narrowed into a line.
At the door were two groups of soldiers wearing crisp dark red uniforms, indicating that Natasha had arrived.
Passing through them, led by an attendant, Lucien and Arthur went to the most eye-catching garden in the entire manor.
This garden is the pride of Duke James. It is said to be second only to the royal family's Thousand Lakes Villa. It is vast in area, full of exotic flowers, and intoxicating.
In the center of the garden is a relatively open open-air banquet venue, overlooking the lake and mountains in the front and surrounded by flowers and trees in the back.
As soon as he entered the banquet place, Lucien's eyes noticed Natasha. She was wearing black clothes that were closer to hunting clothes. She had long purple hair pulled up, and her silver-purple eyes were deep. She had a more heroic temperament.
She looked calm and calm, as if after so many days of adaptation, she had finally transformed from the mental state of the Violet Countess into the real Her Majesty the Queen.
Looking at Natasha with admiration and affection, Lucien became in a very good mood, as if a little of the impatience in his heart for so many days had been calmed down. Even if he did nothing, he was very satisfied watching her quietly.
As if sensing Lucien's gaze, Natasha turned her head slightly and raised her eyes to meet his eyes.
There seemed to be light shining in the silver-purple pupils, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up. It seemed that she didn't know that Duke James and the others had invited Lucien.
However, Natasha quickly suppressed the change in her expression and continued talking to the nobles around her.
She wore a pair of silk black gloves on her hands that matched the style of her clothes, and she did not take them off even when she received a hand kiss from the aristocrat.
Lucien "changed" back into a black double-breasted gown today. Since both parties have determined their feelings, there is no need to worry that the unchanged style will make the other party regard him as a friend.
After a while, Natasha looked at Lucien who was gradually walking in, and said with a polite smile: "Goodbye, my knight."
At this time, other less powerful nobles noticed Lucien's arrival, and the conversation suddenly stopped. Pairs of eyes including Duke James, Duke Russell, Arthur and others kept scanning the two of them.
Curiosity and expectation, trying to find some clues.
Is it a true good friend, a musical partner, or a loyal knight? Or is there another more intimate relationship?
Lucien took off his top hat, put it on his chest, knelt on one knee, took Natasha's right hand in his left hand, and kissed the back of her hand gently through the silk glove in the manner of a knight: "Your Majesty, your
The knight never leaves."
His right hand trembled slightly, as if he remembered something, and Lucien also recalled the scene describing the moonlight scene before, with a smile on his face.
When Lucien let go of his hand and stood up, Natasha smiled and said: "I saw a lot of novel things in the Kingdom of Holm. They made the kingdom full of vitality and vitality. This is your credit, Lucien.
"
Seeing the polite attitude of the two of them and listening to the normal conversation, Arthur was a little disappointed. They seemed to be just friends. They didn't cross the line at all, and there were no small details that showed a closer relationship. He thought Lucy
En could finally become the queen's husband, Prince Nexer, and he had found the strongest backing.
Duke James and others were quite disappointed, but there was also a bit of joy in their disappointment. They were afraid that Her Majesty the Queen would really fall in love with Lucien Evans and marry him regardless of the church split, so they would break away from themselves.
The original intention of others, they hope that Her Majesty the Queen will have a close relationship with Lucien Evans, but not to the point of being obsessed with her. Through him, they can obtain a child, stabilize the king's power, and have a nominal virtual king.
Husband, let the Church and Parliament maintain the existing balance, or be more in favor of Parliament.
As for whether they will maintain a private relationship as lovers, it is not something they need to consider.!
Trying to control his mood, Lucien really stayed beside Natasha and talked to her like a good friend and the queen's knight. From time to time, he was interrupted by her conversations with other nobles. The whole scene was no different from a normal banquet.
After more than twenty minutes, nothing could be seen. Duke James chuckled and said: "Her Majesty the Queen just mentioned the novel items in the kingdom. I happen to have some here. Why don't I lead Her Majesty the Queen to visit them? The inventor said.
Sean = Mr. Evans introduced it personally."
"Okay." Natasha replied crisply, understanding that Duke James wanted to communicate something.
So, Duke James and other four core members of the enlightened group, Lucien, Camille, and another young man with silver-grey eyes, surrounded Natasha and walked to the main house of the manor.
"This is Earl David, a fierce royal knight." Duke James introduced to Lucien.
Lucien nodded lightly: "I heard Mr. Morris mention your father, he is an outstanding magician.
David has an obvious Hoffenberg family appearance, with deep outlines, tough and handsome, but his silver-gray eyes made him look a bit cold and indifferent. He smiled and said: "Mr. Evans, I am very happy that you have shown my father's love for me."
Agree.”
His attitude was neither cold nor hot, as if he was thinking of his dead father.
Soon, several people entered the main house of the manor and stepped onto the red-carpeted stairs. As the queen's knight, Lucien naturally walked at the end, "protecting" Natasha with Camille on the right and left.
The moment Duke James and others passed the corner of the stairs, Lucien suddenly had a soft, slightly cold hand on his left hand.
"Natasha's hand?" Lucien turned his head to look at her slightly surprised, and met her delighted eyes.
Natasha's right hand had taken off its silk glove at some point, and the warmth in her palm was extremely clear, which was in sharp contrast to the politeness just now.
Lucien understood her intention and couldn't help but use his left hand to hold it tighter. Although there was no entanglement of lust, the secret clasping of his hands gave Lucien an indescribable feeling of satisfaction and warmth.
It seems to have a touch of eternity, as if the mood has become peaceful.
Natasha's eyes returned to the front as she held her hands, but she couldn't hide the smile on her lips.
After crossing the corner of the stairs, the two of them released their hands at the same time, and followed Duke James down the stairs and into the secret room as if nothing was wrong.
In the secret room, there are trays with glasses of wine, red wine, champagne and "sky blue" on them.
After checking, everyone picked up a drink and looked at Duke James, waiting for him to speak.
"Actually, I just want to ask Her Majesty the Queen what your attitude is towards the promotion of alchemy workshops and magic items? To be honest, we have a lot of wealth invested in this." Duke James consciously grasped Natasha's tendency.
, said straight to the point.
Natasha maintained the majesty of the queen: "I have only one attitude. All magic items that are beneficial to the development of the kingdom and benefit the people are encouraged to be promoted. All evil and depraved things are completely prohibited."
"Your Majesty, you are indeed not like those conservative people." Duke Russell said with a smile, "I want to invest in something now, but I can't find a place to make a profit. Mr. Evans, I wonder what suggestions you have?"
"What investment?" Lucien suddenly felt like he was attending a business negotiation meeting.
Russell took a sip of champagne and smiled: "It's a radio station, a radio station like Mysterious Voice and World Reality, not just a few news programs and music appreciation."
He was keenly aware of the value in it, but had trouble figuring out how to make money.
Natasha looked at Lucien curiously. He seemed to have mentioned this question in private.
Lucien smiled and said: "The most important thing is that magic radios are still very expensive now. Although they have been simplified, they can only be owned by civilians above the middle class. Its popularity determines the profit direction of the radio station."
"Any good suggestions to simplify it?" Earl Haisong was also very interested in this.
Lucien looked at them and said meaningfully: "I suggest that the radio station also runs a newspaper. Anyone who subscribes to the newspaper for one year will be given a magic radio. This way, the popularity will increase quickly."
"This will cause serious losses!" Earl Haisong is the finance minister and is very sensitive to this. A magic radio is much more expensive than a year's newspaper.
Lucien looked at Natasha and said: "It is true that there will be losses here, but it is a necessary price for promotion, and the income comes from advertising. I will push the Telephone and Telegraph Company, Mineral and Harvest Company, etc. to give huge advertising fees."
"Then you will lose money?" Natasha was a little confused.
Lucien smiled and said: "Advertising itself is investment, and the effect will only come out after the magic radio becomes popular. In this cycle, we can wait."
Even if there is a loss, it is worthwhile to control the direction of public opinion on Holm Kingdom Radio through advertising.
Just as Duke James was about to speak, his face suddenly turned black and he crushed the cup in his hand: "Poisonous!"
As soon as the words came out, Lucien felt the corrosive and terrifying toxin erupt from his body, but it was immediately eliminated by the Ring of Kangas. However, under the toxin, there was also a very weird curse power hidden, which made Lucien drunkenly.
Can't concentrate!
Is there something wrong with the wine in this secret room?
I didn’t even check it out myself!
In a hurry, Lucien looked down at Natasha, and his heart suddenly sank, because her face also turned dark and her hands trembled slightly.
Duke James shouted: "Who poisoned you?"
The sound was so loud that it seemed to shatter the glass, attracting the attention of the nobles outside.
He knew very well that as long as he was not a legend or above, anyone who wanted to get close to his golden knight and poison him within his consciousness would inevitably arouse a certain degree of vigilance in him.