"God, how could we be so complicated when we were fourteen or fifteen years old? Shouldn't we all be simple, stupid, impulsive and lustful?"
He looked at Glover angrily, seeking approval:
"There's nothing that a trip to Hongfang Street at night can't solve, right?"
To his surprise, Glover, who had always responded passively, spoke this time.
"It's not us," the taciturn pioneer officer snorted and turned to one side:
"only you."
D.D's smile disappeared instantly.
At this moment, another voice suddenly sounded:
"Is everything okay?"
Doyle and Glover were both shocked!
Within a second, the two of them stood upright at the same time and turned towards the iron gate.
They saw Lord Adrian, the supreme commander of the royal guard and captain of the guard, standing at the iron gate, accompanied by two attendants, looking at them with a smile.
Doyle felt as if he was struck by lightning. He first tried to force out a smile, then felt it was inappropriate, then tried hard to straighten his face and stammered in his words:
"Ai, Ed... team, team, team... captain, sir?"
Glover was also stunned for a moment, but he quickly reacted:
"Sir."
Adrian nodded and walked in with a smile. People around him recognized him and saluted.
"Everyone is busy, what are you two doing?"
The smile on Doyle's face froze.
He quickly stood still and took a step forward:
"Ahem... We are evaluating the defense vulnerabilities of Mindis Hall and making plans for future sentry posts..."
But Glover spoke stiffly, covering Doyle's voice:
"We're pretending to be busy, sir."
"And avoid the Logistics Wing call-ups."
As soon as he said this, Captain Adrian's smile froze for a second.
Doyle shuddered and looked at his companions in disbelief.
At that moment, Doyle was first trembling inexplicably, and then despairing. He just wanted to slap Glover to death.
Then shoot yourself to death.
In the unspeakable silence and embarrassment, it was the experienced Adrian who reacted first:
"Oh, you are all... from Marius?"
Doyle, who was in a heavy mood, sensed that the captain did not intend to take responsibility, and quickly made amends:
"That, ah...Lord Marius is inside, it seems..."
Glover's answer was as simple as ever:
"I'll report it."
But Adrian stopped him:
"etc."
The supreme commander of the royal guard put his hands behind his back, slowly walked towards the other party, and squinted his eyes to look at his strong figure:
"Are you Karen Glover of the Vanguard Wing?"
Glover looked solemn:
"yes."
Adrian nodded, with nostalgia in his eyes: "Very good."
"I knew your grandfather."
"Forty years ago, as a watchman, he personally promoted me into the Guard."
Doyle's expression changed on the side.
The way he looked at Glover immediately changed.
Adrian sighed:
"He is a stern man, but he deserves respect."
Glover's eyes moved:
"yes."
"I hope you are as respected as him," Adrian said in a very friendly tone:
"But...you don't have to be as strict as him."
"Be a gentle and easy-going person in the team, and you will find that you gain more."
Glover was slightly shocked and answered a little awkwardly:
"Yes Yes."
Adrian nodded and looked at Doyle.
The latter immediately stiffened unnaturally like a rat that had taken poison.
Adrian laughed:
"So, you are that...D.D?"
Doyle's mouth twitched and he smiled awkwardly:
"Yes, sir, sir...but, that's, that's...everyone calls it for fun..."
His voice was very weak and became weaker and weaker.
"Bridge told me about you." Adrian said leisurely.
"What?"
Doyle's eyes lit up, and his previous timidity disappeared:
"Yeah?"
He was looking forward to it: "Well, what did the chief say to me..."
"He said that the first place you wanted to go to was the Pioneer Wing," Adrian said calmly:
"After losing the election, I had to go to his guard wing as a last resort."
Glover glanced at Doyle subconsciously.
At that moment, D.D's face turned red.
"Sir, I, I..."
But Adrian became serious:
"It's not shameful to admit failure."
He said slowly:
“Only those who can accept failure are worthy of success.”
"Just as you must first be a 'guard', then you can be a 'vanguard'."
Adrian's sudden sternness made Doyle tense up subconsciously:
"Yes, sir."
Adrian nodded and looked at the two of them again.
"You are very young. You are both important arms of Marius, and you are also the reliable sword of the kingdom." Adrian resumed his previous kindness:
"Work harder."
"Yes, sir!" This was the silent Doyle.
"Yes." This is Grover who is still stiff.
Adrian smiled slightly.
"Also, don't be caught by the master when you are lazy," at this moment, Adrian suddenly turned his head and looked into the distance with a thoughtful look:
"Especially...he is standing right behind you."
Doyle and Glover were both shocked and turned around.
Thales, who was hiding behind a tree and was suddenly called Po Xingzang, was also shocked.
He had to awkwardly walk out from under the tree under the strange looks of D.D and the zombies, adjust himself, and smile gently and politely.
Adrian bowed respectfully to him:
"Your Excellency the Duke."
Thales quickly nodded in return:
"Lord Adrian."
"Excuse me..."
Adrian smiled and shook his head:
"Don't worry."
"I'm just here...to hand over to you the official writ of canonization of the Duke."
He turned around and handed a scroll to Glover (Doyle wanted to reach out to take it, but when the scroll was about to fall into his hand, he turned towards Glover strangely).
"By the way, let's see how the boys are getting ready," the guard captain, who was over fifty, looked at Doyle and Glover with a smile. The former smiled awkwardly, while the latter stood even more stiffly:
"After all, this is the first time in many years that manpower has been transferred from the royal guard to form a special unit."
Thales looked at the writ in Glover's hand and had no time to delve into the meaning of his words:
"Thank you for your concern."
The guard commander's smile remained the same: "I hope Tormund has not caused you any trouble."
Thales was stunned:
"To...who?"
Tormund.
His first reaction was the portrait of King Fuxing in the Mindis Hall.
But Adrian just sighed:
"I heard from Count Castle that you had a conflict with him on the road. I want to apologize to you for his behavior."
Only then did Thales realize that the person the other party was talking about was...
"But please believe me, Lord Marius is not disrespectful, let alone stubborn," Adrian said seriously:
"He's just...too casual."
Thales blinked.
"casual?"
He took a deep breath, recalling the way Marius had just told him, "No one will care about you," and wondered:
"My personal guard captain? Casual?"
Even Doyle and Glover, who didn't dare to express their anger, couldn't help but look at it curiously.
Adrian chuckled.
"Don't get me wrong, Your Highness, when I say 'casual', it does not mean laziness and negligence. There is no doubt about Lord Marius' ability."
Adrian looked at the Mindis Hall on the other side of the fountain and sighed:
"It's just that he hates complexity and trouble. When faced with problems, he would rather choose solutions that are within reach."
"This can be regarded as some kind of... arrogance."
Hate complexity and trouble...
arrogant.
After hearing this comment, Thales had a slight realization.
Adrian said helplessly:
"For example, the easiest way to protect the prince is to prevent him from going out."
"As everyone knows... sometimes this can cause more trouble."
Thales nodded and smiled in response.
I saw Adrian sighing:
"So, he often needs someone... to push him."
"To push him to do better."
Doyle and Glover looked at each other.
"Really?" Thales nodded politely: "I will pay attention."
"By the way, Lord Marius is..."
But Adrian raised his hand:
"Oh no, I won't see him."
The guard captain looked at Thales with a smile:
"Seeing you is enough."
"Six years ago, when you became a prince, I happened to have family matters and could not be present, thus missing your important moment."
Adrian's eyes suddenly became serious:
"But fortunately, I didn't miss the time when you became a duke."
Feeling the meaning in the other person's eyes, Thales was startled.
"Your Highness."
Adrian stared at him and spoke earnestly:
"An excellent warrior can endure and must endure many hardships."
"A qualified nobleman can and must shoulder a huge burden."
The guard captain said calmly:
"The same goes for kings."
The next second, he added something meaningful:
"Kings are even better."
Let Thales stay in place.
Adrian bowed again, then turned and left.
Seeing the guard captain's back disappear, Doyle took a deep breath, as if he had been holding his breath for a lifetime.
"Wow, wow, wow... Unbelievable, the guard captain talked to me..."
D.D said excitedly:
"After seven and a half years in the team, this is the second time I have met Commander Adrian face to face and talked alone! The last time was three years ago!"
Well, yes, three years ago.
I was in the watch room at that time,
It's like "Captain, captain, do you want a drink of water" and "No, thank you"?
Doyle thought excitedly.
"snort."
Glover snorted disdainfully, with a look of disdain on his face that said, "You have never seen the world."
Three years.
In the Fuxing Palace, how marginalized does this kid have to be to not have a chance to talk to the commander alone for three whole years?
As for myself...
snort.
With a touch of pride, Glover recalled the last conversation he had with the guard captain.
A few years ago…
Strange, why can't I remember?
Beside the two people who were in different moods, Thales was thoughtful.
"That's..." he said slowly.
Excited Doyle answered Thales' doubts:
"Oh, you don't know, right? That's the most embarrassing person in the royal guard."
"Captain of the Guard, Lord Adrian."
I saw Doyle's face was smug:
"His qualifications are enough to crush everyone else in the Guard, and he is a witness to glory and destruction."
Qualifications?
Glory and destruction?
Thales was slightly puzzled.
Glover nodded and looked at the direction Adrian left with a serious expression:
"It is said that the captain witnessed the Year of Blood, and was the only one to survive that legendary royal guard... an old member of the guard."
Witnessed the Year of Blood...
Thales's face changed slightly.
"You mean, my grandfather's...former royal guard?"
Doyle took a deep breath and nodded with longing.
Thinking of the prisoners in the Prison of Bones, Thales couldn't help but be shocked:
"Adrian...he survived the Blood Year? How did he do it?"
Glover shrugged.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty the Duke," D.D sighed and spread his hands:
"You just asked about the third number in the 'Top Ten Unsolved Mysteries of the Royal Guards'."
Thales was stunned and speechless.
At this moment, there was a sudden commotion outside the iron gate.
"No, no, no, this place is closed today... Even if you are a noble, you can't..."
The three people's attention was attracted. Doyle walked towards the iron gate, followed closely by Glover.
Curious, Thales also wanted to step forward, but Glover pushed him behind him and blocked him firmly.
"What happened?" Doyle called to a Bright Star private soldier outside the iron gate.
The soldier turned around and pointed angrily at a man in the distance who was stopped by several soldiers:
"Master Guard, this guy wants to break in... He said he is a noble, otherwise we would have..."
Doyle squinted his eyes and saw the man who was stopped clearly.
His eyes immediately enlarged.
"Wait a minute, I know him..."
Doyle stared blankly at the man waving to him outside the door:
"why you?"
The man outside the door struggled to break away from the soldiers' oppression and straightened his clothes. He was equally surprised when he saw Doyle:
"Hey, that's what I'm asking, D.D. Why is it you?"
Doyle's expression darkened:
"Nonsense, I am a royal guard... No, no, no, I asked you first: Why is it you?"
The man outside the door blinked and looked around, seemingly puzzled:
"That's it...it's me!"
Behind Glover, Thales, who heard the inexplicable conversation between the two sides, chuckled.
Glover looked at him strangely.
"Nothing, just..." Thales waved his hand apologetically:
"I'm reminded of a joke told by Northlanders: 'Why is it you?'"
Thales couldn't help laughing again.
Not understanding, Glover's expression became even more strange.
Outside the door, the dancing and incomprehensible conversation between Doyle and the uninvited guest continued:
"You're here to do what?"
The guest touched his head:
"I... asked for leave in advance today. I came here just to see the prince - ah no, he is the Duke now... I heard that he is back today..."
Doyle shook his head:
"No, nobles need to make an appointment before visiting..."
But D.D reacted:
"Wait a minute, how do you know that the prince is back today, and how do you know that he is a duke..."
"Oh, my crow is faster... Okay, get out of the way, don't block me from seeing him..."
"No, how do you know he is here..."
"Have you forgotten? When you sent the prince here today, we were responsible for clearing the way..."
"No, no, no, just wait...I mean, in what capacity and what qualifications do you have to come here to visit the prince..."
"Are you kidding? At my age, I am the only promising young man in our hall who holds the title of Lord..."
"Lord Royal? You mean you got the title of playboy because you have strong connections, a strong background, and a good father?"
"Bah, get lost! I am knighted, of course because of my merits to the kingdom!"
"Achievement...you mean, catching thieves on the street?"
"I'm arresting you...it was clearly six years ago when I went on a heroic expedition to defend the kingdom from war!"
"Hey, let's see how long you keep bragging..."
"Let me tell you, D.D., you are jealous of Hong Guoguo. You are jealous because you can't get ahead..."
"Bah, you, a person who has been single for more than 20 years, do you still have the face..."
Behind the iron gate, Glover held his head in shame.
Obviously, the negotiation between Doyle and the man outside the door will not end for a while, and the surrounding Bright Star private soldiers who are tired of hearing have already returned to their posts.
But Thales heard something.
"Doyle?"
Regardless of Glover's expression, Duke Xinghu decisively stepped over the former and reminded loudly:
"Doyle!"
In front of the iron gate, Doyle, who was arguing endlessly, finally came to his senses and remembered his responsibilities. He quickly turned around and said with an apologetic smile:
"I'm sorry, Your Highness, to disturb you... Well, let me introduce, this is..."
Doyle turned sideways, pointed at the uninvited guest outside the door, and awkwardly shouted out a string of nouns:
At that moment, Thales saw clearly the guest outside the door.
He was stunned.
"Well, the heir to a certain big earldom is working and vacationing in the royal capital..."
Doyle smiled dryly and gave the person's name:
"Cohen Karabyan."
Thales stared blankly at the man outside the door.
"Hey, eh, eh, Your Highness! Do you still remember me? I am the one...the one...who eats more fruits and liver..."
Outside the iron gate, the tall security officer Cohen looked at the much grown-up Thales in surprise, then pointed at himself, showing his big white teeth, and gave a silly smile that said, "It's me."
Doyle looked at Cohen in horror as he tried to wave, and coughed awkwardly.
"By the way, Your Highness."
Not noticing anything strange about his master, Doyle lowered his voice and put his head next to Thales' ear:
"The nobles in the royal capital are spreading rumors... about this guy..."
Doyle pointed at Cohen who couldn't help but smile and wave, nodded his head covertly, and whispered confidently: