In the evening, when Brandiotto was finally summoned by Emperor Louis Bode, he felt mixed emotions.
He had wanted to enter this temple since he was young, but when he actually entered the Altdorf Palace, he had already entered as a foreign citizen.
The ideals and beliefs he once had have been wiped out with the passage of time. This golden palace he once dreamed of, now, before his eyes, there is only decay and degradation.
Emperor Louis Bode sat high on the imperial throne, with a crown of gold and precious stones on his head, and received him with a condescending sense of arrogance.
They should be of the same level. He, Brandiotto, is an envoy to the Empire on behalf of Kislev. He should not have such a condescending attitude toward envoys from neighboring countries...
Brandiotto recalled the scene when he met Rhodes for the first time. As the leader of a country, Rhodes showed a courtesy and gentlemanly demeanor that no emperor could have. At least, what Brandiotto saw
Among the kings, I have never met him before.
Today, the supreme leader of the empire is a case in point.
He sat high on the imperial throne and did not even have to step down the steps to shake hands.
The mosaic floor inlaid with emerald gemstones in the palace seemed to Brandiotto at this moment to be nothing more than the extravagance of a decadent emperor. The palace in Kislev had always had plain marble floors, so smooth that they could reflect human figures.
Just like the rulers of that country, they are honest and selfless.
"Brandioto, on behalf of the Queen of Kislev, conveys the kindest greetings to the noble Emperor."
Despite a hundred reluctances, Brandiotto still did his best to fulfill his role as an envoy. He looked senior and friendly. Like countless envoys who met the emperor, his face was full of awe and admiration. However, in Brandiotto
In Diotto's heart, the image of the imperial emperor was no longer tall. He, like countless small citizens in Altdorf, was selfish, greedy, ignorant and arrogant...
Sitting high on the stage, he looked like he was the only one in the world.
"Hahaha, Your Majesty the Ambassador, I would also like to express my most friendly greetings to your Queen. I have always wanted to have the opportunity to visit your country and see the changes in your country in recent years. Unfortunately, I am in a senior position and I am not allowed to visit you on weekdays.
It’s so busy here that I never have time to go there. It’s a pity.”
The emperor raised his thin lips and showed a kind smile——
"I heard that Kislev has changed a lot over the years, and Oerengrad has even seen a renaissance."
"You should really go see it."
Brandiotto answered with a smile and walked to the arranged seat.
"The city has changed a lot, but more importantly, the people have changed. His Majesty the Emperor, it is no exaggeration to say that Kislev now and Kislev ten years ago are simply two different things.
Especially after Ice Queen Denis and Northern Guardian Rhodes truly came to power, Kislev ushered in a real renaissance.”
Brandiotto said, his face filled with pride and pride. However, in front of a circle of imperial rulers, he was like a clown or a frog in the well, bragging about those false stories that were not worthy of the name.
The emperor smiled awkwardly. The bald priest on the side wanted to interrupt, but was stopped by the emperor's wink. Obviously, everyone present felt uncomfortable after boasting about himself.
But Brandiotto didn't care. Deep down in his heart, he had already distinguished himself from these aloof imperial rulers. They were people from different worlds.
"I really hope to see the ice and snow kingdom you mentioned one day. I don't know if it is still that cold. In my impression, the winter in the north is like an ice cellar, which is unbearable. I believe that the people and warriors there are brave and can
The people who fight against the extremely cold weather are all brave people."
The emperor hesitated, picked up the wine from the servant's plate, and took a sip.
"By the way, Your Excellency Brandiotto, was your bed comfortable last night? I arranged for you to stay at the Star Dew Hotel, which is the most luxurious hotel in Altdorf. Sorry, the palace is already overcrowded. Otherwise, you should be accommodated in the palace.
Overnight."
"You're welcome, His Majesty the Emperor."
“The hotel environment is very good, the furniture is luxurious, and the beds are very comfortable. It is better than any hotel in Kislev.”
"That's good."
"Karl, he was unwell yesterday and failed to fulfill his contract. I have already asked someone to punish him. I hope you will forgive me. That child..."
"It's okay, it's okay." Brandiotto waved his hand and smiled awkwardly, "His Royal Highness is in critical condition."
"Let's get down to business first."
Brandi Otto finally couldn't bear this polite and tasteless conversation.
The emperor's face darkened, and the corners of his mouth twitched into an awkward smile.
"Business, yes, let's talk about this first. Lord Rhodes wants to attack Sylvania, right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Vampires have always been a hidden danger to the Empire and Kislev. They have been powerful and have been defeated, but they are far from being eliminated. The living and the dead are destined to be unable to coexist. Vampires are by no means good people. This group of undead spirits entrenched in the south
, the devil, always wants to destroy us, replace us, and enslave us.”
"And now, the power of the dead is reviving. Several witch hunters from the Church of Sigmar have died tragically in Sylvania. At this time, Lord Rhodes believes that we can no longer sit still and wait for death. We must take advantage of the fact that the vampires are weak.
Conquer it in one fell swoop. Free Sylvania from vampire enslavement."
In the main hall, Brandiotto, the envoy of Kislev, spoke loudly.
However, no one listened seriously to his "nonsense".
The bald priest next to the emperor looked even more disdainful. His eyes were like looking at a clown on the stage, watching this insignificant and insignificant little nobleman "talking nonsense" in the palace. If it were not for his identity as an envoy from a neighboring country,
, this unknown little nobleman could not even step into the palace.
"That's natural. Vampires have always been a major concern for the empire. Kislev is also bordered by it, and it is our common enemy!"
The emperor said, clapping his hands.
It was as if he himself approved every word the messenger said.
He did agree, but...there were countless others behind him.
The silence of Tiras Gorman, the dean of the Altdorf Academy of Magic, and Yuri, the great reciter of the empire, said everything. There were several electors, and not even one of them met with Kislev sent in the palace.
's messenger.
The emperor does not represent the empire, he is only the formal supreme ruler of the empire.
Brandiotto also knew this very well, but Altdorf, the capital of the empire, was still his first destination because it was etiquette. Visiting the emperor first, and then visiting other electors was a matter of course, and this should be the way it should be during the ceremony. If so
Visiting other electors first and then the emperor would be tantamount to admitting that the status of other electors is higher than the emperor himself. This would really cause extreme resentment in the Reikland.
Although I don’t like formalism, I still have to follow certain etiquettes. Rhodes knows this. Brandi Otto also knows this. Even if the Altdorf trip is full of polite words and nonsense, I still have to do it.
.
"It's just that sending troops to the land of the dead is no small matter. It still needs to be treated with caution."
Louis Bode changed the subject and looked slightly embarrassed.
Brandiotto had already expected this and did not say much. He just looked at the emperor with "reverence" and waited for him to finish speaking a bunch of righteous and awe-inspiring words.
"Your Excellency Brandi Otto, do you know the history of the century-old battle between the empire and vampires? To be precise, it is far more than a hundred years. Since the establishment of the empire by the great Emperor Sigmar, the dead have always been one of the empire's mortal enemies. In order to exterminate vampires
, the empire paid a huge price."
"Don't underestimate the vampire power that occupies a corner. Although Sylvania is small, tens of thousands of imperial heroes are buried there."
The emperor said, frowning.
"But this time is different. Your Majesty the Emperor, the thousand-year history of Kislev and the Empire has been marked by constant turmoil and internal and external troubles. However, after the third great invasion of Chaos, the relationship between the Empire and Kislev
The Rif coalition defeated the powerful Chaos Legion. Under the hard work of the great Emperor Magnus, the empire entered a century-old era of stability and prosperity. And Kislev, led by a group of outstanding people such as Rhodes and Dennis, killed
The Vampire Queen has eliminated the remnants of vampires in the territory. At this moment, we are also ushering in the era of great recovery."
"The enemy is weak, but we are strong and stable. This is the best time to resolve this century-old grudge. In addition, the vampire killed Diego, the witch hunter, who was also a life-and-death comrade who once fought alongside Rhodes. Yu
It is reasonable to say that at this time, everyone should work hard to eradicate the plague of vampires."
In the palace, Brandi Otto shouted loudly.
Around the venue, there was the noise of whispers from the participants...