In the shooting range of the castle, Nangong Xiao, who was standing in front of the shooting platform, weighed the crudely made longbow in his hand and shook his head in amusement.
Just like in the original drama, such a small trick actually appeared on him. However, it was true that seeing was believing. Even if he, Nangong Xiao, was very active in the battle at the Dinant Plains, only a small number of people saw it.
Moreover, Irene's special care also made her subordinates jealous. It was normal for them to want to make a fool of themselves in front of Irene.
Nangong Xiao did not even hit the target with his first arrow. Immediately, a wave of boos and mockery came from all directions.
Nangong Xiao didn't mind and continued to shoot the second arrow. Unfortunately, it still didn't hit the target, but it landed near the target.
Of course, it attracted a wave of ridicule.
"Are you really serious?" The blonde beauty who was standing closer to him said impatiently.
"Of course, I'm already very serious. By the way, I don't even know your name. Beautiful lady."
Hearing Nangong Xiao's sudden words, the golden-haired beauty raised her eyebrows, but she still said," Lim, Lim. Eliza."
"Not bad, the pronunciation of the name is very nice.”Nangong Xiao, who was watching the shooting range, suddenly noticed a man in a cloak hiding behind the parapet on the distant city wall. He carefully stretched out a hard crossbow and aimed it at Irene, who was sitting beside the shooting range. Then, he shot the arrow without hesitation.
The sound of the arrow piercing through the air instantly attracted everyone's attention. At this moment, Nangong Xiao did not even think about it as he drew his bow and shot. With a loud " pa " sound, the arrow that was aimed at Irene was intercepted and sent flying by Nangong Xiao's arrow.
Such a stunning arrow stunned everyone present. Irene, who was about to use her dragon equipment to defend herself, smiled. Although the arrow just now could not hurt her, Irene was curious why Nangong Xiao would save her.
At the same time, the surrounding soldiers started shouting.
"Assassin! Protect His Lordship!"
"Chase! Catch him!"
"We can't let the assassin escape even if we kill him!!”
Just as the soldiers in the shooting range were mobilized, Nangong Xiao said to Lim beside him," Do you want him alive?”
"Understood."
Without waiting for Lim to speak, Nangong Xiao shot out a arrow from his bow. The arrow quickly pierced through the sky and landed behind the parapet on the city wall. After a scream, all the soldiers present were stunned.
Especially after hearing the soldier who rushed over confirm that the arrow had only hit the assassin's left foot from such a long distance. Such a miraculous arrow stunned everyone present, including Lim.
Nangong Xiao did not pay attention to the exclamations. Instead, he looked at Irene, who had already stood up and was looking at the city wall. He said," Do you still want to continue?”
"No, it's enough." Irene turned around and smiled." Well done, Count Nangong Xiao.”
……
The next day, Nangong Xiao was led to the office of the archduke by Lim. When Irene saw Nangong Xiao, she bowed formally and said," I heard from my subordinates that the bow they lent you was deliberately switched. In order to embarrass you, they changed the excellent longbow they lent you to a low-quality one and even tampered with the bowstring.
There are three people involved in this incident. I will behead them to apologize.”
"Is that so? There was no need to behead them. Let them go. I don't take this matter to heart."
"Why? Their actions have offended your dignity and even shamed you as a noble. Wasn't this a matter of course?”Irene asked in surprise.
" It doesn't matter. I don't have the concept that nobles are superior to others. In my opinion, people are equal. There are gaps, grudges, dislikes, and likes between people. These are all human nature.
Therefore, there's no need to let your subordinates lose their lives for these boring things. He would just pretend that this matter had never happened.”
This wasn't because Nangong Xiao was magnanimous. As long as he wasn't an idiot, he knew that he had to be magnanimous in such a situation. Otherwise, the life of a captive, who was already disliked, would become even worse. On the other hand, Nangong Xiao had used this magnanimity to ease the relationship between him and the soldiers of Wright Melitz.
Hearing Nangong Xiao's words, Irene and Lim were stunned. In this feudal era, Nangong Xiao's words could be said to be quite subversive. If an ordinary noble heard it, they would definitely mock him for not having the reserved and dignity of a noble. They would even scold him for being ridiculous.
There was nothing they could do about it. In this era where the cost of governing was so low that one only needed to kneel. If everyone was equal, would the nobles still need to come out and mingle?
"... It's really unexpected..." Irene was stunned for a moment, but she smiled." Alright, I won't pursue this matter." However, this will only happen once. If something like this happens again, I will use my own methods to deal with it.”
"This is your right." Nangong Xiao nodded indifferently and continued to ask," Why did you ask me to deliberately perform yesterday? Is it purely to show me my value?”
Hearing Nangong Xiao's question, Irene revealed a big smile. On the other hand, Lim frowned and said," This is because everyone is secretly saying that Lady Eleonora…fell in love with you at first sight.”
"Oh? So that was the case. In other words, you want me to deliberately show my value just to clarify to your subordinates that you are only interested in my archery skills?”
"That's right. Lim said that she couldn't let my reputation be tarnished. In fact, she even suggested that I kill you directly. However, I feel that it's a pity, and I don't think it's a big deal.”Irene nodded and continued," Besides, those rumors aren't completely wrong. I have a good impression of you too. Of course, it's more about archery.”
"Understood." " I'm fine." Nangong Xiao replied nonchalantly. Then, he suddenly asked," Can I ask you for a favor?"”
"Oh? Tell me."
"Apples. Give me 25 kilograms of fresh apples every day. Of course, I'll pay for it.”
"Can you tell me what it's for? Twenty-five kilograms a day, it couldn't be for eating, right?”Not only Irene, but even Lim was surprised. At the same time, a trace of anger flashed across Lim's face. After all, Nangong Xiao was still a captive. The captive actually dared to make an unnecessary request. Even if this request was not important, it was a little too casual.
Did this guy think that he was here for a vacation?
"Apple juice, I like apple juice.”
"What a…surprising answer.”Irene didn't think that Nangong Xiao was lying. After all, this was her public palace. Nangong Xiao's every move here couldn't escape the surveillance of her subordinates, so she didn't have to worry about Nangong Xiao doing anything dangerous.
Besides, what could an apple do?
"Alright, I'll pass on the instructions.”
"My lord!"
"Well, it's okay, Lim, we'll be one of us sooner or later.”Irene said cheerfully, as if she was certain that Nangong Xiao would not be able to pay the ransom.
Nangong Xiao didn't care about this, but he asked," Speaking of which, do you want me to teach archery by keeping me alive? I don't think you're doing this for the ransom.”
"Of course not." Irene shook her head and sat back down at her desk. "I left you alive purely because I wanted you to continue pleasing me.”
"Pleased?"
"Not bad." Irene nodded and continued," The Battle of Dennant was a boring war.
We had 5,000 men on our side, while Brunel had close to 30,000 men. This difference of five to six times in strength made me think that it would be a tragic battle.
However, what was disappointing was that I only split up into two groups, then attacked at night and intercepted them. It ended overnight. It's simply boring."
"Wouldn't it be great to win like this?”Nangong Xiao found it difficult to understand Irene's way of thinking. Or rather, he could not understand the mentality of a war maniac. After all, he had always yearned for being ordinary.
"I had prepared a few strategies, but the night attack of the prelude caused the collapse of the Brunai army, especially after the death of the crown prince of Brunai.”
Was this…a child who was sulking because he didn't get what he wanted?
" Prince Regnas…" Suddenly, Nangong Xiao remembered that in the original novel, the crown prince did not die in battle, and this 'prince' was a woman.
"Are you on good terms with him?" Irene turned around and looked at him.
"We've only met once." Nangong Xiao shook his head according to his memory.
"Then do you hate me? As the Count of Brunai."
"On the battlefield, everyone serves their own master. There's nothing to hate.”
"Each for their own master? Interesting." Irene nodded in agreement. She then continued," I was supposed to lead a team to chase after the defeated soldiers, but that wasn't a battle at all. They were like sheep. It was too disappointing.
At this moment, I heard a report from my subordinate that there was an extremely difficult archer near the Brunai camp who had already killed dozens of our soldiers. Out of curiosity, I brought my men over and saw you.”
As she spoke, Irene jumped down from the desk. Her skirt, which looked like a short qipao, fluttered, and Nangong Xiao saw a snow-white dress.
It had to be said that the women in this world were really…
Irene didn't care about Nangong Xiao's gaze. Nangong Xiao's gaze had always been clear and indifferent, so she didn't think that Nangong Xiao had any dirty thoughts in his heart.
As for the essence…cough…
Irene came to Nangong Xiao's side and held his hands with both hands. She said with a smile," You actually didn't lose your will to fight in that desperate situation. You even wanted to turn the situation around by killing me, the enemy's general. This surprised me and made me feel that it would be a pity to kill you just like that.
So I brought you all the way back to Wright Melitz. You're very much to my liking. And now, it seems that I really can't see that you're very interesting, whether it's in words, speech, or skills.”
"Understood." Nangong Xiao simply nodded.
This was the so-called spur of the moment... If it hadn't attracted Irene's attention at that time... Well, Nangong Xiao felt a chill on his neck.
But then again, her hands were really soft and tender. It didn't look like the hands of someone who had used a sword for a long time…
Irene's intimate attitude towards Nangong Xiao made Lim, who was standing at the side, raise her eyebrows.
" Lim, are you still holding a grudge for what happened on the battlefield?" Irene asked.”
" That's not the same as this," Lim said seriously.”
"Hatred on the battlefield…could it be that when I shot the horses of those three knights, one of them was you?”Nangong Xiao took over the topic. After all, it was necessary to have a good relationship with these two girls.
"You noticed it too? Hehe…the one on my left was Lim.”
After Irene finished speaking, Liam placed her right hand in front of the fierce man and bowed formally." Please allow me to greet you again, Count Nangong Xiao.”
" I wish you good health, Lim the Knight." Nangong Xiao also returned the greeting according to the etiquette of this world.
Looking at Nangong Xiao and Lim's formal appearance, Irene said in puzzlement," Can't you guys be more casual?”
"Sir, this is a formal occasion."
"Yes, yes, yes. Lim just likes to be serious.”As Irene spoke, she looked at Nangong Xiao." Speaking of which, your name is very strange. Nangong is your surname, right? This is the first time I've heard of such a name. By the way, your black hair and black eyes are also very rare.”
"Bloodline inheritance is my pride.”Nangong Xiao did not explain. At the same time, he felt lucky. He did not know if it was because of the system, or if the people in this world did not discriminate against skin color and hair color. After all, the people in this world were all European…
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