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No Plagiarism!ooykT2TRrmWms02p5ablposted on PENANA 書房內燭火搖曳,牆上的掛畫隨著微風吹動,影子在牆上忽明忽暗。李察坐在椅子上,端起桌上的茶杯,輕抿了一口,然後歎了口氣:「愛琳,妳長大了。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAXW1J15vj6z 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANA8s8oXASfbs
8964 copyright protection194PENANAIj7qzbFaKr 維尼
愛琳雙手交叉靠在桌沿,微微歪著頭,眉毛一挑:「李察叔,你這是什麼意思?嫌我以前太調皮?」8964 copyright protection194PENANAUmpx0jvQfe 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANA7dNjMaTFkq
8964 copyright protection194PENANAnBvvntmt2j 維尼
李察輕笑了一聲,搖搖頭:「以前妳跑來找妳父親討糖吃,滿院子跑,現在呢,妳坐在這裡,得考慮如何守住妳的領地。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAS1T64gN3Qg 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAKi8dKO88fX
8964 copyright protection194PENANApEZxlMcbKw 維尼
他頓了頓,語氣嚴肅起來,「霜貴公國不只是想奪走這個領地,他們還準備打仗,菲力浦斯那小子已經開始集結軍隊,準備攻擊男爵城堡了。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAv70dw7Puv2 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAzdfxtE45wM
8964 copyright protection194PENANAIVxE40zRZZ 維尼
愛琳本來還帶著些調皮的笑容,聞言立刻臉色一沈,手指敲了敲桌面:「他們還真是等不及啊,刺殺不成,現在準備直接打過來?」8964 copyright protection194PENANApJmJy31hgF 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAynOnikIc7m
8964 copyright protection194PENANA8L2TjVeHSo 維尼
「沒錯,」李察點了點頭,放下茶杯,雙手交叉放在桌面上,「霜貴公國的野心不只是這片領地,背後真正推動這場戰爭的是霍亨斯坦帝國的奧古斯都·雷克頓公爵。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAesS0oN9S8I 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAgzXIaTNWKt
8964 copyright protection194PENANA0mBT7rHS3S 維尼
愛琳皺起眉:「雷克頓公爵?帝國裡最不安分的那位?」8964 copyright protection194PENANAcx45pWIcSW 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ni1A6SB7X
8964 copyright protection194PENANAijbnLnADUC 維尼
「正是。」李察語氣沈穩,「霜貴公國表面上是黃巖公國的競爭對手,但實際上,他們只是棋子。真正的幕後推手是奧古斯都。他的兒子阿爾弗雷德正在插手這場繼承戰,而菲力浦斯就是阿爾弗雷德的次子。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAoEbEx75iM1 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAEz9xsUQUll
8964 copyright protection194PENANAQv9mcjfs0S 維尼
艾瑞克倚在門邊,雙手抱胸,冷冷地笑了一聲:「這根本不是繼承之爭,而是雷克頓家族的嫡系想要奪取這片土地。」8964 copyright protection194PENANA5BDGk1VRt3 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAehpxemdJk1
8964 copyright protection194PENANACNF1DLoflE 維尼
「沒錯。」李察看向愛琳,語氣沈穩,「愛琳,這不只是男爵領的問題,這場鬥爭是嫡系與旁支的較量,是霜貴大公與黃巖公爵的角力,更是帝國內部的權力競爭。」8964 copyright protection194PENANA5ihTKZsAPW 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANADv5WSJvNGS
8964 copyright protection194PENANA0inlV1D0Ph 維尼
「換句話說,」愛琳輕輕敲了敲桌面,嘴角勾起一抹冷笑,「他們想讓我這個旁支滾開,把這塊地交回去?」8964 copyright protection194PENANAXf1T09KQNB 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAmsXQagUMYD
8964 copyright protection194PENANA5dgIDF6JXP 維尼
「是的。」李察嘆了口氣,「他們的計劃很明顯,先用刺殺殺死你父親,再削弱妳,然後推舉一個『合法』的繼承人,最後用軍事壓力逼妳讓位。」8964 copyright protection194PENANA9g1YSDu53s 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANA5iIRhb5Hb6
8964 copyright protection194PENANAbACjSxQfPr 維尼
愛琳靠回椅背,手指輕輕敲擊桌面,眼中閃過一絲思索的光芒:「所以,我該去找黃巖公爵,要他正式承認我的繼承權。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAbZHJZ9A4Q6 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANADEbZ4eP5D3
8964 copyright protection194PENANAp4DRqPcXxf 維尼
「這是最直接的方法,」李察點頭,「如果黃巖公爵承認妳,霜貴公國再怎麼折騰,也無法改變事實。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAD3Xuf29ffE 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANA0hq4yx3AXX
8964 copyright protection194PENANABb005WpQmc 維尼
艾瑞克在一旁開口:「問題是,黃巖公爵會無條件支持嗎?」8964 copyright protection194PENANAbj0KeE2jgF 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAqjQIgxzD6m
8964 copyright protection194PENANA3kvDC703V6 維尼
李察搖頭:「當然不會,他會支援愛琳,但他必須確保妳有能力守住這片土地。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAmqmKTJVFrC 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAstv2BmUD5D
8964 copyright protection194PENANALAbQviEySB 維尼
「所以他要看我能不能撐住局勢,才會真正站過來?」愛琳挑眉,「說白了,他還是想看看我值不值得投資?」8964 copyright protection194PENANAIpdNc4eFai 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANANWcEnfxkXz
8964 copyright protection194PENANAby4uXUmn4v 維尼
李察點了點頭,語氣平和:「愛琳,這不是不信任,而是現實問題。領地的生存靠兩點,經濟與軍隊。如果妳能保證經濟穩定、軍事防禦夠強,公爵當然會全力支持妳。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAUddpvEpss3 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANA14JFAQBZxf
8964 copyright protection194PENANAqqLGYl5wZH 維尼
愛琳深吸一口氣,點頭道:「我明白,這是很公平的條件。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAnLmDh5B8cn 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAtEKB0oGmuG
8964 copyright protection194PENANAk2OXJ58Bkf 維尼
艾瑞克適時開口:「問題是,我們現在沒有強大的軍隊,經濟狀況也一般,這是最大問題。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAM1g90au4pJ 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANA63dPpCBBxA
8964 copyright protection194PENANAKk7nwQLfig 維尼
愛琳揉了揉額角,苦笑:「這領地的稅收本來就不高,現在還得面對戰爭,財政壓力更大。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAHakB2wVoCN 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAWsmmtmj5p8
8964 copyright protection194PENANAe5HpVVnRzW 維尼
李察笑了笑:「我記得妳小時候還問過我,領地是怎麼運作的。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAiyWjVOuJKK 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANApgMHXCoc0J
8964 copyright protection194PENANAg8nZhDqV0h 維尼
愛琳撇撇嘴:「小孩子才會以為領主就只是坐著收稅的。」8964 copyright protection194PENANATLMsrUcPvK 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAaZIKipynfE
8964 copyright protection194PENANACbMMBPqUEj 維尼
「對。」李察輕笑,然後語氣一正,「經濟是領地的血脈,軍隊是領地的骨架,沒有經濟支持,軍隊就無法運作,沒有軍隊,領地也就沒辦法守住。現在,妳最缺的,就是軍隊。」8964 copyright protection194PENANADci5JoLP9A 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAOBfTbyL6pl
8964 copyright protection194PENANAeHCvKMHhyE 維尼
愛琳輕輕敲了敲桌面:「所以,黃巖公爵不會給我軍隊,除非我證明自己能守住這裡?」8964 copyright protection194PENANArE31yNyJMI 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAgKJE8xmj41
8964 copyright protection194PENANABUmhvUA3ak 維尼
「沒錯。」李察點頭,「他不可能白白投資一個可能失敗的繼承人。」8964 copyright protection194PENANATgzNUFpUnI 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAcC0RHgMH7J
8964 copyright protection194PENANAmL1fLgW5KR 維尼
「那我該怎麼讓他相信?」愛琳瞇起眼睛,思索著。8964 copyright protection194PENANAe1TAhZhHl0 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAfyWOtdE8FQ
8964 copyright protection194PENANA9YoLRPRaB9 維尼
艾瑞克突然開口:「除了經濟和軍隊,妳還需要盟友。」8964 copyright protection194PENANARuFw2jroN1 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANACfY8pip3ed
8964 copyright protection194PENANAxJ1wFh6fh5 維尼
愛琳看向他,眉毛微微挑起:「你的意思是?」8964 copyright protection194PENANAuf6DvzHybX 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANA7uOqyFzR1r
8964 copyright protection194PENANAcLQLjEHAqH 維尼
艾瑞克笑了笑:「妳如果能找到其他勢力的支持,黃巖公爵就會更有信心。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAvX8SnCjz0Z 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAWY4jNI8x3L
8964 copyright protection194PENANAuS46ntdJXF 維尼
李察點頭:「確實,妳的盟友越多,妳在談判時就越有籌碼。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAipgwsMC06M 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAA3zRNu0bcr
8964 copyright protection194PENANAcuVq02nIDS 維尼
愛琳歪著頭想了想,然後聳聳肩:「好吧,聽起來我要做的事情還不少,」她的眼神變得堅定,嘴角微微上揚,「但這可是我家的地盤,我不會乖乖讓人搶走。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAWylQOK60LE 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAngPdGa2zqj
8964 copyright protection194PENANA3X4uQb6jT6 維尼
李察看著她,眼中閃過一絲讚許,輕輕拍了拍她的肩膀:「很好,這才是亨利男爵的女兒。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAJ9DtG9PyXZ 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAc9e7kpVkZw
8964 copyright protection194PENANAznrBr8icIV 維尼
愛琳擡頭對他一笑:「李察叔,妳都來了,還會幫我吧?」8964 copyright protection194PENANAZi2ufEXDDg 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANA90sTFjEluN
8964 copyright protection194PENANArOrp7jFJM4 維尼
李察失笑:「當然會幫。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAV1Zeq4b2fJ 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAvKZkKL6Cb8
8964 copyright protection194PENANAPItMxau77F 維尼
艾瑞克也輕輕一笑,雙手抱胸:「那我們就準備出發吧,時間不等人。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAS4N9BEbUYs 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAaOLtDMhRyC
8964 copyright protection194PENANAuDoNA9Cq7r 維尼
愛琳點頭,站起身,眼神堅定:「我們去見黃巖公爵。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAynPjYT1GM7 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAl7pE1pJ4ly
8964 copyright protection194PENANAx2IZY3Jsdz 維尼
夜色沈沈,風聲輕輕拂過窗外,這場權力之爭,才剛剛開始8964 copyright protection194PENANAuAcPj4xbMZ 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAE4dIFUpsDc
8964 copyright protection194PENANAGJv2YR9ZaF 維尼
愛琳擡頭看向他:「你的意思是?」8964 copyright protection194PENANATBHCWSD36z 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANARpBSbl2jLp
8964 copyright protection194PENANA363TVug1v2 維尼
艾瑞克輕輕敲了敲桌面:「妳要讓黃巖公爵相信,妳不只是個名義上的繼承人,而是一個能真正守住這片土地的領主。妳需要軍力,需要支持者,尤其是當霜貴公國準備動武的時候。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAL5YdrSGaNf 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAnrSRFIuXSc
8964 copyright protection194PENANANxwA5dzUCh 維尼
李察皺眉:「但男爵領的軍隊規模太小,就算能防守一陣,長期戰鬥根本撐不住。」8964 copyright protection194PENANA08hKR2xKxk 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAdqvKnBZo39
8964 copyright protection194PENANAYf3SO4VF3a 維尼
愛琳深吸一口氣,點了點頭:「那就這樣定了。我馬上準備,儘快啟程。」8964 copyright protection194PENANACRuDCtmmJ7 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAt69UE5Ss04
8964 copyright protection194PENANAc50D9YrHch 維尼
她轉過頭,看向艾瑞克,眼神透出一絲不言而喻的信任:「艾瑞克,隨我一起去公爵城堡,我需要你在我的身邊。」8964 copyright protection194PENANA3qi5KKqmHS 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANABaVvfBQK92
8964 copyright protection194PENANAAsbXbyutYE 維尼
艾瑞克微微一笑,向她點了點頭:「我會一直在你身邊。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAx4WbEDpJiW 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAFsc6BnMBpB
8964 copyright protection194PENANAafOTzyuCK7 維尼
愛琳帶著艾瑞克、艾瑪和大山離開了男爵城堡,踏上前往黃巖公爵城堡的旅程。8964 copyright protection194PENANAy1b5V8zJTx 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAayivbJ4f4V
8964 copyright protection194PENANAJM0QCFMgLU 維尼
🖤 ★ ✦ ★ 🖤8964 copyright protection194PENANAAwH9uUwAm3 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAZhwBq0Nx6g
8964 copyright protection194PENANAKkcs2VZT99 維尼
路上的氣氛有些沈悶,男爵的死讓每個人都心情複雜,沒有人開口,但沈默間仿彿能聽見風裡夾雜的嘆息。愛琳走在最前面,背影比過去更加挺拔,像是一夜之間成熟了許多。8964 copyright protection194PENANAnEDwgE8Fr0 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAntaFev0GQc
8964 copyright protection194PENANAFneUZEDyE9 維尼
艾瑞克則保持警戒,步伐沈穩,眼神不時掃過四周,確保沒有人跟蹤。8964 copyright protection194PENANA5sordvk4cN 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAQJ9GJDIKyn
8964 copyright protection194PENANA2S0RFs0heY 維尼
至於艾瑪,她的步伐輕盈又靈活,仿彿一隻時刻準備跳躍的貓,尾巴悠閒地晃著,偶爾用指甲輕輕敲擊腰間的短刀,一副若有所思的模樣。8964 copyright protection194PENANAa4sTlHPl6f 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANARpJYx5x86q
8964 copyright protection194PENANAoTYDLL13Cm 維尼
陽光灑在她小麥色的肌膚上,勾勒出健康而充滿力量的線條。她的身形剛剛好,肌肉緊實卻不顯得粗壯,反而帶著獨特的野性美,步伐之間自帶一種獵豹般的靈巧。8964 copyright protection194PENANAoCyb2mXeQE 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAr9i5s2ufSF
8964 copyright protection194PENANAW2xMSD2LX6 維尼
但她的心思,卻沒有表面上看起來那麼輕鬆。8964 copyright protection194PENANAFA4SHgwqy7 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANALzisZIOg3t
8964 copyright protection194PENANA6ja4Qq4ytd 維尼
她不完全信任艾瑞克。8964 copyright protection194PENANAtbi34GGdcC 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANA6zl5qxZU8F
8964 copyright protection194PENANAVtWET4Tz0w 維尼
大山已經選擇站在艾瑞克這邊,但她不同。她是貓女,她知道這個世界的殘酷。忠誠不是靠話語建立的,而是靠實力和血統證明的。8964 copyright protection194PENANArstJcXmbH1 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAHGJuAtP5iN
8964 copyright protection194PENANAYy80h2OsAN 維尼
如果艾瑞克只是運氣好,才讓他們發誓效忠,那麼她就必須想辦法查清楚事情的真相。8964 copyright protection194PENANAH9kWESRSGw 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANA183zz0Hb4A
8964 copyright protection194PENANAmtDzeYumM3 維尼
她要確認,他是不是真的狼王。8964 copyright protection194PENANAs7YPsgGwjN 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAoeR6mIMNFG
8964 copyright protection194PENANADFBAniCV6e 維尼
而這件事,燧影村的虎人長老能給她答案。8964 copyright protection194PENANAKNnSHcBSYZ 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAZug2nY5Fad
8964 copyright protection194PENANAB0A5IPQF7l 維尼
艾瑪的金色瞳孔閃爍著狡黠的光芒,她悄悄瞥了艾瑞克一眼,然後故意放慢腳步,與他並肩同行。8964 copyright protection194PENANArIakbqKMOv 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAdcAqWmA06v
8964 copyright protection194PENANAuUd0nQS4vL 維尼
「艾瑞克。」她忽然開口,語氣輕快,仿彿只是隨口聊天,「你聽過燧影村嗎?」8964 copyright protection194PENANAhJPXXFtv3l 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAj58OBdsK7q
8964 copyright protection194PENANAwTSl5YZkaY 維尼
艾瑞克側過頭,看了她一眼,語氣平靜:「聽過,但沒去過。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAUan1vaEt66 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAThTxlZhtMz
8964 copyright protection194PENANAJ3qk31jaGM 維尼
「哦?」艾瑪揚起嘴角,語氣裡帶著一絲玩味,「那可惜了,燧影村可有不少有趣的人呢。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAaTplf24HBy 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAKZLwsOKscD
8964 copyright protection194PENANANVS6skJQBr 維尼
艾瑞克瞇起眼,捕捉到艾瑪話語中的意味。他能感覺到,她不是隨便提起這個地方,而是有意為之。8964 copyright protection194PENANAyG6sz8XSn0 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANA92Kqyf17um
8964 copyright protection194PENANAwfVv3UD3b0 維尼
「是嗎?」他的聲音低沈,帶著幾分探究,「那妳說的『有趣的人』,是指什麼樣的?」8964 copyright protection194PENANAYkEEn0WCLd 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAfqFP9iV1w9
8964 copyright protection194PENANAfITBuPPogK 維尼
艾瑪眨了眨金色的貓瞳,嘴角揚起一抹狡黠的笑意,尾巴輕輕晃了晃,像是在逗弄獵物:「這可要等我們到了燧影村,你自己去見見才知道了。」8964 copyright protection194PENANA8mn8SuYHSI 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANA0NgzebjywX
8964 copyright protection194PENANAcqwIG3Grgo 維尼
艾瑞克沒有立刻回答,而是意味深長地看了她一眼,然後輕哼了一聲:「那我就拭目以待了。」8964 copyright protection194PENANAqv33JAJRmP 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAcdMjhIixO8
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夜風輕輕吹過,樹葉沙沙作響,遠方的森林中,某種不知名的獸類低聲吼叫,像是為這場即將揭曉的秘密拉開了序幕。8964 copyright protection194PENANAbZ6y2JzuWF 維尼
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燧影村,那到底是個怎樣的地方?艾瑪究竟想讓他見誰?8964 copyright protection194PENANAbA1GKneZwr 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANAKWfj5Nk7in
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這趟旅程,似乎比預想的更加有趣了……8964 copyright protection194PENANACrOHUR1HHo 維尼
198Please respect copyright.PENANArVmMKfVwA6
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終稿於二零二五 一月三十日8964 copyright protection194PENANAwzzbJ7yBvq 維尼
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