Atlas Battle Song

Chapter 25

Marriage, this kind of thing is too far away for an 11-year-old child.

But Little Trand understood early on what the adult world was like.When wandering in the West Plateau, he had seen alcoholic husbands sell their wives, and he had seen washerwomen with bruises hiding in corners of alleys crying.In Little Trand's cognition, marriage is often just a business, especially for aristocratic marriages, where the price is clearly marked.He thought he was already familiar with it.

But when Master Egg was about to get engaged, Little Trand was inexplicably angry.

He didn't want to see Egg, and he only spoke vaguely when he did.Even if his friends invite him to play in the market, he still pretends to be sick.

"It's ridiculous, how could I like a man!"

He concluded that he was probably just worried that Egg would not be able to find a good wife, and that Egg would not be happy in the future.From a friend's standpoint, it's reasonable to be angry about this kind of thing.

For the next few days, neither of the young boys had time to play together.

The dance will be held in a week.This is a big event, all the servants in the mansion are busy, and the farmers on the territory also have to prepare food.The countess is not in good health, so almost all the arrangements for the ball are left to the butler and Egg.As for the count, these family matters remained indifferent.The Earl moved to the old house as soon as he returned to the territory, and stayed behind closed doors every day, busy with his own affairs.

Little Trander just breathed a sigh of relief, and peeked at the young master's every move from a distance.

In the morning, a tailor brought precious and soft fabrics to tailor new dresses for the young master and young lady.

In the afternoon, several groups of gem merchants of different skin colors came to sell the latest styles in the imperial capital.Among them were a few merchants from the Western Highlands. They thought that little Trand was a servant boy brought up by the earl for entertainment, and they said some frivolous words, which angered Trand a little.Adults don't care about children's anger.They made fun of the boy, and said they would sell the Count some sexy gold jewellery, which could be worn on Little Trand's naked body at night.

Little Trand felt humiliated and almost drew his sword.

However, the butler at the side just coldly took the boy aside, turned his head and continued to talk to the jewelers.The few jewelers didn't take it seriously, and still cast lustful glances at the boy with ill intentions.Trander clenched his fists, turned around and left.

It happened that the count's youngest daughter passed by and saw everything.The little girl didn't keep Trand, but went upstairs to find her brother.

The little girl came to the second floor, and the two servants waiting at the door bowed and saluted, and opened the beautifully carved wooden door.

"Good day, Miss Ishtar."

Little Egg glanced at his sister and greeted him politely.After seeing wave after wave of enthusiastic gem dealers, he was a little tired.

"Hey, your little furball has been bullied."

The little girl was wearing a dark red dress, a lace shawl, and small carved leather shoes. Her long platinum curly hair set off her delicate face, like a doll.Although the eldest lady is cute, she is not polite when she speaks to her brother, like a female knight casually greeting a passerby in a tavern.

"Miss Ishtar, if my father hears you speak in this way, he will definitely punish you."

"Okay, then... my dear brother, I'm afraid your little furball has been bullied. If you have time, you can go and have a look." The little girl snorted and took the governess's hand.

"It's almost there."

The two angry children made the maids laugh.

Although Yi Ge and Ishtar are half brothers and sisters, they look very similar. If Yi Ge is a girl, she should be such a beauty.The relationship between the siblings is good and bad, it all depends on the mood of the two children that day.

"What happened to Trande, was he bullied?"

"That's right!" The little girl puffed up her chest energetically, as if she was waiting for her brother to praise her: "Those gem merchants in the western plateau spoke ill of Tland, and Tland got angry."

"Oh, did Trand draw his sword and cut them?"

The young master hooked his index finger, and the merchants waiting at the side graciously offered him new treasures for him to choose.

"The sword is drawn!"

"That's good. If I chop someone up, I'll lose money and it's over."

"Brother, I think you should go and see the little furball. He's not feeling right recently. Yesterday when he was practicing sword with me, he was not energetic, and he was dumbfounded when we played together. Trander may miss his mother." The little girl took her brother's lion The puppet was brought and hugged, climbed up on the high chair, and happily swayed its legs to play.The governess held the young lady's legs down politely, so that she could maintain a ladylike image.

Yi Ge sighed: "He is still willing to practice sword with you, he has ignored me these few days." The young master stretched out his hand and asked the gem merchant to try on the rings for him one by one.

"why?"

"It may be because I took him to see the ancestral grave two days ago, and he was unwilling to be buried with me. It may also be that I said that I would send wild lions to be neutered, which made him afraid."

"Brother, you are really out of your mind." The little girl frowned, "Look carefully at the ancestral grave."

"Miss!" the governess sternly stopped.

The little girl pouted and retorted: "I said it politely!"

Egg waved his hand, but the governess said nothing.Although the boy is young, he seems to have the demeanor of the head of the family.

"About the arrangement of the cemetery, I thought he would like it..." Little Egg tapped the short walking stick a little distressed: "I told my father specially: from now on, Trand's body will be placed next to me, the grave There will be carvings of Trander's favorite things around: kittens, puppets, pornographic picture books. By the way, my little black horse will also be buried next to it, with a carrot stone carving in front of it."

"I don't understand, does a grave need such a cute design???"

Hearing the word "pornographic picture book", the female governess coughed a few times in dissatisfaction, and wrote something down in her notebook.

"I just want to make Trand happy."

"Then you go and talk to him, he is in a bad mood after being teased just now."

"Okay, I'll find time to chat with him... It's just that I've been really busy recently, and the daughters of several families will come to the ball. I can't let the Gorgon family lose face."

"Why are you having a dance?"

"Father will choose a fiancée for me."

The little girl was shocked: "Fiancée! Can you get married with such a bad personality? I thought no one would like a boring man like you except Trand."

"It doesn't matter whether you like it or not. The heir has this responsibility. Isn't it the same for father and mother? Fulfill their respective obligations and be responsible to the family. You don't have to inherit the family business for the time being, but you can choose the way of life you like in the future."

"No wonder Trander is angry, he's jealous."

"Is he mad at me for getting married?" Little Egg frowned.

"Yes, doesn't he like you? Who can't see it?"

"I know, but is there any conflict between this and marriage? We can still play together often in the future, and he will always be by my side, from now to forever."

After hearing what her brother said, the little girl rolled her eyes.She jumped off the chair and stretched the lace skirt.

"Brother is so naive. Think about it for yourself, is Trander just a pet forever? So your idea is that when you grow up, get married and inherit the family business, he will accompany you as a knight, and when you die The two were buried together? You obviously know Trand's personality very well, is this fair to him?"

After speaking, Ishtar hugged the puppet lion and left.

Little Egg was stunned by his sister's question.

He knew that Trande was a proud boy with first-class physical fitness and talent in swordsmanship and riding.The teacher also often praised the boy, saying that if Trande was born in a family, he would definitely bring brilliant military exploits to the family.Little Egg always thought that Trand would stay by his side in the future.But what Ishtar said today made him shake...

Is Trande going to be his servant all his life?Will Trande be willing?

The young master anxiously tore off his shorts and straightened his jeweled bow tie, but even though he tried his best to pretend to be an adult, the child's mood was still written on his face.The old nurse who was with him came over and took the restless boy into her arms.

The warm hug calmed down little Egg.

"I don't know, I just want Trand to be happy..."

"It's okay young master, just handle it according to your wishes." The old lady smiled and stroked the boy's braids.

In the evening Little Trand wandered alone on the edge of the forest.He was in a bad mood because he was humiliated by a gem merchant in the West Plateau before, and he was not in the mood to try to practice sword alone in the afternoon.Master Yi Ge has been busy today, and he didn't even have time to come over to say hello.

"Hmph, let him get married alone!" Little Trande snorted angrily, picked foxtails and waved them back and forth in the air.

Just when he was upset, he saw a girl galloping towards him on a horse—it was Ishtar, the daughter of the earl's family, and Ego's half-sister.

"Hey, furball! Come race with me!"

The little girl was wearing a hunting suit. Although she was young, she was full of heroism.

Trander was not in the mood, so he simply lay down on the grass hill and said lazily, "Miss Ishtar, please let me go, I am sick today."

"I know you're in a bad mood." The little girl got off the horse and sat down next to Trand. "The gem merchants are still bullying you this afternoon."

"It's okay." The boy turned his back and lay on his side.

"You and my brother had a fight, didn't you?"

"No."

Seeing that Trander was obviously out of spirit, the little girl was even happier, so she asked knowingly, "Does the fact that your brother is getting married make you so angry?"

"Angry? Ha, why am I angry?" Little Trand jumped to his feet and said loudly, like an eloquent speaking in the city center: "I personally think--Master Egg needs nothing but A good wife! A boy like Master Egg has a gentle temper, a handsome face, and one of the best swordsmanship. He is almost a perfect knight. Do you think there is any woman in the world worthy of him? If he does not find a suitable partner, he You shouldn't get married casually!"

The little girl showed an indescribable expression, and also picked the dog's tail grass to poke Little Trander's nose.

"Hey, you think too much about that guy. He's just a boring man, just like our dad."

Little Tland was very serious: "If you say that nothing in the world is perfect, then you are wrong. Master Egg is the best."

"Silly lion, then you marry him." The little girl was amused and laughed.

Trander waved his hand: "That won't work, he and I are pure, friendship between men, friendship between knights, just like the great hero Calamon and his friends in "Sybyl's Battle Song" Eliol. I can say that Egg is the most important friend in my life, I can do anything for him, even die for him, but it is absolutely impossible to like him."

"What difference does it make!"

"The difference is that I definitely don't want to sleep with him..." Little Trand stopped suddenly, he didn't want to tell the little girl about these grown-up things.In Trander's heart, he himself was a mature and stable adult at the age of 11, while Miss Ishtar was still a child at the age of nine.

"Anyway, Egg and I are just good brothers."

"Then do you dare to kiss him?"

"Why! I'm fine, why are you kissing someone casually!" Trander blushed just thinking about that scene.

The little girl smirked, and rushed over and kissed Trand's cheeks: "It's fine like this. Isn't this a common cheek kiss ceremony among the Sybils? Since you are good brothers, it's okay to kiss on the cheeks, right?" ? Or are you scared and dare not?"

"Why don't you dare! You underestimate me too much. Kissing is such a trivial thing. I can do ten times a day with my brother!"

"Ten times!" The little girl clapped her hands happily, seeing that it was getting more and more difficult for Little Trander to end.

"Me and him are really just friends, really."

"Yeah, friend! Then you go, little lion. If you don't kiss Egg before the ball, it proves that you really like him in your heart."

"Hey, what's the problem, I'm going to kiss him tonight. Between friends, this little thing doesn't matter at all. It's so simple, you say it... Hahaha... Really. Me and him I usually sleep on the same bed, and we often take a bath together. What's wrong with kissing? I can't possibly like him, and I will marry four wives in the future. You say..."

"Enough is enough!"

The little girl covered Little Trander's mouth to stop this chattering and guilt-ridden guy.

Although the two children made a bet.But who will win and who will lose, they already have a rough idea in their hearts.

At first, Little Trande didn't take the bet seriously.He was so sure of himself that if he just said to Egg, "Come on buddy, let's kiss," it would be over.That way, he could also prove that he only considered Egg as a friend.

But the thought of "kiss" took root in the boy's heart like a seed of uneasiness.

When Little Trande sat with the maids at night polishing the silverware, the luster of the silver plate made him think of Egg's eyes, and then of the young master's smile.He suddenly felt that it would be great if he could kiss Egg's eyelids too...

"Look, the little lion hasn't moved for five minutes."

"What is the little guy thinking, ha ha."

Hearing the soft laughter of the two sister maids next to him, Little Trand came back to his senses, and quickly polished the silverware embarrassingly, making the silver plates shiny and shiny.

Not only that, when Little Trander was helping to fetch water, he saw the silver moon in the well, and he couldn't help being dazed again.

"Good evening, what are you doing here, boy?"

A gentle female voice came.

Little Trand looked up and saw a beautiful pale lady.

The moonlight shone on her, almost like a custom-made white lace robe.She smiled and was pushed in a wheelchair by the butler.There is a faint fragrance on the beauty, like the smell of jasmine.

For a moment, Trand thought he was seeing Egg.

"Ah, count...countess!"

The boy saluted hastily.Trander was a little nervous. He had hardly seen Egg's mother up close.Because the countess is in poor health, she can only rest in the deep house.

"Hi, little lion."

The way she laughed, the gentle tone of her voice, was almost exactly like little Egg.It turns out that this moonlight-like beauty can really be reproduced through blood, it is like some kind of miracle.

"Hello……"

Little Trander blushed a little and walked over involuntarily.

The countess touched the boy's cheeks and soft ears, "Mr. Egg mentioned you to me, that boy really likes you."

"Hey... hey, really! Me and him are just..."

"You have to try to live longer. Egg is a fragile child. Every time his cat dies, he will cry quietly. If you die early, the child will be sad."

The beauty smiled, and tapped the boy's lips lightly with her index finger.

"what……"

"Goodbye, little friend, may you grow into a true Sybil knight one day, and God bless you." After finishing speaking, the countess left, like a midsummer night fog disappearing into a traveler's reverie.

Little Trand was left alone by the well, thinking over and over about the conversation just now.

Breathing the fresh air under the moonlight, the Countess returned to her bedroom.

The housekeeper asked softly: "Madam, are you in good health tonight? If possible, Master Egg will come to visit you tonight."

The beauty nodded slightly.

Not long after, the maid opened the door, and the young master came in joyfully but calmly: "Hello, mother."

"Hello."

The countess smiled and embraced the child.

Egg was very happy, but he was afraid that showing excessive emotions would be harmful to his mother, so he just smiled faintly and sat on the chair opposite. "The preparations for the ball are almost done, and everything is going well." Little Egg straightened his back, trying to look like the eldest son.

The Countess nodded in relief, and took the golden cup from the maid.She had nothing to say to her son, but smiled softly and looked at Egg.

"By the way, mother..." Little Egg wanted to say, but held back.

"What's the matter, dear?"

"Well... can I temporarily... not get engaged?" Little Egg mustered up his courage and looked up at his mother: "It's not that I don't want to take on the responsibility of being an heir, it's just..."

"Okay, as long as you're happy." The countess finished drinking from the golden cup, and gently wiped the blood from her lips. The maid took the handkerchief and handed her another white axe wine with herbs.The countess thought for a while, and then said:

"But if you're doing it for Trand, that's stupid."

"..."

The little boy lowered his head in shame, pressing his clenched hands on his lap.

"I've told you many times that life is a boring thing, especially a short, worthless life like that. He's only a half-Sybyl, and his life expectancy may be about the same as that of an ordinary human, no more than your cats and dogs. Live a few decades longer. But what difference does it make? He will die before you."

The countess kissed her son lovingly on the forehead.

The boy was so sad that he was about to cry.

"My poor child, don't pour your emotions into humbleness and nothingness, you should dedicate yourself to the great and eternal existence."

"Then..." Little Egg still wanted to say.

"Sorry dear, I'm a little tired, please go back."

"Mum, please listen to me, one last request—!" Little Egg couldn't help standing up.

The boy's intense emotions made the atmosphere suddenly tense. The countess raised her eyebrows, but she still listened patiently to her son.

Little Egg covered his chest, and said word by word: "Since Tland is mine, then I have the right to set him free, right? I think it over, Mom. Tland cannot be my servant forever, he Very talented... You should fight for what you want. One day... I will set him free and let him go to the imperial capital to become a knight."

"It's not impossible, it's up to you."

The countess waved her hand, as if seeing off the guests.The maids came to help her, and the butler brought the young master's coat.

Little Egg was a little disappointed, he still wanted to stay with his mother for a while, but he couldn't bother him anymore, so he could only salute reluctantly.

"Oh, by the way," the Countess turned her head and glanced at her son, "If you want to let him go, remember to destroy the brand on his chest at that time. After that, he will no longer be under the protection of the Gorgon family .”

"Okay, mother..."

After seeing his mother, little Egg was depressed and went for a walk in the courtyard alone.

The moon was high and the gardens were full of pure white lilies of the valley and lilacs.The young master walked sadly, with his hands in his trouser pockets, thinking about the day's affairs.

As they were walking, the two little boys bumped into each other suddenly.

"Ouch!"

Trand and Egg.

They were all taken aback, like two kittens suddenly appearing in each other's territory.

"Oh."

"Aha—!"

Little Tland didn't know why he looked nervous, so he ran over and circled the young master.He seemed eager to get close to Egg, but just ran around and around.

"Little lion?"

"Damn it! Just wait, next time I'll—" Little Trand ran away again inexplicably.

"and many more……"

A kiss between friends failed tonight.