empty crown

Chapter 23

, Henry's palm was pierced by the tip of the cross, and blood trickled down Henry's palm drop by drop.

The name deeply engraved in the bone marrow, the more I want to forget it, but it seems to have a counterproductive effect, and it becomes clearer and clearer...

His face, his hands, his arms, his smell...

"Why don't you let me go..." Henry held the cross, placed it on his heart, lowered his head and bit his lips tightly: "Why don't you let me go...Eric."

When Eric woke up, he felt that his head was hurting. He looked at the empty wine bag and sighed helplessly.

I just dreamed about him again...

Eric covered his face with rough palms, not wanting to wake up from the bed.

His little prince, his Hal, seemed to have never left him... Smiling at him, Shuishui's eyes were full of his own reflection—what a beautiful dream...

I wanted to pass out again, but I drank all the wine I bought a month ago.

Eric has been in the dark forest for more than a year, he doesn't want to go out, the outside is no different to him in the dark forest, but the insomnia every night and the body's uncontrollable desire for Hal It was as if ants were gnawing at his heart... itchy and painful.

He tried to find a woman in the past, but he couldn't, looking at the faces of those women on the bed, he couldn't harden up, and the desire to raise his head seemed to know that he had found the wrong person, but it quickly softened, and over time, Eric simply never looked again. woman.

Soon Eric discovered that only in his dream could he see the Hal that once belonged to him, the Hal that was huddled in his arms and smiled as he read the difficult book, all for himself...

Eric became more and more addicted to alcohol, drinking more and more fiercely, and people are rarely sober. He can be self-sufficient in everything in the dark forest, except for alcohol... Eric had no choice but to go out regularly every month Replenish his wine-sac.

He needs alcohol to create dreams enough to escape real life for himself...

Eric wanted to throw away the dagger that once belonged to Hal several times, but every time he made up his mind to lose it for a few days, he would go crazy looking for the dagger, then throw it away again, and look for it again... This funny hide-and-seek game seems like It became a part of his life. In the end, Eric no longer struggled. He couldn't forget Hal, the name that had filled his whole body with his blood. He couldn't resist, so he could only escape with dreams. ...

Walking out of the dark forest in a daze, Eric was in a mess all over his body, the beard on his face almost completely covered his edges and corners, and he didn't bother to tidy up, just limping towards the nearest tavern.

There were more people in the tavern than usual, and Eric felt sensitively that something was different.

These people are queuing up, one by one, they go to the table in the middle and bend down to sign something.

...has nothing to do with me...

Eric was not interested, just glanced at it, threw his wine bag on the counter, and threw out a few copper coins.

"I will make a great contribution to the war with France this time! I will strive for an official position! The young and old in the family can count on it!" An enthusiastic young man walked past Eric.

"Me too! It's a rare opportunity to make meritorious service, so don't miss it!" Another person happily agreed.

Eric's half-closed eyes suddenly opened when he heard the conversation between the two.

'War with France' These few syllables knocked Eric's bewildered head like a hammer.

...No, why has nothing to do with me...

His Hal is dead... It is the King of England called Henry who is at war with France...

It has nothing to do with me...

Eric muttered silently in his heart, but his body couldn't help but grabbed the wine bag that had just been filled and walked out.

I just went to see the situation, not to see him...

Eric saw a notice posted at the gate of the palace from a long distance—a notice for conscription.

Calm down, Eric, calm down, nothing to do with you, nothing to do with this country...

"Shit..." Eric closed his eyes and cursed, turned around and walked back to the dark forest. He dug out a small piece of paper from his cupboard, filled it with crooked fonts, went outside and whistled , an eagle with blue feathers landed on a stake in Eric's house.

"Please..." Eric carefully stuffed the note into a small wooden tube, tied it to the eagle's claws, fed the eagle a piece of meat, and patted its head. The blue eagle is very spiritual. He pecked at Eric's finger, spread his wings and flew away.

Eric watched the eagle gradually disappear into a black spot in the sky, with a self-deprecating smile on the corner of his mouth: "Eric, how low are you... It's been almost two years... You still haven't made any progress..."

Go to war

"Your Majesty, I have something to say, and I don't know whether I should say it..." For the first time, the little guard looked at King Henry who was lying on the table and looking down at the official document so seriously.

Henry has already grown a short beard, and the immature face is also engraved with the traces of the years. The original delicate and handsome face has become mature under the background of the beard, adding a different charm.The red velvet worn on his body perfectly set off Henry's temperament, exuding an abstinence atmosphere from head to toe.

"You say." Henry has trusted this loyal little guard since he became the throne, arranged him in his bedroom, and gave him the title of bodyguard that many people are jealous of.

"Your Majesty, why are you fighting this time?" The little guard was a little annoyed: "I know you never cared about those bloodline issues, you just want to find a reason to fight like this!?"

It was the first time that the little guard was so angry. He had always respected Henry and would never speak in such a condescending tone, but this time the little guard really couldn't help it. No one else knew, but as Henry's personal bodyguard, he But he knew better than anyone that the reason for His Majesty the King to fight this time was that there was no reason at all!No... It should be said that the reason is that His Majesty Henry simply wants to use the name of fighting to get himself to do something!In other words, his respected majesty simply had a plan to die on the battlefield.

Henry raised his head and stared at the little guard. The little guard felt a little trembling in his heart, but he still forced himself to look at Henry—it was about your life, Your Majesty!I will never compromise!

"I should have inherited the French throne..." Henry said slowly, but the little guard interrupted Henry angrily: "Your Majesty, don't lie to me! You are all because of that person!"

The name that is always in your heart, even in your dreams.

Master of your precious dagger and necklace!

"Although I don't know what your Majesty's lover looks like...But why do you torture yourself like this? Even if you arrange him in the palace, there will be nothing wrong with it!? If it's because of blood...you You can also persuade the old men of the Privy Council to let you marry her! Why do you have to rely on war and bloodshed to forget her!? You are too selfish!" The little guard felt that even if he was about to lose his head, he must Finish these words: "Do you still feel that this throne is putting you on pins and needles!? Want to end yourself with death!?"

Henry stared at the berserk little guard, did he never think that his behavior was so obvious?It's just a personal bodyguard standing by his side, how can he see so clearly what is hidden so deep in his heart?

"Ben..." Henry called the little guard's name for the first time: "I think you are impatient?"

The little guard Ben broke out in cold sweat from being frightened by Henry's green eyes staring at him, but he still puffed out his chest: "For His Majesty, death is not a pity!"

Henry stood up and walked in front of Ben. He was half a head taller than Ben. Henry looked down at Ben who was sweating coldly, and laughed out loud: "Okay, don't be nervous, I won't kill you... But I'll pretend I didn't hear what you just said, and you're not allowed to tell anyone about it, or..." Henry's eyes flashed coldly.

"Your Majesty, are you still planning to go to war with France!?" Ben was anxious.

"There is no room for maneuver." Henry walked back to the table, sat down and continued to hold up the official documents.

"But our military strength and financial resources are not enough!" Ben hopped his feet, he was really worried that his Majesty would just go to die in vain.

"You should believe me..." Henry felt Ben's concern for him, and winked mischievously at Ben: "God is on my side..."

"But..." Before Ben finished speaking, the door was opened, and a guard saluted Henry respectfully, and reported: "Your Majesty, there are a group of people outside the palace asking to see you, and they brought