Roger didn't sleep well all night. He felt that the castle was a bit cold. He just wanted to leave as soon as possible. He would rather sleep on the baron's straw mat.

It was just dawn that day, so he got up, but there was no chore for him to do. Here, he was not a page boy, but a respectable second young master.

So Roger decided to go to the stable to feed the horses. He found oats in the kitchen with familiarity and took two raw eggs. He saw someone in the kitchen looking at him warily and seemed to want to stop him, but he ignored him.

, he was not in the mood to educate these newcomers. When he went out, he met the kitchen supervisor. The supervisor obviously did not expect Roger to come to the kitchen so early. He was stunned, and then immediately nodded and bowed: "Good morning, Second Young Master."

Roger just said "hmm" and went out. He met the guard captain in the yard. The captain was fully armed. He was a little surprised to see Roger. He greeted Roger slightly nervously: "Good morning, 2

Master."

The captain of the guard did not wait for Roger to return the gift and explained directly: "Today is a big day. Madam has summoned all your lord's vassals. The bishop will announce your will in public. Young Master Simon will take over the title of earl."

Roger knew this a long time ago, so he politely said to the captain of the guard: "Good morning, I understand, I'm going to feed the horses."

"Today is a big day," the guard captain walked with Roger for a while, "I have to make sure no one causes trouble."

Roger didn't want to pay attention to this. He just wanted to finish and leave early. He thought, this has nothing to do with me. Roger woke up "Gift" in the stable. "Gift" seemed a little surprised why he started eating so early today, but it

He would not refuse Roger, not to mention that there were raw eggs in the oats, so he ate them happily.

Roger had nothing to do next. He patrolled aimlessly according to his old habit. He saw the captain of the guard giving a stern lesson to each guard. Everyone cheered up. The suspension bridge had been lowered and people came in one after another.

, the servants in the castle began to get busy, they were setting up a banquet, and there were probably a lot of people coming today. The servants also put tables and chairs in the yard, probably to entertain guests who were not very important.

It was getting brighter and brighter. Roger walked to the entrance of the suspension bridge. He found that the guards were checking everyone who came in. Except for those with a title, even the attendants were not allowed to bring weapons in. They checked the servants even more tightly, including all the servants.

Not even sharp corners.

At this time, several carriages came with large open barrels on them. Roger got closer, but he was too short to see, so the guard stretched his head to look.

"It's fish. There's fish in the barrel." The guard seemed to want to stick his wooden gun in to pry, but hesitated as if he didn't think it was necessary.

Roger had to climb onto the car, hold the barrels and look inside. The barrels were clearly filled with clear water and fish. Some barrels contained several fish, and some barrels had only one, but there was absolutely nothing else.

The captain of the guard noticed that there was a pause here and came over to check. He shouted sternly: "Why are you standing there? Drive away these delivery people and let the people in the kitchen take over. No outsiders are allowed in."

So the delivery men were told to come back tomorrow to get the carriage back, and they were told to leave. The kitchen servant came over and pulled the carriage in. Roger saw that things were done in an orderly manner and did not want to cause trouble to everyone, so he returned to the house.

Gradually everyone came, and everyone sat down according to their positions. Adelaide took the main seat, Simon was on her right, and Roger was on her left. Baron Rollo also came, and on Roger's left, the guard

The captain stood guard behind Adelaide. Roger knew most of the people, but there were some he had never seen before. He saw those sitting at the bottom, including Victor's brother. He estimated that these were his father's

The newly recruited bishop after the Eastern Expedition also came and sat far away opposite Adelaide, at the other end of the long table.

Roger thought, let's end it as soon as possible. This was also the case. The bishop read the count's will and no one had any objections. Everything was a foregone conclusion and there were no surprises.

So the banquet began, and the minstrel sang a song, this time it was finally a cheerful tune. Roger also saw the moon boy, who was performing so clumsily that he added joy and confusion to the scene. Adelaide tried her best to greet him, lest he

Who was dissatisfied, but she was overly concerned. The guests ate happily, but Simon and Roger ate almost nothing. It was obvious that neither of them had an appetite.

The dishes came one after another, and the servants shuttled back and forth like water. Someone always went to the wrong place. Some guests got two portions of the same dish, while some didn't get one. So some guests fed the dogs under the table with dishes, and some

A guest called the servant a dog. The food tasters each took their own places, eating every dish as soon as it was put on the table, and drinking the wine as soon as the bottle was opened. Roger felt that what they needed to do this job was a big stomach rather than loyalty.

.

The guard at the door of the stone house scrutinized every servant who came in and out. If there was any suspicion, he would be searched to prevent them from accidentally bringing in something they shouldn't have. Roger noticed a beautiful maid with a blushing face. The guard was serious.

She had to be searched. This was already the third time she had come in and the third time she had been searched.

When the main course came to the banquet, Roger knew that it was fish, because today was a Wednesday and people were fasting, so no one took it seriously in private, but on this occasion, in front of the bishop, one still had to pay attention.

A new face that Roger didn't recognize carried a huge basin, which was big enough to bathe a baby. He walked towards the main seat. The captain of the guard dutifully took a step forward and got close to Adelaide.

Then, everything happened so suddenly.

The basin hit Simon, and the captain of the guard drew his sword to block it. The water and fish in the basin splashed on Simon. The fish twisted around, and Simon twitched all over. The new face rushed towards Simon, and was pierced by the captain's sword. Simon twitched.

He collapsed and slid down the chair. The fish jumped on the ground and crackled with electricity.

Roger's mind tightened. Rollo had already drawn his sword and stood up. Adelaide sat dumbfounded. Several more knights who had returned from the Eastern Expedition stood up and drew their swords. Victor's brother held it in his mouth.

The food was still sitting, and so were the people around him.

Roger's heart was beating wildly. He bypassed Adelaide and pounced on Simon. Simon was lying on the ground lifeless, and the fish was still jumping. He happened to be next to a food tester. He caught the fish, and the captain of the guard caught it.

Withdrawing his sword and swinging at Roger, the new face fell down holding the wound. The captain of the guard stopped his sword. He was stunned. The sword was dripping with blood and pointed at Roger. Rollo ran to Roger and waved his sword to separate the guards.

The captain's bloody sword.

Roger clasped his hands together, straightened his wrists and elbows, followed the momentum of the jump, and used the gravity of his body to press vertically downwards on the middle of Simon's breasts, once, twice.

The new face vomited blood and shouted: "We are the victims of our lord Huo Shan."

A knight who came back from the Eastern Expedition shouted: "Fidai! Assassin!"

Victor's brother had just spit out the food in his mouth and stood up. Roger did not stop, six times, seven times.

"What's going on?" someone shouted.

Eight times, nine times.

"What happened!" more people shouted.

Ten times, eleven times.

"Parricide!" Some upright people who didn't know the truth drew their swords and rushed towards Roger.

Twelve times, thirteen times.

"For Roger!" Some speculators who also did not know the truth drew their swords to block the upright ones.

Adelaide sat blankly and looked at Roger. She opened her mouth but said nothing. Seventeen, eighteen, Roger was almost out of strength.

"He's dead." A quick-reacting expeditioner had already rushed to the assassin's side to check.

Several knights fought together, and more of them drew their swords and looked at each other warily. Twenty-three, twenty-four, Roger bit his lip, and the pain stimulated him to continue to persevere.

"That's enough! Leave Simon!" The captain of the guard swung his sword again. He used the flat surface of the sword instead of the edge to try to open Roger's hand.

"Zheng", Luo Luo waved his sword to block without hesitation.

Twenty-six, twenty-seven, Roger's mouth was full of blood, he really couldn't hold on anymore.

"Stop it!" Adelaide finally shouted. The upright speculators all stopped, and Rollo and the captain of the guard stood in a stalemate, refusing to give in to each other.

Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, Roger's eyes were dazzled, but he would never stop.

Everyone stopped and looked at Roger. It seemed that the entire hall was still and only his time was passing.

At thirty, Roger stopped pressing, briefly checked Simon's airway, spit out the blood in his mouth, pinched Simon's nose, leaned over and exhaled mouth-to-mouth. Once, twice, he raised his head, he was no longer there

Another round of strength.

No one would take his hand and help him continue to press. He knew that he could not explain. Maybe he would be burned to death as a wizard, or maybe he would be kicked out of the territory and become a beggar. In fact, if he had done nothing just now, he could inherit Simon.

Becoming an earl, despite the loss of reputation, and despite the resistance of some upright vassals, he knew that Adelaide would support him, and now, he looked up and looked around, everyone looked at him as if he were a monster, including his mother. He

His mouth was full of blood, his arms were cramping, and he was in unspeakable pain.

He lowered his head and saw Simon's eyes opened, his mouth full of Roger's blood, his chest rising and falling, and his breathing resumed.

The court physician came to examine Simon and Roger. He declared that both of them were in good health. Roger wanted to say, which eye of yours saw that I am in good health? My arms are cramped, both knees are bruised, and my lip is still there.

It's bleeding. If it weren't for my inconvenience to speak now, I would spit on your face.

A knowledgeable expeditioner examined the food tester. Like the fish in his arms, the food tester had no wounds but was dead. He said: "This kind of catfish lives in the Nile River in Egypt and can curse.

Anyone who touches it will die, even the cows drinking water."

Adelaide and the bishop whispered for a while, and then the bishop announced: "The new Count Simon of Sicily is blessed by God. The curse of the pagans has no effect on him. All thanks to God."

"Hallelujah" everyone chanted in unison.

Adelaide apologized on behalf of Roger, saying he was frightened and acted inappropriately.

"He is just a child and he is worried about his brother," she said. "As we all know, the Otterville family has always been united. Please don't put those terrible words on us."

So the righteous and speculators all knelt down on one leg to apologize and reiterated their oaths to the lord. Then everyone returned to their seats and toasted, and Adelaide announced that the banquet would continue. Then the bard stuttered and sang, and the moon boy shivered.

The verbose one has to perform, and the servant has to serve with trembling.

The conquerors used this to show their courage: "At that time, we sat on the corpses of our enemies to eat."

The newly recruited knights expressed their admiration one after another. Recklessness dispelled fear, and cowardice had nothing to do with the sword bearer. Alcohol and blood made the guests excited, making noise, bragging, and drinking. The atmosphere in the hall quickly reached a climax.

In the end, the participants returned with satisfaction. Everyone felt that only such a bloody feast was suitable for their identity. The praises spread throughout Messina as the guests left. And a rumor spread faster than a shot arrow.
Chapter completed!