Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 257 - 257 256 Encounter with the Big Brother

Chapter 257: Chapter 256: Encounter with the Big Brother Chapter 257: Chapter 256: Encounter with the Big Brother Having finished reading the edict for the election of the next heir issued by the new Council of Elders of Red Castle, Russell was quite speechless. It was essentially the “Electoral Prince” system of Dragon Sleep Continent.

In Russell’s ancient European homeland on Earth, the Holy Roman Empire, it initially was the seven Prince-Electors who contested for the position of Emperor.

Of course, the nature of the Prince-Electors in the Holy Roman Empire was the result of the decline of royal power and the rise of territorial lords.

It was somewhat similar to the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States periods, only without a unifying figure like Emperor Qin to consolidate all under heaven, and with the interference of religious factors, it was essentially one word — chaos. That’s why Voltaire mocked the Holy Roman Empire as being neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.

After getting over his initial shock,

Russell quickly understood the difference between “Electoral Princes” and Prince-Electors — the Shadowflame Dragonblood Family had merely run out of direct heirs, not lost their influence.

Because fundamentally, the Shadowflame Dragonblood Family was not a concept based on bloodline, but on the foundation of the Shadowflame Dragon; as long as the Shadowflame Dragon stood, the power of the Shadowflame Dragonblood Family would not wane.

It was only because Grand Duke Kunstan of the Shadowflame Dragonblood Family, the direct and sole heir, had died without a successor, that three Electoral Princes had been put forward.

“Kunsley Xiangrikui…” Russell squinted his eyes, recalling the background of this Electoral Prince.

He was the eldest grandson of Baron Swan Quinbylf Flame-shadow, and Baron Quinbylf was a cousin of Quentin III Shadowflame, blood related to each other, making him the most suitable candidate from the collateral bloodlines of the Shadowflame Dragonblood Family to inherit the position of Grand Duke.

But the reason Kunsley Xiangrikui was not directly chosen to inherit the position of Grand Duke was simple.

Quentin III Shadowflame was a Dragon Knight, who had re-established a contract with the Shadowflame Dragon.

Which is to say, the core of the inherited power of the contract had completely shifted to the lineage of Quentin III Shadowflame. Although Kunsley Xiangrikui was also a member of the Shadowflame Family, he had long been excluded from the “Dragonblood Family”.

Therefore,

beyond Kunsley Xiangrikui, two more Electoral Princes were added — Augustus Water Willow and Mel Yujiuhua.

The mother of Augustus Water Willow, Quenly Shadowflame, was the eldest daughter of Quentin III.

The mother of Mel Yujiuhua, Kuna Shadowflame, was Quentin III’s second daughter.

Fundamentally, both men carried the legitimate blood of the Shadowflame Dragonblood Family in their veins, inheriting the power of the contract with the Shadowflame Dragon.

“Tsk tsk, cousin Mel also has a chance to compete for the position of Grand Duke,” Russell mused. “I will definitely support cousin Mel… But then again, if both Augustus and cousin Mel can become Electoral Princes, why not directly designate Princess Kunlaya’s future son to be the Grand Duke?”

Princess Kunlaya was the closest blood relative of Grand Duke Kunstan and had also inherited the power of the contract with the Shadowflame Dragon.

Moreover, Princess Anxia’s noble status should undoubtedly lend weight to Princess Kunlaya’s favor.

If the Grand Duchy could wait for the birth of Grand Duke Kunstan, they might as well wait once more for the son of Princess Kunlaya to be born.

“No, that’s not right!” Russell suddenly thought, “If I were the Shadowflame Dragon, I would absolutely hate Scorching Torrent Kingdom for taking away the hope of the Shadowflame Dragon, and I’d likely find Princess Anxia displeasing too, naturally looking down on Princess Kunlaya.”

With that being the case,

the three Electoral Princes seemed reasonable.

One from the collateral bloodline of the Shadowflame Family, two descendants of Quentin III, becoming a compromise that all parties could accept.

“Then again, if cousin Mel were to inherit the position of Grand Duke, what will become of the County of the Tributary River Mouth, who will succeed it?” Russell returned to his resting place, still contemplating. “If I were cousin Mel, I’d have the elder son inherit the position of Grand Duke, and the younger son inherit the title of Earl Flo Pot, perfect.”

Afterwards, he asked Eric, “What do you think?”

Eric responded gruffly, “I will follow Sir’s orders.”

Leaning back in his chair, hands cushioning his head, Russell said indifferently, “I will certainly support cousin Mel, grandfather, father, these two high noblemen will definitely stand on Mel’s side…”

“As a daughter-in-law, my sister Rolin should be able to secure the support of Baron of Blackgarden Curis Tianzigao; I’m not sure if Aunt Roby can win over Uncle, Baron Gold Davis Golden Cap; and my eldest brother is about to marry the daughter of Baron Bullhorn Gevedas Baimaigen…”

Thinking this way, it seemed that out of the seven hereditary nobles of the Grand Duchy who were irreplaceable, five would be on Mel’s side.

But Russell quickly shook his head, “It’s not necessarily that easy. My father’s relationship with my uncle is delicate, and the aunt of the Baron Bullhorn seems to be the wife of Baron Kunbifu… everyone is related; why would they help us instead of others?”

Listening to Russell talk around in circles about relationships, Eric couldn’t help but scratch the back of his head, “It’s very complicated.”

“Haha, indeed,” Russell shook his head and decided not to go on, “Relatives are not necessarily a monolith, and besides, everyone is related. All in all, good luck to Cousin Mel… After I am ennobled as a baron, I’ll support him with all my might!”

Since there was still some time before evening, Russell took Eric to have a stroll around You Guang Ji.

To pick up some gifts to take back.

Just at that moment, they saw a line of several riders hastily passing through the street.

Russell, with his sharp eyes, immediately spotted the leading knight was his own older brother Roland, so he discreetly changed direction and headed towards a small courtyard in the market.

This small courtyard was a property arranged by Roland here; after knocking and entering, sure enough, they saw Roland.

Behind Roland was the young woman Bar.

“Russell, what are you doing in You Guang Ji?” Roland was very surprised, but looking at his expression, he seemed somewhat melancholic, “I thought you would stay on the battlefield, continuing as the guard of the Shadowflame Dragon. Why are you back?”

“The Shadowflame Dragon has returned to Shadowflame Volcano,” Russell replied.

“No wonder.”

“Big brother, why have you come out, and your complexion, it seems a bit off?”

“How can my complexion be good!” Roland replied irritably, “Grand Duke Kunstan is dead, our many great ambitions hadn’t even started before being clipped… Tell me, can I be happy about this situation!”

Russell really wanted to say that they slept until the sun was high in the sky every day and he hadn’t seen any sign of great ambitions.

But seeing his older brother so anxious and agitated, he didn’t tease him further: “Did you receive the imperial edict to select the prince and you’re going to Red Castle?”

“Yes, Father sent a flying letter informing me that he has joined the Council of Elders as the Finance Minister. As he has not been in Red Castle to perform his duties for a long time, he hopes I will go there to assist him.” When Roland spoke of this, his spirits were momentarily revived.

“Oh.”

“By the way, Father also mentioned you, did you get promoted to a Phantom Beast Knight?” Roland scrutinized his younger brother carefully.

Honestly, he felt somewhat dazed for a moment, almost feeling like his younger brother had transformed into someone else.

The formerly sullen and introverted brother, like his sister Lola, nearly invisible, had somehow become bright, confident, and dazzling, becoming the focus wherever he went and stealing the limelight everywhere.

And now he’d even become a Phantom Beast Knight.

And he wasn’t even seventeen until April of this year!

He was no longer that useless younger brother, but a young lord with extraordinary potential; even their mother was arranging for him to marry a baron’s daughter.

Roland never believed in the idea of “accumulating silently before making a sudden leap,” thinking that a genius should shine from a young age. But now, he was wavering internally. Russell’s performance over the past half-year had perfectly demonstrated what “accumulating silently before making a sudden leap” meant.

“Ultimately, the Shadowflame Dragon… must be blind!” Roland lamented in his heart.

Then he suppressed this flicker of thought and patted Russell’s shoulder, “Have you had dinner? If not, let’s have a meal together, my brother. We can also drink a glass of red wine and you can tell me about the battlefield.”

Russell indeed hadn’t had dinner yet, so he smiled and replied, “Sure.”