Sophia struggled to get up from the bed, the soft straw mats underneath her uncomfortable, just like in Naples, the soft beds made her feel uncomfortable, so sometimes she would simply run to the floor in the middle of the night to sleep.

The wandering life to which she had become accustomed for many years made Sophia prefer to sleep on hard wooden beds and rough food that tasted good though it was not delicate, and she was not very interested in anything too delicate except for sweets, and even if it were not for Alexander's insistence, she would not wear clothes that seemed to be cumbersome to give her a headache.

Sophia felt that she had made a mistake and should have kept an eye on the person who made her bed the night before, at least so that she would not put on such a thick straw mat, so in the middle of the night Sophia woke up from the heat and had to crawl out of the bed to find water.

Outside the window, a cold wind whistled from time to time, and late autumn on the plains of Agri seemed colder and windier than in Naples, and Sophia walked down the corridor barefoot wrapped in a blanket on her body, and when she came to the foyer, where the lights were still shining, she heard a burst of laughter.

Sophia walked over and saw Nashan sitting in front of the hearth with a bottle of wine dangling in his hand, and several crooked bottles were thrown beside him, and on the other side, Alexander was pouring wine into his mouth one after another.

"You should be glad that if I had changed my mind a little, your life would have been over," Nashan smugly shook to Alexander with the bottle, "but it's good that you can bring Sophia back to me, you probably don't know that I have planned it, if you come back this time and go to Sophia, I will cut off your head, don't think that those bohemians listen to you now, you must know that they are the queen's people after all, and I ...... the queen"

At this, Nashan suddenly stopped his mouth, and he took a sip of wine as if to hide it, not thinking that this action had already attracted Alexander's attention.

"Oh, you and the queen?" Alexander looked at Nashan, whose dark face was a little red, interestingly, "So, you and the queen are good friends?" ”

"Don't talk nonsense, don't talk nonsense," Nashan waved his hand, then leaned back and sighed, "You know that my wife has been dead for a long time, and then I was kicked out of the tribe to save Sophia, and my life was really difficult at that time, you must know that once people like us are kicked out of the tribe, it will be very miserable, but fortunately, I have a fairly good ability, and I don't mind working for the Gaj. ”

Alexander nodded silently, he had heard before that Nashan was kicked out of the tribe in order to save Sophia from a priest for help, which made him know that Nashan should not be a stubborn gypsy, although he didn't know how he survived later, but from the fact that he was able to lead the cavalry around the Queen of Bohemia, he should have experienced a lot.

"I've done some unclean things, and I've been a good person to help others," Nashan poured a sip of wine into his mouth and took a deep breath, "and then I started working for the Bohemians, and became a cavalryman at the queen's side, relying on what I had learned to get ahead, and I always thought that if I could mix it up, I would go to Sophia, take her out of the tribe, and never let her leave me." ”

"You must have suffered a lot," Alexander raised the bottle in his hand to him, "Don't worry, now that Sophia has me, I won't let her suffer and I won't let her encounter any more danger." ”

"I can't believe what you say," Nashan said coldly, "you have lost her once before, and it is a miracle that you can get her back this time, but this miracle will not happen a second time, and you will take her to the north, which I will not agree to." ”

The smile on Alexander's face slowly disappeared, and he calmly looked at Nashan and asked, "Then what do you want to do, are you here to take her?" ”

"That's right," said Nathan, leaning forward, two stout arms pressed to his knees, "I will take her to Bohemia, where she can live a good life, and no one will dare to look down on her, for she is my daughter, and I can assure her that the queen will take good care of her." ”

Hearing Nathan's second mention of the queen, Alexander looked thoughtfully at the sturdy gypsy in front of him, and he had to admit that this man seemed to be very attractive, and perhaps it was really a temptation for some women.

"I'm a man," Nathan saw what Alexander was pondering, and waved his hand indifferently, "I've been out alone for so many years, and it's inevitable that I know some women, and even in the Bohemian palace I have women, and the queen has done it for me." ”

Alexander nodded, he could understand what Nashan meant.

Compared with the courts of Western countries, Bohemians are always more conservative, and if Nashan really has any ambiguity with the queen, in order to hide their relationship, it is probably the best way for the queen to come forward and find a woman for her favored subordinates.

"But don't worry, that woman of mine will also be very good to Sophia, and my daughter can become a noble lady in the Bohemian palace that others envy, and no one dares to underestimate her origin." Nashan looked at Alexander proudly, "I just want you to leave for a year, and then you go to Bohemia to propose." That's right, I'm talking about formally proposing to my daughter the way you Gaj, and then you can officially marry her, and she will only be 14 years old at that time, which is not the age when you can have children. ”

Alexander coughed, he really couldn't think of anything to do with a 14-year-old girl and an old woman, as for having children, just think about the appearance of 14-year-old Sophia holding the child, Alexander felt that he was closer to the beast.

But these are not important, what he didn't expect was that Nashan actually came this time with the idea of taking Sophia away.

"I didn't expect that,"

"Didn't expect anything? Didn't expect me to pick up my daughter? Nashan took Alexander's words, and he became serious, and his face, which was darker than Sophia's healthy wheat complexion, showed a sternness, "Don't think I don't know what Sophia's life is in Naples, I've met with all these things. Don't admit it, those Gajie people don't look down on my daughter at all, even if you spoil her too much, it's useless, in the eyes of those Gajie people, she is just a plaything for you, and she will be thrown aside when she gets tired of it. ”

Seeing that Alexander was about to speak, Nashan impatiently stretched out his hand to stop: "Don't say that you will never abandon her, maybe you think so now, who can guarantee that you can keep this promise." And don't tell me that you can make your own decisions about your marriage, but tell me that you can promise to marry her now at your Jaj's wedding? ”

Alexander was slightly stunned, he didn't expect Nashan to even know this, it seems that he still has eyes and ears among the Bohemians, but if you think about it, you can guess that a gypsy can mix well in the Bohemian palace, and it may not be smooth sailing just by being brave and good at fighting.

And he couldn't help but admit that Nashan had indeed said what he was going to do, and judging from the fact that he still had to rely on the Modillo family, the Count would not let go of such an opportunity once he thought that he could make a good deal with his marriage.

Even Alexander himself knew very well that the reason why he agreed so readily to the north was to temporarily avoid the possibility that such a thing might happen suddenly.

And to bring Sophia, it is afraid that once the Count really decides to find him a marriage, in order to prevent Sophia from getting in the way, it may be unfavorable to the girl.

Alexander believes that Modillo can do such a thing!

There was silence in the hall for a while, and Nashan took a sip of wine to look at Alexander, and then took another sip, and after a while, most of the bottle of wine had been drunk by him.

Nashan staggered to his feet to get another bottle of wine, only to see Sophia, who was standing in the corner watching them.

Nashan opened his mouth to say something, but he didn't say anything, but he looked back at Alexander, who had also seen Sophia, and he waved his hand and walked towards his room.

When he staggered past his daughter, Nashan stopped and reached out and patted Sophia's shoulder gently, feeling that his daughter's body seemed to shrink back slightly, Nashan breathed helplessly and continued to walk forward.

Alexander beckoned to Sophia, and when he saw the girl obediently approaching, Alexander gently wrapped her tightly in the thick blanket next to her, and then let her lean on his arms with her back to her.

The light of the fire reflected a layer of luster on Sophia's wheat-colored cheeks, and looking at her desolate appearance, Alexander whispered in her ear to comfort: "Soyafi, don't think about it, although your father has other women, he loves you the most, and he also loves your mother, because they have you." ”

Sophia looked up at Alexander, struggled to pull her hands out of the blanket, first pointing in the direction where Nashan had left, and then pointing at Alexander, the suspicion in her eyes even thicker.

Alexander was a little sweaty on his forehead, he didn't know if it was the heat or other reasons, but he already knew that Sophia was obviously suspicious of the same man, looking at the girl's suspicious look, and then thinking about the way she looked when she was holding a two-handed sword, Alexander felt that this question had to be answered seriously, otherwise there would be endless trouble.

"Don't think of me as Nathan," Alexander decided to protect himself by betraying his father-in-law, "You know that you are actually doubting yourself when you think so, can you choose me because you know that I will not do anything to betray you?" ”

Perhaps thinking that this was right, Sophia's expression became better, but then she looked worried.

Alexander knew that this was the time for the real problem.

Nashan wants to take Sophia away, although he can understand his feelings as a father, but this decision is something that Alexander can't accept.

At a time when any separation could become a recipe for eternity, it was hard for Alexander to imagine Sophia being taken to distant Bohemia, which was a bit of a strong man's way for him.

"Don't worry, I won't let Nashan take you away, you finally came back to me, how can I let you go, even if he is your father," Alexander comforted Sophia, he put his cheek against the top of Sophia's head and hugged her and shook slightly, feeling Sophia shaking her head, he loosened slightly, let her raise her face to herself, and then lowered her head and kissed Sophia's warm lips, "Don't worry, I won't let you go, even if he can knock me down with just one hand." ”

"Puff~"

The muddy water splashed, and Alexander, who had fallen into a puddle, shook his head full of muddy water and got up again, but before he could stand firmly, a pain in his knee caused him to fall to his knees again, and at the same time a heavy saber was pressed against his neck.

"Stand up boy, don't look like a." Nashan smiled and tapped Alexander's shoulder with the face of the knife, and when he stood up, he suddenly flicked his wrist and the saber in his hand fell upward, and his thickly gloved hand had firmly caught the tip of the knife of the fallen tree.

The saber dangled back and forth in Nashan's hand, but it never fell, and when he saw Alexander trying to take advantage of him to attack him, Nashan's hand suddenly withdrew from the tip of the sword, and then grasped the hilt of the knife that fell to the ground in mid-air.

With a strong slash, the long sword that Alexander had just picked up immediately flew out of his hand.

There was a burst of laughter all around, and the bohemians, the mercenaries, and even the villagers of the farmstead burst into laughter.

"I like this boy," Nashan said to his companion as he continued to circle with Alexander, "but for that reason I have to teach him a good lesson, and let him know that it is not easy to be my son-in-law." ”

"Then beat him harder, and let him know why it's called the terrible Nashan." The shirtless man shouted loudly, and his shouts won a shout from his companions around him.

"Well, that's as you wish," said Nathan, bowing slightly exaggeratedly as a gypsy would normally do a circus, which drew another round of applause, "Come on, young man, let me see what else you are capable of, and don't disappoint me, but I have handed over all the Bohemian cavalry I have brought with me, let me see what you are capable of." ”

Alexander shook his head vigorously, he knew that he had been beaten badly, but he just didn't understand why sometimes he knew how Nashan would make a move, but he just couldn't prevent it.

Maybe I should have a shot, Alexander even had the idea in his mind.

"Ah~" A cry of anger came from the back of the crowd, and with a clanging sound, people were surprised to see Sophia walk out of the house wearing her armor.

With a trumpet two-handed sword in her hand and her unique trumpet armor, she stood beside Alexander like a moving doll.

Everyone looked at Sophia with stunned eyes, and Nashan's originally smiling face was already full of astonishment.

"That's what you made her wear?" Nashan looked at Alexander in disbelief, and then he played hard with a knife and threw the saber at the man next to him.

"Look what you've done," Nashan walked over and grabbed Alexander by the collar and pointed at Sophia, "Are you going to let her go to war?" ”

"Sophia likes this armor," Alexander felt a little aggrieved, he was eager to tell Nashan how much it cost him to appease Sophia, "as long as she is happy." ”

Seeing Alexander's innocent face, and his daughter showing off his two-handed sword to himself, Nashan sighed helplessly, he turned his head to carefully Sophia, looking at her armor against the faint appearance of a different posture, Nashan looked at Alexander and said meaningfully: "You guys are really good at playing." ”

Alexander knew his face was flushing, and though he wanted to explain that it wasn't like that, looking at Sophia like this, he himself was a little suspicious of his original intention in creating this armor for her.

However, what Alexander didn't expect was that after seeing the strange flirtatious love between the two of them, Nashan stopped talking about taking Sophia away for the time being.

Nashan brought not a lot of people with him this time, except for the group of bohemians who had arrived in Agri with him first, and several groups of bohemians came to Agri in the next few days.

This somewhat caught Alexander's attention.

Nathan's explanation for the arriving Bohemian cavalry was that these were fugitives from the defeat of the Bohemian Civil War.

Now he had gathered them together to take them with him when he returned to Bohemia.

This aroused Alexander's interest, and he immediately offered to Nathan to hire the Bohemians, and even if any of them were willing to stay, he could give them the same land as the Bohemian cavalry before him.

This time, however, Nashan refused his request.

"No, young man, no," Nashan shook his head firmly in refusal, "you must know that now that the civil war is over, these people should return to Bohemia to serve the king and queen." ”

Seeing that the old man was so resolute, Alexander couldn't do anything for a while, but he still made a request to hire them temporarily.

"Let them go north with me, and you will take them with you when you come back."

"That's not going to work," Nashan still stubbornly refused, "If I don't look at them, I don't know what they'll do, these people aren't the soldiers I gave you in the first place, they're no different from robbers." ”

"Then you will also go north with us," Alexander finally said the thought that had been in his heart for a long time, "don't you want to stay with Sophia more, then come with us." ”

"Of course I'll stay with my daughter, don't think about taking her to the north, I'll take her back to Bohemia," Nashan said dissatisfiedly, but seeing Sophia's ears leaning next to Alexander, immediately moved, Nashan had to lower his voice a little helplessly, "But it's not impossible, as long as you pay for it." ”

"Don't worry, I'll pay for it." Alexander smiled.

In mid-October, a large winter frost suddenly arrived without warning, which made many people who were not ready suffer.

Alexander was woken up in the night, and listening to the noise of the soldiers who were already ready outside, he hurriedly washed his face with cold water, and walked out of the room dressed with the help of Ulliu.

The oncoming cold wind made people shiver, and as he watched the team work in the dim moonlight, Alexander exhaled hot air.

"Your Excellency, we're all set." Caro the Orion came running on a horse, and he was the outpost scout for the entire grain caravan.

Alexander got on his horse, he looked back at the farm behind him, and in the crowd he saw Massimo, who the monk had to stay in Naples to deliver the news to him, and Belleri, who had come to see him off, though his half-brother did not like him.

A whirlwind struck, Alexander turned his head slightly, and saw Sophia, who was dressed in a thick riding suit and wrapped tightly in a hood cape, next to Sophia, Nashan looked helplessly at his excited daughter, and behind them, a huge grain convoy escorted by hundreds of people was waiting for his order.

"Sophia, remember when we left Sicily?" Alexander asked softly, and when he saw the girl nodding, he continued: "I said that when I return to Sicily, I will make the Sicilians bow at your feet, and now I tell you that when we return to Naples, we will make them bow and worship. ”

After saying that, Alexander rode forward and gave a loud order: "Go, Agri~!" ”