Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales Count Kenneth came to visit again. Judging by his outfit and the large entourage he brought, he was preparing to spend the winter in Gildusk City.
"Baron Norton, I'm here on behalf of His Majesty the King to invite you to Gildusk City for the New Year's celebration, and to propose marriage …" Count Kenneth said in all seriousness.
As Laurist had not gone to see the second prince, the second prince did not acknowledge the Norton family's title of Count. After all, the north was under the Iberian Kingdom, and Laurist had been conferred the title by the Andinac royal family. Thus, in the second prince's address, Laurist was still a baron.
Loriste's hand trembled, and he almost spilled the Max that he was pouring into the cup onto the table. A few days ago, he had given Rummond seven wives, and now it was Earl Kenneth's turn to propose marriage to him. Could this be retribution?
"Have some hot tea, my friend. Tell me, what is His Majesty the King up to this time? For a Count like you to propose marriage, it seems like the girl has a powerful background … "Laurist invited Count Kenneth to taste the Max he had just cooked.
"I know this is not an easy task, but I have to come. That second prince has sent me a messenger, and a long letter, "grumbled the Earl of Gammus, who had relaxed, as he came nearer.
"Don't you call him His Majesty anymore?" Laurist laughed.
Count Kenneth said disdainfully, "Does he have the bearing of a king? Ptui … "
"I don't understand why the second prince sent a messenger to invite you over. He took such a long detour. He might as well have written a letter to me directly … "Laurist was puzzled.
"That's for the sake of face. You've already rejected many of his invitations to express his goodwill, even though most of them were delivered by me. But now, the second prince has a powerful army, and is insufferably arrogant. If you directly rejected his messenger, would he be able to get out of this situation? There's no other way than to send troops to suppress him.
Many of the nobles in the northern territories hope that you and the second prince will have a great battle. The best outcome would be for both sides to suffer. Many people still remember how the Norton Family swept across the northern lands two years ago. To those nobles, the Norton Family is like a raging bear, and the second prince is like an evil wolf. They can't wait for the two of you to fight to the death … "
Count Kenneth took a sip of his food and continued, "The second prince knows this as well. Even if he has an army of sixty thousand men under his command, if he can't take care of the Norton family, the nobles of the north will still not accept him. Some of the laws and regulations that he has issued to collect taxes have been openly and covertly opposed by the nobles of the north. However, in view of the fact that the Norton family had defeated the Duke of the Northern Region in one battle, the second prince still did not dare to make a move on the Norton family.
He knows that our families have a good relationship, so he asked me to persuade you to go to Gildusk City to meet him and give him a way out. Another reason is to investigate the background of our family. The news of our family forming an army of thirty thousand men has already reached his ears, so he sent messengers with many followers to enter the military camp of our family and ask all sorts of questions in the taverns where the soldiers gather. Did he think that I didn't know? "
"Do you know how interesting the expression on the messenger's face was when I told him bluntly that our family had indeed formed a family armed force of thirty thousand people in order to defend against the mountain barbarian tribe's invasion and protect the family's territory? Haha, now that I think about it, it's really funny … "Count Kenneth said proudly.
"Haha, everyone in the north knows that the Kenneth family has always been on good terms with the mountain barbarians. The specialty products of the mountain barbarians that you represent have already made many merchants envious. Who would believe that you are forming an army to defend against the mountain barbarians?" Laurist shook his head and laughed.
"It's up to them whether they believe it or not. Anyway, that's what our family says. Right, this is the long letter that the second prince wrote to me. Read it yourself. "Count Kenneth took out a thick letter from his pocket and handed it to Laurist.
In the letter, the second prince expressed his greetings to Count Kenneth and his regret towards the Norton family. He once again recalled how the young master of the Norton family, who was also Laurist's older brother, the Golden Knight Abel, had fought bravely under his command. He sincerely asked Count Kenneth to invite the new head of the Norton family, Baron Norton Laurist, to his New Year's celebration in Gildusk City on his behalf. It was said that Laurist was still single, and that the second prince was willing to introduce Princess Sylvia to him and try his best to facilitate their marriage …
"Eh? Who's Princess Sylvia? Didn't the second prince only have three illegitimate children who have yet to reach adulthood? "Laurist asked curiously.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk …" Count Kenneth clicked his tongue. "The bait that the second prince has set for the Norton family is quite big! Even Princess Sylvia has been brought up. To be honest, Locke, you should go out and take a walk. Don't stay in the family territory like a country bumpkin and not know anything. "
"Princess Silvia, that is the most beautiful rose of our Iberian Kingdom, known as the most dazzling pearl of the grasslands …" Count Kenneth seemed to be reciting a poem, his tone full of passion and high spirits.
"Never heard of it," Laurist said.
"You …" Count Kenneth was speechless. He turned and glared at Laurist. "A country bumpkin will always be a country bumpkin. Do you know about Duke Fisablen?"
"Yes." Laurist nodded honestly.
"Duke Fisablen has three sons and one daughter. His daughter is the beautiful queen of our Iberian Kingdom, the wife of the second prince. Grand Duke Fisabulon's eldest son died when he was young, and Princess Silvia is his posthumous daughter. In other words, she is Grand Duke Fisabulon's biological granddaughter, and the only niece of our beautiful queen. She was conferred the title of princess by the second prince. Do you understand now? "Count Kenneth lectured Lollister angrily.
"Ah, why are you so agitated?" Laurist was puzzled.
"What do you know? Princess Sylvia is the goddess in my heart. She is so beautiful and pure, so graceful. I was fortunate enough to see Princess Sylvia once in the royal capital, Wendeli City. At that moment, the God of Love carved her image deeply into my heart. I can never forget that mysterious smile on the corner of her mouth, and her enchanting green eyes …" Count Kenneth expressed his emotions.
"And then you deeply vented your love for her on the madams and ladies you met with, right?" Laurist added.
"You …" Count Kenneth pointed at Laurist, speechless.
"You are also single. With your family background, you could have easily proposed to Princess Sylvia." Laurist curled his lips and continued drinking his Max.
"Sigh, you don't know …" Count Kenneth was discouraged. "I met her four years ago. She was only sixteen, and she was already beautiful enough to cause the downfall of a city. A merchant family like ours does not even deserve to appear in her eyes. She is the apple of Duke Fisablen's eye, and according to the rumors of her maids, Princess Sylvia has been determined to marry an unparalleled hero since she was young. Do you know why so many young knights follow the second prince to the battlefield? They want to achieve meritorious deeds and win the favor of this princess … "
"Oh, there is such a thing?" Laurist suddenly thought of a question. "Didn't they say that the second prince is lustful? Why would he let go of this beautiful Princess Sylvia? "
Count Kenneth looked around. Although he and Laurist were the only two in the study, he still lowered his voice. "The second prince would not dare. He does not have a good relationship with our beautiful queen, so it is fine if they each play their own games. However, if he were to lay his hands on Princess Sylvia, he would be in deep trouble. Duke Fisablen would definitely not let him go.
Let me tell you something. The second prince and the queen have always minded their own business, and they each have their own private lives. The second prince has three illegitimate children outside, and the queen also has two. They are not the second prince's children, but they are fostered in the homes of the knights under the Duke. Last time, the second prince was defeated by Duke Merline, and he ran to Duke Fisablen for help. In the end, the Duke locked him up with the queen, and they were only released when the queen became pregnant.
Think about how painful it was for two people who only maintained superficial etiquette, but actually looked down on each other and even hated each other. They were locked in a room and forced to do that thing between a man and a woman. However, Duke Fisablen steeled his heart and claimed that he was thinking of the Iberian Kingdom's royal inheritance. He even provided a potion to liven things up. This was also the main reason why Duke Fisablen supported the second prince with three Ranger regiments and allowed him to send troops to the Madras Duchy.
Last year, the queen gave birth to a baby boy, and when he grew up, she was going to announce that this was the Iberian Kingdom's child. However, this child was very pitiful. He was neither favored by the second prince nor the queen, and he grew up with a nanny. The second prince and the queen gave birth to this child as if they were doing their duty. Now, the one in charge of raising this child is Princess Silvia. "
"Haha, the noble circle is really messy!" Laurist said.
"What do you mean?" Count Kenneth scratched his head and thought for a long time before he roughly understood.
"Don't forget that you're also a member of the noble circle …" Count Kenneth said unhappily.
"I'm different from you guys. I'm a proper noble of a territory, and I have the traditional virtues of a noble family that has been passed down for hundreds of years …" Laurist boasted in a serious manner.
"Pfft, don't think that I don't know that you have an affair with that female scholar, Miss Tracy. I can see from the look in your eyes that the two of you have been together for a long time." Count Kenneth expressed his disdain for Laurist's hypocrisy.
Pointing at the second prince's letter, Count Kenneth said, "This time, you have to give me some face. Accept the second prince's invitation to Gildusk City. Not to mention anything else, it would also be good to meet this Princess Silvia. The second prince has said that he will do his best to facilitate your marriage with her. If you can pluck this most beautiful rose in Iberia, you'll be rich. With Duke Fisablun backing you up, the second prince will really not be able to do anything to you then. "
"I'm not going." Laurist refused flatly. He was still a little dissatisfied in his heart. With the strength in his hands, did he still need Duke Fisablun's support? Wasn't he looking down on the Norton family too much?
"My friend, can you tell me the reason why you're refusing the invitation? After all, the second prince has invited you many times with sincerity. If you keep rejecting him like this, it's too unreasonable. "Count Kenneth couldn't understand Laurist's thoughts.
"If you're worried about the two great swordsmen by the second prince's side, let me tell you, there's no need to be afraid. At most, the second prince will use these two great swordsmen to teach your Golden Knights a lesson, and that's under the excuse of teaching them martial arts. He won't dare to go too far. After all, the second prince wants to use these two great swordsmen to show his strength and suppress the ambitions of the territorial nobles. He just needs to let the territorial nobles understand that the royal family has the power to suppress them.
Look at me, I won't bring any knights, so the second prince can't use the great swordsmen as an excuse to teach my subordinates a lesson. For safety's sake, you naturally have to bring the Golden Knights. When the time comes, everything will be fine. With me looking after you, you don't have to worry. I guarantee that your trip will not be in vain. Even if that Princess Silvia doesn't like you, I can still introduce you to a lot of beautiful and generous ladies. Although they aren't as beautiful as Princess Silvia, they are still cute and gentle. They will heal the wounds in your heart and accompany you through the long cold night … "
Count Kenneth used the tone of a pimp to entice Laurist to go with him to Gildusk City.
Laurist laughed. "My friend, thank you very much for your kindness. I have my own difficulties in rejecting your invitation. Perhaps you don't know, but while you are drinking wine with beautiful women, listening to music, and admiring the snowflakes, I am leading my knights in a bloody battle in the wastelands of my family's territory … "
Looking at Count Kenneth's shocked expression, Laurist said seriously, "My friend, how do you think you got the two million pounds of smoked magic beef jerky from my family this year? Ask your barbarian friends. They should know what a wave of magical beasts is. Every winter, nearly a million magical beasts come from the Barbarian Plains and sweep through my family's territory, turning a year's worth of hard work into nothing. This is why I want to trade armor with you in exchange for a large amount of rations and supplies … "
"A wave of magical beasts? I think I've read about it in a book before … "Count Kenneth seemed to be deep in thought." I've read a travel book about the Northern Wastelands before. The book said that when winter comes, magical beasts from the Barbarian Lands will crazily surge into the Northern Wastelands. Their momentum is so overwhelming that it's daunting. My family didn't notice such a situation after arriving in the north, and I thought the travelogue was talking nonsense. So the wave of magical beasts only swept through your family's territory, and not the entire north … "
"Yes, for the past two winters, my family's armed forces have been fighting with the magical beasts for control of the wastelands. This year is no exception. I'll be preparing to set off in twenty days. So, my friend, it's not that I don't want to accept your invitation, but as a leader, I have a duty to stand at the forefront of the battle against the magical beasts. Only then can my family's armed forces have the courage to fight and persevere in their beliefs … "Laurist's expression was very serious.
"Are there many casualties in your family's armed forces? Otherwise, I wouldn't be going to the New Year's celebration. I'll go with you to see what a wave of magical beasts is, "Count Kenneth said after some thought.
"No need, thank you for your kind intentions. That's definitely not a good scene. Starving and cold, eating ice and drinking snow, and facing an endless horde of magical beasts. You'll never be able to imagine the suffocating feeling of tens of thousands of red-eyed magical beasts charging at you, or the miserable scene of five to six meter tall mammoths charging into the formation of our armed forces. Just thinking about it makes one's heart tremble! But there's nothing we can do. This is our family's territory, and this is our human territory. We, the Norton Family, will not allow the magical beasts to run wild without fear … "
Laurist spoke as if he was telling the truth, his expression extremely serious. "Especially since we're not only fighting these magical beasts, but also camping on dry rations. Once we start a fire, it'll easily attract large numbers of carnivorous magical beasts like the Winter Wolves and Snow Leopards, who have a keen sense of smell. We won't be able to sleep well at night. Every winter, it's always a tough time for us to pass! "
Count Kenneth immediately lost interest. It was fine if it was cold, but if he couldn't even eat well or sleep well, that would be asking for his life. He mocked himself, "Looks like it's better for me to go to Gildus City. Music, good food, wine, and beautiful women are what I'm used to …"
Laurist laughed, "It's alright, my friend. This is the mission of the Norton Family. When our ancestors swore to protect the northern borders for the Empire, they were already prepared. As the descendants of the Norton Family, we naturally have to take on the responsibilities of our ancestors. This is the fate of our family, and we will not run away from it. As my friend, as long as you can still think of a friend like me, who's fighting magical beasts, when you're in love, I'll be satisfied. "
"Don't worry, my friend. We'll spread the heroic deeds of the Norton Family to the world. We won't let people forget the heroic deeds of the Norton Family protecting the borders …" Count Kenneth said as he patted his chest.
… …
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