As Colin expected, the next day, the Dwarves sent a messenger to Winter Castle.
It was an old acquaintance — Earl Anca.
Both times, the Menham family came to Winter Castle to negotiate. This showed that Marquis Dawson had been marginalized in the Dwarf army.
This time, Vera and Colin met Earl Anca in the greenhouse.
Of course, the one who led the negotiations was Colin. Vera was concentrating on the Blood Rose that she had recently planted.
"Viscount Angley, I have conveyed Miss Vera and your intentions to my father. My father understands your concerns.
However, please believe that the Dwarves have no intention of becoming enemies with the House of Saint Hilde.
However, our will to establish an independent country is equally firm!
In order to make up for the losses at the Northern Frontier, my father is willing to give up a portion of his territory … "
Earl Anca took out a map of the Northern Frontier and showed it to Colin.
"From the Rapids River to the Poplar Forest, we are willing to unconditionally transfer the territory to the House of Saint Hilde.
In addition, the Dwarf Kingdom will sign an alliance treaty with the Northern Frontier. As long as the Duke Of Saint Hilde orders, the Dwarves will send troops to assist!
Moreover, the Menham family will pay 1.5 million gold coins to the House of Saint Hilde every year!
Viscount Angley, this is the annual tax that a Marquis pays to his lord.
Therefore, besides not swearing allegiance to the House of Saint Hilde, the Menham family has fulfilled the obligations of a vassal of the Northern Frontier.
You can even consider the Dwarf Kingdom as a part of the Northern Frontier, and the Dwarves are still citizens of the Northern Frontier! "
Colin rubbed his chin and was deep in thought.
In order to reach an agreement with the House of Saint Hilde, the Menham family had made a lot of concessions.
However, Colin was still not satisfied.
Whether it was the so-called alliance agreement, the annual tribute, or even the ceding of territory, nothing could change the fact that the dwarves wanted to divide the Northern Frontier!
As long as the Dwarf King did not swear allegiance to the Duke Of St. Hilde, the House of Saint Hilde would have no binding power over the dwarves, and the Dwarf Kingdom would remain a separatist force.
"These conditions are not enough." Colin shook his head coldly.
Count Anca pursed his lips and asked patiently, "What other conditions do you want? We can discuss them."
Colin said calmly, "I want the Dwarf King to accept the title conferred by the Duke Of St. Hilde and swear allegiance to the Duke Of St. Hilde."
"This is impossible!" Count Anca refused without hesitation. "The Dwarf King will only swear loyalty to Emperor Reinhardt."
Colin shrugged and spread his hands. "Then there's nothing to discuss."
Count Anca resisted the urge to beat up Colin. He took a few deep breaths and said in a low voice, "Viscount Angley, we dwarves came with goodwill, but we did not expect you to trample on our goodwill!
You have to know that we dwarves have been waiting for thousands of years to build a kingdom!
Please do not underestimate our determination!
Also, do not think that we dwarves will only compromise!
Our weapons are still sharp, and our warriors still thirst for blood! "
Colin looked quietly at Count Anca, who was on the verge of exploding. He suddenly smiled and said, "Is Mister Kerr dead?"
Count Anca was stunned.
His big round eyes rolled a few times before he nodded helplessly and said, "Yes."
Prince Rhy had killed Mister Kerr in public, so it was impossible to hide it. Count Anca also knew that Winter City would find out about this sooner or later.
But he did not expect it to be so fast.
The Menham Family was so eager to negotiate because they wanted to conclude the negotiations before the news of Mister Kerr's death reached the House of Saint Hilde.
Unfortunately, they were still too late.
Count Anca sighed inwardly. He finally understood why Colin was so unyielding.
Colin saw that Count Anca's expression was gradually turning gloomy. He smiled as he took the map of the Northern Frontier and drew a new circle on it.
"I can agree to the dwarves building a kingdom, but the territory you agreed to cede is far from enough. I want this land! "
Count Anca hurriedly looked over, but then he frowned and said hesitantly, "Viscount Angley, the land you drew … is the Marquis territory of the Dawson Family, right?"
"Yes." Colin had a matter-of-fact look on his face.
Count Anca narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "This is impossible. The Dawson Family will not agree to such conditions."
Colin chuckled. "But the one negotiating with me now is not the Dawson Family."
Count Anca finally understood what Colin meant. He was instigating the Menham Family to betray their ally!
The dwarf Count lowered his head and did not speak. He was struggling internally.
Seeing this, Colin opened his mouth again. "Fran Dawson betrayed Marquis García and the Black Cavalry. The House of Saint Hilde will not forgive such hatred!
So, if you want to reach an agreement with us, you have to hand over Marquis Dawson!
Furthermore, I believe that the dwarf race must be deeply ashamed of such a traitor.
Could it be that the Menham Family is prepared to build a kingdom of dwarves with such a person?
Oh, right, I also heard that Marquis Dawson claimed to be the successor of the former Dwarf King Solinski. Could it be that you are prepared to push him to the position of Dwarf King? "
"What right does he have to be the Dwarf King!" Count Anca said with disdain.
Colin smiled proudly. "Then what are you hesitating for?"
Count Anca was silent for a while before he spoke again. "If we hand over Marquis Dawson and give up the Marquisate, the House of Saint Hilde will agree to the Menham Family building a kingdom of dwarves?"
"That's right." Colin nodded seriously.
Count Anca seemed to be a little worried, and he turned to look at Vera.
Vera also turned around and said in a low voice, "Yes, Count Anca, these are our conditions. Marquis Dawson must pay the price for his betrayal! "
Count Anca calmed down a little, but he did not dare to agree to such conditions.
However, his reaction did not seem to be too resistant.
After all, they had betrayed the Dawson Family, and the Menham Family's interests were not harmed. Instead, they had one less competitor.
Seeing this, Colin had an idea. He opened a piece of parchment, wrote down the contents of the agreement, and handed it to Count Anca.
"You can take this agreement back and show it to Marquis Menham. If he agrees, you can sign it."
Count Anca put away the parchment, nodded, and left in a hurry.
In the greenhouse, Vera put down the potted plants in her hands and asked worriedly, "Do you think that Marquis Menham will agree to such conditions?"
Colin smiled and said, "Whether he agrees or not, I have a way to deal with it."
Vera was relieved.
She had almost blind faith in Colin. After all, no matter what problems they faced, Colin always had a way to solve them.
"I hope that father can personally execute Marquis Dawson." Vera gritted her teeth and said angrily.
The father she was talking about was, of course, Marquis García.
"Of course, no problem. After the dwarves are dealt with, it is almost time to exchange prisoners with the Eastern Region. You should be able to see Marquis García again very soon. "
"Okay." Vera fiddled with the rose petals in front of her, and her heart was filled with thoughts of her father.
Today, Vera was wearing a milky white tube top pleated skirt, and her bright blonde hair was tied up with many naughty twirls at the end of her hair. The girl used a red hair band to hold her hair in place.
Colin stepped forward and hugged Vera in his arms. He did not say anything, but he just gently stroked his wife's back.
Vera also hugged Colin's waist and buried her face in his warm chest.
Both of them did not say anything, and they quietly enjoyed this sweet and warm moment.
…
On the other side, Count Anca hurriedly returned to the dwarven camp outside the city.
"Father, this is the condition of the House of Saint Hilde." Count Anca handed the agreement to Marquis Menham and said in a low voice, "They want Marquis Dawson …"
Marquis Menham stared at the parchment in his hand, and his expression changed rapidly.
Finally, he said, "What a clumsy trick!"
Count Anca was taken aback, clearly not expecting such a reaction from his father. After a while, he mumbled.
After a while, he said, "Father, what do you mean? It is not impossible to hand Marquis Dawson over to the House of Saint Hilde … "
"Idiot!" Marquis Menham scolded. "If we really sell Marquis Dawson, the dwarven army will immediately fall apart, and the Menham family will become the shame of the dwarves!
When that time comes, we will lose the support of the Dawson family. Will we be able to deal with the House of Saint Hilde alone? "
When Count Anca heard this, he suddenly felt a chill in his heart, and cold sweat appeared on his forehead. He stuttered, "Then … then … what should we do?"
Marquis Menham's eyes flashed, and he said decisively.
"Follow me to see Marquis Dawson!"
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