Winter's footsteps arrived at Glamorgan's territory and the castle of the Earl's territory.
The first heavy snow of the winter season came earlier than usual. Brittania was located in the south of Nord, so it was indeed too early for heavy snow to fall at the end of November. When people woke up in the morning, the sky above the town was already covered in snow, and the sky was filled with dark clouds.
Winter had indeed come. The townspeople of Jean Town hurriedly made fires to keep warm, washed their clothes, and did some handiwork. Due to the heavy snowfall, many construction work in the town was halted. The serfs took the money they earned and went to the tavern to drink cheap barley wine, eat black bread, and fried beans. They chatted loudly about all kinds of interesting things.
Dozens of taverns had opened in the town, and new ones were still popping up. There were even special taverns for dwarves and wood elves. Of course, the taverns were expensive. At least, the serfs could not afford them. A glass of ordinary barley wine only cost a few copper coins, but a glass of wood elven fruit wine could not be bought without at least a few silver coins.
Every tavern worker stood at the door and warmly welcomed customers. They said one after another, "Gentlemen, folks, it's cold. Come in and have a drink. We have the best bards and the best barley wine."
The tavern owner knew that this year's "folks" had a lot of shiny coins in their pockets.
In the Earl's castle, Laing and Suria were leaning against each other, drinking hot coffee and tasting delicious jam cake. The heavy snow outside the window did not affect Laing's good mood. On the contrary, it brought a different kind of mood to the two.
Laing's hand was holding Suria's waist. This was the first time the female knight sat down and had a good talk with him since they were engaged. Previously, every time she came to Laing, she was called to the Fairy Tower in the Lake for "training". Laing did not know what the Fairy Tower in the Lake taught Suria, but it was true that the two could not meet.
Laing complained to the Fairy Tower in the Lake, "Lady, are you engaged to Suria, or am I engaged to Suria?"
The fairy in the lake laughed until tears came out of her eyes. Only then did she release the female knight to reunite with him.
"The snow is so heavy. Laing, will Brother and the others … be okay?" Suria leaned on Laing's shoulder, covered with a thin blanket. Her dignified and delicate face looked a little worried. The female knight was wearing a dreamy pink and orange floral windbreaker with a white exquisite woolen sweater inside. It was very beautiful, but it did not keep her warm. Especially under the knee-length skirt, she was wearing a pair of skin-colored pantyhose to keep out the cold. Laing wrapped the female knight's beautiful legs with the blanket, leaving only a pair of small feet wearing bear slippers. Then he comforted her, "Don't worry, it will be fine."
"Yes, I believe you." Suria had a mysterious trust in Laing. Perhaps it was because of the engagement, or perhaps it was because Laing had created too many miracles.
The atmosphere in the room was very quiet. Olica sat next to the fireplace, slowly adding firewood. Delicious pies were being baked in the fireplace. This would be their lunch today.
"Suria, can you stay here for a few days? The envoy from the Empire will arrive here in a few days. Come with me to meet him. "Laing touched Suria's soft and smooth hand and said softly.
"The envoy from the Empire?" The female knight blushed a little. At first, she thought Laing was up to no good.
"Yes, the envoy from the Empire, and also my old friend and sworn brother, Count Griffin Ferdinand Ferdinand." Laing relaxed his body and leaned on the sofa chair. "This meeting will be very meaningful. I need you to meet my sworn brother with me."
"Of course I will meet your sworn brother with you." Suria nodded repeatedly. The female knight asked curiously, "Anton? I've heard of Duke Griffin Ivan for a long time, but I haven't heard of your sworn brother. "
Laing shook his head with a bitter smile. "Godfather only got married when he was close to 50 … Speaking of which, Yuri still hasn't decided to get married? Isn't it inappropriate for us to be in front of him? "
The female knight smiled bitterly after hearing this topic. She leaned on Laing's chest. "My brother, my father is too lazy to talk about him. My brother's mind is only filled with battle and the way of the knight. My father has asked people to introduce him to Duke Carcassonne's granddaughter, Duke Berchemund Bastogne's two daughters, as well as a few other counts' daughters. My brother isn't very satisfied with them … Now, my father is too lazy to talk about it. Compared to most of the duke's daughters, I am … very happy."
"It's my honor to be engaged to you." Laing was a little relieved. The female knight had a good personality, outstanding strength, and noble status. It was his fortune to be able to marry her.
He had to thank François for teaching him well and spoiling her well. It was very important for Laing to have a gentle and virtuous wife at home who could help him a lot.
Duke Palawon Casfan had a well-known evil wife. This duchess was of noble birth and was the great-granddaughter of the previous Knight King John I. Ever since she married Casfan, this duchess's evil reputation spread throughout the old world. She wasn't beautiful and had a very bad temper. She always tried to grab hold of her husband's mistakes and crazily blame him. She was like a mad dog biting Casfan and not letting him go. It was really annoying.
Laing believed that it was inevitable for a husband and wife to have some small conflicts. Mutual tolerance and understanding were very important in life. However, Duchess Casfan was different. This duchess loved to sow discord in front of others and then use all kinds of methods to expose her husband's embarrassing matters to gain sympathy from others. Her nitpicking way of doing things made all the knights displeased, but she didn't even realize it herself.
François once said with dissatisfaction that this duchess especially liked to suddenly barge in when the dukes and the king were having a meeting in the capital. Then she would take the opportunity to pour out her dissatisfaction in front of all the dukes, causing Casfan to lose face time and time again. Under her influence, Casfan's temper also became irritable and gloomy.
It could be seen how important it was to have a wife like Suria for a newly risen noble like Laing. It was very difficult and involved a lot of things, especially for a champion like Laing. It was almost impossible for him to divorce under the marriage contract given by a lady.
Looking at the snow outside the window, Laing was silent for a long time. Then he said softly to Suria, "Suria, this time the Empire's envoy didn't come for a simple reason. First, I used my relationship with Godfather to buy magic ores worth thousands of gold marks from the Empire. Due to the preciousness of these ores, Anton might have personally brought the griffin knights to transport them. Also, recently, the friction between Duke Palawon and the Empire has become more and more frequent and intense … I suspect that the Empire is here to test us."
"Test us? Test you and … father's stance? " Suria immediately realized something. The female knight looked up, and a serious look appeared on her exquisite face. As the daughter of a duke, her political sensitivity was even stronger than Laing's. "The Empire … is already preparing to go to war with Duke Palawon?"
"Perhaps … We won't know until we meet Anton."
"Laing … can I ask you about your stance? What's your plan? " Suria hesitated for a while and asked in a low voice, "Father has always been on good terms with the Empire …"
"It's not wise to waste the precious power of humans in an internal conflict. On this point, I support the Duke." Laing decided to give the female knight some assurance.
"Thank you, Laing. You're the best." Suria subconsciously felt that Laing didn't want her to be stuck in the middle. The female knight felt warm in her heart. After thinking for a while, she finally made up her mind and raised her head, offering her sweet kiss to Laing.
The two of them entangled on the soft sofa for a while before they got up. Suria smoothed out the wrinkles on her dress with a blushing face, too shy to raise her head. Laing chuckled and let go of her. The count himself carried a box in from outside proudly. "Suria, look what I got."
Opening the box, it was high-quality beef with beautiful marbled patterns on the surface of the beef.
"This is … snowflake beef?!" Suria said in surprise, "Laing, how did you get so much snowflake beef?"
Snowflake beef was a kind of beef. It was famous in the old world for its fragrant, fresh, and tender meat. The production of this kind of beef was very low. It was a rare high-end product even among the big nobles.
"This was sent by Mr. Kurfürst Boris. I think we can eat it together." Laing smiled. Beef was one of the most precious foods in this world. "Take some back when you go back and let the duke and duchess have a taste!"
"Laing … Thank you." The female knight was very happy. She let Laing hold her little hand and the two of them went to the kitchen together.
"Today, I'll teach you how to make a pan-fried snowflake steak ~"
"Pan-Fried?" Suria was interested. The cooking methods that the female knight knew were nothing more than stewing, roasting, and boiling. This was a cooking method that she had never heard of before.
"That's right. Come on, I'll show you ~" Laing hugged Suria's beautiful body from behind and whispered in her ear, "After you learn it, you can go back and cook it for the duke and duchess. You can also give it to the ladies."
"Laing, don't say that. It's too utilitarian ~" Suria turned her head shyly. All she heard was Laing's laughter.
Count Glamorgan's castle under the heavy snow was warm and fun of a different kind.
…
Anton's arrival was three days later. This Griffin Count led dozens of Griffin Knights and more than a hundred Great Swordsmen from the Bordero Principality and then escorted a large number of goods to Laing's territory.
Leon opened the gates of the castle, leading the knights and his retainers to welcome the arrival of the Gryphon Count Anton Ferdinand. He was dressed in the standard Count attire of Brittania, while Sulia, who was beside him, was dressed in the standard Marquess attire. In the heavy snow and cold wind, they looked like a perfect couple.
"Welcome, Anton. I represent the Kingdom of Brittany to extend my sincere greetings to you. I wish you good health." Laing saw the figure in bright golden plate armor leading the group and took the initiative to step forward.
"Hello, Laing, my brother. I bring greetings from the Emperor of the Empire and the Griffin Duke. May your pond be as clear and beautiful as the melting snow on the mountains." A general of the Empire who looked to be in his thirties, with a handsome face and bright eyes and short black hair and sideburns, rode on a huge griffin. He led dozens of Griffin Knights and more than a hundred Empire Great Swordsmen to the front. He was the Griffin Count, Laing's foster brother, Anton Ferdinand.
This time, Anton Ferdinand brought a huge amount of magic ores and a few barrels of alchemical fire oil. These were goods that Laing urgently needed. After he wrote a letter to his Godfather, Duke Ivan, requesting to purchase them, Ivan even specially consulted with the Emperor of the Empire, Karl-franz.
These items had always been listed as rare goods that were strictly controlled in the Empire. If they wanted to sell them, they had to be approved by the Emperor of the Empire or the Kurfürst. Fortunately, Laing's prestige and his special relationship with the Empire finally allowed Karl-franz to approve this order. In exchange, Laing would export six hybrid elven warhorses and a large amount of wood elven medicine to the Empire.
Brittany was in need of ores, especially magic ores.
Perhaps some people would find this situation unbelievable. Brittany was founded hundreds of years later than the Empire. Logically speaking, their mining of ores should be far inferior to that of the Empire. How could they be in need of magic ores?
This was not the case, because before the Brittany appeared in the Grey Mountains, the elves had already colonized here for thousands of years.
"Long time no see, Ryan. You're already an Earl. The world is truly unpredictable. Back then, you swore to me that you would obtain an opportunity here. I thought you were an opportunist, but I didn't expect that … you actually won the bet?" Anton looked at Laing who was wearing an Earl's costume with great interest. "Father found a way to buy what you want."
"Thank you very much!" Laing thanked sincerely. The dwarves' blacksmith workshop needed alchemical fire oil, and Veronica's wizard tower needed magic ores. Laing was relieved that Ivan was willing to help.
"This is nothing. We also need your medicine and hybrid elven warhorses. "Anton shook his head." It is because we need each other that father agreed to help. "
"That's not right. Don't I remember that there is a trade route here that leads directly to Marlin Castle? The Empire's merchant, Mr. Olivier, is in charge of the operation of this trade route. You can buy the wood elven medicine in Marlin Castle. "Laing watched Anton jump off the Griffin and said doubtfully.
"It's too little. The wood elven goods coming out of your side are almost all snatched up in an instant. Many nobles and merchants are desperately buying and hoarding the scarce wood elven medicine. We can buy some from the black market in Marlin Castle, but those black-hearted merchants took the opportunity to raise the price by several times." Anton shook his head. "We need more … This is?"
The Griffin Earl noticed the female knight standing beside Laing.
"This is my fiancée, Suria Kumani Anton de Winford." Laing held Suria's hand and introduced her to Anton. "This is my sworn brother, Anton Ferdinand, Griffin Earl."
"Hello, beautiful Miss Suria, my future sister-in-law." Anton's eyes lit up. He knew that Suria was François's daughter.
He was more confident in completing the mission.
"Hello, Sir Anton." Suria used perfect etiquette to show her respect to Anton.
Anton quickly shifted his attention away from Suria and whispered to Laing, "Let's go in, Laing … I came this time to discuss something with you."
"I understand."
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