The Duchess looked at her husband with concern, her voice laced with consolation, “Why trouble yourself so? Engaging in a contest of wills with someone of mere knightly status, aren’t you afraid of losing face?”
The Duke’s face, usually the epitome of resolve, bore a troubled expression.
“Howard shows me far too little regard,” he replied with a tinge of bitterness.
The Duchess tried to reason with him, “You can’t speak of him in such terms. After all, he did send an envoy and fulfilled all the necessary formalities to the letter. We can’t fault them on that account.”
Rising from his seat, the Duke glanced down at the red carpet beneath his feet, his voice tinged with foreboding, “Howard is a dangerous man. I can’t risk keeping him under my command. I don’t want to end up like this carpet, trampled under his feet.”
“Let it be,” the Duchess urged, her voice a blend of wisdom and patience.
“I’ve looked into Howard’s ascent. He’s been ambitiously climbing the ranks solely to marry the daughter of Earl Terni. Now that he’s an Earl himself, I believe Earl Terni will consent to the marriage. Once he’s married and his life is settled, he’ll likely abandon these pursuits for power and glory.”
Hearing this, the Duke seemed to find some solace, nodding slightly, “If that’s the case, then perhaps it’s not… As long as he doesn’t covet my position, I have no desire to meddle in his affairs. Can’t we all just live in peace?”
The Duchess, whose heart had been heavy with worry, finally relaxed.
A joyful smile graced her face as she gently took her husband’s arm, looking into his eyes with a curve forming at the corners of her lips, “Yes, we will surely live in peace.”
At Castle Nok, Howard, accompanied by Anna and Margaret, set out for Castle Fernsouth without a moment’s delay, eager to meet Nora.
In Howard’s eyes, Nora, though not a noble and not in charge of specific affairs like Bosiden and Vettel, held a place of high regard for her insight and courage.
Nora’s audacity, particularly her casual manner of speaking to a baron as a commoner, had left a profound impression on Howard.
That afternoon, after a brief rest at Castle Nok, Portwan had a meal, took a nap, and then proceeded to Wislot.
Howard, following close behind, called upon Anna, Margaret, and Resarite, asking if they wished to accompany him to Castle Fernsouth.
Anna and Margaret agreed, but Resarite declined.
Resarite explained, “Lord Howard, it’s not that I don’t want to follow your command, but if it were for marching into battle, I would not hesitate even if it meant going back and forth. However, for such a purposeless journey, I prefer not to join the bustle. Though Castle Fernsouth is only separated from Castle Nok by the city of Wislot, the trip is still quite taxing.”
Anna mocked Resarite on the spot, “Humph, some great commander you are. I’ll be impressed if you decide not to move even in the midst of battle. Just wait until you’re surrounded by the enemy.”
Resarite reiterated his stance, emphasizing that this was different from marching into battle.
Howard understood Resarite’s point and told him not to worry about explaining further.
In their daily lives, nobles had the freedom to choose their destinations, and Howard, despite being Resarite’s direct lord, had no reason to force him to go to Castle Fernsouth.
As for Kaido, Howard did not call upon him, seemingly forgetting him, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
On the penultimate day of the week, Howard and his party arrived at Castle Fernsouth.
During the journey, Howard humbly sought advice from Anna and Margaret on various aspects of nobility, including etiquette, conversation, attire, and exemplary conduct.
Upon reaching Castle Fernsouth, the grand gates slowly opened.
Howard stepped down from the carriage, his feet touching the ground, and breathed in the fresh air, feeling a sense of familiarity and comfort.
He met with Nora and shared the events of the past few days, seeking her counsel.
Nora, her flowing hair cascading like a waterfall, listened to Howard’s concerns and advised, “Firstly, regarding Hof, this vassal of yours, he is certainly not as loyal as Anna, Margaret, or Resarite. You need to find a way to strip him of his title.”
“Secondly, there’s Knight Mibo, who currently only holds Seasalt Village, leaving you with little leverage over him. However, what you can’t do, Hof can. Mibo and Hof have had a tumultuous history.”
“For now, sacrifice Seasalt Village and transfer its lordship to Baron Hof. Hof, originally a vassal under Mibo, will turn into his lord. Considering Hof’s nickname as the ‘Serpent’, do you think he’ll hesitate to strike Mibo hard?”
“Both of them are not your favorites. Let Mibo be Hof’s problem, setting them against each other, while you reap the benefits.”
“Eventually, even if Hof defeats Mibo and takes Seasalt Village, what of it? It’s the classic case of ‘the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind’. You can then collaborate with Mayor Portwan and take Hof’s title for yourself.”
Howard pondered Nora’s words carefully, realizing the brilliance of her strategy.
He looked at her with admiration, exclaiming, “You’re really something; such a cunning plan!”
Nora, indifferent, hummed dismissively, displaying her disdain for Howard.
This once again made Howard, now an earl, recognize her extraordinary nature.
Continuing the conversation, Howard asked, “Nora, what you said earlier makes perfect sense. But I have one question. ”
“Now that I have the Nok Barony, which includes not just the most important castle but also a dozen villages, what if I keep all these villages under my direct control? I feel like I could have a larger budget for conscription and economic projections. Can I just keep these villages to myself?”
Nora advised Howard, “Those villages? Just distribute them. They’re just peripheral hamlets, not of much use. Now that you’re an earl, stop focusing on the level of a knight, alright? Broaden your horizons. If you don’t distribute the surplus lands, you’ll lose the favor of your vassals. Why risk that?”
Howard then hypothesized, “What if I just go against them? If they declare war on me, then I’ll just fight them. Wouldn’t things be fine if I win?”
Nora gave Howard a sidelong glance and said, “To be brutally honest, you don’t have the financial capacity for that. The number of territories you possess exceeds your management capacity; you simply can’t handle them all. Even a hundred lands would be useless if you can’t collect taxes efficiently. Howard, stop being stubborn, don’t act like a child.”
Convinced by Nora’s arguments, Howard admitted to himself that her words always carried a sense of finality and undeniable truth.
He had one last question, “Nora, between Castle Nok and Castle Fernsouth, which one should I choose?”
Nora laughed playfully, “Are you being silly? I said don’t exceed the number of territories, not to reduce their quality.”
Howard understood; he could keep both castles.
Thus, he immediately declared that Castle Fernsouth would remain as his designated capital, shifting the former capital from Castle Nok to the Fernsouth Barony.
The subsequent tasks were a mix of specific operational matters. .𝒎
Though not major issues, they involved detailed communication and negotiation, such as re-planning the arrangements at Castle Nok.
Howard entrusted these tasks to Nora, in whom he had great confidence.
Three days later, Bosiden, having heard the news of Castle Fernsouth becoming the capital from Castle Nok, traveled to Fernsouth.
Howard was at the archery range, practicing with his soldiers.
His flawless aim earned him their admiration and praise.
Resarite, wearing a thick cotton armor and a sword at his waist, stood with his hands on his hips, smiling at Howard’s performance.
Alonso hurried over to inform Howard of Bosiden’s arrival.
After shooting his last arrow, hitting the bullseye, Howard handed his bow and arrow to an attendant amidst a wave of respectful cheers.
Choosing a room next to the garden, Howard waited for Bosiden while drinking sheep’s milk.
Dressed in warm yet lightweight clothing, without a sword at his waist, he exuded confidence and ease.
Anna and Margaret had not yet departed from Castle Fernsouth, spending each day teaching Howard the nuances of noble etiquette.
As time progressed, Howard’s exceptional talent began to shine through; his every gesture and movement gradually became more elegant and appropriate.
It was as if he possessed an innate ability, prompting even Anna to admit in admiration, “You seem to have a knack for this; you learn incredibly fast.”
In just a matter of days, Howard had already mastered the intricacies of upper-class noble etiquette.
Sitting there now, he exuded a newfound confidence, a testament to his rapid and remarkable adaptation to the refined ways of the aristocracy.
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