The convoy started moving, gradually leaving Fernsouth Castle behind and heading towards Earl Terni’s Torrent Castle.
Terni, the head of the Sforza family, held an earldom in addition to one barony and three knights within the family.
Despite these titles, the Sforza family was not considered highly prestigious among earldoms.
Alone in the carriage, Howard pondered how to initiate the conversation with Terni.
While first impressions were crucial in a noble alliance, the real weight lay in the bargaining chips one held.
Thus, instead of dwelling solely on ceremonial matters, Howard focused on how to articulate the benefits of a familial union.
The journey went smoothly, and three days later, Howard met with Terni.
Terni’s attitude towards Howard was somewhat awkward.
Initially, he had looked down on Julian, believing he was unworthy of Catherine.
However, since Julian had rebranded himself as Howard, his meteoric rise was undeniable.
Now, having ascended from a knight to an earl in less than a month, Howard commanded a new level of respect.
Greeting Terni, Howard adhered to the proper noble etiquette.
As an earl himself, Howard did not need to bow, and their exchange of pleasantries sufficed as an introduction.
Terni, too, reciprocated, secretly impressed by Howard’s mastery of noble interaction and protocol.
It was remarkable how Howard, educated in a down-and-out knight’s family, was not intimidated by the aristocratic airs and graces, maintaining a balance of humility and dignity, leaving Terni unable to fully gauge him.
Breaking the ice, Terni shifted the conversation to more personal matters, “Howard, you know, I’ve watched you grow up. Your father and I were comrades-in-arms. In informal settings, you can call me uncle.”
Howard responded with a bright smile, “We’re about to become relatives, so let’s not bother with formal titles.”
At Howard’s casual address, a guard standing by bristled with irritation, feeling that Howard was being disrespectful to the Earl.
He stepped forward, his right hand poised over the single-handed sword at his left hip, ready for confrontation.
Terni, however, stopped his guard, and with a smile that was not quite a smile, said to Howard, “Becoming a father-in-law isn’t that easy. Until you marry my daughter, you should still call me uncle.”
With a clap of his hands from Howard, gifts from the carriage were brought out, box by box, and placed in front of Earl Terni.
Terni’s chief steward opened each box, lavishing praise as he inspected the contents.
“These are the much-talked-about lavender sachets from the southern part of the empire.
I’ve heard they’re beloved by both noblewomen and peasant women alike, selling out as soon as they hit the market, quite a hit.”
Terni then addressed Howard, “My sources tell me these lavender products originated from your Nok lands. Is that so?”
Howard replied, “To be precise, lavender is found everywhere, but the idea to harvest it on a large scale, process it into sachets, and thereby enhance its value, turning it into a specialty of Nok lands, was mine.”
Terni frowned slightly and said, “So, you’re saying lavender grows in my lands as well?” .𝒎
Howard nodded.
Terni’s enthusiasm waned.
“In that case, once others start processing lavender, and it becomes more common in the market, your lavender will lose its value. Howard, I’m concerned about your financial stability and future military expenses.”
Terni’s words were a veiled expression of doubt about Howard’s capabilities.
But Howard, having chosen to be candid, surely had a backup plan in mind.
As Howard clapped his hands again, another box was placed before Terni.
When Terni’s chief steward opened it, he exclaimed in admiration, “Pearls! So many pearls! And each one so large! If these were sold on the market, each would fetch at least thirty to fifty gold coins!”
Terni, too, seemed excited and touched.
Howard, observing his barely maintained composure, noted Terni’s slight lean forward, a sign of his growing interest in the wealth the pearls represented.
Howard’s lips curved in a subtle smile, yet he remained silent.
In a deep voice, Terni inquired, “Howard, these pearls are impressive, much larger than the ones I bought for my wife. How did you acquire them?”
Knowing what to reveal and what to keep secret, Howard chose his words carefully, “Earl Terni, these pearls are a closely guarded secret of my Nok earldom. Until our families are united, I ask for your understanding in keeping this information confidential.”
Terni hummed, his tone carrying a hint of praise mixed with mock indignation as he approached the box.
“Hmm, seems you’ve grown wings, keeping secrets even from me!”
Howard continued persuasively, “My visit today is to formalize the engagement with Catherine. The alliance between the Viscount and Sforza families will undoubtedly be an extraordinary success.”
Terni nodded slightly and signaled to a maid standing by the lawn.
She promptly left the scene.
Inwardly, Terni marveled at how much Howard had changed, now willing to let him meet Catherine.
At the luncheon, Howard finally met Catherine.
She was dressed in a radiant blue gown adorned with iridescent patterns along the hem and embellished with reflective particles that sparkled like stars, giving her an ethereal, luminous appearance.
Throughout the luncheon, Howard avoided discussing the matter of marriage, which began to worry Catherine.
She couldn’t help but wonder if Howard’s visit was merely as a newly minted Earl seeking guidance from her father in governing his lands.
Catherine wasn’t the only one puzzled by Howard’s intentions; Terni too found it difficult to read his thoughts.
If Howard were anxious, he might have gained favorable terms in the subsequent negotiations.
However, Howard was far from impatient.
Howard understood that negotiations for noble marriages were often as prosaic as haggling in a marketplace.
These discussions rarely concerned the love or wishes of those getting married, focusing instead on the benefits for the families involved.
His lack of urgency stemmed from a deep understanding of this reality, and in truth, he didn’t place much importance on the matter.
After all, it was Julian who had loved Catherine, not him.
From a strategic standpoint, Howard needed the support of Earl Terni.
Thus, in Catherine’s absence, he could adopt a standard noble approach with Terni, speaking candidly and unreservedly, as if discussing a business deal.
But in Catherine’s presence, Howard refrained from treating their marriage as a mere political alliance.
He didn’t want to disrespect her by weighing the marriage in terms of political gain.
This shift in his demeanor upon Catherine’s arrival baffled Terni.
Howard’s clear intentions upon arrival seemed to become ambiguous the moment he laid eyes on Catherine.
Howard engaged Terni in conversation, asking, “What’s the key to governing a territory?”
Terni replied with deliberate emphasis, “Securing a good family alliance through marriage.”
Howard countered, “That’s not quite it. A family alliance only secures an ally, not a strong self. To face the turmoil of fierce disputes, one must focus on strengthening oneself.”
Leaning to the side, Terni took a bite of his rib and said, “The allies gained through family alliances are crucial. When you face a war, you can call upon your allies to honor their pact and bring their troops to aid you. Think about it – if you have the forces of two earldoms against the army of just one, how could you possibly lose?”
Howard responded earnestly, “Such alliances are not always reliable. Compared to the feudal hierarchy’s obligations, the effectiveness of these alliances largely depends on the allies’ willingness. The vassals within your own territory must bring their troops to aid you in war; that’s their obligatory duty.”
“Allies from outside your territory, however, have two choices during war: to help you or not. By helping, they gain prestige. But if they don’t, they not only fail to gain prestige but may also lose it.”
Terni, puzzled, asked, “Exactly, so if they don’t help you, they lose prestige. What’s there to fear?”
Howard replied, “There are many ways to gain prestige.”
Terni scoffed, “Once prestige is lost, it’s not so easy to regain. It undermines rule. I believe many nobles rely on these noble alliances.”
As Howard bit into a lamb chop, he said, “Strategically, if you rely too much on your allies’ troops, you’ll likely lose the war. After all, no one can be certain about how much military strength their allies will have when war comes. What if they suddenly don’t have many troops?”
Terni retorted sarcastically, “Isn’t it the same with the troops you conscript from your own lands? If your vassals like you and are loyal, they’ll give you more troops.”
“If they don’t think highly of you, they’ll provide fewer. Can you confidently count the troops from your vassals as part of your strategy?”
𝑖𝘦𝑎.𝗇t