In the reception hall.
Terence’s hand gripped the hilt of his sword. "Are you really going to take it this far? Are you willing to drag the entire territory into the abyss?"
The Forr Lady Baron sat ramrod straight, the candlelight casting deep shadows across her wrinkled face. "It is you who have gone too far. Taking the Northern Trade Route was one thing, but to thodically dismantle our forces... you an to cut off every last path of survival for the Duval Family."
"And didn’t you bring this upon yourselves?" Terence’s voice was tight with suppressed rage. "If you had just let Kelvin succeed the title, none of this would be happening..."
The Forr Lady Baron cut him off coldly. "The title of the Duval Family can only be inherited by its legitimate bloodline. This is the rule laid down by our ancestors."
Terence roared, "What title! What family! Let’s be blunt, it’s just your branch of the family that refuses to let go, isn’t it? If the ancestors of the Duval Family had any awareness in the afterlife, they’d be turning in their graves to see you sacrifice the entire territory for your own selfish desires!"
The Forr Lady Baron’s voice was as cold as winter ice. "Only we represent the true Duval Family."
SHING!
The tallic scrape of the longsword being drawn was piercing in the silent hall.
Terence rose to his feet, the blade of his longsword glinting coldly in the candlelight.
Yet the Forr Lady Baron remained seated, as still as a stone carving. She didn’t even frown.
She slowly lifted her gaze, her voice terrifyingly calm. "Go on, do it. The mont I die, letters stamped with the Baron’s seal will be dispatched to the diocese. Then, the entire nobility will know just how Viscount Hans ’paid a visit’ to a neighboring domain."
SHIING!
With a reluctant ring, the blade returned to its sheath.
Terence understood the rules of the ga among nobles better than anyone.
Assassinating the lord of a neighboring territory was the most despised of acts. Once word got out, not only would Viscount Hans beco a target for all, but it would also give an opening to the rivals who coveted the Northern Trade Route.
In a world that prized rightful claims, the power of "legitimacy" was sotis far sharper than a sword.
If that were not the case, why would they have gone to such trouble to support Cecilia, a supposed "Duval bloodline"?
Because only the Duval Territory was the "legitimate" owner of the Northern Trade Route.
Without the support of the Duval Territory, other nobles would grow jealous of the trade route’s profits and seize the chance to make their move.
Terence couldn’t help but recall the death of the previous Baron Duval.
The assassination had been officially attributed to dark forces by the Church Court. If it were ever proven to be linked to a power struggle among the nobles, Sylvan wouldn’t just lose his claim to the title—he’d be lucky to escape with his life. Being burned at the stake would not be an over-the-top punishnt.
Thus, at such a sensitive ti, any action that crossed the line could lead to utter ruin.
Terence’s voice was cold. "What is it you want?"
The Forr Lady Baron’s tone was absolute. "The Baron’s Domain will forever be the territory of the Duval Family. That will never change."
Terence grew frustrated. He suddenly recalled the rumors circulating in the Duval Territory and sneered, "I hear your Baron and his sister are ’exceptionally close.’ Just don’t let them get so harmonious that they end up repeating the folly of Paul III, unable to even produce an heir."
Paul III was a forr Pope of the Church Court, infamous for his ssy private life.
As soon as he spoke, the Forr Lady Baron’s expression turned as dark as iron.
Her fingers, resting on the armrest, tightened slightly. "That is no concern of yours. As for you lot, you’d be wise to dispose of that bastard. She has outlived her usefulness, after all."
The word "bastard" enraged Terence.
He couldn’t even explain to himself why he was so furious, but a searing rage surged through him. "I will find Cecilia the most powerful husband, and she *will* beco the Baron. I promise you that!"
The Forr Lady Baron let out a cold laugh but did not respond imdiately.
She slowly rose and walked to the window, gazing at the view beyond the castle walls. "Since we’re on the subject, we might as well be frank. The allocation of shares for the Northern Trade Route, as well as the matter of garrisoning the border outposts, all need to be renegotiated."
Terence froze for a mont. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. "The border garrisons are negotiable. The trade route shares are not."
"Nothing is impossible," the Forr Lady Baron said, turning back with a polite smile fixed on her face once more. "Bernard, prepare so tea and snacks."
Terence remained standing for a mont before slowly sitting back down.
As Viscount Hans’s representative, he bore the responsibility for the entire Viscount’s Domain’s interests.
Even if they ultimately failed to reach an agreent, he had to determine the Duval Territory’s bottom line and bring valuable intelligence back to his Viscount.
...
In the garden, Snowball Flowers blood in silence. The atmosphere here was every bit as tense as the standoff in the reception hall.
Aurora instinctively took a half-step back. "Who are you! This area is under the jurisdiction of the Church Court, and the Bishop is on his way."
Her gaze was fixed on the strange halo of light swirling at Ailendra’s fingertips. This mysterious woman’s sudden appearance in the garden of the Baron’s Castle made her imdiately recall the legends of dark powers.
Cecilia was also jolted from her lancholy. She subtly shifted her position, moving to stand with Aurora, but keeping a step behind her. "Do you know the price for trespassing on the lands of a noble?"
Ailendra, however, remained as composed as ever. She took a slow step forward, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You two little things are quite vigilant."
Just as Aurora and Cecilia were growing increasingly tense, Ailendra’s expression suddenly shifted.
Her figure flickered like a phantom, instantly crossing the distance of several paces to seize Cecilia’s wrist.
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