Free Web Novel“Of course, next are the visits from the granddaughter of the old Marquis of the Bray family and the heir of Westridge Castle, who reportedly brought cheese and homemade red wine,” the attendant reminded in a low voice.
“Keep the cheese for the banquet; they can take the red wine back with them,” Louis said, pressing his temples wearily, his tone flat. “How many more groups are there?”
“Six groups today—fourteen tomorrow.”
“Fourteen?” He raised an eyebrow. “They’ll practically eat me out of house and home, won’t they?”
The attendant tried to suppress a smile: “Everyone thinks you are the most promising Lord in the Northern Territory and wants to pay their respects.”
In fact, ever since the news that the Count intended to pass his position to Louis was leaked from the reconstruction meeting, Louis’s mansion in Frost Halberd City suddenly became lively.
Nobles of various surnames swarmed over like cats sniffing out fish.
Some brought ancient parchment maps, claiming they were strategic secrets they were willing to share with Red Tide.
Others carried two jars of wine, of unknown authenticity but definitely potent, grinning and saying they were there to welcome the Northern Territory’s greatest hero.
Some even brought their blushing daughters to pay their respects.
Of course, they all made sure to phrase their words impeccably.
“We came out of admiration to see this young hero who saved the Northern Territory on the battlefield.”
“We hope that in the future, our North Bay and Red Tide can strengthen cooperation in grain trade.”
“I heard Red Tide Territory is building roads? I have a few craftsmen who are very good at building roads—”
Even the titles became particularly elaborate: “Your Highness, Lord of Red Tide,” “Future Guardian of the Northern Territory,” “Ideal Heir to the Governor’s Seat.”
Of course, Louis knew that these “friends” would quickly switch allegiances at the first sign of trouble.
Even the old Baron who praised his tyrannical aura last night would sign a joint petition in a secret room, demanding to weaken Louis’s excessive centralization of power.
Not to mention that once the young Edmund with pure bloodline grew up, they would no longer mention “Louis, future Lord of the Northern Territory.”
They would say: “Thank you for helping the Northern Territory in our time of need. Now, please return to your Red Tide Territory.”
So, he had not accepted their friendship, let alone made any promises to them.
As time went on, the nobles saw that he was unyielding, and fewer and fewer came to visit.
But fate still threw an unexpected guest his way.
“His Royal Highness, the Sixth Prince, has arrived,” Lambert reported with his usual impassive face.
Louis nodded slightly, put on his cloak, and when he entered the living room, that figure was already standing by the fireplace, warming himself.
Asta August, the Sixth Prince of the Empire. No military achievements, no real power, and not even any particularly notable characteristics.
Some privately called him a royal extra, listed in the family tree, but no one truly expected him to inherit anything.
He turned his head, a standard smile immediately appearing on his face: “Ah, Sir Louis.”
“Your Royal Highness,” Louis nodded in return, his posture polite but devoid of excessive emotion. freewebnσvel.cѳm
This was their second meeting.
The first was two years ago at the Northern Territory Reconstruction Meeting, where Asta initiated a conversation, with a hint of admiration, saying that he “achieved so much at such a young age, truly admirable.”
But unexpectedly, two years later, their positions had somewhat reversed.
Louis Calvin, twenty-two years old, Lord of Red Tide in the Northern Territory, effectively controlling the Southeast of the Northern Territory, and even the future Lord of the Northern Territory.
And he was still the stagnant “filler Prince.”
After they sat down, the atmosphere fell into a silence colder than Frost Halberd City.
Asta spoke first: “Speaking of which, although we both came from the Knight Academy, we never truly met.”
“Yes, when I enrolled, you should have been close to graduating,” Louis replied politely.
“At that time, I often heard my instructors mention your class, saying you were very steady—and low-key,” Asta coughed lightly, trying to change the subject. “I remember you didn’t seem to like participating in tactical exercises back then?”
“—Indeed,” Louis smiled slightly, his tone gentle. “I spent most of my time in the library.”
Asta nodded, then suddenly seemed to remember something: “Actually, last winter I originally wanted to visit Red Tide Territory. I heard you were doing some, well, institutional experiments there.”
“You are welcome to visit anytime,” Louis said in a proper tone.
“Unfortunately, winter came early,” Asta smiled, then added in a low voice, “The snow in this Northern Territory always catches one off guard.”
“Indeed,” Louis maintained his proper smile. “If your next plan comes to fruition, please inform me in advance, and I will arrange the reception.”
The atmosphere was quite awkward, and the two fell into a brief silence again.
Asta’s eyes flickered slightly, several times he seemed about to speak but stopped.
Before coming, he had thought about what to say, such as asking Louis to support him in mobilizing some personnel, or sending some material aid. But when the words reached his lips, he looked at this man five years his junior, whose shoulders were slowly gathering the power of the Northern Territory, and a strange sense of shame suddenly arose in his heart.
“Why am I saying all this?” he mocked himself mentally.
“Oh, right,” Asta suddenly changed the subject. “Frost Halberd City has been very cold lately. How is your wife?”
“Thank you for your concern. Emily is three months pregnant, and her condition is stable,” Louis replied, neither humble nor arrogant.
“Congratulations. This is a moment to remember,” the Prince smiled and nodded, but didn’t know how to continue.
Louis also remained silent.
He didn’t dislike this Prince, but he also knew he couldn’t offer him aid, couldn’t form an alliance, and certainly couldn’t make any vague promises of “working together in the future.”
After a few minutes of awkward conversation, the Prince bid farewell and left.
As he walked out of the hall, he looked back at that figure, suddenly feeling that he had accomplished nothing.
The moment the Sixth Prince left, the air finally seemed to relax, as the atmosphere just now had been too awkward.
Louis stretched lightly, gazing at the sky outside the window: “I’ve been in Frost Halberd City long enough.”
Lambert handed him a cup of hot mulled wine: “Exactly half a month, Sir.”
“Perhaps one day too many,” Louis took the cup and leaned back in his chair. “It’s been long enough. It’s time to go home.”
“Spring plowing, the establishment of new mining areas, and the progress of post-war reconstruction are currently only managed by written orders. You know, Bradley can’t personally oversee these for me.”
Lambert nodded; he naturally understood Louis’s importance to Red Tide Territory.
Louis stood up and put on his cloak: “Let’s go. It’s time to bid our final farewell to the Governor.”
The Governor’s Mansion was still quiet, with only medical officers and servants moving about.
Inside the council hall, the old Duke Edmund sat in his high-backed chair, with the latest batch of post-war damage statistics and supply requests laid out before him.
“You’re here,” he said, his eyes shifting as he saw Louis.
“Sir, I must take my leave,” Louis said directly. Edmund nodded slightly, motioned for him to sit, and then said, “I had wanted you to stay. To take over my unfinished responsibilities, with the new Frost Halberd City as the hub, and integrate the Northern Territory.”
He didn’t emphasize his tone, nor did he use words like “command.”
Even though he was still the Governor of the Northern Territory, he understood that the young man opposite him was no longer a subordinate awaiting orders.
“I know,” Louis looked at him calmly. “But I cannot.”
“Reason.”
“The entire Northern Territory is devastated. Water conservancy, transportation, and granaries are all ruined, and reconstruction cannot rely solely on imperial appropriations. If I were to take over the entire Northern Territory now, it would only drag me into the mire as well,” Louis paused, then continued. “I must return to Red Tide. I will start from the Southeast and focus resources on development.”
“You want to establish a new order?” Edmund said in a low voice.
“I want to establish a self-sustaining political system,” Louis replied calmly. “A base that can truly support the entire Northern Territory.”
Silence spread between the two for a full quarter of an hour.
“—Do you know,” he suddenly spoke softly, “our Edmund Family has been rooted in this land for three hundred years.”
“In the earliest days, Frost Halberd was just a winter hunting camp. My grandfather told me that his grandfather dug the first well in this valley, used the water to cook porridge, and fed an entire territory.”
He paused, a hint of weariness in his eyes: “But by my generation, six major wars, three natural disasters, and one insect plague completely devastated the Northern Territory. This city can barely even hold onto a decent gate tower.”
Louis stood in silence, listening to him speak, not daring to interrupt.
It was the first time he had seen this old general, who was sharp-tongued in council and calm as a blade in military formations, show such obvious fatigue.
“Of course, I know you are right,” Edmund turned to look at him, his tone now calm. “From strategic position, resource allocation, to labor density and the foundation of order, Red Tide Territory is indeed the most suitable starting point for reconstruction.”
“But I still wish—I still wish that one day, I could see Frost Halberd City brightly lit again. Do you understand this feeling, Louis?”
“—” Louis straightened up and slowly said: “I understand, Duke. Although I do not yet have the ability, nor can I take on the responsibility of reconstructing the entire Northern Territory for you.”
“But I promise you,” he said, looking into those aged eyes, word by word.
“One day, I will definitely rebuild Frost Halberd City. Not as an appendage of Red Tide, but as the true heart of this Northern Territory.”
After a moment of silence, Edmund suddenly laughed, a laugh that was somewhat bitter, yet also somewhat relieved.
He looked out the window at the snow falling on the city tower. “You’re right, this city is not the future. I was being sentimental.”
“I hope you won’t hate me for being selfish,” Louis said softly.
“Hate?” The Duke coughed a few times, a hint of a smile in his voice. “I’m least afraid of you being selfish. What I fear is that you’re not ruthless enough.”
“Since you are returning to Red Tide,” he turned his head, his gaze steady as he looked at Louis, “take the Broken Fang Knights with you.”
Louis’s heart jolted, and before he could react, he heard him continue: “After I die, there are also the Cold Iron Knights and the Silverfang Knights. A total of nearly five thousand cavalry from the three regiments will also be under your command.”
Louis froze, as if he hadn’t fully understood at once.
Those were not some ragtag army, but the elite of the elite of the entire Northern Territory’s military power. With these three legions under his command, he would be the undisputed number one in the Northern Territory.
“Duke, this—” He instinctively clenched his fist, his brow filled with disbelief.
Edmund, however, merely gazed at him deeply, his eyes sharp and penetrating: “I don’t have much time left. Young Isaac is still young, and Elena is not a person skilled in political maneuvering. If there is no one to protect them after I die, the entire family will be torn apart.”
His voice was almost a whisper: “I hope you will not fail them.”
Under the firelight, Louis’s eyes gradually deepened, his chest feeling as if it were pressed down by something heavy.
First, surprise, then an indescribable emotion welled up in his heart.
“I understand, Duke. Please rest assured,” Louis stood up, knelt on one knee, his voice steady and powerful: “The day young Isaac comes of age, I will return these three regiments, completely intact, into his hands.
Because he is the true heir of the Northern Territory. In the name of the Dragon Ancestor, I swear here and now.”
“I trust you.”
Edmund’s hand trembled slightly, yet it remained steady on the table, as if suppressing the last trace of hesitation in his heart.
This was a gamble, staking the entire Edmund Family, but he chose to trust the young man before him.
In the twilight, in front of the council hall of Frost Halberd City.
Duke Edmund stood on the steps, draped in a heavy cloak, still maintaining his usual dignity.
But in the candlelight, that steadfastness could not hide his weakness, like an ancient, tottering castle desperately clinging to its last shred of dignity.
“Go,” he said, looking at Louis, then turning to Emily, his voice hoarse.
Emily looked at her father, her eyes moist.
But her father merely reached out gently and patted her shoulder: “You are already another’s wife and soon to be a mother. Frost Halberd City is not suitable for nurturing new life now. Go back.”
She bit her lip, but eventually lowered her head: “I understand, Father.”
As the carriage slowly drove out of the city gate, the wheels crunched over the gravel with a dull sound.
Emily looked back, the distant tall tower stood alone, and her father’s figure gradually disappeared into the twilight.
Louis reached out and held her cold fingers, saying softly: “Don’t worry—we’ll come back often.”
Emily nodded gently, tears streaming down, but she didn’t speak again.
She didn’t know that her husband’s heart was heavier than hers at that moment.
Louis hadn’t told her that the Duke only had six months left.
So this farewell was not just a temporary parting, but perhaps the last time father and daughter would see each other.
Louis and Emily sat side by side in the heavy carriage. frёewebnoѵēl.com
The carriage compartment was laid with soft blankets at Edmund’s instruction, and the curtains were half-drawn, allowing a faint red light to filter in from outside.
Emily leaned quietly against her husband’s shoulder, her hand resting on her still-flat abdomen, but her eyes peered through the gap towards the outside.
A grand procession of knights lined up along the long street.
At the forefront were Red Tide Territory’s own two hundred elite cavalry.
Behind them was the Broken Fang Knights, disciplined like an iron current, over a thousand knights, their iron armor reflecting cold light in the morning sun, like a forest of steel.
Red Tide’s red banner flew high, flapping vigorously, like a burning flame in the wind.
Hooves thundered, wheels slowly rolled, and the entire procession, like a giant red dragon, snaked out of Frost Halberd City and headed towards Red Tide Territory.
