Chapter 678 - 322: The True Enemy

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"There are some intimate exchanges between Father and the Duke of Flowers."

Dora said seriously, "But there’s been no formal declaration of loyalty."

Luo De was somewhat surprised; he didn’t expect the Earl of the Tulip to still be on the fence.

"Why?"

Luo De asked directly, "Are the Duke of Flowers’ terms insufficient?"

The Earl of the Tulip probably valued benefits highly, which was the reason Luo De could think of.

"I don’t know the specifics; Grandfather mentioned it briefly to me."

Dora thought for a moment and continued, "The Duke of Flowers handed a remote town in the southwest to Father."

"The land in that town is fairly fertile, but it’s quite far from the Tulip Territory."

"It requires a whole three weeks of travel."

Dora paused and continued:

"Moreover, it experienced war in the past, everything was destroyed, and it’s said that ghosts wander there."

"That indeed seems excessive."

Luo De agreed, nodding his head.

"Are there other conditions?" Luo De pressed on.

"The rest are the so-called ’His Majesty Iegen’s promises.’

Dora shook her head helplessly, "I don’t know the specifics."

"Perhaps things aren’t as bad as they seem on the surface."

Luo De said thoughtfully.

Negotiations likely continue on both sides, after all, the real war hasn’t started yet, and it’s still the phase of rallying allies.

Although the Tulip Clan is sizable, the Duke of Flowers surely has many nobles to appease.

Getting a town directly should be regarded as fair treatment for the Earl of the Tulip.

It’s very likely the Earl of the Tulip is inclined to choose a side, but now Luo De’s recent activities in the Northern Territory have doubled the Tulip Clan’s worth.

So Dora was sent here to say that earlier statement.

"Actually, there are other rumors."

Dora glanced at Vivian, who was masked next to Luo De, hesitated.

"Don’t worry, Vivian is my personal guard, the one I trust the most."

Luo De picked up his cup and took a sip of hot tea, casually said, "She can hear all secrets."

"It’s not truly a secret."

"Just a little disgraceful."

Dora lowered her voice, "Vincent’s fiancée Ola, she’s pregnant."

"Pregnant?"

"How is that disgraceful? Just have a proper wedding."

Luo De downed the hot tea in his cup in a few gulps.

For others, the scalding hot water felt just right for Luo De.

He handed the cup to Vivian, indicating she refill it, then his movements suddenly paused.

"You mean,"

Luo De’s eyes glimmered as he focused on Dora and asked, "The child isn’t Vincent’s?"

Dora silently nodded vigorously.

"That truly is disgraceful."

Luo De sighed with emotion.

Affairs weren’t rare during these loose times where belt buckles were undone; many noblewomen had lovers.

Sometimes even both husband and wife had their respective companions outside.

But before marriage and the birth of offspring, such behavior was absolutely forbidden, especially for the wife of a family heir.

The blood of descendants must be pure, a strict iron rule.

Vincent’s fiancée behaving this way is a slap to the Tulip Clan.

It’s about the whole family’s honor, a matter that cannot be tolerated.

"So what now?"

Luo De asked with curiosity.

If under the earlier Empire’s structure, the Tulip Clan might swallow this disgrace silently.

After Ola’s child is born, secretly sending them away, then proceed with the wedding.

But the situation is different now.

The Empire is on the verge of fragmentation, and the Earl of the Tulip, as a figure both sides want to court, will likely not stand for this disgrace.

"I don’t know how they will handle it specifically."

Dora shook her head slightly, her voice even quieter.

"Perhaps... they’ll choose a more suitable daughter?"

"Like some illegitimate daughter?"

Dora suggested cautiously.

The Duke’s wife had long been unable to bear children, but the Duke himself had many illegitimate daughters.

Using an illegitimate daughter as a replacement could be seen as a way of compensation.

"No matter how it goes, this is a matter that brings disgrace to the family."

Luo De nodded slightly, the Duke of Flowers must pay in land and assets to resolve everything.

This is probably the real reason the Earl of the Tulip is reluctant to pledge allegiance.

He’s waiting for the Duke of Flowers to offer compensation.

As they conversed, a guard knocked on the door, making a report:

"Lord, Lusen and Linda from the Dawn Society have arrived."

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...

Three days later.

In the courtyard of Border City Manor.

"It’s really nice here, they don’t treat us as outsiders at all."

Linda swept her gaze over the Frost Iron Guards encased in heavy armor not far away.

Lusen smiled and said, "Weren’t the Empire’s soldiers very respectful towards you before?"

"It’s different."

Linda shook her head.

"Only those soldiers who have lived with us truly respect us."

She turned towards the guards patrolling in the distance,

"As for the others, they either fear us or loathe us."

"Unlike the soldiers here, even if we stand in Lord Manor’s courtyard, they don’t pay us extra attention."

"That’s normal."

Lusen gazed at the Frost Iron Guards and said, "They’re used to seeing dragons breathing fire daily, accustomed to the existence of extraordinary powers."

"So seeing us, spellcasters, isn’t odd at all for them."

"You needn’t worry; the rest of the Empire will eventually get used to our presence."

Lusen said meaningfully.

Agnar’s death made all nobles realize the importance of spellcasters, and the goodwill from the Empire’s royal family and Duke of Flowers explained it all.