Ham only glanced at the banner on the carriage and the attire of the surrounding Guardian Knights before confirming it.
âPrepare yourselves, we have guests.â
It was Princess Messiah who had come.
In this world, the freedom she could enjoy was actually not much, but she had come out anyway.
Su Lu estimated that this must have been greatly promoted by Queen Flora Drake, and Felitlin III, for some reason, had agreed.
âHmm!â
Once the carriage was steady, Messiah, in her princess dress, stepped down and defiantly glanced at Su Lu.
Her expression seemed to say that he could not escape.
Su Lu was quite speechless about this: âIâm not sure why Princess Messiah has come to my territory, but Iâm not obligated to serve the sovereign.â
According to the rules of nobility on this continent, as a vassal, one has an obligation to entertain his lord each year, of course with specified limits on expenditure and frequency.
But Su Lu only wanted power, not obligations, so these rules did not apply to him.
âI understand⌠But on this visit, Messiah wishes to ask you to become my teacher.â
Messiah bowed and said.
âTeacher?â
Su Lu was both amused and irritated, somewhat understanding now the scheme of Felitlin and Flora Drake.
It was taken for granted that minor nobles would serve major nobles. Taking on duties was also very normal.
But he didnât have the time to spare, and planned to refuse outright.
âTeacherâŚâ
Upon seeing this, Messiah immediately stepped forward, shook his arm, wheedling: âPlease agree!â
âHeheâŚâ Su Lu rolled his eyes: âWhatâs in it for me? I donât need things like gold coinsâŚâ
âThen, how about a Dragon Crystal?â
Messiahâs eyes gleamed, her voice dropped: âMother also sends me with a messageâŚsaying the eldest son of Duke Wolf Fort is almost at Dragon City.â
âEven if that wolf cub comes, it is he who should worry, not me!â
Su Luâs face was stern: âYouâve had a long journey, Princess. Please take a rest first⌠Besides, you must leave my territory before tonight. You cannot stay here overnight, it would not be proper.â
After sending off the pouting Messiah, Su Lu walked to a deserted place: âCome on out!â
Having a princess serve as a messenger was simply a joke, there must be a proper âambassadorâ.
As his words fell, a person wearing a grey robe, with an ordinary face and cat-like eyes, stepped out of the shadows, bowing to Su Lu.
âItâs youâŚthe nameless one!â
Su Lu chuckled.
âThe Queen sends her greetings to the Master, and a token of goodwill.â
The man in the gray robe dutifully bowed once more, handing a lead box to Su Lu.
âSo, the fluctuations of the Dragon Crystal can be shielded by lead.â
On opening the box and sensing the stirring of inspiration, as well as the crystal in the middle, Su Lu mused: âThe Queenâs deposit?â
âThe Queen has entrusted me to tell the Master that she keeps her word and hopes that the Master can too.â
The man in the grey robe bowed once more.
âI really canât understand⌠Does Flora really dislike Gran, her son-in-law, that much?â
Su Lu snorted.
âThe Drake family and the Mitis family of the North have always been enemiesâŚAlso, the North Territory is too vast, nearly covering two-fifths of the kingdom. Duke Wolf Fort possesses an exceedingly powerful knight team of the North Territory, and can mobilize a large number of formidable northern soldiersâŚâ
The hooded man said: âMy business here is done, itâs time I leave.â
He bowed, and slowly backed away.
âThis⌠is considered a reason? Just because you possess vast territories and powerful armies, and have the capacity to rebel, I must suppress you?â
Su Lu snorted with laughter. âThat does sound like my own situation.â
âBut things seem complicated, it seems this isnât just the queenâs will.â
Otherwise, she wouldnât have been able to produce this dragon crystal.
âWhatever, if they dare to give, I dare to takeâŚâ
Su Lu sealed the lead box and tucked it away inside his robe: âBut the timing, I will decide.â
The North.
A long column of horses swept into the region of the Golden Plains.
Gran Mitis bore a strong resemblance to his duke father, with handsome and profund facial features, as well as the large stature common to Northerners.
âPhewâŚLeaving the harsh cold of the North and acclimating to this kind of weather is somewhat unsettlingâŚâ
He removed his mink coat. âSo this is the kingdomâs grain-rich area, the Golden Plains, where I will be living for the next few or perhaps several years?â
This time, he was not only going to the capital to wed Princess Messiah, but he was also appointed by the king as the Foreign Minister, to serve Terrin III in the capital city.
But in reality, that meant he was to be a hostage.
âReally⌠itâs pathetic, I donât want to leave the North, yet my obstinate father insists on playing the âloyal subjectâ? HahaâŚâ
Gran Mitis lamented, âBeing forced to marry a woman Iâve never met, and to live in the southâŚwould an Ice Plain Wolf still be a leader once it leaves the ice plain?â
âMy lord, mind your words!â
A scholar on the side immediately solemnly advised, âWe are no longer in the North.â
Heirs of viscount families and beyond, would automatically gain the lowest title of lord in their youth. However, it is the kind that does not get inherited.
âAlright⌠Iâm merely complaining.â
Gran lazily stretched and said, âI miss my younger siblings and LinnaâŚâ
Just then, a knight on a white horse rode towards them. His countenance changed and he turned to the silver-armored knight, âWhatâs the matter, Uncle Rophis?â
It turned out to be Baron Biya, the Light of Silver, and the deputy captain of the Knights of the North Territory â Rophis Biya!
Gran dared not show any sign of disrespect in the presence of this third-combat-class occupational person and immediately put on a smile.
For his trip, the Duke of Wolf Fort spared no effort. He had not only dispatched a team of nearly a hundred people but also ordered Rophis to escort them along the way.
âMy scout brought me some bad newsâŚâ
Rophis removed his helmet and said, âWeâve figured out the whereabouts of Su Lu Pottery.â
âWhere is he?â
Gran excitedly reached for his longsword at his waist, âMy father commanded you to accompany me to the south, maybe he intended to capture him? I can help!â
âNo, itâs already too late.â
Rophis shook his head: âHe has been knighted by the king, becoming a hereditary lord. His territory is near the great forest outside Dragon CityâŚâ
âWhat?! How could theyâŚ?â
Gran widened his eyes, âDidnât the king receive the message our raven brought? Heâs a wretched murderer! An assassin who kills nobles! How could such a person deserve to be a noble?â
He felt a sense of betrayal shared by his father.
âThe situation at the time was said to be very complicated. The only thing that is certain is that Su Lu defeated Edward, the Chief swordsman of the court, which is equivalent to having won in a martial arts showdown. Therefore, he was granted an audience and ordained by the kingâŚ. But we know, things wonât be that simple. Because he has been granted a Free Territory.â
âFree Territory?â Granâs eyes flashed, this represented freedom but also the loss of protection from an overlord. âSo what are we waiting for, letâs go to battle! The blood of the Snow People wonât flow in vain!â