Chapter 39: 039 Palace Siege (Part 1)_1
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
People are divided into classes.
Nobles are no exceptions.
There are high nobles, lesser nobles, and also knights who are and aren’t nobles at the same time.
This banquet of the Sudor family divides these classes distinctly.
Marquis Garcia, Baron Charles, and Vera, these three, belong to the central circle of the banquet.
Countless people try to squeeze in, but they only dare to greet them briefly, before retreating. They dare not linger, for that would be impolite, an overestimation of one’s status.
Outside the core circle, there is another group led by Count Uman.
This group includes three counts and also the hosts of the banquet—the people of the Sudor family.
Further outside, there are various barons and baronets.
The last group, the one with the most people, includes knights like Colin.
Strictly speaking, Colin is qualified to enter a group of barons, but he realizes that the banquet is not as simple as it seems, so he deliberately lowers his presence.
He prepares to be a qualified bystander.
Though Colin was friendly with Baron Charles, if the Baron himself can’t protect his own position, Colin certainly wouldn’t risk himself to help him.
If it were Vera, Colin might think about playing the hero, but for Baron Charles who loves to be overly dramatic and emotional… Well, good luck.
The banquet is still going on, but the atmosphere seems to have quietly changed.
The music is still playing, but the dance floor is already empty.
Even being in the outermost group, Colin begins to feel that the atmosphere around him is becoming more serious.
With his heightened hearing in the evening, Colin eavesdrops on the knights’ talk nearby.
Without knowing when, people have stopped talking about this “lucky” victory, and have started to talk about their own losses.
Indeed, the series of defeats under Baron Charles’s command almost annihilated the North Territory’s 200,000-strong army.
Half of them were from the Duke St. Hilde’s direct military, but the other half belonged to the private armies provided by various lords in the North Territory.
Moreover, a vast territory near the frontline was invaded by trolls. Even though
it has been recaptured now, trolls wouldn’t leave without taking anything. Hence, this time, the various lords in the North Territory suffered heavy losses.
Such severe losses need someone to be held accountable.
Therefore, the talk gradually begins to unfavor Baron Charles.
Of course, as the St. Hilde family’s prestige is still at its height, people dare not criticize openly, only a few indirect complaints.
In Colin’s view, such complaints can’t harm Baron Charles’s position, they would only tarnish his reputation a bit.
Perhaps the St. Hilde family might feel guilty for this defeat and compensate the various lords a bit, but that would be the limit.
If Count Uman’s previous statement was not a bluff, this minor issue should not be the “main course” of the banquet.
So, Colin keeps on waiting.
As expected, Colin receives a truly explosive piece of news shortly after.
“Did you hear? This time, when Marquis Garcia led the Dark Cavalry to support the frontline, he did not receive a military order from the Duke!”
“What does that mean? Are you saying… Marquis Garcia deployed troops without orders?”
“Yes! That’s why the Marquis stopped at Ice Rock City, he was waiting for the Duke’s military order!”
“Ha! He already deployed troops without orders, what kind of military order is he waiting for…”
“Shush! Why are you so loud, are you seeking death?”
Colin is rendered speechless. These people seem to be whispering, but they aren’t really trying to hide their conversation at all.
Moreover, he had already noticed that this “gossip” had almost spread throughout the entire banquet.
At this moment, he suddenly realized what this hidden undercurrent was all about.
Without a doubt, Marquis Charles was still the true target of these people.
But after all, he was the eldest son of the Duke, and the prestige of the St. Hilde family in the North Territory was unparalleled, the many lords and nobles who had suffered heavy losses could only show their indignation towards Marquis Charles without daring to speak out.
However, if someone were to take the lead, the situation would be different.
This person had actually already made his stance clear!
The first time he saw Marquis Charles after the defeat, he publicly whipped him.
Before the banquet started tonight, he once again interrupted a performance that Marquis Charles had carefully planned.
This “he” was naturally the commander of the Dark Cavalry, the number one in the North Territory Army, the Duke’s own younger brother, Marquis Garcia!
Only when Marquis Garcia clearly demonstrated his dislike for Marquis Charles would the rest of the nobles dare to follow and complain a few words.
But originally, it was just complaints.
However, when everyone learned that Marquis Garcia had mobilized the Dark Cavalry without the Duke’s order, the situation changed again.
Although the Dark Cavalry was Marquis Garcia’s private army and was nominally commanded by the Marquis, this was still the North Territory after all.
Duke St. Hilde was the real master here.
Besides, since the Dark Cavalry had left the Marquis’ territory, shouldn’t they have obtained the Duke’s approval first?
Therefore, this widely spread “gossip” at the banquet subtly revealed a signal.
A dangerous signal –
Marquis Garcia and Duke St. Hilde are at odds!
In fact, clever people should’ve sensed the Duke’s wariness towards his own younger brother since he shelved the Dark Cavalry three years ago.
But at that time, Marquis Garcia did not disobey his elder brother’s order.
But now, could it be that under the severe defeat of Marquis Charles, Marquis Garcia has finally become dissatisfied with his nepotistic brother and begun to actively resist?
Bear in mind, the Dark Cavalry is an extremely fearsome army.
Although there are only fifty thousand men, no one doubts that under Marquis Garcia, it could sweep through the North Territory.
Moreover, due to a series of defeats suffered by Marquis Charles, the military strength of the North Territory has been significantly weakened.
Given this, the Dark Cavalry seems even more fearsome.
Therefore, this “gossip” produced such a terrifying impact.
Did Marquis Garcia repeatedly “humiliate” Marquis Charles because he genuinely wanted to reprimand the junior for his mistakes, or did he intend to express his dissatisfaction with Duke St. Hilde?
Considering Count Uman’s hints and the undercurrents surging at the banquet now.
Colin suddenly realized that a terrifying storm was brewing.
Once it forms, it will have the terrifying strength to sweep through the entire North Territory!
Just as the atmosphere at the banquet became more and more tense, Knight Cain Sudor suddenly came before Marquis Charles.
He first respectfully saluted, then raised his head and asked righteously:
“My Lord Marquis! I would like to ask, isn’t there someone who should take responsibility for such a devastating defeat in the North Territory?”
Marquis Charles was stunned on the spot.
Marquis Garcia’s face was expressionless.
The entire room fell silent.
The storm had officially arrived!