Chapter 111. The Marriage Alliance Proposal
“Sit,” Sir Lucius said in the same calm tone as ever.
Eli obeyed and sat down in the chair that had just been brought over personally by the future Duke of the Western Frontier.
Even though he was now completely different from the man who had first come to meet Sir Lucius, whether in strength, territory, or state of mind, he still could not help but feel a trace of tension deep in his heart in front of this unfathomable Governor of the Western Frontier.
The heavy wooden door of the study was pushed open and then closed again by the young duke, Constantine.
Out in the corridor, the butler naturally noticed the young duke’s appearance, as well as Aila and Wolfgang waiting outside the door.
Constantine’s gaze was immediately drawn to Wolfgang’s unusually massive frame and distinctly lupine features.
The curiosity of youth was instantly stirred. “A Wolf-kin?”
He studied Wolfgang with great interest, as if he wanted to step forward and take a closer look.
Seeing this, the butler quickly stepped forward and respectfully introduced them.
“Young Duke, these are Baron Pendragon’s attendants.”
The moment Aila and Wolfgang heard the title “Young Duke,” they hurriedly bowed in greeting, somewhat flustered.
Constantine’s eyes moved away from Wolfgang and fell on Aila’s face.
As he looked at her beautiful features, he tilted his head slightly, a trace of puzzlement flashing through his eyes.
He had the vague feeling that he had seen this face somewhere before. It stirred a blurry sense of familiarity, yet for the moment, he could not place it.
Under Constantine’s undisguised stare, Aila looked rather at a loss.
Wolfgang keenly sensed her discomfort. In silence, he took half a step forward and used his tall frame to block part of Aila from view, his eyes fixed on Constantine with guarded vigilance.
The butler naturally noticed the young duke’s somewhat impolite behavior.
He spoke up at the right moment. “Young Duke, it is almost time for your scheduled training today.”
Hearing this, Constantine finally came back to himself.
Not only was he not angered by Wolfgang’s actions, he actually found the Wolf-kin rather interesting.
He nodded at Aila and Wolfgang as a return greeting, then did not linger any longer, quickly leaving with the butler.
Inside the study, Eli was the first to speak, getting straight to the point.
“Sir Lucius, the matter of Runestone City and Sabda Medici’s rebellion has basically been resolved.
“At present, Runestone City is being temporarily managed by Captain Ron Hohenzollern of the Golden Lion Knights while awaiting your further instructions.”
Sir Lucius gave a slight nod, signaling for him to continue. “Tell me the details.”
Eli could only recount the events before and after the decisive battle on Windrest Plain in a concise manner.
As he spoke, he deliberately emphasized the formidable combat strength of the Golden Lion Knights and Captain Ron’s bravery and decisiveness, appropriately downplaying his own role and attributing more of the credit to Thorne City’s timely reinforcements.
Sir Lucius listened quietly, his face utterly expressionless. Only after Eli had finished did he slowly nod.
“You... did very well,” he said after a pause, adding an extra sentence.
“As for Count Alders, who was involved in this matter, I have already dealt with him severely.
“You need not worry that anyone will seek revenge against you over this afterward.”
At once, Eli revealed a perfectly measured look of puzzlement.
“Count Alders? Sir, are you referring to... ? I was not aware that the Alders Family was involved in this matter at all.
“Everything I did was solely to quell the rebellion in the Western Frontier.”
An almost imperceptible curve touched the corner of Lucius’s mouth. The boy knew how to behave.
“Enough. There is no need for idle talk.” Lucius brought the subject back on course.
“You have indeed rendered considerable service to the Western Frontier this time.
“And merit should naturally be rewarded. That is the law of the Kingdom, and it is also the principle of the La Roche Family.”
Then his tone shifted.
“But, Eli Pendragon, at the end of the day, you are merely a Frontier Knight from the Royal Domain. Your foundation is still shallow.
“Although you have performed meritoriously, I must also consider the feelings and opinions of the other nobles of the Western Frontier.
“If I were to reward you too lavishly, it would likely invite unnecessary criticism... Do you understand what I mean?”
When he finished speaking, Lucius deliberately paused, his deep gaze resting on Eli’s face as though observing his reaction.
Eli sighed inwardly.
He understood that what Lucius said was the truth, and also a veiled warning and restriction.
He had merit, yes, but if he wanted to use that merit to step into the existing power structure of the Western Frontier, that was impossible.
His original expectations cooled somewhat. He could only settle for the next best thing and fight for more practical resources. Surely he could not have come all the way to Thorne City for nothing.
“I understand Sir Lucius’s difficulties,” Eli said sincerely. “As for the reward, I will leave it entirely to your judgment.
“It is only that... Obsidian Territory and Lucerne City have just come through a war, and their losses are considerable.
“Both future construction and defense will require a large quantity of supplies. I wonder whether you might—”
“How about a marriage alliance with the Western Frontier?”
Lucius directly cut him off, calmly throwing out an entirely different proposal.
Eli, who had been detailing his material needs, froze mid-sentence. He was completely stunned and almost suspected he had heard wrong.
“Huh?” His mind failed to turn fast enough. “A marriage alliance? Sir, surely you are joking. I... I already have a wife.”
Lucius remained perfectly composed, as though he had long anticipated his reaction.
“A wife?
“As far as I know, the two of you have not yet held an official wedding ceremony, have you? And besides...”
“A marriage alliance with the bloodline of the La Roche Family is an honor countless nobles can only dream of. What? Are you unwilling?”
La Roche?
Eli’s mind began racing.
He had to admit that Lucius’s methods were brilliant.
A marriage alliance really was the ideal strategy under the current circumstances. It could grant him a certain degree of status and recognition, while also binding him more tightly to the war chariot of the Western Frontier in a comparatively gentle yet extremely effective way, placing him under the influence and control of Thorne City.
This would indeed be greatly beneficial to Eli. He might even have to thank Lucius for favoring him so highly.
And if he dared to refuse, Lucius would not even need to say a word. The vassals of the La Roche Family would eagerly rush to recover their liege’s dignity for him.
But... his wife Aila was herself a La Roche!
Naturally, he could not say that outright at this moment. He lacked proof, and the truth was far too shocking.
As if seeing through the struggle and doubt in Eli’s heart, Lucius continued in the same steady tone.
“As for this matter, I have already used my elder brother’s hand to exchange a few letters with your father, Marquess Leon Black.
“My brother’s reply was that Marquess Leon... did not express any objection.”
Father?
Eli was startled once again.
Lucius had even taken the attitude of the Royal Capital into consideration and had already communicated with them in advance?
Could it be that Sir Lucius really thought that highly of me, to prepare this thoroughly?
Faced with Lucius’s eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through everything, Eli felt a wave of helplessness wash over him.
At that moment, he was already thinking about how to arrange a meeting between Aila and Lucius later.
“Sir Lucius,” he said after carefully choosing his words, sounding deeply troubled, “I am merely a minor baron. I truly do not dare to aspire to a union with the exalted bloodline of the La Roche Family...
“This matter is of great importance. Could you... allow me some time to consider it carefully?”
Lucius looked at him and asked bluntly, “Do you agree, or do you not?”
Feeling that unquestionable pressure, Eli drew a deep breath and chose to delay.
“Sir, this matter has come too suddenly. I need some time to think.
“Please... give me one day. Tomorrow, I will certainly give you a satisfactory answer.”
Lucius stared at him for several seconds, then slowly nodded, agreeing to his request.
Eli secretly let out a sigh of relief. He rose respectfully, bowed, and turned toward the door of the study.
The moment his hand closed around the doorknob, his thoughts flashed, and an idea emerged.
He pushed the door open, deliberately leaving it half ajar.
Turning slightly, he made sure that Sir Lucius inside the study could see Aila standing outside.
Then, in a voice loud enough for those inside to hear, he said to Aila outside the door,
“Aila, this is the very man I have often spoken of to you, the wise and mighty, brilliantly farsighted Governor of the Western Frontier, Sir Lucius La Roche.”
Aila was a little puzzled by Eli’s sudden formal introduction. She had no idea what had happened inside.
Still, she obediently followed the direction Eli indicated, nodded, and bowed toward the study.
Her gaze instinctively lifted toward the great figure inside.
Yet at that moment, Lucius seemed to have habitually turned his eyes toward the window instead.
It was as though he were contemplating something, and he did not look toward the doorway at all.
Seeing his plan fail, Eli felt a wave of helplessness.
Just as he thought it was useless and was about to close the door and leave, perhaps because he had heard Eli’s words, or perhaps because he had sensed the gaze from the doorway, Sir Lucius slowly turned around.
His eyes passed over Eli and fell on the girl at the door, who was bowing obediently and lifting her eyes toward him.
The instant their gazes met, the unchanging calm and depth on Lucius’s face shattered at once.
His pupils suddenly contracted, and his eyes, usually as still as an ancient well, were now filled with utter disbelief and shock.
He stared fixedly at Aila as though he were looking at some impossible phantom.
He was frozen in place.