Lion City Noble Council.
The flowers are blooming in the garden, and the evening breeze of early spring is refreshing.
Various delicacies are placed on the table in the pavilion, and the copper candlesticks and silver plates together create a comfortable late-night snack.
King Ulrich was comfortably drinking some kind of weird blue-purple liquid on the recliner.
A tall and beautiful woman came to the garden from the high tower of Noble Council.
This is the woman who was arguing with Malbert an hour ago. She looks like she is in her twenties, with picturesque eyebrows, red lips, and skin so tender that it looks like you can pinch water. She is indeed a stunning beauty.
She originally had a calm expression on her face, but after seeing King Ulrich in the garden, she closed her eyes and put on a bright smile within a second.
"Your Majesty, I didn't expect you to be here so late..."
The woman lifted up her skirt and ran to Ulrich like a little girl.
"Anna, I can't sleep... Ha, I might be too happy. Oh, where were you just now?"
Ulrich smiled and hugged the woman who was running over, "Don't run too fast, my princess, you are no longer alone now..."
"I was as happy as you and couldn't sleep, so I went out for a walk..."
The princess named Anna rested her head on King Ulrich's shoulder, assuming the posture of a little bird.
"Anna, all I've heard lately is good news, maybe I should hold a grand banquet..."
Ulrich sat on the recliner, put the princess on his lap and sat down, holding up the cup of purple liquid.
"Of course, Your Majesty... but..."
Anna smiled sweetly, but there was a worried look in his eyes. "However, I just met Prince Malbert, and the way he looked at me seemed a little... complicated."
Ulrich was stunned for a moment, then frowned. "It's true... you are pregnant. I shouldn't let him stay with Lion City at this time... Moreover, Anna, please don't use the name 'Prince' to Malbert in the future."
After thinking for a while, the king picked up the wine glass and took a sip. "I will appoint Malbert as the consul of the Sava River county. If our child is a daughter, then he will become my son-in-law; if it is a boy..."
Having said this, Ulrich stopped talking.
"Perhaps it will be a boy, Your Majesty... I have been particularly fond of sour food recently. The medical officer said that those who like sour food are likely to be boys..."
Anna smiled even sweeter, looking like an innocent girl who didn't understand anything.
"I hope so..."
Ulrich also laughed.
One day later, Malbert was named Lord Sava Fortress and was fully responsible for the military administration of the entire Sava River County - speaking of it, this is also the enfeoffment that the king's heir should have after observing the government. He must be familiar with various local practices, and it is best to be a frontier county where he can be exposed to war.
Sava Fortress is indeed just right. This is the territory newly occupied by Li Ang after dispatching the army. It has a large area and a lot of cultivated land, and it borders Bacchus Empire and Duchy of Dexia.
But there are still no residents in Sava Fortress right now. There are people in the surrounding villages and towns, but the urban area has been completely destroyed by successive wars, so it is really not a good territory.
However, Malbert accepted the appointment calmly and left Lion City directly on the same day.
"My son, are you just giving up? Sava Fortress There is nothing now, what's the use of going there!"
When Malbert left Lion City, Brennus rushed outside the city to send his son to take office - although nominally this son was adopted by the king, Brennus was his biological father after all, and his concern was obvious.
"Father, if I still stay in Lion City, if something happens to the child in the princess's belly, then I will be the first suspect..."
Malbert hugged his biological father, and even had a relaxed look on his face. "Besides, I didn't want to stay in the throne room. Although Sava Fortress is not a good place, at least I can lead troops in the border counties and have a higher degree of freedom."
"Sava Fortress is not an ordinary border county... Bacchus Empire will definitely launch a counterattack from Sava Fortress soon; now that Kadan's women and children have been captured by Ryman, Dexia will definitely continue to launch attacks! You will face the full attack of two countries at the same time in Sava Fortress!"
Duke Brennus is obviously more anxious than his own son.
"There's nothing I can do... I have to accept this appointment, father..."
Malbert shook his head. "Anna There is a high probability that something will happen to the unfounded child in Princess Princess' belly... If I don't resist strong enemies at the border, then I will face a more dangerous situation..."
"Malbert, actually, what if the princess really makes a baby?"
Brennus gritted his teeth and whispered, "Babies are easy to die these days. No matter how careful you are, they may not grow up safely enough to inherit the throne..."
"Father, half of Lion Knight Order is already in your hands, and Royal City Guard is in my hands. Those who are loyal to the king are the new recruits... Do you think it is suitable for us, father and son, to stay in Lion City now?? You should also go back to Cliff Bay immediately - you'd better go and fight Fieltzwe or Raven Kingdom, father, if you don't want to be forced to rebel."
Malbert grabbed Brennus's arm, leaned close to his father's ear and whispered softly.
"... You are right, child. I am Grand Commander of the Lion Knight Order, and I must be loyal to the Lionheart Kingdom... Both our father and son must be loyal ministers of the kingdom, otherwise you will not be able to sit on Silver Throne..."
Brennus was silent for a while, then patted Malbert on the shoulder, with some relief on his face.
"As you said, even if the princess does have children, she may not be able to grow up... so I am not in a hurry, father, I am still young."
Malbert nodded and agreed with Brennus's point of view, "In contrast, what I care more about is why Alistair became the master of Toba City - he has no reason to betray me, Franck Family's People have lost their territory in Barkley, and it was I who settled them in Cliff Bay! And as Alistair, as Twilight Knight, it is impossible for Twilight Knight to get better treatment under other lords, and I even promised to give him the right of first night!"
"Did Alistair really conspire with that Brigi to build some kind of Desert Twilight in Dexia? Is this false news?"
Brennus also has some doubts about this.
"The news of 'Desert Twilight' was brought back by Sir Rayman, and was officially reported to King Ulrich in the throne room - Father, you should know Ryman. He has always been Ulrich's most trusted Lion Knight. He does a lot of dirty work, and he will not lie to the king."
Malbert shook his head. "Besides, two other Twilight Knight also came to report to me. They originally surrounded Li Ang, but Alistair was inexplicably caught by Li Ang --It is said that when hundreds of people surrounded three people, they were arrested by Li Ang! Moreover...Li Ang used the escape passage found by Alistair and Brigi to escape the siege!"
"It seems that Alistair and Brigi did betray... Maybe Li Ang negotiated a deal with them, such as exchanging Toba City for Alistair's rebellion..."
Brennus sighed, "Li Ang is indeed a businessman who is very good at trading."
"Yes, Li Ang is always trying to ruin my business unintentionally... But I don't want to be an enemy of him. His strength and financial resources are what I must get. I must control Li Ang! Father, can you do me a favor..."
Malbert lowered his head and thought for a while, then began to ask his father for help.
"What are you going to do?"
Brennus looked around and saw that the other followers were far away from their father and son, and then asked in a low voice, "Li Ang is not easy to deal with, that kid is quite cunning."
"Yes, he is quite cunning, and it is not easy to deal with him directly. So I plan to start with Amy... I felt when I was at Long River Town that Amy is Li Ang's weakness! Father, I want the so-called child in the princess's belly to die in the hands of Amy!"
Malbert gradually had a hint of ferocity on his face. "By the way, let Alanric Prince also die in the hands of Godric or Amy... I want Li Ang to join me!"
Xingar.
Ramon's 'Lordship Auction' is officially held.
This auction was extremely grand. Although it was considered an underground auction, it was even more sensational than when the elf girl was auctioned. Almost all the great lords heard the news.
In fact, this underground auction is not an illegal transaction. Even Bahad Khan Kadan must admit the legality of this city owner auction.
This auction was held by Ramon as an 'agent' on behalf of Bahaman and Gaiwan Khan. This was certainly not an illegal activity, but a real, legal and reasonable bidding auction.
Or rather choose...
Because in this auction, Ramon is actually choosing a husband for Bahaman's daughter Ruha - but using a bidding method.
It can also be understood that this is a competition to see who has more betrothal gifts.
Then, Ramon will also be responsible for hosting the engagement ceremony.
In fact, this kind of large-scale son-in-law selection activity is a normal behavior in the Pande Continent. Many kings have done this before - such as when recruiting Prince Consort for Princess.
Lionheart Kingdom often selects husbands for aristocratic girls through athletic competitions.
And Ruha's current identity is probably even more attractive than the average Princess...
You know, Ruha's dowry is Aishikeman, a big and wealthy city!
With such a dowry, no matter how much it is, it is appropriate to pay...
Although Ruha's appearance is not considered to be the most beautiful one in the country, she actually does have the true meaning of 'allure', and her husband will indeed become the legal lord of Aishikeman City!
This is recognized by Aishikeman lord Bahaman himself, and it is in line with the hereditary inheritance system formulated by Kadan himself. There is indeed no problem. Even the residents of Aishikeman will agree with this rule that is completely in line with the law.
The only one who has an opinion is probably Ikram, the son of Bahaman...
Therefore, this auction has attracted a lot of attention.
There are big businessmen, wealthy little lords, and leaders of some tribes in Dexia. Of course, there are also rich men who come from the Lionheart Kingdom and Fieltzwe to try their luck.
The admission ticket has been sold to 2,000 dinars, and it is still very expensive - Ramon only allows 300 people to enter, and they are not allowed to bring followers or weapons.
The reason why the admission fee is so high is because the customers who have confirmed their admission include two Duchy of Dexia caliphs - this shows that Duchy of Dexia also agrees with this auction, so everyone naturally has no scruples.
Kadan himself did not go to the auction, but he asked Xingar City Lord Tahir to go.
In fact, Kadan already knows that Aishikeman has stationed a lot of the Lionheart Kingdom and Bacchus Empire's 'armies'. In Kadan's opinion, this is the main reason why Bahaman plans to auction off the position of city leader - if Bahaman cannot hold it himself, it is better to sell it to someone who can.
This is indeed the case... Anyway, the basic logic is indeed the same.
This situation is understandable, and Kadan actually wants Bahaman to do this - the richest person in Dexia is Kadan himself. Since you Bahaman want to sell, of course Kadan is also willing to buy it.
After all, there are not many opportunities to take back a big and wealthy city like Aishikeman to oneself in a reasonable and legal manner.
And...Bahad Khan doesn't necessarily have to pay when you buy something!
Maybe you can still have sex for free...
So Kadan asked Tahir to participate in this transaction on his behalf.
Although Tahir has been thinking about how to kill Ramon, he does not want to offend the brothers Bahaman and Gaiwan Khan, let alone Kadan. Of course, he can only abide by the rules and participate in the auction honestly.
Another caliph of Desha, Hamid, also participated in the bidding.
Hamid is the lord of Narda, a city in the south of Dexia. He has been fighting with Kadan before and suffered huge losses in Lion City. This time, Xingar also followed Kadan.
The reason for Hamid's bidding is more practical. He actually really wants his son to marry Ruha and make Aishikeman his own territory.
Because Hamid is actually a true devout believer of God Vata, he wants to be Gazi Holy Mountain's patron.
Hamid likes to recruit Gazi ascetics, the real monks who practice in the temples in the Holy Mountain... Of course, it can only be said that he once liked it - Hamid has not been able to recruit monks in Gazi Mountain for several years.
Since Aishikeman became the territory of Bahaman, the temple of Gazi Mountain has gradually changed, and has basically become a place where materialism is rampant.
This has a lot to do with Bahaman's laissez-faire - Gazi Mountain belongs to the jurisdiction of Aishikeman, but Bahaman is obviously not an overly pious person. He prefers to recruit Gazi Raiders, so he is not happy to let too many people become ascetics who value faith over material desires.
Hamid wants to change the concept of Holy Mountain, but he can't attack Bahaman's territory - they have been colleagues for many years, so they will not fight each other due to political differences.
At this time, Aishikeman was auctioned, which was exactly what Hamid wanted.
In fact, just the presence of two caliphs is enough to attract people. In addition to these two caliphs, there are dozens of tribal leaders from Dexia, as well as many Xingar whose identities have not been disclosed--they are probably slave traders.
This is just the bidders in Dexia.
There are also two more senior nobles from the Bacchus Empire - the two sons of Emperor Marius, Gaius and Yunes.
Also appearing at the same time was Alina, who came nominally on behalf of her brother Ares. Ares is the son of Governor Justus, but Justus always prefers his daughter, and this son has a relatively low sense of existence.
Anyway, this auction is nominally for choosing a son-in-law, so naturally people from any country can participate, as long as they are not from the Lionheart Kingdom - Dexia is currently only a hostile country to the Lionheart Kingdom.