Confirming the Engagement
Viscount Benjamin laughed loudly, "As expected of you, Victor. I'm glad you respect Veronica's opinion, but since I brought her here, you'll have to find out her thoughts for yourself tonight."
"Victor, my father has invited all the nobles in Northwind City to a welcome banquet to welcome Uncle Benjamin's family and you. The invitations were sent to them this morning, and I'm sure you won't be disappointed at tonight's banquet."
Victor was surprised that Count Colt acted so quickly. Wasn't he worried that the engagement might not go through?
Victor thought about it carefully, "It's no wonder. Logically speaking, someone as clear-headed as me would definitely want to enter into this marriage, since it would be so beneficial for me."
"Victor, since you want to confirm, once we get to Iron Mountain Fortress, you'll have plenty of time to talk to Veronica before the banquet starts. You can then confirm her thoughts."
Viscount Benjamin then stopped discussing the engagement and instead focused on the establishment of a medical squadron, which he had previously agreed upon with Victor.
Even before last winter, Victor had sent several military doctors and nurses to Golden Pear Territory to help establish a medical squadron system. However, a winter has passed, and communication is not convenient, so Victor is unaware of the progress of establishing the medical squadron in Golden Pear Territory.
"The medical team has been set up. I recruited some doctors in my territory and trained a group of caregivers and apprentices according to the standards you provided. Your people have been guiding the work in all aspects. It looks quite professional, but I don't know how capable it actually is."
"I plan to lead my troops into the grasslands this spring and summer to clear out some small and medium-sized tribes on the outskirts of the Tribal Alliance, and also to test the capabilities of the medical squadron."
"Lord Benjamin, I also have this plan. I mainly want to capture some Barbarians slaves to build up my territory. I'm just a little worried about whether the Iron Bone Tribe will appear. The military strength of my territory is completely unable to withstand the Iron Bone Tribe."
"Victor, not to mention you, no Northern Frontier nobles except for Iron Birch Territory can stop the Iron Bone Tribe's invasion. But you can rest assured about this issue. After the battle last year, Ironbone has already led his tribe north to the wasteland. Now, only some small and medium-sized tribes remain on the outskirts of the entire Tribal Alliance. Many nobles want to take action to clean them up. I suggest you start this plan as soon as possible. After all, everyone likes an easy target."
"I understand. I will start this as soon as I return from the south."
"Are you going back to Boler County?" Viscount Benjamin asked directly.
"Yes, Lord Benjamin, if all goes well, I should also let my parents know. I haven't been home in a long time, so I'll go see my family first."
"The Former Baron Wembley should be very happy, after all, you've been promoted and found a very good fiancé," Alex teased.
"Then when will you find a suitable fiancé to please the Count and Count? Maybe then your status as heir will be settled."
"No thanks. I'd like to enjoy my single life for now. Besides, there aren't any suitable partners in the Duchy. I'll most likely have to marry a nobleman from the Raine Kingdom."
"I've heard that the noble ladies of the Raine Kingdom enjoy holding female knight competitions. I hope you can find a suitable female knight for yourself then."
"You rascal, I knew I shouldn't have recommended you as my cousin Veronica's fiancé."
The group arrived at Iron Mountain Fortress smoothly at 4:30 pm, and Viscount Benjamin and his family were brought to live in the inner castle.
The dinner was scheduled to begin at 6:30 p. m. After confirming with Viscount Benjamin, Victor personally invited Veronica to take a walk in the Garden of the inner castle.
Upon arriving at the Garden, Victor regretted his decision. It was only early spring, and even in the Count Iron Birch's Garden, there was hardly any greenery to be seen; there was hardly any scenery to speak of.
He bowed slightly to Miss Veronica. "I'm sorry, Miss Veronica, I didn't think it through. I didn't expect there to be anything beautiful in the Garden."
"Viscount Victor, please don't worry. If you'd like, let me show you around the inner castle. After all, I come here at least once a year and know every tree and blade of grass here much better than you do."
"Thank you, Miss Veronica. I'll leave the rest to you."
Unexpectedly, Veronica led Victor directly to an inner Drill Ground. She picked up two wooden swords and tossed one to Victor. "I've long heard that Viscount Victor a master of martial arts, capable of fighting his way in and out of battle. Although I've never been on the battlefield, I've studied with my family's knights since I was a child and consider myself an excellent swordsman. Today, I'd like to test my swordsmanship with you, Viscount."
Victor was wondering why the girl had changed into hunting attire to meet him; now he knew what her purpose was.
Seeing the girl with her ponytail, dressed in a white hunting outfit and with a slender figure, raising her wooden sword at him with a heroic and dashing air, Victor was speechless for a moment.
Seeing Victor stunned, Veronica did not wait. Instead, she launched an attack. She turned to the side, held the wooden sword horizontally with one hand, lowered her body and center of gravity, and took a step forward. In an instant, the sword light cut through the air, and the girl's wooden sword was already three inches in front of her throat.
Victor instinctively raised his sword with one hand to parry, the back of the wooden sword precisely deflecting the attack, the shock making the girl's hand go numb.
She spun around and took three steps back, and suddenly the sword flashed like a torrential rain, with three sword shadows simultaneously stabbing towards Victor's vital chest and abdomen.
Victor, instead, stepped forward, his wooden sword striking faster than the girl's. Bang—the blades clashed, and the girl's thrust was completely deflected by the powerful force.
She tiptoed back, but Victor's sword followed her like a shadow, the wind from the blade lifting her light hair.
"Too slow!" Victor suddenly changed his chopping motion to a slapping motion, and the girl's wooden sword flew out of her hand. When the wooden sword landed on the ground, the tip of Victor's sword was already pressed against her collarbone. Then Victor took three steps back, dropped the wooden sword, and indicated that the contest was over.
The girl rubbed her wrist. "As expected of a true warrior who slew the Barbarians chieftain, your swordsmanship and strength are flawless. Being defeated so quickly makes me seem weak. It's clearly you who are too strong."
"I'm sorry, Miss Veronica, I went too far."
"Just call me Veronica. It was clearly me who was arrogant and attacked the strong with the weak. But I also wanted to express my feelings through swordsmanship. My swordsmanship is like this: although it is full of variations, it always strives to take the initiative. Choosing you as my fiancé was originally my idea. Father and Alex were just helping me to test you."
Victor was also taken aback by the girl's straightforward statement. After a few seconds of silence, he said, "I am also willing to become your fiancé, Veronica."