Rupert Walter saw the king's thoughtful expression and continued:
"Of course, Your Majesty. I suggest we shouldn't rush this matter."
His tone was calm, but carried a trace of seasoned caution. "Although granting the Yellow Earth Plain to Hall Duke was done with the kingdom's overall interests in mind, Marquis Greiman invested a great deal of troops and resources into that land. If we announce it directly without consulting him, I'm afraid he may grow dissatisfied."
He turned his steady gaze toward Rhodesney XVIII. "Therefore, I suggest we first treat this as a proposal and sound out the Marquis. For example, Your Majesty could write him a personal letter expressing your recognition of Hall's military achievements, while also mentioning the future arrangements for the Yellow Earth Plain and asking for his opinion."
"That way," Rupert said slowly, "we can ascertain the Marquis's attitude while leaving room for subsequent arrangements. If he raises objections, we can take the opportunity to placate him. If he tacitly agrees, we can proceed naturally."
Rhodesney nodded lightly after hearing this, and a hint of approval appeared in his eyes.
"You're right." He spoke slowly. "Although Paul is loyal to the kingdom, if we don't explain why we're doing this, he may inevitably feel that the Royal Family doesn't trust him."
His tone became firm. "Then let's settle it that way. I'll personally write to him later. The wording should be gentle, but our intentions must also be clear."
He scanned the others, his gaze finally settling on Rupert. "I don't want Paul to misunderstand, but neither can we allow the balance of power to be lost."
The hall fell silent. Several ministers nodded in agreement, while Rupert bowed slightly, a smile appearing on his face.
Just then, a thunderous cheer suddenly came from outside the