Derek could only roar silently in his heart, I want to become a duke.
But he hoped that one day, he would be able to shout it openly and proudly.
Just as Derek led his knights in rehearsing the possibilities of various strategies and tactics, no one else was idle either.
The quiet winter did not belong to the common rabble.
The nobles, on the other hand, visited one another even more frequently, especially as the footsteps of war drew closer by the day.
Count Lovett hosted a banquet and invited Marquis Hussein.
Although the latter had just joined forces with the Northland Nobles to cheat Count Lovett once, that did not stop everyone from sitting together, eating and drinking while watching beautiful dancers perform.
It was merely normal socializing.
But when Count Lovett and Marquis Hussein moved to a corner, several core nobles immediately drew closer, vaguely forming a loose circle around them.
Anyone with sense knew that the important figures might have private matters to discuss and naturally would not come over to make themselves unwelcome.
Those without sense... would never have appeared here in the first place.
"Marquis, seeing your brilliance once again, that truly was a magnificent scheme.
"But... you really put us through the wringer." Count Lovett spoke with half complaint and half jest.
Naturally, this did not affect Marquis Hussein in the slightest.
The nobles of the Royal Capital around them even smiled.
Seizing the fruits of victory was not something to be ashamed of. On the contrary, it was something worth boasting about.
Marquis Hussein lightly dabbed at his lips and said reservedly, "Everything is for the King."
"Then would you be willing to do something more for the King?" Count Lovett pressed him at once.
In truth, Marquis Hussein had probably guessed