A Tournament and a Banquet

On the makeshift tournament grounds.

Two Green Forest Warriors slammed into each other, wielding primitive weapons.

Neither wore armor, revealing well-developed muscles, gruesome scars, and a variety of tattoos.

Calling them tattoos wasn't entirely accurate; Aaron knew that ancient Green Forest Warriors favored using green or blue dyes to smear their bodies and faces, creating simple patterns.

To this day, this custom still persisted within the Green Forest.

Although he didn't find guys with green and blue patches on their faces particularly terrifying, it was said to be an effective way to intimidate enemies.

Once upon a time, these "Green Barbarians" were the nightmare of the northern lords of the Kagash Kingdom!

Bang!

Just as he was lost in thought, a bearded warrior on the stage knocked his opponent down with a stone axe and began roaring at the crowd, flexing his muscles.

"Excellent!"

On the high platform, The Count raised his hand and announced loudly, "The winner of this tournament is Murdoch from the Barren Lands!"

Aaron looked around listlessly. On the high platform, in the best viewing spots, Lady Sonia, Ginny, Sean, and even Colin were present.

This tournament was originally held primarily to celebrate the birth of the new heir.

It was worth mentioning that Sylvie had also survived, and according to Ginny, her recovery was going well with no signs of postpartum infection; it seemed the Allicin had played a certain role.

In reality, Aaron hadn't been very confident at the time; one could only say the woman had been quite lucky.

At night.

A grand banquet was held within the castle.

A golden-roasted suckling pig was placed in the center of the long table with an apple in its mouth, surrounded by a variety of sumptuous dishes.

Aaron held a glass of wine, somewhat displeased by the boisterous atmosphere of the banquet.

One had to know that the nobles of this era were quite wild and open, and the banquet was also a prime place for socializing.

Some men and women meeting for the first time were already impatient, flirting heatedly, and even making arrangements to rendezvous in the gardens or the servants' quarters...

All in all, it was a scene of debauchery.

Well, there was no shortage of knights' daughters, or even knights' wives, who wanted to "hunt" Aaron, crowding around to fawn over him, which he found incredibly tiresome.

"Haha, my child, you are still as shy as ever, unable to adapt to such scenes."

The Count walked over with a laugh, and those around him automatically stepped aside, clearly aware that The Count wished to have a heart-to-heart with his second son.

"You should learn more from Colin; he adapts quite well."

Starting with women was a quick way to liven up the atmosphere for men's conversations.

However, The Count using this opening line actually made Aaron feel a sense of politeness and importance.

He smiled slightly: "Colin is a very good heir, well, if he were just a little more humble... Father, do you have something to discuss with me?"

This direct approach made The Count frown, but he soon said: "You are already seventeen; it is time to consider marriage. Well... according to the customs in Kagash, a Count can ennoble lesser nobles. Perhaps you should also seek a title; although it won't increase your fief, it sounds better."

In the Kagash Kingdom, Barons and Viscounts and the like did not actually have the power to ennoble other nobles, not even a knight.

This power was held at least by a Count, which was why a Count was often regarded as a true ruler of a region and the threshold for being a Great Noble.

Of course, if a Baron or Viscount insisted on ennobling someone and carving up their own territory, the official documents would be approved if submitted.

If they had an affiliated Count, the person responsible for the approval would be that Count.

If not, then it was directly under the King, and the report would go straight to the King's desk.

Generally speaking, Great Nobles would not refuse, as this was a form of self-weakening for the lesser nobles.

Of course, in the Green Forest, the situation was somewhat different.

The land here was vast and sparsely populated; in fact, the fiefs of many knights were so large that they would make their peers in the kingdom jealous.

Take Aaron, for example; his territory could still be reclaimed, and its area was comparable to a Barony within the kingdom, just without the same population.

The same went for The Count before him; he preferred to call himself a lord rather than some Baron or noble.

Therefore, Aaron knew very well that this was not what The Count truly wanted to say.

I always feel that after ruling the Green Forest, The Count has changed; he's become more political?

He muttered internally, then said: "If I could be ennobled by you, it would be my supreme honor, but I have yet to find a lady who truly captures my heart..."

"That is a pity, but perhaps you could consider a 'Sheep Girl' from the Kagash Kingdom?" The Count said.

The lords of the Kagash Kingdom were cowardly and unskilled in combat, often mocked by the Green Forest nobles as Sheep Men, so their daughters were naturally Sheep Girls.

"A political marriage?"

Aaron smiled: "If Father wishes to fully integrate into Kagash, then that is a good method..."

"I am still considering it at the moment. Feli once proposed this suggestion to me... but I always feel something is wrong, that there is a trap."

The Count said.

In truth, if things were as they once were, he wouldn't even need to discuss Aaron's marriage with his son; he could simply finalize the arrangements and notify him afterward.

However, Aaron now held another status: he was his vassal, which necessitated a negotiation instead.

Yet Aaron felt this was merely the man's secondary objective. While finding it amusing, he played along and chatted for a few moments.

Finally, Theodore spoke as if in passing: "I hear that your territory is using a brand-new farming method, along with something called Fertilizer, which can double the yield per acre? Hmm, you've been skilled at invention since you were a child; the paper you created is already a bestseller across the kingdom, snatched up frantically by wandering merchants..."

So that's what this is all about.

Aaron nodded inwardly, his expression remaining unchanged: "It is merely a trivial improvement. If Father desires it, I would be happy to discuss it thoroughly with your agricultural officials."

Theodore's expression turned solemn at once: "How could I possibly covet the possessions of my son, my own vassal?"

Nevertheless, as Aaron continued to persuade him, his expression gradually softened.

Not long after, upon returning to his room, Aaron let out a soft chuckle: "Is this a common trait among feudal lords? Always wanting to scrape every good thing into their own bowls?"

"Still, I got what I wanted."

During tonight's discussion, he and Theodore had reached a 'political transaction'—specifically, trading advanced farming techniques for absolute autonomy over his own marriage.

Theodore had hinted at the end that as long as he didn't marry a peasant girl and incite public outrage, he could do as he pleased, or even marry later.

This made Aaron breathe a sigh of relief; he certainly didn't want to be forced into an arrangement by Theodore, just like Colin.

At this moment, he glanced at the gap in the door and suddenly smiled: "Tia, come in!"