The delegation from Strasbourg was exceptionally grand: a Knight Order of roughly three thousand men, more than two thousand attendants, at least twenty carriages, and an enormous merchant caravan...
Looking down from the walls of Silver Doveburg, Charlotte saw Golden Pheasant Tail Flowers—emblems only royal in-laws were entitled to display—fluttering on the banners, along with the family crest denoting a noble title. The visitor was a baron related to the royal family.
Charlotte hesitated briefly, then opened the gates of Silver Doveburg and led everyone out to greet them. He had no desire to cultivate an image of arrogant defiance, especially since Nanny Karen had already tipped him off about the visitor's identity.
Silver Doveburg was a barony. There was no way it could be handed over to a Level 30 or 40 fourth-rank Chief Clerk. After complicated political struggles within the Empire, Baron Filer, the Emperor's brother-in-law, had been granted Silver Doveburg.
This brother-in-law of the Emperor had come to take possession of his territory.
Charlotte had arranged everything long ago. Silver Doveburg had completed its Labyrinthization, he had moved his assets, and he had even tampered with a few things. Thus, when he went out to greet Baron Filer, he wore a smile and acted humble and gentle.
Baron Filer was a fat middle-aged man in his forties. Upon seeing Charlotte, he actually extended a hand from his carriage and waved—a rare courtesy—then simply bypassed the West Wind Knight Regiment and Silver Doveburg militia who had come to welcome him and entered the city directly.
Baron Filer's attitude carried the particular arrogance of great nobles.
To him, waving at Charlotte was already an immense favor, and only because Charlotte had "recovered Silver Doveburg." After all, this place was now his territory.
Charlotte did not care. He knew nobles