"Since the expansion order is Nalant's reward, let's now discuss the rewards for each of your families in this autumn campaign!"
"This autumn campaign brought in more than twelve thousand gold coins from the Northern Principality. According to past custom, you and your vassals may divide forty-five percent of it."
"However, considering that all your families suffered considerable losses this year, I will add another five percent for you. That is to say, six thousand gold coins will be divided among you!"
This time, the king did not exclude the Blackiron Family or the Iron Cavalry Family.
After all, with a powerful enemy outside their borders, reclaiming a portion of their territories earlier had already counted as punishment.
Now, granting them the rewards they were due could also be considered a roundabout form of appeasement.
To the Onyx Principality, the six earl families were all forces of pivotal importance. Forcing them into disunity would not serve the principality's interests.
Naturally, the six earls had no objections.
However, the king was not finished. After a pause, he continued, "Furthermore, the Tulip Family's role in this autumn campaign was undoubtedly dazzling. Whether it was intercepting the Northern Principality's flanking force in the northwest, or Bernard receiving intelligence and warning us beforehand of the Northern Principality's ambush—"
"Both prevented our army from being utterly annihilated by the Northern Principality."
"Therefore, in addition to the gold coin reward, I will grant the Tulip Family an extra fief the size of a barony. Do you have any objections?"
"We are willing to heed Your Majesty's will!" The expressions of the earls varied, but one thing was the same: they all carried a trace of envy.
The other families had suffered grievous losses in this autumn campaign, and even the king was no exception. Yet Bernard