Though the cheerful atmosphere was somewhat stiff, it did help ease the previous deadlock. Then, after Marquis Oxtail told a few jokes, the mood became even warmer and friendlier.
After several rounds of negotiation, a new alliance agreement was finally signed.
The agreement stipulated that the Sapphire Grand Duchy must devote its full support to the founding of the Flame Kingdom. Once the Flame Kingdom had been established, the Sapphire Grand Duchy would formally declare itself a vassal state of the Flame Kingdom and pay tribute to it. At the same time, the Flame Kingdom and Liszt's Flame Family were required to guarantee the safety of the Sapphire Grand Duchy.
The Azure Sea would be assigned to the Sapphire Family, and after the Flame Kingdom was founded, its influence would not extend into those waters. However, Black Horse Island and Coral Island could serve as Flame Kingdom concessions within the Sapphire Grand Duchy, facilitating communication between the two. Their territories would forever belong to Liszt.
After signing the agreement, the Grand Duke felt somewhat troubled.
It was not because he had chosen to follow Liszt, but because the Coral Island and Black Horse Island concessions written into the agreement were a slightly humiliating display of "ceding land to sue for peace."
However.
Liszt had to secure those two islands as leased territory.
In the study, he spoke privately with the Sapphire Grand Duke. "Grand Duke Andrew, the Coral Island and Black Horse Island concessions are not meant to deliberately humiliate the Sapphire Family. In truth, these two islands are of great importance to me. I may as well reveal some information to you in advance."
"Please speak, Your Highness." Since the agreement had already been signed, the Sapphire Grand Duke no longer dwelled on forms of address. In private, he