PS: The king of football has been crowned! Messi is fucking amazing! I was so excited I stayed up all night. Here's a massive 5,800-character chapter.
Aaron was not surprised that Alusair had seen through his desire for a fief.
He had already dropped more than enough hints. Even if Alusair had failed to notice his collusion with Charlotte earlier, the young lady had now deliberately left the two of them alone. Combined with what Aaron had said before, if the princess still could not figure it out, the nobles would have banded together and driven her out of Suzail long ago.
Yes, it was that earlier remark of his: "I'm merely Viscount Salian, with neither a fief nor a senior office. I'm very grateful that you appointed me an Inner Court Knight, but an Inner Court Knight can be appointed or dismissed at any time. Promotions and demotions are perfectly ordinary."
On the surface, it sounded like Aaron was helplessly reporting that he had neither land nor real authority. As an Inner Court Knight, his power and status were ultimately mere extensions of hers, and could offer no substantive help.
That was the first layer.
Turn the statement around, however, and it meant that if he had a fief, he could offer her tangible support.
Take it one step further, and Aaron had already expressed his desire for a fief in a roundabout way.
That was the second layer.
Having seen through Aaron's purpose, the princess had naturally also seen through the performance he and Charlotte had put on.
But that was still part of the plan!
Aaron was not afraid she would see through him. He was afraid she would not!
As mentioned earlier, the princess was fiercely independent and trusted only her own judgment. The more openly