The defeated side...
Those three words struck everyone pale.
"As the defeated side, Lord Veylin has mercifully allowed you to retain your current titles and lands." Caroline smiled as she delivered the verdict. "But to ensure peace along the border, the heirs of the defeated families must marry partners designated by the Grey Sea Alliance. Furthermore, the children born of these marriages must become their families' first heirs in line."
Boom!
The hall erupted.
How was this letting them keep their titles? This was a scheme to wipe out their family lines!
Once they accepted these terms, even if their family names survived, their bloodlines would be diluted and replaced within two or three generations. Their entire families would effectively be swallowed up by the Grey Sea Alliance's nobles without a drop of blood being shed!
"We... we cannot accept this!"
"You're cutting us off at the roots!"
"We were only forced to transport a little grain! That hardly warrants this punishment!"
Despair spread. The two elderly counts even felt dizzy. They wanted to resist, but looking at the fully armed, black-armored knights around them, then at the young lord on the platform who had killed even Romon, they felt a profound helplessness well up inside.
They were meat on someone else's chopping block.
Caroline quietly watched their reactions, the amusement in her eyes deepening.
The time was right.
"You don't seem very satisfied with the treatment of the 'defeated side'?" Caroline raised her eyebrows in feigned surprise. "In that case, allow me to show you another path."
She held up three fingers, her voice turning enticing.
"If you want to shed your status as the 'defeated side,' if you want to preserve your families' independence and bloodlines, you have only one choice-join the Pan-Grey Sea Alliance."
"Not only will