Inside the Inner Keep of the Frost Dragon Fief, heavy curtains kept the Northern Frontier's bitter winds outside.
Asta August stood beside the map, wearing a deliberate smile. "I'm grateful that you all agreed to come."
There were few guests, all among the Northern Frontier's foremost old nobles: Holmes, Klan, Bolton, Harlov, and Himan.
The doors closed, and the attendants withdrew.
Asta raised his glass, adopting a slightly humbler air. "As the Northern Frontier Royal Reconstruction Envoy, allow me to offer you a toast. This conference would be impossible without you."
Holmes spoke first. "We came because the Northern Frontier cannot be left to a young man to do with as he pleases. He's done well in the Southeast, but he doesn't value us."
Klan agreed. "I hear he's set up some Council. Even grain purchases have to go through their ledgers. Red Tide offers assistance but no privileges. Old nobles like us are treated like the newly ennobled."
Bolton said sullenly, "And we have to purchase this year's assistance, too. Even buying grain for my fief requires vouchers from his people. Absurd!"
Asta hastily replied, "I understand how you feel. Although Lord Louis has made a great contribution to rebuilding the Northern Frontier, we cannot let the Calvin Family alone dictate everything here. That is precisely why I've invited you to help establish the rules."
He opened a small case he had brought with him. Several precious magic stones gleamed coldly beneath the lamplight.
"These are merely greeting gifts." His tone softened. "What truly matters is what you deserve: priority in the allocation of reconstruction resources, trade privileges... all put in writing, signed by me, and submitted to the conference in the Imperial Capital."
Harlov looked down at the magic stones without reaching for them. "What we want is