Strictly speaking, the Nolant Kingdom had only been formally established a little over thirty years ago, so these dukes belonged to the great families of its founding era.
Naturally, they had fought in wars too.
But once people experienced pleasures they had never enjoyed before, they fell into decadence remarkably quickly, especially those whose origins had been thoroughly unremarkable.
They reveled in the sense of superiority their status afforded them, and thus treasured their lives all the more, wishing they could enjoy it for several more decades.
In wars between nobles, the usual practice was to capture the other party and let their family pay a sufficient ransom to buy them back-this was standard practice among nobles across the continent.
Kroya, however, had done nothing of the sort.
He truly slaughtered anyone who refused to submit, his butcher's blade still dripping blood. Meanwhile, he sent his troops to clear out the locusts at a measured pace, steadily advancing.
He was practically declaring that the Western Frontier bordering the Northern Frontier already belonged to him.
He had already started governing it!
Just as this terrifying psychological pressure left the dukes wondering whether to bring him gifts and surrender, the king's army suddenly arrived in the Western Frontier.
Why had the king suddenly come?
Had he learned that the great Reef Duke of the Northern Frontier intended to disregard all noble dignity, and come specifically to rein him in?
The dukes' eyes lit up. Like children who had finally found someone to complain to, they hurried out to welcome the king.
If the king reprimanded the Reef Duke, perhaps they could gain a little breathing room. Then, if they offered some precious treasures, might everything be resolved?
But when they met the king and had barely finished recounting what had happened, Aistena,