Caria's new noble

Horace's gaze gradually cleared.

He picked up his pen and began to write.

He sorted out the core interests he needed to secure in the coming negotiations, and his bottom line.

Two days later, Horace Loux left Lakeside Town with a small retinue and headed for the Academy of Raya Lucaria.

The atmosphere at the academy was entirely different from before.

The banners of the Moon of Caria flew over the main buildings. Crystalian guards had replaced some of the Glintstone Knights at their posts, but many more glintstone sorcerers still hurried through the corridors in robes, carrying books or experimental equipment. Their expressions simply held a little more caution and watchfulness.

The investiture ceremony took place in the academy's central hall.

The hall had been redecorated, solemn without losing its air of True Magic.

Caria's nobles, knights, and senior academy sorcerers who had pledged allegiance gathered in the hall.

Queen Rennala sat upon a newly crafted throne, wearing the moon crown that symbolized Carian sovereignty and holding the royal scepter, her bearing dignified and elegant.

Her gaze swept across the hall and lingered briefly when Horace entered, a hint of an enigmatic smile flashing in her eyes.

The ceremony was not complicated.

The royal scribe read out the commendation for Horace Loux, listing his achievements in "maintaining stability in Liurnia and providing crucial aid at a critical moment," among other things, before announcing:

"Therefore, in the name of Rennala, Queen of the Kingdom of Caria and Protector of the Raya Lucaria True Magic Academy, Lord Horace Loux is hereby granted a title and raised to the rank of marquess, with the Eastern Tableland and Lakeside Town as his domain, and is specially authorized to establish and maintain an order of knights to defend the southeastern border of the lake region."

A marquess! A wave of stifled gasps and whispers rose through the hall.

Marquess was a high rank in the nobility, usually bestowed upon frontier military commanders or military nobles of outstanding merit, granting considerable autonomy and military authority.

Rennala's reward could hardly be called anything but generous.

His expression calm, Horace knelt on one knee, accepted the heraldic ring symbolizing his rank and the patent of nobility, and completed the ceremony by swearing allegiance.

His conduct throughout was impeccable, neither discourteous nor overly emotional.

The ceremony was followed by a celebratory banquet.

The atmosphere at the banquet was somewhat more relaxed, but Horace could feel countless eyes upon him-curious, appraising, envious, wary.

This "barbarian marquess" who had appeared out of nowhere was undoubtedly the center of attention.

Rellana also attended the banquet.

She had changed out of her military attire into a well-tailored dark blue gown, her hair elegantly pinned up to reveal her slender neck.

She stood a little below Rennala's throne, striving to maintain a stern, expressionless face, but her occasional glances toward Horace betrayed her inner unrest.

When Horace followed etiquette and stepped forward to toast the queen and her relatives, something unexpected happened.

Perhaps she was too nervous, or perhaps her pent-up emotions had finally found an outlet. After Horace raised his glass and said, "To Her Majesty's health, and to Caria's prosperity," Rellana suddenly did something as she returned the toast that stunned everyone.

She set down her glass, stepped forward, reached out, and hugged Horace tightly.

Horace could feel her body trembling slightly and smell the faint fragrance of her hair.

The hall fell silent in an instant. Even the musicians stopped playing.

Everyone watched, their expressions a colorful assortment.

Rellana seemed to realize what she had done.

She abruptly let go as though scalded and stumbled back two steps, her cheeks turning visibly crimson, the blush spreading all the way to her ears.

She stood there at a loss, her eyes darting around in panic, only to find everyone pretending to look elsewhere-some raised their heads to study the reliefs on the ceiling, some lowered theirs to concentrate on the wineglasses in their hands, and others launched into animated discussions with their neighbors about the day's weather...

Queen Rennala covered her lips with her hand and gave two soft coughs, her eyes brimming with irrepressible amusement.

"Ahem... it seems my sister is very... gratified by Marquess Horace's investiture." Rennala's voice held unmistakable teasing.

"Please don't take offense, my lord marquess. She is simply... too happy."

Horace also recovered from his brief astonishment. Maintaining a polite smile, he bowed slightly. "It is my honor to receive Her Highness the Princess's approval."

He had deliberately used the address "Her Highness the Princess," which had only just received official confirmation.

His words made Rellana blush even more deeply. She shot Horace a fierce glare, her eyes holding embarrassment, anger, and a trace of grievance that defied description.

Then, unable to endure the utterly mortifying scene any longer, she turned and hurried out of the hall, all but fleeing.

"Hehe..." Rennala chuckled and raised her glass to Horace.

"Think nothing of it, my lord marquess. My sister... can be rather forthright at times. Let the banquet continue."

The music resumed, and the guests seemed to come back to their senses, continuing their conversations and drinking. Yet their sidelong glances and the knowing smiles they exchanged betrayed the fires of gossip blazing within them.

After enduring several more rounds of toasts and pleasantries, Horace excused himself to the queen on the grounds of fatigue from his journey.

Rennala gave him a meaningful look and nodded her permission, telling him that she would set aside time the next day for "more in-depth talks" with him.

Horace left the hall and followed an attendant toward the guest room prepared for him.

As he passed a corridor, he caught sight of a somewhat exasperated figure sulking with her back to him, facing the fountain in the courtyard. Who else could it be but Rellana?

Horace paused.

The attendant beside him very "tactfully" lowered his head. "My lord marquess, your room is just ahead, to the left. I shall take my leave."

Without waiting for Horace to reply, he hurried away, leaving Horace alone in the corridor.

Horace looked at Rellana's back.

Moonlight fell over her, her gown tracing elegant curves, but her shoulders slumped slightly, making her look somewhat dejected and vexed.

But he did not approach her. It was not as though he were playing a dating game. He turned to follow the attendant.

Excerpt from an online comment: Caria Retaliation is a very interesting Ash of War.

It parries both incantations and True Magic, which shows that the Carian Royal Family was already taking precautions against Radagon and the True Magic Academy, though the timing is unknown.

Its True Magic version can be purchased from Ymir, indicating that the queen's relationship with Radagon had already developed serious problems before the war in the Land of Shadow.

Although the description of its True Magic version only mentions the conflict between the moon and the stars, the fact that this spell still parries incantations already shows that Caria was also taking precautions against Radagon.