Chapter 334 (1/2)

Refusal

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”Welcoreeted Lorist as he saluted in the manner of nobles

As Count Kenmays had predicted, Lorist was currently trapped in a very aard situation Even though the Andinaq kingdoer considered Lorist one of their nobles, the decision was made at the sole discretion of Queen Carey and didn't have anything to do with Second Highness Auguslo

Lorist could only truly be considered a rogue noble if the second highness personally exiled hiiti emperor of the Krissen Empire had also been exiled by his senior noble, and that also cae Count Krissen, as he was known at the tiathered all his forces to declare war against his foran in The Northlands and peaked in Winston What folloas a s of the Krissen Empire

Lorist was troubled because he knew perfectly hat the second highness had coht As the senior noble of the house, who had been driven out of his rightful seat of power, Lorist was obligated to fulfill his responsibilities as a vassal to stand at the second highness's side In other words, as powerless as the second highness was now, Lorist could not just ignore hi to the noble customs At the very least, he had to provide all the help he could

This is going to be hell!

Lorist hness at Maplewoods thanks to his cousin sister Glacia When Charade first received word that the second highness's cohort arrived at The Northlands, he wanted to restrict them to Northsea but Glacia made a ruckus about it As she was also a member of the house, Charade couldn't exactly stop her So, they set out fro at Maplewoods During the five days Lorist wasn't there, the second highness and the rest visited Felicitas' seven towns, Nico Academy, and would've visited the secret refineries and production grounds at Bladedge Mountains had it not been for Supervisor Camorra's interference

The prosperity of the dohness Everywhere he looked seeli about her house's ht It was further exacerbated by Irina, who had little experience dealing with these hness at Maplewoods, she acted as respectful and obedient as she could and answered all of their questions, leaking all she knew or heard about the dohness's travels and allowed hirasp of what House Norton was capable of

”I really didn't think that the desolate Northlands would prosper under the rule of House Norton This is truly eye-opening I refused to believe my eyes when I traveled around the last couple of days The seven towns at Felicitas looked so merry and populous, much like how the cities around the ienius for being able to e your dominion so well, perhaps even better than the empire's better days!”

As the second highness expressed his thoughts about the Norton dominion, he approached Lorist and patted hiood friend would to hammer home the 'friendly' relationshi+p he intended to have with Lorist Not a trace of enmity from the last time they met at the imperial capital was visible

”Thank you for your kind praise, Your Highness House Norton is only fulfilling our duties as per our oath to protect the borders of the empire We have no intention at all to meddle in the internal affairs of the empire, and that is why our dominion was able to prosper in peace even in these chaotic tiees who have lost their homes to the ere able to improve the dominion somewhat,” said Lorist dismissively

”I was in the wrong I should've listened to your advice,” said the second highness with a bitter laugh

He let go of Lorist's arm and bowed to him, much to Lorist's shock

Lorist hurriedly went to stop the second highness

”Your Highness, what are you doing? This is not so I can bear!”

The second highness clutched Lorist's hand

”Locke, I' to you with all I can It was ret ever since I lost Frederika If I had followed your advice and not rushed to reunite the empire and instead paid attention to the welfare of my subjects, I wouldn't have ended up like this Now I can't even return hodom!”

Yep, you definitely had it co, commented Lorist secretly

However, it was true that the second highness was no longer able to return to the kingdoht before Queen Carey unless he stayed within the Norton dohness, Queen Carey's father, had mysteriously passed away in his sleep, it stood to reason that she h, it was also entirely possible for her to do so for the sole sake of her throne

”When I heard about your loss and disappearance at Frederika, I was truly frantic and worried Back then, I wanted to send hness, and I made sure to ask those at the imperial capital for permission to mobilize my troops But I was refused and warned not to meddle in this affair They even recalled the third local defense legion from the borders of the Madras duchy to keep an eye on us In the end, I had no choice but to recall my troops”

Lorist received the official notice frohness as he spoke

”Your Highness, take a look at this These are the two refusal notices the capital sent in response to my request They didn't allow me to take any action to search for you, but thanks to the protection of WarGod Singwa, Your Highness laddens me that you were not harmed in any way”

Lorist had no option apart fro the role of a loyal subordinate, but what he actually hoped for couldn't be further frohness to disappear froed to survive and appear before him, Lorist had to at least act the part in front of others

The second highness's expression changed as he released Lorist's hand and balled his fists

”Traitors They actually ceded the kingdom's territory to those darned merchants for their own benefits I will definitely not spare them Brother Locke, to be honest, I've come here to seek your aid I hope House Norton will be able to exterdom”

Lorist sighed as the second highness finally ive a formal response

”Your Highness, let ain if we deploy our troops for you?”

While it was the tradition for vassals to serve senior nobles on Grindia, the senior noble had to offer compensation proportional to the help they received Otherwise, no vassal would willingly aid their senior noble for free Given the way things turned out, Lorist could only see that he would be promptly rewarded for his efforts Otherwise, he would be able to fulfill his responsibilities as a vassal by siear to the second highness and nobody would criticize him for it

”Locke, His Highness has agreed that if our house intervenes, he will make you the Duke of The Northlands All the territory you conquer here will belong to the house,” said Glacia happily as if House Norton had been offered a heavenly boon that couldn't be refused

Lorist glared at her

”Glacia, do you understand The Northlands' situation right now?”

She shook her head as expected

”If that's the case, I refuse to mobilize any of my forces The title of the Duke of The Northlands is of no use to House Norton at all Your Highness, there are only four noble houses within The Northlands Apart from us, the Nortons, Count Kenmays occupies the eastern part of The Northlands, with the southern part jointly ruled by Baron Shazin and Baron Felim All three of them are our allies, so ill definitely not breach our alliance with theood reason The title of the Duke of The Northlands is good as nothing to the house,” proclaimed Lorist

The second highness and Glacia were both stunned at the revelation They didn't know that there were only four houses left in The Northlands that even for to House Norton, it would also cause fractures to form within the alliance of the four houses It's no wonder Lorist refused the second highness's request without debate

”I apologize, Brother Locke that was not ized Auguslo hurriedly