Chapter 281 Conspiracy
Sarleon City Noble House.
The garden is full of flowers and the early spring evening breeze is refreshing.
A variety of delicious food is placed on the table in the pavilion, and the copper candlesticks and silver plates together create a comfortable midnight snack.
King Ulrich was drinking some strange blue-purple liquid comfortably on a recliner.
A tall, beautiful woman came into the garden from the tower of the House of Lords.
This was the woman who was arguing with Malbert an hour ago. She looked to be in her twenties, with picturesque eyebrows, fiery red lips, and skin so tender that it seemed like water could be squeezed out of it. She was indeed a stunning beauty.
Her expression was originally unchanged, but when she saw King Ulrich in the garden, she closed her eyes and put on a smiling face in a second.
"Your Majesty, I didn't expect you to be here so late..."
The woman lifted her skirt and ran to Ulrich like a little girl.
"Anna, I can't sleep... Ha, maybe I'm too happy. Oh, where did you go just now?"
Ulrich smiled and embraced the woman who was jogging over: "Don't run too fast, my princess, you are no longer alone now..."
"I was so happy as you that I couldn't sleep, so I went out for a walk..."
The princess named Anna rested her head on King Ulrich's shoulder, posing like a little bird.
"Anna, all I've heard recently is good news. Maybe I should hold a grand banquet..."
Ulrich sat on the recliner, pulled the princess to sit on his lap, and picked up the glass of purple liquid.
"Of course, Your Majesty...but..."
Anna smiled sweetly, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes: "However, I just met Prince Malbert, and the way he looked at me seemed a little... a little complicated."
Ulrich was stunned for a moment, then frowned: "Indeed... you are pregnant. I shouldn't let him stay in Sarleon at this time... And, Anna, don't call Malbert 'Prince' anymore."
After thinking for a while, the king took a sip of his wine glass and said, "I will appoint Malbert as governor of the Savoy County. If our child is a daughter, he will become my son-in-law; if it is a boy..."
At this point, Ulrich stopped talking.
"Maybe it will be a boy, Your Majesty... I like sour things recently. The doctor said that those who like sour food are likely to be boys..."
Anna smiled even sweeter, looking like an innocent girl who knew nothing.
"I hope so..."
Ulrich laughed too.
A day later, Malbert was named Lord of Sava Castle, taking full charge of the military and political affairs of the entire Sava County. In fact, this was also the title that the king's heir should receive after observing the government. He had to be familiar with various local practices, and it would be best if he were in a frontier county where he could be exposed to war.
Sava River Fort was indeed just the right place. This was the new territory occupied by Leon after he dispatched his army. It had a large jurisdiction area and much arable land, and it bordered both the Bacchus Empire and the Desha Principality.
But Sava River Fort still has few residents. There are people in the surrounding villages and towns, but the urban area has been completely destroyed by successive wars. It is really not a good territory.
However, Malbert accepted the appointment calmly and left Sarleon City that day.
"My son, are you just giving up? There is nothing in Sava River Castle now. What's the point of you going there?"
When Malbert left Sarleon, Brennus rushed outside the city to see his son off to take office. Although nominally the son had been adopted by the king, Brennus was still his biological father, and his concern was obvious.
"Father, if I still stay in Sarleon City, if something happens to the baby in the princess' belly, I will be the first suspect..."
Malbert hugged his father, and even had a relieved look on his face: "Besides, I didn't want to stay in the throne room. Although Sava River Castle is not a good place, at least I can lead troops in the border counties and have a higher degree of freedom."
"Sava River Fort is not an ordinary border county... The Bacchus Empire will definitely launch a counterattack from Sava River Fort soon. Now that Cardan's women and children have been captured by Leiman, Desha will definitely continue to launch attacks! You will face the full-scale attacks of two countries at Sava River Fort at the same time!"
Duke Brunus was obviously more anxious than his son.
"There is no other way... I must accept this appointment, father..."
Malbert shook his head: "The imaginary child in Princess Anna's belly will most likely have some problems... If I don't resist the powerful enemy at the border, I will face a more dangerous situation..."
"Malbert, even if the princess really gave birth to a baby, what would happen?"
Brunus gritted his teeth and whispered, "These days, it's easy for babies to die. No matter how careful you are, they may not grow up safely to inherit the throne..."
"Father, you already have half of the Lion Knights, and I have the Royal Guards. Those who are loyal to the king are the newly recruited soldiers... Do you think it is appropriate for us to stay in Sarleon now? You should also return to Cliff Rock Bay immediately - you'd better go and fight with Firdsvain or Ravenstern, father, if you don't want to be forced into rebellion."
Malbert grabbed Brennus' arm and whispered in his father's ear.
"...You are right, child. I am the Grand Master of the Lion Knights. I must be loyal to the Kingdom of Sarleon... Both father and son must be loyal subjects of the kingdom, otherwise you will not be able to sit on the Silver Throne..."
Brennus was silent for a while, then patted Malbert on the shoulder with a look of relief on his face.
"Like you said, even if the princess does have a child, it may not grow up to adulthood... So I'm not in a hurry, father. I'm still young."
Malbert nodded and agreed with Brennus 's point of view: "In comparison, I care more about why Alistair became the Lord of Toba - he has no reason to betray me. The Frank family has lost their territory in Barkley. I settled them in Cliff Bay! And as a Dusk Knight, Alistair could not get better treatment from other lords. I even promised to give him the right of first night!"
"Did Alistair really conspire with that Brigi to build a desert dusk in D'Shar? Could this be fake news?"
Brennus was also somewhat puzzled by this.
"The news about 'Desert Dusk' was brought back by Sir Rayman, who formally reported it to King Ulric in the throne room. Father, you should know Rayman. He has always been Ulric's most trusted Lion Knight. He has done many of the dirty work. He would not lie to the king."
Malbert shook his head. "Besides, two other Dusk Knights also reported to me that they had surrounded Leon, but Alistair was captured by Leon for no apparent reason. It is said that when there were hundreds of people surrounding three people, Leon still captured them! Moreover... Leon escaped the encirclement using the escape route that Alistair and Bridge found!"
"It seems that Alistair and Bridget did betray... Maybe Leon negotiated a deal with them, such as exchanging Toba City for Alistair's rebellion..."
Brennus sighed: "Leon is indeed a businessman who is very good at trading."
"Yes, Li Ang always ruins my plans unintentionally... But I don't want to be his enemy. His strength and financial resources are what I must get. I must control Li Ang! Father, can you do me a favor..."
Malbert lowered his head and thought for a while, then began to ask his father for help.
"What are you going to do?"
Brunus looked around and saw that the other followers were far away from him and his son. Then he whispered, "Leon is not easy to deal with. He is quite cunning."
"Yes, he is quite cunning, and it is not easy to deal with him directly. So I plan to start with Amy... When I was in Changhe Town, I felt that Amy was Li Ang's weak spot! Father, I want the so-called child in the princess' belly to die in Amy's hands!"
Malbert's face gradually showed a hint of ferocity: "By the way, let Prince Alanric die at the hands of Godric or Amy... I want Leon to join my army!"
…
Singal.
Ramon's 'City Lord Auction' was officially held.
This auction was held with great fanfare. Although it was also considered an underground auction, it was even more sensational than the auction of the elf girl. Almost all the great lords had heard of the news.
In fact, this underground auction was not an illegal transaction. Even Bahadur Khan Kadan had to admit the legality of the city lord's auction.
Ramon held this auction as an 'agent' on behalf of Bahaman and Qawan Khan. This was certainly not an illegal activity, but a real legal and reasonable bidding auction.
Or rather, selection...
Because Ramon's auction was actually to select a husband for Bahaman's daughter Luha - but the selection was made through bidding.
It can also be understood that this is a competition to see who can give the larger betrothal gift.
Then, Ramon will also be responsible for organizing the engagement ceremony.
In fact, this kind of activity of finding an agent to organize a large-scale selection of a son-in-law is a very normal behavior in the entire continent of Pendor. Many kings have done this before - for example, when recruiting a son-in-law for the princess.
The Kingdom of Sarleon often holds competitions to select husbands for noble girls.
And Luha's current identity is probably more attractive than an ordinary princess...
You know, Luha’s dowry is Ashcoman, a big and wealthy city!
With such a dowry, it is reasonable to pay a larger betrothal gift...
Although Luha's appearance is not stunningly beautiful, she is indeed "alluring" in the true sense of the word, and her husband will indeed become the legal lord of Ashcoman!
This was approved by Lord Bahaman of Ashkoman himself, and it was in line with the hereditary succession system established by Cardan himself. There was indeed no problem with it, and even the residents of Ashkoman would agree with this completely legal rule.
The only one who had an objection was probably Bahaman’s son Ikram…
Therefore, this auction attracted a lot of attention.
There were big businessmen, wealthy small lords, and some tribal leaders of D'Shar. Of course, there were also wealthy people who came from the Kingdom of Sarleon and Firdsvain to try their luck.
The price of admission tickets has been raised to two thousand dinars, and they are still in short supply - Ramon only allows three hundred people to enter, and no one is allowed to bring followers or weapons.
The reason why the admission fee is so high is that the customers who have been confirmed to enter include the two caliphs of the Desha Principality - this shows that the Desha Principality also agrees with this auction, so naturally everyone has no scruples.
Cardan himself did not go to the auction, but he asked Tahir, the lord of Singal, to go.
In fact, Cardan already knew that many "troops" from the Kingdom of the Fierce Lion and the Empire of Bacchus had stationed in Ashcomb. In Cardan's opinion, this was the main reason why Bahaman was going to auction off the position of city lord - Bahaman himself couldn't defend it, so he might as well sell it to someone who could.
This is indeed the case...at least that's the basic logic.
This situation is understandable, and Cardin actually hopes that Bahaman will do this - the richest person in the entire Desha is Cardin himself. Since you, Bahaman, want to sell it, then Cardin is of course happy to buy it.
After all, there are not many opportunities to legally and legitimately take back a wealthy city like Ashcomb.
Besides... when Bahad Khan buys something, he doesn't necessarily have to pay for it!
Maybe I can even get it for free...
So Kadan asked Tahir to participate in the deal on his behalf.
Although Tahir had been planning how to kill Ramon, he did not want to provoke the brothers Bahaman and Qawan Khan, let alone Kadan. Of course, he could only abide by the rules and participate in the auction honestly.
Another caliph of Desha , Hamid, also participated in the bidding.
Hamid is the lord of the southern D'Shar city of Nalda. He had been fighting with Cardan before and suffered huge losses in Sarleon. This time he also went to Singal with Cardan.
Hamid's reason for bidding was more practical. He really wanted his son to marry Luha and make Ashkoman his own territory.
Because Hamid is actually a true believer of Lord Wata, he wants to become the patron of the Holy Mountain of Ghazi.
Hamid likes to recruit Ghazi dervishes, the monks who truly practice in the temples on the holy mountain... Of course, he only liked it in the past - Hamid hasn't been able to recruit monks on Mount Ghazi for many years.
Ever since Ashkoman became Bahaman's territory, the temple on Mount Ghazi has gradually changed and has basically become a place where material desires run rampant.
This has a lot to do with Bahaman's laissez-faire attitude - Mount Ghazi belongs to the jurisdiction of Eshkoman, but Bahaman is obviously not an overly pious person. He prefers to recruit Ghazi raiders, so he is not willing to let too many people become ascetics who value faith over material desires.
Hamid wanted to change the Holy Mountain's ideas, but he couldn't attack Bahaman's territory - they had been comrades for many years and would not go to war just because of political differences.
At this time, Ashkoman was auctioned off, which was exactly what Hamid wanted.
In fact, just the entrance of the two caliphs was attractive enough. In addition to these two caliphs, there were dozens of tribal leaders from D'Sha and many Singalians without public identities - probably all slave traders.
These are just the bidders within Desha.
There were also two more senior nobles from the Bacchus Empire - the two sons of Emperor Marius, Gaius and Eunes.
Also appearing at the same time was Alena, who nominally came on behalf of her brother Ales, the son of Governor Justus. However, Justus always preferred his daughters, so this son's presence was relatively low.
Anyway, the purpose of this auction is nominally to select a son-in-law, so naturally people from any country can participate, as long as they are not from the Kingdom of Sarleon - D'Shar is currently the only hostile country to the Kingdom of Sarleon.
