Ho Inan was an inland state bordering Valois to the south-east.
It had no access to the ocean except through the Valois island of Iwai.
Therefore, disputes between the two countries over the island have been frequent since ancient times.
Once again, Ho Inan was demanding the common right to the island of Iwai, and being provocative on the border, which prompted the Marquis Inglisher, the Foreign Minister, to go to negotiate.
“That was expected.
When do you think the Marquis will return?”
Thérèse asked Jacques, who was sitting in front of her, what concerned her most, trying to pretend indifference.
“The negotiations are in their final stages.
It seems that they will return within a month if things go quickly, or within two months at most if they are delayed.”
Thérèse did not feel strange hearing about her father indirectly and from someone else, even though it was not a common occurrence.
She was too used to it.
But when she heard that the potential date of Marquis Ingliger's return was only about a month away, her spirits sank.
Only one month.
She felt her dormant heart suddenly beating rapidly, so she frowned and continued speaking.
“How is Inland doing these days?”
“Cassava leaf spot is spreading.
It is a highly contagious disease.
Cassava crops are rotting in the fields, and more and more people are dying of hunger.”
“What a pity, what about the Haz Tribal Union?”
“A new leader of the allied tribes is said to have been elected.
He is the second son of the previous leader, and is described as aggressive but highly intelligent.”
“Is that all?”
Therese raised her eyebrows and looked at Jack.
“They are closed tribes, and it is not easy for outsiders to approach them and collect information.”
Jack replied, lowering his head, but his scowling voice came out empty.
“You still need more.
Go and collect more information about that newly elected person.
What you have is not enough.”
“No, every time you ask for more, but you do not help, and you do not increase the number of employees...”
Jack started pretending to cry.
That wasn't reasonable at all.
He receives a sum from his activities monthly, close to the price of a luxury villa in the central area of Leoburn.
His grumbling was certainly evident.
“That's enough.
How much did you do the work I asked you to do earlier?”
Thérèse cut off his whining.
“We are still looking for the right person.
We will try to give you good news soon.”
“Good, you always suffer so much.”
Therese tapped Jack on the shoulder twice carelessly.
While Jack was still muttering under his breath.
Therese listened to his muttering as she walked out.
The vast meeting hall gradually filled with people.
It was a regular meeting of the nobility.
The nobles shook hands and talked individually
“It's hard to see you these days?”
“I was on a short vacation in the East, but there seem to be worrying rumors in the capital?”
“Any rumours?”
“People are dying...”
“This matter has already been dealt with, there is no need to raise the issue.”
The old noble thought he was talking about Fabrice, so he gestured with his hand to silence the young noble.
Count Riedel, whose hair was beginning to appear gray, turned to Viscount Foix sitting next to him and said:
“Comrade, I heard you got a good horse this time?”
“Yes, Sir Count, I got a horse of the black Huhu breed, which is considered a famous horse even in Hu Inan.
It was luck.”
"Isn't it known to everyone in Leoburn that you're a horse lover?
Are you saying it was luck?"
Count Riedel blamed him for no reason.
“Well, it's not the kind of thing you can get just by wanting to buy it.”
Viscount Fua scratched his head and smiled embarrassedly.
“Amazing, our relations with Hu Inan are not good, and yet I managed to get the horse.”
Viscount Foix then realized that Count Riddle did not mean a compliment.
In Count Riedel's speech there was an implicit rebuke that Valois was at enmity with Hou Innan, so how could he buy from the enemy's property?
What a mistake!
Count Riedel was reputed to be a conservative old nobleman.
“Haha, that's true.”
Viscount Fua pretended to be busy as he moved the agenda papers placed in front of him unnecessarily.
Count Riedel looked at Fua in this state and stuck out his tongue in disapproval.
Meanwhile, Dennis and Silban entered the meeting room.
“Since His Majesty is absent today, I will chair the meeting myself.
Let’s begin now.”
Dennis glanced at the empty chair and then turned his head.
It was the place of the king and Fabrice.
The king wanted to be the final decision maker on any matter.
He seems to have believed that his attendance at noble meetings detracted from his prestige.
Therefore, he often did not attend meetings unless there was a special issue.
As for Fabrice, he had no time to waste in meetings like this.
Play at that time was more important and urgent for him.
The first point on the agenda was the revised law of nobility privileges introduced by the new nobility.
The cards on the table included a plan to increase taxes and strengthen the rights of the nobility currently guaranteed.
“Law of Nobles’ Privileges?”
inquired the Duke of Prieme, leader of the ancient nobility and Fabrice's maternal grandfather.
Countess Romaxing, the backbone of the new nobility's power, made the speech.
“Yes, there is indeed a Nobility Privileges Law, but it is not enough.
The number of people who buy titles to become nobles is increasing, and thus, the rights of the nobility are gradually weakening.”
“You seem to be introducing yourself.”
Count Riddle muttered as he chewed the cigarette.
But there was no one in the hall who did not hear those words.
"What did you say?"
Countess Rumaxing stared at Count Riddle.
This is correct.
The Romaxings were originally commoners, became landowners, and then purchased the title of count.
As the number of nobles who purchased their titles increased, the nobility naturally split into the Old Nobles faction and the New Nobles faction.
The ancient nobility valued their honor, history, and appearance as aristocrats.
Therefore, they looked down upon the behavior of the new nobility based on capital.
On the contrary, the new nobility found the behavior of the old nobility, who had no advantage other than tradition, disgusting.
They secretly resented the implicit class division between old nobility and new nobility, even though they were all nobles.
As the number of nobles continually increased, it was true that the rights of the nobility had weakened.
The new nobility bought their titles to exercise influence and rights as aristocrats, and when that influence weakened, they could not afford it.
Dennis sat watching the two sides fight, arms crossed.
“Calm, calm, everyone please calm down.”
A man who was sitting at the end of the New Nobles Faction's benches got up to calm the atmosphere.
"exactly."
The Duke of Priem unexpectedly agreed.
The eyes of the entire seated nobles turned to the Duke.
The Duke raised the cup placed in front of him, drank a mouthful of tea, and then continued his speech.
“Those who are eligible must have appropriate rights.”
Duke Priem looked at Denis once and then put down the cup.
Qualified, competent, with appropriate rights.
No one missed the hint hidden in those words.
The Duke of Priem did not agree with Countess Romxing's words.
It was like stabbing Dennis, who was sitting still, with a dagger.
Dennis raised an eyebrow once.
He was still with his arms crossed.
Countess Rumaxing realized that the atmosphere had become strange, so she sat down in confusion.
Regular meeting in the absence of the king.
There was no one who could stop Duke Priem, the eldest and highest-status among the nobles in the hall.
Since ancient times, the Duke of Priem has greatly hated Denis.
And it wasn't just because he was Fabrice's maternal grandfather.
He despised Denis' lineage, and belittled the fact that he had no offspring.
“It has been more than ten years since I visited the Garden of Light, if my memory serves me correctly.
Aging is unforgiving of memory, Prince.”
“Exactly eight years.”
“Oh, has it been that long already?”
Garden of Light.
Traditionally, when a new heir to the royal family is born, his first birthday party is held in a conservatory.
This glass garden was called the Garden of Light because light filled it from ceiling to floor.
Whether in winter or summer, the temperature inside the park was always mild, making it perfect for a child's birthday party.
Duke Priem's comment implied that the last time the Garden of Light was held was at Prince Julien's birthday party, which was also a disparaging comment towards Denis.
Dennis looked at Duke Prieme without saying anything and then turned his head.
Dennis's face was calm as usual, without any change.
Similar events were repeated after that.
The new nobles objected to the issues presented by the old nobles, the old nobles resisted the issues brought by the new nobles, and no issue was properly discussed.
“The issues presented today will be discussed at the next meeting.”
The regular meeting ended without achieving any significant benefit.
In the end, Denis was the only victim in the power struggle between the nobles.
After everyone had left, the meeting room was completely silent.
Dennis remained sitting motionless.
Silban, who was standing behind him, called out to him cautiously.
“Mr.
Prince.”
"Yes."
“It's time to go back”
“Yes, sure.”
There was a sound of the chair being dragged, and Dennis got up.
His back as he left the conference room looked a little shaky.
After meeting Jack and back, Thérèse was thinking about what she would do tomorrow as she sipped a glass of wine.
It was a deep night and the moon was setting.
Insect sounds came from outside the wide-open balcony.
The footsteps of an uninvited guest also came from far away.
It was him.
As she listened to the sound of his footsteps, she could picture him without seeing him.
It seemed as if his form, approaching step by step, was alive within her eyelids.
Thérèse closed her eyes and sighed deeply to erase the remaining image.
But he seemed to still be alive inside her closed eyes.
The sound of the door opening was heard and the shoe steps stopped.
She felt heat on her cheek.
He must have been looking at her.
Suddenly, with force, Thérèse's face turned.
Dennis took her chin in his hand and turned her towards him.
She slowly opened her closed eyes.
She saw his beautiful face under the moonlight.
“My dear wife, good evening.”