Yinan said nothing, only gave Will a slow bow before leaving the study. In any case, he had already gotten what he wanted…
Becoming a viscount meant access to greater wealth and resources. Most importantly!
A viscount could form a much larger and better-equipped army.
In addition to regular infantry, it was even permitted to raise a cavalry force of up to five hundred men, though of course, that was only if you had the funds…
Most baronies only produced a few special local products, such as Silver Lake Barony’s silverfish or Storm Barony’s slaves…
A baron’s territory might possess only small clay or sand pits, used to make simple pottery or building materials—not exactly high-yield assets.
But it was different for viscounts! They had the right to claim metal mines…
Of course, these things wouldn’t just fall into your lap. Unless you were a viscount directly commended by the royal family, it was impossible for a territory and a mine to be handed straight to you!
Otherwise, you had to earn it by your own means, whether that meant plundering from other nations or finding some legitimate reason to seize it from nobles within your own country—whatever the method… you had to rely on your own abilities!
Just like Tulip Barony: the Will family occupied the Tulip Gem Mine—a source of magic-laden ore, far superior to ordinary metals.
The Richgold Barony had many gold mines, but even those paled before the Tulip Gem Mine… And that scoundrel Will had paid a heavy price for it recently, so there was no way he could simply give Yinan a mine now…
Being granted a higher title was already quite generous!
In short… Yinan was already satisfied, though Irene Snow’s declining loyalty was giving him a headache. At the moment, he couldn’t think of any effective solution.
Will also didn’t make a big show of announcing Neve as the heir of the Will family. He merely made the announcement at a family banquet, but that was already enough…
“As agreed, from today onward, Neve is my successor…” Will sliced a piece of monster beef steak, his tone neither heavy nor light, but establishing the decision with finality.
At the family banquet, upon hearing Will’s words, the gathered family members immediately began whispering among themselves.
Neve slightly raised her chin, a hint of pride flashing in her eyes, but she quickly resumed a composed and dignified demeanor.
She elegantly picked up her napkin and gently wiped her lips, as if everything was proceeding just as she’d anticipated…
The other children wore expressions of barely-suppressed resentment—they didn’t think themselves any less capable than Neve!
Will noticed this as well and spoke slowly, “I know you’re dissatisfied, but this is just like when you were in school as children…”
“No one cares how hard you studied before the exams; what matters is the result! Grades are proof of your effort!” Will’s gaze swept over each of his children, as if seeing straight through their hidden frustrations and struggles.
All the children could do was return to normal expressions, but once they went back to their rooms, they would no doubt reach out even more closely to the noblemen who had served them before, always ready for the day when that old scoundrel finally passed on!
This was also the downside of Will involving the surrounding territories in this war. Back then, Yinan had already said—this decision would surely weaken his successor’s influence over the neighboring lands!
Neve understood this as well, so during this period, she would need to make a show of force against a few nobles—let them see what fate awaited those who dared defy her!
At the Imperial Assembly, the past few days had seen the nobles arguing in endless uproar…
A particular proposal had been tabled for some time: Earl Will’s promotion to marquis.
The Little Empress, as the assembly’s greatest vote-holder, was refusing to cast her vote…
The Emperor’s single vote was worth thirty votes… making her the monarch of the assembly. But the nobles usually contrived to have motions avoid a formal vote, only voting when negotiations reached a deadlock…
And if the Emperor ever did cast her vote, it would mean her authority had already been tested…
So all she could do was watch as the nobles tore at each other!
The Will family defended such an important position in the northern frontier, proof that they had earned the royal family’s trust for generations!
But this time, the proposal was initiated by the Grand Duke of the North—meaning the Will family had chosen a new side!
For the newly enthroned empress, this was a severe blow!
The Little Empress sat high upon her throne, watching the nobles below arguing until their faces turned red, a hint of helplessness and exhaustion showing in her eyes.
Will, you old scoundrel… you’ve betrayed this Emperor’s trust!
Her Majesty Teresa Isol could only gently rub her white silk gloves, silently cursing Will in her heart.
At this moment, how she wished for a hero to appear and rescue her authority over the northern frontier…
Her golden hair shimmered under the light of the crystal chandelier above the throne, its beauty shining, but the heavy crown on her head felt as if it might suffocate her.
She was still so young, yet bore a burden no one her age should carry. From birth, she had been groomed as the successor, but her father died too soon… He hadn’t had the time to remove the obstacles she would face after her accession!
Her right eye held a cerulean pupil, as deep as the night sky—one could even make out a few star-like flecks shining within. Her left, a vivid orange-red, resembled the dawn sun…
So long as a royal was born with such heterochromatic eyes, regardless of ability, they would be the next emperor!
Such was the tradition of the Isol royal family, and looking back at Isol’s millennia of rule, this seemingly ridiculous custom had proved remarkably effective!
For those with such eyes had always been able to firmly control the empire, as if these very eyes bestowed them with extraordinary fortune!
But when it came to Teresa… it seemed this tradition might finally fail?
“Your Majesty… Your Majesty…” A lady-in-waiting softly roused Teresa. “It’s time for you to speak…”
Teresa was momentarily startled, then came out of her reverie. She took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, straightened her elaborate skirt, and slowly stood up.
Instantly, the chamber grew silent, every eye turned to her.
Teresa swept her gaze over the assembled nobles. “My lords and ladies, the matter of Earl Will’s promotion to marquis is of utmost importance, and cannot be decided lightly!”
This was the phrase she had repeated more than any other in the past two days…
Until she received a satisfactory answer, she had no intention of letting Will, that weathercock, have his way!
“That’s right… Earl Will is already so old. I believe we should not force such heavy responsibilities upon him anymore. Let us not heap burdens onto our aging heroes… I truly hope he can enjoy a more leisurely life!” a noble began to echo, regardless of whether his aim was to curry favor with the empress or the other grand dukes. In short, he had a mission!
And that mission was: oppose!
Teresa nodded slightly, giving tacit approval to the noble’s words.
“Idiot! Your grandfather was no youngster when he became a hereditary marquis. I suggest you go home and apologize to him! Best if you kneel at his tombstone and shed tears of joy… cursing him all the while for working so hard at his age, and at the same time grinning and thanking him for letting you become a marquis!”
A northern noble member was unwilling to show weakness, and immediately struck back with a forceful retort!
At once, the atmosphere within the assembly hall grew tense again…