Since Prince Piosan of Lagarton was already participating in his third negotiation. In the first negotiation, Piosan committed a dreadful mistake by allowing the sacred place to be taken. This resulted from his adherence to the injunctions of “pretend to wage war” and “never defy the Duke’s intentions,” which were the clear instructions given to Piosan.
From Lagarton’s perspective, the purpose of the war was just an excuse, and the real goal was to meet and persuade the Duke. However, the problem lay in the fact that the Duke did not see it that way. From the Duke’s viewpoint, they had unequivocally invaded the North. If they did not agree to negotiate on a subject with no real intention of fighting, they were unwelcome guests who would not end the war.
The Duke pierced through Lagarton’s feeble defenses and successfully reclaimed the sacred place on the border that the emperor of Prastos had longed for. Lagarton complained as if they had been hit on the back of the head, but the Duke was indifferent and burned all their correspondence.
To take over a land, all one had to do was strike the neck of the ruling family and send a new governor. In reality, the people cared little whether the dynasty changed or not. It was the same pillaging under different names.
The North was different. The people of the North were excessively loyal to the Duke’s family. Unless the Duke of Shirarund, the ruler of the North, went into exile, they would fight forever against the conquerors.
Therefore, the North became the most challenging and, at the same time, the easiest place to occupy. If the Duke could be persuaded, the land of gold would roll in, but persuading him proved to be extremely difficult.
In the graveyard adorned with weathered tombstones, the Duke appeared with five knights. The tombs of the former keepers, once residents of this place, lay neglected and weathered, creating a desolate scene. As the knights lit torches to dispel the darkness, yellow-eyed owls turned their heads, observing them from above.
“You’ve come! I’ve been waiting.”
There was an envoy at the graveyard. Prince Piosan of Lagarton, with a few knights, stood like the Duke.
The Duke, upon seeing Piosan, furrowed his brow. His expression resembled that of someone meeting a notorious loan shark. Piosan burst into laughter at the Duke’s blatantly sinister expression.
“Today, in the siege we had, our casualties reached fifteen. So far, a total of eighty people have died, and two hundred and thirty have been injured.”
As he spoke, the Duke pointed at Piosan with the tip of his finger.
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t slit your throat right now?”
“There is. I will freely release you from my captivity starting now.”
Piosan spread his arms wide, and the Duke clenched his fist.
“I am already free.”
“You may think so, but you are not truly free. Politically, you are obligated to engage in a three-way match with the Prastos Emperor, where both sides hold knives to each other’s throats. Simultaneously, we must wage a psychological war against each other. Beyond the sea, the empires on the continent are ready to strike your land at any moment, and there are countless bandits ready to plunder. The situation is dire, yet Prastos doesn’t help you. Instead, they press you down, trying to make you fall.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Vb, sbe reuufra mtjculcu rlvfr? Ablclcu tjcvr klat Ojujgabc vbfr cba uejgjcaff atja atf rjwf fnfcar jr veglcu atf Ugjrabr fgj kbc’a gfqfja.”
“Uifjrf agera er.”
Ulbrjc ajqqfv tlr mtfra aklmf klat tlr gluta tjcv.
“Gef ab atf mbcagjma yfakffc atf biv xlcu jcv atf klrf fwqfgbg, atf Rbgat tjr ab vfvlmjaf j rtjgf bo lar qgbvemalbc ab Ugjrabr. Pc gfaegc, Ugjrabr qgbnlvfr atf Rbgat klat obbv. Gfrqlaf gfmflnlcu rb wemt ubiv, atf Ugjrabr Swqfgbg vbfr cba wlragfja atf Rbgat. Vbwf rtbk ilaaif mbcmfgc obg atf Rbgat’r rjofas. Qf, bc atf batfg tjcv, klii cba yf ilxf atja. Qf mjgf jybea atf Rbgat’r kfii-yflcu. Qf jgf qfbqif ktb xcbk tbk ab qgfrfgnf atf ubvr’ klii.”
“…”
“Lagarton, instead of receiving the same gold as the North pays to Prastos, will spare no effort in supporting you. There’s no reason for the North to shed blood alone as it has done until now. We will help. We will dispatch troops to the North and support its development. The North, especially in cultural, educational, and artistic aspects, seems to be lagging behind, and we, from the advanced civilization of Lagarton, will assist the North. Everything will happen under my supervision, and I, too, will go to the North and be with you personally…”
The Duke raised his hand to signal Piosan to stop. Piosan closed his mouth.
“Sending troops, gathering scholars, supporting the North, introducing Lagarton’s education system, and overseeing everything, in other words, you would become the governor.”
“I am just…”
“I do not doubt your sincerity.”
Although he said he didn’t doubt it, the Duke’s expression was frosty.
“But keep in mind that the words ‘Imperial troops stationed in the North’ and ‘Talented individuals replacing North’s officials entering through our gates’ can sound quite differently.”
“Duke.”
“You seem tired. Let’s call it a day and go rest.”
Piosan turned around, blocking the Duke’s path. He looked at the Duke with a face full of words, but the Duke’s expression seemed too pale and fatigued for Piosan to hold him back.
“Very well. I will withdraw for today.”
At the mention of “today,” the Duke’s forehead wrinkled again. Piosan grabbed the Duke’s hand. Even though he was wearing gloves, the Duke was so uncomfortable that he tried to pull his hand away. After Piosan quickly kissed the back of his hand, he raised both hands and took a step back.
“After three rounds of talks, I will return to Lagarton. Two more times. If you don’t hold talks, I will request support from my homeland and harass you throughout this winter.”
“…”
“Beautiful Duke, I look forward to the day when we can join forces in your country.”
The Duke turned around without saying a word, his cloak fluttering. Piosan smiled, feeling the restrained discomfort in the Duke’s gesture. In the place where the Duke left, the glove that Piosan had kissed was lying on the ground.
Piosan licked his lips with his tongue.
The young and beautiful Alpha had never been touched by anyone’s hands until now. How rare. How prosperous.
Once just an iceberg, the North had managed to extract over 600,000 pounds (roughly over 3 trillion won at the current exchange rate) of gold from the ground alone, despite the adverse conditions of weather and war. Rumors even suggested that the North intentionally slowed down development to reduce the flow of gold coins into the empire. He felt a strong desire for both that man and his land.
“Let’s go back.”
Piosan couldn’t wait for the day they would meet again.
As they left the cemetery, the Duke’s leg buckled, and his upper body swayed heavily. The Duke’s knights quickly took him, lifting him and hastily moving towards the back path of the cemetery.
Hurry. No one must catch them, especially not those Lagarton bastards. Elmiran whispered quickly.
The five knights surrounding the Duke opened the back gate of the fortress and took a dark and rugged path. As the Duke swayed again, Elmiran took off his cloak and covered the Duke. They ascended a winding staircase without lighting any torches and rushed into a secret chamber.
“Summon Niall.”
Closing his eyes, the Duke turned pale and broke into a cold sweat. Elmiran sat him down in a chair, poured molten stones into the furnace, and covered him with a cloak. The knights swiftly followed Elmiran’s command. The one standing at the entrance quickly rushed outside at Majordomo’s order.
“Duke. Duke.”
Although Majordomo held water to his lips, the Duke couldn’t swallow. Elmiran spread the cloak over the Duke, who was trembling with eyes closed. Without lighting a fire, they ascended a winding staircase and entered a hidden chamber.
“Niall! Where is Niall Giles? Why is it taking so long like this?” Majordomo shouted anxiously. At that moment, the door opened, and Niall, who had been eagerly awaited, walked in. Hearing Majordomo’s outcry, Niall hunched his shoulders and bowed his head, mumbling.
“Sorry. I was changing clothes.”
As he spoke, Niall was wearing a robe that seemed to have fallen from somewhere. Inside, a thick shirt and a sleeveless short doublet were visible. Majordomo impatiently reached out; the reason for his delay didn’t matter.
“Come here quickly. The Duke is in urgent need!”
Niall, looking somewhat shaky to Majordomo, slowly approached the Duke as if his insides were about to burst. The Duke still had his eyes closed, groaning with a pale face, and his hands were making a motion as if pushing something away into the void.
“Hurry up!”
Majordomo yelled as if exasperated. However, Niall, facing a person who couldn’t even control his head properly, could only make a puzzled expression, not knowing what to do.
Elmiran, watching the scene, pushed off the wall and turned behind Niall. Before Niall could notice, Elmiran used her knee to hit Niall’s back, causing him to fall forward onto the Duke.
“Oops.”
Niall barely grabbed the armrest of the chair. At that moment, the robe slipped off. Trying to turn around, this time the doublet was torn.
“Hold him.”
Elmiran ordered, and two knights approached and grabbed Niall. Pulling Niall’s arms one by one from behind, Niall was pinned forward like a bird with its wings spread out, almost falling onto the Duke.
Thud, thud, the buttons of the shirt were torn off. As the posture became one where the chest protruded when the shirt was torn off, two pink nipples stood out as if begging.
When Elmiran gestured, the knights pushed Niall forward, and the Duke’s lips were pressed against Niall’s nipples.
“No, don’t.”
Niall tried to resist by shaking his head, but he couldn’t possibly overcome the strength of the two Alpha knights. Though he trembled enough for his arms to wobble, his upper body was gradually pushed forward, and eventually, Niall’s nipples slipped into the soft gap of the Duke’s lips.
merci beaucoup de nous gâter autant
Uhm….scary…… -_- I hope Duke will make them stop
Que merda é essa?
Why did this novel stop displaying Niall’s thoughts? In the past though scared, he still held some confidence and curiosity but now he only looks like a damsel in distress thrown to a rapist. It’s understandable to be afraid in the face of a mentally deranged, merciless man, but why does it feel so different frome the fist time Niall entered the tent?
Thanks for the update <3