Chapter 581 Mockery and Scorn

Chapter 581 Mockery and Scorn

"You currently have but two votes; one garnered from the corrupt Markhan and another from the feeble Leon family. Yet, you lack the crucial third, the vote that is paramount."

"Without my vote, you stand to lose all of Venice!"

Howard let out a cold laugh, "Hmph! Are you threatening me? You think without your vote, I'll be brought to my knees?"

"You must realize, Venice is governed by not three, but five elder senate families! Besides your Sheffield, there are the Pibb and the Daddaro!"

Gallieni, rising in agitation, slammed his hand on the table, causing it to emit a resounding thud.

Howard could sense the Sheffield patriarch's irritation and shifted his tone.

With a glint of murderous intent in his eyes, he spoke, "Given that, I suggest you reconsider the worth of your vote. Is it worth the permanent governorship of Baslan?"

"We are negotiating here, and I bring something to the table, unlike you. I control territories vast as empires, while you merely possess a fifth of Venice!"

"If the Sheffield family wishes to thrive in the long run, you'll need to lower your demands in this negotiation!"

Just then, Catherine Sheffield entered the room, her face etched with sorrow, addressing her father, "Father, please, let it be. They hardly need our vote. Even if they fail to secure the voting council, they could find a pretext to attack us next time. We can't withstand them in Venice."

Gallieni swiftly approached Catherine, rage fueling his actions as he slapped his daughter across the face, bellowing, "Get out! Leave this instant!"

Catherine Sheffield, covering her struck cheek, ran out of the room, crying.

And from the sound of her footsteps on the floor, it was evident Catherine had made her way back downstairs.

Within the room, the Sheffield patriarch seemed to age decades in mere moments.

He turned to Howard and said, "I apologize, my daughter has made a fool of herself before your majesty."

Howard's face bore a look of regret as he softly spoke, "There was no need to hit her. Matters could have been resolved through conversation."

Gallieni sighed, "I'm getting old, and it's becoming increasingly difficult to manage her. Though she doesn't say it, I'm sure the gift you presented her today was far too lavish, prompting her to speak on your behalf."

Howard skillfully replied, "That might not necessarily be the case. Consider this, could the Sheffield family afford to purchase that ruby on their own?"

Gallieni Sheffield, the head of the Sheffield family, didn't hesitate, "Of course, we, the five great families, bear Venice's fiscal responsibilities. But in return, we also share 90% of Venice's trade taxes among us. If I truly wished, I could certainly afford it."

Howard shook his head, wagging his right index finger in front of Gallieni, "That's not what I meant. I mean, if your daughter, Catherine, desired the 2-carat ruby from Rose Jewelers, the most expensive South African ruby they offer, would you buy it for her? Or could she afford it herself?"

Gallieni took a few steps away, his back to Howard as he pondered.

After five seconds, he understood.

Turning back to Howard, he replied, "Even as the head of the Sheffield family, I don't have the surplus funds to purchase something purely ornamental, with no military or commercial value."

Her words were cunningly crafted, lacking the foresight to withdraw promptly but sharply exploiting the discord between Venice and the Oli Kingdom.

She aimed to drag Howard into the mire, stirring the situation to escape the discomfort with her dignity intact.

Howard was unfazed, aware of the might he commanded—

countless troops, horses, and cannons at his disposal.

To put it simply, as he had mentioned during his negotiations with the Sheffield family, should he be pushed too far, deploying his military might against Venice, which relied mainly on its navy, would hardly be a challenge for him.

The lady holding a white goose-feather fan spoke up, advising her companion, "Be careful with your words. He is a king, and we ought to show him respect."

Believing she had defused the situation, she turned to Howard with a cheery smile, "Your Majesty, my friend Mrs. Sando merely spoke without thinking. Please, pay her no heed."

Howard looked down upon them, his stance lofty and his anger not fully dissipated.

He understood a simple truth: visible acts of malice often hint at greater unseen evils.

Faced with Howard's direct gaze, the two noblewomen were at odds—one seeking to minimize the issue, the other intent on exacerbating it.

This made it clear that Nia must have faced far greater scorn and disdain in Howard's absence.

Nia, ever understanding, said to Howard, "Let it be, they have already apologized."

Catherine Sheffield also came forward to mediate, prompting Howard to give the two noblewomen a stern glare, warning, "If I ever witness you speaking ill of others again, the consequences will not be as mild as this. Be very careful!"

After Howard and Nia left the Sheffield family's villa, Nia cried.

Understanding her distress, Howard comfortingly held her close.

Two days later, the five major families of Venice convened for a voting meeting.

As previously agreed, the three families voted in favor of joining the Oli Kingdom, while the Pibb and Daddaro families opted against it.

The final tally stood at 3:2, marking Venice's incorporation into the Oli Kingdom from that day forth.

Inside the Venetian council, the atmosphere was electric as Howard stepped up to the podium.

He announced the conditions previously agreed upon with Markhan, though he momentarily withheld the announcement of Markhan's appointment as the Duke of Venice.

Achieving a smooth transition would require much time and effort.

lightsnοvεl Markhan, standing among the audience, trembled as he caught Howard's approving glance.

He managed to suppress his elation, portraying himself as an ordinary citizen marked by a mix of surprise, doubt, and disbelief.