Chapter 280 280-Demanding a Fief

Chapter 280 280-Demanding a Fief

Knight Kaido was consumed by a mix of anger and annoyance.

Flandre, adorned in a delicate, faintly scented yellow dress, approached him and inquired, "Kaido, what troubles you? You seem displeased."

Kaido, already seething with irritation towards Howard, now found Flandre at his side.

A sinister glint flashed in his eyes, the urge to lash out physically to vent his frustration almost overwhelming him.

At this critical moment, one of Kaido's robust henchmen quickly grasped his wrist and advised, "My lord, it is time for your horse riding practice."

Simultaneously, the sturdy man signaled Flandre with his eyes, urging her to leave swiftly.

Flandre, noticing the menacing intent in Kaido's gaze moments before, and realizing there was no one else around, deduced the true target of Kaido's suppressed rage.

She wanted to speak, to express her thoughts, but the words lodged in her throat, unspoken.

Kaido, simmering with an unspoken rage, turned to Flandre and said, "Do you know? Howard has become formidable. He's conquered Nok Castle and is now its lord."

Flandre, unaware of the underlying reason for Kaido's anger, replied innocently, "Isn't that a good thing? It should be beneficial for us too."

This response only fueled Kaido's fury.

He struggled against his own restraint, an evident desire to lash out at Flandre.

His sturdy henchman, risking himself, intervened to prevent Kaido from acting on his impulse.

The surrounding attendants, witnessing this, rushed to stop Kaido.

Flandre, startled and frightened, stepped back several paces.

She looked at Kaido, speechless and terrified.

The once handsome face of Kaido, known for its nobility and chivalry, was now twisted with hatred, as if harboring a deep, unresolved vendetta.

In Flandre's eyes, Kaido had always been a dashing noble, a well-dressed gentleman, and her hero.

But now, his visage was contorted with animosity, his eyes looking at her as though she were an enemy.

Heartbroken, Flandre pulled out a handkerchief and began to cry, dabbing her eyes continuously.

Kaido, in his fury, demanded his Knight Squire, Golan, to step aside.

"Golan, what are you doing? You are my Knight Squire; you should obey me! Why are you protecting her?"

The sturdy man, who had been faithfully by Kaido's side since his first meeting with Howard, spoke, "My lord, it's not that I am disobeying you. What I am doing is for your own good. If you harm her, Howard will not let you go unpunished."New novel chapters are published at novelhall.com

Upon hearing these words, Kaido's grip loosened slightly, but his words remained harsh.

"Hmph, what use do I have for a brother-in-law who won't even grant me a fief? Is he just for show?"

Flandre, unable to contain her emotions, confronted Kaido, "My husband, why must you hurt me so? Did you marry me only for the sake of a fief from my brother?"

Kaido almost admitted it but, being more than just an ordinary noble, he held back.

Objectively, he was a notch above those inept aristocrats.

Only with adequate knowledge could one avoid being outwitted.

Afterwards, Howard, rather than wallowing in frustration, reflected on the situation and decided to seek advice from Vettel on the dos and don'ts of business negotiation.

An afternoon spent with Vettel resulted in a noticeable improvement in Howard's negotiation skills.

As dusk approached, Bosiden knocked on Howard's door.

Howard invited him in, and in the council chamber, presented him with a document, instructing, "Take this to Gokasu and inform Hof that I have reassigned the lordship of Seasalt Village to him as a surprise."

Bosiden picked up the document from the table, glanced at it, and nodded, saying, "Understood, I'll take care of it right away."

With his belongings in order, Bosiden mounted his horse and departed Fernsouth Castle for Gokasu.

After dinner, Howard sat back in his chair and mused aloud, "Ah, I wonder if Kaido will send Flandre to speak with me."

Nora replied coolly, "Of course he will. Prepare yourself for a scolding."

Howard's expression twisted in conflict as he said, "If she truly wants to advocate for Kaido, then I might just have to give him one of my lands. After all, I've already distributed most of the outlying villages of Nok Castle."

As the maids swiftly cleared the dishes and left the room, Nora remarked, "It's up to you. Pitz Village is just known for its apple orchards, and they won't bear fruit until next year. Right now, Pitz Village isn't very appealing."

Howard asked, "Are you suggesting I give Pitz Village to Kaido?"

Nora nonchalantly replied, "If you want to give him Nok Castle or Fernsouth Castle, I wouldn't object either."

Howard remained silent and retired to his room to rest.

...

As the sun rose and the morning mist cleared, life stirred within the castle.

Maids busied themselves preparing breakfast.

Howard, having dressed, stepped out of his chamber.

A maid, seeing Howard up so early, stopped in surprise and bowed respectfully, "Good morning, Lord Howard!"

Howard returned the greeting with a nod and a smile, taking a moment to observe the maid.

She appeared to be in her late teens, her long black hair tied in a ponytail, her figure slender and radiating youthful vigor.

Howard considered asking for her name but then thought better of it and continued on his way.

As he walked past her, narrowly missing her shoulder, Howard entered deeper into the corridor.

He found himself reflecting on his recent interactions with several women – Anna, Margaret, Nora – which were all professional and unavoidable.

But this encounter with the maid was clearly different.

Not that he looked down upon the maid; he simply wanted to manage the situation cautiously.

Howard ran his right hand along the white railing, gazing out at the vast expanse of the dawn sky.

After finishing breakfast and preparing to head to the stables for his riding practice, Flandre arrived at Fernsouth Castle.

In a tidy room, lined by maids, Howard and Flandre sat facing each other.