Come to another world and become a lord

Chapter 172 The Duke of the North

A few days later, when Prime Minister Aaron arrived, Karl held a grand welcome banquet for him in Reikburg. The banquet was held in the main hall of the castle. A golden chandelier hung from the high ceiling of the main hall, and the warm light spread all around, illuminating the entire hall with a golden color. The long banquet table was covered with a red tablecloth embroidered with intricate patterns, and the table was filled with delicious food and wine.

The men wore gorgeous suits and the ladies wore gorgeous long skirts. They stood in groups of three or five, toasting their glasses and chatting. The musicians played elegant music on the side, and the music echoed in the hall, elegant and romantic.

Carl, wearing a dark suit, stood beside Tilda, greeting every guest with a smile. On the other side, Prime Minister Aaron sat in the center of the main table, with several attendants standing beside him. Alia was beside him, happily chatting with him.

When the last dish was served, Carl raised the wine glass in his hand and tapped the rim of the glass lightly, making a crisp sound. The conversation in the hall gradually subsided, and all eyes were focused on him.

"Dear distinguished guests," Carl said in a steady and powerful voice, "Tonight, we are here to welcome Prime Minister Aaron to Rickburg. He is a pillar of our country and has made great efforts for the peace and prosperity of the kingdom. Please join me in raising a toast to Lord Aaron and our common future!"

"Cheers!" The guests responded in unison, raising their glasses with eager smiles on their faces.

Aaron smiled, raised his glass and drank with everyone. He put down his glass, stood up, and nodded to everyone present. Then, he turned to Carl and nodded to him.

"Lord Tilda, Viscount Carl." Aaron said gently, "Thank you for your hospitality. This feast made me feel the enthusiasm and friendship of the North. I also believe that the North will become better in the future. There are many things to say, but I will not spoil the fun here today. Today we just need to celebrate and enjoy ourselves! Let the banquet begin!"

As he spoke, the atmosphere reached a climax. To the sound of music, the guests walked onto the dance floor and danced an elegant court dance. Under the golden chandelier, long skirts fluttered in the dance steps, men held women's hands, and their steps were light. Laughter and music intertwined together, as if it was a grand celebration.

Aaron found a seat next to Karl and placed the wine glass in his hand on the nearest table. He did not drink a sip, but just looked at the men and women dancing in the dance floor, and then sighed:

"It's still the same. These people will never change. For them, everything can become an excuse to party."

"Only for the nobility." Carl added that ordinary people would not live like this. Their lives were much more boring and pragmatic.

"Yes, only for nobles." Aaron nodded in agreement.

"So, let's talk about your plan for coming to the North this time. I don't believe that you just come here to see your friends," Carl continued.

"Hmm~" Aaron sighed softly, looked at the dancing crowd again, and then said:

"Let's talk somewhere else. It's too noisy here."

"Good~"

Carl's study was far from the banquet hall. It was quiet, with only the cold wind outside the window blowing the window frame, making a few clicks. The fireplace in the room was burning, the flames were dancing gently, and the warm light was soft and cozy. The heavy wooden bookshelves were filled with ancient scrolls and books, and several maps depicting battlefields and territories were hung on the walls.

Carl and Aaron sat across a round table, on which was a bottle of fine red wine and two exquisite silver cups. The aroma of the wine filled the air, adding a touch of warmth to this cold night.

Carl picked up the bottle and poured red wine for the two of them. The deep red liquid swayed slightly in the glass, revealing an attractive luster. The two raised their glasses and clinked them, making a crisp sound.

Aaron took a sip of red wine, then put down the glass, looked at the window that was blown, and sighed softly:

"The weather in the north is getting colder now."

"Yes, winter is always so long and harsh." Carl nodded, echoing and waiting for his next response.

Aaron looked at him, and then glanced at the fire, and then he said:

"We don't mind. It's just that the people in the North suffer. In such a harsh environment, they have to endure the flames of war, leave their homes, and go to the battlefield..."

He sighed again when he said this.

Karl just looked at him and didn't answer immediately. The two of them sat quietly like this, and the north wind outside blew more and more violently, until a window was suddenly blown open, and the biting wind and snow immediately poured into the house, blowing away the original warmth.

Karl shuddered, then stood up, closed the window again, and said, "Are you blaming me?"

Aaron's eyes became deep: "I don't blame anyone, but the North has been through too much this year, and it's time to make some repairs."

"I agree with this." Carl nodded and said, "I also want to live in peace, but there are always people who keep provoking me."

"I understand. The five earls of the North have always been in constant conflict, and there has never been a moment of peace." Aaron seemed to be lost in past memories as he spoke, "This chaos should end."

"So you're here to make peace with everyone?" Carl asked.

"More than that, I'm here on the orders of His Majesty to re-establish the Dukedom of the North." Aaron replied, his expression turning serious.

"Duke of the North?" Carl frowned slightly.

"Your Majesty hopes to select a person who is capable of taking on the great responsibility from among the lords of the North, to serve as the Duke of the North, to take charge of the North again and end the current disputes." Aaron said again.

"Then... who are you planning to look for?" Carl asked again.

Aaron paused, took another sip of wine, and then slowly said:

"My proposal is: Count Tilda Morgan of Morgan. She will be the Duke of the North, and her capital will be Candlelight Castle, which is the old capital of the North."

He paused for a moment and continued:

"I hope you can support this matter. Let's work together to make it happen. When the time comes, she will become the Duke of the North, and you will legitimately become the Earl of Morgan Territory. At the same time, you will be given the position of Chief Financial Officer of the North."

"So, you want me to give up Candlelight Castle and let that little girl become the Duke?"

"Wind Candle Castle originally belonged to the Morgan family, why would it be given up?" Aaron said, spreading his hands.

"It's useless for you and me to say this. Who else will support it?" Carl asked.

"Earl Sirod and Earl Gammond both support this proposal. If Tilda herself is included, it means that all three earls in the north agree to this proposal. We have the majority." Aaron continued.

"Gammond is not an earl." Karl said this in a low voice.

Aaron didn't seem to mind, he just said calmly:

"Well, I heard about that. Mia is born mentally retarded and cruel. She allowed her guards to slaughter the citizens. Someone like her is not fit to be a lord."

"This is not something you and I can decide." Carl shook his head again, rejecting his statement.

"That's right, but you can decide the life and death of that girl. As long as Mia dies, Gamond will be the Earl of Torrentso in name and in reality. I believe he will be very grateful to you."

I understand. At this moment, Carl understood everything. Prime Minister Aaron was the backer of Gammond. Aaron actually interfered directly in the affairs of the North. If he remembered correctly, he, the Duke of the North, was not allowed to interfere in the North. This was the rule set by the King. But now Aaron said that His Majesty the King asked him to come, which meant...

As if seeing through what Karl was thinking, Aaron continued:

"To be honest, this is also for your own good. You have caused too much trouble in the North, and His Majesty is already very dissatisfied. Now this plan is the most suitable, which can not only calm His Majesty's anger, but also ensure your interests."

His Majesty compromised, even at the cost of letting him interfere in the North, which Carl had not expected. If he agreed, he could predict what would happen next. Aaron would undoubtedly take control of the power, and the Duke of the North would become his puppet. But to be honest, is it necessary for him to fight? Being an earl is not bad, at least it is stable. He thought of Henry, who proposed a marriage to him. At that time, he just wanted to be a lord and live a stable life. If Morton had not been so aggressive, if he had not been bullied in the capital, how could he have come to this point today.

As he was thinking this, for some reason, Nura's figure appeared in his mind, as well as the battle, with countless orcs rushing towards the tribe's front line... If he was just an earl, what would happen next? Once Aaron took control of the North, he would definitely not compromise with the tribe, and if the Great Khan knew about this situation, he would definitely go south. Can he really live a stable life? Isn't this the beginning of the end of mankind?

Thinking of this, he slowly spoke:

"I reject."

Aaron's expression changed slightly, but only for a moment:

"You refuse?"

"Yes," Carl replied.

Aaron was silent again. He looked at the wine in the glass. In the firelight, the red liquid rippled slightly, forming waves:

"Perhaps... Your Majesty is right, and Morton is also right. Now your ambition is too big, so big that it scares everyone..."

"So you plan to go to war with me?" Carl asked expressionlessly.

"No, no, no, you're wrong. I'm only here to uphold justice," Aaron said. "To be honest, I've always admired you and don't want to see you destroy yourself. You've already reached heights in your life that others can't even dream of. You should be content. You have to know that some things are not meant to be yours."

Karl laughed, with a hint of arrogance in his laughter:

"Do you know what Morton said to me before he died?"

"Huh?" Aaron looked at him puzzledly.

Carl continued:

"He said he wanted to see how far I can go... Maybe you're right, but there are some things I want to try. How do I know if I can't do it if I don't try?"

"Yeah, that's right." Aaron stroked his beard and said thoughtfully, "After all, you are a young man, and your greatest advantage is your courage to fight. In that case..."

He drank the wine in the glass and then said:

"As a friend, I wish you good luck."

Then he turned around and was about to leave, but heard Karl say again:

"Prime Minister, this won't ruin our friendship, right?"

Aaron was stunned at first, then smiled knowingly:

"of course not."

Then he left the study.

The dungeon of Rickburg was dark and Yasha sat there in a daze, looking depressed. Then she heard footsteps, and then the light of fire. Karl's face was reflected in the fire. The girl immediately perked up, rushed forward, grabbed the cage with both hands and shouted:

"Where is Lady Mia? How is Lady Mia?"

"She's awake and she's fine now." Carl replied coldly.

Hearing this, Yasha felt relieved and slowly breathed a sigh of relief:

"As long as it's okay, it'll be okay!"

Her eyes were filled with tears.

"It's just..." Carl said again.

This simple word made Yasha nervous again.

"Her uncle Gamond came to me to ask for someone."

"Gammond is a traitor and a traitor!" Upon hearing Karl's words, Yasha shouted, her tone full of anger.

"I'm thinking about it," Carl continued.

"You, you want to help that traitor?" Yasha became anxious.

"Why not?" Carl replied coldly, "You took advantage of my absence to invade my territory without permission and incited my subordinates to rebel. Now someone is helping me deal with you, why shouldn't I accept it?"

"No, you can't hand her over!" Yasha shouted anxiously again.

"Why not?"

"Because... because." The girl thought desperately, and then she suddenly shouted, "Because she is useful to you!"

"Will it be useful to me?" Carl narrowed his eyes and looked interested.

"Yes!" Yasha paused here, as if she had made up her mind, and said, "Karl Flandal, you are an extraordinary person. I also believe that people like you will never be satisfied with the status quo!"

"Don't bother flattering me, just get to the point," Carl replied.

Yasha calmed down and said calmly:

"Why has the title of Duke of the North remained vacant for so many years? Why doesn't the king confer the title?"

Carl nodded slightly to show his interest in the topic.

Seeing this, Yasha continued:

"Because the king can't make the decision on this matter. Only the people of the North can make the decision! The position of Duke needs to be voted on by the five earls of the North! However, over the years, the five families have never reached a consensus on this issue, and they can't even get a majority vote."

Then she cleared her throat again and said in a very serious tone:

"Karl Flandal! If you are willing to help us, help Lady Mia! The Dorenso family will support you in becoming the Duke of the North!"