Seirun crushed the letter he just read. Who does he think he is? He kicked his chair in anger causing the messanger to tremble and nearly tumble down. But was fortunately saved by a quick step to the back. The Duke's Heir merely waved his hand and the messanger doubled back to the door and fled. Didn't he know what he did? Humiliating him like that in front of Ser Elvaughn! Now he dares shirk his duties to me? As if that lowly baron can even raise an army. He should be here educating and preparing me for my life at the Court of Intrigue.

His only excuse is that his liege ordered him to mobilise, forgetting the fact that his leige should be, first and foremost, my father, the Duke! 'His hands are tied,' he says. Seirun sat in his now three-legged chair and tried to think. Where does he even live? Hensfield? That's his surname. He's a baron which means a count must be his liege. Now to find that Count and ask father to transfer his vassalage to me. It's about time I get to have 'vassals' to play with.

He sprinted to towards the office of the Steward and rudely barged in, startling Steward Destein.

Destein placed the quatermaster's report down and promptly stood up, "Your grace, how may I serve you?" He asked politely with a sheen of cold sweat trailing down his back. 'I just dug my self in a deep hole and put myself in the Duke's bad side. Allure damn me for my stupidity! I shouldn't have complained about those filthy refugees. I'll climb out by using him'. He confidently thought.

"I want to know who Baron Hensfield's liege is."

"Hensfield... Let's see." The Steward picked up the book named 'Feudal contracts and Obligations' and searched for 'H'. 'There it is.' "He must be Count Lonsdale's vassal."

"I see." Seirun sprinted back out without bothering to close the door and leaving a puzzled steward behind.

'That's it? Didn't even have enough time to ingratiate my self to him!' Destein internally screamed

Seirun asked a servant where the count was and was directed to the Chancellor's solar.

He was just about to barge in, arrows blazing, but decided not to. The Chancellor is a count. I must at the very least show him a modicum of respect, unlike that upjumped weasel of a steward who doesn't even have a surname.

The young man remembered how intimidating the Chancellor is. How he would look at him with thinly veiled disgust. Not just him. Many people in father's court as well. But everytime I tried to prove them wrong like asserting my birthright as the future Duke, and showing off my sword skills through duels, they seemed to detest me more. I put in every effort to sway those lowborn and they repay me by looking at me like that. They think I don't notice it. But I do. Seirun furiously clicked his tongue, remembering their disappointed gazes is already making me want to throw away everything and head to the consort's house and drink! Seirun resisted the urge and stood his ground. I have to do this! Father may replace Alex with someone incompetent. He clumsily gave an excuse.

The wrathful boy clenched his hands and 'knocked' on the Chancellor's door, where he abruptly dismissed the herald. No herald for you Chancellor. Only the Duke has those priviliges.

The Chancellor was busy rereading his letters and rolling them up to be waxed with the traditional two halberds and the torch in the middle, and putting them in a separate pile where the raven master can send them to appropriate contacts. He was interrupted by his monotony of his work by an extremely loud knock. 'Why is my herald refusing to call their name?' Lonsdale suppressed a violent retort.

Time went on and Lonsdale furrowed his brows in impatience and curtly spoke, "Come in." 'It must be Albrecht. He always likes to do that.' He wrongly thought.

Seirun walked in his solar calmly and remembered his lessons from Alex; he slightly knocked his head down and glanced towards the Chancellor who stood up in suprise. Seirun silently savoured this moment. Doesn't feel good when you're in the receiving end does it? The young man triumphly looked on.

The Chancellor regained his composure and bowed towards the future duke and oblingingly asked, "How can I be of service to you, your grace?" Whilst gesturing the young heir to an empty chair.

Seirun slowly sat in his chair and straightened his back and stared into the Chancellor's eyes. 'And don't forget to smile!' He remembered Alex's advice.

"My lord, I came here to ask something from you."

Lonsdale perked his ears at that in genuine curiosity, but his stern and unmovable face gave out no emotions. "What may that be your grace?"

"To transfer Baron Hensfield's feudal duties to House Leidorf. I find the baron a pleasant company and an extremely competent lecturer. He has taught me many things to prepare my life at Deorum, and to eventually succeed my father, and may Allure delay that as much as possible. I still have far too many things to learn and experience."

Lonsdale's transluscent green eyes widened and nearly bulged out. He was not sure whether to laugh and tell this arrogant fool to sod off, or be impressed by the boy's ability to sniff out talented people. The answer is obviously a no, and if he whines and cries about it to his father; Albrecht will just dismiss it. 'He may be improving with leaps and bounds but he's still a naive fool. Forcing a vassal to do this is an act of tyranny, and I know Albrecht isn't a tyrant nor is he stupid. I probably should put him out of his misery and give out a disappointing answer to him.' Then he took a quick glance at his table and the amount of work he's bound to do. 'Nah, I guess I'll toy for him for a bit.'

"So you want him because he's talented?"

"That's right." Seirun bluntly replied.

'Looks like he hasn't taught you much about subtly. Then again he has to develop it himself.'

"Then what do I get out of this your grace? This offer seems to disadvantage House Huntsman of a competent vassal."

"You'll get a better educated Duke in the future and when the time comes for you to enter Allure's Garden or retire, I'll appoint... Edrin... Erdin to be my chancellor."

'This is such a bad attempt at placation. This may be his first attempt but I had such high expectations from Albrecht's son. I'll take this opportunity to 'counsel' this wayward boy as my gratitude to him for bothering to remember my heir's name.'

Lonsdale narrowed his eyebrows and put his hands together in the desk. Lurched his head forward and sternly stared at the boy.

Seirun fought so hard to stop squirming, and to stop his fingers and toes curling.

"Your grace, you realised how ridiculous that proposal is?"

"What's so ridiculous about it!?" Seirun half shouted and half questioned. Previous emotions replaced by the Leidorf temper.

"You mentioned my death and resignation to the chancellery as prerequisite to your other offers. It may take, Allure willing, two decades till I enter her Garden or maybe I'll resign earlier. How much earlier? -" The Chancellor rhetorically asked - "You don't know. I could theoretically go to your father's solar and resign right now.

"So that's the first reason why it's ridiculous, because you weren't specific enough.

"The second reason is that you haven't taken up the account of Baron Hensfield's lands and the taxes that are being generated by villeins, serfs and merchants. Do those taxes go to you or me."

"I have 'taken up the account of his lands' and the answer would be yes, those taxes go to me."

"And break the feudal contract and obligations thereby breaking the divine social order that Allure approves of." Lonsdale sarcastically remarked.

The young heir's enthusiasm deflated, gobsmacked by the outrageous comparison. He's right... I'll concede for now. It's a shame I wont get his taxes but hopefully I should be able to get him as my retainer. Maybe even bring him to Deorum. "That's a valid reason my lord but I still need Alex's guidance."

'What's he talking about? Of course you need his guidance! I had to pull a lot of strings to get him to replace that old fart that did such an 'amazing' job lecturing you. Though, I may have had to step on too many toes and ruffled far too many feathers to do so.

'Looks like the fool of a boy still wants to negotiate. I'll not pass this opportunity up. I could probably wring him for further concessions.'

"Then what are you willing to give to me?" Lonsdale quickly added a 'your grace' right at the end.

"Name it then my good lord." Seirun said suppressing his urge to strangle the man.

"A duchess. A Huntsman duchess." The Chancellor laughed within the confines of his mind. 'He's never going to accept this. He'd be too busy dishonouring himself with those whores he keeps around. He's not even trying to hide them. As if he's trying so hard to break his reputation even further.' Lonsdale confidently thought.

Seirun slightly opened his mouth in suprise but quickly turned calm. He remembered Alex's and his previous lecturer's advice on marriage. They said, 'marriage is never about love but consolidating power. To prop up your dynasty and secure order within your realm.' The suddenly contemplative boy started to work his mind. I hear from Alex that the Huntsmans are the strongest and most influential counts. Then he ranted about the history of the county which I gladly ignored and left to go grab a tankard of ale. This could be an amazing opportunity to secure an ally, or in my father's case, strengthen an already unbreakable alliance. I just hope she would have ample bosoms with perky tits like those consorts.

"Deal!" The Duke's heir resolutely stated.

Herin cast panicked glances at every direction as the carriage travelled across the city. The grey behemoth stood on top of a slight hill with a tall but stout tower spiralling towards the skies. At the top displayed a semi-circular sunclock conveniently telling the time during sunrise to sunset. Grey walls with a hundred windows and spanning at least fifteen stories spread out from the bottom of the spire. Each with unique carvings etched within the walls. White marbled statues were placed across the roof overlooking the edge at fixed intervals. Which made Herin more unnerved. Their eyes are following me!

She took an entire minute to recover from her silly paranoia and began walking. She noticed a long line starting from nowhere. Curious, she went towards the source of the queue and was stunned with what she saw. A huge carriage stopped in front of where the line originated. Green uniformed men unloaded tonnes of wooden boxes, partially aided with cranes and pulleys. She peered over the box, curious what was inside. One of the men opened it with a crowbar and took out hundreds of halberds and many assortment of short swords. Chainmail and boiled leather were unpackaged with brutal efficiency.

The people in line eagerly took the equipment and was further processed into a barracks? I didn't know the Grey Palace had barracks in. She continued on but was stopped abruptly by one of the guards, who gaved her lecherous looks. "What ye doin' here yung lassie?"

"I'm here to see my father so let me pass."

"Whos yer pappa lass?"

"The Chancellor and Count Lonsdale Huntsman."

The uncouth guard laughed showing his misaligned teeth. "And I'm the Duke Albrecht 'imself! Now lass just sod off or if ye really wan' to enter then be sure to spread your legs. Yer pretty enough lassie!"

Herin couldn't believe what she was hearing and blushed. Such insolence needs to be punished!

She was interrupted by her guards rushing pass her and pushed the lustful guard away.

One of her family's soldier said with an authoritative voice, "Let this be a warning and go back to your duty."

The uncouth guard glared at the other men at arms, and noticed two foxes with a sword running down the middle of their chestplate and promptly burst into tears, muttering a thousand apologies.

"Milady, I'm sorry for being too late."

"It's quite alright soldier...?"

"Devon, milady."

"I must give you my sincere thanks for your timely rescue."

"Just doing my job, milady."

"I'm sure you are and now please escort me to my father's solar." Herin tried to sound hard and stern like her father to distract her from the recent indignity she just suffered.

"At once, milady."

Herin walked across the gangway while occasionally staring below her at the courtyard which have been comissioned as a temporary barrack. Hundreds of men learned to keep in formation whilst dancing with halberds. They were being drilled by Ser Elvaughn himself! Herin noticed the famous knight and couldn't keep her excitement inside. It's him! The knight who commanded Allurion's armies and crushed the Francian Heresy twenty years ago. I can't believe it. It's rare to see him inside the city. He usually administers the surrounding lands outside the city. I tried to ask pappa to meet him once but he was constantly busy.

She was brought out of her state of admiration by another uneasy feeling in her stomach. She stared again and watch the famous knight drill the men into proper formation. So the Empire really is being invaded.

The young woman finally reached her father's solar and called for the herald to announce her prescence. Father always loved aristocratic threatrics. Might as well indulge him.