The room was silent for a moment as the gravity of Frederick's offer settled over everyone.
Even Julian was caught off guard by the extent of the proposal. He couldn't help but smile inwardly at how expertly Duke Hans was playing the situation.
He had indeed anticipated some form of alliance, but Frederick had gone beyond expectations, offering far more than just political backing.
Julian observed his father Alden's reaction, noting the flicker of approval in his eyes. Even Augustus, who was usually composed, seemed to be considering the offer carefully.
Augustus chuckled at the straightforwardness of the proposal and leaned back in his chair. "Well, that sure is a proposal we can't back out from," he said with a smirk.
"But tell me, Frederick, what does your family want in exchange for all of this?"
Frederick bowed even low as he continued. "Your Grace, what we seek in return is protection and independence for our future generations. We wish to ensure that, in times of need, the Hans family will be shielded under the Easvil name, while maintaining our sovereignty and independence."
The room went quiet for a moment as the request hung in the air.
Augustus let out a laugh, clearly entertained by the boldness of the proposal.
"Sure, I agree to the proposal," he said with a grin. "Such a request is reasonable. What is an alliance without mutual benefit?"
He then turned to Alden to seek confirmation. "Alden, what do you think of all this?"
Alden leaned forward. "Father, I also agree," he said with a nod.
"Frederick has truly proposed something we cannot reject. His terms are not only fair but beneficial to all parties involved. I believe it will strengthen our family's position and secure our future, both politically and militarily."
A murmur of conversation ran through the dining hall. The members of the family seemed satisfied with the direction the conversation was going.
Julian smiled, his eyes shining with admiration as he studied Duke Hans. In his mind, he marveled at the duke's brilliance and strategic intelligence.
He has managed to secure the support of our family, without giving up a single thing. Remarkable.
The more Julian seemed to study, the more he began admiring it, as he knew it was not a result of luck but was something perfectly planned.
It was the result of Duke Hans's week-long visit, during which he had expertly navigated relationships, earning the trust of both Julian's father and grandfather.
And by adding the offers, he basically guaranteed his success.
Augustus laughed, his voice filling the room. "Well, those things can be left for later," he said with a wave of his hand.
"Let's eat now and we can discuss the formalities of the alliance officially later."
Frederick bowed respectfully and took his seat. The mood at the table shifted from the serious atmosphere to newfound joy. Servants moved gracefully around the room, serving food as the family continued the breakfast.
The laughter and chatter grew louder, filling the room with a sense of lightheartedness. It was clear that the alliance between the Hans family and the Easvil family had been successfully declared.
The breakfast soon ended. Some spoke eagerly about the newly secured alliance, while others boasted about the growing influence of their families.
Julian stood up and made his way to his room. He closed the door behind him and settled himself on the bed.
"System," Julian called, his voice was mixture of anticipation and excitement.
"Yes, Host. What can I do for you?" came the immediate reply.
"Add Isabel and Lisa to the Castle of Harem and assign them a castle each." Julian said.
The system's voice replied once more, "Understood. Executing now."
A glowing window appeared before Julian. The system's voice echoed in the room as the window displayed the new updates:
****
Castle of Harem Assignment Successful
Isabel has been successfully assigned to the Castle of Harem.
Lisa has been successfully assigned to the Castle of Harem.
Reward:
Your world's mana quality has been greatly increased.
A sign of life has been seen in your worlds.
****
Julian stared at the window in surprise and shock. What? Life this fast? he thought, trying to take in the message.
He had expected simple growth, but the sign of life appearing so quickly shocked him. His surprise soon turned to excitement.
He quickly concentrated and teleported to his world.
The scenery changed instantly. The peaceful silence of his room changed to a landscape that was beautiful with green fields, sparkling rivers, and tall hills in the distance.
The familiar large castle at the center was surrounded by smaller castles, making the scene even more majestic and beautiful.
Julian took a deep breath, feeling calm and at peace.
Julian focused as he called for the skill he had obtained while building the House of Harem. "Guardian Manifestation," he said.
Immediately, lightning energy around him began to concentrate and swirled into a single point.
After a few moments, a strange form began to take shape. A figure started to materialize from the lightning itself. It wasn't a figure of human but it resembled a golem and its body was made entirely of lightning.
Julian watched in awe as he felt the immense power radiating from the golem. The golem-like figure stood tall and imposing, releasing a Sovereign mage aura.
The system's voice echoed through Julian's mind, confirming the success of the summoning:
"Congratulations to the host. A Lightning Guardian has been successfully created. You can command it as you fit."
Julian nodded. "I will call you Guard One," he said.
The Lightning Guardian remained motionless for a moment, then suddenly its energy shifted, as if acknowledging its name.
Julian thought for a moment. What work should I give the guardian?
His mind quickly focused on the one task that he found would be the most exhausting—managing the House of Harem.
He was always adding new members, and each time, he had to explain the same things over and over: the world, their role, and their place within the harem. It was tiring, and Julian knew he could use help in that area.
The Guardian could handle this for me, Julian thought. The Lightning Guardian could easily manage the administrative side of House of Harem.
He looked at Guard One and spoke. "Your task is to manage the House of Harem. When new members join, explain to them the rules of this world, their roles, and how things work here. You will handle the administrative matters, so I don't have to repeat myself every time."