Seeing this, Laine didn't force her, and that night, the dark elf finally enjoyed a peaceful sleep after a long time, dreaming sweetly until dawn.
In the next few days, Ollica slept in Laine's room, and Laine indeed did nothing to her.
Because the negotiations on Marinburg's side finally made some progress.
The diplomats of the Empire and the great nobles of Marinburg engaged in difficult, lengthy, and penny-pinching haggling, with both sides tediously entangled over every single gold coin. Chapters first released on novel★fire.net
The Empire kept exerting pressure, knowing Marinburg's details. Marinburg, with its vastly inferior hard power, could neither resist the green-skins alone nor withstand the Empire's pressure, especially after the high elves refused to comment, leaving Marinburg with nothing to rely on in the negotiations.
However, Marinburg's representatives also played rogue, telling the Empire that if worse comes to worst, they can withdraw their troops, and they will face the green-skinned army alone, even if the entire city turns to ashes, and see how the Empire explains it to all the citizens, what value is there in reclaiming Marinburg.
This was already being rogue, but reclaiming a pile of ruins indeed held little significance for the Empire, which wasn't in line with the Empire's interests, leaving the diplomats with no solution for Marinburg.
Thus, it ended in discord once again.
However, as scouts reported that the number of green-skins in the Ginter Mine was approaching twenty thousand, Marinburg's nobles finally began to waver, and the Empire knew that dragging it out was not a solution. So both sides returned to the negotiation table and finally reached some consensus.
Thus, on a morning in late February, Laine followed Ivan to the street.
A snow had freshly fallen in the morning, but by late February, the footsteps of winter were slowly receding, and spring's approach was imminent.
"Have the negotiations finally achieved results, Ivan?" Seeing Ivan call him out, Laine asked directly.
"Yes, we've barely reached an agreement on one matter, and that's about the trade deficit." The Griffin Duke nodded: "A large part of Marinburg's annual military purchases will be directly ordered from the Imperial Nuer's armory, and a portion of Marinburg's traded goods from Ossuan and Lustria will be sold directly to the Empire at market price."
Laine stroked his chin, thinking this was indeed the case.
This was already a significant concession from Marinburg, but Laine wasn't surprised by this result at all.
Because Marinburg's nobles, as an emerging bourgeoisie, rely on trade and developed commerce, prospering by absorbing other nations' blood and extracting wealth from the lower classes.
In short, these nobles lack faith and sufficient will. Facing the green-skins, they lack the determination to fight to the death and perish gloriously. Ultimately, they will surely compromise; this is the weakness of the bourgeoisie.
Count of Mijordenhaven, Albert Baker, might fight the barbarian army to the death without regard for anything, but in Marinburg, that's impossible.
"So will the Nuer Iron Armor Army also participate in this campaign?" Laine asked with curiosity.
The Empire's Southern Stronghold Nul, located at the junction of three rivers and the hub of four-way traffic, is the Holy Land where Ludwig raised his army, home to the Empire's largest armory and its most elite gunpowder troops. Initially, Nul was the capital of the Brescia Prince-Elector's Territory, but after the Great Holy War, Ludwig believed this Southern Stronghold must be directly controlled by the Emperor. Henceforth, Nul and the surrounding lands were incorporated into the Rick Territory, playing a crucial role as the Emperor's direct domain.
"That still depends on how the next talks go, but... some things need to be prepared in advance, otherwise, time might be a bit tight." The Griffin Duke took out a scroll of parchment, and Laine noticed it bore the Emperor's seal: "What's this?"
"We must leave the city to fight the green-skins in the open field, so we need enough knights. Unfortunately, the Rick Guard can't be mobilized, the Flame Sun Knight Order has a mission, and the Moore Knight Order's knights must guard the Moore Garden in winter, so..." Ivan was a bit helpless: "Spring plowing is next, so we need reinforcements, we need reinforcements from across the Gray Mountain Range. If nothing goes wrong, Laine, you'll see your old friend this time."
"So..." Indeed, the two stopped at the door of the Saintess Order.
"Go and knock, Divine Chosen Champion of the Lady of the Lake." Ivan pointed to his godson, signaling him to call at the door.
"...I knew it would be ." Laine reluctantly stepped forward to knock on the door, realizing his identity was particularly useful at this moment.
Thus, a letter bearing the Emperor of the Empire's seal, through the power of magic, crossed hundreds of miles and arrived at the other side of the Gray Mountain Range. It was a fertile and peaceful land, the warm sea breeze and habitable climate encouraging human settlement and prosperity on a large scale, eventually forming the Knight Kingdom of Brittania.
Brittania, the capital of the Knight Kingdom, Kulona.
The Kulona Imperial Palace is the heart of the Knight Kingdom, the coronation site of generations of Knight Kings. Except for the First Knight King Arthur and the previously mentioned Knight King Taylor, all Knight Kings have been crowned here.
The palace's exterior is topped with numerous small towers, its walls adorned with pointed arch windows, elegant carvings, and flying eaves, with sculpted decorations on lace-edged windows. Through the grand palace corridors, clusters of carvings and glass decorate the luxurious royal palace. Its chaotic colors and patterns, overly intricate details might leave knights visiting the palace for the first time overwhelmed.