Proofread by Thomas F
Count Viremont
The door opened, and a woman walked inside.
She was a tall woman with silvery blond hair, high cheekbones, green eyes, and slightly pointed ears.
The elvan blood runs thick in her veins; her great-grandfather was one. It is a reason her father shifted her to one of the secluded islands of Namdar when she was barely a year old.
For over three decades, she had not set foot on the mainland empire until the emperor died, but by then, it was too late.
She is wearing a long green dress that seems to flow across her body. It is a simple one, but one could see that it was finely made, and most importantly, it did not restrict her movement.
Around her neck is a pendant; the artifact of House Arenthal.
"Marchioness Arenthall," I greeted, getting up from my chair. "Count Viremont," she replied evenly before sitting down in front of me.
She didn't say anything further and just looked at me with green eyes.
Their shade is uncommon. Well, at least in humans.
"Thank you for accepting my invitation for this meeting," I said, resisting the urge to activate skills. Everything I had read about her told me she is close to me in power.
"Of course," she replied, without bringing the slightest change in her expression.
"General Yalshan seemed to be giving you quite a trouble," I said.
General Yalshan of Geim, that woman is relentless. She is trying to push hard into the Renha, conquer more of it. I have to say, Prince Declan is doing quite well, better than anyone had expected.
"We are managing her," she replied.
I sighed internally; I heard the woman is of few words. I wanted to mellow her with conversation before getting to the point, but it seemed like I had to start with it.
"I want you to join with me, Marchioness," I said, getting on to the point.
It is for her; I have come all the way from Angeltar. It was not an easy decision. Seeing my army is fighting the forces of Edruin in Angeltar.
It took quite an effort for me to get away from the battlefield, and I must return soon. I wouldn't have come personally if it were not important.
"I believe you have already gathered enough allies for what you want to do," she replied.
I am glad. She is not playing the fool.
"I have, but with you, my chances of success would be even greater," I stated. She is doing what I am doing, gathering allies for a push in the Renwell.
The woman looked at me, then shook her head.
"I have my own plans; I will not be joining you," she replied. "But if you want an alliance, I will be open to it," she added.
Anger couldn't help but flash in my eyes. Joining me, this bitch will have a much greater chance; without me, she has no chance to conquer even the weakest city in Renwell.
I do not want any city; I want a particular one, and for it, I need a person like her.
She is very capable, not only on the battlefield, but also in politics. Despite never setting foot in the mainland empire, she had created a network of allies that I want.
So, I calmed myself and looked at the woman.
"Joining me, you will have a much greater chance to achieve your objective. Getting a city or a territory would not be just a dream," I said, and her lips curved ever so slightly.
"How many people have you promised that, Count Viremont?" she asked back, and anger blazed in my heart, while a smile appeared on my face.
Once more, I resisted the urge to use the skills.
"You are being too ambitious, Marchioness. Aside from your title and personal power, you have nothing. The allies you are gathering are fickle; two of them have already promised to join me."
"I am sure I will be able to convince a few more before I leave here," I said.
I have come here with a mission. If she won't join me, I will take her allies; they have joined her for the same thing I plan to do, and I am sure I will be able to convince quite a lot of them.
For Renwell, I need a large army and the powerhouses.
People there are not as weak as they used to be. Just this morning, I received the news about Silver's battle against the monsters.
He is stronger than, the information had stated. Not to mention, Grimvale and the undead.
"Joining me is the only way you will be able to achieve your ambitions," I offered, and this time, I activated the Voice of Reason.
"Thank you for the kind offer, but I am going to decline," she replied evenly, without activating skills to resist mine, which surprised me.
"Think about it, Marchioness," I added, activating Hammering Persuasion. Immediately, it stilled the rooms, before the whole room shook.
Unlike Voice of Reason, which is subtle. Hammering Persuasion is not; it's a skill of raw power.
I have broken the minds with this skill.
"Have a good day, Count Viremont," she replied and got up. I wanted to press the skills harder, but when I saw those eyes flash, I stopped myself.
A few seconds later, she left the room.
I took a deep breath and calmed myself. Releasing my hands from the chair, where indents have formed.
Well, if I can't get you, I will try to go for your allies. She had gathered quite capable people. If I can poach even a third, it will be a successful trip.
…
Marchioness Arenthal
"What did he say?" asked Kadira as I stepped into the carriage. "What we had expected," I replied.
I am not surprised by the offer, but his confidence had surprised me. His preparations are much further than mine; I need to speed up my plan if I want to succeed.
I barely have a year before I will be going to Renwell. Until then, I will have to fight here; those were the conditions the imperials set.
They have put the same conditions on him, but he is much better prepared.
As he had said earlier, I have nothing but my title. My territory is gone, my family dead. My own army is only ten thousand men, which I could barely sustain.
For Greltheaven, I would need an army of at least sixty thousand.
It is why the allies are important, not only for the troops, but also to fund the army. It's not cheap to maintain such a big army. I had to sell everything I had, including the island where I had grown up, to fund the army I currently have.
"He will be going for more of our allies," I said. "Loss of Hardil and Kasanas is already painful. We cannot let him poach more," she replied, and I nodded.
Loss of Viscount Karanas was especially painful. The man is a warrior and even has an artifact.
Hardill is a merchant. I had promised him nobility in exchange for help. Well, I am not surprised by his betrayal; merchants are like that.
It happened, and it will pull my plans back even further.
"Good, contact them all, remind them of the benefits of staying with us," I said.
Viremont may be better prepared, but there are more people in his camp. He is accepting anyone who is willing to offer him soldiers or money.
I am more selective; I am only taking those I feel will help me form a disciplined, cohesive army.
I had learned a long time ago that numbers aren't everything. I would rather have a small, well-disciplined army than a large, chaotic one.
Still, if people leave, I might be forced to change again.
I have a year, that is what I promised to Prince Declan, before he will let me leave for Renwell. Viremont did the same with the Crown Prince.
The imperials want us to fight on the mainland before they let us leave.
If the empire hadn't been chaotic and its control firm, we wouldn't have been able to do that. Well, if that had been the case, we wouldn't have lost our territories.
"You are still meeting, Oran Tadar, tomorrow?" she asked. "Yes," I replied.
With Viremont's appearance, I had to meet a lot of my allies so that they wouldn't get poached, but I couldn't postpone meeting with Tadar.
It took me a lot of effort to convince him to meet me; he came from the Namdar to meet me.
"It would be amazing. If he were to join us," Kadira said with a sigh. He is a powerful mercenary leader with experienced mercenaries under him.
I had worked with him several times.
My father had sent me to the island, but I ran away from it at fifteen. I was a mercenary for over a decade and a half, and visited every continent.
I was on the Nezar when I heard the emperor died.
I hated that man; it was the reason my father had to send me away from my home. I have no memories of it, I was never there since my father sent me away when I was one.
I returned immediately, but I was still too late. My brother died, and my father was captured.
The only thing left of my family is the empty title and this artifact.
My eyes couldn't help but water as I remember them. They had sent me away in fear of the emperor, but they loved me. Every year, they would come visit and send a letter every month.
Even when I ran away, my father supported me despite not agreeing with the decision.
I wiped my misty eyes and nodded at her. Yes, it would be amazing if he could join.
There was silence in the carriage, and I looked out the window.
It is nearly evening, and people are leaving work. They are everywhere, walking and talking with each other.
It never ceases to amaze me how quickly people can recover. Bertown had been attacked three times. One would expect people to remain fearful and not come out of their houses unless it's necessary.
That happened, but only for the first few days.
Unlike the nobles and the rich, common people did not have the luxury of drowning in their fear; they had to work and support their families.
I still remember the shock I felt when I saw it for the first time.
It was in Oton when the city I was staying in was attacked. I didn't step out of my inn for two whole weeks.
"Prince Declan is returning tonight, and you have been invited to the meeting with the other commanders," she informed, and I sighed.
"I will postpone your meetings," said Kadira, without me saying anything.
I really wanted a few more days to myself; I only have five days before I need to return to the front, and I wanted to reassure allies and meet a few prospective ones.
Now, with a prince returning, I have a lot less time than I had thought.
Still, I will have to manage if I do not want more of my allies poached by Viremont.