The reason he called it a defensive war rather than a conquest was because Sophie was not a War Witch. Using any other justification could have easily attracted unnecessary trouble.
Besides, the monsters of the Bone Forest had long been harassing the Southern Territory of Green Shade Territory, so calling it a defensive war wasn't much of a stretch.
The moment he said this, all the nobles attending the banquet were shocked.
While the position of a Guardian Witch was incredibly respected, it was a hollow honor that came with no real power or land. No one had ever granted a Witch a fiefdom and a noble title.
First, a Witch's lifespan was short, and they couldn't have children, so worldly wealth and status seemed to hold little meaning for them.
Second, Witches were terrifying beings. Who would willingly follow a Witch who could lose control and be destroyed at any moment?
