With the final dance concluding, Gwynnys' inheritance ceremony officially ended. After seeing off all the guests, he received a system notification.
"Ding." "Successfully hosted the inheritance ceremony, presided over by the Archbishop with numerous witnesses. Your prestige as a lord has increased." "Received 400 governance points."
Gwynnys took a deep breath, revealing a slight smile. He hadn't expected such a rewarding outcome with minimal effort. Initially anticipating only 100 or 200 points, he was pleasantly surprised to receive 400, even more than what he earned from bandit suppression.
However, the ceremony wasn't without its costs. Including the offering to the Archbishop, Gwynnys spent a total of about 13 gold coins, a considerable expense. Thankfully, the spoils from the poachers and proceeds from timber sales, totaling 334 silver coins, helped offset some of the costs. After accounting for a debt of 6 gold coins, he still had 20 gold coins left.
As the star of the ceremony, Gwynnys also received numerous gifts from the guests. Most were barons and knights, as poor as him, or poorer, leaving him with mostly ornamental but impractical gifts, except for two horses and some fabrics.
Surprisingly, the envoy from the Earl, his direct superior, arrived empty-handed, with only a fine dagger presented out of embarrassment. This gesture, however, left a deep impression on Gwynnys.
The late arrivals from Duke of Inverness brought more practical gifts, including barrels of red wine, furs, and brocades. These gifts were graciously accepted by Gwynnys, but he politely refused the 100 gold coins that accompanied the letter. The money was, in essence, ransom for Sophia and her children, which he did not accept.
He had agreed to send the three back to the Duke of Inverness's domain, saying "soon," but without specifying a time frame. Gwynnys had no intention of dragging it out too long, but at least wanted to wait until after the six-month crisis. He was determined to have them stay through the crisis, thinking if he didn't survive, they should accompany him to hell; if he let them go before and failed to endure, he didn't want to watch them return to inherit the land. Gwynnys was not that benevolent.
Future, past, or present, Gwynnys was never a kind man.
...
Since the Earl had summoned him, Gwynnys had to visit as soon as possible. Visiting their superior noble or the king after an inheritance ceremony was an essential step for a new noble.
Despite the Earl's apparent stinginess, Gwynnys decided not to fuss over it. Instead, he prepared to fulfill his duty as a vassal with due respect. He selected some of the finer brocades from the gifts sent by the Duke of Inverness.
These brocades, as Baldwin explained, were from the southern capital, highly valuable. Wearing robes made from these fabrics would not only be fashionable in the king's court but could also make one stand out.
Moreover, Gwynnys personally invested 5 gold coins to purchase a range of luxury items like copper mirrors, jewelry, and perfumes. These were suitable gifts for both the Earl and his lady, maintaining dignity and grace. According to Baldwin, this was a generous gesture, as a typical baronial audience often involved gifts worth only 2 to 3 gold coins.
Once ready, Gwynnys didn't delay and set off for the Earl of Annon Valley's domain. Accompanying him were the steward Baldwin, Captain of the Guards Jervis, and six mounted attendants. They journeyed through the north, displaying the red lion banner of the Wintertale family and the yellow and white banner of the Targus domain. They smoothly passed through several baronial lands and eventually reached the Earl's territory after several days.
The Annon Valley, nestled among mountains and nourished by rivers melting from snowcaps, was a rare plain amidst the rugged terrain. The Earl's castle, situated on this plain, was surrounded by a moat fed by nearby rivers, its width indeterminable from a distance but estimated to be at least ten meters across the drawbridge.
Upon entering the castle, Gwynnys and his party were struck by the disparity in power and wealth. The Earl's castle, although not as grand as the European castles from Gwynnys' past memories, was far superior to his own humble abode in the mountains.
As a subordinate, Gwynnys couldn't linger to admire the castle and was led through the long hallways to the grand hall.
Then came the waiting.
Standing alone in the hall with his gifts, Gwynnys waited for two hours without a glimpse of the Earl. Feeling overlooked and foolish, he nearly decided to leave when finally, Earl Edmond Osborne appeared. He strode through the hall, not sparing Gwynnys a glance, until he sat on his throne and looked down upon Gwynnys with an air of superiority.
...
The audience ceremony began with Gwynnys kneeling and swearing fealty to the Earl. Afterward, he presented his gifts, but the Earl, in a rage, accused Gwynnys of overstepping his bounds by leading troops into other nobles' territories and plundering their peasants and lawful hunters. Osborne's anger peaked, and he knocked the gift box over, scattering the contents across the hall, some hitting Gwynnys in the face. This behavior shocked the onlookers, as such treatment of a fellow noble, especially one who had just sworn loyalty, was considered vulgar and disrespectful.
After a lengthy reprimand, the Earl dismissed Gwynnys, who quietly stood and exited. In the hallway, he encountered the Earl's children who mocked him for "licking their father's boots." Gwynnys responded with a silent bow, exchanging a glance with the Earl before leaving.
There was a moment during the audience when Gwynnys contemplated warning the Earl about the impending crisis in six months but ultimately chose silence.
On his way out, Gwynnys sensed a familiar presence and rounded a corner to find the Mayor of Windermere, Boon, hiding in the shadows. Gwynnys' unexpected discovery left Boon embarrassed, but Gwynnys defused the situation by joking about him playing hide-and-seek with the Earl's sons.
After a brief exchange, Gwynnys bid farewell to Boon and reunited with Baldwin and the others in the courtyard. They departed immediately, returning to Targus overnight.
Reflecting on the humiliation, Gwynnys looked back at the Earl's castle fading into the distance, his heart heavy with thoughts of self-imposed disgrace.