Translator: Cinder Translations
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The pirates of West Port have been defeated!
This huge piece of good news quickly spread throughout the capital city of Crystal Glare, and the citizens could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Recently, people had been too afraid to leave the city, fearing being robbed or killed by pirates in disguise. Historically, when pirates were rampant, there were many examples of them raiding deep into the interior. These guys aren't like regular troops; if they change into civilian clothes, no one can recognize them.
It's strange to think about what's happening to the Aldor Kingdom—rebellions and pirates, as if they've offended the Lord of Light. At least, one disaster is over.
Harrison Abbott rode a tall horse, leading his soldiers through the western gate of Crystal Glare into the capital with an air of triumph, enjoying the hero's treatment.
Amidst the cheers of the crowd, beautiful young women lined the streets, tossing flowers onto the supposedly single young general.
Following Harrison, Hansel looked on with envy and jealousy at his older brother.
Ah, what can he do? Although they share the same father, his older brother is the legitimate son of the main wife, while he… well, let's not mention it. In terms of status, his older brother was previously a royal guard, while he was just a minor tax official in the outskirts of the capital. Even now, he's merely working under a country lord.
Wait, country lord?
On closer inspection, Earl Grayman doesn't seem to be just any country lord! He actually controls three earldoms. In terms of area and population, isn't he even more significant than Duke Henry Fraule of the Northwest Bay? Not to mention the profitable workshops he's established, like the porcelain industry, which must be earning a fortune. Christopher, the head of the Foster family's trade caravan in the Horns Bay, once drunkenly revealed to Hansel that every batch of porcelain shipped to the Bay was already sold because buyers had placed their orders long ago. In the Bay, porcelain has become a symbol of status and position.
Two years ago, when Hansel first arrived in Alden as a royal commissioner, Paul Grayman was still struggling under the threat of pirates. Now, his situation has completely reversed.
Following such a lord might not be so bad after all.
"Lord Abbott!"
A shout interrupted Hansel's thoughts.
Is someone calling him? Hansel looked up and saw it was someone looking for his older brother.
A royal courtier stopped the advancing group.
He bowed to Harrison on his horse.
"Lord Abbott, His Majesty commands you to report to the palace immediately."
Harrison didn't hesitate. "Please inform His Majesty that I will be there right away."
Tch, the king didn't even mention me.
Feeling disheartened, Hansel greeted his brother and said, "I'm heading back."
Harrison grabbed him. "What's the hurry? You've contributed a lot to this battle. Come along."
After instructing the remaining troops to hurry back to camp, the brothers, along with several officers, arrived at the palace.
The king had chosen the council chamber for their meeting. This was where His Majesty and the various ministers discussed state affairs, indicating the importance he placed on the victory over the pirates.
As they entered the chamber, they found many people already present, including important ministers like Prime Minister Rupert and Intelligence Minister Merlin. Even Queen Felice was there, along with a woman Hansel didn't recognize sitting beside the queen.
Harrison quietly reminded him, "That should be Princess Eileen."
The reason for the "should be" was that the woman was veiled.
Hansel didn't know much about the king's younger daughter. After the Abbott family was distanced from the royal court, his father rarely had contact with core members of the royal family, let alone himself, the illegitimate son. His older brother stayed in the palace as a guard due to his good reputation.
He had seen the princess from a distance at a festival when he was young, but she hadn't grown up then. Later, the princess went to Gabella's Scholar Tower for her education, while Hansel served outside Crystal Glare and hadn't seen her again.
The high-ranking officials' gazes were now focused on the Abbott brothers, making Hansel tense under their scrutiny.
"Harrison, congratulations on your great victory. You've worked hard."
The king spoke from the throne.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Harrison placed his hand on his chest and bowed to the king. "Serving the kingdom, it's not a matter of hardship."
"Mm. Good, good." The king stroked his beard, satisfied with the former guard's performance, and regretted not promoting him to a general sooner. It was all his unworthy father's fault.
Harrison said, "This victory is not just my own. The fleet of the Northwest Bay defeated the pirate ships, which allowed us to carry out land operations smoothly."
He glanced at his brother beside him. "It was Hansel who facilitated our communications."
By not taking all the credit, the king was even more pleased with him.
The king had already read the detailed battle report from Harrison. To be honest, the battle wasn't remarkable. Harrison had blocked off West Port, repeatedly gathered intelligence within the city, and waited until the Northwest Fleet arrived, then took action when they had an absolute advantage. It was nothing more than standard procedure.
However, the king now preferred such cautious and methodical generals; the kingdom couldn't handle any more turmoil.
"You both did well. Harrison, what reward do you desire?"
Harrison responded without hesitation, "Please, Your Majesty, assign me to the southern front. I would even be willing to serve as a soldier."
The king laughed heartily. "Assign you as a soldier? The gods would punish me. This pirate threat was ambiguous in its origins and could very well be sent by Giles. It's a warning to us that we were too lax in coastal defense. You'll continue to be stationed in West Port and oversee the coastal defenses. Additionally, I grant you a royal estate as a reward for your victory."
"Understood, Your Majesty." Harrison accepted the king's command. Although it wasn't the southern front he had hoped for, remaining in the military was still a good outcome.
The king turned to Hansel, his voice growing serious. "And you, Hansel Abbott?"
Hansel's eyes showed a glimmer of hope as he cautiously said, "Your Majesty, I would like to remain in the capital or… perhaps go to the southern front."
He had learned that his rival, Matthew Stowman, had secured an important position under the Foreign Affairs Minister and was highly favored by the officials. Bright prospects awaited him.
Ah, being away from the power center really does make a difference. Missing one step means being outpaced at every turn.
"No!" The king's rejection was firm.
Hansel's heart sank.
The king said, "You will continue as the royal representative in the Northwest Bay, serving as a liaison between Crystal Glare and the local lords. Additionally, you are awarded a thousand gold coins. Do your best."
Does it really come down to the bloodline? Hansel felt disheartened. The phrase "do your best" sounded to him like a directive to "not get any ideas."
It's not entirely fair to blame King Rodney. Given the results of this battle and previous performances, the Northwest Bay had shown significant potential with its food and weapon resources. It deserved more attention than previously thought.
Could there be some miracle there, or has the world been mistaken? Wasn't it always considered a barren land?
Or maybe…
"Hansel, when you return, you need to advise the local lords to be kinder to the common people. Loyalty to the kingdom is commendable, but they must be careful not to overburden the populace or excessively exploit their resources."
Alright, that's the most reasonable explanation the king could come up with. How could food and weapons just appear out of nowhere? It must be that Earl Grayman was trying to make himself look good by squeezing the common people.
The ministers present all agreed and commented.
"His Majesty is right. This is our experience in governance over the years. We hope he will take it to heart."
"I've heard that Earl Grayman is still under twenty years old. No wonder he's so impulsive. Young people…"
Such loyal servants to the kingdom should be retained to prevent them from being hanged by mobs due to excessive exploitation.
Princess Eileen, sitting beside the queen, lightly covered her lips as if smiling.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will advise him properly."
Somewhat disheartened, Hansel didn't argue and simply agreed.
The king nodded and surveyed the room. "So, what rewards should we give to Earl Grayman? We must not neglect our deserving contributors."
"Everyone, what are your suggestions?"
(End of the Chapter)
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