The hall was quiet this morning, with only a few servants sweeping and tidying up. Sitting at the head of the table was Baron Daniel, accompanied by a handful of Goldrose family members. Most of the others were still sleeping off the previous night's feast, and although Baron Daniel had sent someone to wake them, cleaning up the aftermath would certainly take some time.
As Clobber walked in, clearly having just finished his training, Daniel couldn't help but nod in satisfaction. Talented and diligent. A promising young man.
With the family's resources behind him, it wouldn't be long before the Goldrose family had another Earth Knight to add to their ranks. That would only strengthen their position and add to their legacy.
The Goldrose family placed a high priority on cultivating their heirs. Most normal count families would aim for at least five Earth Knights, but the Goldrose family already boasted twelve. A large part of this success came from their willingness to invest.
Just six months ago, Daniel himself had broken through to become a Sky Knight, a warrior with top-tier battle energy. It was a monumental achievement, one that would have been cause for widespread celebration in most circles. But Daniel, ever the strategist, had chosen not to publicize his victory. Instead, he withdrew to his castle, focused on consolidating his newfound strength and waiting for the right moment to strike.
That moment came sooner than expected.
Not long after, the Duke's western expedition order arrived, brought by a messenger crow, and was placed neatly on Daniel's desk. Staring at the letter—one that could very well change the fate of the entire duchy—Daniel's sharp instincts told him… The opportunity had arrived.
The Goldrose family's lands were already located in the western part of the kingdom, and three of the other cardinal directions were already claimed by noble families. Only the vast and mysterious Moy Forest to the west remained unclaimed.
If Daniel wanted to expand his territory to the size of a marquisate, the only option was westward.
But the Moy Forest was an enigma, and Daniel wasn't confident that his family alone could tame such a vast wilderness and turn it into a prosperous region.
The western expedition order, however, changed everything.
If his own forces weren't enough to conquer it, surely the entire duchy combined would have a better chance. He could follow the Duke into battle, strike alongside the main forces, and even if the war didn't go in their favor, the power of the Moy Forest would be sufficiently weakened. At that point, Daniel would be in a position to carve out a new territory.
It wouldn't necessarily be the size of a marquisate, but at least a new countship would be within reach.
That's all I need for now.
The real question was this: How could Daniel make an impact on the battlefield, all while keeping his strength intact, and show both the Duke and the other nobles that he and his family were contributing?
At the moment, Baron Daniel didn't have a concrete plan. However, he had a few basic ideas and would simply wait to see how the situation unfolded once the battle began.
Shaking off his thoughts, Daniel glanced over at Clobber, who was seated below him, engaged in an intense battle with a massive piece of meat. A bead of sweat appeared on Daniel's brow.
"Why is it that you're so graceful most of the time, but once food is involved, you turn into a starving wolf?"
There was no denying it: Clobber's manners and demeanor were flawless. He exuded an air of nobility and charm—at least, most of the time. But when it came to eating, well, the young man's table manners were anything but refined.
Still, when someone as handsome as Clobber did anything, it was hard to find it off-putting. In fact, for those who knew him well, his lack of table manners made him more relatable, adding an extra layer of charm.
Clobber's grace seemed almost ingrained, like it was etched into his very being—perfect, almost too perfect for a normal person. It wasn't until he dug into his food with a less-than-dignified gusto that people realized he was a living, breathing human being and not just some picture-perfect noble statue.
Daniel himself had thought the same thing when he first met Clobber. The young man had put on such an air of nobility that it felt almost unreal. How could someone so young, someone even younger than me, possess such elegance? It had left him in awe, but also a bit suspicious.
But now, seeing Clobber devour his food with such abandon, Daniel couldn't help but smile. It wasn't crude, per se—just a stark contrast to the refined image Clobber usually projected.
After this amusing little interlude, Daniel turned his attention back to more serious matters.
Clobber had just finished swallowing the last bite of the beastly steak, his appetite seemingly insatiable, when he was about to signal for another helping. That's when Daniel spoke again.
"You've met the two servants I assigned to you, right? Their parents are all affiliated merchants. There's no risk of them turning traitor."
"These two have decent talent. By the time they're eighteen, they've already reached the level of Intermediate Knight Servants. They should break through to official Knights before thirty. When that happens, it'll only bolster your own foundation."
Baron Daniel paused for a moment, observing Clobber's youthful face, before stepping closer and speaking more quietly.
"If you encounter any trouble on the battlefield, have those two serve as your rear guard. Let them buy you time to retreat. We have plenty of these types of servants in the family. They're expendable—within a few years, we'll have a whole new batch trained up. You don't need to put too much stock in them."
Clobber listened to Daniel's instructions in silence, his face betraying no emotion. Afterward, he watched as Daniel made his way toward the study.
"I understand… Grandpa."