Margaret teased Anna with a chuckle, “I thought some princess was here. It turns out it’s just Anna.” Anna laughed lightly, replying, “Oh, don’t joke about that. My family is merely of knightly lineage, far from deserving the status of princess.”

As Margaret slowly advanced, she said, “But your family is a branch of the esteemed Valuva clan. That’s why your family holds such high prestige.” Anna casually remarked, “That I wouldn’t know. After all, our family only governs over four villages now, hardly a significant military force.”

Margaret, with earnestness in her heart, said, “You may lack soldiers, but in crucial times, you could seek assistance from the Valuva family. The Valuva are a formidable family, with the renowned Earl Edward being a part of it.”

Anna gave a bitter smile, her expression strained.

“Our family, being a branch derived from the Valuva, can’t really expect to borrow troops from Earl Edward, if you look at it closely. Besides, even if my cousin Edward were willing to lend his forces, he only controls a single earldom. Isn’t his strength similar to that of Lord Howard?”

Margaret tried to persuade Anna, “The relatives of Mibo have only one duke, right? If you could borrow Earl Edward’s soldiers, along with those under Howard, the combined forces of two earldoms might stand a chance against a duke’s army.”

Anna felt troubled by the suggestion.

She was willing to support Howard in his times of poverty and distress, by hiring mercenaries and funding his usurpation of titles.

For Anna, that amount of money was insignificant, given the substantial foundation of the Katerina family.

However, the idea of Margaret urging Anna to appeal to her cousin for troops to wage war filled her with panic and reluctance.

Anna was someone who heavily relied on her family. Her usual demeanor and actions reflected her pride in the Katerina family, a branch of the esteemed Valuva clan. Having tasted the sweetness of unearned prestige, Anna gradually became fearful of losing it. She couldn’t dare to imagine what her existence would be in her family, in the eyes of outsiders, and in the talk of strangers if the Valuva clan, her pillar of support, were to lose in battle and forfeit their earldom.

The thought of bearing such immense responsibility terrified Anna. She couldn’t dare to shoulder the rise and fall of her family, nor could she bear to think about how her status might plummet should the family falter. .𝒎

Finding an excuse, Anna hurriedly left the garden. Her Knight Squire, before departing, shot a stern glance at Margaret and said, “Please mind your words, my lady.” Margaret’s Knight Squire bristled at this and was about to react, but Margaret stopped her.

With a gentle smile that, combined with the radiant sunshine, seemed to soothe the heart, Margaret said, “Let it be. We can’t force these things. If Anna truly wishes to, she will cooperate in her own time.”

The money Anna had previously lent to Howard had long been repaid. Now, Anna was merely a vassal and a friend to Howard.

When Howard, within the castle walls, heard Portia recount the events that had transpired in the garden, his expression remained utterly unchanged.

Portia thought Howard was deeply angered, but in reality, Howard was indifferent to Anna’s assistance.

Howard said to Portia, “We haven’t reached that point yet where we should create rifts within ourselves. Anna’s family is her own, and its head will handle these matters appropriately. There’s no need for us to compel our vassals to drag their allies into battle for us. That’s absurd.”

“If a war is to happen, it will be between me and Mibo. When that time comes, Mibo’s ducal relatives will join as his reinforcements, and Catherine’s father will be ours. Then, let the battle ensue.”

Portia aptly interrupted Howard, saying, “My lord, I must remind you. You and Catherine have not yet officially wed, and there is still some time before the engagement period ends.” Howard muttered, “I know, it’s just that Count Terni might not come to our aid.”

In the afternoon, Anna sat alone in her room, curled up with her head resting on her knees, lost in thought.

Her Knight Squire urged her to eat something, as Anna hadn’t even touched her lunch.

She refused, claiming she had no appetite.

As evening approached, Anna left Fernsouth Castle to visit her father’s domain.

Four days later, she met with her father.

He was a portly middle-aged man, whose genial appearance made it hard to associate him with the captain of Viscount Fernando’s knights.

Anna shared with him Howard’s current predicament and what Margaret had said to her.

Her father, with his beer belly, patrolled the castle walls in the night breeze.

The moonlight cast a pallid reflection on the battlements.

He said to Anna, “In my view, your lord is just facing some minor troubles. Why are you so anxious?”

Anna expressed her worries, “Father, previously Howard’s enemies were knights, barons, and earls with fewer troops. With proper tactical preparation, he could achieve excellent results in battle.”

“But this time, his enemy is the Ferret family. They have not only the forces of a baronial domain but also a whole ducal army. The numbers are overwhelming. I fear Lord Howard might struggle to stand alone, unable to break through in a war of attrition.”

Her father looked into Anna’s eyes, his own shining brightly.

Anna had always thought her father’s eyes were expressive, but this was the first time she saw him look at her with such an intensity.

His gaze held a mix of doubt, inquiry, and expectation.

Her father asked, “So, what do you propose we do?”

Anna tried to speak but found her throat briefly constricted under immense pressure.

After a cough, she faced her father’s intense gaze and managed to say, “Mobilize the troops of both the Katerina and Valuva families to help Lord Howard win the war!”

Her father smiled at this, but his smile was tempered with a hint of helplessness and nostalgia.

He explained to Anna that, first of all, the Katerina family was not the same as the Valuva family; they were two distinct families.

Secondly, at most, he could represent the Katerina family in forming an alliance with Howard and then assist him during the war.

However, the Valuva family was beyond his control.

The current head of the Valuva family was the young and promising Edward.

If they wanted the Valuva family’s support, they would need to convince Edward to agree.

Five days later, at noon, Bosiden was listening to Portia report on some intelligence.

Just then, Bosiden entered the room and informed Howard that a person, unwilling to reveal their family name, was waiting outside the castle.

Howard frowned, “A person who won’t disclose their family name? Are they a commoner without a notable family name?”

Bosiden reiterated, “No, they have a family name; they just don’t wish to disclose it.” Howard inquired about the person’s attire and the horse they rode.

Bosiden described the individual as wearing all-black clothing with a red armband on the arm, and mentioned that the person was riding a horse with long mane, known for its speed.

Howard instructed Bosiden to bring some robust soldiers along for protection and then proceeded to the castle entrance to meet the mysterious visitor.

Upon seeing Howard, the stranger guessed, “Judging by the protective stance of those around you, I presume you are the lord of this castle, Howard, correct?” Howard nodded briefly and extended a hand in goodwill, prompting the stranger to lower his hat, revealing his face, and shook Howard’s hand.

Neither Bosiden nor Howard recognized the face, but Portia did.

She pointed at the man, exclaiming in surprise, “Count Edward? Is that you? How did you come here alone?” It turned out that the visitor was Count Edward, who, persuaded by his cousin Anna, had decided to visit Fernsouth Castle to meet Howard.

Count Edward’s purpose was merely observational; if Howard failed to impress him, the Count intended to offer a few polite words before leaving, later informing his cousin that he had tried his best.

His mental preparation was to merely go through the motions, perform the formalities, and provide an excuse for his inability to help.

In response to Portia’s question, Count Edward smiled faintly, confidently saying, “Yes, you are not mistaken. I am the ruler of the historically significant Valuva family, Count Edward.”

…

Howard welcomed Edward into the drawing room.

After Nora instructed the maids to pour tea and serve refreshments for the two men, she left the room with the maids in tow, closing the doors behind her. .𝘤𝘰

Edward took a sip of tea and a bite of the refreshment, remarking, “Quite delicious.” Howard smiled and replied, “I’m glad you like it.”

Edward then asked, “Aren’t you worried about your current situation?” Howard knew he couldn’t afford to show any weakness at this moment, so he deliberately responded, “I’m not worried at all. In fact, I should ask, why should I be worried?”

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