Chapter 20: Raising an Army (1/2)

The sun rose in the clear blue sky above and shone through the open window of the Berengar's bed-chamber. Illuminating the scene of Berengar cuddling intimately with Linde. It would not be for many more hours before the rest of the Castle awoke and began clambering about. As such, Berengar spent the time playing with his new slave and asking her many of his queries. Some he already knew the answer to and was merely testing her loyalty. When she honestly answered all of his questions, he was satisfied with the results of her training.

Now that he had begun to trust her loyalty, Berengar had a peculiar interest in a rumor he heard recently. As the daughter of the Count of Tyrol, which was a region dominated by the Habsburg family and bordered the territory of the Duchy of Bavaria, Linde was in a much better position to gather intelligence than Berengar was. He was curious if she was aware of the inner workings of the royal court of Germany.

Though the title King of Germany and its sovereign territory still existed at this point, it was far from what you would call a unified Kingdom. Currently, the Duke of Luxembourg held the title King of Germany, though, over the centuries, the title had passed through many families' hands. Berengar had heard rumors about the Kingdom facing a succession crisis; when the current King died, there was a high possibility of internal conflict. Yet, he had no details about what was happening at the highest court of his country. However, Linde might know the details. Thus Berengar decided to see what she knew about it.

”Is it true the Kingdom is on the brink of civil war?”

Linda looked up at him with a concerned expression and thought to herself

'Is the Baron and his family not aware of the current calamity that looms over the kingdom?'

Having fully accepted Berengar as her master, she would not hide anything from the young lord; whatever he wanted to know as long as she knew an answer, she would unhesitantly give it to him.

”Of course! Why do you think my father is so interested in Kufstein's iron reserves? He wants to build an army second to none for the upcoming war.”

Berengar narrowed his eyes at the attractive girl currently pressing her bare chest into his own as she clung to him.

”What exactly does he need such a powerful army for?”

A gorgeous smile appeared across the peerless beauty's face as she swiped the bangs of her strawberry blonde hair out of her eyes. She stared at Berengar with her sky blue pupils expecting a reward for her answer.

”He wants to become the Duke of Austria; when the main family presses its claim to the throne, he will turn on them and seize Vienna as his own.”

Berengar patted the girl's head softly as if she were a pet and complimented her.

”Good girl! What else can you tell me about the current succession crisis?”

Linde could not stop smiling as Berengar stroked her red-gold hair with his firm but loving hand; she had no idea that being complimented by a master was so satisfying. She began to question why she had wasted her time as a dominatrix when being the slave felt so much more rewarding.

”Currently, the King of Germany is a feeble old man with no rightful heirs. He fathered no sons and only one daughter in his lifetime. The current claimants to the throne are his Nephew, the legitimized bastard son of the King's younger brother, who recently passed. The problem is, even if he is a legitimized bastard, he's still a bastard, and few people support his claim to the throne.”

Berengar nodded at the information; this was valuable intel. He decided to reward the girl by playing with her well-endowed chest. Which startled Linde at first, but her face quickly became flushed as she closed her eyes, enjoying the treatment. However, after Berengar stopped, she realized he was waiting for her to finish her analysis.

”The second claimant to the throne is the Duke of Bavaria; his claim essentially relies on the fact that before the House von Luxembourg took over, his House the von Wittelsbachs were the Monarchs.”

The divine seductress stopped her sentence after explaining the second claimant to the throne of Germany; she clearly wanted to be rewarded for each piece of information. Feeling the intel she provided was worth it, and in good faith, Berengar decided to indulge her as he pressed his lips against her own and twirled their tongues together for a few seconds before releasing. If she wanted to go any further, she would have to finish providing her report.

Taking the hint, Linde quickly revealed the last bit of information she knew about the ongoing fight for the throne.

”Lastly, there's the Duke of Austria; he married the current King's only daughter and wants to install his teenage son as King of Germany; as you know, my family is merely a Cadet Branch of the von Habsburgs who rule Austria. Thus my father plans to betray them when they march on Munich and seize the Duchy for himself.”

Linde immediately blushed upon revealing the last of her knowledge regarding the current political situation the kingdom was facing. Clearly expecting Berengar to finish what he started with her. However, the next statement that came from Berengar's mouth immediately triggered the discipline he had brutally installed in the young woman over the past week.

A wicked smile appeared across Berengar's face as he saw the girl eying him up, waiting for him to conquer her. He wanted to see how far she had been conditioned at this point. As such, he gave a command in the most authoritative voice he could muster.

”Beg...”