Chapter 36 (2/2)

Nobody at the scene had any objection because the Cecil Clan was going to a barren land and they would not jeopardize the interest of anyone here no matter how much land they opened up. It would be easy to resolve the conflict if there were no conflicts at all.

Francis II signed the documents to blaze new trails and announced the ancient laws. The Cecil Clan would own the rights to open the land centred at the heart of the Dark Range and its surroundings. He also announced the help given to this mission: a hundred-men team of craftsmen and apprentices and the rations and cloth needed for the first year.

The craftsmen and apprentices would work for three years and afterwards they could choose to stay or find other jobs. If anyone stayed, the Cecil Clan had to pay 30 gold coins to the royal family to “purchase” each of them.

Although that was not a lot of support, Gawain was content because it addressed the urgent needs of the impoverished Cecil Clan.

The gold, silver and coal in the mountains could neither be transformed into food directly nor turned into skilled craftsmen. Therefore, in this peaceful era, “trailblazer” or pioneer had become a historical word and nobody was willing to leave their peaceful hometown and go and open up a piece of land next to the Gondor wastelands. The 100 craftsmen and apprentices would be the most precious asset.

This could be considered as Francis II’s kindness towards Gawain on behalf of the Anzu royals. It was to appreciate this pioneer and his descendents.

The deal ended and everyone was satisfied. At the end of every satisfactory agreement was a feast.

The oak hall was sealed again and there was a great feast at the second level of the castle. Good wine and delicious food were served and the King celebrated the return of a legendary hero together with his most trusted nobles. Many unknown nobles appeared out of nowhere and the banquet hall was bustling.

Those who appeared later did not qualify to enter the Oak Hall but the nobles who had the right to know about the outcome of the meeting had been waiting in the different lounges in the Silver Castle for half a day. They waited till the chamberlain ran into the banquet hall and rang the ceremonial bell and appeared with a smile.

It was Rebecca’s first time attending such ceremonies. This young feudal lord was in a dire state and she had never seen such a luxurious place before. Due to the rejection of the Cecil Clan by the other nobles, she rarely had the chance to attend grand banquets. She attended her most extravagant banquet when she was 16 years old, her father hosted a bustling banquet but there was only a long table filled with food.

It was incomparable to the feast in the Silver Castle.

The entire hall was filled with long tables and on the table was sumptuous food which anyone could take. The centre of the hall was meant for gentlemen and ladies to dance and a well dressed band played music on the stage at the side of the hall. The mages were casting magics at the four corners of the hall and they created all types of beautiful lights and falling snow in the air. Getting the precious mages to enliven the atmosphere was incredible to Rebecca.

His Majesty the King… is so rich.

At the start, Rebecca wanted to keep a straight face and pretend to be mature and calm. However, very quickly, the little girl side of her defeated the calm side of her, she held Gawain’s hand and asked him many questions. Gawain smiled and he boasted based on his memory and imagination as someone who had transmigrated.

The nobles noticed Rebecca’s hillbilly manner but they did not reveal their contempt even if they felt it in their hearts. Gawain Cecil was beside Rebecca all along and this “parent” pressured them to restrain their emotions and smile at Rebecca.

Afterwards, a few youngsters approached Rebecca to invite her for a dance. It was probably because they thought that the Cecil Clan had an ancestor now and there was potential benefit to build rapport with them. However, all those people were blocked off by Gawain.

What a joke, as someone who was so gullible and stubborn, Rebecca could not even survive in the southern parts of the Kingdom, how was she going to deal with the shrewd fellows from the capital.

“Overprotecting your child will hinder her from growing.” A gentle voice of a man came from the back of Gawain. “Viscount Rebecca has reached maturity and you should let her interact with the upper class.”

Gawain turned around and saw the Grand Duke of the West, Baldwin Franklin and next to him was the Grand Duke of the North, Victoria Wilder.

“I died too early in the past and I don’t have much experience bringing up children.” Gawain shrugged and said carelessly.

Baldwin: “…”

Victoria:”…”

“I feel that Rebecca won’t have time to entertain others even if I didn’t stop her from doing so.”

Gawain pointed to his (N+1)th granddaughter while he was talking. That Viscount was lying on a nearby table and gorging herself on the food…

“She’s really… enjoying herself.” Grand Duke Baldwin said dryly.

Gawain laughed and looked at Victoria Wilder who was indifferent and silent. “Rather than talking about educating my descendent, I have some questions for this lady from the Wilder family.”