Chapter 436: The Empress’s “Grace”
"I used to be your big sister, and I still am. As it happens, I’ve prepared a banquet at the castle. Come and join us."
Relycca’s tone had become noticeably gentler.
"I’ll take care of the accommodation and meals for your soldiers and servants. Your big sister will cover everything!"
"Now that’s generous."
Phield gave her a thumbs-up.
"Dinner is secured."
Ashina let out a long sigh of relief. Everything else could be negotiated, but when it came to food, she absolutely refused to compromise.
Everyone arrived at Bull Castle.
By now, Bull Castle had been taken over by the Hill family. At least the houses around the castle had fires burning in their hearths again.
Many residents had no homes and could only sleep in filthy alleys, enduring endless harassment from mosquitoes and insects. Phield could even faintly hear the sound of crying coming from various directions.
The current Bull Territory was not even half as prosperous as Nightfall Domain.
Fortunately, the laughter coming from the distant castle helped ease the sorrowful atmosphere.
"Phield, I want to introduce you to a patriot, a true female knight."
Relycca pointed toward the castle stables and proudly puffed out her chest.
"Not long ago, they even wrote me a letter. I never expected them to arrive today. She’s definitely going to surprise you."
Following the direction of her finger, Phield saw stable hands leading one high-grade white warhorse after another toward the stables.
"Don’t tell me it’s Miss Sherry."
Phield was speechless.
"Is she and her Investigation Corps coming to the Northern Province again to investigate the corpses?"
"You know Miss Sherry?"
Relycca was stunned.
"Of course. We exchange letters quite often. Don’t forget, my territory is in Nightfall Domain."
As they spoke, Phield arrived at the castle entrance.
The drawbridge slowly descended.
The moment Phield entered, he saw the castle decorated with vivid flowers and banners. Such decorations were generally used to welcome honored guests.
"Looks like I get to bask in Sherry’s glory today."
Upon entering the castle, Phield could not help sighing inwardly.
Even a small noble family possessed astonishing wealth and heritage.
Bull Castle, which Phield had already looted several times, had once again been decorated beautifully. Large pieces of silk hung from the walls alongside enormous family banners. Oil paintings, porcelain, and high-grade weapon displays had all been arranged with exquisite taste.
The castle servants constantly hurried in and out, carrying fine dishes and wine toward the reception hall.
"Long time no see, Mr. Phield."
Sherry took the initiative to approach him.
"I truly didn’t expect to meet you ahead of schedule. I suppose this must be the work of the Goddess of Fate."
"It could also be the Goddess of Fortune."
Phield performed an impeccable nobleman’s bow.
Conversations between nobles were always full of twists and turns, filled with complicated and obscure expressions. It was simply the proper etiquette required of them.
"Hello, hello, Phield. Ever since we parted last time, my young lady has often mentioned you."
Sherry’s Divine Chosen, Valtteri, hurried over. With his hands resting on his waist, he let out a hearty laugh.
"I’m a third-tier Divine Chosen now! Pretty impressive, right?"
"It hasn’t even been a few months. As expected of a Divine Chosen from the Gassina family."
With some of the most prosperous territories in the family’s possession, it was not particularly difficult for Sherry to obtain a third-tier Divine Chosen.
Phield smiled.
"Miss Sherry, are you going to continue investigating the Northern Province this time?"
"Sigh. I’d like to, but there’s something more urgent to deal with. The Empire is about to go to war again."
Sherry sighed and handed him a military summons.
"This is for you, Mr. Phield. Her Majesty the Empress has personally selected you to participate in the war, and your father has agreed as well."
"Her Majesty personally selected me?"
Phield was stunned.
When had he become important enough for the Empress to personally select him?
Could it be that his exchange of military achievements for the fortress had somehow touched the Empress’s sore spot?
Normally, the Empire strictly adhered to the principle that "the vassal of my vassal is not my vassal." There was no reason for them to specifically demand that some insignificant country baron participate in a war.
With doubts filling his mind, Phield opened the military summons.
His expression immediately twisted.
Baron of Nightfall Domain, Phield, is hereby appointed Deputy Commander of the Third Legion of the Right Vanguard of the Rebellion Suppression Army.
According to the population of your territory, you are required to provide one soldier for every ten residents. You must provide the corresponding number of infantry. Based on your rank as a baron, you are also required to provide twenty fully armored cavalrymen for the campaign.
Considering the size and scale of Nightfall Domain, as well as the level of subsidies provided to frontier fortresses, Baron Phield of Nightfall Domain is required to provide the following supplies free of charge:
Military pay, with the wages of Imperial soldiers and mercenaries to be shared among the participating nobles, military provisions converted into their monetary equivalent, and outstanding taxes, as Nightfall Domain has yet to submit its taxes, totaling 167,000 gold coins. One hundred sets of iron armor, five hundred warhorses, and one hundred first-tier magic cores.
Mr. Phield, please do not forget the grace bestowed upon you by the Empire and Her Majesty the Empress. You are required to personally lead your troops and arrive at the designated assembly point on the first Friday two months from now. Any delay will be punished according to Imperial law.
"Good, good, good. Her Majesty the Empress must be desperately short of love."
Phield’s current mood could no longer be described as merely wanting to explode.
He wanted nothing more than to immediately return to his territory, tear down the Imperial flag, throw it into a cesspit, and declare rebellion.
Then he would march straight into the Imperial Palace, defeat the Empress completely, and demand to know how she could possibly come up with such a ridiculous order.
"Crack!"
He had gripped the summons so tightly that it had been crushed into a ball. His knuckles cracked repeatedly.
His chest heaved violently, but Phield could not force a single word out.
And she had the nerve to call this grace?
He had not received even half a copper coin in subsidies from the Empress. Instead, he was expected to provide everything himself.
With Nightfall Domain’s current population, the Empress expected him to provide six hundred infantrymen and twenty cavalrymen.
The supplies alone amounted to roughly another 200,000 gold coins.
That was four months of Nightfall Domain’s total income, without even accounting for its expenses.
He was not only expected to provide soldiers for free, but also hand over money to the Empress.
And the worst part was being made deputy commander of a mercenary force.
Wasn’t that basically being sent to serve as cannon fodder?
"How much did you drink to get this drunk?"
Phield finally let out a long breath and questioned his own existence.
What on earth had little Nightfall Domain ever done to deserve this?
"Why are you making that face? Her Majesty the Empress must have her reasons. This was also proposed by the Chief Minister himself."
Seeing Phield’s anger rising to its limit, Sherry did not comfort him at all. Instead, she planted her hands on her hips and scolded him.
"Besides, sending you to the battlefield gives you a chance to earn military achievements and gain glory. How many people dream of an opportunity like this?"
"You can have it. Just pretend I got eaten by corpses."
Phield grabbed Sherry’s hand and desperately shoved the crumpled summons back into it.
"This really isn’t that much. Just look at the Divine Chosen, gold coins, and cavalry."
Sherry casually glanced over the summons before proudly answering.
"My family is providing a full two thousand cavalrymen, three Divine Chosen, and five million gold coins. Her Majesty personally praised our family’s loyalty at the Imperial Council."
"Impressive..."
Phield raised both thumbs.
"As expected of you."
"Exactly! My brother and I will lead the full strength of our family into battle."
Relycca was also filled with fighting spirit.
"Holy crap! There’s an even bigger expert here!"
Phield finally lost his composure.