Chapter 43: Distant Guests (2)  

Ophariel didn’t appear beside the two of them, nor did she need to. Although she was currently in human form, her essence was still that of a spirit, so mental communication wasn’t difficult for her. In fact, even before the viscount’s arrival, Julian had already arranged a suitable position for Ophariel to “eavesdrop” on their conversation and provide her opinions to Julian at appropriate times. Although this mental communication had distance limitations, it was undetectable, which most people couldn’t perceive. This was also a relatively acceptable method for Ophariel, who didn’t want to appear in front of other nobles.

Although both Julian and Ophariel were well aware that this visit from the Bird family was definitely ill-intentioned, Ophariel still hadn’t expected them to make such a barbaric request.

While Viscount Bird’s attitude was polite and his demeanor very steady, with the air of a great family, seemingly unrelated to so-called barbarism. But nobles are nobles, and their barbarism naturally isn’t like ordinary people rolling up their sleeves and standing boldly in front saying, “You little brat, I’m going to order you to do this and that today…” Interactions between nobles are a kind of hypocritical exchange. Although both parties smile at each other on the surface, they can only act maliciously in private. Once these things are brought to the surface, for nobles, such direct, undisguised actions are enough to be compared to the barbarism and rudeness of mountain people.

What Viscount Bird proposed was, in Ophariel’s view, a “barbaric and rude” request. Indeed, Twilight Forest was a barren place, and it was a noble fief. Julian himself didn’t have an official title. But he was still a lord, controlling a piece of land. No matter how desolate and inconspicuous this land was, it was still much better than those nobles with empty titles who had no territory of their own. This Viscount Euwen Bird had been aggressive from the start. Since he began addressing Julian as “Mr. Felix,” he had been intentionally or unintentionally belittling the lord’s status. And now, he had proposed a condition that almost no lord could accept.

Even if Twilight Forest’s security situation was problematic, it was Julian’s own business and didn’t need other nobles to interfere. The most important powers of a lord over his territory are taxation and management, and maintaining security is the only means to embody the lord’s authority. Only by letting your subjects recognize that you are in control here will prestige form in their hearts. Now, if other nobles send private troops, even if it’s to help, it would invisibly weaken the lord’s authority. For those subjects, if even the people protecting their safety aren’t their lord’s subordinates, how could they possibly have confidence in him?

It’s like a king going to another country and saying, “Your army is no good, too weak, why not use ours?” It has no other meaning except to provoke war.

And now, Ophariel thought the same. For the other party to go straight to the point in three sentences and propose such a barbaric and unacceptable condition, they either truly took Julian for a fool who couldn’t think and judge problems, or they were directly using their status to pressure him, forcing him to agree to their conditions, and not caring if he would fall out with them!

Although this indeed seemed very barbaric, Ophariel also knew very well that Julian currently didn’t have the strength to fall out with them. But even so, she still had to remind Julian, after all, this was her duty.

“This doesn’t seem quite right,” Julian’s expression changed slightly. He looked at the other with some dissatisfaction, his tone revealing a hint of hesitation and unease.

“After all, Twilight Forest is now under my management. Although I admit that those problems you mentioned are very likely to occur, I believe these are issues I need to face.”

“That’s not how it works, Mr. Felix,” Faced with Julian’s polite refusal, Viscount Bird smiled and continued speaking.

“Indeed, what you say is correct. This is your territory and should be your responsibility. But I hope you can understand one thing. The Golden Trade Route on the outskirts of Twilight Forest…” At this point, Viscount Bird deliberately paused before continuing. “Is managed by our Bird family. From our standpoint, we also don’t want to see any uncontrolled problems arise in our territory. We’re just telling you realistically that if any trouble occurs in Twilight Forest, it will undoubtedly affect our Golden Trade Route, which is what we least want to see.”

Reasonable and well-founded, Viscount Bird’s words this time fully clarified his family’s position. Indeed, if Julian could manage Twilight Forest well, that would be fine. But what if he couldn’t? Before, this was a godforsaken place, the environment was too poor, and it didn’t matter that no one came. But now, Julian was undertaking major construction here, repairing roads and infrastructure, yet it wasn’t as troublesome as before. If some thorny characters came here and used Twilight Forest as cover to attack the Golden Trade Route, it would definitely be a not insignificant threat to the Bird family.

“I think you should understand my meaning, Mr. Felix. We need to protect our own investment. If any problems really occur in Twilight Forest in the future, then we’ll have to resort to methods that neither of us wants to see.”

A naked threat.

Ophariel gritted her teeth. Although she had to admit that every word this viscount said was correct, to say it so openly clearly showed that they didn’t take Twilight Forest seriously – although she also understood that Twilight Forest indeed didn’t have anything worth taking seriously.

This time, Julian didn’t answer immediately. He hadn’t received Ophariel’s advice, but he could guess that the princess was probably furious. However, he had already made a decision.

“…I can’t agree to your request. Twilight Forest is my territory,” Julian put down his teacup, his expression becoming much gloomier.

“I have confidence in developing it, and I think those things won’t happen.”

“That’s not necessarily true,” Viscount Bird stared intently at him, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly, revealing a faint smile.

“I think Mr. Felix should still remember our Bird family, right? You should be aware of our family’s strength. Although I admit this proposal is indeed a bit presumptuous, it’s beneficial for both of us, isn’t it? If things really develop to a degree we don’t want to see… Mr. Felix, I can tell you clearly, we just don’t want to see it, not that we can’t accept this result.”

“…I need to think about it,” Julian was silent for a moment. Finally, he stood up and made an inviting gesture to the viscount.

“I admit that what the viscount said makes sense, but I hope you can understand that this is ultimately a decision I have to make.”

“Of course I understand,” Viscount Bird nodded, then stood up. He believed he had done his best, and now it was up to the other party’s reaction.

“You two have come from afar, and as the host, I can’t be without courtesy. I’ll have someone prepare rooms for you now. As for the rest… we can discuss it after dinner.”

Hearing this, Viscount Bird didn’t say anything more. He smiled at Julian, then followed the maid standing nearby out of the hall towards the guest rooms on the second floor. Julian watched his back, a relaxed smile appearing on his face.

“These guys are really too much! My lord!” Ophariel appeared timely by Julian’s side, looking dissatisfied in the direction where Viscount Bird had disappeared.

“You’re also a noble, yet they dare to provoke like this… Aren’t they afraid of causing trouble?”

“They won’t be afraid,” At this moment, Julian no longer had the gloomy expression from when he was chatting with Viscount Bird. He patted his cheeks, then sat back down on the sofa.

“They deliberately want to see my reaction, so I’ll give them a reaction to see. After all, they’ve come from afar… If we don’t cooperate a bit, some people will be disappointed.”

Saying this, Julian paused for a moment, then looked at Ophariel.

“So, Miss Ophariel, how are the preparations going?”

“Everything is going smoothly, my lord,” Ophariel took a deep breath, calming down again. She could see that Julian didn’t care about this matter at all, obviously having his own ideas. But as his adjutant, she couldn’t ask much more, just slightly furrowing her brow.

“In fact, if their conditions are appropriate, I can consider it,” Feeling Ophariel’s puzzled gaze, Julian wasn’t nervous at all, smiling casually as he said.

“Appropriate conditions?”

“Of course. Look, you must admit that I indeed lack sufficient manpower to maintain the town’s security. Although Judy and the others are a good choice, how do you think those farmers would react seeing a group of tall, black armors walking back and forth in front of them all day? If the Bird family is really so kind as to help me maintain security, then why not accept them? After all, as the saying goes, a near neighbor is better than a distant relative. In times of crisis, we still need to rely on our neighbors for help, don’t we?”

“Is this your true thought, my lord?”

“At least it’s not false,” Faced with Ophariel’s sarcastic remark, Julian shrugged, then narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Don’t you think it’s time for Judy and the others to change their taste and eat some home-cooked meals?”

Then, Julian looked sincerely at Ophariel, asking in his usual sincere, gentle tone.