Chapter 47: The Price of Autonomy

“I recall Prince Norria once resided in Avros.”

Bloen’s cunning gaze fixed on Chloe, his eyes gleaming with triumph.

“Yes, but didn’t Norria become the King’s personal guard?” Chloe asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

Bloen wagged a diminutive finger. “No, no, no,” he said, “the waters run deep here.”

“Norria… what is he doing in Eledis?” Xina looked up, her voice laced with urgency.

Bloen cast an intrigued glance at Xina. He burst into laughter. “I can only reveal this much,” he declared. “If you desire further information, it will depend on your and Lord Lynch’s performance.”

Lynch, having regained his composure, waved a hand, signaling a pretty maid to massage Bloen’s shoulders. He offered a placating smile. “This luncheon holds no other intention,” he stated.

Lynch looked at Bloen, his face a silent plea of ‘Please, say no more.’

Bloen, who should have been a fish on the chopping block, now held the reins of the card game. He had dropped a bombshell, piquing the curiosity of both Chloe and Xina, while simultaneously reducing the chips on Lynch’s side of the table. To gain anything, both parties would now have to appease him.

Despite understanding his petty machinations, Chloe knew she had to take the bait. She needed to extract Count Cliff’s intentions from Bloen’s lips.

“Mayor Lynch, I will be direct. We must bring Bloen back to Sirena Castle.”

Upon hearing Chloe’s words, a flicker of hesitation crossed Lynch’s eyes. He rubbed his hands together, then chuckled. “My Lady, Lord Bloen was already a gift I intended to present to you. Please, let us dine first.”

Chloe picked up her fork, speared a piece of steak from her plate, and took a delicate bite. The tender texture spread freely in her mouth, yet it was tasteless, offering no sense of satiation.

A maid uncorked a bottle of wine, pouring a glass for Bloen and another for his brother, Bloa. She held the bottle, then looked towards Chloe and Xina.

“Would the two of you care for a sip?”

“I’ll have a glass.”

Chloe loathed social gatherings, and she particularly despised being pressured to drink at dinner. Her illness, in fact, was likely a result of excessive drinking. Yet, at this moment, her throat was parched, and she longed to soothe her anxious mind.

The crimson liquid slowly filled the wine glass. Just as the waterline barely covered the bottom, Chloe raised a hand to stop the maid.

“That’s enough.”

A small amount would suffice; there was no need for overindulgence. This was a painful lesson learned from Xia Ni.

The maid offered wine to Xina as well, but Xina politely declined, instead turning her gaze to Lynch across the table.

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch, is there?”

The visible half of Lynch’s eye blinked, and a smile spread across his face. “Precisely.”

It seemed things were finally about to begin. Chloe downed her wine, her eyes fixed intently on Lynch.

“What do you want?”

“We in Linber have been self-governing for nearly six years. Our people have grown accustomed to a life without a lord, and we wish to maintain the status quo.”

“Absolutely not,” Xina retorted coldly. “To my knowledge, you haven’t paid the Count a single Shilling in those six years, directly causing Avros’s income to shrink by nearly three-quarters.”

‘No wonder Xina’s coin purse is so light,’ Chloe thought to herself.

Lynch smiled faintly. “Then, Lady Sirena, may I ask which esteemed individual caused this situation?”

The question caught in Xina’s throat, rendering her speechless.

Lynch straightened in his seat, continuing his declaration. “It was Count Norlin’s madness that completely drove Linber to oppose the Sirena family. I trust both of you ladies have just witnessed it—the people of Linber despise Sirena rule. How can they endure a madman wielding power over them?”

“Lord Norlin has passed away. Now, his daughter Xina and I govern together. Please do not forget that,” Chloe stated.

“The people of Linber might accept Lady Raina, whom they’ve never met, but they cannot accept the daughter of a madman. For madness is hereditary, and the people fear his daughter will follow in her father’s footsteps.”

Chloe was stunned, unable to conceive of a rebuttal. Madness might not always be hereditary, but the curse Norlin bore would indeed pass to Xina. Chloe herself couldn’t say when Xina might become like Norlin.

“I will not be like my father.”

Xina remained completely undeterred by Lynch’s persuasive words, even though they were aimed directly at her. She straightened her posture, her expression resolute.

Her composure emboldened Chloe.

“Mayor, remember, no matter what kind of lord they are, you cannot betray a feudal contract.”

Chloe had always detested feudal contracts when playing games due to their rigidity. Whenever she tried to strip a subordinate lord of their title, many would invoke this powerful weapon—the feudal contract—which, by its terms, meant Chloe could never seize their land, leaving her powerless.

Now, however, the rigid contract proved useful. In the Middle Ages, feudal contracts were sacred and inviolable. The rights and obligations between a lord and vassal were written in black and white. Lynch wanted to cast them aside and go it alone? Not a chance.

Upon hearing this, Lynch quickly demurred. “You misunderstand, ladies. I do not wish to commit an act of rebellion. We will still honor Sirena as our lord; we simply seek full autonomy. Naturally, we will pay a corresponding price.”

“Are you referring to Bloen?”

Chloe glanced at Bloen, who was handing a piece of cheese to his brother while slurping noodles, seemingly oblivious to the conversation. “If it’s only him, I don’t think that’s enough.”

“Plus fifty thousand Shillings.”

The servants’ expressions changed dramatically, and Xina’s eyes widened in surprise. Only Chloe remained unaware of what had just transpired.

“Is fifty thousand Shillings a lot?” Chloe leaned closer to Xina, asking in a low voice.

“It’s roughly ten years’ income for Avros,” Xina blinked. “How is Linber so wealthy?!”

Amidst her astonishment, Chloe was also deeply concerned about the issues of military conscription and taxation.

“Then what about the conscription and taxes originally due from Linber? To my knowledge, you owe Sirena Castle six full years of taxes.”

Chloe felt like an old woman haggling over prices.

Lynch nodded. “Previously, due to Lord Norlin’s irrational actions, we were forced to sever ties with Sirena Castle. Now that Sirena Castle has regained its composure, we will naturally fulfill our duties as vassals, but this is predicated on achieving autonomy.”

He wanted to negotiate a lower price, Chloe keenly observed.

“One-tenth of the previous tax, and exemption from military service.”

That was an aggressive cut!

Xina shook her head. “Half the tax, and one-fifth military service,” she proposed.

“That’s too much, Lady Sirena. One-ninth of the tax, and exemption from military service.”

“One-seventh of the tax, and one-sixth military service.”

Xina pressed on relentlessly.

“Agreed. One-seventh tax it is. As for military service, there is a noble in Linber Town named Cen Volunta. He commands a considerable number of private soldiers and is quite eager to serve the Lord. I believe he would be very suitable.”

Bloen suddenly cackled, winking at Lynch.

Chloe wasn’t sure what Lynch was truly plotting, but it seemed they had reached an agreement for now. She glanced at Xina, who also nodded.

“Agreed. Do we need to sign a contract… no, an agreement?”

“Of course. I’ve already had the scribe prepare it.”

Lynch clapped his hands, and a white-haired old man emerged from the room, holding a piece of parchment.

“You only need to sign.”

They had anticipated the outcome of the negotiation all along; it was they who had been outmaneuvered. Chloe reluctantly signed her name on the paper. Her political acumen was still quite nascent; she would need to learn more from Alice upon her return.

Xina, however, seemed rather satisfied with the terms. She signed decisively and handed the parchment back to the scribe.

“I will arrange for several carriages to transport the fifty thousand Shillings to Sirena Castle on a chosen day. Additionally, he is now yours.”

Lynch pushed Bloen towards Chloe. The diminutive dwarf’s face was wreathed in smiles.

“Hello, Lady Chloe.”