King
Chapter 173 - 173 116 Dance of the Bear_1

173: Chapter 116, Dance of the Bear_1 173: Chapter 116, Dance of the Bear_1 The dispute between Hudson and Baron West had cooled, and the newly arrived Baron Caryo merely observed without taking any steps.

The tumultuous counties of Layton and Wharton now suddenly fell unusually quiet.

After a long period of noise and chaos, this sudden tranquility felt strangely unsettling.

The nobles of Layton and Wharton were experiencing exactly this sentiment.

They feared this was the calm before a storm, hence each day was lived with heart in their mouths.

Some of the nobility, who held little power and could not withstand more turmoil, began to stir, seeking to discover what had transpired.

As one of the influential figures, Master Hudson naturally had quite a few visitors.

However, those who came seeking updates on the state of affairs were barking up the wrong tree.

Hudson had been preparing for major upheaval, actively bolstering his military forces while attempting to mend fences with his adversaries and discreetly gathering support.

Despite preparing wholly, the situation had taken an unexpected twist.

The newly arrived Baron Caryo was uncharacteristically still, seemingly unaffected by the various agendas of others.

With this leader refusing to stirr, the revenge-seeking nobles naturally found themselves deeply disappointed.

In their diminished states, despite their disappointment, these defeated nobles lacked the leverage to make any significant moves.

Without the shelter of the Dalton family and the inability to drag more native nobles into the fray, any conflict against the northern aristocracy with their limited forces would result in a repetition of last year’s catastrophic loss.

One loss was severe enough; no one could withstand another.

They had no choice but to forcibly suppress their rage.

As for Hudson, an observer, he could only assume what Baron Caryo’s intentions might be.

It most likely involved kingdom politics, where the Dalton family couldn’t directly evict the Northern aristocracy.

The native nobles wanted to act, they fully supported them, but making their hands dirty was not viable.

When it concerned family interests and one could not directly engage, all one could do was to maintain a silence.

Afterall, the minor skirmishes couldn’t harm the Northern Aristocracy.

The knowledge of these affairs needed to remain with him.

Leaking it would lead to inconvenience for the Dalton family.

The meddling in his own backyard was a clear indication of a temporary setback in the political arena.

Spreading such ill news would be more than an embarrassment for the Dalton family, it could potentially weaken their grip on the Southeastern Province.

The Northern Clan refrained from publicising their intentions, not out of ignorance, but possibly due to fear of provoking the Dalton family to lash back.

Nobles with political backing were being cautious, let alone Hudson who lacks such support, so he had to tread even more carefully.

Hudson felt helpless as he observed everyone’s anxious faces.

For those he had good relations with, he reassured them with a comforting look; for the acquaintances, he’d placate them with a few consolatory words and send them on their way.

That’s all he could do, whether they could discern the deeper implications would depend on their abilities.

Those lacking political acumen would have to live in constant fear.

“Sir, Baron Caryo-Dalton is here for your visit!

He’s currently in the parlour, please go and greet him!”

Gazing at the steward’s excited face, Hudson was left speechless.

Everyone was a baron, was there any need for all this fuss…

Though he may grumble internally, he outwardly started heading over.

Hudson himself was among the highly influential barons of the Southeastern Province.

However, the surname “Dalton” attached to the title “Baron” changed things drastically.

At the very least, within the whole of Southeastern Province, everyone had to show some respect.

Regardless, they had taken the initiative to visit, thus he had to pay due respect.

Otherwise, he’d be accused of lacking manners throughout the Southeastern Province.

…

As he looked at the magic wand-bearing visitor, Hudson felt a sense of impending trouble.

“I have long heard of the remarkable Baron Caryo, meeting you today I see you truly stand out.

Over these past few days, I’ve been preoccupied with matters within my territory and couldn’t visit…”

Even as he gave excuses that he didn’t believe himself, Hudson didn’t let his enthusiasm falter.

Other nobles visited Baron Caryo to curry favour and bootlick, in hopes of forging a good relationship and benefit in the future.

Hudson neither cared nor relied on these hidden benefits, naturally he wouldn’t bother himself with unnecessary trouble.

Where there were people, there were groups.

At present, Hudson was the leader of a small group.

Thus he needed to consider the implications of his actions.

At such a critical moment, visiting Baron Caryo might be politically interpreted as a sign of submission.

Undoubtedly, he couldn’t let that happen.

As a native noble with a prominent reputation, Hudson carried a responsibility — to counterbalance Baron Caryo.

This wasn’t a matter of choice, but a consensus among native nobles and other noble factions within the province who wished for this counterbalance to exist.

While it may appear inconsequential on the surface, behind the scenes, it garnered substantial support.

At least when trouble arose, there would be people willing to speak up for him.

If he performs well in his assignment, there is a likelihood that at an appropriate time, somebody would extend an olive branch and Hudson would most probably join one of the noble factions.

Despite these factions being relatively weak, they could counterbalance the Dalton family within Southeastern Province, and there must be people from the central government who supported this.