The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 270 - 11: Mysterious Support

Chapter 270: Chapter 11: Mysterious Support

"Princess Katya, it seems we now share a common objective, which will simplify matters greatly. I can understand your thoughts. Perhaps Lord Tez and Marshal Mathew had high hopes for you before you arrived, and His Majesty the King likewise wishes for you to return with a satisfactory outcome. I, too, wish for you to arrive in high spirits and leave content, but I must remind you that the situation may not be as simple as you imagine." Komer paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "You may also be aware that my relationship with Duke Philip has always been strained, and my being dispatched to Caucasus was nothing more than a ploy by him to put me in jeopardy. It was only by good fortune and the grace of the heavens that I survived several calamities, and with the support of the kingdom, I have reached this point. As for the victory Leon achieved in the battle at Mandu, I won’t hide it from you—I and my friends had a part in it. If we hadn’t halted the southern advance of the Homer Army, I doubt we would be able to sit here and converse so leisurely."

"You have identified the core of the issue: how can Caucasus help Leon, or even Caucasus itself, hinder Homer such that they cannot wholeheartedly deal with the kingdom nor be driven by fury to strike south with all their might? Our strength is far too meager; if Philip decided to be ruthless, I fear we would have no choice but to submit. Therefore, my personal view is to ask if, upon your return, you could convey this humble baron’s request to the kingdom. It is a request for enfeoffment, to grant Caucasus the status of a territory directly governed by the kingdom, henceforth severing ties with Homer. In this way, Caucasus can openly oppose Homer, and as for Leon, such a territory—even turning into a haven for slaves and the mob—is something the noble gentlemen and aristocrats could hardly accept. Since the Homer People cannot properly manage this land, not even fulfilling a lord’s responsibilities or exerting his power, perhaps the kingdom should consider rescinding the vassal relationship between Homer and Leon?"

Taking a sharp intake of breath, Katya stared somewhat dazedly at the young man whose expression had not changed much, as if the words he just uttered had not come from him. A minor baron, the most inconspicuous among nobles—in Jazair, kicking a leg in any low-end tavern or coffee house could hit a few barons. Just a year ago, Caucasus was a desolate place with fewer than ten thousand people, its status not even matching that of a farm around Jazair. Even with its rapid development now, it was still miles away from other territories, and this newly enfeoffed baron had the unfathomable ambition to turn this land into a territory directly subject to the kingdom like Homer, and equally to become a direct vassal to His Majesty the King. His appetite seemed insatiable!

In response to Katya’s astonished, shocked, puzzled, and even queer expression, Komer knew his words must have taken her by surprise, too much for her to accept. However, he didn’t feel he had overstepped at all. It seemed that the kingdom’s military maneuvers were edging closer, giving high expectations for restricting Homer through Caucasus and Leon’s efforts. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have dispatched someone as important as Katya, a front-runner among the Royal Successors, to Caucasus. "Having one’s cake and eating it too" seemed an apt description for the current position of both himself and Caucasus. If he didn’t leverage this opportunity to extract something from the kingdom, the chance would be gone forever. Moreover, becoming a territory directly under the kingdom would actually only benefit the kingdom—with tribute paid directly without passing through Homer and with such a thorn in Homer’s side precisely what the kingdom wanted to achieve.

If Komer’s initial request—to wish for Caucasus to become a direct territory of the kingdom—felt arrogantly presumptuous to Katya, the second part revealing his ambition for the anarchic state of Leon was nothing short of shameless extortion. Although the effective control of Leon had never been in the hands of the Central Kingdom. Here was a lowly baron, still struggling for the survival of himself and his territory, displaying his unhidden ambition for the neighboring regions. Katya even doubted his intelligence—how could one be so foolish as to reveal such ambitions at this time? Did he really think she would be so charmed by his speech she became his intimate confidante, sworn to never betray him? The thought made Katya feel both amused and ridiculous.

"Your baron, don’t you think your demands are a bit too excessive? Do you really believe the kingdom would give you these things just because they need your help?" Katya’s golden curls casually fell, covering half of her face. She didn’t directly respond to his proposal, and instead directly questioned his rationale.

"Oh? It seems there’s quite a discrepancy in our understanding of the issue, and it’s not a small one," Komer said, his demeanor remaining unchanged despite her pressing tone. He continued to explain his views in his steady, calm voice: "I wonder if Your Highness thinks my desire to become a direct vassal to His Majesty the King is overreaching, or if you believe that I think the kingdom should rescind Homer’s control over Leon is excessive. If it’s the former, that would be odd. Doesn’t His Majesty the King favor having a vassal who is willing to remain eternally loyal to him rather than one who is first a rebellious vassal of a Great Lord?"

"Regarding the second point, I’m willing to clear Princess Katya’s doubts. Frankly speaking, there are hardly any real nobles or gentlemen left on the land of Leon. Most have already become rotten flesh and skeletons under the chain hammers and wolf tooth clubs of the Half-beastman slaves. No one is suitable to manage the land any longer. If Leon were to fall back into the hands of Homer, it would only bolster Homer’s stance against the kingdom and impose a significant threat to us in Caucasus. I’ve never denied that Homer could effortlessly annihilate Caucasus without outside interference; thus, Caucasus and I need a barrier—a shield to ensure our safety. It’s not that I, Komer, have intentions for Leon; but for survival, I’m afraid I can’t help but act in this manner, even if it’s only in name and not officially recognized by the kingdom. Nevertheless, I must strive towards that goal," he stated.

Komer’s straightforwardness, although initially somewhat difficult for Katya to adapt to, became more appreciable when she calmed her mind and began to discern the nuances in his words. She found that this hedonistic-born baron seemed to have a natural poise of a politician—self-assured without arrogance, composed without stiffness, witty yet approachable. Despite his youth which made him less cunning than some veteran politicians, it was this fresh breath of personality that made Katya feel a sense of closeness to him.

"Your Baron, if you’re suggesting that the system which upholds the kingdom or even the entire Continent’s rule is merely symbolic and can be disregarded, then I must tell you, this is a considerable misconception," Katya didn’t plan to yield to his attitude. As a hot candidate for the succession to the kingdom’s throne, debate was always her strength, and she took the initiative, "It seems you believe that stripping a Lord of their land ownership and enfeoffing a noble as a Lord are very arbitrary matters. Let me tell you that this is not as simple as you imagine. This system is the foundation of the mortals’ ruling system on the entire continent. If even this can be ignored, I think the kingdom’s governance really has problems."

"Heh, Lady, times are changing, and rulers should even more discern the times and modify various irrational systems and policies to make them more suitable for historical development. Besides, I remember there’s a law in the kingdom that says, if a territory has been illegally occupied by another lord and the original lord cannot restore their lordship rights, they should have a twenty-year right to hold claim to these rights. However, if they do not appeal to the Kingdom Star Chamber Court through legal procedures within this time, it shortens to three years. After three years, the kingdom can reassess the lordship rights of the land. And if the territory hasn’t been occupied by another lord but is in a different state and the original lord cannot restore their rights, the period is only one year. Is my memory accurate, Lady?" Komer asked with a smile and a raised eyebrow.

Katya could only assume that his proficiency in this area was due to prior consideration rather than believing him to be learned and versatile. No one would memorize those ancient and complex legal clauses, except for the judges of the Star Chamber Court, and Katya believed that Komer would not have such abundant energy.

"It seems, Your Baron, that you have indeed put some effort into this area. Perhaps there is a basis for your legal standpoint, but have you ever considered the kingdom’s situation in your shoes? What would Homer think if the kingdom made Caucasus a directly governed territory? As for Leon, as you said, up to now, the Kingdom Star Chamber Court hasn’t received any appeal from Homer, so we can’t be sure if these land rights will expire after one year. I apologize, but I can’t give you a definitive answer right now." Faced with his assertiveness, Katya started to apply delaying tactics.

"If that’s the case, I am very sorry. I originally thought that our Caucasus could be loyal to His Majesty the King, but that the kingdom remains so outdated and even fearful of Homer in this situation makes me feel ashamed and surprised. Why can Homer always disregard the kingdom’s considerations while the kingdom has to take Homer’s face into account? Who is the master and who is the servant, or is my intelligence confused?" Shrugging his shoulders with a casual laugh, the exaggerated style made Komer’s words even more sharp and grating.

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