A familiar voice came, attracting everyone's attention.
The door of the conference hall was gently pushed open, and Charlotte, wearing a black noble dress, appeared in everyone's sight.
Sebastian was the first to react.
The fire elf stood up from his seat almost instantly, with a look of surprise on his face.
"Owner!"
He quickly knelt on one knee and saluted with his right hand on his chest.
Seeing the girl pushing the door open, the knights and nobles closest to the door were also slightly stunned.
Then, they also stood up and bowed:
"My Lord Earl!"
"My Lord Earl!"
"My Lord Count..."
Respectful voices rang out in the conference room like echoes.
As if a chain reaction had started, the nobles and knights in the hall stood up one after another like a wheat field in the wind, and then bowed in greeting:
"My Lord Earl!"
Charlotte's eyes slowly swept across the hall.
She nodded slightly, in response to the respectful address from everyone, and then took a step forward and walked to the front of the conference room.
The knight guarding the door came forward consciously.
They stood on both sides, holding their swords high, with respectful expressions, heads held high and chests puffed out, following Charlotte closely.
As Charlotte entered, the nobles consciously moved to the sides, leaving a path leading directly to the front.
Charlotte walked calmly through the crowd, and the nobles on both sides bowed their heads in greeting.
She came to the front of the meeting hall and glanced with her deep blue eyes at Viscount Len-Castel, who had also stood up, with a half-smile.
The old viscount also bowed tremblingly, and said respectfully and excitedly:
"The Earl... Your Excellency!"
Charlotte looked at him quietly for a few seconds, nodded slightly, and then sat down on the main seat naturally.
She swept her eyes across the room and said gently:
"Please sit down, no need to stand."
After receiving Charlotte's order, the nobles sat down again.
The hall was extremely quiet, completely different from the market-like noise before.
It is obvious that although Charlotte has only been in Castel for a few months, she has already established a certain authority among the nobles by eliminating the infiltrating vampires!
At least... I have established authority among the nobles who are still gathered under the banner of Castel!
"Where were you discussing just now? Oh, by the way, don't worry about me for now. This should be an impromptu noble meeting convened by Sebastian, right? You guys continue your discussion, and I'll just listen in for a while."
Charlotte sat on the lord's throne, moved her butt left and right to change to a more comfortable sitting position, and said.
"Owner… "
Sebastian slowly stood up, his scarlet eyes fell on Viscount Len-Castell, and he chuckled:
"As you can see, we are just listening to Lord Len-Castell proposing a proposal to form a temporary regency cabinet!"
Charlotte's eyes naturally fell on the old viscount.
Her expression did not show any dissatisfaction, and her look even revealed a hint of curiosity.
However, being stared at by her beautiful blue eyes, Viscount Ryan-Castell felt a huge pressure.
The old viscount stood up again almost immediately and explained:
"My Lord, please forgive my rashness."
"You haven't shown up these days, and the people in the territory are worried. My proposal is just to unify the power of the Castel nobles..."
"Of course, since you are safe and sound, there is no need for a so-called regency cabinet. After all, you are the backbone of Castel."
Charlotte nodded slightly:
"Your Excellency, there is no need to be so panic. As the lord of Castel, I understand your actions."
Then, she looked at Sebastian again:
"Sebastian, you have been representing me in the management of the territory recently. You will continue to preside over today's meeting."
"Yes, Master."
Sebastian bowed respectfully.
He looked back at the nobles in the meeting hall, and his confidence was much stronger:
"Now that the master is here, I think you will no longer have doubts about the Earl's Mansion, right? Now... everyone should be willing to follow us and fight against the rebels of the Legris family, right?"
After hearing Sebastian's words, the nobles in the hall looked at each other, and then nodded one after another:
"Since the Earl is safe and sound, we will naturally give our full support to the Earl in suppressing the rebellion."
"With the appearance of the Earl, all the rumors in the territory have been refuted. We are willing to follow the Earl and put down the rebellion of Lai Glis!"
"Our eight hundred soldiers from the Valais family have assembled and are ready to fight for Castel!"
"Our Longen family has recruited a thousand soldiers and is willing to follow the Earl in battle!"
"All for Castel!"
"… "
Even Viscount Ryan Castel, who was at the front, said respectfully:
"The Ryan-Castel family has also gathered 600 light infantry, 200 heavy infantry, 200 archers, 100 cavalry, and three extraordinary knights, waiting for the Earl's orders..."
The nobles in the hall expressed their loyalty one after another and reported the numbers of troops to be recruited.
Listening to the nobles' oaths of allegiance, Charlotte nodded slightly with a look of satisfaction.
However, unlike the calm appearance on the surface, her heart was actually already in chaos as she sat on the lord's throne at this moment.
Especially after hearing that several towns in the north of Castel had fallen:
Good guy…
From listening to this discussion, has the Legris family in the north officially rebelled
How long had she been asleep
Charlotte didn't know what was happening in her territory.
After she woke up from the secret room, she changed her clothes and followed the call of blood to the parliament hall. When she came in, she only heard Viscount Ryan Castel proposing a regency cabinet, and was completely confused about everything else.
However, she did not interrupt the meeting rashly.
Falling into a deep sleep is her secret.
Although she didn't know how the nobles discovered that she was missing, and Nice, who was supposed to be a substitute, was nowhere to be found, as a lord, she certainly couldn't show that she knew nothing about what happened in the territory.
This not only undermines her authority, but will also cause some people with ulterior motives to doubt her over time...
Charlotte still recognizes Sebastian's abilities.
Since she had delegated power to the other party, she might as well sit aside and listen to what was going on to understand the whole story.
Charlotte thus acted as the audience.
As the nobles in the hall discussed, Sebastian deliberately guided and casually explained, and gradually, Charlotte also had a general understanding of Castel's current situation...
First of all, it should have been four full months since she fell into a deep sleep.
In the third month of her sleep, a major event occurred in the territory.
That is, the Legris family, one of the three viscount families, hired mercenaries to attack "her" when "she" went to inspect the Castel silver mine.
Of course, it was not the real "her" that came to attack the Glis family, but Nice who was disguised as "her" double.
After that, the Legris family raised the banner of rebellion.
They first claimed that Castel had been sidelined by the nobles headed by the Len-Castell family, and launched a rebellion in the name of "clearing the court."
After gaining the support of the neighboring lords of Castel, the Legris family announced that Charlotte's bloodline was in doubt.
They claimed that the real Charlotte had long been dead, and that the fake Charlotte's rule over Castel was illegal and brutal, so they officially declared war on the Earl's House in the name of overthrowing the rule of the false king and tyrant.
Within a month, they had assembled an army of more than 10,000 and successively captured several cities in the north of Castel. The war spread all the way to the south...
If it weren't for Viscount Remigio and the Kingdom's army stationed in Silver Mining City, and Viscount Remigio repeatedly warned the rebels not to invade the Castel Silver Mine and affect the normal mining of the Crescent Royal Family, otherwise he would lift his neutral position and intervene in the rebellion... I'm afraid even Silver Mining City would have fallen long ago.
But even so, the rebels have cut off the connection between the Earl's Palace and the Silver Mining City, and North Port has almost lost contact with the Castel Silver Mine.
After Legris in the north declared rebellion, Sebastian immediately summoned the nobles of the territory and recruited troops in the name of Charlotte to quell the rebellion.
Afterwards, lords from all over the country led their troops to Beigang.
Even if Sebastian and the nobles didn't talk about what happened next, Charlotte could probably guess it herself.
Yes, she did hand over the management of the territory to Sebastian before she fell asleep, but what she firmly controlled was only Castel's direct jurisdiction.
Feudalism is not like the counties of the Celestial Empire, and the constraints that the lords have on their vassals are not that strong. Although Charlotte has gained the allegiance of many nobles, Charlotte is Charlotte and Sebastian is Sebastian.
Being in North Port, Sebastian might be able to directly mobilize the troops of North Port, but he lacked effective control over the nobles from all over the country who came to obey his orders.
The only ones who can restrain the nobles are Charlotte and the Castel family.
Charlotte has been "missing" for too long, and all kinds of rumors are spreading in the territory. Under such circumstances, unless Charlotte shows up, it will be difficult for Sebastian to win the support of the nobles.
Even if we win support, it may be difficult to unite.
Today's meeting is held under such circumstances.
Sebastian wanted to use this meeting to integrate the power of the nobles and form a coalition to suppress the rebellion.
Without Charlotte's restraint, the nobles who were summoned were unwilling to bow to Sebastian and give up the leadership of the coalition.
Under such circumstances, the leader of the loyalist nobles, Viscount René Castel, who was completely bound to Castel, proposed the formation of a regency cabinet.
Thinking of this, Charlotte couldn't help but glance at the old viscount who was discussing the battle plan enthusiastically with Sebastian.
From this perspective, she had misunderstood the old nobleman just now.
Indeed, given that the lord was missing, his actions were suspected of being an attempt to seize power.
But after traveling through time for more than a year, Charlotte is no longer unfamiliar with the Miria aristocracy system.
Even if Viscount Ryan Castel has selfish motives, if she really never shows up, forming a Regency Cabinet Council is indeed the fastest way to unify the power of the nobility.
Many things are difficult to distinguish right from wrong. It can only be said that even Charlotte did not expect that the horny cat Nice would be kidnapped, which directly led to the loss of her substitute!
However, although Nice's whereabouts are unknown, Charlotte can still clearly feel the connection with him deep in her soul.
That guy is still alive.
"Mr. Earl, we have completed our discussion. This is a rough draft plan. Please review it."
Viscount Ryan Castel's words interrupted Charlotte's thoughts. Charlotte nodded slightly and took the parchment scroll recording the battle plan from the other party.
Looking at the numbers recorded above, Charlotte was a little surprised:
"You have gathered 35,000 people in total?"
Viscount Ryan Castel said respectfully:
"Yes, there are a total of 45 noble families who have responded to the call. Each family has brought at least 100 conscripted soldiers and 20 private soldiers. The noble army has already assembled 22,000 people."
"In addition, thirteen noble families are on their way, including three barons. They should be able to muster about three thousand levies, for a total of 25,000 noble coalition forces."
Sebastian nodded.
"In addition to the garrison troops on the front line, the direct territory can mobilize 2,000 regular troops, 3,000 conscripts, and 5,000 mercenaries."
"All the troops combined, there are 35,000 people."
Charlotte: …
Wow, a earldom can easily pull out so many people. If she was told in her previous life that this was a kingdom, she would have believed it!
Ah, no, even for those countries in the Middle Ages in the previous life, it was not easy to gather so many troops. The mobilization ability of the other world really cannot be regarded as common sense...
"My Lord Count..."
Viscount Ryan Castel stepped forward and said respectfully:
"Our military strength is three times that of the rebels, so we have the upper hand. Not only that, although the rebels are composed of the elite private soldiers of the Gliss family, more than 80% of them are conscripts and mercenaries, and their combat effectiveness is not strong."
"Currently, the rebels have already attacked the upper reaches of the Dorne River in the north. I suggest that the coalition forces immediately move north after integrating their forces and station on one side of the Dorne River to prevent the rebels from crossing the river. At the same time, they should train on the spot and seek possible opportunities for battle..."
"His Excellency Baron Angus de Valais once made great contributions in the Stellar-Moon War and can lead the army to fight as a commander."
After listening to Viscount Ryan Castel's advice, Charlotte fell into deep thought. She glanced at Sebastian and said:
"Sebastian, do you have any ideas?"
Sebastian sighed:
"Master, I have some experience in managing a territory, but I am not good at leading an army in battle."
Charlotte nodded slightly to show her understanding.
Forget Sebastian.
When it comes to fighting, she herself is an amateur.
Not to mention that they were fighting in the extraordinary world, and now everything happened so suddenly...