Under the reflection of the afterglow of the setting sun, the majestic Lion's Roar Castle looks even more desolate.
On an open-air balcony of the main castle, Colin and Vera were standing side by side, admiring the beauty of the sunset.
Vera is wearing a palace-style tube top and tunic dress today, revealing round shoulders and a slender neck. Her long golden hair is casually tied, and her white, tender and smooth skin makes one unable to resist the urge to kiss.
The afterglow of the setting sun outlined her perfect profile, which made Colin a little dazed.
"What are you looking at?" Vera turned her head and smiled at her husband.
"I'm looking at the future Duke of the North!" Colin teased with a smile.
Vera rolled her cute eyes, and her tone was slightly worried: "There is still a rebellion in the northern border! What's more, I don't know if His Majesty the Emperor and the Senate will agree with me to inherit the title of duke."
Colin was about to untie his wife when he heard footsteps from behind.
Immediately, Basty, the new steward of the St. Hilde family, came to the balcony and bowed to report:
"Miss, Viscount Angelet, the dwarf messenger has arrived."
Vera turned around slowly, nodded and said, "Okay. Let him come over."
Colin also turned around, just in time to see a dwarf with a familiar face walking in.
"Dear Miss Vera, Viscount Angelet, Anka, the son of the Marquis of Menam, I would like to extend my sincerest greetings to you!"
After hearing the other party's name and self-introduction, Colin remembered that he had met this Earl of Anka in Ice Rock City.
He had just returned from the Troll Empire and met the dwarf count at the triumphant banquet. The other party also proposed to replace the Angelet family's territory with part of the Menam family's territory in the Crimson Flame Territory.
"Count Anka, please sit down." Vera bowed back, and then invited the other party to sit down at the small round table on the side of the balcony.
The waitress brought coffee and dessert in good time.
Colin also sat down at the table, took a sip of his coffee, and asked with a smile, "Count Anka, is it because you are here for the exchange of territories?"
Earl Anka suffocated slightly, then shook his head in embarrassment and said, "No. Moreover, the replacement of the territory is a matter of your preference. If you are not willing, our Menam family will certainly not force it."
Colin frowned, a little surprised at Earl Anka's weak attitude.
When he was in Ice Rock City, the dwarf earl was quite arrogant. He said that he would never let the Angelet family suffer, and then said that the Menam family's army was about to arrive in the north, so he almost forced Colin's hand Get him to sign it.
There must be a reason for the change in Earl Anka's attitude now. Could it be that the dwarves feel that they cannot capture Winter City, and are they preparing for peace talks
"Then why did you come to Cold Winter City this time?"
Count Anka glanced at Vera, seeing that she had been drinking coffee in silence and nibbled on dessert, as if she had no interest in this conversation.
Such an attitude made Earl Anka immediately understand that Viscount Angelet was the real master of Winter City.
"Miss Vera, Viscount Angelet, I am here this time to reach a peace agreement with you and bring an end to the chaos in the northern border."
"Peace agreement?" Colin frowned, and gave Earl Anka a serious look.
The dwarves actually wanted peace talks.
Colin began to calculate in his mind.
In fact, at this time, Ke Lin was vacillating between war and peace.
The plan given by Maester Dawn was indeed a mature and prudent plan, but after the Riverrun severely weakened the Dawson family, and then harvested the Uman family's army in Winter City, under the ebb and flow, Colin has already With the confidence to fight against the dwarf army.
That's why he wrote to Ice Rock City, telling the main force of the Black Cavalry Army and the Silver Moon Guard to come here.
But unexpectedly, just when he was gradually inclined to fight to the death with the dwarf, the dwarf suddenly gave up.
This made Colin feel aggrieved by punching the air.
"Tell me about your conditions." Colin decided to check the situation first.
Earl Anka lifted his spirits, and immediately said: "Your Excellency, the Menam family has no intention of making enemies with the St. Hilde family, and is very willing to see a peaceful and stable northern border!
Therefore, as long as you agree to our request for an independent country, the dwarf army outside the city will immediately withdraw!
The St. Hilde family will also receive the eternal friendship and gratitude of the dwarves! "
Colin rubbed his chin. Of course, he would not be surprised by this condition. These dwarves have been arguing with Mr. Yu for so long, isn't it just for this goal.
However, why did they voluntarily abandon the San Theen family at this moment, and began to seek cooperation with the San Xie family instead
Colin immediately realized that something must have happened to the opposing camp.
Otherwise, it is impossible for the dwarves to plan to negotiate a peace just after besieging the city without even making a tentative attack.
"Do you want to establish an independent country in the north?"
"Yes."
"What about the territory?"
Earl Anka had been prepared for a long time. Hearing this, he immediately took out a map from his pocket, spread it on the table, and introduced:
"Miss Vera, Viscount Angelet, please look, this is the area of our planned dwarf kingdom.
It includes the current territory of the Dawson family, as well as the territories of the Lombard family and the Billy family.
Please rest assured, except for the Dawson family, the rest of the northern lords have agreed to exchange territories with the Maynam family... "
"Wait!" Colin immediately interrupted Earl Anka and asked, "Agreed? Who agrees that they exchanged territories with the Menam family?"
Earl Anka's heart skipped a beat, and he said cautiously: "Viscount Angelet, these lords have all agreed, and we have also obtained the permission of Emperor Reinhardt."
Colin was unmoved, and said coldly: "What about the St. Hilde family? Have you forgotten who is the master of the northern border?"
Earl Anka apologized and said with a smile: "That's why I came to Cold Winter City, just to get the consent of the St. Hilde family."
Vera didn't raise her head when she heard this, as if she had no interest in Earl Anka's proposal.
Colin put the coffee cup heavily on the table, and said in a bad tone: "Earl Anka, your Menam family planned to poach such a large territory to establish an independent country when you first came to the northern border. Put it in your eyes."
The corner of Earl Anka's mouth twitched slightly, as if he was suppressing the anger in his heart, but he still forced a smile and argued:
"How could it be! The Menam family has always respected the St. Hilde family. This time the founding of the country was also approved by Emperor Reinhardt. Moreover, after the founding of the country, the Dwarf Kingdom will also become the eternal partner of the St. Hilde family! "
"Partner?" Colin sneered, "But the St. Hilde family doesn't need a partner like you. If they are vassals, they can consider it. How about this? Your Menam family swears allegiance to the St. Hilde family." , the northern border can accept you to settle here."
Earl Anka's face darkened, as if he had lost patience with Colin, so he turned to Vera and asked directly:
"Miss Vera, is that what you mean too?"
Only then did Vera raise her head, looked at Earl Anka calmly, and nodded seriously: "This is what I mean, and it is also the will of the Saint Hilde family!"
Earl Anka was finally irritated, stood up immediately, and said loudly:
"I came here with peaceful goodwill, but I didn't expect to receive deep hostility!
Miss Vera, Viscount Angelet, I already understand what you mean, and I will definitely tell my father to make the decision.
Thank you for your hospitality and farewell! "
After finishing speaking, Earl Anka gave a perfunctory salute, and then strode away.
Looking at the back of the other party going away, Colin frowned, and said to Vera beside him:
"I think something might have happened to the dwarves. Otherwise, they wouldn't have come to negotiate with us so early, and their attitude was extremely low when they came up. I deliberately provoked him a few times before finally driving him away."
Vera chuckled, patted Colin's arm, and said with a smile: "I also felt strange just now. Is this a dwarf known for his violent temper? He actually endured you for so long.
It seems that the other party is really eager to negotiate peace with us. "
Ke Lin stretched his waist, and said leisurely: "What the enemy wants to do, we can't let them succeed easily! So, don't worry, let's talk slowly.
Will come again if they are really serious about negotiating. "
Vera's eyes flickered, she thought for a while and said, "I think the change on the dwarves' side may have something to do with the arcane wave I noticed this morning."
"Oh?" Colin's heart moved, "Then do you understand what happened outside the city that morning?"
"It's too far away, and I don't know what it is." Vera shook her head, but then she suggested: "Maybe you can ask the teacher."
"Master Cusius?" Colin thought for a while, then nodded,
"Okay, I'll go see if he knows."
(end of this chapter)