2025-05-30 23:45:18Trumpets echoed in the grand hall as King Aldric proclaimed the new title before assembled courtiers. “For valor beyond measure and service to the crown, we bestow upon Sir Ethan of Carosso the title of Marquis of the Northern Reach,” the King announced. Murmurs swept the hall while Ethan knelt on the marble floor, stunned. Celestia stood at Ethan’s side in formal attire, her face a serene mask that hid her apprehension.
Aldric’s attendants brought forth a velvet cushion bearing a silver badge of office. The King himself pinned the badge to Ethan’s cloak. “Rise, Lord Ethan,” he said warmly. “You shall depart at once to oversee the North’s restoration. The borderlands are yours to govern and rebuild in my name.”
Ethan rose, bowing deeply. “I am honored, Your Majesty,” he managed, voice stead
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CHAPTER 77: War Council
The heavy oaken doors of Northfort’s great hall groaned open, admitting a lone royal messenger clad in Carosso’s colors. Ethan rose from the high table as the man strode forward across the stone floor. Around Ethan, a ring of his closest advisors—Celestia, Nina, and several northern commanders—stood in tense silence.The courier halted and unfurled a parchment scroll emblazoned with King Aldric’s seal. His gaze swept the hall, taking in the stern faces and the silver dragon banners draped on the walls. He cleared his throat. "By decree of His Majesty King Aldric," the messenger announced, voice echoing, "Lord Ethan Blackthorne is hereby commanded to disband all armed forces under his command and present himself at Castle Carosso to reaffirm his fealty. Failure to comply will mark him and his followers as traitors to the crown."A flicker of outrage crossed Ethan’s face. He stepped forward, accepting the parchment from the messenger’s hand. The hall was deathly still as
CHAPTER 76: Kingdom Divided (2)
Prince Edwin paced the length of the royal solar, the afternoon sun painting streaks of light across the marble floor. His face was pale, eyes red-rimmed from lack of sleep. Outside the open balcony, the city of Carosso sprawled under a haze of tension. From the streets below rose the distant clamor of unrest—voices raised in anger and fear.Kaelthorne watched the young prince silently from a corner of the chamber. He stood quietly in the corner, the picture of calm control. Finally, Edwin spun on him, voice shaking. "Lord Kaelthorne, what in the world is happening out there? The people... they're saying the North is withholding grain. That Lord Ethan means to rebel. Half the city is in panic."Kaelthorne inclined his head, feigning concern. "Your Highness, I won't lie to you. The rumors are spreading quickly." He moved toward the balcony, as if listening to the distant shouts. In truth, his agents had seeded those very rumors since dawn: whispers that Ethan hoar
CHAPTER 75: Kingdom Divided (1)
Sunrise cast a golden glow over the northern fields as Ethan rode along a dirt path, flanked by Nina. Rows upon rows of green potato plants stretched out on either side. Villagers were already at work, tending the rich soil. The air was crisp and filled with the promise of a bountiful harvest.Ethan dismounted near a bustling field. A group of children ran by, giggling, their arms full of freshly dug potatoes. Nina laughed softly at the sight. Her cheeks were rosy from the morning chill, and a smudge of dirt streaked her forehead from an earlier inspection."Lord Ethan!" An elderly farmer approached, wiping his brow. "Look at this!" He proudly held up an enormous potato, soil crumbling off its dimpled skin. "Never seen yields like this in all my years."Ethan grinned and clapped the man on the shoulder. "It’s incredible. This will keep every belly in the North full through winter." He glanced at Nina, who stood shyly by his side. "We have Lady Nina to than
CHAPTER 74: Shadow of Kaelthorne
Kaelthorne stood in the dimly lit throne room, a wraith-like figure draped in midnight robes. The torches flickered against stone walls, casting long shadows that danced around him. King Aldric lay slumped on his golden throne, face ashen with illness. Kaelthorne leaned close, voice a silken whisper."Your Majesty, rest," Kaelthorne cooed softly, placing a hand on the sickly king’s shoulder. His other hand subtly tipped a vial into the goblet of wine at Aldric’s side. "I will handle today's affairs. You need only conserve your strength."King Aldric nodded weakly, too frail to protest. Kaelthorne's lips curled into a satisfied smirk as the king sipped. Each dose of poison did its work, keeping Aldric docile and dependent. Soon, the throne will effectively be mine, Kaelthorne thought, eyes glinting in the half-light.Across the hall, a pair of guards exchanged uneasy glances. They sensed something amiss, but none dared question the king’s favore
CHAPTER 73: Evermore
Moonlight poured in through the open window of the manor’s small library, casting silver squares on the floor. Ethan found Celestia there alone, standing by a table strewn with scrolls. She had said she was retiring early with a headache, but here she was, gaze lost in the flicker of a single candle. The tension lingering between them all day weighed heavily in the quiet room.Ethan closed the door softly behind him. “Celestia,” he said gently.She turned, surprised but not upset at his intrusion. In her simple nightrobe and shawl, she looked so delicate it stirred his protectiveness. “Ethan,” she replied, managing a soft smile. “Shouldn’t you be resting? Dawn comes soon and you’ve been working since before sunrise.”“I could ask the same of you,” Eth
CHAPTER 72: Miracle King
The chill of winter gradually gave way to gentle spring across the Northern Reach. Months into Ethan’s tenure, borderlands and its villages buzzed with reconstruction. Under his leadership, ruins became building sites and despair turned to determination. Common folk began to call their marquis the “Miracle King,” for every week brought new wonders from Ethan and his companions.On a crisp morning, Ethan stood atop the half-rebuilt city wall of Carosso, surveying activity below. Where there had been rubble, new stone foundations stretched for a marketplace and granary. Villagers and workers moved with purpose, inspired by their marquis’s tireless example. Ethan had instituted a rotating labor schedule so each family had hands in rebuilding while still tending farms. Productivity soared – a simple idea from his old world that felt revolutionary here.More Chapter
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