Chapter 239 - 17: Engagement
Chapter 239: Chapter 17: Engagement
By the time Robson returned to the Royal Capital, Marquis Oscillate and Prince Noah had already arrived. The streets and alleys were littered with the aftermath of celebrations, and the number of drunkards lining the roads was several times greater than on Robson’s last visit.
Clearly, Louis III had spared no effort in building momentum for Prince Noah, pulling out all the stops.
After arriving in the Royal Capital, Robson and Valentino rested for just a short while at Count Fengman’s Manor before heading to Marquis Oscillate’s estate with Baron Otto.
Indeed, Baron Otto had accompanied them to the Royal Capital. It wasn’t just him; Robson had also taken several of his brothers, who had been at home, with him to the Eastern Front.
’Some of these men will be useful for developing my territory in the future. After all, certain positions can only be entrusted to my own people.’
....
「Edward Manor.」
It had to be said that the Edward family truly lived up to its reputation as leaders of the Southern Faction. While the estate wasn’t particularly large, its decor was exquisite. The various furnishings within were likely of a quality not far removed from those of His Majesty the King himself.
As Robson and his party arrived at the estate, Marquis Oscillate was in his residence enjoying afternoon tea.
"The Guterres Family and the Di Man Clan have agreed. They will proceed to Viscount Robson’s territory to establish trading posts and provide the necessary support for the nobles we’ve designated..."
Marquis Oscillate nodded, listening to the report from his butler.
’These families are certainly pulling their weight. Of course, this is inextricably linked to Robson’s own efforts.’
This was especially true of the Guterres Family. From what Marquis Oscillate understood, they had already been planning to invest in Viscount Robson’s territory; his own involvement was merely icing on the cake.
Still, even if it was just icing on the cake, the Marquis’s role was far from insignificant.
The Guterres Family choosing to offer support on their own initiative and choosing to offer support at the suggestion of Marquis Oscillate were two entirely different things. The latter carried significantly more weight.
Furthermore, Marquis Oscillate had also contacted the kingdom’s central church and managed to secure some Priests for Robson.
Of course, they couldn’t be top-tier. In the Frank Kingdom, the most capable Priests had already joined the military campaigns. As a profession, Priests were every bit as rare as Mages.
"Regarding those heading south in the future..."
Just as the Marquis was about to inquire further, he suddenly looked up.
"Go and welcome our guests. Be courteous; we wouldn’t want anyone to think we lack etiquette..."
Marquis Oscillate could already sense that Robson and his granddaughter had arrived outside the estate.
The entire Edward Family estate was built upon a massive Magic Matrix. This matrix was personally crafted by a Tenth Rank Great Mage from the Tilia Kingdom, and the Magic Array was connected to the ring on Marquis Oscillate’s hand.
"As you command, milord."
....
When Robson, Valentino, and Baron Otto arrived at Edward Manor, the entrance was already crowded with parked carriages.
Each carriage bore a unique family crest. Robson had studied such things before and recognized most of them as belonging to nobles from the Frank Kingdom’s Southern Faction.
’Is this the power of a Marquis?’
Robson found it a bit strange. Marquis Oscillate had been back in the Royal Capital for several days now; logically, there shouldn’t be so many visitors.
Even for a monumental achievement, people would typically just pay their respects on the first day and be done with it.
Furthermore, many of the crests on the carriages were striped, indicating they likely belonged to vassal families.
’Can just anyone call on a Marquis?’
It wasn’t that Robson held any class prejudice. It was simply that the number of people in the Frank Kingdom who wished to visit Marquis Oscillate was staggering. Without restrictions, the Marquis would have no time for anything else besides receiving visitors all day.
Robson helped Valentino and Baron Otto down from the carriage. The estate’s main gate swung open at once, and guards flanked the entrance.
An elderly man with a white beard and hair emerged from the estate, followed by a young man. The youth was none other than Viscount Jeffrey, whom Robson had met at a previous meeting.
"Uncle Viduo, good morning," Valentino said, greeting the old man with a bow.
"This is Viscount Viduo. He’s always been by my grandfather’s side, managing the family’s affairs," Valentino explained to Robson.
Upon hearing this, Robson moved to bow to the Viscount as well, but Viscount Viduo stopped him.
"You must be the famous Viscount Robson I’ve heard so much about recently, I presume? A true young talent, and an impressive figure indeed.
Valentino, you have a keen eye, just like your mother," Viscount Viduo praised.
Robson had recently become something of a celebrity in the Royal Capital. His story, after all, was just too compelling.
The second son of a Baron, becoming a first-generation Viscount through his own military achievements, and on top of that, marrying a Countess.
While marrying into one’s wife’s family wasn’t viewed favorably in Frankish culture, it all depended on who was marrying whom.
For the second son of a Baron to marry into an Earl Clan—that was a nearly unprecedented event.
Robson had successfully broken into the upper echelons of society through his actual battlefield merits. This story was a perfect narrative for the Frankish Royal Family. Combined with Robson’s relationship with Prince Noah, it was only natural for the royal family to hold him up as a prime example and publicize his story far and wide.
Of course, not every noble who rose through military merit earned the friendship of the royal family.