Reborn As Noble - Chapter 957
957: A Land With No Shield ( 957 ) 957: A Land With No Shield ( 957 ) The other nobles sat in uneasy silence as Kimar barked orders at the royal messenger.
“Make sure this reaches Armand, fast!” “Yes, Your Majesty!” The messenger knelt and bowed before hurrying out.
Across the hall, several nobles sat stiffly, their thoughts dark.
Shit!
Kimar’s abusing his power.
Does he even remember he only became king because of our council’s vote?
No wonder Garius can’t stand him.
Why did we ever vote for this man?
He promised to divide the lordless lands among us, yet now most of it belongs to the royal family.
And don’t get me started on Kimar’s sons.
Just because they’re princes and princesses, they think they’re above everyone.
What a miserable family.
Kimar only got here because he was Edmund’s younger brother.
Not only that, he’s forcing royal law over all our regional laws, making us submit to his will.
And when Garius closed the border?
He was powerless.
He doesn’t even have a plan for fixing the economy, or any of the problems in my region.
They all remained silent as Kimar spoke.
“We don’t know if Garius will accept or not.
Now, on to the next matter.
I trust everyone here has already paid tribute to the Crown, yes?” Kimar’s eyes swept the table, his glare sharp and intimidating.
“Yes, Your Majesty.
All nobles currently on the Royal Council have paid their monthly tribute as required,” the royal advisor replied, bowing politely.
Kimar launched into another speech about strengthening the royal army and the knights, insisting on recruitment and fortification.
The nobles only nodded quietly, not daring to speak up or challenge him, none wanted to risk making Kimar angrier.
Inside their minds.
All he ever talks about is troops, troops, and more troops.
Doesn’t he understand that raising more soldiers costs money?
How foolish can Kimar be?
He should be focusing on the economy, supporting farming, improving food production, public safety, infrastructure, anything to make our lands stronger and our people happier.
Instead, all he wants is a bigger army.
And now he has the audacity to say it’s the nobles’ job to raise their own region’s economy?
As if every patch of land is fertile or rich with resources!
Ugh.
I regret ever voting for this idiot.
If I’d known, I’d have supported Princess Kliatana instead.
But now she’s not even a princess, stripped of her title and rank just because she refused to marry Kimar.
After hours of council, several nobles gathered quietly outside, making their way to their horse-drawn carriages while most of the others remained inside, feasting in the hall.
Silent glances passed between them, subtle signals relayed by their butlers, servants, or trusted advisors.
A discreet letter changed hands here, a folded slip passed from gloved fingers to sleeve there.
One High Baron, already seated inside his carriage, waited as his butler climbed in and took the front seat.
The High Baron gave a single nod to his coachman.
“Move.” “Yes, my lord.” Once the carriage had left the palace gates, the butler handed over a small sealed letter.
The High Baron read it in silence, his eyes narrowing at the contents.
“Destroy this letter.
Make sure no one ever knows about it.” “As you command, my lord.” The butler tucked the letter deep inside his coat, ready to dispose of it at the next safe chance.
The High Baron stared out the carriage window, thoughts racing.
I don’t even know if I have any options left.
My region lies between Armand and Turka.
If I tried to reach out to Garius, I’d have to pass through Turka’s land.
My so-called ‘port’ is nothing compared to Armand’s, only small fishing boats, nothing more.
Only Armand and now Arjam have real ports and ships.
My people use tiny, manual boats, no mana-powered vessels like theirs.
There’s no way to send a message by sea.
And I don’t have access to a wyvern courier.
If I tried to use the public service, the royal court would find out immediately, and I’d be branded as traitor.
Even if I hate Garius, suffering under the royal will is worse, especially with Turka nearby, always a threat, and nothing to shield my lands from invasion if the royal power falls.
He watched the landscape roll by, mind heavy with worry.
I know Turka will target my land the moment the royals get distracted.
Turka and Garka’s lords are both Kimar’s favorites, always trying to curry favor, even if they can’t stand each other.
After all, those two tried to take Arjam for themselves, but failed when Armand sent troops and crushed their ambitions.
Now Arjam’s fully under Armand control.
Turka knows I lost most of my forces in that first noble coalition war, sent 5,000 reserves, all gone.
And then more than 20,000 were forced into the last celestial war under the late King Edmund.
Now I’ve got less than 8,000 left.
I have to keep a thousand at the border, four thousand ready at the base near the border walls, two thousand on standby in the capital city barracks.
and the rest of my troops stay at my estate as a last line of defense.
“My lord?” Cliff, the butler, spoke quietly when he saw his master staring out the window.
“Yes, Cliff?” High Baron Tybalt glanced his way.
“Forgive me, my lord, but… may I ask what’s troubling you?” Cliff bowed slightly.
“Nothing, Cliff… I’m just worried.
Our market can barely support the local economy now.
We’re forced to make do with what we have, since access to the Armand market is cut off.
If only we could trade with Arjam, but those gates are closed too, and for reasons we don’t even know.” Tybalt sighed, watching the passing landscape.
Knights, archers, and three magicians rode alongside the carriage in silent escort.
Maybe what my wife told me years ago was right.
I never should have let myself be swayed by Klimar, into hating Garius and all his magic inventions. Now our region isn’t even half the size of Arjam, and much smaller than Turka.
All our revenue and taxes come from farming, and that’s never enough.
If only there was a way to grow our treasury and actually strengthen our troops… Sooner or later, I’m sure Turka will invade, even if we’re both supposed to be under the Human Nation.
( End Of Chapter ) CREATORS’ THOUGHTS JakkuSen Have some idea about my story?
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