Gospel of Blood

"Oh? A duchy title and a large piece of land comparable to Castell? Let me guess, you're referring to the territory of the Starfall Kingdom, correct?"

Charlotte chuckled lightly and asked in return.

Count Yurst nodded.

"Naturally, it is the Starfall territory. As you can see, once the Nez Clan regains its former power, fulfilling the promise of exchanging land will naturally be a matter of course."

Charlotte laughed.

"But the control of the Starfall Kingdom is not in the hands of the Nez Clan right now, is it? And I have heard that even before the Lilac War, the Nez Clan was only relatively influential in the Starfall Kingdom. Even if you regain your former status, so what?"

"How can you make me believe that the Nez Clan will have the power to control the Starfall Kingdom in the future? Not to mention, to gain this so-called land, wouldn't I need to contribute manpower, resources, and fully support the Nez Clan's war efforts?"

"Using a future promise of land to gain my support—how is that any different from me personally conquering a piece of land myself?"

Count Yurst's expression grew serious as he replied.

"Naturally, it is different. Over the years, Edward III's tyranny has caused the Starfall royal family to lose the people's support. Once we initiate the war, it will inevitably be a war of succession, and the new king of the Starfall Kingdom will naturally be someone from the Nez Clan."

"By then, we will naturally grant you the land as the royal family of the Starfall Kingdom. All you need to do is provide some support during the war, which should not be particularly difficult for the wealthy Castell."

"Moreover, to be honest, we have already gained considerable support among the nobles of the Starfall Kingdom. Once the war begins, the majority of the nobles will stand with us."

Charlotte shook her head.

"Count Yurst, there is no need for such words. If your side was truly confident in winning the war, why would you seek others' support?"

"I understand that you want to become the behind-the-scenes power in the Starfall Kingdom, like the Vadallat Clan in the Coria Kingdom. But I think you may have misunderstood one thing..."

"The Vadallat Clan has always controlled Coria Kingdom and contended with the Holy Court, repeatedly driving the theocratic forces out of Coria. But the Nez Clan... lost its power right after the Lilac War."

"You are not only facing the Starfall royal family but also the Holy Court that supports them. This is your greatest enemy."

"And I have no interest in waging war against the Holy Court. After all, I am a devout follower of the Holy Court."

Count Yurst: ...

He glanced at Charlotte, who was casually making the sign of the Holy Cross on her chest, and was left speechless, not knowing how to respond.

A follower of the Holy Court? If he hadn't known about Castell's secrets through the Duke, he might have actually believed her!

After learning about the Thorny Rose and seeing the bloodborne servants in the count's mansion, who would believe she was a follower of the Holy Court!

"Countess Castell, regarding the Holy Court, I think you needn't worry too much. We do not intend for bloodbornes to come to the forefront but to support a new king."

"For the Starfall Kingdom, this remains a civil war, not a war of faith. And in secular wars, the Holy Court cannot directly intervene."

"We won't repeat the mistakes of the first Lilac War. Not to mention, don't you want to know where the land we promise is?"

Count Yurst said.

Charlotte shook her head.

"Sorry, Count Yurst, to be honest, I'm not interested in gaining an enclave, especially one that is far overseas and possibly much larger than Castell."

"The duchy title is indeed tempting, but I have yet to fully control my own territory, let alone have the ambition to take on more."

"Moreover, if I become a duke of the Starfall, would I be considered a noble of the Starfall or a noble of the Crescent?"

"The legal standing of a duchy is higher than that of a county, and I do not wish to become a target of contention for both nations. Although the Star-Moon War has ended, territorial disputes between the two nations remain unresolved."

Count Yurst smiled.

"Countess Castell, you misunderstand. In fact, we are not promising an enclave."

"Hmm?"

Charlotte paused slightly.

The Starfall Kingdom is an island nation, isolated overseas.

If the Nez Clan isn't promising an enclave on Starfall Island, then the remaining territory can only be one place.

That is the mainland part of the Starfall Kingdom, the birthplace of the Roman family, and currently the most disputed territory between the Starfall Kingdom and the Crescent Kingdom—the Roman Duchy.

Thinking of this, Charlotte looked at Count Yurst in surprise.

"Count Yurst, are you saying that your offer is the Roman Duchy? You're going to give away the Roman family's ancestral land?"

Count Yurst nodded.

"You are correct, it is the Roman Duchy."

"The Roman Duchy is the last piece of Starfall's land on the mainland and also a neighbor to Castell. If you obtain the Roman Duchy, your land area will increase nearly threefold, and the population will more than double."

"Not only that, but although Castell has fertile coastal plains, much of the land has long been unsuitable for crops due to prolonged seawater erosion, leading to limited grain production. As I understand, purchasing grain from other territories is something Castell nobles do every year..."

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"During the Star-Moon War, Castell experienced several famines. If it weren't for the war-torn regions surrounding it, Violet and Roman refugees wouldn't have fled to Castell."

"Unlike Castell, the Roman Duchy has vast arable land and is a significant grain-producing area in the northern mainland, and a key region for Castell's grain trade."

"Once you acquire the Roman Duchy, Castell will fill its final gap and become the most powerful force in the northern mainland."

"I think... you understand what possessing the Roman Duchy means."

"As for the legal conflicts you are concerned about, they won't be an issue."

"The Roman Duchy was once part of the Crescent Kingdom. Even now, the Crescent royal family is eager to reclaim this land. If the Starfall relinquishes it, the Crescent royal family would welcome it. You would remain a duke of the Crescent, with no territorial disputes."

"At that point, Castell wouldn't need to constantly worry about the possibility of renewed war between the two kingdoms, as the most contested territory, the Roman Duchy, would be resolved."

"And as the middle ground between the Crescent and Starfall, Castell could monopolize the trade across the Star-Moon Strait..."

"Countess Castell, no land in the north is more attractive than the Roman Duchy. Five hundred years ago, before the Roman royal family ruled the Starfall Kingdom, your ancestors fought the Roman dukes multiple times for border territory. I believe... the Castell family is very aware of the Roman Duchy's significance."

"Countess Castell, now... do you think our offer is sufficient?"

Count Yurst asked with a smile.

Charlotte fell silent.

She had to admit, she was indeed tempted.

It wasn't that Charlotte was an expansionist, but the issues of Castell—lack of grain, being in a strategically dangerous position—were facts she had studied in the manor's study before arriving. These were real problems.

Ordinarily, Castell could buy grain from nearby territories, but during wartime, it was another story.

The Roman Duchy had the grain that Castell lacked. Moreover, the industries of the Roman Duchy and Castell complemented each other. If Castell acquired the Roman Duchy, it would significantly strengthen the north.

Moreover, Charlotte knew that the Roman Duchy was populated by the descendants of northern tribes, who had migrated there. Although they had culturally integrated with the Crescent people, their faith was similar to Castell's.

Most people there... were not Holy Court believers!

According to Charlotte, the Roman Duchy's population was twice that of Castell, around eight million.

In the long run, the Roman Duchy could become a significant source of faith.

Additionally, like Castell, the Roman Duchy was located in the northern mainland, far from the Holy Court's center, separated from the Crescent heartland by the rugged Violet Duchy.

If she acquired the Roman Duchy, Charlotte could potentially develop a force that could contend with the Holy Court in the future, like the Coria Kingdom.

Picturing the future, Charlotte was tempted.

However, she remained calm.

Count Yurst's proposal was indeed attractive, but the timing wasn't right.

Currently, Castell was in a delicate situation. Though it seemed prosperous, it lacked secular protection, faced internal noble ambitions, and external threats.

Since the fallout with Borde, Charlotte had received several complaints from Borde nobles, all testing the waters.

Had Castell not avoided direct conflict with Borde, she suspected nearby dukes might have already initiated territorial disputes.

With internal and external troubles, Charlotte didn't think Castell could afford to wage an external war.

Charlotte guessed the Nez bloodbornes weren't aware of these issue. Otherwise, they wouldn't have made such a promise.

As for why the Nez Clan suddenly sought to reconcile, Charlotte could guess most of the reasons.

The Nez Clan was likely short of funds.

Moreover, they probably aimed to use Roman and Castell to cut off Starfall from the mainland.

They had foreseen the 'resurrected God' behind Castell, though they didn't know it was Charlotte herself, causing them to change strategy, attempting to ally with her instead of infiltrating the north.

Additionally, they might want to make Castell a buffer between Starfall and the Crescent, isolating the Holy Court from Starfall Island entirely...

The Roman Duchy was attractive, but as the Roman family's foundation, it was a liability for the Nez Clan. If the Nez Clan intended to retreat to the Starfall Island, it was a burden.

This was a transparent plan Charlotte could see.

However, the Nez Clan's urgency suggested they had more pressing reasons beyond regaining power...

Their desperation gave Charlotte an idea for addressing Castell's current challenges and opportunities.

"Well, Countess Castell, have you made a decision?"

Count Yurst asked.

Charlotte gathered her thoughts and looked at him.

Her eyes twinkled slightly as she smiled.

"Count Yurst, your proposal is indeed tempting, but these are future promises, unpredictable. For Castell, if you want to secure our support... it’s not enough."

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