In the Liszt Manor at the border.
Even though it had the same name as Watson’s guard, that was not his manor. A hereditary baron called Wilber Liszt owned the estate, and he was not related to Watson’s guard. It was a large manor, and it had hundreds of people. There was a rumor that the family was related to someone at the border.
In that world, only noblemen had the right to a family name; to make it easier to differentiate between those two people, Wilber Liszt would be addressed as Wilber.
“Master Wilber, something terrible has happened!”
The guard, Wesley, dashed into the manor with a pale face.
Wilber sat in the hall with a cup of tea in his hand. His face was gloomy.
He had not been happy for the past few days. The Liszt Manor had been the best at the border, and he had hundreds of subordinates. However, a few days ago, a Blackmoon Castle had suddenly appeared at the border, and they were recruiting people like mad; even he was tempted by the conditions they offered. If he were to serve as a guard, he could get a set of bronze tier defensive weapons and even a mounted horse.
Everyone could get three Pentacolor Fragrant Chicken eggs every day.
Blackmoon Castle did not only have many bronze tier equipment, but they also had many Pentacolor Fragrant Chicken eggs.
He was depressed when he learned the owner of Blackmoon Castle. The castle was by Edward, the down-and-out baron. Edward’s eldest son, Vincent, had once worked for him. At that time, he even wanted to marry his daughter, Monica. Unfortunately, Wesley had ruined that.
When Wesley explained it to him, Wilber did not pay too much attention to it. It was only a Pentacolor Fragrant Chicken. Even though he was tempted, he was not so shameless that he would just snatch it. However, the Blackmoon Castle’s power had gotten stronger. It made him a little regretful.
If Vincent had become his son-in-law, then the Blackmoon Castle would be his property. The Pentacolor Fragrant Chicken and the bronze tier equipment would also be his. If he had so many resources to unify the border, it was not impossible for him to become a great noble who could stand up to the border guards.
Wilber thought about it. He was a little displeased with Wesley as the man had lusted after the Pentacolor Fragrant Chicken and then had fallen out with Vincent.
At that moment, when he heard Wesley’s report, he frowned. “Can’t you see that I’m drinking tea? Why are you shouting and running in here? Why do you look like that? Where are your manners as a noble guard? Go out and knock on the door again.”
“Yes, Master.”
Wesley shrank his neck and turned to walk out of the door. After he knocked on the door again, he walked into the room. “Master, I have something to report. May I come in?”
“Tell me, what happened?” Wilber put the teacup down.
“Master, the chief guard told me that he doesn’t want to work here anymore. At the end of this month, he will go to Blackmoon Castle.”
“What did you say?”
Wilber stood up with his eyes wide open. He raised his hand and swept the teacup off the table; it made a cracking sound. “Why didn’t you tell me about such a big matter earlier?”
Wesley had an aggrieved look on his face. Wilber was the one who told him not to speak, and he was also the one who told him not to speak. He felt wronged.
However, he did not dare to defend himself. He could only ask weakly, “Not only the chief guard, but the other bronze tier warriors in the manor also have the intention to go to Blackmoon Castle! Master, what should we do?”
A hint of jealousy flashed across Wesley’s eyes.
He also wanted to seek refuge with Blackmoon Castle. Unfortunately, he had a grudge against that family. Even if he went there, they would not take him. In addition to that, he was not a bronze tier warrior, so it was impossible for him to pass the test.
He had looked down upon Vincent back then, and he never expected that kid to be Blackmoon Castle’s eldest young master in only two months.
“Those ingrates! I worked so hard to raise them, feed them, and clothe them, and now they want to abandon me? B*stards!”
He was so angry that he cursed loudly.
Wesley did not say anything. He understood the guards’ thinking. There were no enemies in the world, only conflicting interests. Those people did not leave earlier because the price offered by Blackmoon Castle was not enough to tempt them. It was not because they had a deep relationship with the manor.
Blackmoon Castle’s new recruitment plan had spread to the nearby farms. It stated that everyone would get ten Rainbow Phoenix Chicken eggs every day if they joined them. One egg was worth ten gold coins, and ten eggs meant 100 gold coins. It was 100 gold coins a day, 3000 gold coins a month, and that would be 36000 gold coins a year.
He did not know if his master had that many assets, and if one could get such good benefits, who would stay? Wesley calculated the figure again, and he was regretful. If he had not used his power to bully others and angered Vincent, and if he had helped them instead, he might have been the chief guard in Blackmoon Castle by then.
He felt that he had missed out on those benefits.
“What should we do? It’s almost winter. Without these guards, who will protect the family? I will never allow them to leave.”
Wilber was like an ant on a hot pot; he paced back and forth, his tone gradually became irritable.
Then, Wesley said, “Master, I have an idea. Didn’t Vincent, the eldest young master of Blackmoon Castle, want to marry Young Miss? And he has served you before this. So perhaps we can betroth Young Miss to him. Maybe he would help us for the sake of our past relationship. And Blackmoon Castle would be equivalent to Master’s assets once we become a family.”
“You have a point! Go, bring Monica here.”
Wilber’s eyes lit up as he nodded.
He had not wanted his daughter to marry Vincent. However, he would no longer object to that marriage as Vincent’s status was worthy of his daughter.
After a while, Monica reached the room.
Monica was a beautiful woman in her early twenties. She wore a gorgeous long dress and a sun hat that noble ladies favored. Her face was covered in heavy makeup, and she was complaining loudly as soon as she arrived. “Dad, why are you betrothing me to Vincent? I don’t like that poor boy at all. I won’t agree to it. Did you say you’re only doing that to take advantage of the benefits, and I wouldn’t really be engaged to him?”
“Did I say that?”
When Wilber saw that his daughter had exposed him, his old face reddened, and his eyes widened. “I could have done whatever I said, but it’s different now. Vincent has a huge castle. Do you understand that—castle? Only one person has the right to live in a castle. If you marry him, you’ll be its mistress. Aren’t you willing to do that?”
“If they have a big bed that’s softer than velvet, and if I can eat delicious meals every day and have ten maids to serve me, and if I can wear nice clothes every day. I can consider it if it’s something like that.” Monica was a little tempted when she heard that. Then, she added her own request. “Oh, right, there’s one more thing. I can marry Vincent, but he can’t touch me…”
Wesley frowned.
It was true that Monica was a good-looking woman, but no one could bear her unruly character. She had not married into the family yet, and she considered herself as the mistress. It was as if she was not worried that Vincent would refuse her.
Wilber voiced the same concern as Wesley. “Monica, you aren’t even married yet, so you should learn to list your requirements appropriately. Otherwise, they might think that we do not possess any noblemen’s qualities.”
“That makes sense. Let’s lower our requirements. I don’t want ten maids—two is enough. The other conditions can’t be changed.” Monica nodded obediently.
“Wesley, take Monica to Blackmoon Castle and familiarize yourself with the environment. After all, it will be our second home soon.” Wilber sighed in relief when his daughter had agreed to the marriage. His eyes burned with passion when he thought about the fact that Blackmoon Castle would soon be in his hands.
“Master, what if he refuses to marry Miss Monica?” Wesley asked.
“Would they dare to refuse? We have been around for more than a hundred years; are we not worthy of them?”
Wilber stopped his daydreams. He smiled coldly as he said, “I heard that many farms are dissatisfied with Blackmoon Castle because of their recruitment plans. If they refuse this marriage, I shall join forces with the nearby farms and send troops to destroy the Blackmoon Castle! If they dare to refuse me, then they will have no place at the border.”
