Lord of Caldera

"Cowards," the Count thought bitterly at their silence. Yet, this result wasn't entirely unfavorable. Their silence was practically a neutral stance, which allowed him to spread responsibility across the families. The Count looked at Toby with a self-satisfied expression.

"Seeing as there's no response, perhaps I should take a bit more time to think…"

"We must accept the negotiation!"

The Count's face hardened at once. He turned to see Leon stepping forward.

"Sir Sylas sacrificed himself to save us. How can you hesitate now that there's an opportunity to save him?"

The air froze. The other three noble youths stared at Leon in disbelief.

"Is he crazy?"

They knew Winslow's family was close to Rey and Sylas, but such boldness was reckless. Especially with Count Herning, a lord they would continue serving.

The Count's gaze turned icy. "Is that the position of the Winslow family?"

Though he merely asked the question, it felt like a challenge asking if Leon would dare not regret it. Leon closed his eyes briefly, memories from the previous night replaying in his mind.

On the day Sylas staged the hostage situation to help others escape, Rey had come to find Leon amidst the gloomy atmosphere. Leon greeted her in shock, noticing that despite their lord's capture, Rey was utterly calm.

"Sister? Why are you here…"

"Leon, do you remember your conversation with our lord?"

Her detached tone made Leon flinch; Rey had always been formal with him, but now, she had dropped the formality entirely. This wasn't for family affection but a straightforward warning.

"You said you'd support him no matter what happened."

"Yes, that's correct," Leon replied.

"Even if he goes against Count Valdemar?"

Leon fell silent. It was a hard question. Opposing the other three families wasn't a concern, but going against the Count?

Rey didn't wait for his answer and continued.

"It doesn't matter to me. But if you choose the Count, I'll be taking Mother with me."

"Wait, Sister. Why so suddenly?"

"It's simple. I don't want to leave her with a family that's bound to fall."

Leon's face stiffened. What kind of event could make their family's ruin inevitable by choosing the Count's side? The answer was clear: Sylas and the Count were at odds, and preparations were already underway to eliminate the Count.

His mouth went dry, and he broke into a cold sweat.

"What is Sir Sylas thinking? Did he get captured on purpose?"

"You don't need to know."

"Sister, please."

"If you intend to support him only if there's potential, how low of you. What happened to the loyalty you always spoke of?"

Under Rey's icy gaze, Leon was rendered speechless. She turned her back to him, leaving him with one final remark.

"As Father's stand-in, you're making the family's choices. If we fall because of you, then it's Father's own fault."

Leon knew he stood at a crossroads. Trusting his instincts, he chose to support Sylas.@@novelbin@@

"Yes, that is the position of the Winslow family."

"Is that so?" the Count replied, his gaze on Leon growing darker. Leon, however, remained steadfast, not taking back his words. The Count gritted his teeth as he watched.

"Damn brat. Of all times to ruin things!"

Now that Leon had spoken up, the Count had no way to shift the responsibility. He would appear to have ignored the counsel given if he dismissed it.

Finally, the Count bit his lip and said, "Fine, we will accept the negotiation."

"A wise choice," Toby replied, though the Count's face soured even further. After the meeting adjourned, Leon let out a sigh as he walked away. Even he had no idea what would come next.

Looking up at the sky to ease his troubled mind, he heard a voice call out.

"Lord Leon?"

"Who's there?"

Leon looked sharply at the person who had spoken. He recognized him as Max, one of Sylas's attendants.

"It's Max. Do you remember me?"

"I remember. What brings you here?"

"I'm delivering a note to the one who made the wise choice," Max replied, handing Leon a folded note. Leon, slightly confused, took the note and read its contents. His eyes widened as he finished reading, and Max whispered to him.

"My master said that wise choices are always rewarded."

Leon nodded silently. Once Max departed, Leon crumpled the note and swallowed it whole. He muttered to himself, grateful he had chosen to support Sylas.

The terms presented by the elves for negotiation were simple.

First, both sides would exchange hostages, regardless of the number.

Second, representatives from both sides would meet to find a compromise.

Third, each side's representative was permitted two guards.

Aside from the hostage exchange, it was essentially an agreement to discuss matters in person. While the proposal wasn't particularly elaborate, the elves' overwhelming military strength made it a generous offer. Merely engaging in dialogue could be seen as a gesture of mercy. The Count found the offer unusually lenient.

"This tactic feels familiar," he thought.

It was just like the bait-and-retrieve trick he had used on Sylas—laying down an irresistible lure only to retract it the moment they took it.

"No, no," he assured himself. "This is pre-negotiation. No need to be anxious yet."

If it was a tactic he was familiar with, identifying the traps should be easy. He would only need to stay alert at the negotiation table. With that in mind, the Count prepared for the meeting.

"The only issue is the guards," he mused. "I can only bring two with me."

The Count pondered for a while. If trust was a priority, he would take his knights, but his knights lacked the strength to stand against the elves. With one strike, they could be killed. In the end, the Count reluctantly called for Rey and Toby.

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"Rey, accompany me. Sir Toby, I ask you to serve as my guard as well."

"Yes, Father."

"Gladly," Toby replied.

These were the only two knights capable of facing the elves, so he had no choice. They readily agreed to the Count's proposal.