The First Magic World War

Chapter 430: 397, Earl Melclen

Charles publicly announced that South Serif Combat Zone, Behemoth Duchy, and Red Dragon Combat Zone pledged allegiance to Earl Brittany, stirring up quite a commotion, far greater than he had anticipated.

Following Charles’s announcement of the allegiance of the three major regions, several hundred nobles subsequently swore loyalty to Earl Brittany.

Ten days later, out of the Fars Empire’s twenty-eight directly governed counties, two thousand one hundred thirty-six noble domains, sixteen autonomous regions, two hundred fifty overseas territories and protectorates, over fifteen directly governed counties, and more than three hundred twenty-two noble domains and autonomous regions had sworn allegiance to Earl Brittany. As for the overseas territories and protectorates, due to their distance, there had been no movement yet; however, they were originally not significantly impactful on the Empire’s control, and thirty percent of the territories had recognized Earl Brittany’s imperial claim.

Most importantly, Grand Duke Robin and Count Sumei, who had been silent up until then, both presented a condition to Earl Brittany: the Empire’s throne must be succeeded by a descendant of Axel, and if the Earl promised to pass the throne to Antonio in the future, they too would swear loyalty.

Earl Brittany accepted this condition, and the two influential nobles of the Empire promptly swore their oaths.

By now, Earl Brittany had initially garnered the recognition of the most powerful forces within the country and declared his coronation to take place in three months!

Charles had not expected that his being the first to declare loyalty publicly would have such an effect; he had to admit he truly did not understand politics.

Fortunately, this time, he had chosen the right side.

The day after Grand Duke Robin and Count Sumei pledged their loyalty, Earl Brittany summoned Charles for the first time, still at 58 Sixth Avenue in Val de Vaz District.

This time, not only was Charles summoned, but also several of the earliest Sacred Order Knights who declared their support for Earl Brittany.

Although Earl Brittany still appeared weary, he looked much better and spoke in a slightly tired, low voice, “Gentlemen! Tomorrow I will bury Antonio and Anne’s mother in the family’s cemetery!”

Antonio, also deeply saddened, replied softly, “Father, please accept my condolences!”

The Earl spoke indifferently, “I’ve asked Anne to come back; she will arrive in Strasbourg tonight!”

Charles nearly stood up, but then realized he should not disrupt the mood and said softly, “I will go to receive Anne!”

The Earl responded, “Antonio will go with you.”

After announcing this matter, Earl Brittany was silent for a long while before he slowly continued, “You gentlemen are the most loyal knights of the Brittany Family; I cannot let your loyalty go unrewarded.”

“Charles Meklen! You have been by my side and Anne’s throughout this incident, never wavering. In the name of the Emperor of Fars, I, McLaren Brittany, hereby confer upon you the title of Earl Meklen! As for your fief…”

“Let it be South Serif!”

“Behemoth is too close to Strasbourg to have another noble domain; it shall be upgraded to Behemoth County, becoming a major district directly governed by the Empire!”

“Hand over the Red Dragon Combat Zone as well!”

“I shall compensate you!”

Charles hurriedly said, “Charles Meklen pledges my life in loyalty to His Majesty!”

The Earl patted Charles on the shoulder and then said to his son, “From today onwards, you are Earl Brittany!”

Antonio’s emotions were complex as he said, “I will pledge my life in loyalty to His Majesty!”

The Earl also distributed positions and fiefs to the remaining ten knights, but the rest of the ten Sacred Order Knights were made barons!

The enfeoffment was complete, and His Majesty McLaren Brittany, the Emperor, said, “Charles and Antonio, stay with me for a while, the rest of you, leave!”

“Your titles and the enfeoffment ceremony will be held together with my coronation.”

Krel Brittany stood up, patted Charles on the lower back, and nodded slightly to express his goodwill, and Ebner Sumei did the same. Although one was a scion of the Brittany Family and the other was close to the Brittany Family, they were not part of His Majesty Brittany’s original supporters for his ascent to the throne. They were actually closer to Charles than to Antonio, and with such a simple gesture, a small group was born within the twelve of the Sacred Order.

When only Charles and Antonio were left, McLaren Brittany seemed to lose all his strength and said with a sorrowful tone, “Has Nanny truly left me forever?”

Charles didn’t dare to say a word, as nothing he could say would be appropriate at the moment.

Antonio slowly bent down and hugged his father’s thighs, whispering, “Cheer up! Mom wouldn’t want you to be like this.”

It was the first, and probably the last time, that Charles witnessed the most powerful man of the Empire, the future His Majesty McLaren Brittany the Emperor, shed tears.

It was the first time he shed tears after the passing of his lady.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t saddened before but that he simply… couldn’t grieve!

Having the opportunity to cry together with the future Emperor was an immense honor, but Charles had only one resolute thought in his mind, “I will make sure there are no fewer than two members of the Sacred Order by Anne’s side in the future.”

Lady Brittany, too, had a member of the Sacred Order by her side, but Midaphis Axer, the young warrior second only to Antonio, had killed the Countess’s guardian of the Sacred Order with just one move!

Truth be told, unless it was McLaren Brittany himself, the Empire’s most powerful, or Antonio was at home, there was no third member of the Sacred Order in the Brittany Family who could withstand Midaphis Axer.

It wasn’t until dusk that Charles couldn’t help but remind, “Antonio and I need to set out to pick up Anne.”

Only then did His Majesty McLaren Brittany, the Emperor, wipe his tears and say in a low voice, “Go.”

Just as Charles and Antonio were about to leave, they heard the calm yet undeniable voice of the soon-to-be-crowned Emperor say, “Never let Anne down.”

Charles knelt on one knee and said, “Please don’t doubt that Anne is unique to me.”

McLaren Brittany sighed and said, “I doubted you before, but you have dispelled all doubts. I just find it hard to part with Anne.”

“Byron, Inglima, the Lionheart Dynasty and I have reached an agreement. After my coronation, the four nations will form an alliance to jointly partition the Black Phoenix Dynasty!”

“The lands from this partition, along with those of the South Serif, will become the domain of Earl Mecklen!”

“Are you satisfied with such compensation?”

“Lord Mekelen!?”

Charles said with conviction, “No!”

“You forget, you are bestowing upon me the most precious treasure in the world.”

“I am willing to exchange all my wealth, all my lands, all my titled positions, for your treasured daughter—Princess Anne.”

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