If I Disobey the Duke

Elegant Power (4)

“Madam is also participating in today’s conference. It’s like a dream.”

The senior executives who were seated in a row at the back of the conference hall were excited.

“Is she coming to check the progress of the main tower construction? According to the people there, the atmosphere of the fortress is already spring-like.”

“What a great person the lord is. He allowed the administrators and Madam to join the meeting attended by the vassals.”

The duke’s senior administrator was also a fairly high-ranking officer. But compared to those who would soon arrive, he was just a lowly man with only one position.

“By the way, was this your first time?”

The youngest looking man nodded in response to the middle-aged administrator’s question. He glanced over the railing that separated the center of the conference room. “Yes. I’ve been praying really hard. The seat of the nine people at that semicircular table… The newly added chair will be your seat, right? After that, the chair on the podium is where the lord will be. I couldn’t sleep because I was so excited for today!”

The room structure was cut halfway between the audience and the conference hall.

The table was still empty, but the room was bustling to prepare the archives to be placed on the table.

The middle-aged administrator felt sorry for the newcomer. After a few more visits, would he still have that cheerful voice?

The guards loudly announced the vassals’ entry. Dozens of senior administrators stood as one body.

While each was called by name, the six vassals of the Duke of Winter entered first in two lines.

The vassals held an upright posture as if they had a stake in their spine, walking along the red carpet stiffly.

It seemed as if six stone statues were moving at the same time.

At least two more humane gaits followed: the priest and the chief administrator.

The both of them stood at the front. The differences between the two and the others were huge.

Even the scribe who held the pen was terrified.

Ivan was in the second seat, and then Hans next to him. Despair, like the aura of cattle being dragged to the slaughterhouse, was dripping from his face.

All eight were seated at the table, and shortly thereafter the guards came again.

“The lord has arrived.”

Cutting the guard’s words, he entered. It was a cool stride suitable for a tall person.

A man who embodied intimidation in a human-like form. He was their lord, someone who could even cast winter in the abyss.

Everything seemed to be trampled on and conquered wherever the soles of his boots touched.

With the chief of staff, he crossed between the administrators and soon passed the railing.

Six vassals saluted, and the rest bowed their heads to show respect. When the chaplain took a seat in the empty chair, it looked like all nine of his vassals had gathered.

Vlad walked past them without a minute response and strode up the podium.

“…”

If it had been the same, he would have sat down on the chair with no extra movements.

He stopped while holding a mahogany chair.

A quiet commotion broke out in the conference room. As soon as he tapped the chair with his index finger, the backs of the veterans stood still.

Something… was different.

Vlad, who narrowed his eyes, soon sat down as if nothing had happened. His long legs jutted out of the chair.

Only then did the rest find their place.

The gray eyes sweeping across the vast arena were like a sharpened sword.

The new administrator felt the lord’s gaze on him for a moment. He dismissed it as an illusion, as there was no way that would happen to a single administrator soon.

He acted like a king of wild beasts watching the area from the cliff rock, and he slowly opened his mouth.

“I will go directly to Ataka with the reinforcements.”

There was no one as straightforward as the lord.

“Some of the Cadiz security forces are temporarily converted to fort guards. To improve security, we are setting a curfew after sunset.”

“I have received your orders.”

It was unknown why he suddenly changed his mind, who had originally decided to send only the knights to go there himself.

But it wasn’t that bad of an idea since he could help the Knights Order in terms of power.

“What is the date of departure?”

– We have prepared it according to your previous order, so we must leave at once.

“Let’s do it at dawn tomorrow.”

“I have received your orders”

“Next. Drinking is prohibited in the entire estate.”

“…!”

Not only the guards who guarded the gates, but also the scribes opened their mouths that was unimaginable in their lifetime.

And soon, like a magnifying glass, his gaze shot into one place.

A blonde priest bit his own lips. He just lowered his head like a criminal dragged out after his judgement.

Count Valks scrambled, “When… will the order… be dismissed?”

“Until I feel like it.”

Ivan recited in his head a prayer to comfort himself who was nearing death.

They all felt as if they had contracted an incurable disease that restricted themselves from doing what they liked.

The chief of staff also barely made it back to reality.

– Your Excellency, I am seriously concerned about the backlash from the soldiers and the people regarding the consumption of food.

“I see.”

– Especially if we’re talking about the people…

“You don’t seem to be very concerned about the people’s backlash.”

The air froze like a winter lake.