The Lord of the Rings: Lords of Middle-earth.

Chapter 1029 Take the initiative
"A talent!" Roland gave a thumbs up, completely impressed by Marquis Al-Tegran-Franz.

"Uh, actually I'm quite useful, Your Majesty!" Perhaps sensing Roland's doubts, Marquis Al-Tegran Franz quickly stood up to prove that he was not just a pretty face, but a fourth-tier war mage after all.

"Rock Sculpting!" Marquis Al-Tegran Franz skillfully wielded his staff, his hands dancing with magic as he drew magic circles. Finally, to Roland's astonishment, a stone house rose from the ground...

“…Alright, alright!” Roland was truly at a loss. This kind of magic, which could rapidly change the terrain of the battlefield, was being used by Marquis Al-Tegran Franz to build his own house. Roland felt that the magic was being wasted…

"The wind is strong at night; a stone house is better than a tent. You now bear the fate of the kingdom in your hands and must be cautious in everything you do..." Marquis Al-Tegran Franz bowed with his hand on his chest. This flattery made Doss, who was in Roland's arms, look up. Sure enough, this was the most authoritative family among the court nobles; their discerning eye was something else...

“Hmm.” Roland was convinced. After all, Marquis Al-Tegran Franz had already come, so he couldn’t just turn him away, could he?
……

"Where is Marquis Al-Tegran Franz?" Yun Feng asked, clutching a pile of parchment, his eyes filled with exhaustion. After all, he was in charge of half of the kingdom, and the pressure on him was immense. He hoped to find the marquis to share the burden, but after searching around, he couldn't find him anywhere.

"It's been a long time since I've seen him, Your Majesty!" The report from his subordinates made Yun Feng feel anxious.

"Contact Lagrange City for me! Ask if there's any news about Marquis Al-Tegrange Franz! Oh, and remember to send soldiers to scout the Lulong Fortress area!" Yun Feng frowned. In these extraordinary times, it was one thing for Roland to run away, but how come Al-Tegrange Franz has also disappeared?
……

"Marquis Al-Tegran Franz has disappeared? Impossible! Isn't that guy a fourth-tier mage? How could he just vanish without a trace?" Duke Joelster asked, staring at the magical communication sent from Rapid City.

“Hiss… Your Majesty isn’t… Is it possible that Marquis Al-Tegran Franz went after Your Majesty?” Maple Forest Orchid murmured.

"By the Dragon God! This is something the Franz family would do!" Duke Joelster exclaimed, covering his face. The Hand of Swift Currents had witnessed the rise and fall of the entire empire, and the Vladivostok family was intimately familiar with these secrets. After all, the Franz family was known for its loyalty and sycophancy, and in comparison, the abilities of their heirs, whom they had nurtured generation after generation like poisonous insects, were often overlooked…

"What should we do? Will something bad happen?" Fenglin Youlan frowned. Although it wouldn't affect Roland's reputation even if Marquis Al-Tegran Franz died outside, everyone knew about the extraordinary abilities hidden beneath the Franz family's obsequious exterior. The Gu King family was joking! Fenglin Youlan was worried about finding a replacement for the Franz family.

"Vladivostok! Go tell Duke Yunfeng that there's no need to search anymore; he must have gone after His Majesty! The Franz family, aside from anything else, is unparalleled in its keenness for demonstrating loyalty. It would be strange if they didn't fawn over His Majesty!" Duke Giorstea was well aware of the Franz family's survival strategy. As a court marquis family that had never held a fiefdom yet had endured for a long time, the Franz family must have some tricks up their sleeve to survive!
"Are we just going to abandon this?" Maple Forest Orchid frowned and asked incredulously.

“He will be fine! Trust me!” Duke Joelster said with an unprecedented seriousness.

"?" Maple Forest Orchid looked up in confusion.

"Don't underestimate this family's ability to save their lives. They've been through so many life-and-death situations with the previous emperors. How many times have they returned with the emperor's body? It's more believable that they brought back the body of the King of Roland after he died in battle than that he himself was in trouble!" Duke Joelsteria said firmly.

"..." Maple Forest Orchid's eye twitched. This is what reputation is all about!

"Alright, forget about him. You should think about how we can keep this from Queen Nyx! I reckon the Queen has probably found out something, after all, her maid said the Queen often has insomnia..." Duke Joelster sighed. "Let's figure something out, we can keep it a secret for as long as we can. We're caught in the middle between the Queen and His Majesty, it's a real dilemma!" Maple Forest Orchid shook her head helplessly.

"We can only take it one step at a time. Oh, and tell Yun Feng to keep his mouth shut! Don't let anyone else know!" Duke Joelster suddenly remembered to have Yun Feng, who was far away in Jiliu City, rehearse his story, otherwise the two sides' accounts would be inconsistent and give him away!
……

"Are we almost there?" Roland murmured wearily, looking at Marquis Al-Tegran Franz beside him.

"Almost there..." Marquis Al-Tegran Franz glanced at the map, then quickly picked up a fan and began to fan Roland. The autumn morning in the dark forest was sultry and humid, a stark contrast to the chill of the night! Marquis Al-Tegran Franz's considerate fanning brought Roland a touch of coolness.

“No need, Your Excellency Marquis, I have this here!” Roland said, pulling out something that looked like a block of ice from his pocket! It was none other than Dos, which exuded a slight chill. As a dragon of all attributes, the Golden Dragon naturally had no shortage of ice-type abilities. Roland smiled and declined Marquis Al-Tegran Franz’s offer.

"His Majesty is indeed a chosen one of heaven!" Marquis Al-Tegran Franz said, putting away his fan and quietly following Roland on his horse.

“Tell me, why are you following me? Merely being a court attendant isn’t enough to convince me!” Roland turned to Marquis Al-Tegran Franz and said seriously.

Before Marquis Al-Tegran Franz could speak, the sky suddenly cleared above them, and they found themselves out of the dark forest! In the distance, countless plumes of smoke were rising from a stone fortress!

"We've arrived at Rosgarburg, Your Majesty!" Omske said respectfully.

“Yes! Let the knights explain our purpose and call upon the Beorn people to accompany us!” Roland nodded to Omske.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Omske accepted the order and left.

"Casloo! Urge Bard and Thorin! Make Thorin and his short legs hurry up! Ask them if they want to stay inside and have a one-night stand with the Shadow Giant Spider!" Roland said with a laugh.

“Okay!” Caslo replied.

“Your Majesty…” Al-Tegran Franz bowed humbly.

“No need to be so relaxed! The kingdom doesn’t have so many rules!” Roland waved his hand, signaling Marquis Al-Tegran Franz to speak properly.

"Your Majesty, I also wish to do something..." Marquis Al-Tegran Franz gave an awkward laugh. His unique status as a court noble meant the entire family was dependent on the royal family for survival. Thanks to their ruthless method of grooming successors, the Franz family highly valued power. Although Marquis Al-Tegran Franz held a high position, he was essentially a figurehead; the kingdom's economy was insufficient for him to exert his influence. Therefore, he had taken the initiative to act this time!