Imperial Crown.

Chapter 229 Fox Family Meeting

It is now the end of March, and the most discussed issue in Nord Province is the marriage between the Fox family and the Griffith family.

Some people believe that this is a signal from the Fox family to stabilize itself from adversity. From now on, the entire Nord Province will change from two strong powers coexisting to a three-way confrontation.

Slater on his side, Anthony on his side, Fox and Griffith on his side.

Some people think that this is just the Fox family's dying struggle, and Raven is superficial and short-sighted. Even though Marquis Anthony has let him go, he is still tied to Fox for temporary interests. In the future, he will definitely be implicated by the Fox family and go to destruction together.

Others believed that although the wedding date had been set, there were still variables. After all, Raven was born into a low-caste class and did not understand what aristocratic honor was. He might directly break the contract when the wedding date approached, using it as proof of his allegiance to the Slater family.

But no matter what the outside world speculates, the wedding is imperative for the Fox family.

The wedding of the Earl's family is not an ordinary wedding, and it must be grand and grand.

In fact, for this marriage, the Fox family mobilized a total of 2500 private soldiers and began intensive training a month in advance.

Regardless of the practicality of the weapons and armor, at least they all look beautiful and sparkling.

4月28日就是婚期，如今已经是3月29日，最多推迟到4月1日，送亲队伍就得出发了。

The last family meeting before departure was held in Montreal, and Nancy was eligible to attend for the first time.

Except for Nancy, the three people present - her father Montreal, eldest brother Guldan, and second brother Sanchi - all had serious expressions, which made the overall atmosphere seem quite depressing.

After all, the Fox family has not had an easy time during this period.

Montreal spoke first: "I called you here today mainly to set a direction for the family's next actions."

"Nancy's wedding is a major event for our family. As the head of the family and the earl, I must be present in person. Gul'dan, as the eldest son, must also go with me to watch the ceremony."

At this point, Montreal turned to his second son and said, "So, for the next two to three months, Sanchi, you will have to take on the responsibility of managing the family."

The second son of the Fox family is now 31 years old, but he has a baby face and is covered with freckles. He looks more than 10 years younger than his actual age.

Hearing his father's words, he sighed and said, "Father, you think too highly of me. My accomplishments are limited to painting and sculpture. You want me to manage the territory? Why don't you hang me at the city gate? Maybe it can serve as a deterrent."

"If you ask me, you'd better keep my elder brother."

If it were any other time, Gul'dan would have been very happy to have the power of an earl.

But now the Fox family is in turmoil, with all its internal and external troubles exposed. Even Montreal is somewhat overwhelmed. Taking up the burden at this time would be pure trouble.

"My brother, you should obey the orders of our father. You are already 31 years old. It is time to take on some responsibilities."

Sangqi smiled bitterly and said, "Brother, if you want a fox to learn how to hunt, you should train it from a young age, instead of feeding it with leftovers and vegetables and then throwing it into the wild to fend for itself!"

This sentence seems to be directed at Gul'dan, but it is actually directed at Montreal.

In order to avoid internal strife in the family, Montreal provided Gul'dan with the best aristocratic education, while his second son, Sanchi, was allowed to develop freely and was never considered in the sequence of heirs.

"If a family wants to last long, it must assign responsibilities to everyone." Montreal glanced at Sanchi and said, "I have never forced you to do anything, nor have I forbidden you to do anything."

"It is the support of the family that allows you to indulge in the enjoyment of art. Now it is time for you to repay the family."

Sanchi grinned and sneered disdainfully, but did not refute: "Yes, father."

Montreal's rhetoric is a mixture of shamelessness and sophistry. If the head of the family starts speaking in this way, why bother with a quarrel?

Seeing that his second son had approved of his decision, Montreal turned to Gul'dan and said, "And you, my child. I arranged for Sanchi to stay because it is the most appropriate choice at the moment, not a reason for you to refuse to take responsibility."

"You all think that the Fox family is on the verge of collapse and will soon be unable to recover, right?"

He glanced at his two sons, and they both avoided him guiltily.

The atmosphere was a little too depressing for a moment.

Montreal took off the earl's crown from his head and threw it in the middle of the table.

The eyes of both sons were attracted by the crown. Montreal saw the covetousness in Gul'dan's eyes and the ambition that Sanchi restrained behind his pupils.

Montreal shook his head in disappointment:
"Do you think that this hat alone can determine who is the earl?"

"Big mistake."

“The essence of power is violence and wealth.”

"It is our Fox family's territory spanning two counties, the millions of serfs we control, and the powerful military force consisting of 47 extraordinary people and two standing legions!"

"As long as these are still there, the Fox family will not fall!"

This statement was so powerful that it gave Gul'dan and Fox more confidence.

Montreal said in a deep voice: "Sangqi, go and ask the butler how to ensure the operation of the family in the future."

"Gul'dan, go meet Archbishop Thomas and invite him to go to Eagle Territory with me."

"Yes, father, but if Archbishop Thomas refuses..."

Montreal said categorically: "He won't refuse."

Gul'dan's eyes shone with light, and Sanchi beside him also looked enlightened.

Combined with Montreal’s previous assertions about the nature of power, they saw hope for the family’s revival.

Indeed, it is precisely because Montreal chose to betray His Majesty the King that the current passive situation has been created.

But everything has two sides. Since there is no way to obtain the forgiveness of His Majesty the King, I might as well throw myself into the arms of the Church of Light.

Power comes from violence, and the Church of Light is one of the most powerful forces on the continent.

With the support of the Church of Light, the future of the Fox family remains bright.

End of the meeting.

Just when Nancy was about to leave, Montreal suddenly called her.

"You don't have anything to say?"

Nancy shook her head gently: "Father must have a reason for his decision. I am a magician and I don't understand politics or power."

"Then you have to start learning from now on." Montreal said, "You will soon become the mistress of the Griffith family. Our Fox family needs your strength."

Nancy realized the meaning behind the words, which was to let her harm the interests of the Griffith family and benefit Fox.

Originally, she was happy that she had received her father's approval, but now she felt a little disappointed and her tone was not very polite: "So what should we do specifically, Master of the Family?"

Seemingly unaware of her daughter's temper, Montreal said, "Just like every noble lady should do, wake him up in the morning and sleep with him at night."

"Listen to his troubles and admire his achievements." "During the day, be the most stable lady in the whole empire; at night, be a whore that no one can reach!"

Nancy's face turned from pale to red, and she bit her lip: "This is not what a father should say to his daughter!"

Indeed, she liked Raven and was willing to be the most qualified wife.

But she couldn't accept that her father treated her like a commodity, a gift to please others.

Even if that person is Raven, it won’t work.

"Then take it as an order from the head of the family." Montreal's expression remained unchanged, his voice cold: "If you do all of the above, Raven will really treat you as his lover, his secrets will no longer be secrets, his wealth will be your wealth, and his territory will be your territory."

"And at the end of the day, it will all belong to the Fox family."

"I can't do it, Father." Nancy took a deep breath and stared at Montreal. "I can't love Raven and deceive him at the same time."

"If that's the case, I'd rather break up the marriage!"

At this moment, the air seemed to stop flowing.

Montreal avoided Nancy's gaze and slowly spoke of another matter:

"Do you know why I look down on the Slater family?"

"Because they always attach too much importance to the feelings of family members. They actually gave a viscountship to the most useless son in the family!"

“History has long proven that a family that puts family interests first will always outperform a family that puts the wishes of their children first.”

"A qualified noble should give up his own desires and put the interests of his family first."

Nancy lowered her head, her eyes unfocused, and breathed out a mocking smile.

Montreal frowned slightly, "Is it funny?"

"No, father is right." Nancy raised her head: "You are the head of the family, and your words are of course the interests of the family."

"But I have a question. When have you ever made a decision that was entirely based on the interests of your family, rather than your own considerations?"

"Was it when you chose to join the Church of Light in exchange for resources to advance to the sixth level? Or was it when you deliberately made my second brother useless so that he would not cause you any more trouble?"

Just because Nancy is unwilling to reveal it doesn't mean she can't observe or think.

Montreal was deeply touched by these words.

He raised his head and looked directly at his daughter's face for the first time in 20 years. His lips moved and his eyelids trembled a little. "That afternoon, March 1176, 3 in the Guangming calendar."

Nancy's breathing stopped and she stood there in a daze, looking at Montreal with eyes that were so sad that they seemed about to break.

That day was the day Nancy was born.

It was also the time when her mother, Montreal’s wife, died in childbirth.

Montreal held the table with both hands. His originally steady voice trembled after being suppressed: "I wanted to take you to the mountains and let the wild beasts devour your life."

He stared at Nancy, gritting his teeth, veins popping out on his forehead, and hatred that could not be concealed in his eyes: "But I still let you go, let you inherit your mother's name, and let you grow up."

Montreal seemed to be back to that afternoon again. He began to hear his wife's helpless cries and screams. His cheeks trembled violently and his eyebrows twitched wildly:

"Because, you are a member of the Fox family!"

Nancy's eyes were wide open and her fists were clenched tightly as she looked at her father, her watery eyes filled with calm pain.

The father and daughter had their first deep conversation in their lives, and they broke each other's hearts.

Montreal stood up and walked quickly out of the house.

"I understand, father." Nancy's voice was calm: "I will marry Raven and be the best wife."

She was answered by the sound of a heavy door closing.

It was unknown how much time had passed before Nancy slowly turned around and wiped the blood from her own nails with a handkerchief.

Three days later, on April 3, the Fox family's wedding procession slowly set off.

529 carriages, 2500 Fire Fox soldiers, 800 followers, 11 first-level transcendents, 9 second-level transcendents, and 1 third-level transcendent.

At the front was Count Montreal, wearing the fourth-level plate armor "Molten Embers".

At the same time, with Eagle Castle as the center, buildings were built at an extraordinary speed at all costs in order to accommodate distinguished guests from all over the Nord province.

On April 4, after nearly a month of construction and at a cost of 5 gold coins, the ancillary building, which could accommodate thousands of nobles, was completed.

On the same day, Raven made new progress in magic engraving.

According to the relevant records in "The Path of the Mage", if a third-level magician wants to engrave third-level magic, it will take at least 3 to 5 years, and at most 10 to 20 years.

Raven chose the first-level magic fireball, which is dozens of times simpler than the third-level magic. According to the initial progress speed, Raven originally thought that he could complete the engraving within 3 months, that is, before the end of March this year.

But surprisingly, although there are only 9 basic structures of Fireball, it becomes increasingly difficult as time goes by. Now, 4 months have passed, and Raven has finally completed the engraving of the first 3 structures.

During this process, Raven understood more and more why Sikoret asked him to choose the first-level fireball technique.

As the first-level magic with the longest history, in the process of engraving it from scratch, Raven slowly began to understand what "flame" and "burning" are in the world of magic.

This is a process of understanding the nature of fire from scratch.

Even though only three structures have been completed, Raven's speed in releasing fire magic has increased by about 3%, and its power has increased by about 15%.

He began to look forward to the day when the engraving would be completely successful.

However, the practice must come to a halt for the time being.

Because as the news of the marriage spread, nobles came to congratulate.

On April 4, 10 days before the wedding, 18 noble families had already arrived. As the head of the family and the protagonist of the wedding, Raven certainly could not avoid them and started the prelude to the wedding.

The wedding not only attracted nobles, but also many businessmen, almost crowding the commercial square of Shining Gold Town. They had to temporarily set aside an area next to Eagle Town for businessmen and tourists to buy and sell goods.

On April 4, all 23 noble families of baron rank and above in the 17 counties of Nord Province, except for the Fox and Slater families, arrived.

On April 4, the Fox family's wedding procession arrived at Eagle Territory.

……

(End of this chapter)