Imperial Crown.

Chapter 592 Kissing My Ess
The Cairns Empire, Nord Province, Hippocrates County.

Late at night. Rose Street.

The burly Dalton paced back and forth at the street corner, looking slightly anxious. Although he had mentally prepared himself and knew what might happen, Dalton still found it hard to forgive himself when it actually occurred.

Ever since Governor Tyrone arrived, he had been driven out of Little Rascal's castle and returned to his original residence. His status within Binziman's territory plummeted. To say he wasn't upset and felt a sense of loss would be a lie. But what could he do? He didn't hold a title. He had merely been Raven's agent within the territory. No matter how well he performed or how loyal he showed, Raven would never grant him a title. After all, the number of meritorious officials under Raven awaiting titles stretched from Snowmaple County all the way to Hippok County.

Moreover, even Raven, the Marquis, is now in dire straits, barely able to save himself. It's a stroke of luck that Dalton is still alive.

Almost half a year has passed, and Dalton wondered when this would end. After all, the food, drink, and shelter of nearly 100,000 people all depended on the nobles of Hippocrates County, especially Binziman. This was due to both the geographical proximity of Binziman and Snowmare County, and the fact that Governor Tyrone was deliberately taking his anger out on Binziman. Dalton understood that Tyrone didn't dare attack Snowmare County and provoke Raven, so he was venting his anger on them, hoping to annoy Raven.

Initially, there were only 70,000 people, but as time went on, especially after news of the death of the dragon Zor'thane spread, more and more people joined the campaign against Raven. In less than two months, another 20,000 to 30,000 people joined, bringing the army to nearly 100,000.

One hundred thousand people!
They ate and grazed every day, doing absolutely nothing. In less than six months, they practically drained the entire Hippocrates of its resources, leaving it completely depleted. This year was another year of great disaster; months of heavy snow caused a sharp decline in crop yields. In less than six months, nearly 6,000 to 7000 serfs had starved to death. Normally, in such a situation, there would have been a mass exodus. But Tyrone had stationed 100,000 troops on the border of Hippocrates, forming an impenetrable fortress. Not even a fly could escape, let alone a person.

Therefore, Dalton had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure, hoping that Governor Tyrone would be lenient and spare Binziman.

Deng Deng Deng

As time slowly passed, activity finally broke out on Rose Street. The carriage traveled on the cobblestone road, the horseshoes striking the stones with a crisp sound.

Dalton hurried over.

With a series of thuds, two naked girls were thrown out of the carriage like objects. Their once fair bodies were now covered in black and purple from being whipped. It was a horrifying and extremely cruel sight.

"Rami!!" "Fimi!!" "Oh no!!!!"

Dalton stared at the two unconscious girls, lunging at them like a dog, letting out a heart-wrenching wail. Yes! These were his twin daughters. He had brought them to Tyrone and Hyde's banquet today, hoping Tyrone would show leniency. To be honest, Dalton had his own selfish motives. He hoped his daughters would catch the eye of Tyrone's eldest son, Minsk, and be taken into his household, even as concubines. After all, Tyrone was too old, and Hyde was far too licentious. But he never imagined this would be the outcome! Even though he had prepared himself for his daughters to lose their virginity, witnessing their tragic scene overwhelmed him, and as a father, he could no longer suppress his grief. Sadness, anger, guilt, resentment, pain… all these emotions swirled within him, turning this towering man into a weeping, helpless child.

“Mr. Dalton.” “Mr. Hyde invites you to the castle tomorrow for an appointment.” “To discuss the matter of the title.”

The coachman coldly stared at Dalton kneeling on the ground and spoke. Then, pulling on the reins, he turned the horse around and prepared to leave. But before leaving, he seemed to remember something and added, "Oh right," Viscount Hyde also said, "these twin sisters are nice," "very pure," "and very moist." With that, he tugged on the reins and galloped away with a "Giddy-up!"

"A title??"

Once the people were gone, Dalton, exhausted from crying, finally came to his senses. Had he heard correctly? Hyde was actually offering him a title? If he could truly have one, then his daughters' sacrifice would have been worthwhile. Gazing at his two naked and unconscious daughters beneath him, Dalton wiped his face with his sleeve, grabbed one with each arm, and headed towards the mansion. Previously, as a superhuman knight under Ramsay Bolton, his residence wasn't shabby; it was a detached house facing the street.

"What title will they give him?" "Baron?" "Perhaps a viscount, who knows?" Dalton pondered silently as he walked. He couldn't help but let his imagination run wild. He couldn't control the thoughts swirling in his mind. Although Hyde was only a viscount, Governor Tyron was already a marquis. If Hyde were promoted to earl, then he would have a certain chance of becoming a viscount. It was at least somewhat possible. After all, the previous lord of Binziman was Ramsay Bolton, a viscount.

"Daughter." "Your sacrifices have been worthwhile."

He settled his two daughters on the large bed and covered them with the blankets. Dalton took out a low-level healing potion and fed it to each of them. Then he gently kissed each of their foreheads, whispering softly. He then left the room.

The thought of soon becoming a nobleman kept Dalton awake with excitement. He ordered bread and mushroom soup to be brought in, along with plenty of cheap wine, and began his midnight snack. Now, he couldn't afford Angel's Tears, let alone beef or mutton. Dalton ate while silently weeping. His mind was filled with the hardships he had endured over the past six months… and the suffering his daughter was experiencing tonight. But thankfully, all his efforts hadn't been in vain!

It was already the dead of night, around 3 or 4 a.m. Soon it became bright again.

Dalton donned his most presentable formal attire and walked towards the castle. Halfway there, he suddenly realized that Hyde was probably still fast asleep. Arriving so early would appear immature and hasty, unbecoming of a nobleman. It would also disturb Viscount Hyde's rest and cause him distress. After much deliberation, Dalton sighed regretfully, paused for a moment, and then turned back towards home.

"Cry, cry, cry!" "All you do is cry!" "You've cried away all the good fortune in our family!"

Back home, Dalton was somewhat agitated. Seeing his wife and several maids weeping in each other's arms, he became even more irritated.

“Dalton!” “My husband!” “Why did you have to take your daughters to that party!” “You knew perfectly well what was going to happen!” “Now your two daughters are awake,” “but they can’t even speak!” “Oh! My poor daughters!” Dalton’s wife couldn’t help but complain.

"What do you know?!" Dalton snapped. He glanced towards his daughter's room, then forcefully suppressed his anger. He believed that once he became a nobleman, everyone would understand him, including his wife and daughter!
"Six months ago," "you said, 'Marquis Raven will definitely protect us.'" Dalton's wife didn't care about any of that; all she knew was that her daughter, whom she had raised with such care since childhood, had been ravaged beyond recognition by a beast. "Three months ago, you said again that Governor Tyrone trusted you completely." "But look now," "look at how his son is abusing our daughter!" "Shouldn't we leave here?"

"Leave?!" Dalton's lips curled into a smirk. He was amused and exasperated by his wife's naiveté. In the entire Hippocrates, not a single serf could escape. Let alone a family like theirs with children. The entire Nord province was at war! And Hippocrates was at the heart of the war! What did his wife think this was? Playing house?!
What war doesn't result in death?
My daughter survived, and came back alive, unharmed, all thanks to me! Otherwise, with her beauty, she would have been violated by countless men long ago! Yet my contribution has been erased. My family has turned a blind eye to it!
Too lazy to waste any more words, Dalton took off his formal attire and paced anxiously back and forth in his study, his hands clasped behind his back. Occasionally, he would bend down to write a few words. He was contemplating the various scenarios he might encounter, how he should respond appropriately, and what elegant and aristocratic remarks he should make. It was a bittersweet task. Dalton swore he had never felt time pass so slowly as he had today.

at last
He waited until 3 p.m. when a servant rushed back to report that the banquet in the castle had begun.

Dalton then picked up his expensive ceremonial robe, which he was extremely careful to avoid even getting a speck of stain on, and put it back on. It was understandable that Dalton was so cautious; after all, he spent most of his time in armor during battle, and this was his only set of clothing. It was also made by the master tailor Wrynn of Mon'en City. It was said that most of the nobles in the Nord province ordered their ceremonial robes, and even their aristocratic attire, from him. Each set cost no less than 100 gold coins. Ordinary people simply couldn't afford such a thing.

Donning his formal attire, Dalton adjusted his shoes, exuding confidence. He walked towards the castle. Nearly an hour later, Dalton arrived at the castle gates.

"Oh!" "Look who's here!" "It's our star of the day—His Excellency Dalton!"

Inside the castle hall, Hyde's exaggerated, strange scream echoed, making Dalton extremely uncomfortable. He suddenly became the "monkey" in everyone's eyes.

The hall was crowded; virtually all the surviving nobles of Hippocrates were present. After six months, they had clearly come to understand who the true masters were, able to control their lives and deaths at will. Therefore, they mostly resided in Hippocrates, holding banquets every few days to find new ways to flatter the Tyrone family. In Hyde's words—it was like all the nobles were lining up to kiss my ess.
"Oh," "Dalton," "Did he dig out his wedding suit and wear it?" a nobleman chuckled.

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.

Dalton grew increasingly embarrassed, his face turning a deep purplish-red, his toes clenching tightly inside his shoes. "No," "No," "This is my new suit."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions varied. It seemed the rumors that Dalton was about to become a nobleman were true. After all, everyone knew that Dalton had sacrificed his two precious daughters, the twin sisters, last night in order to achieve this.

However, they were all old nobles and didn't particularly like Dalton. At most, Dalton was merely a vassal of Tyrone, which was quite different from them, who were registered nobles of the empire. The biggest difference was that they paid taxes directly to the capital and the empire, while Dalton's taxes and allegiance were solely to the Tyrone family. But the Tyrone governor's territory didn't seem to include Hippocrates, did it?

In the Cairn Empire, those without land but possessing titles were collectively known as court nobles, and these titles could only be bestowed by the royal capital. Other nobles, including dukes, did not have this power.

They wanted to see how much territory the Governor of Tyrone would be willing to give to a complete stranger.

"Come, come, come," "Your Excellency Dalton," "Come sit here."

Hyde was a completely different person now. Not in temperament, but in physique. "Overweight and bloated" would be the most apt description of his current appearance. He was so pot-bellied that he was already sweating profusely just standing there. He pulled Dalton to the roasted whole lamb and handed him a bottle of Angel's Tears.

"Today!" "I have something very important to announce."

After Dalton had eaten and drunk his fill, Hyde stood up and shouted loudly.

During the brief lull, Dalton surveyed his surroundings. When he realized that Governor Tyrone was not in the main seat, his heart skipped a beat. He had a vague, inexplicable feeling.

"Dalton!" "You're a traitor to us, aren't you?"

The next moment, Dalton's intuition came true. Hyde took out an enchanted crossbow and spoke to him, his face sinister and ruthless.

Dalton never imagined that today wasn't the day he was to receive his knighthood, but rather the day he would lose his life. The situation took a dramatic turn for the worse. Dalton frantically stood up, waving his hands repeatedly: "Viscount Hyde, my contributions are evident to all, how could you say such a thing? Is there some misunderstanding?!"

“Then tell everyone!” Hyde roared, pointing his crossbow at Dalton’s cheek. “Weren’t you once Raven’s dog?!” The enchanted arrows on it gleamed dangerously in the lamplight. “You were Ramsay Bolton’s henchman, yet after Ramsay’s death, you served Raven!” “I, Hyde, hate traitors more than anything!”

"Yes!"

As Hyde was about to pull the trigger, Dalton was both shocked and terrified, but he didn't want to sit idly by and wait for his death. He shouted, "I was indeed bewitched by Raven before! I became his dog, ruling Binziman for him!" "But now!" "I have long since severed ties with Raven!" "Because I understand!" "Raven is a traitor!" "He has angered the Emperor!" "The Nord Province has only ever had one governor! One master! That is Marquis Tyrone!"

"Haha!" "Look how scared you are!" Hyde put down his crossbow and laughed loudly. "I was just kidding you!" "I've already applied to my father!" "I plan to make you a viscount!" "And let you rule the territory of Binziman!" "My father has agreed!" "With the dragon Zolzaen dead, Raven has no one to rely on anymore. It's time for our hunt!"

"Hu~~"

Dalton wiped the sweat from his brow, relaxing from his tense state. "Thank you, Governor Tyrone!" "Thank you, Viscount Hyde!" "Dalton is willing to serve you faithfully in the future, for the Slater family..."

Bang! ! ! !

Before Dalton could finish speaking, the crossbow unleashed a powerful roar. The enchanted arrow, a flash of silver, pierced through the void and plunged into Dalton's chest with lightning speed!
"oops!!!!!!!!"

Hyde was shocked. "Why is this crossbow out of control?!" He slammed the crossbow to the ground, smashing it to pieces. "It's been too long since I used it!" "This piece of junk!" "Oh, I remember now." "This is the one I bought from Raven!" "Disgusting!" "They gave me this kind of garbage."

Hyde quickly knelt down beside Dalton and shouted, "Viscount Dalton!" "Are you alright?"

However, when Dalton was turned over, he was already dead. His eyes were wide open, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and a smile remained on his face. It was the joy of becoming a nobleman. Forever frozen on his face, and in his life.

……

(End of this chapter)