Maxwell’s argunts brought him nothing but the King’s wrath.
The Golan Royal Family already harbored great wariness towards this Earl, who once ruled over the Helong Mountain Range. They tried ti and again to strip away his various rights within the range and even contemplated making this wealthy area a direct dominion of the Royal Family, to claim it as their own.
Over these years, due to disputes over interests, relations between the Royal Family and the old Earl gradually cooled. Hudson III repeatedly cut Maxwell’s garrison rights, mining rights, imposed additional taxes, and negotiated border lines... All of which faced major and minor opposition from the old Earl. It was clear to anyone that the Earl, who once served the forr King and battled for the Kingdom, no longer enjoyed favor but had beco a thorn in the side of the Royal Family.
Inside the Palace, Maxwell’s heated words almost tore apart the last of his dignity. In public, Hudson III vehently rebuked the old Earl for his treason, his lost loyalty to the Kingdom, and repeatedly emphasized Maxwell’s dereliction of duty in this war—his withdrawal from the Helong Mountain Range.
In the end, Hudson III made a decision. He ordered the disbandnt of Maxwell’s troops, rging them into the forces of the Royal Family, and placed Maxwell under house arrest in Kara Palace. The Kingdom Chief Justice was tasked with drafting his charges for a trial after the war’s end.
The eyes of everyone in the palace converged on the Earl, filled with ridicule, sympathy, indignation, satisfaction... varying emotions were hidden behind the gazes of the Nobles and Ministers. It was evident to all that Maxwell was finished. He had lost his lands, his army, and had beco a bald nobleman with nothing but an Earl’s title. Soon, the Chief Justice would judge his evidence of guilt, and he and his family might even lose their original noble status.
Facing the gazes of everyone, the King’s rage, Maxwell, on the contrary, cald down. He looked up at Hudson with a pleading manner and said,
"My liege, no matter how you view , I have always been loyally devoted to you and your father. Now, I have but one request. Do not underestimate those Dwarves, for they are no longer what they once were.
I have seized so new machinery from them, naly a Steam Siege Hamr, a giant Bed Crossbow, and so knowledge about the ’Path of Divine Invention.’ If possible, I implore you to take these seriously, make use of them, otherwise, the God of Victory will not stand by our side..."
Before he could finish, Maxwell paused a mont, intending to add a few more words to emphasize the severity of the situation, but Hudson III cut him off.
"That’s enough, Earl. Whatever machinery the Dwarves have, they are still but diminutive Dwarves. You cannot hide your dereliction of duty, your cowardice.
In the na of Skadi, be thankful to . I will retake the lost land for you, personally campaign against the Dwarves, and lead your disgraced army back to Helong, while you just wait in the Royal City for our triumphant news.
If you wish to serve in the coming war, forgive for telling you that, at your age, you are no longer capable of such deeds."
The King’s cold and decisive words shattered Maxwell’s illusions, leaving the old Earl montarily stunned, then he mustered a bitter smile under the watchful eyes of the crowd. His face full of wrinkles ca together as if he had already foreseen the King’s fate.
"Very well... very well... May the Gods act as you desire."
In the end, Maxwell bowed deeply, putting all his strength into a sincere blessing for the King.
............
The Royal City held a grand ceremony for the King’s campaign. Amidst majestic cheers, Hudson III led the majestic army towards the Helong Mountain Range after offering sacrifices to the Winter God Skadi and the God of Victory Laiendos.
The flag of the Golan Royal Family, which was also the banner of the Golan Kingdom, fluttered in the air. The red winged tiger embroidered on it looked fierce and awe-inspiring. This army from the Royal City, just like the banner, was full of great confidence in the war; it seed as if the Dwarves, whom they scorned, would flee at the sight of the flag.
Three hundred years ago, due to the Beastman’s conquest, the Dwarves lost Helong, and for the following two hundred years, they were repeatedly defeated by the Beastn. Yet, these Beastn, who had defeated Kaelonde several tis, were eventually overco by the ancestors of the Golan Kingdom.
Even though the Dwarves had made a coback and seized the Helong Mountain Range, Hudson III and his officers did not take it to heart. They believed that since the Golan Kingdom could sweep the Beastn aside, the Dwarves, who had been defeated by the Beastn many tis, would not be a match against Golan.
Almost every soldier thought the war would be an easy victory. Many Nobles even wrote ho, expressing their concern that they might not kill enough Dwarves to be rewarded for their valor.
So, the army set off for the Helong Mountain Range with full confidence, aside from Maxwell and those who had experienced the fierce onslaught of the Dwarves. Nobody believed that the Golan Kingdom would lose this war.
So, what beca of the old Earl now?
The answer was obvious. Following the King’s orders, Maxwell and his sons were confined within Kara Palace, an annex of the Palace with strict guards who would not allow the old Earl to escape—and it seed Maxwell himself had no intention of fleeing. He accepted his fate with calmness and awaited the bad news from the front line.
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