"Whether you accept it or not depends on the sincerity of the other party. "After all, Northville is a formidable adversary, but at least so far there is no direct conflict of interest with us, and an alliance with them is not a good thing. However, since it is the other party who has made a request for an alliance, then the initiative is naturally in our hands, and it is the other party that has given us the power to make an offer, and there is no reason why we should not use this power. ”

Titus and the four Counts nodded silently at Fonner's words, this analysis was the most appropriate way to deal with it, and they couldn't think of a better idea.

As long as Arnold's face didn't show any smile, he still stared at Funner expressionlessly.

"The other party has already made conditions. ”

Fonnar stared at Arnold, and from the Duke's face, he could tell that Northway's conditions did not satisfy him.

"Father Watt conveyed to me a request for a marriage alliance from Northway. They want to marry me the eldest daughter of the Duke of Æthelwolf, and the Duke of Louis to marry my sister. ”

The counts looked at each other suspiciously, they didn't quite understand, was there anything to be dissatisfied with this condition?

Arnold stared at the guys coldly, taking in their expressions.

"Do you think this condition is acceptable?"

Arnold's cold tone made the hearts of several counts stunned, they knew that because they and the others had not come to meet before, the new duke was already quite dissatisfied with them, so they had to think twice at this time.

Funner's reaction was the fastest, and when he heard Arnold's tone, he had already figured out Arnold's consideration.

"Indeed, Northway's proposal is probably not that simple. Funamo rubbed his chin and his eyes became wary, "Although this is a suggestion made by Northway, after all, it was conveyed by the envoy of the Snowland Lord, and we have to consider Tamska's attitude towards this proposal." ”

"Tamska's attitude?" Titus was stunned for a moment, and like him, the other four counts also showed puzzled expressions, obviously not following Tamskika's thoughts.

"Yes, the proposal was made by Northway, and this was told to Lord Duke by Father Watt, but it is not clear whether Tamska had any of their wishes to add to it. ”

When Fonter said this, Titus and the others understood a little.

That said, Tamska may also like to see the formation of this marriage alliance...... That said, there is likely to be something good for them. "The younger Earl of Walker Tulun was the first to figure out the key.

"If the Duke of Louis marries the sister of Lord Arnold, that is, Mademoiselle Serena or Mademoiselle Isabella, then his descendants will naturally have the right of inheritance from the maternal line. The elder Earl of Hercasi glanced at Arnold, and there was some surprise in his eyes, "And Miss Serena and Miss Isabella are the heirs of the Duke of Cold Mountain who are publicly recognized by the Duke, right?"

Titus nodded silently with his mouth open. It was only here that he understood what Fang Na had in mind.

"That's right, if the Duke of Louis marries Miss Serena or Miss Isabella, and then the Duke ...... If something happens, then White Horse City will have a chance to peacefully annex the Cold Mountain Territory through the order of succession. Fonner sighed, looking a little uneasy. There are too many strong enemies around the Leng Shan Territory, and it is really difficult for this small empire to accommodate so many ambitions, although the three dukes are still at peace for the time being, but I am afraid that sooner or later, when the ambitions are incompatible, conflicts will break out.

Several other people also thought of this, and at the same time, they couldn't help but be silent. The four counts absolutely did not want to see Tamska have the right to inherit the Duke of Cold Mountain, they supported Arnold's exile of Tagman, it was because they were afraid of Tagman's extremely harsh governance, in order to protect their own rights and interests, if Tamska with the entire Snowen Territory as the support entered Lionheart, then the pressure on their heads would definitely be much greater than when they faced Tagman.

However, Arnold was still so expressionless, and there was no change in any way because of Funner's analysis.

Arnold's expression left several people a little confused, wondering whether the duke agreed with Funner's analysis.

Funner guessed something, when he was in the Frtage leader, he was faintly aware of Arnold's paranoia, and his extreme hatred for William's brother was not so much because the other party took away the position of his heir, but rather because Arnold himself was stubborn, he was imposing some hatred on William's brother, and the source of this hatred, Funner only felt it temporarily, and could not fully understand it.

"So......" Count Hercasi asked, glancing at Arnold, but turning to Fonnar, "how shall we reply to each other......?

Count Helcassi did not finish, and in fact did not have to say any more, for all those in this room could understand what he meant.

Titus couldn't help but glance at Arnold a few more times, and the more expressionless the new duke's face was, the more anxious his heart became.

"But that's how we agreed to their terms? Northvi is a tiger to be reckoned with, but Tamska is not a sheep to get along with, and isn't it worth being wary of their methods of annexing the Favot Territory!"

Count Hercasi pursed his lips and stopped making a sound, he didn't know that this question was a dilemma, but since he was not the one who had to make the choice, then the old earl didn't need to worry too much.

"That's all for today. Arnold suddenly stood up, ready to end this secret room meeting, "Now that the harsh winter has arrived, and the four of you have come from afar, please rest for a few more days in Lionheart Castle, and ask the four to help you in many matters." ”

"You're welcome. Seeing Arnold's tone so polite, Count Walktulun also hurriedly responded. Although the other three counts did not speak, they also bowed their heads slightly and thanked the duke.

"In addition," Arnold looked at Fonner and Titus again, "although the cold mountain territory is inconvenient to move in winter, it is still necessary to step up to inquire about the news from the north, and if the people of the white land have the intention of going south to the Qinghe territory, they must report it as soon as possible." ”

"As you command, Lord Duke. Funner nodded, he understood the importance of the matter.

"And Wang Ji ......," Arnold added, "Your Majesty is in a hurry to summon you, although I don't plan to leave immediately, but it is the duty of a courtier to relieve Your Majesty's worries after all, I want to know the latest news about the imperial capital, do you understand what I mean?"

"Understood, I'll have a good talk with Master Webster. ”

Arnold nodded, he knew if Funner was real, he understood what he meant.

"So be it. He walked quickly out of the small secret room, and in a few moments his figure disappeared from the view of his four vassals.

After Arnold left, Titus also subconsciously prepared to get up.

But before he could stand up, Count Hulcassi spoke.

"How do you think the Duke will respond to Snowlon's emissary?"

Count Hercasi was facing the door, but his eyes were on Funnar.

Fonnar glanced at the older earl, who was already the elder of the Cold Mountain Territory, thirty years ago, when the people of the White Land went south, this Flor Helcasi was already the earl of Niland City, and thirty years later, the young earl had become sophisticated.

"That's a matter for the Duke, and in any case, we make a suggestion, but we should not interfere with the Duke's decision. ”

"With all due respect," Count Hulcassie stared at Funnar earnestly, "the very fact of giving advice is already interfering with the Duke's decision. However, a strong-willed protagonist will not be interfered with by his subordinates and make the right decisions, while an indecisive protagonist will have a hard time choosing from his subordinates' advice, so it doesn't really matter to us how the Duke decides, does it?"

Finner was silent, he understood that what Count Hercasi really wanted to hear from him was not Arnold's attitude, but his own attitude. The old earl wanted to know what position he, the former courtiers of Tagman, stood on.

Titus looked at Funner, then at Count Hercasi, silently waiting for the end of the conversation between the two men.

"Again, how do you think the Duke will reply to Snowlon's emissary?"

The force of Founa's inhalation became a little heavier, and he took a breath, and his expression became more and more serious.

"Your Excellency Lord Helcassi, I am not Lord Duke, so I cannot give you an exact answer. But if you insist that I speak my mind, I can only say that the Duke will answer the Messenger of Snowon in the way that best suits his wishes. ”

"The best way to do it?" Count Hulcassie shook his head, obviously dissatisfied with Turner's perfunctory answer, "Lord Fontaine, I think you should understand why I am asking this question. I have experienced the war thirty years ago, and every time the whitelanders go south, it is a great test for us, and such a test is not so easy to pass, and the old Count of Walktulun has proved this with his life, so in order to avoid a recurrence of the tragedy of the Walkertulens, I must ask whether the Duke can face this crisis rationally, and if he chooses to reject the proposal of Tamska and Northway, then we will probably be as isolated and helpless as we were thirty years ago. How exactly the Duke will solve this problem is important, and I must find out. ”

Titus's expression became solemn, and he looked at Fonner, wondering if his best friend could give a convincing answer.

"You're a foolish question. Fonnar replied calmly.

"Foolish?"

"You've already made your choice, just like me, just like Titus, you've already chosen to support Arnold, so now, do you have any other choice than to continue to support Lord Arnold?" Funner stared at Hercasi with blazing eyes, so much so that the old earl had to tilt his head slightly to avoid Funner's gaze, "You are so half-hearted, I am afraid that the trials we are about to face will become more severe, and I think this is something that neither I nor you want to see." If you really want to survive this invasion of the White Lands, then please give your full support to Lord Duke, and no matter what decision he makes, as long as we work together, we can overcome it. ”

"Whatever decision he makes, we will support it?" Count Hulcassie's beard shook and looked a little angry, "any decision of the Duke is always good and bad, John Fonner, you better not forget why we have to banish a Duke! It is because the Duke's decisions sometimes lead us into the abyss, so we must do our best to prevent the Duke from making bad decisions, so we must find out what the Duke's mind is!"

The old earl shouted loudly, and the eyes of the other three counts were fixed on Funner, and it was obvious that this was not only the voice of the Hercassi family, but also the meaning of the other counts.

Fanna, on the other hand, kept his head down and did not respond.