In the lord's hall of the Black Thorn Castle, Anne glanced at Li Meng, who was sitting beside her without saying a word, and the annoyance in her heart became even heavier.

Li Meng ...... this time Still inexplicably missing, inexplicably reappeared - he appeared in the hall of the lords, the time, last night.

When Anne sensed Limmon's presence in the middle of the night and rushed to the lord's hall, Lemon lay limply on the bench beneath him...... When he appeared in his field of vision, he was in a state of slumber. Moreover, Li Meng's soul has also become extremely weak......

But now...... Now there are other things to do.

"Count Simon, Duke Carmen, Marquis of Aidan, shall we begin?"

In the hall of the lord, in addition to Anne, Lemon, and Spiegel, who had been waiting by Anne's side, and the two guards guarding the entrance of the hall of the lord, there were three other people......

They are Simon, the Imperial Count from the province of Danco, Carmen, the Duke of the Empire, and ...... Next to Sicily, in the southern Apennine Peninsula in the province of Niland, the Imperial Marquis of Aidan.

The reason for the arrival of these three powerful nobles, who had important influence in the southern part of the empire, was to convey the appointment of the new lord of Sicily on behalf of Emperor Caligula, who had just regained control of the empire.

And the second is to test it...... The attitude of the new guardian of the southern frontier of the empire towards the other vassals of the surrounding empire has changed compared to that of her predecessor, her "father" Grand Duke Greia.

"We have no opinion, let's get started, Akasha...... Your Majesty the Duchess!"

Duke Carmen consulted Count Simon and Marquis Aidan for their opinions, and nodded to Anne.

"So, let's get started, the struggle for power. Until then, enjoy the hospitality of the Mokawi clan......"

Anne nodded gracefully, and Spiegel, who was standing behind her, immediately understood and clapped his hands.

Then the servants of Mokawi entered the lord's hall, still holding the discs in their hands, which were still full of steaming, delicious-looking food.

The struggle for power, the tradition of the nobility's self-proclaimed elegance, was essentially a form of dueling, and when the conflict of interests of the nobility could not be reconciled, a treaty was made in advance, so that their respective followers could compete with each other, and the loser had to obey all the conditions of the treaty.

This was a restraint on the powerful, and the orthodox aristocracy emphasized that the true aristocracy was a group of loyal and invincible followers, in order to distinguish the "nouveau riche" who won the title by personal force.

A hint of bloodlust flashed imperceptibly in Anne's eyes, but she easily disguised it.

No one cared how delicious the food on the table was, they talked to each other as if they were dearest friends.

But in Anne's eyes, the false smiles on their faces clearly concealed their inner anxiety and excitement.

That's right, it's excitement...... They are sure that they will soon be able to reap the benefits they are looking for.

And Anne, looking at their greedy faces, couldn't help but lose her mind and lowered her head, as if remembering something.

Anne vaguely remembered that after she had just become a member of the Bloodline, at the request of the Grand Duke of Greia, she had attended several banquets of nobles, in which Anne had seen these people in front of her...... It's just that at that time, there was only humility and respect on their faces......

Until now...... These people came just after Anne released the news that the Grand Duke of Gloria had announced his retirement and passed on the title of Grand Duke to herself......

Perhaps noticing the gaze of the Duchess of Akasha, the words and deeds of the three nobles became unnatural.

"Three, please believe in the etiquette that my 'father' taught me, and I will strictly abide by aristocratic traditions, rest assured. I'm not going to interfere too much...... Swear in the name of Mokawi. ”

Annie's words didn't ease them, after all, they were on Annie's turf.

Despite the guarantees of imperial law and imperial power, they did not dare to take it lightly.

In case Anne becomes angry after the defeat, even if the power struggle wins, they will have to pay the price, because ...... The dignity of the upper nobility was unprovoked.

"Well, of course we believe in your and your family's credibility. Looking left and right, the eyes of Count Simon and Marquis of Aidan dodged, Duke Carmen could only grit his teeth and stubbornly answer: "And I believe that after the power struggle, you will fulfill our previous agreement as promised." ”

"Oh, did you say you're going to win?" said Anne, scoffingly, and then she looked at Duke Carmen coldly.

Beads of sweat oozed from Duke Carmen's forehead at some point, as a hereditary nobleman of the empire, he knew very well how capable the family behind the Duchess of Akasha in front of him was!

Tiberius, the previous emperor of the empire, once asserted that if the Morkawi clan had intentions, the Carthaginian Empire would easily become the Morkawi Empire, and if the Morkawi clan had intentions, the last two coastal provinces of the empire would be signed as Morkawi and permanently included in its jurisdiction.

But Mocalvey clinged to this place because of a secret agreement between its first patriarch and Octavian, the founding emperor of the Roman Empire.

"I, I didn't mean that, Duchess Akasha......" Before Duke Carmen's words were finished, Count Simon, who was hiding on the side just now, said coldly: "Your Excellency Duchess Akasha, His Majesty the Imperial Emperor Caligula has affirmed that the province of Srenne will definitely return to the embrace of the Empire before sunrise tomorrow!"

The province of Srennes is the eastern province across the Apennine Peninsula from the Sea of Aesonion, because it is close to the sea and on land, the only place for the empire to pass through Greece, the importance of the province of Sren, and the countless gold coins it brings, are enough to make people crazy!

It's a shame that it's still firmly in the hands of the Mokawi clan!

"Oh, are you questioning me?" said Anne, looking up at Earl Simon with interest.

"No, I'm just stating the facts. Simon bowed slightly, and said in Anne's elegant tone, "I don't think anyone can withstand the onslaught of the Imperial Legion!"

"And, I hope, the next time I have a power struggle with you, please don't shirk and gamble with the whole of Sicily!"

It's over, anyone can hear the provocation in Simon's words.

Duke Carmen and Marquis Aidan looked at Anne worriedly, but unexpectedly found that she was not angry, but on the contrary, thinking?

What was she thinking? How to kill Simon? Or to leave all three of them here?

If Grand Duke Gloa was here, he would not hesitate to let Spieg torture Simon to death, and then hang it on the tower outside the Black Thorn Castle to warn the world not to provoke the dignity of Mokkawi at will!

But...... After all, the Grand Duke of Glia was not in the castle of Mokawi......

"Well, you are right, when you see the Emperor, please make to him my unreasonable request, and if you want Sicily, he will have to add it, and I will see the other two provinces of the coast, the cities of Aretion and Ségistana, and the provinces to which they belong...... That's good!"

Anne said these words with a smile, not caring at all about the few people present, and her face gradually turned blue!

Aretion was the base of the Julius family during the Roman Republic, and Ségista was the most important economic city in the early days of the Julius family!

But Anne brought it up so easily now, she didn't seem to care at all about the faces of these people, let alone the deterrence from His Majesty the Emperor!

“...... In any case, Duchess Anne, you are not like your father...... The Grand Duke ......" Simon said with a gloomy face, and then, he paused, sneered, and continued: "When I return to Rome, I will personally report to His Majesty the Emperor about your attitude!"

"Well, tell him, and Caesar behind him, tell them!"

Anne stood up suddenly, her scarlet eyes staring straight at Simon unabashedly!

Simon was so frightened that he took two steps back, and Duke Carmen did not stand still, but with that awkward smile, he stood between Anne and Simon, and he said with a smile: "Don't leave him alone...... Excuse me, Duchess Akasha, can the struggle for power begin?"

"Hmph...... Let's get started!"

Anne shook her head, and there was no trace of warmth on her cold face.

At this moment, Li Meng, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.

"Anne...... I want to go back to the study and look at the book again......" Li Meng said with a pale face, and he tried to stand up, but was finally forced back by Anne.

"No, Li Meng, your soul is very fragile now...... You'd better not think about things and rest here in peace......"

"But ......"

"No, but! Instead of reading a book, you might as well imagine where you have been! Do you know how worried I am?!"

"This ...... I'm sorry, Anne......"

"Humph!"

Anne's strength made Li Meng open his mouth, and finally lowered his head in frustration and sighed, and continued to lean back on the bench, staring at the ceiling with bored eyes.

Duke Carmen raised his head and gave him a deep look at Lemon, who decided to gather some information about him after returning to his territory, because ...... This little guy seems to be very important to Duchess Akasha!

Unexpectedly, before he could think more, he felt that his entire body was shrouded in a powerful coercion, which almost made him unable to stand!

Fortunately, this coercion was fleeting, and Duke Carmen raised his head in horror, only to see the disdain in Anne's eyes...... With the threat!

"Spiegel?"

"Always waiting for your orders, hostess. ”

"Let those people know what the price is for trying to offend the dignity of the Mokawi clan!"

"Yes, mistress!"