Knight: Becoming King of the World

As spring arrived, new shoots broke through the soil in the fields. In Henry’s domain, the villages and farmsteads were especially busy and lively this season.

The crack of spring thunder marked a new beginning for the self-employed farmers. Within Henry’s fiefdom, they lived relatively free lives, though ones also filled with toil.

Every day, as the first rays of sunlight touched the earth, the self-employed farmers would begin their work in the fields. With hoes in hand, they tilled the soil and sowed their seeds.

These self-employed farmers, who had migrated from other regions, usually possessed a certain amount of wealth, allowing them to purchase seeds, draft oxen, and farming tools.

Although their current houses were simple, they were warm enough. The hearths inside always had firewood burning, chasing away the early spring chill.

Once this year’s harvest season arrived, they would be able to renovate their houses, making them even warmer.

The people of the grasslands had long since abandoned tents, fully transitioning to houses. They had shifted from a nomadic lifestyle to a combination of agriculture and animal husbandry.

Compared to the self-employed farmers, the lives of the tenant farmers were slightly more strained. They rented land from Lord Henry and had to pay rent. If they were short on money, they could take out a loan.

The tenant farmers’ houses were usually simpler than those of the self-employed farmers, but they still worked hard to support their families.

But overall, within Lord Henry’s fiefdom, they felt more at ease. No soldiers came to harass their families, nor did any Record Keepers come demanding all sorts of miscellaneous taxes.

Praise be to the great Lord Henry.

Besides the bustling spring planting, there was another matter being discussed daily in the taverns of Westwood Laine.

That was the Wolf Hunting Festival! Or, as some called it, Wolf Hunting Day.

On the grasslands, the local importance of this festival, Wolf Hunting Day, even surpassed that of the New Year’s festival in the central regions of the empire.

It originated from an ancient legend from the Kuset period. A long time ago, the wolf packs of the grasslands had brought endless disaster to the herders. They not only preyed on livestock but also threatened the people’s very lives.

To survive, the Hunters of the grasslands united and organized a massive wolf hunt.

Ever since, the people of the grasslands have held the Wolf Hunting Festival every spring to commemorate that massive undertaking.

Now, the nobles surrounding Westwood Laine had all received Henry’s "enthusiastic invitation." They were busy preparing their gear to travel to Westwood Laine for this year’s Wolf Hunting Festival.

In the past, each Independent Noble would host the festival in their own fiefdom, just so they could claim first place and enjoy the glory.

But not this time. Henry had arrived.

A dozen or so nobles arrived one after another, bringing their Personal Guards and gifts. Their arrival filled the streets of Westwood Laine with an endless stream of carriages. To Henry, the sound of the turning wheels was like the clinking of coins.

Each noble brought with them other nobles of their retinue, Attendants, and soldiers. ’How much money will the taverns make from this?’ Henry was reminded of how Count John had once taken in those nobles in distress. Those lords, with the remnants of their armies, had spent no small sum in Odoche. The Count must have made a hefty profit.

Henry stood on the stone wall, watching the convoy of carriages kick up clouds of dust. A satisfied smile spread across his face. ’Looks like the local nobles have some manners after all,’ he thought.

"My lord," Tommy said respectfully, standing by Henry’s side, "the nobles have begun to arrive. Will you be going to greet them?"

Henry nodded. "Of course. As the host, it is my duty to welcome them."

They descended the tower, crossed the castle’s drawbridge, and arrived at the military camp outside the walls.

The nobles had already gathered in the square before the gate. Many had not seen each other for some time and greeted one another as if they were long-lost friends.

"Good day, Baron Henry." A lavishly dressed noble stepped forward and bowed to Henry.

Henry returned the bow with a smile. "Baron Edmund, welcome to Westwood Laine. I hope we have an enjoyable Wolf Hunting Festival."

"Your domain has developed so quickly. Seeing it today, it is truly remarkable."

"Haha, and your fief has that vast field of windmills. You use wind power to save on labor for forging and grain processing. I am the one who should be learning from you."

As more nobles noticed Henry’s presence, he spoke with them one by one, and the atmosphere grew increasingly lively.

Tommy assisted from the sidelines, guiding the nobles into the castle and ensuring everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

"Baron Henry, it’s been a while."

Henry and Mace shared a light embrace. "Mace, you had to spend the New Year’s festival with your father, but this time, if your haul from the hunt is too small, you’ll have to perform a dance for us."

The surrounding nobles roared with laughter, and many came forward to exchange pleasantries with Mace.

The nobles filed into the castle, and Henry walked into the banquet hall, flanked by Edmund and Calvin.

’These two are promising prospects I’ve chosen,’ Henry mused. ’They can serve as my aides in future wars. After all, a war always needs its cannon fodder.’

’Boman’s and Fass’s fiefs are rather distant, but perhaps they can be the ones to lead the way when I eventually march north,’ he considered.

Inside the banquet hall, a sumptuous spread of food and fine wine was already laid out. A hired band played cheerful music to one side.

The reason Henry had been watching from the stone wall earlier was to see if these nobles had come empty-handed. ’If they had,’ he thought, ’then I’m afraid there would be no banquet.’

Henry took his seat at the head of the hall. It was a high-backed chair made from the finest Battanian wood, upholstered with cowhide and stuffed with thick cotton.

The three Barons sat near Henry, while the other Knights, knowing their place, seated themselves at the outer tables.