My Kingdom Building Done Right!

Chapter 205: A Ruler Who Keeps Their Promise Is Loved By Many

"Okay, what’s the big secret?" Leone asked as soon as he closed the door to his room. "You said you had something to tell me in private, and now we’re here."

The grimoire strapped to the side of Leone’s waist faintly glowed, then unfastened itself free. Since it was only the two--err three of them, Hassan included, there was no need to act like an ordinary book that Leone always carried with him.

"First of all, good job handling everything earlier," Daedalus replied. "Things worked out according to plan. Now the high-ranking tribes understand that the Aslan Tribe is not the least bit scared of facing off against the Darkmane Tribe."

Leone smirked. "Naturally. With our current forces, there’s no longer any need to worry about them."

"Now let’s talk about important matters," Daedalus stated. "The preparations for Brann’s vassalship ceremony are going well. You should invite the chieftains of the middle-ranked tribes later. However, you don’t need to invite the chieftains of the high-ranking tribes.

"Besides, even if you don’t invite them, they can still watch the ceremony from the gathering spot near their respective villas."

Leone nodded, knowing this was true. The gathering points on each floor were deliberately located in areas where the guests would have a perfect view of the surroundings. This included the open space behind the fortress walls used for special occasions.

"Duncan, Oswald, and Garen already have a good impression of you. So, if you invite them to that special occasion, they will feel that you truly value your connection. On top of that, by not inviting the high-ranking tribes in it, you are subtly implying that you find them more important."

"You really have a knack for politics, huh, Daedalus?" Leone crossed his arms over his chest. "In any case, I agree with this plan. However, I don’t think anything you said is a strong enough reason for a private talk. There must be something else aside from this."

"You’re right." Daedalus nodded. "Actually, it’s about the assistants of the White Falcon Merchant Guild. Specifically, the father and daughter pair, Conrad and Natalia."

"What about them?" Leone arched an eyebrow.

"Kukuku! They are the real reason I asked to talk with you in private." Daedalus hovered closer to Leone. "You see, those two are hiding a very big secret."

"Okay, enough with the suspense. Just spill it."

"Very well. Conrad is actually the Great Chieftain of the Warclaw Tribe, Godwin. Natalia, on the other hand, is his daughter, Tianna."

The young man blinked once, then twice, before realization finally dawned upon him.

"It doesn’t seem like Wayne and Ragnar are aware of their father’s and sister’s secret identities," Leone stated. "Since that’s the case, I guess it’s safe to say that even they are not aware that their father and sister are traveling incognito?"

"Perhaps," Daedalus replied. "But one thing is for sure. They have come to investigate us closely."

"If so, you should have let me gather my vassals before you let me know of this." Leone frowned.

"No." Daedalus shook its body. "It is best if your vassals don’t know about this. Leone, you didn’t grow up in the Borderlands, so you have no idea how much respect and reverence the low-ranking tribes hold for the high-ranking tribes.

"In their eyes, their chieftains are akin to deities of this land. To them, they are people who are sacred and untouchable. Didn’t you see the way they looked at Hagen earlier? They looked a little anxious whenever they interacted with him.

"That is the power their mere names and positions possess. Now, what do you think will happen if they knew that the chieftain of the strongest barbarian tribe is here?"

"Godwin will suspect why my vassals are acting cautiously around him?" Leone replied in a doubtful tone.

"In a way, yes." Daedalus nodded. "But that’s not all. If we let him be, Godwin will be able to gather information about the Aslan Tribe without worries."

"I don’t see that as a good thing..." Leone blinked.

"On the contrary, it is a good thing," Daedalus stated. "If they knew they were talking to Godwin, they might spill more information than needed to impress him. For example, you like a girl. Wouldn’t you want to impress her by doing things for her? The same can be said for giving information."

"Then, wouldn’t they do the same to Hagen since he’s also a chieftain of a high-ranking tribe?" Leone insisted.

"No." Daedalus spun in front of Leone. "It’s the opposite, actually. Tell me, among the high-ranking tribes, aside from the Darkmane Tribe, which one has a bad reputation with the Aslan Tribe?"

"Ah... I see the angle you are aiming for." Leone smiled faintly. "Aside from Great Uncle, the Aslan Tribe doesn’t have a good impression of the Grimhowl Tribe. They must feel betrayed by their promise of an alliance, especially about the ally ’with benefits’ part."

"Exactly. That’s why, in the future, make sure to keep your promises, Leone," Daedalus said. "A ruler who keeps their promises is loved by many, including their enemies. This means that even if they aren’t on the same side, they could still trust them to a certain extent.

"You might not understand this now, but words hold more power than you know. Even unspoken words, the words you only speak inside your heart, hold great power that not many know about."

"I’ll keep that in mind."

"You should. The power of a Hero King grows more powerful when he keeps his promises and honors. It is the way of Kings. It doesn’t matter if other Kings break their words. You alone must not."

Daedalus then returned to the strap around the young man’s waist.

"We’re still going with our original plan after the vassalship ceremony ends, right?" Daedalus inquired.

"Yes," Leone replied. "It’s time to teach the Darkmane Tribe a lesson they will never forget."

"Right." Daedalus chuckled. "Time to make them understand that they are not the only ones who can play dirty."

The two partners in crime laughed like two third-rate villains, knowing their plan was flawless.

Their plan... that will become the start of the Darkmane Tribe’s nightmare.

————

Meanwhile, on the first floor where the rooms for special guests were located...

Jason knocked on the door of the villa where Conrad and Natalia currently resided.

The moment the door opened, the young man saw the beautiful lady, who looked back at him with a sweet smile on her face.

"Yes?" Tianna asked. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"I have come here to deliver some afternoon snacks as per the order of my Great Chieftain," Jason replied calmly. "Please accept it."

The young man was holding a basket filled with sandwiches. Tianna thanked him and took the basket from his hands.

"Thank you," Tianna said. "Are you the one who made this?"

"I only helped a bit." Jason smiled as he handed the basket to the young lady. "I was the one who added the cheese to the sandwich."

For a brief moment, their hands touched, but Jason didn’t mind it one bit. He simply gave the young lady a respectful bow before taking his leave.

He would need to deliver the same snacks to the second and third floors as well, since they wanted to showcase the Aslan Tribe’s hospitality to their guests.

When the door closed, Tianna secretly headed to the balcony to observe Jason, who was walking away from the villa.

A tinge of red could be seen on her cheeks. The young man had been wearing nothing but a pair of fang necklaces on his upper half.

His lean and toned body, which was the result of eating properly, as well as exercising regularly, was very tantalizing in Tianna’s eyes.

’You look healthier since we last met,’ Tianna thought while watching the young man’s back disappear from her view.

Suddenly, someone called out to the young lady from behind, making her almost jump out in fright.

"Natalia, is there something wrong?" Godwin called out his daughter’s alias, carefully keeping his act to ensure no one would know their true identities.

"Nothing’s wrong, Father," Natalia replied. "Someone came to give us some snacks."

"Um? Why is your face red?" Godwin asked in a serious tone. "Are you exhausted from our trip? Did you get a fever?"

"Father, I may get sick from time to time after using my powers, but I’m not that fragile. It’s just... a little hot, so my face is red from the heat."

"... But it’s not hot though?" Godwin tilted his head. "It’s actually cloudy? Plus, isn’t the wind rather cool?"

Tianna ignored her father’s words as she walked toward the table with the basket in her hands.

Without even inviting her father to join her, she reached out to take a sandwich from the basket and took a bite.

"It’s good..." Tianna muttered.

"Is it?" Godwin moved closer to take a sandwich as well.

Though before he could grab one, Tianna took the sandwich that her father was about to take and took the cheese out of it.

She then handed the sandwich back to him, which made Godwin wonder why she had taken the fillings of his sandwich.

"I didn’t know you liked cheese." Godwin accepted his cheese-less sandwich and took a bite.

"I didn’t like it before," Tianna admitted. "But I like the cheese here in the Aslan Tribe."

"Should we take some before we go home then?"

"Un. Let’s do that."

Tianna smirked before taking another bite of the cheese that had been placed inside the sandwiches by the young man who was very close to her heart.