Chapter 47: Earl Soren’s Ambition

The Sorenburg, a traditional Norman Empire-style lord's castle, stood proudly by the coast, having withstood the test of time for nearly a century.

Its walls bore the scars of relentless sea winds and crashing waves, leaving behind countless marks of erosion.

A salty breeze swept through the castle windows, rustling the white hair of Earl Soren.

At the age of fifty-six, Earl Corey Buckley reclined in an ornate chair, his gaze fixed beyond the candle on the desk, staring blankly at a large map hanging on the wall.

The map depicted Soren Territory and the Grand Highlands to its south.

The dispute over the Grand Highlands between Soren Territory and Idar Territory had never ceased. Ever since the first Earl of Soren was granted his title, the two neighboring lands had clashed countless times. After years of conflict, both sides had won and lost battles, refusing to back down, glaring at each other with hostility whenever they met.

However, in recent years, Earl Soren had gained the upper hand in the struggle, seizing a vast expanse of land that originally belonged to Idar Territory.

The reason? The Old Earl of Idar had passed away, leaving his territory in the hands of Bruno Stuart, a reckless and immature spendthrift who indulged in feasting and squandered wealth. The entire Idar Territory was barely held together by Old Butler Ford.

With each victory, the aging Earl Soren grew more elated, fueling his ambition to completely take over the Grand Highlands.

To make the Grand Highlands an inseparable part of Soren Territory!

This goal had become his very reason to keep on living.

Earl Soren firmly believed that with just one more war, Soren Territory could drive the Stuart family of Idar Territory out of the Grand Highlands for good.

He had long coveted the iron mines hidden within the Grand Highlands, but the ever-watchful Idar Territory had prevented him from launching large-scale mining operations.

But now...

In Earl Soren's eyes, the perfect opportunity to crush Idar Territory had arrived!

The Hanging Garden was an enormous undertaking. Keeping it a secret from neighboring territories was nearly impossible, and Bruno Stuart had never intended to hide it.

The news that the spendthrift noble next door had poured a massive fortune into constructing a grand garden had long since reached Earl Soren's desk.

"A thousand gold coins per month… Seems like that little brat is planning to hand over the Grand Highlands on a silver platter." Earl Soren muttered to himself.

At first, when he heard the news, Earl Soren found it difficult to believe.

What a joke!

The noble territories in the eastern empire were all in similar dire straits—lacking money and manpower. If an estate could collect four to five thousand gold coins in taxes per year, it would be considered fortunate. Where would one find the wealth to build an extravagant garden?

Even in the wealthier central and western regions of the empire, ordinary Earls could hardly afford to spend over a thousand gold coins every month!

In his mind, only a Marquis or even a Duke could afford such an extravagant project.

As for Idar Territory? Impossible!

Yet, the recent large-scale troop movements and resource allocations in Idar Territory only confirmed the credibility of the report. It left Earl Soren with no choice but to believe this absurd intelligence.

Thus, Earl Soren became convinced that this was an unprecedented golden opportunity!

If he successfully annexed the Grand Highlands, the abundant iron mines in the region would propel him to become one of the most powerful nobles in the entire eastern empire.

Perhaps… he could even secure a seat on the Regency Council!

The mere thought made Earl Soren feel giddy with excitement.

The Regency Council had very few seats allocated to the eastern empire, most of which had been monopolized by the old noble families of the Vals Plain. If he managed to become a Council Noble, the benefits would be endless…

Lost in his daydreams, Earl Soren unknowingly let a blissful smile spread across his aging face.

"Father…"

A sudden voice snapped Earl Soren out of his delightful fantasy.

"What is it?" he asked impatiently.

The speaker was his son—Herman Buckley.

At thirty years old, Herman Buckley had a large, muscular build and golden hair, presenting a stark contrast to his frail, gaunt father.

"I heard you were looking for me?" Herman asked directly.

As the Earl's only son, Herman Buckley commanded all the soldiers of Soren Territory and had personally participated in past battles against Idar Territory over the Grand Highlands.

As Earl Soren's sole heir, the proud and hot-blooded Herman Buckley embodied the arrogance of Norman nobility, considering a noble's honor to be paramount.

"Spring is nearly here. It's time to summon back those idle soldiers," Earl Soren said solemnly.

"You mean…?" Herman Buckley's eyes instantly lit up.

"Gather your knights and soldiers. Before the spring harvest, we will annex the Grand Highlands and drive the Idar forces into their lavish garden!" Earl Soren commanded.

"Haha…" Herman Buckley laughed heartily. "Father, rest assured! Give me some time, and within a month, I'll be drinking afternoon tea in that garden!"

The extravagant construction of the Hanging Garden had already become a laughingstock among the nobility. To Herman Buckley, Idar Territory wasn't even a paper tiger—they probably couldn't even afford to pay their own soldiers.

If he launched an attack now, Idar Territory might collapse without putting up a fight—nothing more than a mere formality.

It wasn't that Herman Buckley underestimated the enemy; rather, Bruno Stuart's reputation had long been that of an irredeemable wastrel.

"Even so… be cautious," Earl Soren warned, still uneasy. "I heard that young Earl of Idar recently restructured his army… We don't know what to expect."

"Him? A kid who has never set foot on a battlefield?" Herman Buckley scoffed. "He's probably just messing around with no real knowledge of military training."