Chapter 47: A Father and Son Talk (Part 2)

“It’s fine, Father. I have faced this kind of thing more than once or twice. But I think privately that we should do something about it. After all, as the old saying goes: ‘Commoners are like the sheep we raise. Shearing them regularly brings long-term and stable harvests.’ But some scoundrels keep killing the sheep to eat the meat, which seriously hurts the interests of others.” George protested.

“You are right; scoundrels among the shepherd dogs should not exist. But George, Karada is not our sheep pen. Here, our identity is also that of shepherd dogs. Only His Grace the Duke, the shepherd himself, can decide the life and death of those scoundrel shepherd dogs. And if you really want to deal with those guys, it is not as simple as killing a few shepherd dogs. Even shepherd dogs can bite. You have done well enough in our own territory. The increasing number of Freemen and citizens over these years proves that, don’t you think?” Viscount Bolerum thought George was too fixated on this issue and tried to calm his slightly agitated mood.

George seemed to compromise on this topic: “Alright, at least this time they have learned a lesson, more or less.”

Viscount Bolerum said unwillingly: “Although they learned a lesson, I spent over a month in total dealing with this matter. I could have returned to my territory to be with my lovely child.”

“Alright! Alright! I will stay in Karada for a while this time.” George immediately understood the meaning behind Viscount Bolerum’s words and showed some willingness to fulfill his wish.

Viscount Bolerum smiled with satisfaction. He picked up his cup and realized the water had already been finished. He casually put the cup on the table, while George naturally reached out to pick up the silver water pitcher and filled the cup. Then he asked, “Father, you mentioned earlier that it was because of the Court Nobility at the beginning. Is there another reason for what happened later?”

After hearing this, Viscount Bolerum suddenly changed his expression. With a strange smile, he said, “Because I spent a lot of time dealing with the trouble caused by the Court Nobility and other cleanup matters, I looked up and realized I had very little vacation time left. If I returned to my territory, after subtracting the time needed for the round trip, there would only be a few days left to stay there. So I thought about what else I could do in Karada.”

Halfway through his speech, Viscount Bolerum stopped and teased, clearly trying to whet George’s appetite.

George rolled his eyes at his father in annoyance: “Don’t tell me you are dealing with my marriage issue.”

“How did you know!” Viscount Bolerum turned and immediately showed a mischievous grin. “I didn’t expect my little George to reach the age where he thinks about such things.”

“Ever since you asked me to give up my original plan and come to Karada early, I started asking people around me about the reason. The Steward Craig told me that a blind date was the most likely possibility.” George brushed off Viscount Bolerum’s teasing lightly.

“Yes, time really flies! I can still see the image of you when you were born, just like it was yesterday. But in a blink of an eye, it is time to consider the big matters of life. Dad, I really feel very relieved.” Viscount Bolerum looked full of emotion, as if emitting a glow of kindness and fatherly love. At the same time, something seemed to reflect the light in the corner of his eyes. “So, what are your thoughts or conditions for this blind date?”

George did not answer immediately. After thinking for a moment, he replied: “Father, you must have already found a suitable candidate, right? Let’s meet first and see if there is a spark. Maybe there is someone who will do.”

“How rare! You are not objecting. This is not like how someone your age should act. When I heard this news, I argued with your grandfather for a long time. Do young people today no longer have illusions about romantic love? It is not cute at all.” Viscount Bolerum was very surprised by George’s reaction and seemed a bit disappointed because he did not see the situation he hoped for.

George said with a straight face: “If I object, can a better result appear?”

“How will you know if there will be a change if you don’t try?” Viscount Bolerum showed an interested expression.

“I will not do things with too much risk unless I am forced to. In this situation, the input and output are really not proportional.” George did not change his stance despite the bait thrown by Viscount Bolerum.

Viscount Bolerum pouted and said: “Children nowadays are really not cute.”

“So, Father, have you arranged the candidates or not?” George ignored Viscount Bolerum’s attempts to change the subject and cut straight to the point.

Seeing that his teasing failed, Viscount Bolerum had to speak up: “To be honest, there are not many noble ladies in the Duchy of Nohan who are of marriageable age and do not have a contract yet. After removing those with completely mismatched backgrounds and those with bad reputations, the range of choices for you is not very large.”

“So, Father, which ones did you contact?” George was starting to get tired of Viscount Bolerum’s deliberate teasing.

“Alright! Since you asked so sincerely, it would be too rude not to tell you.” Viscount Bolerum took a sip of water to wet his throat and continued, “Right now, there are four candidates. Of course, this is a two-way choice, and their potential suitors might not just be you. First is Verina Keld Kately. She is two years younger than you. Then there is Catherine Andrews Markin, who is also two years younger than you. Next is Cecilia Pasqual Cranston, who is in the same year as you. Finally, there is Clematis Nephton West. You have met her; she is your older sister by three years.”

George began to think about the family backgrounds of these girls.

The Kately family is a Viscount family in the southern part of the Duchy of Nohan. Their territory is much larger than the Bolerum Territory. In fact, the Bolerum Territory is not even the normal size for a Viscount’s land. This is probably because it is close to the Duchy, the core of the country, and has been influenced by that. However, that area is a major grain-producing region of the Duchy, so building a relationship with them is indeed a good choice. After all, having grain in hand means no panic in the heart.

The Markin Family is the only Count family in the Duchy. Their fief is located near the Northern Fortress. In other countries, they would be considered Marquises of the border. However, due to years of war, the number of Knights and the overall combat strength of the soldiers in their territory are almost the best in the Duchy. Of course, because of this reason, their economic situation is quite terrible, and they need a lot of aid from the Duchy every year. Even the most basic food needs to be supplied from outside. Marrying into this family can be said to have both pros and cons. Whether it will turn into a complementary advantage or just become pure economic aid is still up for debate.

The House Cranston’s presence in the Duchy is relatively low. It feels like their family lives quite comfortably because of the various special products from the nearby Doria Forest. But they have no outstanding performance in other aspects. Even during the series of activities around the Autumn Hunt, few people notice them. If George were to marry into this family, he felt he needed to consider it further, otherwise, he really had no idea what would happen.

Finally, let’s talk about the West Baron’s family. This family can be said to be the neighbors of the House Bolerum. Their territory is right to the northwest of the Bolerum Territory, and the two are tightly connected. The West family’s land is mainly mountains and hills, with various mineral resources. The metal smelting industry derived from this is also quite developed. However, like the Markin Family, the food there relies heavily on external input. In some countries where the top leaders have less control, such a territory would either expand outward or become a meal for other nobles. Because the two territories are so close, George and Clematis Nephton West, the only daughter of the West family, have had some interaction.

George immediately raised a question he thought was very important: “Father, I am not clear about the situation of the other candidates. But I remember that the direct line of the West family this generation only has Miss Clematis, right? So how is the preparation for the collateral heir of their family? This will have a huge impact.”

Viscount Bolerum gave a strange expression at George’s question: “Are you saying you have your eyes on Miss Clematis directly?”

“How is that possible? Although we have some interaction, in my opinion, the impression we have of each other is just passable. It definitely doesn’t reach the level of liking or not liking. But if there is no chance at all, we should not waste time.” George absolutely had to refute his father’s teasing.

Facing George’s question, Viscount Bolerum first sighed and then answered: “There are no other heirs. The Baron West lost his ability to have children due to certain reasons when he was young. And their collateral line is even more withered. Now, the only heir left is Miss Clematis. If the two of you marry, either the two territories will merge and the West Territory will become history, or your two children will inherit the territories separately.”

“Would His Grace the Duke have any objections to such a territorial merger?” George asked cautiously.

Viscount Bolerum waved his hand and said: “The last option was actually pushed forward by His Grace the Duke himself. Compared to being merged by others, he thinks the Bolerum Territory, which is right under his nose, is more reassuring. And even after the merger, the Bolerum Territory will just reach the normal size of a Viscount’s land. It is not easy to bring about a series of other troubles.”