I became a mage and was recruited by the lord as his son-in-law

Nine o'clock, study.

"bang bang"

"come in."

Bennett took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

The lord and Kenny were sitting on the sofa around a small table. Kenny was wearing black armor and his hair was still sticking to his forehead. He had just returned from the military camp. When he saw Bennett, he snorted again. He had always disliked Bennett. He felt that Bennett was not like a northern man.

It is worth mentioning that Bennett's arms are not as thick as the maid's arms, but the wizard is not like this. The wizard Mervin is a macho man with six-pack abs and arms that can run a horse. Bennett also has abs, which are skinny and show off his abs.

The two of them disliked each other, and the lord was not worried about their relationship. Kenny and Aimee had a good relationship, and that was enough.

"sit down."

The lord patted the seat next to him and motioned for Bennett to sit there.

Hand the documents on the table to Bennett.

"what is this?"

"Confessions from merchants, and news from other territories."

Bennett frowned slightly and looked down at the document in his hand.

First document:

"They said the weapons we were carrying were contraband and that we were selling military supplies."

"All our luggage was opened, and any envelopes we found were said to contain intelligence on the deployment of defenses collected locally."

"The goods had to be counted one by one. We waited for half a month, but the officer still said that they had not been counted yet."

"We ran out of money, so Kent took us back to the territory on foot."

"..."

These are the confessions of the lord's caravan.

If a merchant goes out without weapons, he is asking for trouble. Inquiring about information on defense deployment is obviously looking for trouble. He deliberately delays time in counting the goods. What does he want to do? Start a war at this time?

Bennett stroked his chin and looked at the second document:

"How did you get the news?"

"I passed by the Cook family's territory and bribed the local tax officer to get the news."

"I have been doing business for many years and have some connections in Cook."

"My sister married a city guard in Cook County."

"..."

“Why are you spreading this news?”

"The tax collector told me to do it."

“Someone gave me money.”

"I only told their family members and didn't mention it to anyone else."

"..."

This is the confession of the merchant who spread the news in the territory. I hope they can die comfortably. However, this method is too low-level and has no effect. It doesn't seem like the two things could be thought of by the same person.

Bennett put aside his doubts and looked at the third document.

"The health of the Duke of the North is critical."

"All the lords in the southern part of Cook's territory have terminated their cooperation with the caravan."

"The cooperation of the northern lords is normal."

"Grand Duke Rose has been living in the capital since May."

Bennett recalled the unhappy banquet that night. The news was already very clear at this point, but he still didn't know what the lord and Grand Duke Rose talked about that day that required the Grand Duke to spend so much energy targeting the lord.

Bennett was actually not interested in these things, because the lord had always been concerned about these things. But why did the lord call him here today?

"Tell me what you think."

The lord turned the ring on his hand, waiting for Bennett's answer.

"This is undoubtedly the work of the Grand Duke of Rose. I don't know what role the king played, but I feel that there is a deviation in the methods used. Their subordinates have smuggled some private goods into this."

The lord nodded and said, "You can tell these at a glance. What do you think we should do?"

Bennett was a little confused. Was this something I should give him advice on?

"It's up to the Lord to make the decision."

"You are more shy than a woman. Now you are also a man of the Stark family. You can say whatever you want. You look like a weak willow in the south, but your heart is also a delicate flower in the water town, right?"

Kent's words did not stir Bennett's emotions. People who dislike you will not be satisfied with anything you do. Bennett put the documents in his hand on the table and waited for the lord's response.

The lord did not comment on Bennett's words, but turned to Kenny and asked, "What do you think we should do?"

"Send out the troops and hurt Cook first."

"What's the reason?"

"They seized our goods. Why don't we just fight them?"

The lord did not express his attitude towards Kenny's words, but continued to ask Bennett: "What do you think?"

After thinking for a while, Bennett said, "I want to know what Grand Duke Rose said to the Lord that day."

"He wants to sell their wine and spices to the north through our caravan, and in return he can provide us with shelter."

"The idea of ​​getting something for nothing. Even if Grandpa is not in good health, we are not soft persimmons that anyone can bully."

Kenny expressed his opinion again, but the lord still ignored him and asked Bennett again: "What's your opinion?"

"We have to fight. We can't be bullied and not fight back."

"What's the reason?"

The lord turned the ring in his hand again and looked at Bennett. Bennett noticed that there was a family portrait of the lord's family in the study, with Aimee's sister Dashi in it. She used her hands to protect Aimee, who was still a little doll. Her eyes inherited her mother's blue color and looked very quiet.

"The caravan was carrying Dashi's letter to her father. Cook was preventing a daughter from loving her father, and this behavior should be condemned by a father."

The lord chuckled and said, "The caravan was not only escorting the letter that Dashi sent me, but also the portrait that Dashi sent me. Cook desecrated Dashi's portrait and offended the dignity of the Stark family. He must pay the price with blood."

It was Dashi again. After so many years, fate still hadn't let her go. I wonder how she would be treated in the territory of the fat earl. Bennett remained silent about the lord's decision. He could do nothing to stop it.

Kenny didn't have Bennett's scruples. He slammed his fist on the table. He lowered his head, and the throbbing veins squeezed his neck. "Father, we can't do this to Dashi. It's not fair."

His voice was not loud, but it was powerful, like a volcano about to erupt.

The lord stopped turning the ring and stared at Kenny with his dark green eyes.

Kenny didn't even look up, leaving only the back of his head to the lord.

"Kenny, fairness is not up to you and me."

The lord stood up and left.

Most volcanoes eventually become extinct volcanoes.

Bennett looked at Kenny, who hadn't raised his head yet, and didn't know what to say. He sighed, got up and left.

When closing the door, Bennett saw Kenny covering his face with his hands, his black gauntlets with water droplets sliding down the lines of the armor.

Bennett did not return to his room, but went to see the maple forest. Now there was no maple leaf on the ground. Every spring when the flowers bloomed, the servants would sweep the maple leaves on the ground to prevent them from rotting and stinking.

Back then, Dashi was wearing a red dress and hiding in the flaming maple leaves. Bennett thought of the portrait, her jewel-like blue eyes that were too calm. Did she already know her fate when she got married?

Bennett, who had finished studying today's topic, returned to the room in the evening. He saw Aimee wiping her wet blonde hair in front of the mirror with a towel. Bennett gently hugged her from behind and put his chin on the top of Aimee's head.

"What's wrong, honey, you don't look well."

"It's nothing, I just miss you."