Complete victory. The Gray Robe savored this word after leaving the residence.
Historically, Castile has also had several victories and counterattacks, but ultimately due to various compromises, the Avars were not completely exterminated. Once the Avars restored themselves, they invaded Castile again.
After repeating this cycle, the Avars unknowingly gained enough territory to compete with the alliance.
This young governor was correct; if you want to strike, you must do it thoroughly, ensuring that nothing grows back. However, does Castile not understand this principle?
Every time there was an opportunity to drive the Avars back into the sea once more, there were always internal voices suggesting that the national strength was waning, and it might be better to rest and recuperate first, only to end up regressing to the initial starting point.
At this moment, the Gray Robe suddenly realized why this governor delayed taking further action, allowing that mascot royal to sit there. He was still very young, and moreover, he had absolute control over this country, which meant there was no need for haste. Or perhaps what this governor sought was far more than just a throne.
He needed a significant victory, a thorough victory, to help him ascend to that highest position with legitimacy. By then, even the current king would have no power to crown him.
The Gray Robe felt immense pressure on his head, for this governor was indeed too young. The Gray Robe could not imagine how large the pressure would be on Castile after the governor achieved his goal and turned his gaze toward Castile.
However, the Gray Robe soon calmed his mindset, accepting that if he could not resist, he might as well enjoy himself.
The day of the ball was approaching; this was the first and most important opportunity for Castile to present itself before the nobles of the M Continent. In the Gray Robe’s impression, as long as they could gain the support of these nobles, regardless of the circumstances, both the royal highness and Castile would have an easier time.
It was when the Gray Robe pushed open the door to Rosalind’s residence that he discovered Rosalind was lying on the table with a weary expression.
“Your Highness?”
Today was an extremely important day; the little princess should have properly rested to face those nobles in her best form.
At that moment, Rosalind was staring blankly at the exercise in front of her.
After seeing the Gray Robe, Rosalind finally got up from her chair. At this time, the Gray Robe noticed that Rosalind had already changed into her formal dress, but her spirit could barely support the weight of this gown.
“Your Highness, what happened?”
The Gray Robe came to Rosalind’s side, looking at the things on her desk.
A dazzling array of symbols and calculation formulas.
It appeared to be an applied mathematics exercise. When did the royal highness become interested in such things? Shouldn’t these be subjects for the most humble apprentices to study?
“I consulted with quite a few noblewomen from this country to ask what that governor’s wife liked the most,” Rosalind tiredly explained her experiences over the past few days.
“Then I was stuffed with these things.”
The Gray Robe’s eyelids twitched.
“What you mean is that the governor’s wife likes these things?”
The Gray Robe had seen various strange hobbies of the nobles, but this was the first time he saw someone who liked doing exercises.
However, the more he looked at these problems, the more he began to sweat.
As a scholar, the Gray Robe keenly noticed from these exercises and materials that Cape had already formed a complete system of research on physics and mechanical dynamics, entirely independent of magic power.
This made the Gray Robe realize that the cannon might have been developed in such a manner.
Rosalind nodded, somewhat exasperated, saying, “The standard afternoon tea for noblewomen in this country is to sit together discussing these topics while enjoying desserts in a pleasant breeze on an afternoon.”
“…”
The Gray Robe was momentarily at a loss for words. Was there something wrong with this world?
Putting aside a group of noblewomen gathering to discuss abstract theoretical exercises, such an important matter was merely a pastime for the noblewomen of the royal capital.
How much does this country truly reverence knowledge? The Gray Robe even thought about kneeling down right then and there to pray to the God of Arcane and Wisdom.
The so-called cities of knowledge built by scholars in Castile were probably nothing compared to this; this was the true city of knowledge.
In that instant, the Gray Robe felt that perhaps leaving the royal highness here was indeed the correct choice.
“Your Highness, this is an extremely important opportunity. You must seize it well; perhaps hidden within these exercises are the ultimate secrets regarding weapons that can be used even in places without magic.”
The Gray Robe’s expression was serious, but Rosalind suddenly cried out, “But Master, these problems—these problems are too difficult. Am I even inferior to a goose?”
At this moment, the Gray Robe noticed that the covers of the books the noblewomen gave Rosalind had titles like “Mechanical Principles Even a Goose Can Understand.”
…..
The ball finally began. The effects of makeup did wonders, as Rosalind no longer showed signs of fatigue or crying. Moreover, the Gray Robe had comforted her for quite a while; the content of that book was indeed very simple and easy to understand, but for someone like Rosalind, it was still somewhat too difficult.
All the important nobles of the royal capital attended the event, which finally gave the Gray Robe, who had always been summoned by Lind, the opportunity to socialize with those nobles of the royal capital—something he considered the most important social event.
Because in Castile, to engage in any activities, one must establish good relations with the group of nobles under the king.
However, during his conversations with these nobles, the Gray Robe quickly sensed something amiss.
Not everyone in attendance was noble; some were outright commoners from the Northern Border, with no titles other than their positions and their family trees starting from themselves.
In the midst of the conversation, the Gray Robe realized that the governor seemed to dislike nobles, as one central city had managed to kill two-thirds of its nobles yet still function normally.
Thinking back to the nobles in Castile who appeared busy yet were unclear about what they were busy with, the Gray Robe suddenly felt that perhaps those nobles weren’t so important after all.
Just as the Gray Robe was probing these nobles for the specifics of this country, hoping they could assist Castile, Rosalind had completely integrated into the circle of noblewomen.
Several noblewomen pinched Rosalind’s cheeks and continuously sized up her gown, praising her graceful demeanor and splendid attire.
Though Rosalind’s dress could not compare to those of the women present, it possessed an exotic elegance.
Even Lena was greatly impressed.
Although Rosalind was somewhat tired from dealing with the attention, she was still quite happy because it had been a long time since any noble in Castile had shown her such warmth.
Moreover, this at least spared her from having to discuss those incomprehensible topics like during those afternoon teas with noblewomen, allowing these noblewomen to finally act a bit more like noblewomen.
At that moment, Lena noticed the atmosphere became a bit dull, snapped her fingers, and said, “Recently while researching, I came up with two big topics and thought we could solve them together today with everyone here.”
“?”
Seeing those noblewomen eagerly responding to Lena and looking excited, Rosalind seemed to realize who the true source of those strange activities was.
