26: Chapter 26 Her Highness's "Due Diligence"

The guard was breathless, his voice slightly distorted by excitement: "A... a troop! Bearing the 'Radiant Dawn' banner of the Imperial Royal Family, has entered our territory! Leading them... is... is your fiancée, Her Royal Highness Princess Ella Radiance!"

Fiancée?

Levi's eyebrow twitched imperceptibly.

He had almost forgotten this political symbol that existed in a corner of his memory.

It was a protective charm that old Baron Byron had sought for him, his "useless" heir, when he was alive—a marriage alliance with the Radiant Empire Royal Family.

Of course, the other party was the least favored of the Empire's many princesses, born of the lowest status mother, while he was the heir to the most remote and barren territory in the Northern Reaches.

A good match, a good-for-nothing with a pretty face.

But why would this pretty-faced princess come uninvited, and at such a time?

He put down the report in his hand, and the complex asset list and population data of Ironhoof Territory were instantly cast from his mind.

Compared to the tedious internal integration, this sudden external variable clearly posed a much higher threat level.

"Notify Evelyn, have her prepare for Level One reception," Levi's voice was as steady as ever, without a hint of panic. "Also, have the guard 隊 line up at the castle gate, but put away their weapons and show no hostility."

He stood up and walked to the window, his gaze piercing through the night to the direction of the territory's entrance.

In the distance, a long line of torches, like a dragon, was slowly but steadily approaching the castle along the main road.

The "Radiant Dawn" banner, fluttering in the firelight, was like a golden eye, coldly observing the rich prize he had just devoured in the darkness.

Illegal armed conflict? Malicious annexation?

Levi's lips curled into a cold smile.

It seemed his rapid dismantling and annexation of a noble territory through commercial means had touched a sensitive nerve for certain entities.

The Royal Family had sent someone to reprimand him, and his cheap fiancée was the stick being wielded.

At the castle gate, the cold wind whipped up dust, making the torches crackle.

Levi stood quietly on the steps, dressed in a proper black lord's everyday attire.

Behind him, Evelyn stood still like a shadow. She had changed into a conservative lady-in-waiting's gown, perfectly concealing her breathtaking figure and succubus features, leaving only a stunningly beautiful face and a pair of unfathomably deep purple eyes.

Further back were two rows of unarmed guards, clad only in standard leather armor. They stood ramrod straight, their expressions solemn, displaying a discipline utterly unlike ordinary territorial soldiers.

Hoofbeats grew from distant to near, finally stopping in the open space before the castle.

The leading maiden dismounted with a swift, decisive motion, completely devoid of a noble lady's delicacy.

She wore a set of silver-white full plate armor for women, with exquisite Radiant Dawn emblems carved at the armor's seams, making her already tall figure appear even more valiant and spirited.

Her brilliant golden hair was tied into a high ponytail, fluttering gently behind her head in the wind.

Her features were as delicate as a temple sculpture, but her clear blue eyes were filled with an icy scrutiny that kept people at a distance.

She was Ella Radiance.

Levi's gaze briefly lingered on her, then shifted to the middle-aged knight behind her, who was also in full heavy armor and exuded a presence as solid as a mountain.

The man had a hideous scar running from his brow bone to the corner of his mouth, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's, and the hilt of the knight's longsword at his waist was worn smooth.

This was the real threat.

"Welcome, Your Royal Highness," Levi descended the steps and, in accordance with noble etiquette, bowed slightly, showing exactly the right amount of respect a border lord should have for a member of the Royal Family, without any hint of flattery.

Ella Radiance's clear blue eyes coldly swept over Levi, completely ignoring his outstretched hand, and walked directly past him.

Her guard captain, Sir Kane, scrutinized Levi and his guards from head to toe with an undisguised, inspecting gaze, as if appraising prisoners.

Levi naturally withdrew his hand, the smile on his face unchanged.

He seemed utterly unfazed by this rather rude snub.

"I, Ella Radiance, representing the Imperial Royal Family, have come to investigate the illegal armed conflict and malicious annexation in the Northern Borderlands," Ella's voice was clear and cold, like winter ice, carrying an undeniable authority. "Levi Byron, until your suspicions are cleared, your territory will be under direct Royal Family supervision."

Her voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every guard present, instantly tightening the already steady atmosphere.

"Of course, I am happy to cooperate with any Royal Family investigation," Levi turned sideways, making a 'please' gesture, as if Ella had announced not an inspection, but a friendly visit. "It's windy outside, let's discuss in detail in the conference room. I have prepared hot tea for Your Royal Highness and Sir Kane."

His composed demeanor made Ella, who had been prepared to face a panicking or blustering bumpkin lord, frown slightly.

In the castle's conference room, the fire in the fireplace roared, dispelling the chill of the late night.

On the long table, Philip had neatly arranged all copies of the legal documents concerning the acquisition of Ironhoof Territory.

Every contract, every debt transfer certificate, every asset handover list, was clear and concise, with an impeccable logical chain.

Levi sat at one side of the main seat, clearly articulating the entire sequence of events: "...So, Your Royal Highness, as you can see, the entire process was a legitimate debt recovery action based on commercial contracts. Baron Hans, due to mismanagement, sought a loan from Byron Investment, pledging his territorial assets as collateral. He subsequently defaulted on the contract terms. We merely took over the collateral in accordance with the law. This has nothing to do with military aggression or armed conflict."

Sir Kane picked up a contract, his thick fingers almost crushing the thin parchment.

He snorted coldly, his voice like the clash of metal and stone: "A cleverly designed contract does not hide the essence of your actions: using money to buy off their armed forces and, by threatening them, forcing a noble to relinquish his territory. This is merely a vile war disguised by commercial terms!"

"Sir Kane," Levi's gaze turned to him, his eyes calm and sharp, "Your accusation is very serious. But please note, the word 'buy off' is not accurate. We merely offered better jobs and salaries. Employment is free; those mercenaries and artisans have the right to choose who they work for. As for Baron Hans, his inability to pay salaries led to a loss of talent, and thus a breach of contract. This is market rule, not war."

"Market rule?" Sir Kane's face was full of contempt. "You speak to me of crude merchant ways in the face of noble honor and the loyalty of the populace?"

Just as the two were about to fall into a debate stalemate between noble tradition and commercial logic, Ella unexpectedly raised her hand to stop Kane.

She hadn't looked at the documents once, her icy blue eyes fixed intently on Levi the entire time.

"Documents can be forged, and words can be embellished," she spoke coldly. "I want to see your territory with my own eyes and hear the true voices of the common people. The condition of a territory is the best proof of its lord's character."

"As you wish," Levi smiled and nodded, as if he had anticipated her saying this.

The next morning, the inspection began.

When Ella and Sir Kane, accompanied by Levi, arrived at the former Ironhoof Territory's mining area, the sight before them left them both in silence.

There were no ragged slaves driven by overseers' whips, nor was there a scene of gloom and destitution, with people struggling to survive, as expected.

Instead, there was a busy and orderly scene of production.

New wooden tracks extended from the mine entrance all the way to the distant smelting workshop, and carts laden with ore glided along the tracks, greatly reducing the burden of manual labor.

The miners, though still toiling, wore uniformly distributed thick canvas work clothes, and their faces lacked the numb despair.

What surprised Ella most was a large wooden sign erected at the mine entrance, on which several lines of large characters were written in conspicuous white paint: "Safe production, distribution according to work. Complete basic quota today, salary +1; for excess production, salary +3 per unit."

This... what is this?

Ella stopped, pointed at the sign, and looked at Levi.

"A system of incentives," Levi explained candidly. "It lets everyone clearly know that every drop of sweat they put in will be rewarded accordingly. The more you do, the more you get, fair and just."

Ella's brows furrowed even tighter.

This blatant linking of labor and money was unheard of in the noble education she had received since childhood.

Nobles ruled their people through the glory of their bloodline, the responsibility of protection, and the grace of the gods.

Yet, this man before her used only the simplest, most direct method: money.

She said nothing, walking directly to an old miner who was drinking hot soup in the resting area.

The old miner, his face full of wrinkles and several teeth missing, merely stood up with a slight awkwardness upon seeing the princess and her entourage approach, without kneeling and kowtowing like commoners in other territories.

"What is your name?" Ella tried to make her voice sound gentle.

"R-replying to Your Excellency, my name is Bart," the old miner rubbed his hands nervously.

"Bart, tell me, did your new lord, Levi Byron, force you to work here with military might? Is your life better or worse than when Baron Hans was in charge?" Ella stared into his eyes, trying to find a hint of fear or a lie.

The old miner's cloudy eyes blinked, seemingly digesting the question.

He scratched his graying hair and said with an extremely simple logic: "Military might? Never saw it. We just know that when we worked for old master Hans, we got the same few copper coins no matter how much we worked, and they were often delayed. Now, working for old master Byron, the more we work, the more we get, and it's never delayed. We even get hot meat soup every meal. I don't care who the lord is, whoever can feed me and my grandson is a good master."

These blunt, almost crude remarks struck Ella's heart like a heavy hammer.

The "noble responsibility theory" and "bloodline glory theory" she had been indoctrinated with since childhood were, at this moment, shaken to their core by the phrase, "whoever can feed me."

She had always thought that commoners needed the protection and spiritual guidance of nobles, but she had never considered that, for them, the most tangible things might be a bowl of hot soup to fill their stomachs and a few copper coins delivered on time.

After a full day of inspection, everything Ella saw and heard was completely contrary to her expectations.

Whether it was the blacksmiths' workshop, which had greatly increased efficiency by introducing the concept of an "assembly line," or the market vendors, whose vitality had been restored because trade routes were reopened, everything pointed to one fact—this man named Levi Byron was changing this land in a way she completely didn't understand, yet was remarkably efficient.

That night, the group returned to the conference room in Blackrock Castle, and the atmosphere became somewhat subtle.

Ella sat opposite Levi, silent for a long time.

The coldness remained in her clear blue eyes, but a complexity and confusion previously absent had been added.

Finally, she broke the silence, her tone still commanding, but no longer as overbearing as when they first met.

"Levi Byron, your territory management style is indeed... very special. But this alone is not enough to completely clear your suspicions," she said, staring into Levi's eyes, enunciating each word. "Therefore, I have decided that before I leave, I will temporarily reside in Blackrock Castle as your fiancée. This is my 'supervision' of your actions."

She paused, emphasizing her words: "During this period, I demand full authority to oversee your territory's finances and military movements."

This was no longer an investigation, but a blatant takeover of power.

However, Levi merely smiled and nodded gently, as if this were just a harmless request: "Of course, Your Royal Highness. Your arrival is my honor."

He agreed too quickly, too readily, which instead left Ella's prepared arguments stuck in her throat.

He just... agreed?

Behind Levi, Evelyn's professional smile cracked for the first time.

She raised her eyes, and deep within her purple pupils, a flash of undisguised icy hostility appeared, like a viper eyeing its prey, locked firmly onto the high and mighty princess.

Ella felt this gaze and met it without flinching, the eyes of the two women clashing in the air, invisible sparks flying.

The air in the conference room seemed even colder than the winter night outside.