The Path to Lordship Begins in the North

Chapter 296 "Encounter"

After entering the central region, Barnard barely stopped, exchanging all his remaining money for horses and galloping towards the capital.

However, Barnard was stopped on the road, simply because he encountered a special guest there.

"This is our first meeting, Sir Barnard."

"Your Highness, there's no need to address me like that. I'm just an ordinary nobleman from the countryside, I..."

To be honest, Barnard never dreamed that he would meet Princess Claire on his way to the capital.

At this moment, Claire was dressed in a simple robe with a hood, without any extravagant decorations. She looked as aloof as an ordinary noblewoman, but her demeanor and the guards around her did not lie.

Seeing her best friend's brother from the countryside being so humble towards her, Claire, who hadn't tasted this feeling in a long time, couldn't help but hum softly. She hadn't felt this way in a long time, this feeling of being held in high esteem.

Their meeting was not accidental. Claire, who had been wondering why the North's attitude had changed after Lilith's trip there, kept a close eye on Lilith's rural hometown.

After all, the intelligence from the North is impeccable, so the only way to find a breakthrough is through Lilith.

After an awkward silence, Barnard said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has been very worried about you since you went missing. I also have an urgent report to deliver to the capital to inform His Majesty."

"Although I don't know why you disappeared, it's so great to meet you here. Let's go to the capital together."

Claire, however, wore a melancholy expression and said, "I do wish to return to the capital, but Sir Barnard, I did not disappear for fun. The capital is extremely dangerous right now, and even I have to pretend to be missing to avoid trouble."

Upon hearing this, Barnard immediately exclaimed in horror, "What other danger could possibly require you to pretend to be missing? What about my sister? What about His Majesty?"

Claire, as if she were a drama queen, said, "It was His Majesty who made me disappear on purpose. Didn't you notice? I've actually been missing for a long time, but His Majesty only found out recently. He deliberately didn't cause any trouble and has been covering for me so that I could help His Majesty in his actions from the outside."

Claire's words were reasonable and well-founded, and Lilith was unwilling to reveal too much about the situation in the capital in her letters to her family. This was originally a way to protect her family, but unexpectedly, it made it impossible for Barnard to find any flaws.

"What exactly happened in the capital? Why won't Lilith tell us anything?"

"Because just knowing about it could be life-threatening, His Majesty is doing this for your sake, isn't he?"

Then, Claire continued, feigning nonchalance, "So if there's anything important, just talk to me directly, and I'll pass the message on to His Majesty through the secret guards."

Barnard believed Claire's words to a large extent, but still said, "This matter is too important; I must go to the capital to see His Majesty in person."

"No, Lilith values ​​you very much. If I let you into the capital like this, Lilith will not forgive me."

To be honest, Claire was already contemplating killing him. She hadn't expected Lilith's older brother to be such a stubborn mule. But she had no choice. In order to get information out of him, she put on a convincing act, pretending to be concerned. She even went up to Barnard, grabbed his hands, and got so close that she almost buried herself in his arms.

Barnard, who was unmarried and had a strict upbringing, had never experienced anything like this before. He hurriedly turned away and said, "Your Highness, please don't do this."

"So what exactly happened in the Eastern Territory? Why won't they even tell me?"

Claire stared at Barnard with teary eyes; if eyes could speak, she would be screaming in grievance.

Barnard had no idea that Claire was the mastermind behind the plot to kill Augustine III. After all, even Lilith hadn't spoken up about it. In the eyes of outsiders, Claire was still Lilith's right-hand woman, best friend, good helper, and a good princess of the country.

Considering that the woman in front of him was his sister's good friend and a princess of the kingdom, and that there was no need to keep the news from the East a secret, it would be better to let everyone know the current situation in the East. This princess even had a way to get the news to the capital faster than he could, so Barnard chose to tell Claire everything that had happened in the East.

He even described the devastation of St. John's Castle to Claire while suppressing his emotions.

Claire wasn't entirely clear on the specifics of the Eastern Territory, and she hadn't expected the demons to go to such extremes. But more than the hellish landscape of the Eastern Territory, Claire was more concerned with another detail: "Why send the main force to break through and send a message to the Northern Territory as well?"

"this..."

Barnard almost blurted out that the Dorian family was actually a branch of the Roll family, so old Coente wasn't surprised by the North's change in attitude after Lilith returned from the North. He even broke out towards the North to deliver messages to them.

"This is naturally because we are closer to the North, and everyone should be aware of this disaster."

Barnard quickly realized that the princess, who cared about the people's livelihood and was her sister's right-hand man, was indifferent to the tragedy in St. John's Castle and showed no concern for the hellish conditions in the Basil region. Instead, he was asking himself why the Dorian family was still sending messages to the North.

Normally, if something like this happens, even if the North is already de facto independent, shouldn't we at least send a message to the North so that they can prepare in advance?

"It's getting late, Your Highness. I must get to the capital as soon as possible. There are some things I need to report to His Majesty in person!"

Barnard stood up and stepped back, about to leave, but at that moment, he was blocked at the door by the royal guards.

"Your Highness?"

Barnard placed his hand on his sword, but it was clear that he was no match for the group of guards.

Although we don't know exactly what happened in the capital, it seems that the prince in front of us has ill intentions.

"Don't be nervous, Barnard Dorian. There are just some things you need to explain to him. Once you've explained them, he will let you go."

Seeing that her prey was more alert than she had expected, Claire reflected on how eager she had been to extract useful information, while ordering her bodyguards to restrain Barnard.

It seems I need to be more careful next time I perform.

From Barnard's momentary hesitation, Claire had already guessed some things, such as that the Dorian family and the North must have some intricate connection.

To be honest, it doesn't matter whether it's true or not. As long as the fact that Claire has met Barnard is true and Barnard is still in Claire's hands, then the truth is no longer important. As the demons say, a lie can become the truth if it is repeated a thousand times.

Seeing that the demons had already begun their operation, Claire had no choice but to follow suit.