Chapter 61: Chapter 57: News
The front courtyard of the inn is the tavern, the Moon Shadow Tavern.
In this era, taverns in any realm are centers for information exchange.
You don’t even need to deliberately eavesdrop; just order a drink, sit quietly in the corner, and the drunken revelers will loudly fill your ears with news.
Of course, you need to learn to discern.
At the very least, you have to filter out the part where the drunkards are boasting.
At this moment, Luo De ordered a cheap ale, the amber liquid swaying in the wooden cup, exuding the rich fragrance of malt.
He leaned on the liquor-soaked wooden bar corner, listening intently to the scattered conversations and Gang Le’s snoring.
What these people talked about the most was the war between Count Hawk and Viscount Bai Lu.
Count Hawk was at a disadvantage.
It’s worth mentioning that the rank of nobility does not completely equate to strength.
Family wealth, size of territory, military capability, and family history all determine the strength of nobility.
The strength of dukes and marquises is relatively stronger compared to other nobles, but the specific strength gap between counts, viscounts, and barons is hard to determine solely by rank.
It’s not common, but not unusual, for an older viscount family to crush a newly risen count family.
More importantly, Luo De heard the names of other families from the drunkards.
— It seems Viscount Bai Lu has gained the support of allies.
Who knows how Count Hawk will respond in the future.
Luo De hopes that the count will also have allies, so the war would last a little longer.
However, a war during the farming season is truly laughable.
An old man in the corner burped and then loudly discussed rumors from the southern capital city.
Most of them were scandalous news about noble mistresses and legendary stories of illegitimate children rising to power.
Luo De was not interested in these.
The only thing worth noting was that Prince Jin Chui, with royal blood, was struck into the sea by pirates, his fate unknown.
Within a year, two nobles with royal blood fell, both having claims to the imperial throne.
Luo De tapped his finger on the rim of the cup, pondering the implications with keen interest.
Of course, such matters have little to do with Luo De in practice.
No matter who inherits the throne, it won’t affect Luo De’s position as the lord of Northern Wilderness Black Pine Ridge.
No southern lord would want to come to this broken place in the north.
"Any news on the Red Griffin Family?"
Having heard no valuable information for quite a while, Luo De casually spoke to the bartender at the bar, "After all, a young griffin of the Red Griffin Family died on the Razor Plain."
The bartender wiped the glass in his hand, shook his head, and said helplessly, "If there was news, I wouldn’t mind making a little extra with you, but unfortunately there isn’t."
It seems the situation in the Red Griffin Family is as Avril said, just a bit exaggerated.
Luo De pondered silently.
"I do have some news about the Tulip Clan, just for twenty silver coins," the bartender said with a smile, proactively.
The last time Luo De stayed at this Moon Shadow Tavern, everyone there knew him, and the bartender was an old acquaintance.
"Not interested."
Luo De leaned against the bar, playing with the cup in his hand.
The surname tulip, just a few months ago, seemed very distant from him.
If not for the bloody decree that legitimized him, he might never have been given this surname.
According to his past life in the castle, he might not even have had the chance to become a Pioneer Knight, circling the stables every day.
As for that father, the Earl of the Tulip met Luo De only a few times, not enough to form any deep feelings.
— This wasn’t because of Luo De’s identity as a transmigrator, but a feeling inherited from the original memory.
Instead, now Luo De has a slightly better impression of the Earl of the Tulip, as the man has provided some resources to Luo De.
However, if the news really related to him, the family would have sent a letter.
Other news can be listened to as gossip, not worth spending money on.
The bartender, seemingly not expecting Luo De to refuse so bluntly, said with a wry smile, "If you’re willing to treat me to a drink as a friend, I’d be happy to share."
Luo De placed six copper coins on the table, then pushed his cup over.
Amid the tavern’s clamor, a minstrel began to play a melodious tune on his lute.
The bartender refilled Luo De’s cup, his voice emerging from the noise, "Your brother, the Earl of the Tulip’s heir Vincent, is soon to marry the Duke of Flowers’ youngest daughter, Miss Euler. Wine Town is her dowry."
The Duke of Flowers family is a collateral line of the royal family, the current duke being the Emperor’s distant cousin and brother-in-law, a pure-blooded imperial noble, ruling most of the Western Province.
Each Duke of Flowers has indulged in pleasure, often holding banquets, leading to a rich culture of entertainment in their territory, excelling in music, dance, winemaking, courtesans, and theatrical arts.
This entertainment boosts the duchy’s economy, making his territory exceptionally wealthy.
Of course, the Tulip Clan is directly under the royal family, with territory in the Empire’s southern province, ranking lower than the Duke of Flowers but still respectable.
The heir likely to inherit the earl’s title marrying the Duke of Flowers’ youngest daughter is considered a well-matched union, and it sounds like good news.
"Hmm, best wishes to him."
Luo De responded somewhat indifferently, then picked up his cup and drank it all.
Emotionlessly, he stood up and woke Gang Le next to him, then returned to his room at the inn.
An heir can rely on the family, but an illegitimate child must rely on themselves.
"Don’t eat me! Don’t eat me!"
As soon as Luo De pushed open the door, in the dim candlelight, he heard Milly muttering on the bed.
She slapped the air randomly with her eyes closed, her face twisted with fear.
Luo De quickly stepped forward to wake Milly, who immediately dove into his embrace, clutching his clothes tightly, her nails almost piercing his skin, causing pain on both sides of his body.
"There, there, it’s just a nightmare. It’s all over now."
Luo De gently patted Milly’s back, his voice soft.
Only when he felt the little hand clutching his skin gradually loosen did Luo De release her.
The candlelight outlined the little girl’s silhouette, her eyes shimmering with tears in the dark.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
Luo De asked, gently wiping the tears from her face with his palm.
Milly nodded with a shiver, her eyes filled with fear, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s whine, "A very, very big wolf."
Luo De couldn’t help but want to laugh.
Sure enough, in any era, in any world, wolves are always the nightmare protagonist for little girls.
"It’s okay, you won’t encounter wolves again."
Luo De comforted Milly, "Go back to sleep. I will be here to protect you, they won’t get near you, and won’t hurt you again."
Milly nodded and closed her eyes, but she kept holding Luo De’s hand, clinging like a drowning person grabbing onto the last piece of driftwood.
Luo De sat helplessly by the bed, quietly accompanying her, yawning.