Chapter 15: Seeking Help

Seeing Komer momentarily speechless and unsure how to answer his question, both the dwarf and the giant looked serious. Eve and Grace were their companions and friends, and it was clear that Grace had some special relationship with Komer. Eve wanted to leave, not entirely because of the special relationship between this somewhat promiscuous lord, Grace, and Mage Lomei, but there must be an important connection involved.
It seemed there was also some indescribable ambiguity between Eve and this lord, which could be inferred from Eve’s mood lately. But when it came to matters of emotion, Bayezid and Briarnos could not interfere—they both knew it was something outsiders could not help with. All they could do was try their best to remind this overly infatuated lord not to hurt these friends’ feelings.
Marriage customs varied across the Lands of Azure, but they all followed one principle: a man could only have one official wife, and no other women could be considered family members. As nobles, one could keep concubines, maintain mistresses, or even have servants in one’s home, and no one would question it—instead, it was seen as a glory and symbol of noble status. Yet these women could not be recognized in terms of status, though their children might, under certain circumstances, be recognized as noble descendants and entitled to inheritance, just like Komer’s status.
However, due to constant wars and political strife in the various countries and cities of the Lands of Azure, political marriages were quite common, and marriage systems had to adapt to changes over time. Some nobles needed to marry for certain purposes, yet since they were already married, they could acquire another fiefdom to regain noble status and thus marry again, thereby legitimizing their second marriage.
Although Bayezid and Briarnos were not mortals, having lived in the mortal world for a long time, they were aware of these peculiar customs in the Lands of Azure, which is why they used such subtle hints. After all, Komer was already the lord of Caucasus and had been granted baron status. Leon was also in Komer’s hands and had been appointed viscount. In other words, once Komer’s status as acting lord of Leon was confirmed as official, it meant he could marry two wives under different statuses. If not, given Bayezid and Briarnos’ temper, they would likely have gone to Komer to confront him long ago.

“Bayezid, Briarnos, don’t you think it’s a bit too early to discuss these matters now?” After chewing his words for a while, Comer scratched his head and said sheepishly, “We men have no way of knowing what Eve and Grace are thinking, but they are adults and should have their own opinions and desires, as well as the ability to distinguish right from wrong. We shouldn’t try to influence or interfere with them. I believe that over time, we should see a satisfactory outcome.”

Comer usually responded to such questions with vague statements, but today it seemed he wouldn’t get away so easily. Briarnos’ gaze burned like a torch on him. “My lord, Bayezid and I don’t want to interfere in what Eve and Grace think. We just want you to give us a promise: if they give their sincere hearts, you should give something in return. We hope you can give us a clear promise!”

Comer rubbed his hands awkwardly, looking around nervously. But faced with Bayezid and Briarnos’ straightforward demands, he had no other way to deflect. Fortunately, they only asked for equal sincerity and didn’t mention anything else, which relieved Comer greatly. “Bayezid, Briarnos, you should know who I am. I have only one thing to say: I will never disappoint anyone who trusts me.”

Although they weren’t entirely satisfied with Comer’s attempt to change the subject, his serious attitude and tone eased Bayezid and Briarnos’ concerns. After all, relationships between men and women are something that can only be decided by both parties. As friends, helping to this extent was already considered doing one’s best.

Standing outside the lord’s mansion, Comer was surprised to see a carriage approaching. Who could be coming to the mansion at this time? As far as he remembered, no one usually visited at this hour. Merchants preferred dealing with Puber now, and the judge Rese had established permanent courts in the important towns of Ugru and Matdan to handle daily lawsuits and disputes. Matters in other areas had to be dealt with by mobile courts.

When a woman, her entire body covered by a black cloak and veil, quietly stepped down in front of the lord’s mansion gates, Komer easily recognized her identity. Weren’t she in Mainz? How had she come here? Nodding in understanding, he realized why Hoffman had been sending letters so frequently lately—Fran had led the self-defense forces back to their territory and was now stationed at Bruce Fortress. So he must have been worried that she would come here. Heh, even Lenta had arrived in Mainz. It seemed that before the threat from the beasts was gone, the Romanov family would once again be embroiled in internal power struggles.

Kakya sat in the small hall, the veil covering her face removed and her cloak set aside. The hall looked quite elegant, and it seemed Komer was growing more and more discerning. As the saying goes, habits formed over time, and he was gradually taking on the airs of a lord. After serving her coffee, the servants quietly left.

Coming to the Caucasus this time wasn’t easy. If it hadn’t been for the brief period when Lenta returned to Jazair, allowing her to secretly take a ship south, it would have been difficult to get rid of Lenta, who was like a shadow clinging to her. But what could she do here? Could this little lord really help her achieve her desires? Kakya wasn’t that naive.

She couldn’t understand why Palermo placed such high value on this little lord. Even if he controlled the entire Caucasus and Leon and gained recognition as the official lord of both regions, he was still far from matching the status and power of the four great lords. So what was the point of her coming here?

But what else could she do? Stay in Mainz? Spend her days pruning flowers, taking walks, resting, and drinking coffee? That wasn’t the life she wanted. Away from the noisy and tense atmosphere of Jazair, she found it hard to adapt. “A political animal”—that was how one of Jazair’s nobles described their rivals. It seemed she was moving in that direction, Kakya thought with self-mockery. But she really couldn’t stand such a leisurely and peaceful life. She loved the feeling of being surrounded by followers, wielding power, and giving orders. She feared loneliness and solitude.

The winds in Zaire had also changed somewhat. After the king withdrew from public life, Hoffman took control as regent, while the nobles who had once supported him flocked to Hoffman’s side. No one wanted to invest effort in an heir who was about to be exiled or deposed. For the first time, Kakiya felt the chill of the royal family. Though she had been prepared, facing it firsthand was still hard for her to accept.

She told herself that this trip to the Caucasus was just a way to relieve her worries. Palermo then headed to Brussels, intending to visit Lyon in search of investment opportunities. It was said that the barren lands within a hundred miles around Lake Nyerere could be developed into high-quality farmland, which was undoubtedly a huge temptation for a grain merchant—especially after the canal from Lake Nyerere to Matadan was built, making the appeal even greater.

Now, only Palermo remained by her side. This man had many connections, and the assets he had brought out of Zaire quickly took root in the south, which reassured Kakiya somewhat. Even if Zaire fell, as long as Hoffman didn’t dare to go too far by eliminating everyone, she still had a chance to turn things around. Though that chance was slim, as Palermo said, unless she found a stronger ally. Yet Palermo always viewed this small Caucasian lord so highly, which Kakiya found somewhat puzzling. She knew Palermo was experienced and steady, so his advice must have its reasons. Had she really misjudged him? Then she needed to study this man carefully to uncover what lay beneath his appearance.

“Princess, what brings you to the Caucasus?” Coming into the small reception room in a hurry, Komer showed his delight, his face filled with anticipation—almost like the longing of a lover.

“Viscount, I wonder if you welcome me? This time, Kakiya has come rather unannounced.” Whatever his intentions, seeing his reaction to her arrival made her feel much happier.

“Princess, what are you saying? Can’t you feel the affection the Caucasus has for you?” Komer’s words carried a hint of teasing. “As long as you wish, you can stay in the Caucasus for a lifetime. Everyone here will always be your most loyal servants.”

“Including you?” Kakiya smiled brightly.

“Of course!” Komer replied without batting an eye.