The Defeated Dragon Chapter 112

112 – Tribute to a Maid

The telescope was still being polished, the black nightshade was still half dead, the fragrant coconut sprite worm was still gestating.

New seedlings of the fast-growing poisonous thorns were sprouting each day amidst the shrubs with the thorns sprite worm's worm stalk.

The various settlements still had houses being built sporadically, the towns four areas also had buildings built, the road construction had yet to be finished, and the castle's Tremblingwoods Path was also being expanded every day.

Shooting arrows, practicing with the lance, performing charges with man and horse as one, Liszt's everyday life was very fulfilling. Mrs. Abby's cooking had been rapidly evolving. Not only could she make pineapple bread, but she still learned several new dishes. The Thorns Caravan made daily trips to and fro the Northvalley City, purchasing supplies needed for the castle. With gold coins, anything they wanted could be purchased.

“And soaks everything noiselessly (an excerpt of the poem 春夜喜雨 written by 杜甫. The poem is about rain)… I've been in this world for almost half a year. And although I haven't done anything major, but under my guidance, the Flower Town still had taken a step on the path of rapid development. Despite still being barren, the fief at least has a new look to it now.”

Previously, he only had Gort and Marcus to a.s.sist him. Today, Gort and Marcus temporarily held the positions of administrative officer and knight captain respectively, Isaiah held the position of treasurer, Blair held the position of law officer, Karl Eisenhammer held the position of defense officer; Old Grandet and Harpagon held the positions of the Flower Caravan's captain and vice-captain respectively, and Shylock held the position of the Thorns Caravan's captain; Kosto held the position of the Flower's captain.

The initial dream team had been established.

The numbers of sprite worms grew from four, which comprised of the tulip sprite worm, maize sprite worm, alfalfa sprite worm, and thorns sprite worm; to seven, with the new additions being the tomato sprite worm, wheat sprite worm, and peanut sprite worm; there were still two sprite worms to be born, which were the fragrant coconut sprite worm and black nightshade sprite worm.

The number of horses in the fief, including the horses of the new officials and their families, increased by the seven that were to be born by the pregnant mares, two purchased foals, and eight adult horses from the initial fifteen. There were still the twelve carriages a.s.signed to the caravans. The horse field's pasture was already not enough. Therefore, fodder had to be purchased from outside.

Besides, there were magic ingredients, smoke gra.s.s, fruit stealing monkeys, seafood…

Only the development in population had been slow. From the initial number of 1991 people, there was merely an increase of 83 people to the current number of 2074 people. However, at the end of September, five hundred serfs would supplement the labor force.

“In fact, the greatest gains are on me.” Liszt leaned against the back of a chair and leisurely sipped on a cup of milk tea without any additives.

Behind him was an apple tree, which stood outside the castle. Although the output of the apple tree was little, its apples were small and tasted sour, but at least the tree threw a nice shade.

He was in a very good mood.

Perhaps Mrs. Mawson's craftsmans.h.i.+p had improved, or there was an improvement in the quality of milk produced by the pregnant cows, either way, the milk tea was getting better and better. After drinking up the milk tea, he could feel his body become particularly comfortable and his spirit become roused from the milk tea's nutrients, sweeping away the laziness of the hot summer day.

“Tremblingwoods is an excellent protector, and its Rockthorns have a very strong offensive power. Blessedcurls could probably be kept for its meat. The s.p.a.ce gem is a priceless treasure. The value of mithril ore, jade, crystal, and black pearls should be calculated in the order of dragon coins. The Redblood Sword is a gem weapon. And there is still the message in a bottle of the Children of the Sun.”

His personal wealth, if evaluated, would probably be second to none other's in the Coral Island.

“I still learned the qi secret skill Magic Eyes. Although I don't know why the Vulture Knight Staffener hid Magic Eyes in a book, but I should thank him. This auxiliary qi secret skill is by far superior to any qi secret skill with tremendouf power.”

Tremblingwoods gamboled.

“Woof woof!”

Thomas followed behind it while holding its rope. He was sweaty from all the running. With Tremblingwoods' strength, Thomas, as an ordinary person, had no chance to make it stop.

Liszt s.h.i.+fted his gaze away from Tremblingwoods and looked at the small garden next to the castle.

In the small garden basking in the sun, a maid was sorting out dried meat. The black and white maid uniform was very eye-catching.

“Is that Little Lily?” Liszt was a bit far away and thus could't make up the maid's facial features. But looking at her figure, he made an educated guess.

Little Lily, the kitchen maid, was the tallest maid in the castle. She was about one meter seventy tall.

When he first saw Little Lily, the seventeen-year-old girl looked as thin as a bamboo pole. Whether or not it was because she ate well, lived well, and felt relaxed in the castle, but nowadays, some curves could already be seen on her body.

“The girl is all grown up. The scene of a maid busying herself is really pleasing to the eye.”

After feeling rueful for a moment, Liszt retracted his gaze and started to operate the his qi. Just now, his body felt a bit agitated, which seemed to be a tribute to the maid.

His body was still rapidly developing.

He had already made a leap in terms of his height, which should be around one meter eighty three. The Earth Knight Marcus was one meter eighty six tall. Standing beside Liszt, there was already not much difference between the two.

The count was about one meter eighty one tall and his deceased mother, Melissa, was said also to be tall.

Thus, Liszt concluded that he would still grow taller, that surpa.s.sing Marcus should not be an issue, and that he might even reach one meter ninety.

It was quite difficult to appease the agitation.

Liszt stood up, drew the Redblood sword hanging from his waist, and began to practice [Fire Dragon Drill].

……

Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, it was September.

The count had returned from the Blue Dragon Island. Upon his return, the count summoned all of his followers to convene in the Tulip Castle. As Liszt was conferred the t.i.tle of baron of the Flower Town, he naturally also had to go.

The Coral Island's system was not big. It comprised of two viscounts, sixteen barons, eighty two chevaliers. Additionally, there were still one life peer viscount (Levis) and several life peer barons.

Life peerage, or lifetime t.i.tles, enjoyed the same treatment as hereditary t.i.tles, yet they came without land and the t.i.tles themselves could not be inherited.

Not every state adopted this practice.

In the Sapphire Grand Duchy, life peerage was generally awarded to the heirs of some major families who came of age – heirs could only succeed t.i.tles after their fathers died. Some heirs would grow over forty years old without succeeding t.i.tles, which was a bit embarra.s.sing. Thus, life peerage came into being.

Of course, some wizards, craftsmen with contributions, and even wealthy merchants might also be conferred life peerage.

“The grand duke issued an expedition decree. In autumn, we are to attack the Eagle Kingdom's coastline in rapport with the Steel Ridge Kingdom.” After seeing Liszt, Levis told the other the concrete news, “Father decided to accept the expedition decree and partic.i.p.ate in this war.”

“Will you also go?” Asked Liszt.

“Of course. I have to go, this is my trial. I need to prove that I can succeed Father's will and that I am beloved by the glory of knights.” Levis was not nervous, but was excited instead. “The grand duke arranged for Father to cooperate with Marquis Rodrigo. I will act as a liaison officer to coordinate the actions of the two families' knight orders.”

“Marquis Rodrigo?” Liszt recalled Madam Penélope mentioning that Levis was pursuing the other's daughter, “What is the name of Marquis Rodrigo's daughter?”

Levis eyes lit up: “Roliya, Roliya Goldcerealears!”