"No, there really isn't, Lord Duke."

Carlos reiterated, "I have no other relationship with the Eldest Princess; in my eyes, she is just a child."

"Of course, I believe you."

Luo De put away his curiosity, shifted the topic, and said solemnly,

"In that case, I agree with you."

"As long as the Eldest Princess doesn't seek death, I will not make things difficult for them."

"I will find some suitable places for them, so they can spend their later years in peace."

Luo De promised, "In the future, the people of the Shuiyan Clan will be well-fed and clothed, as long as they live honestly." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Carlos's eyes flashed with joy, and he once again bowed deeply,

"Thank you for your kindness!"

Carlos breathed a sigh of relief and said loudly, "Your grace is like the bright sunlight, illuminating the future of the Shuiyan Clan."

"I will soon pardon the Eldest Princess."

Luo De smiled and nodded slightly, continuing, "But before that, we have another matter to attend to."

...

...

[A Legendary Knight has been cultivated.]

[An Extraordinary Officer has been acquired.]

As the green of the Seed of Nature disappeared into Carlos's body, two messages appeared one after another.

The first was the entry progress of the Path of Royalty, and the second was the entry progress of the Great Warlord.

The Path of Royalty still needs four more slots...

Luo De felt that unlocking the Path of Royalty was indeed difficult.

The Broken Rock Empire is nearly unified, yet the entry hasn't unlocked, it's truly absurd.

It seems that extraordinary development is too far behind; they can't even gather the basic personnel from Ancient Times.

Luo De couldn't help but sigh.

Carlos saw Luo De's expression and immediately knelt on one knee,

"Thank you for your generosity, rest assured, I will never fail your gifts!"

As a Legendary Knight, Carlos was naturally very sensitive to magic power fluctuations.

Once the Seed of Nature entered his body, it began to operate slowly, and the energy it released continuously nourished his body.

Thus, without needing many words, Carlos realized it was a precious extraordinary item.

Luo De's sighing behavior seemed like the mental exhaustion after expending a certain amount of magic power, making Carlos feel guilty and grateful at once.

For a knight who had just submitted, Duke Luo De was able to bestow such a precious item without reservation, his generosity far exceeded that of other nobles.

No wonder Lord Rod rose so quickly; this must be one of the important reasons.

"Just as you said, Carlos, the road I want to take is still long."

Luo De snapped back to attention, helped Carlos up, "Make good use of this precious Seed of Nature."

"You are only eighty years old now, it's the right time to train hard."

Luo De said solemnly, "I hope in the future, you will follow by my side on this road."

"Rest assured, I will never fail your expectations."

Carlos nodded heavily.

Previously, Carlos only used himself as a bargaining chip with Luo De to protect the Eldest Princess.

But now, Carlos has a new goal.

...

...

Meanwhile, in the prison of Giant Stone City.

A narrow corridor, damp and cold.

The sound of shuffled footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Durant walked calmly in front, followed by two soldiers.

The soldiers were escorting a man whose hands and feet were shackled tightly.

It was none other than Kael, the commander of the Thorn Legion, and a top knight under the Duke of Flowers.

At this moment, Kael had taken off his exquisite armor and was wearing rough hemp clothes stained with dirt and dust.

Kael's face was also covered with dust, and his hair was somewhat disheveled.

But his eyes remained firm, and he stood with his back straight.

Even as a prisoner, Kael retained the posture of a soldier.

Durant led Kael to the end of the dungeon, stopping in front of an iron door.

It was precisely where the Duke of Flowers was imprisoned.

Like with the Eldest Princess, Luo De did not deliberately torture or embarrass the Duke of Flowers, this great noble.

The interior had a bed, a table, a sink, and other furniture and living supplies.

Because of this, the Duke of Flowers could still maintain his elegance, sitting on a chair reading by the firelight.

"Kael!"

The Duke of Flowers showed joy upon seeing the person brought in, took the initiative to stand up,

"How are you, Kael?" the Duke of Flowers asked with concern.

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

Kael's voice was hoarse as he bowed to the Duke of Flowers, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Duke."

"Alright, let's talk inside."

Durant opened the door and pushed Kael into the cell.

Then he closed and locked the door.

As he was about to turn away, the voice of the Duke of Flowers came from inside the cell.

"Sir Durant,"

The voice of the Duke of Flowers carried a hint of caution, "May I ask, have all my lords submitted?"

"Yes."

Durant turned and said, "Most have submitted, and those with rebellious intentions have been dealt with."

"That's good, the war is over."

The Duke of Flowers exhaled deeply and cautiously asked, "Then might Duke Luo De release me now?"

As previously promised by Luo De, as long as the Flower Clan surrendered, Luo De would pardon everyone and retain one-tenth of the Flower Clan's property.

The Duke of Flowers paused, his voice carrying a trace of humility,

"I am also willing to pledge allegiance to Duke Luo De; can you help me request him to leave more of the Flower Clan's assets?"

The Duke of Flowers lowered his voice, "Rest assured, I will certainly give you a generous reward in due time."

"That won't be necessary."

Durant's face remained expressionless as he looked at the Duke of Flowers,

"The Lord Duke will release you; don't be anxious, but before that, you have been given an additional choice."