Chapter 1075: Chapter 257: The War Without Smoke (Part 2)
This change is subtle and gradually forms a positive cycle within the Lengshan Domain group. Antitina, who knows some of the Emperor’s Skills from the ancient heritage of the Neisong family, is secretly astonished. She understands that this atmosphere is something that many nobles, even monarchs, strive for but cannot achieve, yet her Lord seems to accomplish it with ease.
The noble lady thought carefully for a moment. Although she has always been proud, she had to admit that she could not achieve this. She always considers loyalty before fairness, wondering why Brand can always overlook this point. Isn’t her young Lord afraid of nurturing talent for the opponent? In this era, switching allegiances is common, and almost all nobles are troubled by how to maintain their subordinates’ loyalty.
But Brand never seemed to worry about it; yet, his group is the most loyal and cohesive she has ever seen.
Brand answered her on this topic: If you have a fair and good system, why worry about people within the system going elsewhere? Loyalty is given not because of favors and partiality, but because this collective deserves the devotion. I am confident that this collective is the best choice for those who follow me. I maintain this system, and others give loyalty. Because I have such confidence in this group, everyone can trust and rely on it.
The noble lady seems to slightly understand Brand’s perspective, but she still remembers the calmness and confidence her Lord exuded when saying this. She has never seen such ease and grace in any noble — if they come, I welcome them, if they leave, I do not obstruct them. She feels perhaps only such magnanimity can create a collective with such unique charm.
A collective where everyone, including those with a bad past like Yulier, can find their place.
With these recent thoughts, Antitina walked slowly into Banyan Tree Square. She couldn’t help but look up at Brand not far away, catching the young Lord’s gaze. "The girls around the Lord are more and more each day; even boys like Medphis seem much more adorable than me," the noble lady suddenly thought to herself, a random notion flashing through her mind that caused her heart to stir again, one that had settled with her unwillingness to compete with Little Roman.
"Perhaps there’s still a chance."
Brand leaned half against the banyan tree and smiled when he saw his Staff Lady enter. He certainly noticed Antitina’s gaze but assumed she was reminding him that a Lord and kingdom noble must mind his appearance. Imagining the tone in which the Staff Lady would say this made him involuntarily smile.
Antitina was always so serious, but that’s also part of her charm.
Brand cannot help but comment on the young lady, but he quickly came to his senses, shaking his head to dispel the thought from his mind. Ever since being forcibly kissed by the Deer Demon Sister named after the Goddess of Fate, something peculiar has been stirring within him — after all, Brand is just about nineteen years old and soon to be twenty, while the past life’s Sophie was a High Order Mage, thus at this moment, feelings between boys and girls are still somewhat unknown and filled with youthful curiosity.
He patted his forehead to wake himself up and shifted his gaze from Antitina to others around. At this moment, others were gradually arriving, and Brand finally noticed that his subordinates had unknowingly formed such a large group.
Beside him were Qian, Medphis, Medisha, and the newly joined Vampire Girl Andreg, slightly further away were Lopar, Char and its Fire Claw Spearman, and the Fire Giant Spirit communicating with a group of Wind Spirits and Light Spirits — these creatures are all from the Elemental Realm, though in this domain they almost never interact, but share a common language — then there is Kulan, Caglis, Melia, and the young officers of the White Lion Infantry forming a circle, whose experiences of advancing and retreating together in the Black Forest have fostered a bond akin to comrades.
