The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 422: Fight for what you want (3)

"Your Majesty. It is preposterous to expect my family to ride out to the border," Otto said, fully against his family taking part in the war.

What would his sons who had been so focused on reading and trying to join the court know about using a sword? They weren’t meant for that kind of life so should he send them out, they would die. He couldn’t have his sons die now when they had not given him grandchildren. More boys to carry on the family name.

Annalise looked right ahead at Mark who didn’t appear the slightest bit bothered by Tobias’s news. It made her wonder if he was confident in his swordsmanship that he could survive being sent to the border or unlike the other men in the room, there was no one beside himself to be sent off to the border.

Mark noticed Annalise watching him and turned to face him, ignoring the panic filling his fellow courtmen. "What do you wish to know? You are staring so intently and I don’t want Rafael to get the wrong idea," he said.

"Why aren’t you upset like the others?" Annalise asked, tapping her fingers on the table as she awaited the answer. So far, she liked Mark though he could secretly be one of the men who didn’t want her here and was quiet because she was in his presence.

"The men in my family are already giving their time to fighting wars and I have no children to be worried about," Mark answered.

"He’s gotten used to the fact he will die old and alone. Don’t feel sorry for him," Edgar said, hoping Tobias would send Mark off to the border to be killed. It would be a good day for Edgar if this were to happen. One less court bastard he had to put up with.

"You know Edgar, if I were to marry your mother, that would mean you would then become my family. A man meant to be sent off to the border," Mark said to anger Edgar and it did just the trick.

"Now is not the time for the two of you to be taunting each other," Hazel said, sighing because even in the court where it was meant to be serious, the men were childish. "I agree with the king that those who do not wish to leave the land and have a truce should offer men to fight. You should fight for what you want and not expect someone else to do it when there is a peaceful option."

"There are very few men we could depend on to make the border any different than it is now. Rafael has stated he will not fight. The duke is no longer interested in war and has already done his share of protecting the kingdom. It is only fair that those who have not picked up a weapon to defend the kingdom in the past should be made to do so now," said Hazel.

Julius thought that it was just like a woman to agree to this because they didn’t need to go out to war. If he were to suggest the queen should go out to fight, she would agree that it was wrong.

Since these women wanted to be vocal about these matters, it was time the palace started to send them out to fight wars. Only then would they go back to being quiet. Speaking only when spoken to.

"My sons cannot go out to fight," Otto argued. He would not even send his bastard son.

"Since the queen wants the men in our family to fight, why not get the women of her court to join?" Julius asked, interested in what she would say. Would she cry that she was too pregnant to go out and fight? That her ladies had to remain by her side to help her care for the unborn prince.

Given how long it took for her to become with child, the queen should hope this one was a boy.

"I am happy you brought that up so I can request that we accept more women who wish to join the knights or simply become palace guards. Allow them to take the test to enter the court. We’ve come a long way for women to not be turned back because they are women-"

’Your Majesty," Otto cried to Tobias.

Tobias wasn’t open to hearing what Otto had to say after he interrupted Hazel. "Have you lost your mind to speak when the queen is talking?" freēnovelkiss.com

Annalise smiled, entertained by what was unfolding before her. She didn’t have to say much when the king and queen were dealing with the rotten men whom she would honestly love to see out on the battlefield. She would end their lives quickly to make them regret not wanting the truce.

Annalise was crossing her fingers, hoping Julius and Otto would continue to argue with the king and queen so they could be sent out to the border. Why wait to send them to the border when she could kill them now and have their bodies ready for their families to bury?

Otto looked away from Tobias so as to not offend him again. "Your Majesty, I am not a man for war. At my age, I would not last a second."

"You were meant to offer your support when you were younger. You’ve paid your way out of not aiding the kingdom in war and your sons live comfortably. It is not too late for you to take part in the war when you are against the truce. If you think yourself too old, then it is time for you to no longer work in the court," Tobias said, earning another gasp from Otto.

It was time to let someone younger take Otto’s spot if he could not see past greed of what he could have should they take the border. Otto had many years of experience and knowledge in the court which Tobias would like to use, but the man was insufferable.

"I think we shouldn’t go ahead with the truce so I can get to see men of these four homes out at the border. I hope to see portraits before I leave so I know just who to target from your families. I look forward to sparing against all of you," Annalise said, further taunting the two men.

"It is either the truce or your families be sent out to continue the war. There is no other option so choose wisely," Hazel said, looking at the four men. If they had any sense, they would choose the option that wouldn’t have them picking out armour and not knowing when they were going to see their family again.

Saul thought over the options given to him by the king. Like Mark, he already had people he cared for fighting this war and lost many of them. Not only at the border but all around the kingdom. If they could avoid losing lives and make a good deal, they should go for it.

Saul looked over the other end of the table at Annalise. He still thought she was nothing but trouble and her people were savages, but he had to do what was right. He couldn’t have his son who was just blessed with a child going out to fight.

He thought of how long the war had gone on and how many generations of men in his family would have to continue to fight.

"I am for the truce," Saul decided.

Julius was surprised to hear Saul make a decision so fast when the three of them decided to stick together to get the land.

"That is three votes for the truce with Saul, myself and my wife. Should it tie, I will bring in more of your peers to break it," said Tobias.

It was Julius, Otto, and Mark left to vote.