CHAPTER 251: CULTIVATE POWER

Dominic went to the library to relax after dinner, and took out the Sorcerer’s Spellbook.

That was his major project for the next few days, while Alexis and the Royal Guards planned to go hunting.

Dominic stared at the book for a few minutes as he worked out how he was going to put the altered mana in without actually forming the mana crystal using the technique that the Second Prince had taught him.

It seemed simple enough, so Dominic began the process, and smiled in satisfaction when he felt the spellbook began absorbing the power.

The more mana he channelled into it, the brighter the gems in the spellbook glowed, confirming that the magitech artifact was indeed adapting to the mana he was putting in.

It would not be a fast process, which Alexis seemed to realize when she came into the library to watch him for a few minutes before she opened a book to read by the window, using the fading light to avoid needing to turn the magitech lights on for a little longer.

There was a lamp by her chair, but she had gotten so used to reading by natural light that it just felt wrong to be reading at all hours of the day by artificial light.

But that habit did come with one notable benefit, Dominic knew. The moment that it got too dark to read, she would be ready to head for bed. No matter how intent Dominic was on his task of improving the Sorcerer’s Spellbook, he wasn’t going to miss bedtime.

The next morning started out calm and businesslike, as Alexis prepared to go out hunting, and scout some of the closer Barony Manors to see their condition.

They had all been hit on the same day, as Dagos had sent tens of thousands of troops sweeping through the region, which was only sparsely populated and didn’t even have a standing guard force.

Some had survived the initial battles, and some had defected, then moved to the larger cities under Dagos control.

"What are you going to do if one of those former Nobles tries to come back and repent for their sins? You know that some of them were as young as you were during the battle, and many others saw it as their only chance to save themselves." Alexis asked as they were about to leave.

"I suppose that I will have to think about it. We’ve taken one, and he will be ready to move into a woodcutter’s house soon. Or perhaps not. He’s been getting along well with one of the Khalil Family’s daughters, and she might have another career in mind for him.

The younger ones will all depend on attitude, I suppose. But the older ones, I’m not sure if I can forgive without a Royal Pardon." Dominic replied carefully.

He didn’t want to say that if he saw them first, there was an excellent chance that the Princess would never know that they had ever returned.

That tidbit of information could go unspoken.

Colonel Wilkes nodded. "And if we find them living in one of the Barony Manors?"

Dominic smiled. "Then we get to ask them who appointed them as a Noble of the Region. Dagos titles don’t entitle them to any land here. Not anymore. If they’re just living there and working the land as commoners, introduce yourselves and explain the situation.

However, I don’t believe that there will be any, unless they only recently moved in. Even the refugees we have taken in willingly passed over those Manors without stopping. So, I don’t see a high chance that they’re occupied, unless someone is trying to hold on to their old authority."

The Colonel smiled. "We will take care of it, Your Grace. I find that the Princess can be most persuasive when it is time to negotiate with stubborn foreign Nobles."

Dominic chuckled and waved goodbye as they headed out to go hunting. They wouldn’t go far, and Dominic would add horses to the list of items they needed from the next visit by the Merchant Guild.

Once everyone headed out for their day, Dominic went to the front porch with a cushion from the entryway closet and settled on the porch swing.

From here, he could watch the village’s daily life, and see anyone coming from the east or west, which was the only ’road’ through town. He would have advance warning of anyone approaching, or trouble in the village.

But it was also a comfortable spot for him to work on improving his Spell Book.

The power flowed smoothly into the book as Dominic watched everyone going about their day, and the more that he did it, the more that it became instinctive.

He barely had to focus on the process by the time that one of the veiled maids brought out lunch.

By the time that he saw a caravan coming from the Cygnia side of the border, he was already on to drawing designs for a new form of artillery orb as he worked on the power level of the Spellbook.

He couldn’t devote mana to anything else, it still took all of his energy focus. But his mental focus was not nearly as necessary to keep the process going at full speed.

The caravan didn’t look like a Merchant Guild group, the wagons weren’t right, and were mostly drawn by oxen. But it didn’t look like refugees, either. There weren’t enough people.

A refugee convoy would normally be overflowing with people looking for a better life.

Dominic raised a hand in greeting and stood as the caravan’s lead driver caught his eye. That was enough to get them to turn off the main road and up the driveway to the Estate, so they weren’t likely to be farm vendors stopping in town to sell their wares, either.

The convoy stopped outside the stone wall, and Dominic went out to greet them and see if there was anything they needed that he had.

"Duke Wistover, it’s an honour to be greeted by you personally." A deep male voice called from inside one of the carriages.

Then, a young soldier stepped out, and Dominic smiled.

"Captain William Robert. When were you discharged from the Natural Sons?" Dominic greeted him.

"Just a few days ago. My older brother passed of illness, leaving me a title and little else. The Natural Sons’ Charter says that it is for untitled Nobles, so they sent me back to the Capital for the passage ceremony, then the King announced that I was not returning back to active duty, but being granted a Barony within your lands.

I have the Royal Decree here." He explained.