I built a manor in the Middle Ages

Chapter 238 The Second Son's Ambition

Cooper Castle remains as gloomy as ever.

For some reason, the windows seemed taboo, remaining closed most of the time, filling the entire fortress with a musty, rotten smell.

Luc stepped onto the carpet, casually rubbed his boots on it, and then, under the watchful eyes of everyone at the long table in the hall, pulled out a chair and sat down unhurriedly.

The bear flag was hung close to the wall.

Beneath the wall, Berry squinted, staring intently at the uninvited guest before him.

Traitor, betrayer, ambitious man
A string of sordid titles raced through Berry's mind, eventually coalescing into a seemingly benign smile: "Sir Luc, we meet again."

"Baron." Luc placed his hand on his chest and bowed slightly, but remained seated in his chair without moving.

Seeing this, Berry's smile deepened, making it look very stiff.

Charman, standing beside him, watched silently, a thought creeping into his mind: What an arrogant fellow.
It's just that we won the battle to defend the city.

He picked up a strip of dried cured meat and stuffed it into his mouth; the slightly salty taste suppressed Charman's envy and jealousy.

This Christian Viking, born in Normandy and eventually becoming a knight in Burgundy, vaguely remembered the stories passed down from his ancestors, including the fact that the first Duke of Normandy did not bow or pay homage to the King of France.
"This guy has actually become something," Charman muttered to himself.

"Sir Luke, you are a smart man. I don't want to waste time with useless words. Let's talk."

Berry took a deep breath and looked at Jean behind Luc, the old Baldwin family squire, now wearing Clovis's chainmail.

Seeing him look at her, she met his gaze without any hesitation.

Damn bastard!
Berry gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath.

“Your Excellency Baron, that is exactly what I was thinking.”

Luke gripped the hilt of his sword and glanced around the corridor and the corner.

After World War I, his status rose sharply. It could be said that within the baronies, he was nominally subordinate to Berry, but in reality, he had already "divided his own territory."

"Let's talk about Knight Clovis first."

"Normally, his family would need to pay at least twenty pounds to ransom him, his warhorse, and his equipment."

"However, since we are all your vassals, for your sake, the warhorses and armor do not need to be redeemed."

"Five pounds, Clovey will return them to you."

Luc opened his arms; the horse and armor had already been swallowed, and there was no reason for them to be spat out.

There are two reasons why it's five pounds.

First, the price is reasonable.

Secondly, Berry chuckled twice, sensing Luke's deeper meaning.

What a vengeful guy!

"Oh, and one cow as well."

Seeing Luc's relaxed smile, Berry gritted his teeth.

Clovis's private army and free farmers suffered heavy losses; it can be said that the Battle of Knightsburg completely devastated his village.

So Berry had to step in and clean up the mess.

As a lord, although he didn't want to pay the money, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and face Luc's "extortion" in order to win over the people.

That's right, in his mind, Luc was extorting money!
As for his extortion of Luke, that was merely a legitimate demand for his vassal to fulfill his obligations.

"Sir Luke, five pounds is a reasonable price, I will agree."

Berry took a deep breath, suppressing his anger: "But why do you need another cow?"

"Don't forget, my Andalusma is already in your hands!"

Berry harbored a deep hatred for Luc, not only because of the failed attempt to annex Knightsburg, but also because he had recently discovered that Andrew at the tavern resembled one of his lost prisoners. In other words, this repulsive fellow had not only stolen his warhorse, but was also a bandit who had abducted prisoners during the blizzard!

I've always been the one sucking other people's blood and eating their flesh; this is the first time someone has poached my partner.

“My lord, I rescued this warhorse from a horse thief. Unfortunately, the thief refused to say where he stole it until his death. You claim it's your warhorse, what proof do you have?”

Berry leaned back in his chair, looking at Luc with a hint of helplessness as he shrugged.

Joseph Jr. and Furman, among others, have set off for Dijon, where they will stay for a month to seek the title of count for their family.

Berry was well aware that the Earl of Macon had sent troops into the baronial territory, and at this point in time, he preferred to play it safe.

Of course, the deeper reason is that Knightsburg is indeed very powerful.

Berry rubbed his temples and said, "Cooperburg just recently gave birth to a calf."

……

During the heated exchange between Berry and Luc.

Little did they know, on the second floor of the castle, in a cramped corner, a boy with a gloomy gaze was quietly looking down into the dark and dimly lit first-floor hall.

"Luc?"

The boy chewed on the somewhat unfamiliar name, his pale gray pupils darting around.

"Could it be the knight who married Duss?"

"Is he the guy who caused Father's losses?"

Berry always told his eldest son about his decisions, never his unloved second son. So all Finn knew was that his father had recently returned from a hunt, then mustered his troops for battle, only to be defeated and even his knights were captured.

But who exactly was being attacked, and why, remains completely unknown.

If he hadn't known Duss, Finn probably wouldn't have remembered who Luke was.

The thought of Duss of the Baldwin family made Finn's face gradually darken.

He once suggested to his father that he marry Duss in order to gain the inheritance of Tihar village, but Joseph Jr. refused outright and urged his father to take over Tihar village for the sake of the family.

At this thought, Fein's face involuntarily contorted.

What do you mean by "for the family"? Aren't I a member of the family?
He understood that this was clearly just an excuse for Joseph Jr. not to own any land!

To others, Joseph Jr. was handsome and dashing, but Finn knew all too well the malice of his older brother.

The father thought he didn't know swordsmanship, but in fact, Joseph secretly instructed the coach to teach him without telling him; he thought he couldn't ride a horse, but in fact, the groom hadn't trained him since he was a child, which eventually led to him falling off the wild horse repeatedly.
Instead of comforting him, his father became even more disgusted with his own clumsiness and stupidity.

While they were discussing territorial matters, he was sent out to supervise the serfs' harvest.

When attending mass at church, Joseph Jr. could stand behind Berry, while he could only stand side by side with the squires.
Eventually, even in matters of food and shelter, a hierarchy gradually emerged. Despite being the second son, he lived like an illegitimate child.
Even more humiliating was that when little Joseph was having an affair with the maid, that damned guy actually made him stand guard at the door for him!
Fein closed his eyes, trying to calm his heaving chest.

What does this guy think he is?
A lowly servant?!

Unfortunately, when the enraged Finn leaked the information through the butler, Berry turned a blind eye as if he knew nothing.
Fenn couldn't understand why his father, who was so strict with him, was so lenient with young Joseph.
Is it simply because Joseph Jr. is the eldest son?

"eldest son."

When Finn opened his eyes, the argument downstairs was almost over. In the end, Luc got what he wanted: a newborn cow and five pounds in cash. Of course, as a vassal, Luc also promised to pay taxes on time and provide military services.

As he watched Luke lead his elite private army to push open the castle gates, leaving only an angry but helpless Berry behind, Finn suddenly let out a cold laugh.

eldest son?

what!
If he remembered correctly, his father was born as the second son!

Fein abruptly turned around and walked back into the shadows step by step.

In the darkness, his face unconsciously began to contort into a ferocious expression.
“Luc.”

(End of this chapter)