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Derrick understood the implied meaning behind "a little bit of respect." The relationships among nobles were, at times, so loyal they seemed almost sacred. But more often than not, they were decadent and exaggerated beyond even the wildest tales of bards.

Derrick admitted he had double standards. He could accept having affairs with others' wives, but he could not tolerate others touching his own. Thus, he immediately clarified his stance: "I can give you respect, but perhaps not in the way you imagine."

Miss Tiona wasn’t surprised. Many nobles shared this sentiment. While she was willing to accept the reality of Derrick's infidelities, that didn’t mean she harbored no resentment. Her statement had been intentional, driven by some degree of grievance. But for now, until she bore their first child, she had no other aspirations. This was the duty and responsibility of a noble wife, and if she violated it, even her own family would not support her.

Since Derrick had made his intentions clear, Tiona did not feel angered. Instead, she beamed at him. "If you can bring me more respect, everything of mine will be as you wish."

Want her to be more reserved? No problem. Make the Viscountess into a Countess, granting her more power and prestige, and any noble lady would be satisfied.

"Of course, and before I advance in title, you'll already experience the honor of being the Augusta family matriarch." Derrick was confident. Even if the Augusta family was currently an empty shell, its potential was undeniable. Being a Viscountess here could be more illustrious than being a Countess elsewhere. Tiona's request was entirely reasonable. Political marriages were destined to be relatively balanced; neither party could impose one-sided demands on the other.

Their first official meeting concluded with mutual understanding. It was only natural that they scheduled another meeting for the following day. If their pre-marital encounters went smoothly, the next step would be the wedding itself. Watching Miss Tiona's departing figure, Derrick fell into contemplation.

"The power of the old noble families shouldn’t be underestimated!" The events that had unfolded before his arrival weren’t especially secret, but they weren’t public knowledge either. Yet by the time he reached Pran City, even Tiona had heard about it. It was clear that the Perez family had spies within the Augusta territory. Derrick chose not to dwell on it further. Such things were common, just as he himself had his own informants.

Rejoining the banquet, Derrick acted as if nothing had happened. While Miss Tiona had come specifically to meet him, he had more social obligations. Earl Perez wouldn’t bring up the meeting; it was a matter for the younger generation. Even if things fell through, he had other granddaughters, and the marriage alliance between the two families wouldn’t be jeopardized.

Absolute interests united them, and individual desires were irrelevant. Neither party mattered in the grand scheme. Over the next few days, Derrick met with Miss Tiona several times. They were fairly compatible, but their marriage felt more like a business deal. Feelings would have to come later.

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Another pressing matter was overseeing the transition of power among the southern nobles. With this, the entire Saint Millar Province finally fell under the control of the Kingdom of Locke. When the Holy Cross Kingdom attempted a counterattack the following year, it would be significantly weakened.

Still, Derrick remained vigilant, never forgetting that the Kingdom of Locke had not conquered Saint Millar Province by itself. The barbarian kingdom had gone to great lengths to instigate this war. Could it really be just to gain a few years of peace? Both Earl Perez and others were on guard now, but Derrick had to put his doubts aside.

Snow fell once more, marking the arrival of a new year. It was Derrick’s second New Year in this world. Compared to the previous one spent with the Ferrera family, this year he would celebrate alone in the Augusta lands. The solitude was palpable, a stark reminder of the thin legacy of the Augusta name. The knights and squires took short leaves to visit home, and the military forces rotated for rest. As the heavy snow fell, almost all human activity came to a halt.

Derrick returned to the Augusta estate, preparing to spend his first lonely winter at the manor outside the city. Of course, he also met the three sisters of the Palmer family. With their company, the winter didn’t seem quite so cold. Unlike the spirited Miss Tiona, the Palmer sisters were more seductive, exuding feminine allure.

After an indulgent yet somber New Year, as the snow gradually settled, the rested farmers began to stir. Soon, production would resume, and the early work for spring planting would begin in a month’s time. During this lull, guests from the northern provinces arrived.

“Third Brother!”

Sheriff, riding the brown warhorse Derrick had gifted him and clad in iron-plated armor, approached with a face flushed red from the cold yet beaming with excitement. A group of Ferrera family relatives who had fallen on hard times had come to seek refuge with Derrick, following Sheriff.

Nobles always had an assortment of miscellaneous relatives. Many of them were unfamiliar to Derrick, but they still provided a pool of potential recruits. Derrick treated these newcomers with neither harshness nor indifference, offering some privileges. Competent individuals were given roles; those willing to learn could start training. As for those with no skills and no desire to improve, they could always become acquainted with Knight Simon’s whip. Derrick, having earned his title through military service, was not one to show leniency.

Sheriff, however, received different treatment. He was, after all, Derrick’s younger brother. With the memories inherited from this body, there was indeed a sense of familial affection. Besides, Sheriff was no slacker. Having completed his knightly training, he wouldn’t be a liability.

As Derrick’s influence gradually shifted to this territory, Sheriff grew restless at home and had come straight over, eager to make a name for himself. Having just experienced the pangs of solitude, Derrick was delighted to see his brother. Derrick wasted no time assigning him a task.

“Sheriff, there’s a mission only you can carry out, using your status as my brother.”

“What is it? Do I need to fight?”

“No, just meet with someone. But it needs to be done in secret, and it will still be dangerous. If you complete it, I’ll grant you a knight’s estate.” Derrick spoke solemnly. This wasn’t coddling his brother; in fact, it was a perilous job. He had considered sending others, but there was only enough time for one round trip. No one else could make promises on his behalf, making Sheriff the ideal choice.

Though it wasn’t a combat mission, the opportunity to earn a knight’s estate was rare. Sheriff eagerly accepted, and Derrick briefed him on the mission details in private, including contingency plans.

“Sheriff, when it comes time to make a decision, be decisive. I’ll bear the consequences. Remember: act decisively.”

“I understand. Decisive.”

Even a wrong decision was better than none. In such situations, decisiveness bred trust. The more decisive one was, the more people believed in them.