Chapter 559: Escalating Tensions
Howard treated the Duke of Blunrick, Anton, with equitable respect.
His logic was straightforward: both were independent entities capable of determining their own foreign relations, necessitating a mutual respect.
Duke Anton found Howard’s attitude towards him both disarming and delightful.
Anton, perceiving Howard as a king of the vast Oungria Kingdom, initially expects an air of superiority in their interaction.
Contrary to his expectations, he finds Howard’s demeanor unexpectedly down-to-earth and approachable.
This unexpected congeniality leads Anton to develop a favorable impression of Howard, even nurturing a deliberate intention to forge a closer relationship with him.
Motivated by this newfound admiration, Anton goes to great lengths to please Howard, engaging him in conversation filled with humorous remarks that elicit hearty laughter from the king.
In contrast, Howard’s attitude in the conversation is casual and nonchalant, seemingly more out of a desire to pass time before an evening banquet than a genuine interest in the exchange.
Anton, who is no longer a young man at over thirty-five years of age, shares with Howard about a magnificent garden he has created in a place called Wolfernbettle within his Blunrick dukedom.
He describes the garden in vivid detail, boasting of its fountains, ponds, pavilions, and an artificial lake, all of which conjure images of serene beauty in Howard’s mind, sparking a sense of envy and admiration.
The garden, Anton reveals, was an expensive venture, almost jeopardizing his military finances.